Sligo–Leitrim is a parliamentary constituency that has been represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas, from the 2016 general election. The constituency elects 4 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV). Another constituency of the same name existed from 1948 to 2007.

History and boundaries

1948–2007
The Sligo–Leitrim constituency was created under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947, and first used at the 1948 general election. It replaced the two previous constituencies of Sligo and Leitrim, which had been created at the 1937 general election to replace the 1923–1937 Leitrim–Sligo constituency.

The constituency was abolished at the 2007 general election, and replaced by two new constituencies: Roscommon–South Leitrim and Sligo–North Leitrim.

2016 onwards
The constituency was re-created for the 2016 general election. The change was implemented by the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013, following a recommendation of the Constituency Commission its 2012 report.  It replaced the constituencies of Roscommon–South Leitrim and Sligo–North Leitrim, and comprises all of County Sligo; all of County Leitrim; nine electoral divisions of southern County Donegal, and thirty-six electoral divisions of western County Cavan.

This change proved controversial, and created an unusual cross-province constituency, incorporating all or parts of four counties. Some Cavan and Donegal voters felt unrepresented. One man shared a picture online of his spoiled ballot in the 2016 election, which read "I LIVE IN CAVAN!" Local newspaper The Anglo-Celt reported that several people had similarly spoiled their ballots, using the column of boxes to spell out the same message.

At the 2020 general election, the electoral divisions in County Cavan were transferred to the Cavan–Monaghan constituency, and parts of County Roscommon were added to Sligo–Leitrim instead. The Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017 defines the constituency as:

TDs

TDs 1948–2007

TDs since 2016

Elections

2020 general election

2016 general election

2002 general election

1997 general election

1992 general election

1989 general election

1987 general election

November 1982 general election

February 1982 general election

1981 general election

1977 general election

1973 general election

1969 general election

1965 general election

1961 general election

1961 by-election
Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Stephen Flynn on 24 November 1960, a by-election was held on 1 March 1961.

1957 general election

1954 general election

1951 general election

1948 general election

See also
Dáil constituencies
Elections in the Republic of Ireland
Politics of the Republic of Ireland
List of Dáil by-elections
List of political parties in the Republic of Ireland

References

Dáil constituencies
Politics of County Sligo
Politics of County Leitrim
1948 establishments in Ireland
2007 disestablishments in Ireland
Constituencies established in 1948
Constituencies disestablished in 2007
2016 establishments in Ireland
Constituencies established in 2016