2010 Donegal South-West by-election

2010 Donegal South-West by-election
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Turnout34,424 (57.4%)
 
Nominee Pearse Doherty Barry O'Neill Brian Ó Domhnaill
Party Sinn Féin Fine Gael Fianna Fáil
First preferences 13,719 6,424 7,344
Percentage 39.85% 18.66% 21.33%
Final count 16,897 8,182 8,069
 
Nominee Thomas Pringle Frank McBrearty Jnr Anne Sweeney
Party Independent Labour Independent
First preferences 3,438 3,366 133
Percentage 9.99% 9.78% 0.39%
Final count – – –
Donegal South-West shown within Ireland
TD before election

Pat "the Cope" Gallagher
Fianna Fáil

Elected TD

Pearse Doherty
Sinn Féin

A by-election was held in the Dáil constituency of Donegal South-West in Ireland on Thursday 25 November 2010 to fill a vacancy left by the election of Fianna Fáil TD Pat "the Cope" Gallagher to the European Parliament at the June 2009 election. Most voters cast their ballots on 25 November 2010;[1][2] 754 voters on offshore islands (Arranmore, Tory, Inishbofin, Gola, and Inishfree) were entitled to cast their ballots on 22 November.[3]

When a vacancy occurs in the Dáil, the writ for a by-election to fill the vacancy is moved in the Dáil. Possessing a small majority in the Dáil, the government had delayed in calling this by-election. There was no specific legal requirement on when to hold a by-election.[4] The 17-month gap between the seat becoming vacant and the writ being moved is the longest in the history of the state.[5]

Sinn Féin senator Pearse Doherty was elected on the fourth count.[6]

  1. ^ "Date set for Donegal South West poll". The Irish Times. 4 November 2010. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  2. ^ "Chief whip says no ulterior motive for by-election delay". Donegal Democrat. 12 January 2010. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  3. ^ "First Donegal byelection votes cast". The Irish Times. 22 November 2010. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  4. ^ Sheahan, Fionnan (10 July 2008). "Speculation begins over who will fill TD position". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  5. ^ "Court declares byelection delay unconstitutional". The Irish Times. 4 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference elecsirel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).