Kildare was a

parliamentary constituency An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger state (a country, administrative region, or other poli ...

represented in

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( , ; ) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house).Article 15.1.2º of the Constitution of Ireland read ...

, the lower house of the Irish parliament or

Oireachtas The Oireachtas (, ), sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the Bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of: *The President of Ireland *The bicameralism, two houses of the Oireachtas ...

from 1923 to 1937 and from 1948 to 1997. The method of election was

proportional representation Proportional representation (PR) refers to a type of electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to geographical (e.g. states, regions) and political divis ...

by means of the

single transferable vote Single transferable vote (STV) is a multi-winner electoral system in which voters cast a single vote in the form of a ranked-choice ballot. Voters have the option to rank candidates, and their vote may be transferred according to alternate p ...

(PR-STV).

History and boundaries

Covering all or part of

County Kildare County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...

, the constituency existed for two distinct periods: from 1923 to 1937, and from 1948 to 1997. From 1923 to 1937 Kildare elected 3 deputies ( Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs), until it was absorbed into a new Carlow–Kildare constituency in 1937. After its re-establishment in 1948 it initially elected 3 TDs. This was increased to 4 seats in 1961, reduced again to 3 in 1969, and increased to 5 from 1981 until its abolition in 1997. Its boundaries were significantly revised on several occasions. The constituency was abolished for the 1997 general election, when it was replaced by two new constituencies: Kildare North and Kildare South.

TDs

TDs 1923–1937

TDs 1948–1997

Elections

1992 general election

1989 general election

1987 general election

November 1982 general election

February 1982 general election

1981 general election

1977 general election

1973 general election

1970 by-election

Following the death of Fine Gael TD

Gerard Sweetman Hugh Gerard Sweetman (20 June 1908 – 28 January 1970) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Finance from 1954 to 1957. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare constituency from 1948 to 1970. He was a Senator fo ...

, a by-election was held on 14 April 1970. The seat was won by the Fine Gael candidate Patrick Malone.

1969 general election

1965 general election

1964 by-election

Following the death of Labour Party TD

William Norton William Joseph Norton (2 November 1900 – 4 December 1963) was an Irish Labour Party politician who served as Tánaiste from 1948 to 1951 and from 1954 to 1957, Leader of the Labour Party from 1932 to 1960, Minister for Social Welfare from ...

, a by-election was held on 19 February 1964. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Terence Boylan.

1961 general election

1957 general election

1954 general election

1951 general election

1948 general election

1933 general election

1932 general election

1931 by-election