Kildare North by-election, 2005

Kildare North by-election, 2005

11 March 2005
Turnout	25,524 (39.2%)
Nominee Catherine Murphy Áine Brady Darren Scully Party Independent Fianna Fáil Fine Gael First preferences 5,985 6,201 4,630 Percentage 23.6 24.5 18.3 Final count 12,256 9,818 –   Nominee Paddy MacNamara Kate Walsh J. J. Power Party Labour Party Progressive Democrats Green Party First preferences 6,087 2,006 1,547 Percentage 17.8 7.9 6.1 Final count – – –
Kildare North shown within Ireland
TD before election Charlie McCreevy Fianna Fáil Elected TD Catherine Murphy Independent

On 31 October 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 15 February 2005 the campaign began in earnest when it was announced that polling would take place on 11 March. Eight candidates contested the vacant seat, with victory going to the Independent candidate, Catherine Murphy.^[1] Her 23.6% 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 21.4% share.^[2]

As a result of her election, Kildare North was the only constituency in the Republic of Ireland that did not 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.

Result

See also

• List of Irish by-elections
• Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland

References