List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland explained

Ireland became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Act of Union 1800 from 1 January 1801. On 6 December 1922, the Irish Free State left the United Kingdom, with Northern Ireland remaining as part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Summary of constituencies and Members of Parliament

Key to categories: BC - Borough constituencies, CC - County constituencies, UC - University constituencies, Total C - Total constituencies, BMP - Borough Members of Parliament, CMP - County Members of Parliament, UMP - University Members of Parliament.

PeriodBCCCUCTotal CBMPCMPUMPTotal MPs
1801–1832333216635641100
1832–1870333216639642105
1870–1885313216439642103
1885–19181585110116852103
1918–19222080310321804105
1922–19504511048113
1950–19834801248012
1983–1997413017413017
1997–present414018414018

Electoral effect of the Act of Union 1800

See main article: List of United Kingdom parliamentary constituencies in Ireland 1801–1885. There were 300 seats in the Irish House of Commons in 1800, elected in 150 2-member constituencies: 32 county constituencies, 117 borough constituencies, and one university constituency. Under the Act of Union 1800, Ireland was divided into constituencies to elect 100 MPs for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament. From 1801, there were 32 two-member county constituencies, 2 two-member borough constituencies, 31 one-member borough constituencies, and 1 university constituency.

1801–1832In cases where both a borough and county area have the same name and seats of each type exist simultaneously Borough, City or County (as appropriate) are included in the constituency name in the list below, unless there is a later county seat of the same name in which case County is omitted.Borough constituencies

2 two member, 31 single member; seats 35. University constituency

1 single member seat.County constituencies

32 two member; seats 64.Constituencies

66.Members of Parliament

100.

Irish Reform Act 1832

1832–1870Overall representation for Ireland increased from 100 to 105 with additional seats in Belfast, Galway Borough, Limerick City, Waterford City and Dublin University gained a second seat. Borough constituencies defined with minor changes by the Parliamentary Boundaries (Ireland) Act 1832. Minor changes in 1868.Borough constituencies

6 two member, 27 single member; seats 39. University constituency

1 two member; seats 2.County constituencies

32 two member; seats 64.Constituencies

66.Members of Parliament

105.

Cashel and Sligo Disenfranchisement Act 1870

1870–1885Cashel and Sligo Borough were disenfranchised for corruption in 1870.Borough constituencies

6 two member, 25 single member; seats 37. University constituency

1 two member; seats 2.County constituencies

32 two member; seats 64.Constituencies

64.Members of Parliament

103.

Redistribution of Seats Act 1885

See main article: Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. 1885–1918There was a redistribution of constituencies. All seats were single member, except for Cork City and Dublin University, which continued to return two members. Divisions of a borough or county are given in the list below with the name of the borough or county preceding the name of the division. County division compass point names normally have the direction before the county name i.e. East Antrim. The list below treats such names like the borough equivalents, with the name of the place preceding the compass point, i.e. Antrim East.Borough constituencies

1 two member, 14 single member; seats 16. University constituency

1 two member; seats 2.County constituencies

85 single member seats.Constituencies

101.Members of Parliament

103.

Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918

See main article: Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918. The general election of 1918 in Ireland was, in British law, to fill the 105 Irish seats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom for the 31st United Kingdom Parliament. This Parliament first met on 4 February 1919 and was dissolved on 26 October 1922. Sinn Féin elected 69 MPs to 73 seats at this election and under Irish Republican theory, regarded the 1918 election as an all-Ireland election for First Dáil, where they sat as Teachtaí Dála (TDs).

1918–1922There was a redistribution of constituencies. All seats were single member, except for Cork City and Dublin University, which continued to return two members. From 1918 some former constituency names are reused. Such seats are identified by using (1) or (2) after the constituency name.Borough constituencies

1 two member, 19 single member; seats 21. University constituencies

1 two member, 2 single member; seats 4.County constituencies

80 single member seats.Constituencies

103.Members of Parliament

105.

Government of Ireland Act 1920

See main article: Government of Ireland Act 1920 (constituencies). The Government of Ireland Act 1920 created two separate Parliaments for Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland respectively. It also decreased the representation for Ireland at Westminster from 105 in total to 13 from Northern Ireland and 33 from Southern Ireland.

Independence of the Irish Free State (1922)

In 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty secured independence for the Irish Free State, comprising that part of Ireland not in Northern Ireland, which was to take effect on 6 November 1922. From the 1922 Westminster election, held on 15 November, only the six counties of Northern Ireland were represented in Parliament.

1922–1950There was a redistribution of constituencies, following the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the establishment of the Irish Free State. Twenty-six of the thirty-two Irish counties ceased to be represented in the United Kingdom Parliament. The remaining six counties formed Northern Ireland. All seats were single member, except for Antrim, Down and Fermanagh & Tyrone. Those three seats elected two members each. Some seats included parts of more than one county. The predominant county when the constituency is created is named in those cases.

4 single member seats.

1 single member seat.

3 two member, 2 single member; seats 8.

10.

13.

Representation of the People Act 1948

See main article: Representation of the People Act 1948. 1950–1983There was a redistribution of constituencies. All seats were single member ones from this time and the university constituency was abolished.

4 single member seats.

8 single member seats.

Increase in Northern Ireland

The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1979 increased representation for Northern Ireland from 12 to 17.

1983–1997The historic counties ceased to be relevant to constituency boundaries. Seats first created from 1983 are not allocated to a county.

4 single member seats.

13 single member seats.

From 1997There was a redistribution of constituencies.

4 single member seats.

14 single member seats.

List of constituencies during the Union with Great Britain

Separate creations of a constituency with the same name is noted by (1) and (2).

ConstituencyTypeCountyCreatedAbolishedNotes
Antrim (1)countyAntrim180118852 MPs
Antrim East (1)countyAntrim18851922
Antrim MidcountyAntrim18851922
Antrim North (1)countyAntrim18851922
Antrim South (1)countyAntrim18851922
Armagh (1)countyArmagh180118852 MPs
Armagh CityboroughArmagh18011885
Armagh MidcountyArmagh18851922
Armagh NorthcountyArmagh18851922
Armagh SouthcountyArmagh18851922
AthloneboroughWestmeath18011885
BandonboroughCork18011885
BelfastboroughAntrim180118852 MPs, 1832–85
Belfast CromacboroughAntrim19181922
Belfast DuncairnboroughAntrim19181922
Belfast East (1)boroughAntrim18851918
Belfast FallsboroughAntrim19181922
Belfast North (1)boroughAntrim18851918
Belfast OrmeauboroughAntrim19181922
Belfast PottingerboroughAntrim19181922
Belfast ShankillboroughAntrim19181922
Belfast South (1)boroughAntrim18851918
Belfast St Anne'sboroughAntrim19181922
Belfast VictoriaboroughAntrim19181922
Belfast West (1)boroughAntrim18851918
Belfast WoodvaleboroughAntrim19181922
CarlowboroughCarlow18011885
County CarlowcountyCarlow180119222 MPs, 1801–85
CarrickfergusboroughAntrim18011885
CashelboroughTipperary18011870
CavancountyCavan180118852 MPs
Cavan EastcountyCavan18851922
Cavan WestcountyCavan18851922
ClarecountyClare180118852 MPs
Clare EastcountyClare18851922
Clare WestcountyClare18851922
ClonmelboroughTipperary18011885
ColeraineboroughLondonderry18011885
Cork CityboroughCork180119222 MPs
County CorkcountyCork180118852 MPs
Cork EastcountyCork18851922
Cork MidcountyCork18851922
Cork NorthcountyCork18851922
Cork North-EastcountyCork18851922
Cork SouthcountyCork18851922
Cork South-EastcountyCork18851922
Cork WestcountyCork18851922
DonegalcountyDonegal180118852 MPs
Donegal EastcountyDonegal18851922
Donegal NorthcountyDonegal18851922
Donegal SouthcountyDonegal18851922
Donegal WestcountyDonegal18851922
Down (1)countyDown180118852 MPs
Down EastcountyDown18851922
Down MidcountyDown19181922
Down North (1)countyDown18851922
Down South (1)countyDown18851922
Down WestcountyDown18851922
DownpatrickboroughDown18011885
DroghedaboroughLouth18011885
Dublin CityboroughDublin180118852 MPs
Dublin ClontarfboroughDublin19181922
Dublin College GreenboroughDublin18851922
County DublincountyDublin180118852 MPs
Dublin HarbourboroughDublin18851922
Dublin NorthcountyDublin18851922
Dublin PembrokecountyDublin19181922
Dublin RathminescountyDublin19181922
Dublin St James'sboroughDublin19181922
Dublin St Michan'sboroughDublin19181922
Dublin St Patrick'sboroughDublin18851922
Dublin St Stephen's GreenboroughDublin18851922
Dublin SouthcountyDublin18851922
Dublin UniversityuniversityUniversities180119222 MPs, 1832-1922
DundalkboroughLouth18011885
DungannonboroughTyrone18011885
DungarvanboroughWaterford18011885
EnnisboroughClare18011885
EnniskillenboroughFermanagh18011885
FermanaghcountyFermanagh180118852 MPs
Fermanagh NorthcountyFermanagh18851922
Fermanagh SouthcountyFermanagh18851922
Galway BoroughboroughGalway180119182 MPs, 1832–85
Galway ConnemaracountyGalway18851922
County GalwaycountyGalway180118852 MPs
Galway EastcountyGalway18851922
Galway NorthcountyGalway18851922
Galway SouthcountyGalway18851922
KerrycountyKerry180118852 MPs
Kerry EastcountyKerry18851922
Kerry NorthcountyKerry18851922
Kerry SouthcountyKerry18851922
Kerry WestcountyKerry18851922
KildarecountyKildare180118852 MPs
Kildare NorthcountyKildare18851922
Kildare SouthcountyKildare18851922
Kilkenny CityboroughKilkenny18011918
County KilkennycountyKilkenny180118852 MPs
Kilkenny NorthcountyKilkenny18851922
Kilkenny SouthcountyKilkenny18851922
King's County (1)countyKing's180118852 MPs
King's County (2)countyKing's19181922
King's County BirrcountyKing's18851918
King's County TullamorecountyKing's18851918
KinsaleboroughCork18011885
Leitrim (1)countyLeitrim180118852 MPs
Leitrim (2)countyLeitrim19181922
Leitrim NorthcountyLeitrim18851918
Leitrim SouthcountyLeitrim18851918
Limerick CityboroughLimerick180119182 MPs, 1832–85
County LimerickcountyLimerick180118852 MPs
Limerick EastcountyLimerick18851922
Limerick WestcountyLimerick18851922
LisburnboroughAntrim18011885
Londonderry (1)countyLondonderry180118852 MPs
Londonderry CityboroughLondonderry18011922
Londonderry NorthcountyLondonderry18851922
Londonderry SouthcountyLondonderry18851922
Longford (1)countyLongford180118852 MPs
Longford (2)countyLomgford19181922
Longford NorthcountyLongford18851918
Longford SouthcountyLongford18851918
Louth (1)countyLouth180118852 MPs
Louth (2)countyLouth19181922
Louth NorthcountyLouth18851918
Louth SouthcountyLouth18851918
MallowboroughCork18011885
MayocountyMayo180118852 MPs
Mayo EastcountyMayo18851922
Mayo NorthcountyMayo18851922
Mayo SouthcountyMayo18851922
Mayo WestcountyMayo18851922
MeathcountyMeath180118852 MPs
Meath NorthcountyMeath18851922
Meath SouthcountyMeath18851922
MonaghancountyMonaghan180118852 MPs
Monaghan NorthcountyMonaghan18851922
Monaghan SouthcountyMonaghan18851922
National University of IrelanduniversityUniversities19181922
New RossboroughWexford18011885
NewryboroughDown18011918
PortarlingtonboroughQueen's18011885
Queen's County (1)countyQueen's180118852 MPs
Queen's County (2)countyQueen's19181922
Queen's County LeixcountyQueen's18851918
Queen's County OssorycountyQueen's18851918
RoscommoncountyRoscommon180118852 MPs
Roscommon NorthcountyRoscommon18851922
Roscommon SouthcountyRoscommon18851922
Sligo BoroughboroughSligo18011870
County SligocountySligo180118852 MPs
Sligo NorthcountySligo18851922
Sligo SouthcountySligo18851922
TipperarycountyTipperary180118852 MPs
Tipperary EastcountyTipperary18851922
Tipperary MidcountyTipperary18851922
Tipperary NorthcountyTipperary18851922
Tipperary SouthcountyTipperary18851922
TraleeboroughKerry18011885
TyronecountyTyrone180118852 MPs
Tyrone EastcountyTyrone18851918
Tyrone MidcountyTyrone18851918
Tyrone NorthcountyTyrone18851918
Tyrone North-EastcountyTyrone19181922
Tyrone North-WestcountyTyrone19181922
Tyrone SouthcountyTyrone18851922
Waterford (1)countyWaterford180118852 MPs
Waterford (2)countyWaterford19181922
Waterford CityboroughWaterford180119182 MPs, 1832–85
Waterford EastcountyWaterford18851918
Waterford WestcountyWaterford18851918
Westmeath (1)countyWestmeath180118852 MPs
Westmeath (2)countyWestmeath19181922
Westmeath NorthcountyWestmeath18851918
Westmeath SouthcountyWestmeath18851918
Wexford BoroughboroughWexford18011885
County WexfordcountyWexford180118852 MPs
Wexford NorthcountyWexford18851922
Wexford SouthcountyWexford18851922
WicklowcountyWicklow180118852 MPs
Wicklow EastcountyWicklow18851922
Wicklow WestcountyWicklow18851922
YoughalboroughCork18011885

List of Northern Ireland constituencies

ConstituencyTypeCreatedAbolishedNotes
Antrimcounty192219502 MPs
Antrim Eastcounty1983Current
Antrim Northcounty1950Current
Antrim Southcounty1950Current
Armaghcounty19221983
Belfast Eastborough1922Current
Belfast Northborough1922Current
Belfast Southborough19222024
Belfast South & Mid Downborough2024Current
Belfast Westborough1922Current
Downcounty192219502 MPs
Down Northcounty1950Current
Fermanagh & South Tyronecounty1950Current
Fermanagh & Tyronecounty192219502 MPs
Foylecounty1983Current
Down Southcounty1950Current
Lagan Valleycounty1983Current
Londonderrycounty19221983
Londonderry Eastcounty1983Current
Newry & Armaghcounty1983Current
Queen's University of Belfastuniversity19181950
Strangfordcounty1983Current
Tyrone Westcounty1997Current
Ulster Midcounty1950Current
Upper Banncounty1983Current

Historical representation by party

See List of parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland for Antrim, Londonderry, Tyrone, Armagh, Down and Fermanagh.

A cell marked → (with a different colour background to the preceding cell) indicates that the previous MP continued to sit under a new party name.

Donegal (4)

Constituency1885188687909018921895190002051906Jan 1910Dec 19101918
O'Connor→McFaddenMcVeighE. Kelly
J. E. O'DohertyMaguireMainsCurranW. O'DohertyMuldoonP. O'DohertyJ. O'Doherty
B. KellyMacNeill→→Ward
O'HeaDaltonSullivanBoyleLawSweeney

Monaghan (2)

Constituency1885861886189218951900000219060709Jan 1910Dec 19101918
HealyO'BrienDiamondMacAleese→ThompsonO'HareLardnerBlythe
McKennaO'DriscollDaly→McKean→MacEntee

Cavan (2)

Constituency188518869018921895951900041906Jan 1910Dec 1910181918
O'HanlonYoung→Griffith
BiggarKnox→FarrellMcGovernKennedyGalligan

Galway (5)

Constituency188586188690901892189519000103190606Jan 1910Dec 1910141918
O'ConnorO'SheaPinkerton→MorrisLynchDevlinGwynn
Foley→W. O'Malley→P. Ó Máille
HarrisRoche→→CosgraveMellows
NolanKilbrideNolanHigginsHazletonCusack
Sheehy→DuffyFahy

Leitrim (2)

Constituency188518869018921895190019060608Jan 1910Dec 19101918
North Leitrim / Leitrim (1918) ConwayMcHugh→C. DolanMeehanJ. Dolan
HaydenTully→Smyth

Roscommon (2)

Constituency1885188690189218959719001906Jan 1910Dec 1910171918
O'KellyBodkinO'KellyPlunkett
Commins→L. HaydenJ. HaydenBoland

Sligo (2)

Constituency1885188687889118921895001900190609Jan 1910Dec 19101918
McDonaldColleryO'DowdMcKillopMcHughScanlanClancy
SextonKennedyLeamyCurranO'DowdMcCabe

Mayo (4)

Constituency188518869118929318950019001906Jan 1910Dec 19101918
Dillon→→de Valera
Crilly→O'KellyBoyleCrowley
O'Brien→DavittO'Donnell→FitzgibbonSears
Deasy→Ambrose→DorisMacBride

Longford (2)

Constituency18851886878891189218951900190607Jan 1910Dec 1910171918
McCarthyHealy→McCarthyFarrell
South Longford / Longford (1918) ConnollyFitzgeraldBlake→PhillipsMcGuinness

Louth (2)

Constituency188518869118921895961900011906Jan 1910Dec 191011161918
North Louth / Louth (1918) NolanHealy→→HazletonRocheWhittyO'Kelly
Gill→AmbroseMcGheeNolan→

King's County (2)

Constituency188518861892189519001906Jan 1910Dec 191014181918
Tullamore / King's County (1918) Fox→Haviland-BurkeGrahamMcCartan
Molloy→Reddy

Queen's County (2)

Constituency18858618861892189519001906Jan 1910Dec 191013161918
Leix / Queen's County (1918) LalorMacDonnell→P. A. MeehanP. J. MeehanO'Higgins
O'ConnorO'MaraMacdonaldCreanDelanyFitzpatrick

Meath (2)

Constituency1885188618929318951900031906Jan 1910Dec 1910191819
O'DohertyMahonyDavittGibneyWhiteMellowsvacant
SheilFulhamJordanParnellCarewSheehyDuggan

Westmeath (2)

Constituency18851886911892189519000319060709Jan 1910Dec 1910171918
Tuite→Kennedy→Ginnell→→
Sullivan→→Nugent

Dublin (8)

Constituency188518868788901892189595969798190003041906Jan 191010Dec 19101517191819
Dublin College GreenSullivan→J. KennyCarewNannettiNugentO'Kelly
Harrington→→AbrahamByrneShanahan
Dublin St Patrick'sMurphy→FieldMarkievicz
Dublin St Stephen's GreenGrayDicksonW. KennyCampbellMcCannWaldronBradyKelly
ClancyLawless
Esmonde→PlunkettMooneyLongCooperCottonHearnDuffy
Dublin UniversityHolmesMaddenCarsonWoods
Plunket→LeckyCampbellSamuelsJellett
National University of IrelandMacNeill
Dublin ClontarfMulcahy
Dublin PembrokeFitzGerald
Dublin RathminesDockrell
Dublin St James'sMcGrath
Dublin St Michan'sStaines

Wicklow (2)

Constituency1885188618929518951900190607Jan 191010Dec 191011141918
CorbetSweetmanO'KellyCorbetCoganMuldoonDonelanEtchingham
ByrneO'Connor→O'KellyDonovanBarton

Kildare (2)

Constituency1885188618921895190003051906Jan 1910Dec 19101918
CarewKennedyEngledowLeamyJ. O'ConnorUa Buachalla
LeahyMinch→KilbrideA. O'Connor

Kilkenny (3)

Constituency18851886909118929418951900021906060709Jan 1910Dec 1910171918
Kilkenny CitySmithwickQuinn→CurranO'BrienCosgrave
MarumPope-HennessyMcDermott→DevlinMeagherCosgrave
Chance→MorrisO'MaraMurphyKeatingO'Mara

Wexford (2)

Constituency188518869092189293189519001906Jan 1910Dec 19101918
RedmondHealyEsmondeSweetman
Barry→Ffrench→Ryan

Clare (2)

Constituency1885188618921895190004190609Jan 1910Dec 1910171918
CoxRedmondde Valera
JordanMaguireJameson→→HalpinLynchO'Higgins

Tipperary (4)

Constituency1885188690189293189519001906Jan 1910Dec 191015191819
Condon→→McCanvacant
MayneHarrisonMcCarthyJ. HoganK. O'BrienHackettBurke
P. O'Brien→→M. HoganJ. J. EsmondeJ. L. EsmondeMacDonagh
O'ConnorMandevilleCullinanMoloney

Limerick (3)

Constituency18851886889118921895951900190609Jan 1910Dec 19101918
Limerick CityGillO'Keefe→DalyO'KeefeJoyceColivet
Finucane→W. LundonT. LundonHayes
Abraham→AustinO'ShaughnessyCollins

Kerry (4)

Constituency18851886879118921895959619001906Jan 191010Dec 19101918
Sheehan→DavittRocheMurphyE. O'Sullivan→T. O'SullivanBéaslaí
J. Stack→SextonFlavin→Crowley
O'ConnorKilbride→FarrellBolandLynch
HarringtonEsmondeO'DonnellA. Stack

Cork (9)

Constituency18851886878991189293939518951900010519060609Jan 1910Dec 191011131416191820
Cork (two MPs)ParnellFlavinW. O'BrienJ. O'Brien→RocheM. Healyde Róiste
M. Healy→W. O'BrienM. HealyW. O'Brien→Walsh
East CorkLane→Donelan→MuldoonKent
Mid CorkTanner→→Sheehan→→McSwineyvacant
North CorkFlynn→→P. GuineyJ. GuineyO'Keeffe
North East CorkLeamyW. O'Brien→DavittAbraham→M. HealyFrewenT. HealyHunter
South CorkKennyBarry→J. P. WalshCollins
South East CorkHooperMorrogh→ComminsCrean→Lynch
West CorkGilhooly→→→O'LearyHayes

Waterford (3)

Constituency188518869091189218959519001906Jan 1910Dec 191013181918
Waterford CityR. PowerJ. RedmondW. Redmond
East Waterford / Waterford (1918) P. Power→→MurphyBrugha
PyneWebb→O'Shee→

Sources

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland".

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