2005 Meath by-election

2005 Meath by-election

11 March 2005
Turnout	50,183 (41.5%)
Nominee Shane McEntee Shane Cassells Dominic Hannigan Party Fine Gael Fianna Fáil Labour First preferences 16,964 16,117 5,567 Percentage 34.1 32.4 11.2 Final count 24,047 21,178 –   Nominee Joe Reilly Sirena Campbell Fergal O'Byrne Party Sinn Féin Progressive Democrats Green First preferences 6,087 2,679 1,590 Percentage 12.3 5.4 3.2 Final count – – –   Nominee Liam Ó Gogáin Party Independent First preferences 702 Percentage 1.4 Final count –
Meath shown within Ireland
TD before election John Bruton Fine Gael Elected TD Shane McEntee Fine Gael

A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann Meath constituency in Ireland on Friday, 11 March 2005. It followed the resignation of Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) John Bruton on 31 October 2004 to take up his new position as European Union Ambassador to the United States.

Tommy Reilly, the original Fianna Fáil candidate, was forced to stand down due to some land rezoning issues.

On 15 February 2005 the campaign began in earnest when it was announced that polling would take place on 11 March. Seven candidates contested the vacant seat, with victory going to the Fine Gael candidate, Shane McEntee.

On the same day, a by-election took place in Kildare North, both were the final occasions which the Progressive Democrats contested by-elections.

Result

2005 Meath by-election

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4
	Fine Gael	Shane McEntee	34.1	16,964	17,083	18,214	24,047
	Fianna Fáil	Shane Cassells	32.4	16,117	16,230	17,480	21,178
	Sinn Féin	Joe Reilly	12.3	6,087	6,183	6,514
	Labour	Dominic Hannigan	11.2	5,567	5,672	7,061
	Progressive Democrats	Sirena Campbell	5.4	2,679	2,746
	Green	Fergal O'Byrne	3.2	1,590	1,744
	Independent	Liam Ó Gogáin	1.4	702
Electorate: 121,041   Valid: 49,706   Spoilt: 477 (0.9%)   Quota: 24,854   Turnout: 50,183 (41.5%)

See also

• List of Dáil by-elections
• Dáil constituencies