Donegal West (Dáil constituency)

Dáil constituency (1937–1961)

Donegal West

Former Dáil constituency
Former constituency
Created| 1937
Abolished| 1961
Seats| 3
Local government area| County Donegal
Replaced by|

* Donegal North-East
* Donegal South-West

Donegal West was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1937 to 1961. The constituency elected 3 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) to the Dáil, on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

## History

[edit]

The constituency was created under the Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935, for the 1937 general election to Dáil Éireann.[1] It succeeded the constituency of Donegal. It was abolished under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1961, when it and Donegal East were replaced by the new constituencies of Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West.

## Boundaries

[edit]

It consisted of the district electoral divisions of:

Annagry, Aran, Ardara, Ballintra (Ballyshannon), Ballintra, (Donegal), Ballyshannon Rural, Ballyshannon Urban, Binbane, Bonnyglen, Bundoran Rural, Carrickboy, Cavangarden, Cliff, Clogher, Corkermore, Cross Roads, Crovehy, Crowkeeragh, Crowarad, Dawros, Donegal, Doocharry, Dunfanaghy, Dungloe, Dunkineely, Dunlewy, Eanymore, Fintown, Glencolmcille, Glengesh, Glenleheen, Glenties, Gortahork, Graffy, Grousehall, Haugh, Inishkeel, Inver, Kilcar, Kilgoly, Killybegs, Laghey, Largymore, Lettermacward, Lough Eask, Maas, Magheraclogher, Maghery, Malin Beg, Meenaclady, Mountcharles, Mulmosog, Pettigo, Rutland, Tawnawully, Templecarn, Tieveskeelta, and Tullynaught,

and the Urban District of Bundoran in the administrative county of Donegal.[1]

## TDs

[edit]

Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Donegal West 1937–1961[2]

Key to parties

*   FF = Fianna Fáil
*   FG = Fine Gael
*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Dáil | Election | Deputy
(Party) | Deputy
(Party) | Deputy
(Party)
9th | 1937[3] |  | Cormac Breslin
(FF)  |  | Brian Brady
(FF)  |  | Michael Óg McFadden
(FG)
10th | 1938[4]
11th | 1943[5]
12th | 1944[6]
13th | 1948[7]
1949 by-election[8] |  | Patrick O'Donnell
(FG)
14th | 1951[9] |  | Joseph Brennan
(FF)
15th | 1954[10]
16th | 1957[11]
17th | 1961 | Constituency abolished. See Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West

Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.

## Elections

[edit]

### 1957 general election

[edit]

1957 general election: Donegal West[11][12] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2 | 3 | 4
| Fine Gael | Patrick O'Donnell | 27.7  | 6,208 |   |   |
| Fianna Fáil | Joseph Brennan | 27.5  | 6,153 |   |   |
| Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 16.6  | 3,711  | 3,743  | 4,228  | 4,525
| Fianna Fáil | Seán Ó Cinnéide  | 15.9  | 3,560  | 3,606  | 3,652  | 3,841
| Fine Gael | Robert Gardiner  | 12.3  | 2,759  | 3,291  | 3,315  |
Electorate: 32,871   Valid: 22,391   Quota: 5,598   Turnout: 68.1%

### 1954 general election

[edit]

1954 general election: Donegal West[10][12] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2
| Fianna Fáil | Joseph Brennan | 26.8  | 6,748 |
| Fine Gael | Patrick O'Donnell | 25.2  | 6,338 |
| Fine Gael | John Barry  | 22.0  | 5,545  | 5,625
| Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 14.1  | 3,548  | 6,123
| Fianna Fáil | Seán Kennedy  | 12.0  | 3,026  |
Electorate: 34,018   Valid: 25,205   Quota: 6,302   Turnout: 74.1%

### 1951 general election

[edit]

1951 general election: Donegal West[12] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2 | 3 | 4
| Fianna Fáil | Joseph Brennan | 29.8  | 8,023 |   |   |
| Fine Gael | Patrick O'Donnell | 23.3  | 6,294  | 6,304  | 6,461  | 6,501
| Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | 21.5  | 5,790  | 5,835  | 5,885  | 5,912
| Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 14.3  | 3,856  | 4,999  | 7,724 |
| Fianna Fáil | Seán Kennedy  | 11.2  | 3,008  | 3,090  |   |
Electorate: 36,665   Valid: 26,971   Quota: 6,743   Turnout: 73.56%

### 1949 by-election

[edit]

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Brian Brady, a by-election was held on 16 November 1949. The seat was won by the Fine Gael candidate Patrick O'Donnell.

1949 by-election: Donegal West[12] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2
| Fianna Fáil | Joseph Brennan | 47.4  | 12,700  | 12,863
| Fine Gael | Patrick O'Donnell | 42.1  | 11,256  | 13,634
| Clann na Poblachta | Alphonsus Canning  | 10.5  | 2,812  |
Electorate: 37,541   Valid: 26,768   Quota: 13,385   Turnout: 71.30%

### 1948 general election

[edit]

1948 general election: Donegal West[12] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2 | 3 | 4
| Fianna Fáil | Brian Brady | 24.0  | 6,262  | 6,280  | 6,364  | 6,795
| Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 18.4  | 4,800  | 4,894  | 4,924  | 5,820
| Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | 17.7  | 4,627  | 4,722  | 6,761 |
| Independent | Daniel C. Boyle  | 12.4  | 3,224  | 3,489  | 3,511  |
| Clann na Poblachta | Joseph McDevitt  | 9.8  | 2,546  | 4,278  | 4,401  | 5,044
| Fine Gael | Christopher Gallagher  | 8.9  | 2,332  | 2,378  |   |
| Clann na Poblachta | Hugh Duggan  | 8.9  | 2,314  |   |   |
Electorate: 37,662   Valid: 26,105   Quota: 6,527   Turnout: 69.31%

### 1944 general election

[edit]

1944 general election: Donegal West[6][13][14] Party  | Candidate  | FPv% | %  | Seat  | Count

|
|
|
|
|

| Fianna Fáil | Brian Brady | Unopposed  | N/A | 1  |
| Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | Unopposed  | N/A | 2  |
| Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | Unopposed  | N/A | 3  |
Electorate: 39,192   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

### 1943 general election

[edit]

1943 general election: Donegal West[5][14] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
| Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | 26.4  | 6,873 |   |   |   |
| Fianna Fáil | Brian Brady | 24.9  | 6,495  | 6,525 |   |   |
| Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 21.4  | 5,581  | 5,596  | 5,602  | 5,720  | 5,871
| Labour | Daniel Boyle  | 13.3  | 3,458  | 3,577  | 3,578  | 4,198  | 4,876
| Clann na Talmhan | Hugh Callaghan  | 10.0  | 2,599  | 2,762  | 2,768  | 2,918  |
| Labour | Joseph Doherty  | 4.0  | 1,041  | 1,075  | 1,075  |   |
Electorate: 39,192   Valid: 26,047   Quota: 6,512   Turnout: 66.5%

### 1938 general election

[edit]

1938 general election: Donegal West[4][13][14] Party  | Candidate  | FPv% | %  | Seat  | Count

|
|
|
|
|

| Fianna Fáil | Brian Brady | Unopposed  | N/A | 1  |
| Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | Unopposed  | N/A | 2  |
| Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | Unopposed  | N/A | 3  |
Electorate: 38,072   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

### 1937 general election

[edit]

1937 general election: Donegal West[3][14] Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count

|
|
|

1 | 2
| Fianna Fáil | Brian Brady | 28.9  | 7,833 |
| Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | 26.8  | 7,250 |
| Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 23.3  | 6,311  | 7,354
| Fine Gael | John O'Donnell  | 21.1  | 5,712  | 5,725
Electorate: 38,532   Valid: 27,106   Quota: 6,777   Turnout: 70.4%

## See also

[edit]

* Dáil constituencies
* Politics of the Republic of Ireland
* Historic Dáil constituencies
* Elections in the Republic of Ireland

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act, 1935: First Schedule (Revised constituencies)". Irish Statute Book database. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
2. ^ Walker, Brian M, ed. (1992). Parliamentary election results in Ireland, 1918–92. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0-901714-96-8. ISSN 0332-0286.
3. ^ a b "General election 1937: Donegal West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
4. ^ a b "General election 1938: Donegal West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
5. ^ a b "General election 1943: Donegal West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
6. ^ a b "General election 1944: Donegal West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
7. ^ "General election 1948: Donegal West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
8. ^ "By-election 1949: Donegal West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
9. ^ "General election 1951: Donegal West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
10. ^ a b "General election 1954: Donegal West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
11. ^ a b "General election 1957: Donegal West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
12. ^ a b c d e Gallagher, Michael (2009). Irish Elections 1948–77: Results and Analysis Sources for the Study of Irish Politics 2. Routledge. ISBN 9781138973343.
13. ^ a b At both the 1938 and 1944 elections, only three candidates were nominated, so no ballot was held.
14. ^ a b c d Gallagher, Michael (1993). Irish Elections 1922-44: Results and Analysis. PSAI Press. ISBN 0951974815.

## External links

[edit]

* Oireachtas Members Database

* v
* t
* e

Parliamentary constituencies in County Donegal

Parliament of Ireland
to 1800|

* County Donegal (1613–1800)
* Ballyshannon (1613–1800)
* Donegal Borough (1613–1800)
* Killybegs (1613–1800)
* Lifford (1613–1800)
* St Johnstown (1618–1800)

Westminster 1801–1922
and First Dáil 1918|

* Donegal (1801–1885)
* East Donegal (1885–1922)
* North Donegal (1885–1922)
* South Donegal (1885–1922)
* West Donegal (1885–1922)

Dáil Éireann
1918–present|

| Historic|

* Donegal East (1937–1961)
* Donegal West (1937–1961)
* Donegal–Leitrim (1969–1977)
* Donegal North-East (1961–1977, 1981–2016)
* Donegal South-West (1961–1969, 1981–2016)

|

Current|

* Donegal (1921–1937, 1977–1981, 2016–)

European Parliament
1979–present|

* Connacht–Ulster (1979–2004)
* North-West (2004–2014)
* Midlands–North-West (2014–)

Constituencies in Ireland by county

Republic of Ireland|

* Carlow
* Cavan
* Clare
* Cork
* Donegal
* Dublin
* Galway
* Kerry
* Kildare
* Kilkenny
* Laois
* Leitrim
* Limerick
* Longford
* Louth
* Mayo
* Meath
* Monaghan
* Offaly
* Roscommon
* Sligo
* Tipperary
* Waterford
* Westmeath
* Wexford
* Wicklow

Northern Ireland|

* Antrim
* Armagh
* Down
* Fermanagh
* Londonderry
* Tyrone

*[FPv%]: First preference votes percentage
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