The constituency is noted for its volatility: in three consecutive general elections, the poll topper from the previous election lost his seat, Brian Hayes in 2002, Seán Crowe in 2007 and Conor Lenihan in 2011.[1]
History and boundaries
The first constituency of this name was created by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947. It was based in Dublin city and was in use at elections from 1948 to 1977.[2]
Changes to the Dublin South-West constituency 1948–1977
Years
TDs
Boundaries
Notes
1948–1961
5
The Crumlin, Kilmainham, Kimmage and Terenure Wards, the portion of the Rathfarnham Ward which is not included in the borough constituency of Dublin South-East and the portion of the Rathmines West Ward which is not included in the borough constituency of Dublin South-East.[3]
The Crumlin, Crumlin West, Kimmage, Rathmines West and Terenure wards and the part of the Ballyfermot ward lying to the south-east of a line drawn along the main Dublin to Cork railway.[4]
Transfer of Kilmainhan to Dublin South-Central; transfer of part of Rathfarnham to Dublin South-East; transfer of remainder of Rathmines West from Dublin South-East.
1969–1977
4
The Ballyfermot, Crumlin and Kilmainham Wards;
that part of Crumlin West ward situated within a line drawn as follows: commencing at the junction of Windmill Road with St. Mary's Road, thence commencing in a north-easterly direction and proceeding along the ward boundary to the starting point;
and that part of Merchants Quay ward lying south of a line drawn as follows: commencing at the intersection of South Circular Road by the ward boundary, thence in a south-easterly direction along South Circular Road to its junction with Dolphin Avenue, thence in a southerly direction along Dolphin Avenue and its imaginary southerly projection to its intersection by the ward boundary.[5]
Transfer of balance of Ballyfermot from Dublin County; transfer of part of Crumlin West, Rathmines West and Terenure to Dublin South-Central; transfer of Kilmainham and part of Merchants Quay from Dublin South-Central.
1977
—
Constituency abolished
Transfer of parts of Ballyfermot, Crumlin and Kilmainham to Dublin Ballyfermot; transfer of part of Merchants Quay and Kilmainham to Dublin South-Central; transfer of part of Ballyfermot and Crumlin to Dublin County West.[6]
A second constituency of this name was created by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1980, and has been in use since the 1981 general election. It was in a different area to the 1948–1977 constituency, being based in County Dublin (South Dublin, after the division of County Dublin in 1994), in the areas of Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart, Tallaght, Templeogue, and parts of Terenure.[7] At the 2002 election, it was reduced in size and electorate, losing territory — including Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Clondalkin — to the new Dublin Mid-West constituency.[8] Major areas today include Rathfarnham, Tallaght, and Templeogue, with the surrounding suburbs of Ballyboden, Ballyroan, Butterfield, Firhouse, Greenhills, Knocklyon, Willbrook, and parts of Terenure. At the 2016 general election, it gained a seat to become a five-seat constituency, with the addition of part of the former Dublin South constituency, around Rathfarnham.[9]
The Constituency Review Report 2023 of the Electoral Commission recommended that at the next general election Dublin South-West be altered by the transfer of territory from Dublin South-Central and the transfer of territory to Dublin Mid-West.[10][11]
Clondalkin Number One, Clondalkin Number Two, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart, Tallaght Number Two, Tallaght Number Three, Terenure Number Three, Terenure Number Four;
and that part of the district electoral division of Tallaght Number One situated north of the centre of the River Dodder.
New constituency, created by the transfer of Clondalkin Number One, Clondalkin Number Two, Newcastle, Rathcoole and Saggart from Dublin County West; and
of Tallaght Number Two, Tallaght Number Three, Terenure Number Three, Terenure Number Four, and part of Tallaght Number One from Dublin County Mid.
and those parts of the electoral divisions of Clondalkin-Ballymount and Tallaght-Kilnamanagh situated west of a line drawn along the M50 Western Parkway;
and that part of the electoral division of Firhouse Village which is not comprised in the constituency of Dublin South.
Transfer of Firhouse and Bohernabreena from Dublin South, transfer of the Saggart and Rathcoole areas to Dublin Mid-West. Population swop with Dublin South-Central to secure an eastern boundary bounded largely by the M50, Greenhills Road and Templeville Road.[22]
and those parts of the electoral divisions of Clondalkin-Ballymount and Tallaght-Kilnamanagh situated west of a line drawn along the M50 Western Parkway.
Transfer from Dublin South of remainder of Firhouse Village.[25]
and those parts of the electoral divisions of Clondalkin-Ballymount and Tallaght-Kilnamanagh situated west of a line drawn along the M50 Western Parkway.
Transfer of Ballyboden, Edmondstown, Firhouse-Ballycullen, Firhouse-Knocklyon, Rathfarnham-Ballyroan, Rathfarnham-Butterfield, Rathfarnham-Hermitage, Rathfarnham-St. Endas and Rathfarnham-Village from former Dublin South.[27][28]
Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.
TDs since 1981
Note that the boundaries of Dublin South-West from 1981 onwards share no common territory with the pre-1977 boundaries. See §History and boundaries
Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.
↑ Government of Ireland (1998). 28th Dáil General Election June, 1997 Election Results and Transfer of Votes. Stationery Office, Government of Ireland.
↑ Government of Ireland (1993). Dáil General Election November, 1992 Election Results and Transfer of Votes in the General Election for the Twenty-Seventh Dáil. Stationery Office, Government of Ireland.
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