Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918

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Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to provide for the Redistribution of Seats at Parliamentary Elections in Ireland and for purposes connected therewith.
Citation 7 & 8 Geo. 5. c. 65
Dates
Royal assent 6 February 1918
Status: Repealed

The Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918 (7 & 8 Geo. 5. c. 65) was an Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom which redistributed the parliamentary constituencies in Ireland for the House of Commons. It was enacted on the same day as the Representation of the People Act 1918 which extended the franchise throughout the United Kingdom.

Contents

This Act replaced the distribution of seats which had been enacted by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 and had been in use since the general election of that year. The number of seats was increased from 103 to 105 (and the number of constituencies increased from 101 to 103), with the enfranchisement of two additional universities. The revision was based on a report of a Boundary Commission carried out in 1917 taking population changes in the 1911 census into account. [1]

The new constituencies came into effect at the 1918 general election. Sinn Féin had adopted an abstentionist policy since its foundation, and none of its MPs elected in by-elections prior to this election had taken their seats. In its election manifesto, it called for the establishment of an assembly "comprising persons chosen by Irish constituencies as the supreme national authority to speak and act in the name of the Irish people", which would become the revolutionary Dáil Éireann. The First Dáil met in January 1919 and made a Declaration of Independence of the Irish Republic.

The constituencies in the 1918 Act were superseded by those in the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which created two home rule parliaments in Ireland and reduced the Irish seats at Westminster from 105 to 46. The seats designated in the 1920 Act for the Southern Ireland House of Commons and the Northern Ireland House of Commons were used as the 1921 election to the Second Dáil. The seats designated for Westminster in the 1920 Act would only apply in the six counties of Northern Ireland which remained part of the UK, taking effect at the 1922 general election. [2] The remaining twenty-six Irish counties became the Irish Free State on 6 December 1922, ceasing to be part of the United Kingdom.

Redistributed seats

Antrim

Representation increased from 8 to 13 MPs
‡ The parliamentary borough of Belfast was partly in County Down

Boroughs
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Belfast, East Division (1 MP)Boundaries extended to include entire county borough.
Divided into nine single-member divisions.		 Belfast, Cromac Division (1 MP)
Belfast, Duncairn Division (1 MP)
Belfast, North Division (1 MP) Belfast, Falls Division (1 MP)
Belfast, Ormeau Division (1 MP)
Belfast, Pottinger Division (1 MP)
Belfast, South Division (1 MP) Belfast, St. Anne's Division (1 MP)
Belfast, Shankill Division (1 MP)
Belfast, West Division (1 MP) Belfast, Victoria Division (1 MP)
Belfast, Woodvale Division (1 MP)
County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Antrim, East Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county. Antrim, East Division (1 MP)
Antrim, Mid Division (1 MP) Antrim, Mid Division (1 MP)
Antrim, North Division (1 MP) Antrim, North Division (1 MP)
Antrim, South Division (1 MP) Antrim, South Division (1 MP)

Armagh

Representation unchanged (3 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Armagh, Mid Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county. Armagh, Mid Division (1 MP)
Armagh, North Division (1 MP) Armagh, North Division (1 MP)
Armagh, South Division (1 MP) Armagh, South Division (1 MP)

Carlow

Representation unchanged (1 MP)

County Division
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Carlow County (1 MP)No change. Carlow County (1 MP)

Cavan

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Cavan, East Division (1 MP)No change. Cavan, East Division (1 MP)
Cavan, West Division (1 MP) Cavan, West Division (1 MP)

Clare

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Clare, East Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county. Clare, East Division (1 MP)
Clare, West Division (1 MP) Clare, West Division (1 MP)

Cork

Representation unchanged (9 MPs)

Boroughs
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Cork City (2 MPs)No change Cork City (2 MPs)
County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Cork, East Division (1 MP)No change. Cork, East Division (1 MP)
Cork, Mid Division (1 MP) Cork, Mid Division (1 MP)
Cork, North Division (1 MP) Cork, North Division (1 MP)
Cork, North East Division (1 MP) Cork, North East Division (1 MP)
Cork, South Division (1 MP) Cork, South Division (1 MP)
Cork, South East Division (1 MP) Cork, South East Division (1 MP)
Cork, West Division (1 MP) Cork, West Division (1 MP)

Donegal

Representation unchanged (4 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Donegal, East Division (1 MP)No change. Donegal, East Division (1 MP)
Donegal, North Division (1 MP) Donegal, North Division (1 MP)
Donegal, South Division (1 MP) Donegal, South Division (1 MP)
Donegal, West Division (1 MP) Donegal, West Division (1 MP)

Down

Representation unchanged (5 MPs)
‡ The parliamentary borough of Newry was partly in County Armagh

Boroughs
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Newry (1 MP)Abolished.
County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Down, East Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
The parliamentary borough of Newry was absorbed into South Down.
Divided into five single-member divisions.		 Down, East Division (1 MP)
Down, North Division (1 MP) Down, Mid Division (1 MP)
Down, North Division (1 MP)
Down, South Division (1 MP) Down, South Division (1 MP)
Down, West Division (1 MP) Down, West Division (1 MP)

Dublin

Representation increased from 6 to 11 MPs

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
County Dublin, North Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
Divided into four single-member divisions.		 County Dublin, North Division (1 MP)
County Dublin, Pembroke Division (1 MP)
County Dublin, South Division (1 MP) County Dublin, Rathmines Division (1 MP)
County Dublin, South Division (1 MP)
Boroughs
Before 1885ChangeAfter 1885
Dublin, College Green Division (1 MP)Boundaries extended to include entire county borough.
Divided into seven single-member divisions.		 Dublin, Clontarf Division (1 MP)
Dublin, College Green Division (1 MP)
Dublin, Dublin Harbour Division (1 MP) Dublin, Dublin Harbour Division (1 MP)
Dublin, St James's Division (1 MP)
Dublin, St Patrick's Division (1 MP) Dublin, St Michan's Division (1 MP)
Dublin, St Patrick's Division (1 MP)
Dublin, St Stephen's Green Division (1 MP) Dublin, St Stephen's Green Division (1 MP)

Fermanagh

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Fermanagh, North Division (1 MP)No change. Fermanagh, North Division (1 MP)
Fermanagh, South Division (1 MP) Fermanagh, South Division (1 MP)

Galway

Representation reduced from 5 to 4 MPs

Boroughs
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Galway Borough (1 MP)Abolished.
County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Galway, Connemara Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
The parliamentary borough of Galway was absorbed into Galway Connemara.
Divided into four single-member divisions.		 Galway, Connemara Division (1 MP)
Galway, East Division (1 MP) Galway, East Division (1 MP)
Galway, North Division (1 MP) Galway, North Division (1 MP)
Galway, South Division (1 MP) Galway, South Division (1 MP)

Kerry

Representation unchanged (4 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Kerry, East Division (1 MP)No change. Kerry, East Division (1 MP)
Kerry, North Division (1 MP) Kerry, North Division (1 MP)
Kerry, South Division (1 MP) Kerry, South Division (1 MP)
Kerry, West Division (1 MP) Kerry, West Division (1 MP)

Kildare

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Kildare, North Division (1 MP)No change. Kildare, North Division (1 MP)
Kildare, South Division (1 MP) Kildare, South Division (1 MP)

Kilkenny

Representation reduced from 3 to 2 MPs

Boroughs
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Kilkenny City (1 MP)Abolished.
County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Kilkenny, North Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
The parliamentary borough of Kilkenny was absorbed into North Kilkenny.
Divided into two single-member divisions.		 Kilkenny, North Division (1 MP)
Kilkenny, South Division (1 MP) Kilkenny, South Division (1 MP)

King's County

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
King's County, Birr Division (1 MP)Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. King's County (1 MP)
King's County, Tullamore Division (1 MP)

Leitrim

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Leitrim, North Division (1 MP)Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. Leitrim (1 MP)
Leitrim, South Division (1 MP)

Limerick

Representation unchanged (3 MPs)

Boroughs
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Limerick City (1 MP)No change. Limerick City (1 MP)
County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Limerick, East Division (1 MP)No change. Limerick, East Division (1 MP)
Limerick, West Division (1 MP) Limerick, West Division (1 MP)

Londonderry

Representation unchanged (3 MPs)

Boroughs
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Londonderry City (1 MP)No change. Londonderry City (1 MP)
County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Londonderry, North Division (1 MP)No change. Londonderry, North Division (1 MP)
Londonderry, South Division (1 MP) Londonderry, South Division (1 MP)

Longford

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Longford, North Division (1 MP)Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. Longford (1 MP)
Longford, South Division (1 MP)

Louth

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Louth, North Division (1 MP)Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. Louth (1 MP)
Louth, South Division (1 MP)

Mayo

Representation unchanged (4 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Mayo, East Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county. Mayo, East Division (1 MP)
Mayo, North Division (1 MP) Mayo, North Division (1 MP)
Mayo, South Division (1 MP) Mayo, South Division (1 MP)
Mayo, West Division (1 MP) Mayo, West Division (1 MP)

Meath

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Meath, North Division (1 MP)No change. Meath, North Division (1 MP)
Meath, South Division (1 MP) Meath, South Division (1 MP)

Monaghan

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Monaghan, North Division (1 MP)No change. Monaghan, North Division (1 MP)
Monaghan, South Division (1 MP) Monaghan, South Division (1 MP)

Queen's County

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Queen's County, Leix Division (1 MP)Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. Queen's County (1 MP)
Queen's County, Ossory Division (1 MP)

Roscommon

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Roscommon, North Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county. Roscommon, North Division (1 MP)
Roscommon, South Division (1 MP) Roscommon, South Division (1 MP)

Sligo

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Sligo, North Division (1 MP)No change. Sligo, North Division (1 MP)
Sligo, South Division (1 MP) Sligo, South Division (1 MP)

Tipperary

Representation unchanged (4 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Tipperary, East Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative counties
of North Tipperary and South Tipperary. No other change.		 Tipperary, East Division (1 MP)
Tipperary, Mid Division (1 MP) Tipperary, Mid Division (1 MP)
Tipperary, North Division (1 MP) Tipperary, North Division (1 MP)
Tipperary, South Division (1 MP) Tipperary, South Division (1 MP)

Tyrone

Representation reduced from 4 to 3 MPs

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Tyrone, East Division (1 MP)Divided into three single-member divisions. Tyrone, North East Division (1 MP)
Tyrone, Mid Division (1 MP)
Tyrone, North Division (1 MP) Tyrone, North West Division (1 MP)
Tyrone, South Division (1 MP) Tyrone, South Division (1 MP)

Waterford

Representation reduced from 3 to 2 MPs

Boroughs
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Waterford City (1 MP)Extended to include entire county borough of Waterford and the part of the rural district of Waterford No. 1 which consisted of the district electoral divisions of Ballynakill, Kilbarry, Killoteran and Waterford Rural. Waterford City (1 MP)
County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Waterford, East Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county, and to exclude the area of the extended parliamentary borough of Waterford.
Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP.		 Waterford County (1 MP)
Waterford, West Division (1 MP)

Westmeath

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Westmeath, North Division (1 MP)Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. Westmeath (1 MP)
Westmeath, South Division (1 MP)

Wexford

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Wexford, North Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county. Wexford, North Division (1 MP)
Wexford, South Division (1 MP) Wexford, South Division (1 MP)

Wicklow

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
1885 ActChange1918 Act
Wicklow, East Division (1 MP)Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county. Wicklow, East Division (1 MP)
Wicklow, West Division (1 MP) Wicklow, West Division (1 MP)

Universities

Representation increased from 2 to 4 MPs

1885 ActChange1918 Act
Dublin University (2 MPs)No change Dublin University (2 MPs)
New constituency National University of Ireland (1 MP)
New constituency Queen's University, Belfast (1 MP)

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ Boundary Commission (Ireland) (1917). Report of the Boundary Commission (Ireland).
  2. ↑ "Irish Free State (Agreement) Act 1922 (12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 4)". Historical Documents. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012.
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