Dream of power? Imagine Dublin North Constituency 1885. It once shaped Ireland’s political landscape. This constituency existed briefly but significantly. It emerged from County Dublin due to the Redistribution of Seats Act in 1885. Before this act County Dublin was a two-member constituency. The act divided it into North Dublin and South Dublin.
Dublin North Constituency 1885 covered the northern and western parts of County Dublin. It included baronies like Balrothery East and West. Also included were Castleknock Coolock and Nethercross. Newcastle was part of it too. Certain Rathdown parishes were within its borders. Some townlands of Taney parish also belonged to Dublin North Constituency 1885. Uppercross barony was partially included. South Dublin constituency was excluded from this part.
This area was bordered by several regions. South Meath lay to the northwest. North Kildare was to the southwest. West Wicklow and East Wicklow were to the south. Dublin city South Dublin and the sea were to the east. Polling districts within included Stepaside and Rathfarnham. Tallaght and Rathcoole were also included. Blanchardstown and Lucan were other districts. Kilmainham Drumcondra Coolock and Howth featured too. Swords Naul Balbriggan Skerries and Lusk were part of it. Rush Malahide and Clontarf completed the constituency.
The political scene was complex. Elections saw contests between different parties. Irish Parliamentary Irish Conservative and others vied for control. In December 1885 J J Clancy won for the Irish Parliamentary Party. He secured a significant victory against William Caldbeck Roper-Caldbeck. Clancy received 7560 votes. Roper-Caldbeck got 1425. The majority was 6135. The turnout was high.
J J Clancy continued to represent North Dublin. He faced challenges from within the Irish nationalist movement. Divisions arose between the Irish National League and the Irish National Federation. Despite these divisions Clancy held his seat.
Changes occurred in 1918. Dublin city’s boundaries expanded. Areas like Kilmainham and Clontarf were transferred to city constituencies. The Redistribution of Seats Act changed North Dublin’s boundaries again. It now included rural districts like Balrothery and Celbridge No 2. Parts of South Dublin rural district also joined.
Frank Lawless of Sinn Féin won the 1918 election. This marked a shift in political allegiance. Sinn Féin advocated for an Irish constituent assembly. Lawless joined Dáil Éireann after his election.
In 1920 the Government of Ireland Act further altered the landscape. North Dublin merged with Pembroke Rathmines and South Dublin. They formed Dublin County a six-seat constituency. The 1921 election saw Sinn Féin win all six seats uncontested.
The Irish Free State’s creation led to North Dublin’s end. No further elections were held under the UK Parliament after 1922. The constituency was abolished. Dublin North Constituency 1885 played a role in Irish parliamentary history. It reflected changing political dynamics. It witnessed shifts in representation. It mirrored the evolving quest for Irish self-governance. Today its legacy remains a chapter in Dublin’s past.