List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland

For constituencies in Northern Ireland, see List of parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland.

Ireland became part of the United Kingdom under the Act of Union 1800 from 1 January 1801.

The electoral effect of the Act of Union 1800

Under the Act of Union 1800, Ireland was divided into constituencies for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament.

In 1801, the thirty-two counties continued to return two MPs as they had in the former Parliament of Ireland. Cork City and Dublin City also retained two seats. The larger Boroughs and Dublin University were reduced to one seat. Some of the smaller Irish Boroughs lost separate representation in the new Parliament.

The electoral effect of partition 1918-1922

The general election of 1918 (in Ireland) was, in British law, to fill the 105 Irish seats in the UK House of Commons for the 31st United Kingdom Parliament. In practice only the non Sinn Féin MPs took their seats at Westminster. This Parliament first met on 4 February 1919 and was dissolved on 26 October 1922. At its dissolution the Parliamentary seats in the twenty six counties comprising the Irish Free State were abolished.

Irish Republicans regard the 1918 election as being to the First Dáil. In practice only the Sinn Féin Members of Parliament refused to take their seats in the House of Commons and became Teachtaí Dála in the new revolutionary assembly. See list of members of the 1st Dáil. The initial meeting of the First Dáil was on 21 January 1919 and it last met on 10 May 1921.

From the United Kingdom general election, 1922, only the six counties of Northern Ireland were represented in Parliament.

Summary of constituencies and Members of Parliament

Key to categories: BC - Borough constituencies, CC - County constituencies, UC - University constituencies, Total C - Total constituencies, BMP - Borough Members of Parliament, CMP - County Members of Parliament, UMP - University Members of Parliament.

Period BC CC UC Total C BMP CMP UMP Total MPs
1801-1832 33 32 1 66 35 64 1 100
1832-1870 33 32 1 66 39 64 2 105
1870-1885 31 32 1 64 39 64 2 103
1885-1918 15 85 1 101 16 85 2 103
1918-1922 20 80 3 103 21 80 4 105
1922-1950 4 5 1 10 4 8 1 13
1950-1983 4 8 0 12 4 8 0 12
1983-1997 4 13 0 17 4 13 0 17
1997-Current 4 14 0 18 4 14 0 18

Notes

1801-1832 In cases where both a borough and county area have the same name and seats of each type exist simultaneously Borough, City or County (as appropriate) are included in the constituency name in the list below, unless there is a later county seat of the same name in which case County is omitted. Borough constituencies: 2 two member, 31 single member; seats 35. University constituency: 1 single member seat. County constituencies: 32 two member; seats 64. Constituencies: 66. Members of Parliament: 100.

1832-1870 Except for some minor boundary changes in 1832 and 1868, the 66 constituencies were unchanged. Belfast, Galway Borough, Limerick City, Waterford City and Dublin University gained a second seat. Borough constituencies: 6 two member, 27 single member; seats 39. University constituency: 1 two member; seats 2. County constituencies: 32 two member; seats 64. Constituencies: 66. Members of Parliament: 105.

1870-1885 Cashel and Sligo Borough were disenfranchised for corruption in 1870. Borough constituencies: 6 two member, 25 single member; seats 37. University constituency: 1 two member; seats 2. County constituencies: 32 two member; seats 64. Constituencies: 64. Members of Parliament: 103.

1885-1918 There was a redistribution of constituencies. All seats were single member, except for Cork City and Dublin University, which continued to return two members. Divisions of a borough or county are given in the list below with the name of the borough or county preceding the name of the division. County division compass point names normally have the direction before the county name i.e. East Antrim. The list below treats such names like the borough equivalents, with the name of the place preceding the compass point, i.e. Antrim East. Borough constituencies: 1 two member, 14 single member; seats 16. University constituency: 1 two member; seats 2. County constituencies: 85 single member seats. Constituencies: 101. Members of Parliament: 103.

1918-1922 There was a redistribution of constituencies. All seats were single member, except for Cork City and Dublin University, which continued to return two members. From 1918 some former constituency names are revived. Such seats are identified by using (1) or (2) after the constituency name. Borough constituencies: 1 two member, 19 single member; seats 21. University constituencies: 1 two member, 2 single member; seats 4. County constituencies: 80 single member seats. Constituencies: 103. Members of Parliament: 105.

1922-1950 There was a redistribution of constituencies, following the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the establishment of the Irish Free State. Twenty-six of the thirty-two Irish counties ceased to be represented in the United Kingdom Parliament. The remaining six counties formed Northern Ireland. All seats were single member, except for Antrim, Down and Fermanagh & Tyrone. Those three seats elected two members each. Some seats included parts of more than one county. The predominant county when the constituency is created is named in those cases. Borough constituencies: 4 single member seats. University constituency: 1 single member seat. County constituencies: 3 two member, 2 single member; seats 8. Constituencies: 10. Members of Parliament: 13.

1950-1983 There was a redistribution of constituencies. All seats were single member ones from this time. Borough constituencies: 4 single member seats. County constituencies: 8 single member seats. Constituencies and Members of Parliament: 12.

1983-1997 There was a redistribution of constituencies. The historic counties ceased to be relevant to constituency boundaries. Seats first created from 1983 are not allocated to a county. Borough constituencies: 4 single member seats. County constituencies: 13 single member seats. Constituencies and Members of Parliament: 17.

From 1997 There was a redistribution of constituencies. Borough constituencies: 4 single member seats. County constituencies: 14 single member seats. Constituencies and Members of Parliament: 18.

List of constituencies during the Union with Great Britain

Constituency Type County Created Abolished Notes
Antrim county Antrim 1801 1885 2 MPs;(1)
Antrim East county Antrim 1885 1922 (1)
Antrim Mid county Antrim 1885 1922
Antrim North county Antrim 1885 1922 (1)
Antrim South county Antrim 1885 1922 (1)
Armagh county Armagh 1801 1885 2 MPs;(1)
Armagh City borough Armagh 1801 1885
Armagh Mid county Armagh 1885 1922
Armagh North county Armagh 1885 1922
Armagh South county Armagh 1885 1922
Athlone borough Westmeath 1801 1885
Bandon borough Cork 1801 1885
Belfast borough Antrim 1801 1885 2MP,1832–85
Belfast Cromac borough Antrim 1918 1922
Belfast Duncairn borough Antrim 1918 1922
Belfast East borough Antrim 1885 1918 (1)
Belfast Falls borough Antrim 1918 1922
Belfast North borough Antrim 1885 1918 (1)
Belfast Ormeau borough Antrim 1918 1922
Belfast Pottinger borough Antrim 1918 1922
Belfast Shankill borough Antrim 1918 1922
Belfast South borough Antrim 1885 1918 (1)
Belfast St Anne's borough Antrim 1918 1922
Belfast Victoria borough Antrim 1918 1922
Belfast West borough Antrim 1885 1918 (1)
Belfast Woodvale borough Antrim 1918 1922
Carlow Borough borough Carlow 1801 1885
Carlow County county Carlow 1801 1922 2MP,1801–85
Carrickfergus borough Antrim 1801 1885
Cashel borough Tipperary 1801 1870
Cavan county Cavan 1801 1885 2 MPs
Cavan East county Cavan 1885 1922
Cavan West county Cavan 1885 1922
Clare county Clare 1801 1885 2 MPs
Clare East county Clare 1885 1922
Clare West county Clare 1885 1922
Clonmel borough Tipperary 1801 1885
Coleraine borough Londonderry 1801 1885
Cork City borough Cork 1801 1922 2 MPs
Cork County county Cork 1801 1885 2 MPs
Cork East county Cork 1885 1922
Cork Mid county Cork 1885 1922
Cork North county Cork 1885 1922
Cork North-East county Cork 1885 1922
Cork South county Cork 1885 1922
Cork South-East county Cork 1885 1922
Cork West county Cork 1885 1922
Donegal county Donegal 1801 1885 2 MPs
Donegal East county Donegal 1885 1922
Donegal North county Donegal 1885 1922
Donegal South county Donegal 1885 1922
Donegal West county Donegal 1885 1922
Down county Down 1801 1885 2 MPs;(1)
Down East county Down 1885 1922
Down Mid county Down 1918 1922
Down North county Down 1885 1922 (1)
Down South county Down 1885 1922 (1)
Down West county Down 1885 1922
Downpatrick borough Down 1801 1885
Drogheda borough Louth 1801 1885
Dublin City borough Dublin 1801 1885 2 MPs
Dublin Clontarf borough Dublin 1918 1922
Dublin College Green borough Dublin 1885 1922
Dublin County county Dublin 1801 1885 2 MPs
Dublin Harbour borough Dublin 1885 1922
Dublin North county Dublin 1885 1922
Dublin Pembroke county Dublin 1918 1922
Dublin Rathmines county Dublin 1918 1922
Dublin St James's borough Dublin 1918 1922
Dublin St Michan's borough Dublin 1918 1922
Dublin St Patrick's borough Dublin 1885 1922
Dublin St Stephen's Green borough Dublin 1885 1922
Dublin South county Dublin 1885 1922
Dublin University university Universities 1801 1922 2MP,1832-22
Dundalk borough Louth 1801 1885
Dungannon borough Tyrone 1801 1885
Dungarvan borough Waterford 1801 1885
Ennis borough Clare 1801 1885
Enniskillen borough Fermanagh 1801 1885
Fermanagh county Fermanagh 1801 1885 2 MPs
Fermanagh North county Fermanagh 1885 1922
Fermanagh South county Fermanagh 1885 1922
Galway Borough borough Galway 1801 1918 2MP,1832–85
Galway Connemara county Galway 1885 1922
Galway County county Galway 1801 1885 2 MPs
Galway East county Galway 1885 1922
Galway North county Galway 1885 1922
Galway South county Galway 1885 1922
Kerry county Kerry 1801 1885 2 MPs
Kerry East county Kerry 1885 1922
Kerry North county Kerry 1885 1922
Kerry South county Kerry 1885 1922
Kerry West county Kerry 1885 1922
Kildare county Kildare 1801 1885 2 MPs
Kildare North county Kildare 1885 1922
Kildare South county Kildare 1885 1922
Kilkenny City borough Kilkenny 1801 1918
Kilkenny County county Kilkenny 1801 1885 2 MPs
Kilkenny North county Kilkenny 1885 1922
Kilkenny South county Kilkenny 1885 1922
King's County county King's 1801 1885 2 MPs;(1)
King's County county King's 1918 1922 (2)
King's County Birr county King's 1885 1918
King's County Tullamore county King's 1885 1918
Kinsale borough Cork 1801 1885
Leitrim county Leitrim 1801 1885 2 MPs;(1)
Leitrim county Leitrim 1918 1922 (2)
Leitrim North county Leitrim 1885 1918
Leitrim South county Leitrim 1885 1918
Limerick City borough Limerick 1801 1918 2MP,1832–85
Limerick County county Limerick 1801 1885 2 MPs
Limerick East county Limerick 1885 1922
Limerick West county Limerick 1885 1922
Lisburn borough Antrim 1801 1885
Londonderry county Londonderry 1801 1885 2 MPs;(1)
Londonderry City borough Londonderry 1801 1922
Londonderry North county Londonderry 1885 1922
Londonderry South county Londonderry 1885 1922
Longford county Longford 1801 1885 2 MPs;(1)
Longford county Lomgford 1918 1922 (2)
Longford North county Longford 1885 1918
Longford South county Longford 1885 1918
Louth county Louth 1801 1885 2 MPs;(1)
Louth county Louth 1918 1922 (2)
Louth North county Louth 1885 1918
Louth South county Louth 1885 1918
Mallow borough Cork 1801 1885
Mayo county Mayo 1801 1885 2 MPs
Mayo East county Mayo 1885 1922
Mayo North county Mayo 1885 1922
Mayo South county Mayo 1885 1922
Mayo West county Mayo 1885 1922
Meath county Meath 1801 1885 2 MPs
Meath North county Meath 1885 1922
Meath South county Meath 1885 1922
Monaghan county Monaghan 1801 1885 2 MPs
Monaghan North county Monaghan 1885 1922
Monaghan South county Monaghan 1885 1922
National University of Ireland university Universities 1918 1922
New Ross borough Wexford 1801 1885
Newry borough Down 1801 1918
Portarlington borough Queen's 1801 1885
Queen's County county Queen's 1801 1885 2 MPs;(1)
Queen's County county Queen's 1918 1922 (2)
Queen's County Leix county Queen's 1885 1918
Queen's County Ossory county Queen's 1885 1918
Roscommon county Roscommon 1801 1885 2 MPs
Roscommon North county Roscommon 1885 1922
Roscommon South county Roscommon 1885 1922
Sligo Borough borough Sligo 1801 1870
Sligo County county Sligo 1801 1885 2 MPs
Sligo North county Sligo 1885 1922
Sligo South county Sligo 1885 1922
Tipperary county Tipperary 1801 1885 2 MPs
Tipperary East county Tipperary 1885 1922
Tipperary Mid county Tipperary 1885 1922
Tipperary North county Tipperary 1885 1922
Tipperary South county Tipperary 1885 1922
Tralee borough Kerry 1801 1885
Tyrone county Tyrone 1801 1885 2 MPs
Tyrone East county Tyrone 1885 1918
Tyrone Mid county Tyrone 1885 1918
Tyrone North county Tyrone 1885 1918
Tyrone North-East county Tyrone 1918 1922
Tyrone North-West county Tyrone 1918 1922
Tyrone South county Tyrone 1885 1922
Waterford county Waterford 1801 1885 2 MPs;(1)
Waterford county Waterford 1918 1922 (2)
Waterford City borough Waterford 1801 1918 2MP,1832–85
Waterford East county Waterford 1885 1918
Waterford West county Waterford 1885 1918
Westmeath county Westmeath 1801 1885 2 MPs;(1)
Westmeath county Westmeath 1918 1922 (2)
Westmeath North county Westmeath 1885 1918
Westmeath South county Westmeath 1885 1918
Wexford Borough borough Wexford 1801 1885
Wexford County county Wexford 1801 1885 2 MPs
Wexford North county Wexford 1885 1922
Wexford South county Wexford 1885 1922
Wicklow county Wicklow 1801 1885 2 MPs
Wicklow East county Wicklow 1885 1922
Wicklow West county Wicklow 1885 1922
Youghal borough Cork 1801 1885

List of Northern Ireland constituencies

Constituency Type Created Abolished Notes
Antrim county 1922 1950 2 MPs
Antrim East county 1983 Current
Antrim North county 1950 Current
Antrim South county 1950 Current
Armagh county 1922 1983
Belfast East borough 1922 Current
Belfast North borough 1922 Current
Belfast South borough 1922 Current
Belfast West borough 1922 Current
Down county 1922 1950 2 MPs
Down North county 1950 Current
Fermanagh & South Tyrone county 1950 Current
Fermanagh & Tyrone county 1922 1950 2 MPs
Foyle county 1983 Current
Down South county 1950 Current
Lagan Valley county 1983 Current
Londonderry county 1922 1983
Londonderry East county 1983 Current
Newry & Armagh county 1983 Current
Queen's University of Belfast university 1918 1950
Strangford county 1983 Current
Tyrone West county 1997 Current
Ulster Mid county 1950 Current

Sources

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