County Louth (UK Parliament constituency)

County Louth, otherwise known as Louth County or Louth, is a former parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1801 to 1885 it returned two Members of Parliament (MPs), and one from 1918 to 1922.

Not to be confused with Louth, Lincolnshire (UK Parliament constituency).
For other parliamentary constituencies called Louth, see Louth (disambiguation).

County Louth
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyCounty Louth
1801–1885
Seats2
Created fromLouth County
Replaced byNorth Louth and South Louth
1918–1922
Seats1
Created fromNorth Louth and South Louth
Replaced byLouth–Meath

Boundaries

From 1801 to 1885, the constituency comprised the whole of County Louth, except for the parliamentary boroughs of Drogheda and Dundalk. Between 1885 and 1918 the county was divided into the county division constituencies North Louth and South Louth. In 1918, the reunited constituency covered the entire county of Louth plus a small part of County Meath near Drogheda.

History

Louth was a constituency in the first Dáil election in December 1918 when Sinn Féin won by 255 votes, its narrowest margin of victory in that election. John J. O'Kelly, a native of Kerry, resident in Glasnevin (Dublin), was Louth's first TD. The constituency was merged with Meath to form the 5 seat Louth–Meath constituency for the 2nd and 3rd Dála. In 1923 Louth became a new 3 seat constituency.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1801–85
Election1st Member1st Party2nd Member2nd Party
1801, 1 January John Foster William Fortescue
1806, 18 November Tory Richard Jocelyn Tory
1807, 19 May John Jocelyn
1810, 10 February Richard Jocelyn Tory
1820, 10 August John Jocelyn
1821, 27 September Thomas Skeffington
1824, 21 February John Leslie Foster Tory[1]
1826, 21 June Alexander Dawson Radical[1][2]
1830, 13 August John McClintock Tory[1]
1831, 18 May Richard Lalor Sheil Repeal Association[1]
1831, 28 September Sir Patrick Bellew, Bt Whig[1]
1832, 21 December Thomas FitzGerald Repeal Association Richard Bellew Repeal Association
1834, 24 December Sir Patrick Bellew, Bt Whig[1]
1837, 5 August Henry Chester Whig[1]
1840, 31 July Thomas Fortescue Whig[1][3]
1841, 15 July Thomas Vesey Dawson Whig[1][4] Whig[1][5][6][7]
1847, 10 August Chichester Fortescue Whig[7][8][9]
1852, 22 July Tristram Kennedy Ind. Irish[10]
1857, 10 April John McClintock Conservative[10][8]
1859, 16 May Liberal[10] Richard Bellew Liberal[10]
1865, 15 April Tristram Kennedy Liberal[10]
1868, 24 November Matthew Dease Liberal[10]
1874, 14 February Alexander Martin Sullivan Home Rule League[10] Philip Callan[11] Home Rule League[10]
1874, 9 April George Kirk Home Rule League[10]
1880, 31 May Philip Callan Home Rule League[10]
1880, 31 May Henry Bellingham Home Rule League[10]
1885 Constituency divided: see North Louth and South Louth

MPs 1918–22
ElectionMemberParty
1918 John J. O'Kelly Sinn Féin
1922 Constituency abolished

Elections

Elections in the 1830s
General election 1830: County Louth (2 seats) [10][1][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical Alexander Dawson (MP) 294 32.9
Tory John McClintock 256 28.6
Irish Repeal Richard Lalor Sheil 213 23.8
Irish Repeal Richard Bellew 131 14.7
Turnout 569 81.6
Registered electors 697
Majority 38 4.3
Radical hold Swing
Majority 43 4.8
Tory hold Swing
General election 1831: County Louth (2 seats) [10][1][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Radical Alexander Dawson (MP) Unopposed
Irish Repeal Richard Lalor Sheil Unopposed
Registered electors 697
Radical hold
Irish Repeal gain from Tory

Dawson's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 28 September 1831: County Louth[10][1][12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Patrick Bellew Unopposed
Registered electors 697
Whig gain from Radical
General election 1832: County Louth (2 seats) [10][1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Irish Repeal Thomas FitzGerald (MP for County Louth) Unopposed
Irish Repeal Richard Bellew Unopposed
Registered electors 863
Irish Repeal hold
Irish Repeal gain from Radical

FitzGerald's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 24 December 1834: County Louth[10][1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Patrick Bellew Unopposed
Whig gain from Irish Repeal
General election 1835: County Louth (2 seats) [10][1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Patrick Bellew 497 40.8
Irish Repeal (Whig) Richard Bellew 456 37.4
Conservative Chichester Thomas Skeffington Foster 265 21.8
Turnout c. 609 c. 67.4
Registered electors 904
Majority 41 3.4
Whig gain from Irish Repeal
Majority 191 15.6
Irish Repeal hold
General election 1837: County Louth (2 seats) [10][1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Henry Chester (MP) Unopposed
Irish Repeal (Whig) Richard Bellew Unopposed
Registered electors 995
Whig hold
Irish Repeal hold

Elections in the 1840s

Chester resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

By-election, 31 July 1840: County Louth[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Thomas Fortescue Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 1841: County Louth (2 seats) [10][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Richard Bellew 447 36.1 N/A
Whig Thomas Vesey Dawson 430 34.7 N/A
Conservative Matthew Fortescue 358 28.9 New
Conservative John McClintock 4 0.3 New
Majority 72 5.8 N/A
Turnout 832 86.6 N/A
Registered electors 961
Whig hold Swing
Whig gain from Irish Repeal Swing N/A
General election 1847: County Louth (2 seats) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Richard Bellew Unopposed
Whig Chichester Fortescue Unopposed
Registered electors 1,410
Whig hold
Whig hold

Elections in the 1850s
General election 1852: County Louth (2 seats) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Chichester Fortescue 1,152 38.0 N/A
Independent Irish Tristram Kennedy 999 32.9 N/A
Conservative John McClintock 884 29.1 New
Turnout 1,518 (est) 73.1 (est) N/A
Registered electors 2,078
Majority 153 5.1 N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
Majority 115 3.8 N/A
Independent Irish gain from Whig Swing N/A

Fortescue was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 27 February 1854: County Louth[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Chichester Fortescue 916 54.5 +16.5
Independent Irish John MacNamara Cantwell 766 45.5 +12.6
Majority 150 9.0 +3.9
Turnout 1,682 80.9 +7.8
Registered electors 2,078
Whig hold Swing +2.0
General election 1857: County Louth (2 seats) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Chichester Fortescue 1,376 36.8 −1.2
Conservative John McClintock 1,059 28.4 −0.7
Whig Richard Bellew 894 23.9 N/A
Independent Irish Tristram Kennedy 406 10.9 −22.0
Turnout 1,868 (est) 77.3 (est) +4.2
Registered electors 2,418
Majority 317 8.5 +3.5
Whig hold Swing −0.4
Majority 165 4.4 N/A
Conservative gain from Independent Irish Swing +5.2
General election 1859: County Louth (2 seats) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Chichester Fortescue 1,379 36.8 —
Liberal Richard Bellew 1,208 32.2 +8.3
Conservative John McClintock 1,138 30.4 +2.0
Conservative Frederick John Foster 23 0.6 N/A
Majority 70 1.8 −6.7
Turnout 1,874 (est) 76.8 (est) −0.5
Registered electors 2,439
Liberal hold Swing −0.5
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +3.7

Elections in the 1860s

Bellew resigned after he was appointed a law commissioner, causing a by-election.

By-election, 15 April 1865 (1 seat) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Tristram Kennedy 1,002 52.1 −16.9
Conservative John McClintock 923 47.9 +16.9
Majority 79 4.2 +2.4
Turnout 1,925 78.9 +2.1
Registered electors 2441
Liberal hold Swing −16.9
General election 1865: County Louth (2 seats) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue 628 50.3 +13.5
Liberal Tristram Kennedy 607 48.6 +16.4
Conservative Frederick John Foster 8 0.6 —
Conservative John McClintock 6 0.5 −29.9
Majority 599 48.0 +46.2
Turnout 625 (est) 25.6 (est) −51.2
Registered electors 2,441
Liberal hold Swing +14.2
Liberal hold Swing +15.7

Parkinson-Fortescue was appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, requiring a by-election.

1866 County Louth by-election (1 seat) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue Unopposed
Registered electors 2,441
Liberal hold
General election 1868: County Louth (2 seats) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue Unopposed
Liberal Matthew Dease Unopposed
Registered electors 2,443
Liberal hold
Liberal hold

Parkinson-Fortescue was appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, requiring a by-election.

1869 County Louth by-election (1 seat) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue Unopposed
Registered electors 2,443
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1870s
General election 1874: County Louth (2 seats) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Home Rule Alexander Martin Sullivan 1,250 37.6 New
Home Rule Philip Callan 1,202 36.2 New
Liberal Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue 608 18.3 N/A
Liberal Matthew Dease 265 8.0 N/A
Majority 594 17.9 N/A
Turnout 1,834 (est) 79.2 (est) N/A
Registered electors 2,316
Home Rule gain from Liberal Swing N/A
Home Rule gain from Liberal Swing N/A

Callan was also elected MP for Dundalk and opted to sit there.

1874 County Louth by-election (1 seat) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Home Rule George Kirk 997 66.3 -7.5
Home Rule Bernard Charles Molloy 507 33.7 +7.4
Majority 490 32.6 +14.7
Turnout 1,504 64.9 -14.3
Registered electors 2,316
Home Rule hold Swing -7.5

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1880: County Louth (2 seats) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Home Rule Philip Callan 902 37.6 +1.4
Home Rule Alexander Martin Sullivan 830 34.6 −3.0
Home Rule George Kirk 668 27.8 N/A
Majority 162 6.8 −11.1
Turnout 1,570 (est) 75.1 (est) −4.1
Registered electors 2,091
Home Rule hold Swing N/A
Home Rule hold Swing N/A

Sullivan declined to take the seat, causing a by-election.

1880 County Louth by-election (1 seat) [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Home Rule Henry Bellingham Unopposed
Registered electors 2,091
Home Rule hold

Elections in the 1910s
1918 general election: County Louth[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Sinn Féin John J. O'Kelly 10,770 50.6 New
Irish Parliamentary Richard Hazleton 10,515 49.4 N/A
Majority 255 1.2 N/A
Turnout 21,285 73.0 N/A
Registered electors 29,176
Sinn Féin win (new seat)

References
  1. Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 235. Retrieved 6 October 2018 – via Google Books.
  2. Salmon, Philip. "DAWSON, Alexander (1771-1831), of Riverstown and Ardee, co. Louth". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  3. "Louth Election". Wexford Independent. 5 August 1840. p. 4. Retrieved 24 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Freeman's Journal". 13 July 1847. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 6 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Election Movements". Kings County Chronicle. 7 July 1847. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 6 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Vindicator". 24 July 1847. p. 1. Retrieved 6 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "The Irish Members". Dublin Weekly Nation. 14 August 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 6 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "County Louth Election". Dublin Weekly Nation. 17 July 1852. p. 12. Retrieved 6 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Louth Election". The Evening Freeman. 20 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 6 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. Walker, B.M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714127.
  11. Philip Callan was also returned for Dundalk, for which he chose to sit
  12. Salmon, Philip. "Co. Louth". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  13. Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons, Volume 50. 1843. Retrieved 25 August 2019 – via Google Books.
  • The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), 2nd edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)
  • Walker, Brian M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714127.
  • "County Louth: the Irish political revolution and the 1918 general election" by O. S. Kelly (MA thesis, 2006, UCD)
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 4)
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