Dublin South was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas, from 1981 to 2016 representing an area in the south of County Dublin (later Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown and South Dublin). A previous constituency of the same name existed in Dublin City from 1921 to 1948. The method of election was proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

History and boundaries

1921 to 1948

A Dublin South constituency existed in Dublin City from 1921 to 1948. The first constituency of this name was created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920 as a 4-seat constituency for the Southern Ireland House of Commons and a single-seat constituency for the United Kingdom House of Commons at Westminster, combining the former Westminster constituencies of St Patrick's and St Stephen's Green. At the 1921 election for the Southern Ireland House of Commons, the four seats were won uncontested by Sinn Féin, who treated it as part of the election to the Second Dáil. It was never used as a Westminster constituency; under s. 1(4) of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act 1922, no writ was to be issued "for a constituency in Ireland other than a constituency in Northern Ireland". Therefore, no vote was held in Dublin South at the 1922 United Kingdom general election on 15 November 1922, shortly before the Irish Free State left the United Kingdom on 6 December 1922. It was restructured by the Electoral Act 1923, the first electoral act of the new state.

1981–2016

A new constituency was created by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1980 and was first used at the 1981 general election. This Dublin South (1981–2016) was one of Ireland's most affluent constituencies. The 2006 census reported that residents tended to have higher-than-average levels of educational attainment, especially in terms of third-level qualifications, and were much more likely to work in professional and managerial positions. "Volatile, unpredictable and utterly ruthless, Dublin South voters have hired and fired TDs with abandon over the years" – The Irish Times description of the constituency in August 2012.

TDs

TDs 1921–1948

TDs 1981–2016

''Note that the boundaries of Dublin South from 1981–2016 share no common territory with the 1921–1948 boundaries. See §History and boundaries''

Elections

2011 general election

2009 by-election

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Séamus Brennan, a by-election was held on 5 June 2009. The seat was won by the Fine Gael candidate George Lee.

2007 general election

2002 general election

1997 general election

1992 general election

1989 general election

1987 general election

November 1982 general election

February 1982 general election

1981 general election

1944 general election

Full figures for the second count to the eighth count are unavailable. Byrne, Bourke and Hannigan all lost their deposits.

1943 general election

Full figures for the second to the fifteenth counts are unavailable. Dowling, Donnelly, Hynes, Sheehy-Skeffington, Rice, Keogh, Hosey and O'Higgins all lost their deposits.

1939 by-election

Following the death of Fine Gael TD James Beckett, a by-election was held on 6 June 1939. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate John McCann.

1938 general election

1937 general election

1933 general election

1932 general election

September 1927 general election

1927 by-election

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Constance Markievicz, a by-election was held on 24 August 1927. The seat was won by the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate Thomas Hennessy.

June 1927 general election

1925 by-election

Following the resignation of Cumann na nGaedheal TD Daniel McCarthy, a by-election was held on 11 March 1925. The seat was won by the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate Thomas Hennessy.

November 1924 by-election

Following the appointment of Cumann na nGaedheal TD Hugh Kennedy as Chief Justice, a by-election was held on 18 November 1924. The seat was won by the Republican candidate Seán Lemass.

March 1924 by-election

Following the death of Cumann na nGaedheal TD Philip Cosgrave, a by-election was held on 12 March 1924. The seat was won by the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate James O'Mara.

1923 by-election

Michael Hayes was also elected for the National University constituency and resigned his seat in Dublin South following the election. A by-election was held on 25 October 1923.

1923 general election

1922 general election

Kenneth Reddin, an election agent, published a sample ballot incorrectly stating that voters had only six preferences. Markievicz secured an injunction in the Republican Supreme Court against Reddin, who published an apology on election day in The Irish Times. The official notice of poll listed Markievicz's name first, but the ballot (and Reddin's sample) listed her third. She later complained that the electoral register was "rotten".

1921 general election