1918 Waterford City by-election

The 1918 Waterford City by-election was held on 22 March 1918.[1][2][3]

The by-election was held due to the death of the incumbent Irish Parliamentary MP, John Redmond. The Irish Parliamentary candidate William Redmond,[4] his son, defeated Vincent White, the Sinn Féin candidate, by 1,242 votes to 745.[5] Redmond had resigned his seat in East Tyrone to contest the seat.[6]

Famously Redmond campaigned in his army uniform and wearing a black armband. His victory was the second defeat of Sinn Féin at by-elections and gave a big, albeit temporary, boost to the morale of supporters of the Irish Parliamentary Party. Although he retained his seat in the general election of December that year, he did not take part in the First Dáil.

By-election 29 March 1918: Waterford City[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary William Redmond 1,242 62.5 N/A
Sinn Féin Vincent White 745 37.5 New
Majority 497 25.0 N/A
Turnout 1,987 66.9 N/A
Irish Parliamentary hold Swing N/A
  1. ^ Craig, F.W.S. (1987). Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 301.
  2. ^ Walker, Brian Mercer (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. p. 185. ISBN 0-901714-12-7.
  3. ^ The Constitutional Year Book for 1919. London: National Unionist Association. 1919. p. 339.
  4. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
  5. ^ "Waterford Election Result". Irish Times. 30 March 1918.
  6. ^ "The Waterford Election". Cork Examiner. 15 March 1918.
  7. ^ "Waterford Election Result". Irish Times. 30 March 1918.