2015 Carlow–Kilkenny by-election
2015 Carlow–Kilkenny by-election Turnout 68,900 (65.3%)
Nominee
Bobby Aylward
David Fitzgerald
Kathleen Funchion
Party
Fianna Fáil
Fine Gael
Sinn Féin
First preferences
18,572
13,744
10,806
Percentage
27.8
20.6
16.2
Final count
26,529
21,632
–
Nominee
Patrick McKee
Willie Quinn
Malcolm Noonan
Party
Renua
Labour
Green
First preferences
6,365
4,673
3,549
Percentage
9.5
7.0
5.3
Final count
–
–
–
Nominee
Adrienne Wallace
Breda Gardner
Conor MacLiam
Party
People Before Profit
Independent
Anti-Austerity Alliance
First preferences
2,377
2,792
2,194
Percentage
3.6
4.2
3.3
Final count
–
–
–
A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann Carlow–Kilkenny constituency in Ireland on Friday, 22 May 2015, to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) Phil Hogan on his appointment as European Commissioner . It was held on the same day as national referendums on marriage equality and the age of eligibility for election to the office of president .[ 1] The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 stipulates that a by-election in Ireland must be held within six months of a vacancy occurring.[ 2] The by-election writ was moved in the Dáil on 29 April 2015.[ 3]
At the 2011 general election , the constituency elected three Fine Gael TDs, one Labour Party TD and one Fianna Fáil TD.[ 4] In the May 2014 local elections , Carlow County Council elected 6 Fine Gael, 5 Fianna Fáil, 3 Sinn Féin , 2 Labour and 2 Independent Councillors, while Kilkenny County Council elected 10 Fianna Fáil, 7 Fine Gael, 3 Sinn Féin, 2 Labour, 1 Green Party and 1 Independent Councillor. Patrick McKee , who stood for Renua , had been elected to Kilkenny County Council for Fianna Fáil.[ 5]
Former TD Bobby Aylward of Fianna Fáil won the by-election on the 9th count, having received 27.8% of the first-preference votes . Aylward had previously represented Carlow–Kilkenny from 2007 until 2011 .[ 6] The result marked the first by-election win for Fianna Fáil since 1996, and the first time they had gained a seat from Fine Gael in a by-election since the Donegal–Leitrim contest in 1970.[citation needed ]
Result
2015 Carlow–Kilkenny by-election[ 6] [ 7]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Fianna Fáil
Bobby Aylward
27.8
18,572
18,713
18,845
19,223
19,480
19,898
20,950
22,826
26,529
Fine Gael
David Fitzgerald
20.6
13,744
13,826
13,895
14,174
14,289
15,058
16,612
18,875
21,632
Sinn Féin
Kathleen Funchion
16.2
10,806
11,006
11,501
11,974
13,113
13,879
14,632
16,437
Renua
Patrick McKee
9.5
6,365
6,530
6,736
7,225
7,678
8,532
9,269
Labour
Willie Quinn
7.0
4,673
4,803
4,853
4,954
5,252
5,775
Green
Malcolm Noonan
5.3
3,549
3,651
3,836
4,257
4,528
Independent
Breda Gardner
4.2
2,792
3,016
3,226
People Before Profit
Adrienne Wallace
3.6
2,377
2,644
3,256
3,640
Anti-Austerity Alliance
Conor MacLiam
3.3
2,194
2,296
Independent
Peter O'Loughlin
1.4
930
Independent
Daithí Holohan
0.6
374
Independent
Noel Walsh
0.4
243
Independent
Elizabeth Hourihane
0.3
215
Electorate: 105,449 Valid: 66,834 Spoilt: 2,066 (3.0%) Quota: 33,418 Turnout: 68,900 (65.3%)
See also
References