Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918

The Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918 was an Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom which redistributed the parliamentary constituencies in Ireland for the House of Commons. The new constituencies were used for the 1918 general election, and were also used by Sinn Féin to elect members of the revolutionary First Dáil, which first met in January 1919.

Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act, 1918[1]
Long titleAn Act to provide for the Redistribution of Seats at Parliamentary Elections in Ireland and for purposes connected therewith.
Citation7 & 8 Geo. 5 c. 65
Dates
Royal assent6 February 1918
Other legislation
Repealed byGovernment of Ireland Act 1920
Status: Repealed

This Act replaced the distribution of seats which had been used since 1885. The number of seats was increased from 103 to 105, with the enfranchisement of two additional universities. There continued to be two two-member constituencies, so the number of constituencies increased from 101 to 103.

In 1922 this redistribution was replaced, for the six counties in Northern Ireland which remained part of the UK, by new UK Parliament constituencies. The remaining twenty-six Irish counties ceased to be represented at Westminster.

Under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, provision was made for new constituencies, to be used for the House of Commons of Northern Ireland and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. Sinn Féin used both sets of constituencies to elect the Second Dáil of 1921–1922, and the Southern Ireland ones for the election to the Third Dáil of 1922–1923.

Redistributed seats

Antrim

Representation increased from 8 to 13 MPs
‡ The parliamentary borough of Belfast was partly in County Down

Boroughs
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Belfast, East Division (one MP) Boundaries extended to include entire county borough.
Divided into nine single-member divisions.
Belfast, Cromac Division (one MP)
Belfast, Duncairn Division (one MP)
Belfast, North Division (one MP) Belfast, Falls Division (one MP)
Belfast, Ormeau Division (one MP)
Belfast, Pottinger Division (one MP)
Belfast, South Division (one MP) Belfast, St. Anne's Division (one MP)
Belfast, Shankill Division (one MP)
Belfast, West Division (one MP) Belfast, Victoria Division (one MP)
Belfast, Woodvale Division (one MP)
County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Antrim, East Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
No other change.
Antrim, East Division (one MP)
Antrim, Mid Division (one MP) Antrim, Mid Division (one MP)
Antrim, North Division (one MP) Antrim, North Division (one MP)
Antrim, South Division (one MP) Antrim, South Division (one MP)

Armagh

Representation unchanged (3 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Armagh, Mid Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
No other change.
Armagh, Mid Division (one MP)
Armagh, North Division (one MP) Armagh, North Division (one MP)
Armagh, South Division (one MP) Armagh, South Division (one MP)

Carlow

Representation unchanged (1 MP)

County Division
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Carlow County (one MP) No change. Carlow County (one MP)

Cavan

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Cavan, East Division (one MP) No change. Cavan, East Division (one MP)
Cavan, West Division (one MP) Cavan, West Division (one MP)

Clare

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Clare, East Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
No other change.
Clare, East Division (one MP)
Clare, West Division (one MP) Clare, West Division (one MP)

Cork

Representation unchanged (9 MPs)

Boroughs
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Cork City (two MPs) No change Cork City (two MPs)
County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Cork, East Division (one MP) No change. Cork, East Division (one MP)
Cork, Mid Division (one MP) Cork, Mid Division (one MP)
Cork, North Division (one MP) Cork, North Division (one MP)
Cork, North East Division (one MP) Cork, North East Division (one MP)
Cork, South Division (one MP) Cork, South Division (one MP)
Cork, South East Division (one MP) Cork, South East Division (one MP)
Cork, West Division (one MP) Cork, West Division (one MP)

Donegal

Representation unchanged (4 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Donegal, East Division (one MP) No change. Donegal, East Division (one MP)
Donegal, North Division (one MP) Donegal, North Division (one MP)
Donegal, South Division (one MP) Donegal, South Division (one MP)
Donegal, West Division (one MP) Donegal, West Division (one MP)

Down

Representation unchanged (5 MPs)
‡ The parliamentary borough of Newry was partly in County Armagh

Boroughs
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Newry (one MP) Abolished.
County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Down, East Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
The parliamentary borough of Newry was absorbed into South Down.
Divided into five single-member divisions.
Down, East Division (one MP)
Down, North Division (one MP) Down, Mid Division (one MP)
Down, North Division (one MP)
Down, South Division (one MP) Down, South Division (one MP)
Down, West Division (one MP) Down, West Division (one MP)

Dublin

Representation increased from 6 to 11 MPs

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
County Dublin, North Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
Divided into four single-member divisions.
County Dublin, North Division (one MP)
County Dublin, Pembroke Division (one MP)
County Dublin, South Division (one MP) County Dublin, Rathmines Division (one MP)
County Dublin, South Division (one MP)
Boroughs
Before 1885ChangeAfter 1885
Dublin, College Green Division (one MP) Boundaries extended to include entire county borough.
Divided into seven single-member divisions.
Dublin, Clontarf Division (one MP)
Dublin, College Green Division (one MP)
Dublin, Dublin Harbour Division (one MP) Dublin, Dublin Harbour Division (one MP)
Dublin, St James's Division (one MP)
Dublin, St Patrick's Division (one MP) Dublin, St Michan's Division (one MP)
Dublin, St Patrick's Division (one MP)
Dublin, St Stephen's Green Division (one MP) Dublin, St Stephen's Green Division (one MP)

Fermanagh

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Fermanagh, North Division (one MP) No change. Fermanagh, North Division (one MP)
Fermanagh, South Division (one MP) Fermanagh, South Division (one MP)

Galway

Representation reduced from 5 to 4 MPs

Boroughs
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Galway Borough (one MP) Abolished.
County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Galway, Connemara Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
The parliamentary borough of Galway was absorbed into Galway Connemara.
Divided into four single-member divisions.
Galway, Connemara Division (one MP)
Galway, East Division (one MP) Galway, East Division (one MP)
Galway, North Division (one MP) Galway, North Division (one MP)
Galway, South Division (one MP) Galway, South Division (one MP)

Kerry

Representation unchanged (4 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Kerry, East Division (one MP) No change. Kerry, East Division (one MP)
Kerry, North Division (one MP) Kerry, North Division (one MP)
Kerry, South Division (one MP) Kerry, South Division (one MP)
Kerry, West Division (one MP) Kerry, West Division (one MP)

Kildare

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Kildare, North Division (one MP) No change. Kildare, North Division (one MP)
Kildare, South Division (one MP) Kildare, South Division (one MP)

Kilkenny

Representation reduced from 3 to 2 MPs

Boroughs
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Kilkenny City (one MP) Abolished.
County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Kilkenny, North Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
The parliamentary borough of Kilkenny was absorbed into North Kilkenny.
Divided into two single-member divisions.
Kilkenny, North Division (one MP)
Kilkenny, South Division (one MP) Kilkenny, South Division (one MP)

King's County

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
King's County, Birr Division (one MP) Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. King's County (one MP)
King's County, Tullamore Division (one MP)

Leitrim

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Leitrim, North Division (one MP) Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. Leitrim (one MP)
Leitrim, South Division (one MP)

Limerick

Representation unchanged (3 MPs)

Boroughs
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Limerick City (one MP) No change. Limerick City (one MP)
County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Limerick, East Division (one MP) No change. Limerick, East Division (one MP)
Limerick, West Division (one MP) Limerick, West Division (one MP)

Londonderry

Representation unchanged (3 MPs)

Boroughs
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Londonderry City (one MP) No change. Londonderry City (one MP)
County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Londonderry, North Division (one MP) No change. Londonderry, North Division (one MP)
Londonderry, South Division (one MP) Londonderry, South Division (one MP)

Longford

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Longford, North Division (one MP) Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. Longford (one MP)
Longford, South Division (one MP)

Louth

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Louth, North Division (one MP) Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. Louth (one MP)
Louth, South Division (one MP)

Mayo

Representation unchanged (4 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Mayo, East Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
No other change.
Mayo, East Division (one MP)
Mayo, North Division (one MP) Mayo, North Division (one MP)
Mayo, South Division (one MP) Mayo, South Division (one MP)
Mayo, West Division (one MP) Mayo, West Division (one MP)

Meath

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Meath, North Division (one MP) No change. Meath, North Division (one MP)
Meath, South Division (one MP) Meath, South Division (one MP)

Monaghan

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Monaghan, North Division (one MP) No change. Monaghan, North Division (one MP)
Monaghan, South Division (one MP) Monaghan, South Division (one MP)

Queen's County

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Queen's County, Leix Division (one MP) Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. Queen's County (one MP)
Queen's County, Ossory Division (one MP)

Roscommon

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Roscommon, North Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
No other change.
Roscommon, North Division (one MP)
Roscommon, South Division (one MP) Roscommon, South Division (one MP)

Sligo

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Sligo, North Division (one MP) No change. Sligo, North Division (one MP)
Sligo, South Division (one MP) Sligo, South Division (one MP)

Tipperary

Representation unchanged (4 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Tipperary, East Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative counties
of North Tipperary and South Tipperary. No other change.
Tipperary, East Division (one MP)
Tipperary, Mid Division (one MP) Tipperary, Mid Division (one MP)
Tipperary, North Division (one MP) Tipperary, North Division (one MP)
Tipperary, South Division (one MP) Tipperary, South Division (one MP)

Tyrone

Representation reduced from 4 to 3 MPs

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Tyrone, East Division (one MP) Divided into three single-member divisions. Tyrone, North East Division (one MP)
Tyrone, Mid Division (one MP)
Tyrone, North Division (one MP) Tyrone, North West Division (one MP)
Tyrone, South Division (one MP) Tyrone, South Division (one MP)

Waterford

Representation reduced from 3 to 2 MPs

Boroughs
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Waterford City (one MP) Extended to include entire county borough of Waterford and the part of the rural district of Waterford No. 1 which consisted of the district electoral divisions of Ballynakill, Kilbarry, Killoteran and Waterford Rural. Waterford City (one MP)
County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Waterford, East Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county, and to exclude the area of the extended parliamentary borough of Waterford.
Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP.
Waterford County (one MP)
Waterford, West Division (one MP)

Westmeath

Representation reduced from 2 to 1 MP

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Westmeath, North Division (one MP) Undivided parliamentary county returned one MP. Westmeath (one MP)
Westmeath, South Division (one MP)

Wexford

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Wexford, North Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
No other change.
Wexford, North Division (one MP)
Wexford, South Division (one MP) Wexford, South Division (one MP)

Wicklow

Representation unchanged (2 MPs)

County Divisions
Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Wicklow, East Division (one MP) Boundaries of parliamentary county altered to align with administrative county.
No other change.
Wicklow, East Division (one MP)
Wicklow, West Division (one MP) Wicklow, West Division (one MP)

Universities

Representation increased from 2 to 4 MPs

Before 1918ChangeAfter 1918
Dublin University (two MPs) No change Dublin University (two MPs)
New constituency National University of Ireland (one MP)
New constituency Queen's University, Belfast (one MP)

See also

References

Notes

  1. Short title as conferred by s. 10 of the Act; the modern convention for the citation of short titles omits the comma after the word "Act"

Other sources

  • Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922, edited by B.M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)
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