2005 Kildare North by-election

By-election to the 29th Dáil December 2021 August 2022 2005 Kildare North by-election Ireland by-election no 2002 Irish general election 2002 11 March 2005 2007 Irish general election 2007 25,524 (39.2%) First preferences Percentage Final count Catherine Murphy politician frameless photo.jpg 110 100 120 0 5 Catherine Murphy Independent politician (Ireland) 5,985 23.6% 12,256 Brady Áine Brady Fianna Fáil 6,201 24.5% 9,818 Scully Darren Scully Fine Gael 4,630 18.3% – Kildare North (Dáil Éireann constituency).png 175px Kildare North shown within Ireland TD Charlie McCreevy Fianna Fáil TD after election Catherine Murphy Independent politician (Ireland) A Dáil by-election was held in the constituency of Kildare North in Ireland on Friday, 11 March 2005, to fill a vacancy in the 29th Dáil. It followed the resignation of Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) Charlie McCreevy on 31 October 2004 to take up his new position as Ireland's European Commissioner.Resignation of Member https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2004-11-23/17/ 23 November 2004 Dáil Debates 593 1 Houses of the Oireachtas The writ of election to fill the vacancy was agreed by the Dáil on 15 February 2005.Issue of Writ: Kildare North By-election https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2005-02-15/16/ 15 February 2005 Dáil Debates 597 5 Houses of the Oireachtas On 15 February 2005, the campaign began when it was announced that polling would take place on 11 March 2005. Eight candidates contested the by-election, and it was won by the independent candidate Catherine Murphy.Return to Writs: Kildare North and Meath - Introduction of New Members https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2005-03-22/18/ 22 March 2005 Dáil Debates 599 5 Houses of the Oireachtashttp://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2002B&cons=142&ref=122 Kildare North By Election: 11 March 2005 ElectionsIreland.org 25 November 2008 24 August 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250824045343/https://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?ref=122&election=2002B&cons=142 live Her 23.6% share of the first-preference vote was the lowest recorded at any by-election since Patrick Kinane won the Tipperary by-election in October 1947 with a 21.4% share.http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1944B&cons=215&ref=46 Tipperary By Election: 29 October 1947 ElectionsIreland.org 25 November 2008 30 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101130165644/http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1944B&cons=215&ref=46 live As a result of her election, Kildare North was the only constituency in the Republic of Ireland that did not have a TD from one of the government parties of Fianna Fáil or the Progressive Democrats. Murphy was also Kildare North's first female member of the Dáil.2005-03-12 New TD vows to be 'thorn in side' of Govt https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30193415.html 2022-10-14 Irish Examiner en It was held on the same day as the 2005 Meath by-election. Both were the final occasions which the Progressive Democrats contested by-elections.December 2021 Background Incumbent Fianna Fáil TD for the constituency, Charlie McCreevy, was appointed as Ireland's European Commissioner in October 2004, succeeding David Byrne."'Fluent and relaxed' McCreevy gets European thumbs up" https://web.archive.org/web/20210922192459/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/fluent-and-relaxed-mccreevy-gets-european-thumbs-up-1.992344 22 September 2021, irishtimes.com; 13 October 2004. As a consequence, a by-election was to be held in Kildare North. McCreevy officially resigned on 22 November 2004.Sweeney Conor 21 November 2004 No elocution, but slowing down speech: McCreevy https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-independent-dublin-ed-no-elocu/182400332/ 5 October 2025 Sunday Independent (Dublin ed.) 12 Candidate selection Fianna Fáil It was initially speculated that McCreevy's son, Charlie McCreevy Jnr, might seek to contest the seat for Fianna Fáil, though an arrest for public intoxication threw this into jeopardy. Other speculated candidates included McCreevy's personal assistant, Kildare County Council member Michael Fitzpatrick, fellow county councillors Liam Doyle and Willie Callaghan,McKenna Gene 9 September 2004 Elections on the double will test FF's new tactics https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-elections-on-the-doubl/182398777/ 5 October 2025 Irish Independent E1 and Leixlip-based solicitor Paul Kelly, who had narrowly missed out on election at the 2002 Irish general election.Walsh Anne-Marie Hurley Isabel 22 July 2004 McCreevy's son in fight for dad's seat https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-mccreevys-son-in-fight-f/182398388/ 5 October 2025 Evening Herald 10 Kelly was considered the frontrunner for the nomination, but withdrew himself from consideration in mid-December, citing monetary and time constraints.O'Donoghue Niamh 16 December 2004 FF party favourite rules himself out https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-ff-party-favourite-rul/182400585/ 5 October 2005 Irish Independent E4 The younger McCreevy announced in mid-January that he also would not be a candidate.McKenna Gene 12 January 2005 FF in by-election turmoil as McCreevy junior opts out https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-ff-in-by-election-turm/182400786/ 5 October 2025 Irish Independent E11 The eventual convention was contested by councillors Fitzpatrick, Doyle and Callaghan, former Democratic Left member Anthony Creevey and teacher Áine Brady, the wife of former Kildare TD Gerry Brady.Dowling Brian 16 February 2005 Forthcoming battle a cruail test for Labour following pact with FG https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-forthcoming-battle-a-c/182401438/ 5 October 2025 Irish Independent 9 The convention, seen to represent something of a proxy-war between McCreevy's wing of the party and Bertie Ahern's wing, saw Ahern's preferred candidate Brady selected as the candidate.Molony Senan 18 February 2005 FF keeps it in the family as Kitt sister gets Kildare by-election slot https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-ff-keeps-it-in-the-fam/182401692/ 5 October 2025 Irish Independent T20 Fine Gael A November article in the Irish Independent suggested that Fine Gael had been looking at a candidate similar to Mairead McGuinness for this campaign.29 October 2004 Councillor on Labour ticket https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-councillor-on-labour-t/182399899/ 5 October 2025 Irish Independent E6 In February, the party chose county councillor Darren Scully to run for them at this election. Senator Brian Hayes was Fine Gael's director of elections at the by-election.Dowling Brian 11 October 2004 FG pledges by-election bruisings for Government https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-fg-pledges-by-election/182399688/ 5 October 2025 Irish Independent E8 Green Party County councillors J. J. Power and Fintan McCarthy were seen as the frontrunners for the Green Party nomination. Power was selected as their candidate in December.2 December 2004 Two join ticket for by-election https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-two-join-ticket-for-by/182400457/ 5 October 2025 Irish Independent E12 Labour Naas-based county councillor Paddy MacNamara was selected as Labour's candidate on 28 December, defeating Gerry Browne from Leixlip at a selection convention. Progressive Democrats On 16 September 2004, the Progressive Democrats chose Senator Kate Walsh as their candidate at the by-election. Walsh had unsuccessfully contested the previous general election in Kildare North, receiving 11.9% of the vote.Molony Senan 17 September 2004 PD senator joins the race for McCreevy seat in by-election https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-pd-senator-joins-the-r/182399387/ 5 October 2025 Irish Independent 10 Independents In December, Seanán Ó Coistín announced he would run as an independent candidate. Catherine Murphy, a town councillor from Leixlip and three-time unsuccessful candidate in this constituency and Gerry Browne also contested the election. Campaign An article in the Irish Independent highlighted that Fine Gael had started canvassing ahead of the by-election in November, before a selection convention had even been organised,Felle Tom 11 November 2004 FG canvasses for by-elections without naming a candidate https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-fg-canvasses-for-by-el/182400021/ 5 October 2025 Irish Independent E10 while Isabel Hurley of the same paper commented in February that Fianna Fáil were in "serious trouble" having not selected a candidate by the start of February.Hurley Isabel 2 February 2005 School refuses to move for prison https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-school-refuses-to-move-fo/182400985/ 5 October 2025 Evening Herald 9 The ongoing controversy around minister Martin Cullen and alleged wrongdoing involving awarding of contracts to Monica Leech was said to have harmed Fianna Fáil's chances at the election.2005-02-08 Monicategate 'hurting FF hopes in by-election' https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-monicategate-hurting-ff/182401214/ 2025-10-05 Evening Herald 4 By February, Murphy was named the favourite by bookmakers. Result 2005 Kildare North by-electionKildare North: 2005 by-election Ireland Election https://irelandelection.com/election.php?elecid=84&constitid=5&electype=2 23 April 2026 5 Áine Brady Fianna Fáil 24.5 6,201 6,255 7,265 8,133 9,818 Catherine Murphy Independent politician (Ireland) 23.6 5,985 6,189 7,176 8,809 12,256 Darren Scully Fine Gael 18.3 4,630 4,660 5,382 7,421   Paddy MacNamara Labour Party (Ireland) 17.8 4,507 4,545 5,199     Kate Walsh Progressive Democrats 7.9 2,006 2,023       J. J. Power Green Party (Ireland) 6.1 1,547 1,621       Gerry Browne Independent politician (Ireland) 0.9 226         Seanán Ó Coistín Independent politician (Ireland) 0.8 211         5 65,080 25,313 211 (0.8%) 12,657 25,524 (39.2%) References Category:2005 in Irish politics Category:2005 elections in the Republic of Ireland Category:29th Dáil Kildare North 2005 Category:Elections in County Kildare Category:March 2005 in Ireland