1973 Monaghan by-election

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1973 Monaghan by-election
27 November 1973
Turnout30,719 (77.5%)
 
Toal
Nominee Brendan Toal Rory O'Hanlon Patrick Mooney
Party Fine Gael Fianna Fáil Aontacht Éireann
First preferences 14,535 13,822 5,363
Percentage 47.3% 45.0% 7.1%
Final count 15,080 14,791 –
TD before election

Erskine H. Childers
Fianna Fáil

 TD after election

Brendan Toal
Fine Gael

A Dáil by-election was held in the constituency of Monaghan in Ireland on Tuesday, 27 November 1973, to fill a vacancy in the 20th Dáil. It followed the election of Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) Erskine H. Childers as president of Ireland on 30 May 1973.[1]

Under Article 12.6.2° of the Constitution of Ireland, a member of either House of the Oireachtas who is elected as president is deemed to have vacated that seat.

The writ of election to fill the vacancy was agreed by the Dáil on 6 November 1973.[2]

The by-election was won by the Fine Gael candidate Brendan Toal.[3]

At the 1977 general election, Toal stood in the new Cavan–Monaghan constituency but was not elected, and was never subsequently re-elected to the Dáil. Rory O'Hanlon, who narrowly lost to Toal in 1973, was among those elected in 1977, serving until the 2011 general election.[4]

Result

1973 Monaghan by-election[5][6][7][8]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123
Fine Gael Brendan Toal 47.3 14,535 14,577 15,080
Fianna Fáil Rory O'Hanlon 45.0 13,822 13,851 14,791
Aontacht Éireann Patrick Mooney 7.1 2,187 2,248  
Marxist–Leninist David Vipond 0.6 175    
Electorate: 39,647   Valid: 30,719   Quota: 15,360   Turnout: 77.5%  

References

  1. "Toghadh Uachtaráin Election of President". Dáil Debates. 265 (14). Houses of the Oireachtas. 5 June 1973.
  2. "Issue of Writ: Monaghan By-Election". Dáil Debates. 268 (9). Houses of the Oireachtas. 6 November 1973.
  3. "Return to Writ: Monaghan - Introduction of New Member". Dáil Debates. 269 (7). Houses of the Oireachtas. 4 December 1973. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  4. "Rory O'Hanlon obituary: Soft-spoken politician who held key cabinet roles in a turbulent era". The Irish Times. 4 April 2026. Archived from the original on 11 April 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  5. "By-election 1973: Monaghan". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 17 November 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  6. Gallagher, Michael (2009). Irish Elections 1948–77: Results and Analysis Sources for the Study of Irish Politics 2. Routledge. ISBN 9781138973343.
  7. "21st Dáil 1977 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. February 1978. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  8. "Monaghan: 1973 by-election". Ireland Election. Retrieved 11 March 2026.