1879 County Cork by-election

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The 1879 County Cork by-election was fought on 17 February 1879. The by-election was fought due to the death of the incumbent Home Rule MP, McCarthy Downing. It was won by the Home Rule candidate David la Touche Colthurst. [1]

The main issues were Home Rule and fixed tenure for tenant farmers, with the Home Rule candidate (a Catholic convert) being backed by the Catholic church. [2]

1879 County Cork by-election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Home Rule Colonel David la Touche Colthurst 8,157 80.1 N/A
Conservative Sir George Colthurst 2,02719.9New
Majority6,13060.2N/A
Turnout 10,18466.3N/A
Home Rule hold Swing N/A

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References

  1. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
  2. "Cork County Election" . Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 18 February 1879. Retrieved 6 October 2016 via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "Cork County Election" . The Irishman. 22 February 1879. Retrieved 6 October 2016 via British Newspaper Archive.