1979 European Parliament election in Ireland

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1979 European Parliament election in Ireland
Flag of Ireland.svg
7 June 1979 1984  

15 Irish seats to the European Parliament
Turnout1,392,285 (63.6%)
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Jack Lynch 1979 (cropped).jpg
Garret FitzGerald 1975 (cropped).jpg
Frank Cluskey, 1981 01 (cropped).jpg
Leader Jack Lynch Garret FitzGerald Frank Cluskey
Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour
Alliance EPD EPP SOC
Leader since 9 November 1966 19771977
Seats won
5 / 15
4 / 15
4 / 15
Popular vote464,451443,652193,898
Percentage34.7%33.1%14.5%

 Fourth partyFifth party
 
Neil Blaney 1990.jpg
Tomas Mac Giolla (cropped).jpg
Leader Neil Blaney Tomás Mac Giolla
Party Independent Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin The Workers' Party
Alliance CDI
Leader since197214 October 1962
Seats won
1 / 15
0 / 15
Popular vote81,52243,942
Percentage6.1%3.3%

The 1979 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1979 European Parliament election. These were the first direct elections to the European Parliament, and the first election to be held simultaneously across the entire Island of Ireland since the 1921 Irish elections. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote.

Contents

Constituencies

Ireland was entitled to 15 MEPs who were elected on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) in four constituencies based on the provinces of Ireland: [1]

Results

1979 election to the European Parliament in Ireland
PartyGroupLeader1st prefFPv%Seats
Fianna Fáil EPD Jack Lynch 464,45134.75
Fine Gael EPP Garret FitzGerald 443,65233.14
Labour SOC Frank Cluskey 193,89814.54
Independent Fianna Fáil CDI Neil Blaney 81,5226.11
Sinn Féin The Workers' Party Tomás Mac Giolla 43,9423.30
Independent 111,6078.31
Total1,339,072100.015

MEPs elected

ConstituencyNamePartyEP group
Connacht–Ulster Neil Blaney Independent Fianna Fáil CDI
Joe McCartin Fine Gael EPP
Seán Flanagan Fianna Fáil EPD
Dublin Richie Ryan Fine Gael EPP
John O'Connell Labour SOC
Síle de Valera Fianna Fáil EPD
Michael O'Leary Labour SOC
Leinster Mark Clinton Fine Gael EPP
Patrick Lalor Fianna Fáil EPD
Liam Kavanagh Labour SOC
Munster T.J. Maher Independent ELDR
Eileen Desmond Labour SOC
Tom O'Donnell Fine Gael EPP
Jerry Cronin Fianna Fáil EPD
Noel Davern Fianna Fáil EPD

Voting details

1979-2004 European Parliament Ireland constituencies Ireland-European-Parliament-Constituencies-1979-2004.svg
1979–2004 European Parliament Ireland constituencies
ConstituencyElectorateTurnoutSpoiltValid PollQuotaSeatsCandidates
Connacht–Ulster 442,471320,713 (72.5%)14,547 (4.5%)306,16676,542311
Dublin 618,454304,068 (49.2%)8,653 (2.8%)295,41559,084413
Leinster 486,248322,312 (66.30%)15,416 (4.80%)306,89661,38039
Munster 641,625445,192 (69.40%)14,597 (3.3%)430,59571,766513
Total2,188,7981,392,285 (63.6%)53,213 (3.8%)1,339,0721546

Aftermath

Provisional Sinn Féin did not to contest the election. However, the relative success of Bernadette McAliskey in Northern Ireland helped prompt Sinn Féin to stand in subsequent European elections. [2]

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References

  1. European Assembly Elections Act 1977, 2nd Sch.: Constituencies ( No. 30 of 1977, 2nd Sch. ). Enacted on 9 December 1977. Act of the Oireachtas .Retrieved from Irish Statute Book .
  2. Frampton, Martyn (2000). "Sinn Féin and the European Arena: 'Ourselves Alone' or 'Critical Engagement'?". Irish Studies in International Affairs. 16: 235–253. JSTOR   30001944.