Kildare North by-election, 2005
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On October 31, 2004, the Teachta Dála (TD) for Kildare North, Charlie McCreevy, officially resigned as a member of Dáil Éireann to take up his new position as a European Commissioner. His resignation resulted in the need for a by-election. As McCreevy was a Fianna Fáil member, that party had the responsibility of deciding when the by-election should take place.
On February 15, 2005 the campaign began in earnest when it was announced that polling would take place on March 11. Eight candidates contested the vacant seat, with victory going to the Independent candidate, Catherine Murphy. Her 23.64% share of the first-preference vote was the lowest recorded at any by-election since Patrick Kinane won the Tipperary by-election in October 1947 with a 21.44% share.[1]
As a result of her election, Kildare North was the only constituency in the Republic of Ireland that didn't have a TD from one of the government parties of Fianna Fáil or the Progressive Democrats. Murphy also went into the record books as County Kildare's first ever female member of Dáil Éireann.
On the same day, a by-election took place in Meath.
[edit] Result
Out of a registered electorate of 65,080, there were 25,313 valid votes, making a turnout of 38.89%.
| 2005 By-Election | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | 1st Pref | % | Seat | Count | |
| Independent | Catherine Murphy | 5,985 | 23.64 | 1 | 5 | |
| Fianna Fáil | Áine Brady | 6,201 | 24.50 | |||
| Fine Gael | Darren Scully | 4,630 | 18.29 | |||
| Labour Party | Paddy MacNamara | 4,507 | 17.81 | |||
| Progressive Democrats | Kate Walsh | 2,006 | 7.92 | |||
| Green Party | J. J. Power | 1,547 | 6.11 | |||
| Independent | Gerry Browne | 226 | 0.89 | |||
| Independent | Seanán Ó Coistín | 211 | 0.83 | |||
