Government of Ireland Act 1920 (constituencies)

Last updated

Government of Ireland Act 1920
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Long title An Act to provide for the better Government of Ireland.
Citation 10 & 11 Geo. 5 c. 67
Dates
Royal assent 23 December 1920
Status: Repealed

The Government of Ireland Act 1920 (10 & 11 Geo. 5 c. 67) was an Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to create two separate parliaments in Ireland: the Parliament of Northern Ireland and the Parliament of Southern Ireland. The Fifth Schedule to this act provided the constituencies for the House of Commons in these two separate parliaments. These same constituencies also replaced those provided in the Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918 for representation of Ireland in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom at Westminster. Sinn Féin used these constituencies to elect the Second Dáil (1921–22) and those constituencies in Southern Ireland were used to elect the Third Dáil (1922–23).

Contents

Constituencies

Southern Ireland Northern Ireland
ConstituencySIHCUKHC
Dublin Mid 41
Dublin North-West 41
Dublin South 41
Cavan 31
Donegal 61
Monaghan 31
Dublin County 62
King's County–Queen's County 41
Kildare–Wicklow 51
Wexford 41
Carlow–Kilkenny 41
Longford–Westmeath 41
Louth–Meath 51
Clare 41
Limerick City–Limerick East 41
Kerry–Limerick West 82
Cork Borough 41
Cork East and North East 31
Cork Mid, North, South, South East and West 82
Tipperary Mid, North and South 41
Waterford–Tipperary East 51
Galway 72
Mayo North and West 41
Mayo South–Roscommon South 41
Sligo–Mayo East 51
Leitrim–Roscommon North 41
Dublin University 42
National University 41
Total12833
NIHCUKHC
ConstituencySeatsConstituencySeats
Belfast East 4 Belfast East 1
Belfast North 4 Belfast North 1
Belfast South 4 Belfast South 1
Belfast West 4 Belfast West 1
Antrim 7 Antrim 2
Armagh 4 Armagh 1
Fermanagh and Tyrone 8 Fermanagh and Tyrone 2
Londonderry 5 Londonderry 1
Down 8 Down 2
Queen's University of Belfast 4 Queen's University of Belfast 1
Total52Total13

Operation of constituencies

The First Dáil had used the constituencies which elected MPs to the House of Commons at the 1918 general election. In May 1921, Dáil Éireann resolved to use the constituencies in the Government of Ireland Act 1920 (in both parts of Ireland). [1] The 1921 elections were used to elect the Second Dáil. This increased the total number of seats in the Dáil from 105 in 1918 to 180 in 1921 (52 in Northern Ireland and 128 in Southern Ireland, subsequently the Irish Free State). Only representatives from Sinn Féin sat in the Dáil. [2] In practice this was confined to 125 TDs representing 130 seats.

Only the Dublin University MPs attended for the intended first meeting of the House of Commons of Southern Ireland, with those elected for Sinn Féin sitting as TDs in Dáil Éireann.

The members elected for Southern Ireland assembled in January to give legal effect to the Anglo-Irish Treaty under the terms of the British government, which had not recognised the Anglo-Irish Treaty Dáil vote. This included the Pro-Treaty Sinn Féin TDs and the four representatives of Dublin University. The 1922 Irish general election was held on the constituencies under this Act.

Under the terms of the Treaty, the Irish Free State left the United Kingdom on 6 December 1922. Therefore, only constituencies in Northern Ireland returned MPs at the 1922 United Kingdom general election held on 15 November, and the Westminster constituencies designated for Southern Ireland were never used.

The 1923 general election was the first election in the Irish Free State, and was contested under the new constituencies in the Electoral Act 1923.

In the House of Commons of Northern Ireland, the constituencies were replaced under the House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929 with single-seat constituencies elected by first-past-the-post voting. Queen's University of Belfast remained as a four-seat constituency until its abolition in 1969.

The United Kingdom House of Commons constituencies in Northern Ireland were altered by the Representation of the People Act 1948, including the abolition of the Queen's University of Belfast constituency. This took effect at the 1950 general election.

Comparison with 1918 constituencies

Constituencies in the Government of Ireland Act 1920 were defined by reference to one or more constituencies as defined in the Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918. [3]

Northern Ireland

Belfast

1918 Act: 9 MPs
1920 Act: 16 MPs in NIHC & 4 MPs in UKHC

1918 Act1920 Act
Belfast, Pottinger Division (one MP) Belfast East (four MPs)
Belfast, Victoria Division (one MP)
Belfast, Duncairn Division (one MP) Belfast North (four MPs)
Belfast, Shankill Division (one MP)
Belfast, Cromac Division (one MP) Belfast South (four MPs)
Belfast, Ormeau Division (one MP)
Belfast, Falls Division (one MP) Belfast West (four MPs)
Belfast, St Anne's Division (one MP)
Belfast, Woodvale Division (one MP)

Antrim

1918 Act: 4 MPs
1920 Act: 7 MPs in NIHC & 2 MPs in UKHC

1918 Act1920 Act
Antrim, East Division (one MP) Antrim (seven MPs)
Antrim, Mid Division (one MP)
Antrim, North Division (one MP)
Antrim, South Division (one MP)

Armagh

1918 Act: 3 MPs
1920 Act: 4 MPs in NIHC & 1 MP in UKHC

1918 Act1920 Act
Armagh, Mid Division (one MP) Armagh (four MPs)
Armagh, North Division (one MP)
Armagh, South Division (one MP)

Down

1918 Act: 5 MPs
1920 Act: 8 MPs in NIHC & 2 MPs in UKHC

1918 Act1920 Act
Down, East Division (one MP) Down (eight MPs)
Down, Mid Division (one MP)
Down, North Division (one MP)
Down, South Division (one MP)
Down, West Division (one MP)

Fermanagh and Tyrone

1918 Act: 5 MPs
1920 Act: 8 MPs in NIHC & 2 MPs in UKHC

1918 Act1920 Act
Fermanagh, North Division (one MP) Fermanagh and Tyrone (eight MPs)
Fermanagh, South Division (one MP)
Tyrone, North East Division (one MP)
Tyrone, North West Division (one MP)
Tyrone, South Division (one MP)

Londonderry

1918 Act: 3 MPs
1920 Act: 5 MPs in NIHC & 1 MP in UKHC

1918 Act1920 Act
Londonderry City (one MP) Londonderry (five MPs)
Londonderry, North Division (one MP)
Londonderry, South Division (one MP)

Universities

1918 Act: 1 MPs
1920 Act: 4 MPs in NIHC & 1 MP in UKHC

1918 Act1920 Act
Queen's University of Belfast (one MP) Queen's University of Belfast (four MPs)

Southern Ireland

Ulster (part)

Representation increased from 8 to 12 MPs

1918 Act1920 Act
Cavan, East Division (one MP) Cavan (three MPs)
Cavan, West Division (one MP)
Donegal, East Division (one MP) Donegal (six MPs)
Donegal, North Division (one MP)
Donegal, South Division (one MP)
Donegal, West Division (one MP)
Monaghan, North Division (one MP) Monaghan (three MPs)
Monaghan, North Division (one MP)

Leinster

Representation increased from 27 to 44 MPs

1918 Act1920 Act
Dublin, College Green Division (one MP) Mid Dublin (four MPs)
Dublin, Dublin Harbour Division (one MP)
Dublin, Clontarf Division (one MP) North West Dublin (four MPs)
Dublin, St James's Division (one MP)
Dublin, St Michan's Division (one MP)
Dublin, St Patrick's Division (one MP) Dublin South (four MPs)
Dublin St Stephen's Green Division (one MP)
County Dublin, North Division (one MP) Dublin County (six MPs)
County Dublin, Pembroke Division (one MP)
County Dublin, Rathmines Division (one MP)
County Dublin, South Division (one MP)
King's County (one MP) King's County-Queen's County (four MPs)
Queen's County (one MP)
Kildare, North Division (one MP) Kildare–Wicklow (five MPs)
Kildare, South Division (one MP)
Wicklow, East Division (one MP)
Wicklow, West Division (one MP)
Wexford, North Division (one MP) Wexford (four MPs)
Wexford, South Division (one MP)
County Carlow (one MP) Carlow–Kilkenny (four MPs)
Kilkenny, North Division (one MP)
Kilkenny, South Division (one MP)
Longford County (one MP) Longford–Westmeath (four MPs)
Westmeath County Division (one MP)
Louth County (one MP) Louth–Meath (five MPs)
Meath, North Division (one MP)
Meath, South Division (one MP)

Munster

Representation increased from 24 to 40 MPs

1918 Act1920 Act
Cork City (two MPs) Cork City (four MPs)
Clare, East Division (one MP) Clare (four MPs)
Clare, West Division (one MP)
Limerick City (one MP) Limerick City–Limerick East (four MPs)
Limerick, East Division (one MP)
Kerry, East Division (one MP) Kerry–Limerick West (eight MPs)
Kerry, North Division (one MP)
Kerry, South Division (one MP)
Kerry, West Division (one MP)
Limerick, West Division (one MP)
Cork, East Division (one MP) Cork East and North East (three MPs)
Cork, North East Division (one MP)
Cork, Mid Division (one MP) Cork Mid, North, South, South East and West (eight MPs)
Cork, North Division (one MP)
Cork, South Division (one MP)
Cork, South East Division (one MP)
Cork, West Division (one MP)
Tipperary, East Division (one MP) Waterford–Tipperary East (five MPs)
Waterford City (one MP)
County Waterford (one MP)
Tipperary, Mid Division (one MP) Tipperary Mid, North and South (four MPs)
Tipperary, North Division (one MP)
Tipperary, South Division (one MP)

Connacht

Representation increased from 13 to 24 MPs

1918 Act1920 Act
Galway, Connemara Division (one MP) Galway (seven MPs)
Galway, East Division (one MP)
Galway, North Division (one MP)
Galway, South Division (one MP)
Mayo, North Division (one MP) Mayo North and West (four MPs)
Mayo, West Division (one MP)
Mayo, South Division (one MP) Mayo South–Roscommon South (four MPs)
Roscommon, South Division (one MP)
Mayo, East Division (one MP) Sligo–Mayo East (five MPs)
Sligo, North Division (one MP)
Sligo, South Division (one MP)
Leitrim County (one MP) Leitrim–Roscommon North (four MPs)
Roscommon, North Division (one MP)

Universities

Representation increased from 3 to 8 MPs

1918 Act1920 Act
Dublin University (two MPs) Dublin University (four MPs)
National University (one MP) National University (four MPs)

See also

Related Research Articles

The Second Dáil was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 16 August 1921 until 8 June 1922. From 1919 to 1922, Dáil Éireann was the revolutionary parliament of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic. The Second Dáil consisted of members elected at the 1921 elections, but with only members of Sinn Féin taking their seats. On 7 January 1922, it ratified the Anglo-Irish Treaty by 64 votes to 57 which ended the War of Independence and led to the establishment of the Irish Free State on 6 December 1922.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1922 Irish general election</span>

The 1922 Irish general election took place in Southern Ireland on Friday, 16 June. The election was separately called by a resolution of Dáil Éireann on 19 May and by an order of the Provisional Government on 27 May. The body elected was thus both the Third Dáil and provisional parliament replacing the parliament of Southern Ireland, under the provisions of the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty to elect a constituent assembly paving the way for the formal establishment of the Irish Free State. From 6 December 1922, it continued as the Dáil Éireann of the Irish Free State.

There were two elections in Ireland on 24 May 1921, following the establishment of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. New constituencies were established for both parliaments. A resolution of Dáil Éireann on 10 May 1921 held that these elections were to be regarded as elections to Dáil Éireann and that all those returned at these elections be regarded as members of Dáil Éireann. According to this theory of Irish republicanism, these elections provided the membership of the Second Dáil. The Second Dáil lasted 297 days.

South Dublin, a division of County Dublin, was a county constituency in Ireland from 1885 to 1922. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, using the first past the post voting system.

North Dublin, a division of County Dublin, is a former parliamentary constituency which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1885 until 1922. From 1918 to 1921, it was also used as a constituency for Dáil Éireann. From the dissolution of 1922, the area was not represented in the UK Parliament.

Cromac, a division of Belfast, was a UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1922, using the first past the post electoral system.

Duncairn, a division of the parliamentary borough of Belfast, was a UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1922, using the first past the post electoral system.

Falls, a division of Belfast, was a UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1922, using the first past the post electoral system.

Ormeau, a division of Belfast, was a UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1922, using the first past the post electoral system.

Pottinger, a division of Belfast, was a UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1922, using the first past the post electoral system.

Shankill, a division of the parliamentary borough of Belfast, was a UK parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1922, on the electoral system of first past the post.

St Anne's, a division of Belfast, was a UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1922, using the first past the post electoral system.

Victoria, a division of Belfast, was a UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1922, using the first past the post electoral system.

Woodvale, a division of Belfast, was a UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1922, using the first past the post electoral system.

Clontarf, a division of the parliamentary borough of Dublin, was a parliamentary constituency which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 1922. From 1918 to 1921, it was also used a constituency for Dáil Éireann.

St Michan's, a division of the parliamentary borough of Dublin, was a parliamentary constituency which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 1922, using the first past the post electoral system.. From 1918 to 1921, it was also used as a constituency for Dáil Éireann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dublin College Green (UK Parliament constituency)</span> UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland, 1885–1922

College Green, a division of the parliamentary borough of Dublin, was a parliamentary constituency which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1885 until 1922. From 1918 to 1921, it was also used a constituency for Dáil Éireann

National University of Ireland (NUI) is a university constituency in Ireland, which elects three senators to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas. Its electorate is the graduates of the university, which has a number of constituent universities. It previously elected members to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom (1918–1921), to the House of Commons of Southern Ireland (1921) and to Dáil Éireann (1918–1936).

The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in London on 6 December 1921 and Dáil Éireann voted to approve the treaty on 7 January 1922, following a debate through late December 1921 and into January 1922. The vote was 64 in favour, 57 against, with the Ceann Comhairle and 3 others not voting. The Sinn Féin party split into opposing sides in the aftermath of the Treaty vote, which led to the Irish Civil War from June 1922 to May 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fermanagh and Tyrone (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)</span>

Fermanagh and Tyrone was a county constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1929. It returned eight MPs, using proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

References

  1. "Dáil Éireann debate - PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT. - ELECTIONS". Houses of the Oireachtas. 10 May 1921. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  2. "APPENDIX 19 DÁIL ÉIREANN". Houses of the Oireachtas. 16 August 1921. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  3. "Government of Ireland Act 1920: Fifth Schedule". legislation.gov.uk . The National Archives . Retrieved 4 October 2021.