Limerick East (Dáil constituency)

Limerick East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1948 to 2011. The method of election was proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

Limerick East
Former Dáil constituency
Former constituency
Created	1948
Abolished	2011
Seats	4 (1948–1981) 5 (1981–2011)
Local government areas	Limerick City County Limerick County Clare
Created from	Limerick
Replaced by	Limerick City Limerick

History and boundaries

The constituency was created under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947 and first used at the 1948 general election. It succeeded the constituency of Limerick, which was divided between Limerick East and Limerick West.

At its abolition, it encompassed the whole of Limerick City, together with the Castleconnell electoral area part of the Bruff electoral area of County Limerick and the Ballyglass electoral division in County Clare.

The constituency elected 4 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) from 1948 to 1981, and 5 deputies from 1981 to 2011.

While support for left-wing parties has usually been strong in the city of Limerick, the constituency also elected at least one Progressive Democrats TD in all general elections from 1987 until 2007.

The Constituency Commission published its final recommendations on 23 October 2007.^[1] As a result of population decline, Limerick East was replaced by a 4-seat Limerick City constituency at the 2011 general election. Most of the rural parts of Limerick East were transferred to the new Limerick constituency.^[2]

• Limerick East – Constituency boundaries
• 
  1948–1961
• 
  1961–1969
• 
  1969–1981
• 
  1981–2011

Changes to the Limerick East constituency 1948–2011

Years	TDs	Boundaries	Notes
1948–1961	4	The county borough of Limerick, and that part of County Limerick not in Limerick West	Created from Limerick.
1961–1969	4	The county borough of Limerick,[3] and in County Limerick The district electoral divisions of: Fedamore, Grange, Kilpeacon, Rathmore, in the former Rural District of Croom; Bruff, Cahercorney, Glenbrohane, Hospital, Kilteely, Knockainy, Knocklong, Uregare, in the former Rural District of Kilmallock; Abington, Ballybricken, Ballysimon, Ballyvarra, Caherconlish East, Caherconlish West, Caherelly, Cappamore, Castleconnell, Clonkeen, Doon West, Glenstal, Kilmurry, Limerick North Rural, Limerick South Rural, Roxborough, in the former Rural District of Limerick No. 1; Anglesborough, Ballylanders, Cullane, Duntryleague, Galbally, Kilbeheny, Kilglass, Knocknascrow, Riversdale, in the former Rural District of Mitchelstown No. 2; Bilboa, Doon South, Grean, Oola, Templebredon in the former Rural District of Tipperary No. 2.
1969–1981	4	The county borough of Limerick,[4][5] and in County Limerick The district electoral divisions of: Fedamore, Grange, Kilpeacon, Rathmore, in the former Rural District of Croom; Bruff, Cahercorney, Hospital, Kilteely, Knockainy, Knocklong, Uregare, in the former Rural District of Kilmallock; Abington, Ballybricken, Ballysimon, Ballyvarra, Caherconlish East, Caherconlish West, Caherelly, Cappamore, Castleconnell, Clonkeen, Doon West, Glenstal, Kilmurry, Limerick North Rural, Limerick South Rural, Roxborough, in the former Rural District of Limerick No. 1; Bilboa, Doon South, Grean, Oola, Templebredon, in the former Rural District of Tipperary No. 2.
1981–1992	5	The county borough of Limerick,[6][7] and in County Limerick The district electoral divisions of: Fedamore, Grange, Kilpeacon, Rathmore, in the former Rural District of Croom; Bruff, Cahercorney, Hospital, Kilteely, Knockainy, Knocklong, Uregare, in the former Rural District of Kilmallock; Abington, Ballybricken, Ballysimon, Ballyvarra, Caherconlish East, Caherconlish West, Caherelly, Cappamore, Castleconnell, Clonkeen, Doon West, Glenstal, Kilmurry, Limerick North Rural, Limerick South Rural, Roxborough, in the former Rural District of Limerick No. 1; Bilboa, Doon South, Grean, Oola, Templebredon, in the former Rural District of Tipperary No. 2.	Transfer of Ballycummin from Limerick West.[8]
1992–2002	5	The county borough of Limerick,[9][10] in County Limerick The district electoral divisions of: Fedamore, Grange, Kilpeacon, Rathmore, in the former Rural District of Croom; Bruff, Cahercorney, Hospital, Kilteely, Knockainy, Knocklong, Uregare, in the former Rural District of Kilmallock; Abington, Ballybricken, Ballycummin, Ballysimon, Ballyvarra, Caherconlish East, Caherconlish West, Caherelly, Cappamore, Castleconnell, Clonkeen, Doon West, Glenstal, Kilmurry, Limerick North Rural, Limerick South Rural, Roxborough, in the former Rural District of Limerick No. 1; Bilboa, Doon South, Grean, Oola, Templebredon, in the former Rural District of Tipperary No. 2; and in County Clare the townlands of Athlunkard, Ballykeelaun, Cloonoughter, Fairyhill, Garraun, Gortatogher, Kilquane, Knockballynameath, Parteen, Quinspool South, Rosmadda East, Rosmadda West, St. Thomas' Island, Shannakyle, in the district electoral division of Ballyglass, in the former Rural District of Meelick.	Transfer of territory from Clare[11][12]
2002–2007	5	The city of Limerick,[13] in County Limerick The electoral divisions of: Bruff, Cahercorney, Hospital, Kilteely, Knockainy, Knocklong, Uregare, in the former Rural District of Kilmallock; Abington, Ballybricken, Ballycummin, Ballysimon, Ballyvarra, Caherconlish East, Caherconlish West, Caherelly, Cappamore, Castleconnell, Clonkeen, Doon West, Glenstal, Kilmurry, Limerick North Rural, Limerick South Rural, Roxborough, in the former Rural District of Limerick No. 1; Bilboa, Doon South, Grean, Oola, Templebredon, in the former Rural District of Tipperary No. 2; and in County Clare the townlands of Athlunkard, Ballykeelaun, Cloonoughter, Fairyhill, Garraun, Gortatogher, Kilquane, Knockballynameath, Parteen, Quinspool South, Rosmadda East, Rosmadda West, St. Thomas' Island, Shannakyle, in the electoral division of Ballyglass, in the former Rural District of Meelick.	Transfer of Croom area to Limerick West[14]
2007–2011	5	The city of Limerick,[15] in County Limerick The electoral divisions of: Cahercorney, Hospital, Kilteely, in the former Rural District of Kilmallock; Abington, Ballybricken, Ballycummin, Ballysimon, Ballyvarra, Caherconlish East, Caherconlish West, Caherelly, Cappamore, Castleconnell, Clonkeen, Doon West, Glenstal, Kilmurry, Limerick North Rural, Limerick South Rural, Roxborough, in the former Rural District of Limerick No. 1; Bilboa, Doon South, Grean, Oola, Templebredon, in the former Rural District of Tipperary No. 2; and in County Clare the electoral division of Ballyglass, in the former Rural District of Meelick.	Transfer from Clare of[16] Ballyglass, Blackwater, Castlebank, Drummin, Lakyle, Parkroe, Quinspool North, Reanabrone, Glenlon North, Glenlon South, Illaunaroan and 7 other islands on the River Shannon, in the former Rural District of Meelick, and Transfer to Limerick West of Bruff, Uregare, Knockainy, Knocklong, in the former Rural District of Kilmallock.
2011	—	Constituency abolished	Greater part of constituency renamed as Limerick City,[17] with transfer to Limerick of Cahercorney, Hospital, Kilteely, in the former Rural District of Kilmallock, Abington, Ballybricken, Caherconlish East, Caherconlish West, Caherelly, Cappamore, Clonkeen, Doon West, Glenstal, Kilmurry, Roxborough, in the former Rural District of Limerick No. 1, Bilboa, Doon South, Grean, Oola, Templebredon, in the former Rural District of Tipperary No. 1.

TDs

Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Limerick East 1948–2011[18]
Key to parties   DSP = Democratic Socialist   FF = Fianna Fáil   FG = Fine Gael   Ind = Independent   Lab = Labour   PDs = Progressive Democrats
Dáil	Election	Deputy (Party)		Deputy (Party)		Deputy (Party)		Deputy (Party)		Deputy (Party)
13th	1948[19]		Michael Keyes (Lab)		Robert Ryan (FF)		James Reidy (FG)		Daniel Bourke (FF)	4 seats 1948–1981
14th	1951[20]				Tadhg Crowley (FF)
	1952 by-election[21]								John Carew (FG)
15th	1954[22]						Donogh O'Malley (FF)
16th	1957[23]		Ted Russell (Ind)		Paddy Clohessy (FF)
17th	1961[24]		Stephen Coughlan (Lab)						Tom O'Donnell (FG)
18th	1965[25]
	1968 by-election[26]						Desmond O'Malley (FF)
19th	1969[27]				Michael Herbert (FF)
20th	1973[28]
21st	1977[29]		Michael Lipper (Ind)
22nd	1981[30]		Jim Kemmy (Ind)		Peadar Clohessy (FF)						Michael Noonan (FG)
23rd	1982 (Feb)[31]		Jim Kemmy (DSP)		Willie O'Dea (FF)
24th	1982 (Nov)[32]		Frank Prendergast (Lab)
25th	1987[33]		Jim Kemmy (DSP)				Desmond O'Malley (PDs)		Peadar Clohessy (PDs)
26th	1989[34]
27th	1992[35]		Jim Kemmy (Lab)
28th	1997[36]								Eddie Wade (FF)
	1998 by-election[37]		Jan O'Sullivan (Lab)
29th	2002[38]						Tim O'Malley (PDs)		Peter Power (FF)
30th	2007[39]						Kieran O'Donnell (FG)
31st	2011	Constituency abolished. See Limerick City and Limerick

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.

Elections

2007 general election

2007 general election: Limerick East^[39]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	Fianna Fáil	Willie O'Dea	38.6	19,082
	Fine Gael	Michael Noonan	15.2	7,507	8,484
	Labour	Jan O'Sullivan	10.3	5,098	6,236	6,271	6,352	6,556	7,236	8,114	9,051
	Fine Gael	Kieran O'Donnell	10.3	5,094	5,566	5,584	5,644	5,816	6,148	6,498	6,966
	Fianna Fáil	Peter Power	7.2	3,569	8,669
	Progressive Democrats	Tim O'Malley	6.8	3,354	4,211	4,268	4,308	4,387	4,526	4,670	5,776
	Sinn Féin	Maurice Quinlivan	4.2	2,081	2,480	2,494	2,513	2,686	2,839
	Fianna Fáil	Noreen Ryan	2.8	1,391	2,943	3,245	3,278	3,419	3,536	4,110
	Green	Trish Forde Brennan	2.6	1,296	1,420	1,425	1,432	1,619
	Independent	John Devane	0.7	330	457	461	469
	Independent	Cathal McCarthy	0.4	188	232	233	236
	Independent	Denis Riordan	0.4	186	207	209	210
	Christian Solidarity	Conor O'Donoghue	0.4	171	202	203	205
	Independent	Patrick Moore	0.1	28	38
Electorate: 76,874   Valid: 49,375   Spoilt: 431 (0.9%)   Quota: 8,230   Turnout: 49,806 (64.8%)

2002 general election

2002 general election: Limerick East^[38]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
	Fianna Fáil	Willie O'Dea	26.3	13,174
	Fine Gael	Michael Noonan	18.9	9,451
	Progressive Democrats	Tim O'Malley	9.8	4,885	5,327	5,415	5,490	5,506	5,631	5,782	5,872	6,324	6,953	7,723
	Labour	Jan O'Sullivan	9.3	4,629	5,048	5,193	5,255	5,356	5,715	5,927	6,323	6,958	7,256	7,467
	Fine Gael	Mary Jackman	8.9	4,468	4,712	5,409	5,497	5,529	5,657	5,842	5,979	6,569	6,986	7,162
	Fianna Fáil	Peter Power	7.8	3,881	5,838	5,879	5,969	6,007	6,080	6,253	6,425	6,851	9,491
	Fianna Fáil	Eddie Wade	5.8	2,918	4,029	4,042	4,084	4,105	4,134	4,266	4,323	4,529
	Independent	Patrick Kennedy	4.2	2,092	2,313	2,366	2,434	2,567	2,650	2,840	3,379
	Independent	John Gilligan	2.3	1,176	1,315	1,333	1,379	1,576	1,680	1,920
	Ind. Health Alliance	Tom Ryan	2.3	1,148	1,269	1,289	1,361	1,405	1,478
	Green	Timothy Hourigan	1.8	917	970	985	1,053	1,077
	Independent	Michael Kelly	1.3	677	736	751	764
	National Party	Nora Bennis	1.0	479	536	545
	Christian Solidarity	Conor O'Donoghue	0.2	86	95	96
	Independent	Aidan Ryan	0.1	19	27	29
Electorate: 80,593   Valid: 50,000   Spoilt: 513 (1.0%)   Quota: 8,334   Turnout: 50,513 (62.7%)

1998 by-election

Following the death of Labour Party TD Jim Kemmy, a by-election was held on 11 March 1998. The seat was won by the Labour Party candidate Jan O'Sullivan.

1998 by-election: Limerick East^[40]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5
	Labour	Jan O'Sullivan	24.9	10,619	11,444	13,724	14,967	22,888
	Fine Gael	Mary Jackman	24.5	10,445	10,870	11,591	12,860
	Fianna Fáil	Sandra Marsh	23.8	10,173	10,852	11,328	13,117	15,188
	Progressive Democrats	Tim O'Malley	10.0	4,287	4,578	4,913
	Democratic Left	John Ryan	9.1	3,868	4,507
	Sinn Féin	Jenny Marie Shapland	2.1	909
	Independent	John Gilligan	2.0	850
	National Party	Nora Bennis	1.6	700
	Green	Eric Sheppard	1.3	546
	Independent	Barney Sheehan	0.5	198
	Independent	Noel Hannon	0.3	108
Electorate: 78,062   Valid: 42,703   Quota: 21,352   Turnout: (54.7%)

1997 general election

1997 general election: Limerick East^[41]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
	Fianna Fáil	Willie O'Dea	25.3	12,581
	Fine Gael	Michael Noonan	20.3	10,092
	Fianna Fáil	Eddie Wade	9.7	4,798	6,600	6,655	6,768	7,034	7,360	7,451	9,632
	Progressive Democrats	Desmond O'Malley	8.8	4,358	4,836	4,981	5,063	5,278	6,561	6,714	7,478	8,419
	Democratic Left	John Ryan	6.9	3,403	3,682	3,809	3,994	4,092	4,129	4,562	4,756	4,873	4,904
	Fine Gael	Mary Jackman	6.2	3,084	3,209	4,208	4,327	4,599	4,755	5,106	5,330	5,459	5,519	6,499
	Labour	Jim Kemmy	5.4	2,702	2,933	3,153	3,329	3,439	3,509	4,625	4,875	5,003	5,047	7,173
	Fianna Fáil	Peter Power	4.8	2,362	3,340	3,393	3,483	3,784	3,903	3,993
	Labour	Jan O'Sullivan	3.8	1,866	1,984	2,115	2,292	2,353	2,383
	Progressive Democrats	Edmond Creighton	3.7	1,817	1,959	1,988	2,021	2,150
	National Party	Nora Bennis	3.1	1,533	1,610	1,637	1,730
	Green	Eric Sheppard	1.6	802	843	858
	Independent	Noel Raymond Hannan	0.4	195	217	222
	Independent	Denis Riordan	0.2	108	112	114
Electorate: 76,705   Valid: 49,701   Spoilt: 348 (0.7%)   Quota: 8,284   Turnout: 50,049 (65.3%)

1992 general election

1992 general election: Limerick East^[42][43]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
	Fianna Fáil	Willie O'Dea	22.7	10,990
	Progressive Democrats	Desmond O'Malley	17.2	8,304
	Labour	Jim Kemmy	17.1	8,262
	Fine Gael	Michael Noonan	11.2	5,437	5,650	5,664	5,697	5,715	5,725	5,792	5,829	5,936	7,379	8,627
	Progressive Democrats	Peadar Clohessy	9.0	4,334	4,607	4,631	4,804	4,814	4,847	4,885	4,912	4,996	5,322	6,175	6,630
	Fianna Fáil	Eddie Wade	7.5	3,637	5,605	5,617	5,625	5,630	5,685	5,782	5,840	5,941	6,060	6,435	6,548
	Labour	Jan O'Sullivan	6.4	3,091	3,308	3,320	3,336	3,484	3,528	3,566	3,726	4,099	4,353
	Fine Gael	Mary Jackman	6.2	2,110	2,196	2,197	2,207	2,214	2,221	2,253	2,276	2,324
	Democratic Left	John Ryan	1.7	835	919	940	942	949	989	1,017	1,130
	Independent	Augustine Moore	1.0	463	477	481	481	482	496
	Sinn Féin	Tom Clancy	0.8	400	422	425	426	427
	People's Democracy	Joe Harrington	0.8	370	413	420	422	428	576	601
	Independent	Jude Williams	0.2	118	129
Electorate: 71,136   Valid: 48,351   Spoilt: 721 (1.5%)   Quota: 8,059   Turnout: 49,072 (69.0%)

1989 general election

1989 general election: Limerick East^[44][45]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	Fianna Fáil	Willie O'Dea	20.8	9,658
	Democratic Socialist	Jim Kemmy	19.8	9,168
	Progressive Democrats	Desmond O'Malley	18.1	8,385
	Fine Gael	Michael Noonan	12.5	5,805	5,936	6,286	6,590	6,714	6,937	9,124
	Progressive Democrats	Peadar Clohessy	9.1	4,233	4,420	4,769	5,047	5,507	5,709	6,266	7,517
	Fianna Fáil	Eddie Wade	6.6	3,073	4,030	4,097	4,179	4,195	6,240	6,396	6,545
	Fine Gael	Mary Jackman	5.9	2,715	2,794	2,929	3,122	3,168	3,309
	Fianna Fáil	Tony Bromell	5.0	2,298	2,829	2,926	3,010	3,025
	Labour	Declan Leddin	2.2	1,006	1,055	1,501
Electorate: 66,471   Valid: 46,341   Spoilt: 499 (1.1%)   Quota: 7,724   Turnout: 46,840 (70.5%)

1987 general election

1987 general election: Limerick East^[33][46][47]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
	Progressive Democrats	Desmond O'Malley	24.9	12,358
	Fianna Fáil	Willie O'Dea	18.7	9,268
	Progressive Democrats	Peadar Clohessy	12.2	6,069	9,101
	Democratic Socialist	Jim Kemmy	11.9	5,920	6,228	6,309	6,529	6,544	6,556	6,654	6,807	6,966	7,240	7,387	8,412
	Fine Gael	Michael Noonan	11.9	5,913	6,217	6,256	6,510	6,513	6,536	6,573	6,596	6,633	6,648	6,727	7,303	10,122
	Fine Gael	Tom O'Donnell	6.0	2,968	3,126	3,179	3,305	3,312	3,326	3,335	3,340	3,384	3,401	3,463	3,520
	Labour	Frank Prendergast	4.4	2,201	2,311	2,349	2,462	2,470	2,475	2,507	2,531	2,581	2,633	2,707
	Fianna Fáil	Richard O'Flaherty	4.3	2,111	2,185	2,722	2,763	2,764	2,771	2,784	2,792	2,835	2,962	4,117	4,423	4,687
	Fianna Fáil	Michael Parkes	2.5	1,254	1,317	1,545	1,580	1,582	1,586	1,595	1,596	1,615	1,657
	Sinn Féin	Pádraig Malone	1.1	565	572	579	582	587	587	595	619	664
	Independent	Martin Nugent	0.7	353	371	381	402	405	412	437	463
	Workers' Party	Fergal Grant	0.5	246	253	255	262	273	276	295
	Green	Declan O'Lehane	0.5	241	247	250	257	260	264
	Independent	Denis Riordan	0.2	87	89	89	91	92
	Independent	John Donovan	0.1	59	59	60	63
Electorate: 67,301   Valid: 49,613   Quota: 8,269   Turnout: 73.7%

November 1982 general election

November 1982 general election: Limerick East^[32][48][49]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	Fianna Fáil	Desmond O'Malley	22.5	10,615
	Fine Gael	Tom O'Donnell	19.2	9,058
	Fianna Fáil	Willie O'Dea	15.5	7,306	8,893
	Fine Gael	Michael Noonan	11.9	5,631	5,740	6,548	6,589	6,610	6,646	6,682	7,910
	Labour	Frank Prendergast	10.2	4,793	4,927	5,009	5,075	5,112	5,160	5,217	5,381	7,892
	Democratic Socialist	Jim Kemmy	8.7	4,125	4,239	4,314	4,353	4,400	4,438	4,508	4,580
	Fianna Fáil	Michael Herbert	6.8	3,204	3,762	3,788	4,396	4,400	4,424	5,494	5,546	6,028
	Fine Gael	John O'Sullivan	2.8	1,308	1,340	1,526	1,535	1,541	1,551	1,570
	Fianna Fáil	John Bourke	1.8	859	1,059	1,065	1,319	1,328	1,350
	Independent	Richard Power	0.4	177	182	184	186	198
	Independent	Patrick Moore	0.3	145	150	152	155
Electorate: 64,982   Valid: 47,221   Quota: 7,871   Turnout: 72.7%

February 1982 general election

February 1982 general election: Limerick East^[31][50]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
	Fianna Fáil	Desmond O'Malley	19.1	9,049
	Fine Gael	Tom O'Donnell	18.0	8,514
	Fianna Fáil	Willie O'Dea	15.7	7,425	8,105
	Democratic Socialist	Jim Kemmy	13.7	6,502	6,565	6,619	6,628	6,660	6,742	6,902	7,195	7,438	8,597
	Fianna Fáil	Peadar Clohessy	10.5	4,947	5,289	5,310	5,500	5,511	5,556	5,603	5,715	5,812	6,093
	Fine Gael	Michael Noonan	9.6	4,527	4,555	4,943	4,949	4,952	4,966	5,067	5,163	6,687	7,861
	Labour	Michael Lipper	5.7	2,684	2,700	2,730	2,735	2,753	2,835	2,914	3,086	3,297
	Fine Gael	Patrick Kennedy	4.1	1,938	1,949	2,064	2,066	2,079	2,093	2,146	2,234
	Independent	John Frawley	1.4	676	684	689	689	706	807	914
	Independent	Win Harrington	1.1	516	524	532	533	545	581
	Irish Republican Socialist	John Gilligan	0.7	343	345	347	348	448
	Independent	Joseph Harrington	0.5	215	216	217	218
Electorate: 63,737   Valid: 47,336   Quota: 7,890   Turnout: 74.3%

1981 general election

1981 general election: Limerick East^[30][51]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	Fine Gael	Tom O'Donnell	20.4	9,915
	Fianna Fáil	Desmond O'Malley	19.2	9,346
	Fianna Fáil	Peadar Clohessy	10.8	5,256	5,295	5,724	5,788	5,847	6,864	6,976	7,192	7,511
	Fine Gael	Michael Noonan	8.9	4,311	5,232	5,268	5,312	5,422	5,594	7,653	8,491
	Fianna Fáil	Willie O'Dea	8.8	4,297	4,364	4,713	4,791	4,824	5,375	5,530	5,750	5,985
	Democratic Socialist	Jim Kemmy	8.6	4,190	4,293	4,338	4,482	4,742	4,831	4,921	5,644	7,976
	Labour	Michael Lipper	6.0	2,905	2,996	3,022	3,170	3,337	3,395	3,502	4,757
	Labour	Frank Prendergast	5.8	2,840	2,970	3,026	3,100	3,251	3,351	3,460
	Fine Gael	Richard Hourigan	4.5	2,184	2,591	2,605	2,623	2,685	2,744
	Fianna Fáil	Éamonn Cregan	3.4	1,636	1,657	1,930	1,994	2,072
	Independent	John Frawley	1.8	866	891	904	1,038
	Independent	Joseph Harrington	1.7	844	856	862
Electorate: 63,737   Valid: 48,590   Quota: 8,099   Turnout: 76.2%

1977 general election

1977 general election: Limerick East^[29][52]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
	Fianna Fáil	Desmond O'Malley	19.5	8,762	8,765	8,788	8,860	8,900	8,994
	Fine Gael	Tom O'Donnell	14.6	6,571	6,573	6,585	6,692	7,302	7,374	7,636	10,169
	Fianna Fáil	Michael Herbert	14.0	6,293	6,306	6,321	6,377	6,405	6,474	6,640	6,786	7,105	7,342
	Fianna Fáil	Peadar Clohessy	12.2	5,488	5,497	5,512	5,540	5,572	5,610	5,722	5,778	6,090	6,249
	Independent	Michael Lipper	11.6	5,224	5,257	5,322	5,429	5,575	6,023	7,608	8,049	9,775
	Labour	Stephen Coughlan	7.9	3,553	3,555	3,565	3,618	3,693	3,786	4,008	4,380
	Fine Gael	Ted Russell	6.7	3,022	3,024	3,030	3,097	3,403	3,521	3,684
	Democratic Socialist	Jim Kemmy	5.2	2,333	2,348	2,413	2,476	2,530	2,920
	Independent	Michael Crowe	2.9	1,325	1,335	1,358	1,408	1,447
	Fine Gael	Patrick Kennedy	2.9	1,302	1,303	1,307	1,357
	Independent	Win Harrington	1.4	646	657	677
	Sinn Féin The Workers' Party	Fergus Reynolds	0.6	262	280
	Independent	Joseph Harrington	0.3	122
Electorate: 57,023   Valid: 44,903   Spoilt: 217 (0.5%)   Quota: 8,981   Turnout: 45,120 (79.1%)[53]

1973 general election

1973 general election: Limerick East^[28][54]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6
	Fianna Fáil	Desmond O'Malley	21.0	7,806
	Fine Gael	Tom O'Donnell	18.4	6,841	6,853	7,916
	Labour	Stephen Coughlan	14.8	5,495	5,508	5,824	5,898	6,174	8,999
	Fianna Fáil	Michael Herbert	12.2	4,532	4,758	4,806	4,812	7,573
	Fine Gael	Ted Russell	9.5	3,523	3,530	4,211	4,571	4,653	5,210
	Labour	Michael Lipper	8.9	3,292	3,296	3,566	3,602	3,665
	Fianna Fáil	Peadar Clohessy	8.7	3,242	3,344	3,387	3,389
	Fine Gael	Patrick Kennedy	6.6	2,456	2,460
Electorate: 47,001   Valid: 37,187   Quota: 7,438   Turnout: 79.1%

1969 general election

1969 general election: Limerick East^[27][55]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	Fine Gael	Tom O'Donnell	17.9	6,438	6,457	6,616	7,926
	Labour	Stephen Coughlan	17.7	6,362	6,474	6,579	6,792	7,059	7,189
	Fianna Fáil	Desmond O'Malley	16.6	5,960	5,972	5,984	6,029	6,062	6,916	7,142
	Fianna Fáil	Michael Herbert	13.9	4,985	4,993	5,016	5,060	5,080	6,415	6,635
	Independent	Hilda O'Malley	9.4	3,361	3,411	3,439	3,658	4,010	4,352	5,543
	Labour	Michael Lipper	9.0	3,222	3,353	3,365	3,478	3,538	3,649
	Fianna Fáil	Liam Hickey	7.9	2,838	2,845	2,857	2,885	2,896
	Fine Gael	Patrick Kennedy	5.1	1,821	1,839	2,038
	Fine Gael	Patrick Clancy	1.5	560	565
	Labour	Anthony Pratschke	1.0	366
Electorate: 44,859   Valid: 35,913   Quota: 7,183   Turnout: 80.1%

1968 by-election

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Donogh O'Malley, a by-election was held on 22 May 1968. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Desmond O'Malley, nephew of the deceased TD.

1968 by-election: Limerick East^[56][55]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3
	Fianna Fáil	Desmond O'Malley	43.7	16,638	16,828	18,447
	Labour	Michael Lipper	26.7	10,151	10,760	17,520
	Fine Gael	James F. O'Higgins	26.4	10,039	10,335
	Liberal	Mick B. Crowe	3.2	1,209
Electorate: 46,798   Valid: 38,037   Quota: 19,019   Turnout: 81.3%

1965 general election

1965 general election: Limerick East^[25][56]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5
	Fianna Fáil	Donogh O'Malley	29.1	10,285
	Fine Gael	Tom O'Donnell	17.7	6,253	6,368	6,682	9,686
	Labour	Stephen Coughlan	15.9	5,623	5,839	5,879	6,612	7,729
	Fianna Fáil	Paddy Clohessy	13.6	4,812	6,071	6,099	6,249	6,378
	Fine Gael	Ted Russell	11.4	4,025	4,193	4,283
	Fianna Fáil	Michael Herbert	10.8	3,804	5,243	5,275	5,452	5,709
	Fine Gael	James Hickey	1.4	500	527
Electorate: 45,607   Valid: 35,302   Quota: 7,061   Turnout: 77.4%

1961 general election

1961 general election: Limerick East^[24][56]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	Fianna Fáil	Donogh O'Malley	26.2	8,622
	Labour	Stephen Coughlan	21.1	6,964
	Fianna Fáil	Paddy Clohessy	14.6	4,827	6,022	6,139	7,485
	Independent	Ted Russell	10.8	3,547	3,838	3,949	4,133	4,337	4,612	5,566
	Fine Gael	Tom O'Donnell	10.2	3,367	3,415	3,784	3,869	3,941	3,995	6,378
	Fine Gael	John Carew	10.0	3,288	3,364	3,682	3,724	3,819	3,874
	Fianna Fáil	William Slattery	4.2	1,388	1,773	1,789
	Fine Gael	John Kirby	2.9	958	992
Electorate: 43,769   Valid: 32,961   Quota: 6,593   Turnout: 75.3%

1957 general election

1957 general election: Limerick East^[23][56]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	Fianna Fáil	Donogh O'Malley	20.7	7,501
	Independent	Ted Russell	15.5	5,623	5,640	5,777	6,271	7,114	7,547
	Fianna Fáil	Paddy Clohessy	14.3	5,178	5,324	5,478	5,756	6,215	8,955
	Fine Gael	John Carew	11.6	4,193	4,196	5,060	5,541	5,738	5,962	6,155
	Fianna Fáil	Patrick Maguire	9.5	3,455	3,524	3,665	3,932	4,265
	Clann na Poblachta	Stephen Coughlan	9.4	3,395	3,402	3,478	3,781	4,491	4,696	4,861
	Sinn Féin	Pádraig Ó Maolcathaigh	8.5	3,085	3,092	3,141	3,380
	Labour	Christopher Keyes	5.8	2,098	2,102	2,319
	Fine Gael	Patrick Donegan	4.7	1,690	1,694
Electorate: 46,854   Valid: 36,218   Quota: 7,244   Turnout: 77.3%

1954 general election

1954 general election: Limerick East^[22][56]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	Fianna Fáil	Donogh O'Malley	18.1	6,860	6,879	6,979	7,010	8,009
	Clann na Poblachta	Stephen Coughlan	14.9	5,652	5,808	6,145	6,824	7,107	7,170	7,272
	Fine Gael	John Carew	14.2	5,362	6,344	9,244
	Labour	Michael Keyes	13.3	5,035	5,275	5,617	6,504	6,827	6,985	7,301
	Fianna Fáil	Tadhg Crowley	12.8	4,857	5,083	5,138	5,171	7,983
	Fianna Fáil	Paddy Clohessy	11.8	4,458	4,495	4,564	4,613
	Fine Gael	James Reidy	8.5	3,196	3,886
	Fine Gael	Denis Quish	6.4	2,402
Electorate: 47,468   Valid: 37,822   Quota: 7,565   Turnout: 79.7%

1952 by-election

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Daniel Bourke, a by-election was held on 26 June 1952. The seat was won by the Fine Gael candidate John Carew.

1952 by-election: Limerick East^[56]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3
	Fianna Fáil	Tom Clarke	41.6	15,964	16,546	17,337
	Fine Gael	John Carew	34.2	13,130	14,120	19,749
	Clann na Poblachta	Ted Russell	16.9	6,465	7,523
	Labour	John Hayes	7.3	2,785
Electorate: 48,730   Valid: 38,344   Quota: 19,173   Turnout: 78.7%

1951 general election

1951 general election: Limerick East^[56]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4
	Fianna Fáil	Daniel Bourke	19.6	7,268	7,471
	Labour	Michael Keyes	17.0	6,295	6,790	7,275	7,973
	Fianna Fáil	Tadhg Crowley	14.2	5,266	5,456	9,601
	Clann na Poblachta	Ted Russell	13.5	5,017	5,331	5,502	5,740
	Fianna Fáil	Robert Ryan	13.4	4,982	5,159
	Fine Gael	James Reidy	11.3	4,196	6,832	7,041	7,221
	Fine Gael	George C. Bennett	11.0	4,079
Electorate: 50,132   Valid: 37,103   Quota: 7,421   Turnout: 74.0%

1948 general election

1948 general election: Limerick East^[56]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	Fianna Fáil	Daniel Bourke	22.0	8,128
	Labour	Michael Keyes	15.6	5,756	5,806	5,871	6,118	6,553	7,066	7,612
	Fine Gael	James Reidy	12.2	4,496	4,521	4,557	4,645	4,828	4,899	7,794
	Fianna Fáil	Robert Ryan	11.4	4,187	4,375	4,396	4,461	4,859	7,832
	Fianna Fáil	Tadhg Crowley	9.3	3,420	3,866	3,902	4,002	4,105
	Fine Gael	George C. Bennett	9.0	3,326	3,333	3,380	3,417	4,230	4,433
	Clann na Poblachta	Ted Russell	7.5	2,777	2,786	3,236	4,559	4,784	4,894	5,191
	Clann na Talmhan	Patrick Donegan	5.8	2,131	2,135	2,157	2,238
	Clann na Poblachta	Seán Carroll	4.2	1,533	1,554	1,989
	Clann na Poblachta	Thomas Malone	3.1	1,125	1,127
Electorate: 49,565   Valid: 36,879   Quota: 7,376   Turnout: 74.4%

See also

• Dáil constituencies
• Politics of the Republic of Ireland
• List of political parties in the Republic of Ireland
• List of Dáil by-elections
• Elections in the Republic of Ireland