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Midlands–North-West (European Parliament constituency)

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Midlands–North-West
European Parliament constituency
Map of the European Parliament constituencies with Midlands–North-West highlighted in red
Location among the current constituencies
Midlands–North-West shown within Ireland (2014–2019, 2024– boundaries)
Member stateIreland
Electorate1,224,888
Created2014
MEPs
  • 4 (2014–2024)
  • 5 (2024–)
Sources
[1]

Midlands–North-West is a European Parliament constituency in Ireland. It elects 5 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

History and boundaries

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Midlands–North-West was created for the 2014 European Parliament election when Ireland's allocation of seats was reduced from 12 to 11 due to the accession of Croatia to the European Union. It followed a recommendation of a 2013 Constituency Commission report on European Parliament constituencies in Ireland. It consisted of the old North-West constituency, except for County Clare which was moved to the South constituency; as well the northern and central Leinster part of the East constituency.[1][2] The Irish Times criticised the wide geographic spread of the constituency, calling it "a heterogeneous mish-mash of counties with little historic or cultural connection to each other". It was nicknamed "Malin M50" for its wide spread, from the suburbs of Dublin to the Atlantic seaboard.[3]

For the 2019 European Parliament election, a reapportionment following Brexit and the loss of 73 MEPs from the United Kingdom gave two additional seats to Ireland. Following a recommendation of the Constituency Commission, counties Laois and Offaly were moved to the South constituency, with Midlands–North-West maintaining its 4 seats.[4][5]

At the 2024 European Parliament election, Midlands–North-West increased to 5 seats, with the transfer of County Laois and County Offaly from South.[6] This followed a recommendation of the Electoral Commission, where Ireland had been allocated one additional MEP. This gives the new constituency a population of 1,831,741, as of the 2022 census[7][8]

The constituency comprises the counties of Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath; and the city of Galway.[9]

The main urban areas of Midlands–North-West (by population size) are Galway, Drogheda, Dundalk, Navan, Newbridge, Naas, Portlaoise, Athlone, Mullingar, Letterkenny, Celbridge, Sligo, Maynooth, Leixlip, Ashbourne and Tullamore.

Election Area Seats
2014 Counties of Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath; and the city of Galway.[10] 4
2019 Loss of Laois and Offaly to South[9]
2024 Transfer of Laois and Offaly from South[6] 5

MEPs

[edit]
2019–2024 boundaries


Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for Midlands–North-West 2014–
Key to parties
Parl. Election Member
(Party)
Member
(Party)
Member
(Party)
Member
(Party)
Member
(Party)
8th 2014[11] Matt Carthy
(SF)
Luke 'Ming' Flanagan
(Ind)
Marian Harkin
(Ind)
Mairead McGuinness
(FG)
4 seats
2014–2024
9th 2019 Maria Walsh
(FG)
2020[a] Chris MacManus
(SF)
2020[b] Colm Markey
(FG)
10th 2024 Barry Cowen
(FF)
Nina Carberry
(FG)
Ciaran Mullooly
(II)

Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.

  1. ^ Carthy was elected to the 33rd Dáil and was substituted by Chris MacManus (SF/GUE/NGL) in February 2020.
  2. ^ McGuinness was appointed as European Commissioner and was substituted by Colm Markey (FG / EPP) in September 2020.

Elections

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^ *: Outgoing MEP elected at the previous election.
^ †: Outgoing MEP coopted subsequent to the previous election.

2024 election

[edit]
2024 European Parliament election: Midlands–North-West (5 seats)[12][13][14]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Independent Luke 'Ming' Flanagan[*] 11.50 78,214 78,551 78,700 78,855 79,019 79,582 79,842 80,484 81,122 81,663 82,856 84,665 88,033 89,660 95,314 103,653 106,461 110,533 118,754    
Fianna Fáil Barry Cowen 10.87 73,908 73,995 74,041 74,110 74,204 74,237 74,326 74,488 74,603 74,830 75,328 75,594 76,326 76,545 78,208 78,841 84,965 85,592 89,449 115,977  
Fine Gael Nina Carberry 10.87 73,888 74,000 74,110 74,193 74,286 74,349 74,592 74,955 75,090 75,672 76,946 77,205 78,474 78,717 80,364 82,086 86,268 86,865 90,842 98,118 98,872
Fine Gael Maria Walsh[*] 10.51 71,476 71,580 71,693 71,780 71,879 72,027 72,067 72,174 72,415 73,096 75,834 76,491 78,048 78,204 79,310 83,060 84,935 86,401 90,015 100,454 100,781
Independent Ireland Ciaran Mullooly 8.42 57,297 57,419 57,530 57,809 58,260 58,396 58,513 58,802 59,606 59,931 60,409 61,888 62,598 65,619 68,663 71,107 71,933 73,101 83,194 86,689 88,177
Sinn Féin Michelle Gildernew 6.74 45,807 45,917 45,957 46,050 46,093 46,383 46,485 46,826 47,032 47,345 47,833 48,074 49,584 50,151 51,254 53,129 54,103 74,795 79,398 81,639 82,723
Fianna Fáil Lisa Chambers 6.48 44,069 44,135 44,183 44,242 44,297 44,355 44,474 44,753 44,900 45,212 46,200 46,424 47,296 47,416 48,578 50,648 59,664 60,537 62,818    
Aontú Peadar Tóibín 5.99 40,742 40,814 41,018 41,223 41,564 41,696 41,878 42,089 42,839 43,046 43,641 46,447 47,057 50,735 53,222 54,531 55,399 56,633      
Fianna Fáil Niall Blaney 4.47 30,387 30,418 30,439 30,465 30,492 30,523 31,118 31,281 31,356 31,484 31,696 31,850 32,085 32,205 33,598 34,074          
Sinn Féin Chris MacManus[†] 4.33 29,427 29,491 29,527 29,606 29,667 30,053 30,107 30,212 30,408 30,663 31,045 31,387 32,333 32,889 33,616 35,235 36,157        
Independent Peter Casey 3.10 21,102 21,219 21,309 21,433 21,586 21,654 22,014 22,994 23,437 23,535 23,643 25,054 25,275 28,497              
Independent Saoirse McHugh 2.79 18,976 19,343 19,464 19,744 19,802 20,360 20,414 20,546 21,049 21,547 23,848 24,801 29,234 29,928 31,519            
Social Democrats Rory Hearne 2.21 15,023 15,102 15,172 15,201 15,210 15,825 15,852 15,942 15,977 16,926 19,202 19,279                  
Irish Freedom Hermann Kelly 2.04 13,904 13,967 14,084 14,562 14,950 15,003 15,550 16,543 17,210 17,273 17,313 20,885 21,029                
Green Pauline O'Reilly 2.02 13,710 13,777 13,816 13,889 13,917 14,157 14,170 14,220 14,253 15,283                      
Independent John Waters 2.01 13,692 13,746 14,806 15,033 15,384 15,498 15,768 16,009 17,019 17,088 17,206                    
Labour Fergal Landy 1.03 6,970 7,024 7,041 7,070 7,078 7,238 7,246 7,321 7,350                        
Independent Michelle Smith 0.99 6,713 6,784 6,889 6,938 7,000 7,032 7,050 7,102                          
The Irish People Anthony Cahill 0.67 4,535 4,574 4,623 4,802 4,910 4,978 6,124                            
National Party Justin Barrett 0.60 4,086 4,132 4,164 4,267 4,769 4,791                              
PBP–Solidarity Brian O'Boyle 0.59 3,982 4,037 4,083 4,138 4,170                                
National Party James Reynolds 0.47 3,201 3,234 3,294 3,479                                  
Ireland First Margaret Maguire 0.46 3,117 3,231 3,284                                    
Independent Gerry Waters 0.44 3,015 3,056                                      
Independent Charlotte Keenan 0.16 1,102                                        
Independent Stephen Garland 0.16 1,079                                        
Independent Daniel Pocock 0.08 524                                        
Electorate: 1,318,190   Valid: 679,946   Spoilt: 20,754   Quota: 113,325   Turnout: 700,700 (53.10%)  

2019 election

[edit]
2019 European Parliament election: Midlands–North-West (4 seats)[15]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Fine Gael Mairead McGuinness[*] 22.6% 134,630                        
Independent Luke 'Ming' Flanagan[*] 14.3% 85,034 86,906 87,008 87,188 87,333 87,964 88,543 90,187 91,747 94,353 97,319 112,760 121,824
Sinn Féin Matt Carthy[*] 13.0% 77,619 78,487 78,513 78,612 78,653 79,028 79,437 81,544 82,921 83,851 84,825 91,396 98,732
Fine Gael Maria Walsh 10.8% 64,500 70,536 70,619 70,660 70,731 71,425 71,793 72,265 74,116 76,056 80,338 96,163 107,192
Independent Peter Casey 9.5% 56,650 57,848 57,892 58,034 58,212 58,602 59,635 60,769 61,616 64,690 66,565 69,923 78,362
Green Saoirse McHugh 8.6% 51,019 52,731 52,821 52,976 53,068 53,966 54,548 55,455 58,642 60,778 61,957    
Fianna Fáil Brendan Smith 7.2% 42,814 44,040 44,059 44,076 44,130 44,255 44,692 44,836 45,235 46,820 64,532 68,677  
Fianna Fáil Anne Rabbitte 5.1% 30,220 31,084 31,122 31,143 31,198 31,471 31,893 32,041 32,714 34,610      
Independent Fidelma Healy Eames 2.7% 15,991 16,468 16,515 16,621 16,764 17,590 19,312 19,694 20,410        
Labour Dominic Hannigan 2.1% 12,378 13,031 13,065 13,150 13,197 13,408 13,723 14,089          
Solidarity–PBP Cyril Brennan 1.4% 8,130 8,226 8,246 8,337 8,365 8,553 8,699            
Renua Michael O'Dowd 1.2% 6,897 7,200 7,220 7,304 7,445 7,677              
Independent Olive O'Connor 0.5% 3,132 3,236 3,313 3,326 3,477                
Independent Dilip Mahapatra 0.4% 2,450 2,562 2,577 2,654 2,694                
Direct Democracy Patrick Greene 0.2% 1,352 1,400 1,412                    
Independent James Miller 0.2% 1,322 1,375 1,446 1,490                  
Independent Diarmuid Mulcahy 0.1% 789 811                      
Electorate: 1,224,888   Valid: 594,927   Spoilt: 21,628 (3.5%)   Quota: 118,986   Turnout: 616,555 (50.3%)  

2014 election

[edit]
2014 European Parliament election: Midlands–North-West (4 seats)[16][11]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Independent Luke 'Ming' Flanagan 19.2 124,063 129,561            
Sinn Féin Matt Carthy 17.7 114,727 117,670 120,723 124,976 126,492 127,135 135,046  
Fine Gael Mairead McGuinness[*] 14.2 92,080 94,019 102,025 107,689 135,698      
Independent Marian Harkin[*] 10.7 68,986 72,045 77,798 89,611 95,577 99,843 105,501 106,520
Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 9.2 59,562 60,466 62,071 65,725 67,606 68,440 102,915 106,245
Fianna Fáil Thomas Byrne 8.6 55,384 56,528 58,505 62,335 63,392 64,057    
Fine Gael Jim Higgins[*] 6.2 39,908 40,462 43,292 45,060        
Independent Rónán Mullen 5.6 36,326 38,260 41,164          
Labour Lorraine Higgins 4.9 31,951 33,744            
Green Mark Dearey 1.5 9,520              
Direct Democracy Ben Gilroy 1.2 7,683              
Independent Mark Fitzsimons 0.4 2,424              
Independent T. J. Fay 0.3 2,002              
Fís Nua Cordelia Níc Fhearraigh 0.3 1,829              
Electorate: 1,202,997   Valid: 646,445   Spoilt: 17,258 (1.4%)   Quota: 129,290   Turnout: 663,703 (55.2%)  

References

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  1. ^ "Report on European Parliament Constituencies 2013" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 25 September 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  2. ^ "New Irish MEP constituencies announced". RTÉ News. 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  3. ^ McGee, Harry (3 March 2014). "Illogical constituencies to make for unpredictable Euro election". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  4. ^ Cunningham, Paul (24 September 2018). "Dublin and Ireland South to gain extra European Parliament seats". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  5. ^ "Report on European Parliament Constituencies 2018" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 24 September 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023, s. 5: Amendment of European Parliament Elections Act 1997 (No. 40 of 2023, s. 5). Enacted on 19 December 2023. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 22 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Review of European Parliament Constituencies Report 2023" (PDF). Electoral Commission. 20 November 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  8. ^ Burns, Sarah (20 November 2023). "Extra European Parliament seat recommended for Midlands-North West". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2019, s. 7 (No. 7 of 2019, s. 7). Enacted on 12 March 2019. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 March 2019.
  10. ^ European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2014, s. 3 (No. 2 of 2014, s. 3). Enacted on 5 February 2014. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 March 2019.
  11. ^ a b "2014 European Parliament election – Midlands–North-West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  12. ^ "RTÉ 2024 Elections". RTÉ. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  13. ^ "EU Elections Information Hub". European Movement Ireland. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ^ "EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Meet the Candidates". Ireland Votes. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  15. ^ "European Parliament Election Results 2019" (PDF). Government of Ireland. Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
  16. ^ "European Parliament Election Results 2014" (PDF). Government of Ireland. Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.