Laois–Offaly (Dáil constituency)

Laois–Offaly (formerly King's County–Queen's County, Leix–Offaly and Laoighis–Offaly) is a parliamentary constituency which is represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV). It was previously a constituency from 1921 to 2016.

History and boundaries
Laois–Offaly was created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920 as King's County–Queen's County (the official names of the counties before independence). The two counties were combined in a single four-member constituency for the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. It was known in the Dáil as Leix–Offaly, and first used for the 1921 general election to the Second Dáil. The Sinn Féin candidates elected unopposed preferred to sit in the Second Dáil (1921–22). It was used at every subsequent general election until 2011. It was abolished at the 2016 general election, and was replaced by the new constituencies of Laois and Offaly.

It was re-established by the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017, It replaced the constituencies of Laois and Offaly, which came into effect at the 2020 general election, where it was defined as:

In August 2023, the Electoral Commission published its review of constituency boundaries in Ireland, which recommended that the constituency of Laois–Offaly be abolished, with the creation of two new three-seat constituencies: Laois and Offaly. Each new constituency would elect 3 deputies. These changes would commence at the next general election.

TDs since 2020

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1984 by-election
Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Bernard Cowen, a by-election was held on 14 June 1984, the same day as the European Parliament elections. A Fianna Fáil motion to move the writ in March was defeated by the Fine Gael–Labour government. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Brian Cowen, son of the deceased TD.

1956 by-election
Following the death of Labour Party TD William Davin, a by-election was held on 30 April 1956. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Kieran Egan.

1926 by-election
Following the disqualification of Republican TD Seán McGuinness, a by-election was held on 18 February 1926. The seat was won by the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate James Dwyer.

1921 general election

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