1980 Donegal by-election

1980 Donegal by-election

6 November 1980
Turnout(73.9%)
 
Coughlan
Kelly
Nominee Clement Coughlan Dinny McGinley Paddy Kelly
Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Independent Fianna Fáil
First preferences 23,456 20,022 14,198
Percentage 39.0% 33.3% 23.6%
Final count 29,219 24,085

TD before election

Joseph Brennan
Ceann Comhairle

Elected TD

Clement Coughlan
Fianna Fáil

A by-election was held in the Dáil constituency of Donegal in Ireland on Thursday, 6 November 1980. It followed the death of the Ceann Comhairle Joseph Brennan on 13 July 1980.[1][2]

A government motion to issue the writ of election to fill the vacancy was agreed by the Dáil on 16 October 1980.[3] The by-election was won by Fianna Fáil candidate Clement Coughlan.[4]

Coughlan died in a road accident in early 1983, leading to the 1983 Donegal South-West by-election.

Result

1980 Donegal by-election[5][6][7]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
Fianna Fáil Clement Coughlan 39.0 23,456 24,000 29,219
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 33.3 20,022 20,793 24,085
Independent Fianna Fáil Paddy Kelly 23.6 14,198 14,992  
Sinn Féin The Workers' Party Séamus Rodgers 4.0 2,401    
Electorate: 81,340   Valid: 60,077   Quota: 30,039   Turnout: 73.9%  

References

  1. ^ Dempsey, Pauric (October 2009). "Brennan, Joseph". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.000926.v1.
  2. ^ "Death of Ceann Comhairle: Expression of Sympathy". Dáil Debates. 323 (1). Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 October 1980. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Issue of Writ: Donegal By-election". Dáil Debates. 323 (2). 16 October 1980. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Return to Writ: Donegal. - Introduction of New Member". Dáil Debates. 324 (1). 11 November 1980. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  5. ^ Gallagher, Michael (2009). Irish Elections 1948–77: Results and Analysis Sources for the Study of Irish Politics 2. Routledge. ISBN 9781138973343.
  6. ^ "22nd Dáil 1981 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. September 1981. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Donegal: 1980 by-election Results, Counts, Stats and Analysis". Ireland Election. Retrieved 27 February 2026.