Meath was a

parliamentary constituency An electoral (congressional, legislative, etc.) district, sometimes called a constituency, riding, or ward, is a geographical portion of a political unit, such as a country, state or province, city, or administrative region, created to provi ...

represented in

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( ; , ) is the lower house and principal chamber of the Oireachtas, which also includes the president of Ireland and a senate called Seanad Éireann.Article 15.1.2° of the Constitution of Ireland reads: "The Oireachtas shall co ...

, 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 and the two houses of the Oireachtas (): a house ...

from 1923 to 1937 and from 1948 to 2007. The method of election was

proportional representation Proportional representation (PR) refers to any electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to political divisions (Political party, political parties) amon ...

by means of the

single transferable vote The single transferable vote (STV) or proportional-ranked choice voting (P-RCV) is a multi-winner electoral system in which each voter casts a single vote in the form of a ranked ballot. Voters have the option to rank candidates, and their vot ...

(PR-STV).

History and boundaries

The constituency was first created under the

Electoral Act 1923 The Electoral Act 1923 was a law in Ireland which established the electoral law of the Irish Free State and provided for parliamentary constituencies in Dáil Éireann. Franchise Article 14 of the Constitution of the Irish Free State adopted ...

for the 1923 general election, electing 3 deputies ( Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs). It was abolished in 1937. It was recreated under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947 for the 1948 general election, again electing 3 deputies. It gained a fourth seat in 1977 and a fifth seat in 1981. It was abolished for the 2007 general election, being divided into the two new 3-seat constituencies of Meath East and Meath West. The constituency spanned the entire area of

County Meath County Meath ( ; or simply , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is bordered by County Dublin to the southeast, County ...

Leinster Leinster ( ; or ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland. The modern province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige, which existed during Gaelic Ireland. Following the 12th-century ...

, taking in

Navan Navan ( ; , meaning "the Cave") is the county town and largest town of County Meath, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is at the confluence of the River Boyne and Leinster Blackwater, Blackwater, around 50 km northwest of Dublin. At the ...

, Trim and Ashbourne. It also included small parts of

County Kildare County Kildare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, 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 gove ...

TDs

TDs 1923–1937

TDs 1948–2007

Elections

2005 by-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

1977 general election

1973 general election

1969 general election

1965 general election

1961 general election

1959 by-election

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD James Griffin, a by-election was held on 22 July 1959. The seat was won by Fianna Fáil candidate Henry Johnston.

1957 general election

1954 general election

1951 general election

1948 general election

1933 general election

1932 general election

September 1927 general election

June 1927 general election

1923 general election

References

External links

Oireachtas Members Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meath (Dail constituency) Historic constituencies in County Meath Dáil constituencies in the Republic of Ireland (historic) 1923 establishments in Ireland 1937 disestablishments in Ireland Constituencies established in 1923 Constituencies disestablished in 1937 1948 establishments in Ireland 2007 disestablishments in Ireland Constituencies established in 1948 Constituencies disestablished in 2007