Galway (Dáil constituency)

Galway was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1921 to 1937. The method of election was proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

History
It was the largest constituency in Ireland, electing 7 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) to the Dáil in 1921 and 1922, and 9 from 1923 to 1937. The constituency was created in 1921 as a 7-seat constituency, under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, for the 1921 elections to the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. That House had only a brief existence, as only four members took their seats, the remainder forming the Second Dáil.

Under the Electoral Act 1923, it became a 9-seat constituency for the 1923 general election to the 4th Dáil. Its representation remained at 9 seats until its abolition at the 1937 general election, under the Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935.

Boundaries
Galway was created as 7-seat constituency under the Government of Ireland Act 1920 succeeding the constituencies of Galway Connemara, East Galway, North Galway and South Galway, which had elected MPs to the United Kingdom House of Commons.

It became a 9-seat constituency in 1923, defined as:

It was abolished at the 1937 general election, replaced by the constituencies of Galway East (4 seats) and Galway West (4 seats).

1936 by-election
Following the death of Fine Gael TD Patrick Hogan, a by-election was held on 13 August 1936. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Martin Neilan, reaching the quota on the first count. A second count occurred because the distribution of the surplus could have saved another candidate their election deposit.

1935 by-election
Following the death of Fine Gael TD Martin McDonogh, a by-election was held on 19 June 1935.

1923 general election
Full figures for the fifth through to the eighteenth counts are unavailable.

1921 general election

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