2005 Kildare North by-election

2005 Kildare North by-election
11 March 2005
Turnout25,524 (39.2%)
 
Nominee Catherine Murphy Áine Brady Darren Scully
Party Independent Fianna Fáil Fine Gael
First preferences 5,985 6,201 4,630
Percentage 23.6% 24.5% 18.3%
Final count 12,256 9,818 –
 
Nominee Paddy MacNamara Kate Walsh J. J. Power
Party Labour Progressive Democrats Green
First preferences 6,087 2,006 1,547
Percentage 17.8% 7.9% 6.1%
Final count – – –
Kildare North shown within Ireland
TD before election

Charlie McCreevy
Fianna Fáil

Elected TD

Catherine Murphy
Independent

A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann constituency of Kildare North in Ireland on Friday, 11 March 2005. It followed the resignation of Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McCreevy on 31 October 2004 to take up his new position as Ireland's European Commissioner.

On 15 February 2005 the campaign began when it was announced that polling would take place on 11 March 2005. Eight candidates contested the vacant seat, the by-election was won by independent candidate Catherine Murphy.[1] Her 23.6% share of the first-preference vote was the lowest recorded at any by-election since Patrick Kinane won the Tipperary by-election in October 1947 with a 21.4% share.[2]

As a result of her election, Kildare North was the only constituency in the Republic of Ireland that did not have a TD from one of the government parties of Fianna Fáil or the Progressive Democrats. Murphy also went into the record books as Kildare North's first ever female member of Dáil Éireann.[3]

On the same day, a by-election took place in Meath, both were the final occasions which the Progressive Democrats contested by-elections.

Background

Incumbent Fianna Fáil TD for the constituency, Charlie McCreevy, was appointed as Ireland's European Commissioner in October 2004, succeeding David Byrne.[4] As a consequence, a by-election was to be held in Kildare North. McCreevy officially resigned on 22 November 2004.[5]

Candidate selection

Fianna Fáil

It was initially speculated that McCreevy's son, Charlie McCreevy Jnr, might seek to contest the seat for Fianna Fáil, though an arrest for public intoxication threw this into jeopardy. Other speculated candidates included McCreevy's personal assistant, Kildare County Council member Michael Fitzpatrick, fellow county councillors Liam Doyle and Willie Callaghan,[6] and Leixlip-based solicitor Paul Kelly, who had narrowly missed out on election at the 2002 Irish general election.[7] Kelly was considered the frontrunner for the nomination, but withdrew himself from consideration in mid-December, citing monetary and time constraints.[8] The younger McCreevy announced in mid-January that he also would not be a candidate.[9]

The eventual convention was contested by councillors Fitzpatrick, Doyle and Callaghan, former Democratic Left member Anthony Creevey and teacher Áine Brady, the wife of former Kildare TD Gerry Brady.[10] The convention, seen to represent something of a proxy-war between McCreevy's wing of the party and Bertie Ahern's wing, saw Ahern's preferred candidate Brady selected as the candidate.[11]

Fine Gael

A November article in the Irish Independent suggested that Fine Gael had been looking at a candidate similar to Mairead McGuinness for this campaign.[12] In February, the party chose county councillor Darren Scully to run for them at this election. Senator Brian Hayes was Fine Gael's director of elections at the by-election.[13]

Green Party

County councillors J. J. Power and Fintan McCarthy were seen as the frontrunners for the Green Party nomination.[12] Power was selected as their candidate in December.[14]

Labour

Naas-based county councillor Paddy MacNamara was selected as Labour's candidate on 28 December, defeating Gerry Browne from Leixlip at a selection convention.[12]

Progressive Democrats

On 16 September 2004, the Progressive Democrats chose Senator Kate Walsh as their candidate at the by-election. Walsh had unsuccessfully contested the previous general election in Kildare North, receiving 11.9% of the vote.[15]

Independents

In December, Seanán Ó Coistín announced he would run as an independent candidate.[14] Catherine Murphy, a town councillor from Leixlip and three-time unsuccessful candidate in this constituency and Gerry Browne also contested the election.[11]

Campaign

An article in the Irish Independent highlighted that Fine Gael had started canvassing ahead of the by-election in November, before a selection convention had even been organised,[16] while Isabel Hurley of the same paper commented in February that Fianna Fáil were in "serious trouble" having not selected a candidate by the start of February.[17]

The ongoing controversy around minister Martin Cullen and alleged wrongdoing involving awarding of contracts to Monica Leech was said to have harmed Fianna Fáil's chances at the election.[18] By February, Murphy was named the favourite by bookmakers.[11]

Result

2005 Kildare North by-election[1]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Fianna Fáil Áine Brady 24.5 6,201 6,255 7,265 8,133 9,818
Independent Catherine Murphy 23.6 5,985 6,189 7,176 8,809 12,256
Fine Gael Darren Scully 18.3 4,630 4,660 5,382 7,421  
Labour Paddy MacNamara 17.8 4,507 4,545 5,199    
Progressive Democrats Kate Walsh 7.9 2,006 2,023      
Green J. J. Power 6.1 1,547 1,621      
Independent Gerry Browne 0.9 226        
Independent Seanán Ó Coistín 0.8 211        
Electorate: 65,080   Valid: 25,313   Spoilt: 211 (0.8%)   Quota: 12,657   Turnout: 25,524 (39.2%)  

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Kildare North By Election: 11 March 2005". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  2. ^ "Tipperary By Election: 29 October 1947". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  3. ^ "New TD vows to be 'thorn in side' of Govt". Irish Examiner. 12 March 2005. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  4. ^ "'Fluent and relaxed' McCreevy gets European thumbs up" Archived 22 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine, irishtimes.com; 13 October 2004.
  5. ^ Sweeney, Conor (21 November 2004). "No elocution, but slowing down speech: McCreevy". Sunday Independent (Dublin ed.). p. 12. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  6. ^ McKenna, Gene (9 September 2004). "Elections on the double will test FF's new tactics". Irish Independent. pp. E1. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  7. ^ Walsh, Anne-Marie; Hurley, Isabel (22 July 2004). "McCreevy's son in fight for dad's seat". Evening Herald. p. 10. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  8. ^ O'Donoghue, Niamh (16 December 2004). "FF party favourite rules himself out". Irish Independent. pp. E4. Retrieved 5 October 2005.
  9. ^ McKenna, Gene (12 January 2005). "FF in by-election turmoil as McCreevy junior opts out". Irish Independent. pp. E11. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  10. ^ Dowling, Brian (16 February 2005). "Forthcoming battle a cruail test for Labour following pact with FG". Irish Independent. p. 9. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Molony, Senan (18 February 2005). "FF keeps it in the family as Kitt sister gets Kildare by-election slot". Irish Independent. pp. T20. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  12. ^ a b c "Councillor on Labour ticket". Irish Independent. 29 October 2004. pp. E6. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  13. ^ Dowling, Brian (11 October 2004). "FG pledges by-election bruisings for Government". Irish Independent. pp. E8. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Two join ticket for by-election". Irish Independent. 2 December 2004. pp. E12. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  15. ^ Molony, Senan (17 September 2004). "PD senator joins the race for McCreevy seat in by-election". Irish Independent. p. 10. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  16. ^ Felle, Tom (11 November 2004). "FG canvasses for by-elections without naming a candidate". Irish Independent. pp. E10. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  17. ^ Hurley, Isabel (2 February 2005). "School refuses to move for prison". Evening Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  18. ^ "Monicategate 'hurting FF hopes in by-election'". Evening Herald. 8 February 2005. p. 4. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
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