South (European Parliament constituency)

History and boundaries

It was created in 2004 with the same area as the old Munster constituency, except for County Clare which was then in North-West. It was expanded in 2014 when it took in counties of southern Leinster from the disbanded East constituency and became a 4-seat constituency. In 2016, 74.1% of the constituency's population lived in Munster, while the southern Leinster counties accounted for 25.9%.

The constituency is often referred to by media sources and candidates as "Ireland South" during news reports or candidate remarks.

At 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, South gained territory and an additional seat, from 4 to 5. However, the last candidate elected, would not take her seat until after the United Kingdom left the European Union.

At the 2024 European Parliament election, the counties of Laois and Offaly were transferred to Midlands–North-West, while South remains a 5-seat constituency. This followed a recommendation of the Electoral Commission, where Ireland had been allocated one additional MEP.

It comprises the counties of Carlow, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow; the cities of Cork, Limerick, and Waterford.

The main urban areas (by population size) are Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Bray, Kilkenny, Ennis, Carlow, Tralee, and Wexford.

MEPs

|Fianna Fáil |Fine Gael |Green Party (Ireland) |Independent politician (Ireland) |Independents 4 Change |Labour Party (Ireland) |Sinn Féin 2004–2014 2014–2019

Elections

2024 election

2019 election

South elected 5 MEPs but the 5th candidate elected, Deirdre Clune, did not take her seat until 31 January 2020, when the United Kingdom had withdrawn from the European Union.

Following a recheck of the votes for O'Sullivan and Ní Riada after the 18th count, a full recount was requested by the Sinn Féin candidate. Returning officer Martin Harvey announced that the recount would begin on 4 June. RTÉ reported that the recount could take up to 28 working days. On 4 June, Ní Riada withdrew the request for a recount. After the transfer of Ní Riada's votes and Mick Wallace's surplus, Grace O'Sullivan and Deirdre Clune were deemed elected, but Clune did not take office as an MEP until Brexit had taken effect.

2014 election

2009 election

2004 election

References

References

1. (27 February 2004). "European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2004".
2. (18 May 2024). "European Parliament elections: a few clear leaders and then a mad scramble for seats". [[The Irish Times]].
3. McGee, Harry. (28 April 2014). "New European Parliament constituencies have Wonderland logic". The Irish Times.
4. Census 2016
5. "European Election: Ireland South constituency results".
6. (June 13, 2024). "As it happened: All seats filled in Ireland South".
7. (24 September 2018). "Dublin and South to gain extra European Parliament seats". RTÉ News.
8. (24 September 2018). "Report on European Parliament Constituencies 2018".
9. (12 March 2019). "European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2019".
10. (12 March 2019). "European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2019".
11. {{cite Irish legislation. (2023). (19 December 2023)
12. (20 November 2023). "Review of European Parliament Constituencies Report 2023".
13. (20 November 2023). "Extra European Parliament seat recommended for Midlands-North West". [[The Irish Times]].
14. (24 February 2009). "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009".
15. (2014). "European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2014".
16. "2004 European Parliament election – South". ElectionsIreland.org.
17. "2009 European Parliament election – South". ElectionsIreland.org.
18. "2014 European Parliament election – South". ElectionsIreland.org.
19. (4 June 2019). "Liadh Ní Riada concedes defeat in Ireland South elections".
20. "RTÉ 2024 Elections". [[RTÉ]].
21. "EU Elections Information Hub". European Movement Ireland.
22. "EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Meet the Candidates". Ireland Votes.
23. (12 April 2024). "Changes to Register of Political Parties See New Party Proposed and Name/Emblem Changes for Another".
24. McMorrow, Conor. (2 February 2019). "Runners and riders line up for Euro election race".
25. McGee, Harry. (23 March 2019). "Fianna Fáil adds Kelleher to European ticket in Ireland South". The Irish Times.
26. Cork City Returning Officer. "Candidates for European Election 2019".
27. "South".
28. O'Sullivan, Jennie. (30 May 2019). "Full recount in Ireland South could cost up to €1m".
29. (4 June 2019). "Tuesday's Evening Round-Up: Ní Riada concedes, Rainfall warning and Taylor's homecoming".
30. (11 May 2009). "Nominations close for Europe elections". [[RTÉ News]].