2009 Dublin Central by-election

By-election to the 30th Dáil November 2021 November 2021 2009 Dublin Central by-election Ireland by-election no 2007 Irish general election 2007 5 June 2009 2011 Irish general election 2011 28,803 (46.3%) First preferences Percentage Final count Maureen O'Sullivan (official portrait).jpg 140 120 160 0 15 Maureen O'Sullivan Independent politician (Ireland) 7,639 26.9% 13,739 Paschal Donohue (September 2017).jpeg 120 120 160 0 0 Paschal Donohoe Fine Gael 6,439 22.7% 10,198 Ivana Bacik.jpg 140 120 160 0 10 Ivana Bacik Labour Party (Ireland) 4,926 17.3% – Dublin Central Dáil Éireann constituency.png 150px Dublin Central shown within County Dublin TD Tony Gregory Independent politician (Ireland) TD after election Maureen O'Sullivan Independent politician (Ireland) A Dáil by-election was held in the constituency of Dublin Central in Ireland on Friday, 5 June 2009,http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0428/breaking72.htm By-elections set for June 5th 28 April 2009 The Irish Times 29 April 2009 25 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210925160511/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/byelections-set-for-june-5th-1.839682 live to fill a vacancy in the 30th Dáil. It followed the death of the independent Teachta Dála (TD) Tony Gregory on 2 January 2009.Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2009-02-04/6/ 4 February 2009 Dáil Debates 673 3 Houses of the Oireachtas The by-election was held on the same day as the 2009 European and local elections.http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ff-faces-byelection--battles-in-the-capital-1591097.html FF faces by-election battles in the capital 3 January 2009 Irish Independent Michael Brennan 3 January 2009 26 January 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090126171738/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ff-faces-byelection--battles-in-the-capital-1591097.html live A by-election was held in the Dublin South constituency on the same date. The independent candidate Maureen O'Sullivan, Gregory's former election agent, was elected on the eighth count.http://www.irishtimes.com/indepth/elections2009/results/byelections/dublincentral.html Dublin Central 6 June 2009 The Irish Times 6 June 2009 23 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101023100657/http://www.irishtimes.com/indepth/elections2009/results/byelections/dublincentral.html live Background Independent TD Tony Gregory, who had been a TD for Dublin Central since 1982, died on 2 January 2009, aged 61 after a long battle with cancer.2 January 2009 Independent TD Tony Gregory dies at the age of 61 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/independent-td-tony-gregory-dies-at-the-age-of-61-1.833692 10 July 2025 The Irish Times en Under Irish law, this forced a by-election to be held in the constituency. The government had previously suggested this by-election and one in Dublin South would be held on 5 June 2009, the same day as the European and local elections, but speculation began to arise that the Dublin Central election would be postponed.Sheahan Fionnan 23 April 2009 Only one by-election likely on day of poll https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-only-one-by-election-l/176333965/ 10 July 2025 Irish Independent T24 However, on 29 April, the government confirmed that the two by-elections would be held on 5 June.Molony Senan 29 April 2009 Stage is set for 'Super Friday' as by-elections get go-ahead https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-stage-is-set-for-supe/176333999/ 10 July 2025 Irish Independent T16Issue of Writ: Dublin Central By-election https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2009-05-13/11/ 13 May 2009 Dáil Debates 682 3 Houses of the Oireachtas Constituency profile At the time of the election, Dublin Central was considered a mixed constituency, with large pockets of deprived areas but also many middle class areas. The constituency had a high immigrant population with 27% being non-Irish, and a large number of young professionals.McGee Harry 3 June 2009 Transfers to decide who will take Gregory's seat as Ahern factor diminishes https://www.irishtimes.com/news/transfers-to-decide-who-will-take-gregory-s-seat-as-ahern-factor-diminishes-1.775640 10 July 2025 The Irish Times en Candidate selection Gregory was reported to have asked Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins to run in the by-election to succeed him, but Higgins declined as he had already agreed to stand for the Socialist Party in the concurrent European elections.Molony Senan 31 January 2009 Higgins 'unable' to grant Gregory's deathbed wish https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-higgins-unable-to-gr/176333897/ 10 July 2025 Irish Independent T17 Fine Gael Fine Gael's candidate at this election was Senator Paschal Donohoe. Donohoe had contested Dublin Central at the last general election, being eliminated on the final count.Doyle Kevin 25 March 2009 Late show row senator for election http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/late-show-row-senator-for-election-1685451.html https://web.archive.org/web/20090327192307/http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/late-show-row-senator-for-election-1685451.html 27 March 2009 10 July 2025 Evening Herald en Fianna Fáil Dublin Central was the home constituency of former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, who had resigned in 2008. Ahern's brother, Dublin City councillor Maurice and fellow city councillors Tom Stafford and Mary Fitzpatrick sought the Fianna Fáil nomination for this by-election.Smyth Sam 3 March 2009 FF to press ahead with poll despite Ahern's resistance https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-ff-to-press-ahead-with/176333775/ 10 July 2025 Irish Independent T2 Stafford withdrew his candidacy on the night of the selection convention,Finneran Aoife 7 May 2009 Set for bloodshed but what an anti-climax as Ahern pulled it off https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-set-for-bloodshed-but-wha/176334238/ 10 July 2025 Evening Herald 13 and after a 64–17 vote Maurice Ahern was selected as the Fianna Fáil candidate.Smyth Sam 7 May 2009 Bertie's brother to stand for Fianna Fáil in June by-election https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-berties-brother-to-st/176334200/ 10 July 2025 Irish Independent T23 Gregory group While not a party officially, Tony Gregory's political machine had long elected candidates in Dublin city. Dublin City Councillor Maureen O'Sullivan, formerly Gregory's election agent, was backed by Gregory's allies to run in this election.2009-03-03 Friends of Tony back O'Sullivan for Dublin Seat https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-friends-of-tony-back-osu/176333803/ 2025-07-10 Evening Herald 9 Labour Party Senator Ivana Bacik, the sole candidate to seek the nomination, was chosen as the Labour Party candidate for this election on 5 May.2009-05-06 Bacik confirmed as candidate for Dublin Central https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-bacik-confirmed-as-can/176334154/ 2025-07-10 Irish Independent T18 Incumbent TD for the constituency Joe Costello was her director of elections for this election.Murphy Cormac 27 May 2009 Bertie's pal under attack https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-berties-pal-under-attack/176335144/ 10 July 2025 Evening Herald 12 Bacik had been accused of being "parachuted" into the constituency as she did not live there.21 May 2009 Hot from the blogosphere https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-hot-from-the-blogosphe/176334743/ 10 July 2025 Irish Independent T17Sheehan Maeve 7 June 2009 Gregory's girl will continue legacy https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-independent-dublin-ed-gregory/176335673/ 10 July 2025 Sunday Independent (Dublin ed.) 23 Sinn Féin There had been some early speculation that newly elected Sinn Féin leader and incumbent MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald would contest this by-election,O'Brien Paul 23 February 2009 Power play: SF moves to strengthen its profile https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20085124.html 10 July 2025 Irish Examiner en but the entry of Dublin City Councillor Christy Burke into the race effectively ended her chance of running.Doyle Kevin 29 April 2009 Mary Lou ruled out as Burke seeks seat https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-mary-lou-ruled-out-as-bur/176334050/ 10 July 2025 Evening Herald 9 On 11 May, Burke was confirmed as the Sinn Féin candidate at this election.Sheahan Fionnan 11 May 2009 Sinn Fein insists 500,000 for MP costs is justified https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-sinn-fein-insists-500/176334610/ 10 July 2025 Irish Independent T18 Other parties The Green Party nominated solicitor David Geary, also running in the concurrent city council election,5 May 2009 Greens choose Geary for Dublin Central by-election https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/greens-choose-geary-for-dublin-central-by-election/27910487.html 10 July 2025 Irish Independent en as their candidate at this election.Smyth Sam 2 May 2009 Bacik to seek seat for Labour in Bertie's heartland https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-bacik-to-seek-seat-for/176334106/ 2025-07-10 Irish Independent T24 Other candidates included Malachy Steenson of the Workers' Party, Paul O'Loughlin of the Christian Solidarity PartySmyth Sam 23 April 2009 Schoolgirls give candidates a lesson about the real issues https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-schoolgirls-give-candi/176335100/ 10 July 2025 Irish Independent T19 and Patrick Talbot of Immigration Control Platform. Campaign The election was expected to be something of a referendum on the popularity of the incumbent Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition government under Taoiseach Brian Cowen,Connolly Shaun 11 May 2009 Voters poised to inflict ultimate pain https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20091451.html 10 July 2025 Irish Examiner en with some senior Fianna Fáil figures reporting a "dreadful" reaction on the doors.10 May 2009 Fine Gael to win both by-elections https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-independent-dublin-ed-fine-gae/176334492/ 10 July 2025 Sunday Independent (Dublin ed.) 2 With Dublin Central being the constituency of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who had resigned under a cloud following revelations of payments received from property developers in the Mahon Tribunal, this was expected to be heightened even further, particularly given Ahern's brother's candidacy.17 May 2009 By-election battle in Bertieland https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/election-battle-bertieland/docview/818339587/se-2 10 July 2025 Sunday Business Post Green Party candidate David Geary was noted to have run on a platform of ridding the city of dog poo, placing 1,000 brown "pooper scooper" bags for free inside shops.Fátharta Conall Ó 2009-05-22 Path to glory: Green crusader targets real dirt https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20092360.html 2025-07-10 Irish Examiner en Predictions and polls The election was expected to be close; writing for the Irish Times two days prior to polling, Harry McGee opined that it was "between Donohoe, O'Sullivan and Bacik", unable to call a winner. Andrew Lynch of the Evening Herald described the election as a "group of death".Lynch Andrew 4 June 2009 Now here's a real battle royal for heart of Dublin https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-now-heres-a-real-battle/176335547/ 10 July 2025 Evening Herald 12 Odds on 10 May had Maureen O'Sullivan and Ivana Bacik joint favourites at 6/4 to take the seat, followed by Paschal Donohoe at 13/8, Maurice Ahern at 6/1 and the yet unconfirmed Sinn Féin candidate at 10/1.Boyne Sean 10 May 2009 Teacher hot fave for seat https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-world-southern-ed-teacher-hot/176334528/ 10 July 2025 Sunday World (Southern ed.) 23 By 3 June, Donohoe was an odds-on favourite at 4/5, followed by O'Sullivan at 7/4 and Bacik at 3/1.Smyth Sam 3 June 2009 Wheels are falling off the St Luke's political machine as Maurice Ahern feels anger on the doorsteps https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-wheels-are-falling-off/176335478/ 10 July 2025 Irish Independent 29 Last date of pollingPolling firm / CommissionerSample sizeDonohoe (FG)Bacik (Lab)O'Sullivan (Ind)Ahern (FF)Burke (SF)Geary (GP)Steenson (WP)Talbot (ICP)O'Loughlin (CSP)O/I Undecided8 May 2009Sunday Independent/Quantum Research10 May 2009 Article clipped from Sunday Independent (Dublin ed.) https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-independent-dublin-ed/176334369/ 10 July 2025 Sunday Independent (Dublin ed.) 430028%20%18%10%3%Candidate not selected at time of polling.2%1%18%18% "don't know". lower-alpha Result Following the redistribution of Ivana Bacik's votes, Maureen O'Sullivan was deemed elected on the eighth count. 2009 Dublin Central by-electionhttp://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2007B&cons=85 Dublin Central: By-election 2009 ElectionsIreland.org 7 June 2009 10 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090610074629/http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=2007B&cons=85 liveDublin Central: 2009 by-election Ireland Election https://irelandelection.com/election.php?elecid=47&constitid=5&electype=2 23 April 2026Return to Writs: Introduction of New Members https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2009-06-09/4/ 9 June 2009 Dáil Debates 684 1 Houses of the Oireachtas 8 Maureen O'Sullivanhttp://www.independent.ie/national-news/ff-to-press-ahead-with-poll-despite-aherns-resistance-1659075.html FF to press ahead with poll despite Ahern's resistance 3 March 2009 Irish Independent Sam Smyth 3 March 2009 9 March 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090309121435/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ff-to-press-ahead-with-poll-despite-aherns-resistance-1659075.html live Independent politician (Ireland) 26.9 7,639 7,711 7,862 8,105 8,341 9,352 11,062 13,739 Paschal Donohoehttp://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0505/1224245943160.html By-elections: events to date 5 May 2009 The Irish Times 5 May 2009 14 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121014021428/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0505/1224245943160.html live Fine Gael 22.7 6,439 6,461 6,488 6,578 6,737 7,412 7,880 10,198 Ivana Bacikhttp://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0505/finegael.html RTÉ's Lee to stand for FG in Dublin South RTÉ News 5 May 2009 5 May 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090508080536/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0505/finegael.html 8 May 2009 Labour Party (Ireland) 17.3 4,926 4,931 5,008 5,073 5,338 5,774 6,537   Christy Burkehttp://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0511/1224246255366.html Christy Burke to run for Sinn Féin 11 May 2009 The Irish Times 11 May 2009 14 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121014065430/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0511/1224246255366.html live Sinn Féin 13.3 3,770 3,780 3,902 3,990 4,042 4,420     Maurice Ahernhttp://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0506/election.html Parties select bye-election candidates RTÉ News 6 May 2009 7 May 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090509090153/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0506/election.html 9 May 2009 Fianna Fáil 12.3 3,483 3,512 3,526 3,564 3,621       David Geary Green Party (Ireland) 2.9 819 829 849 893         Patrick Talbothttp://www.immigrationcontrol.org/pattalbot.htm Patrick Talbot ICP website 10 May 2009 14 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090514151948/http://www.immigrationcontrol.org/pattalbot.htm usurped Immigration Control Platform 2.2 614 636 676           Malachy Steensonhttp://www.politics.ie/elections/57835-workers-party-launch-bye-election-campaign.html Press release www.politics.ie 7 April 2009 7 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20110609161531/http://www.politics.ie/elections/57835-workers-party-launch-bye-election-campaign.html 9 June 2011 dead Workers' Party (Ireland) 1.8 519 528             Paul O'Loughlin Christian Solidarity Party 0.7 203               8 62,141 28,412 391 (1.4%) 14,207 28,803 (46.3%) Reactions Following her victory, O'Sullivan said she did not expect such a resounding victory, but said "obviously we are delighted as a group". Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, whose party placed second in the election, hailed the results of this by-election and the other concurrent elections as a sign that the people of Ireland wanted a new government, vowing to place a no-confidence motion in them.Boyne Sean 7 June 2009 King George https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-world-southern-ed-king-george/176335842/ 10 July 2025 Sunday World (Southern ed.) 10 The election saw Maurice Ahern not only fail to win the seat but lose his seat on Dublin City Council,Lynch Andrew 8 June 2009 The moment that Bertie finally lost his golden touch https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-the-moment-that-bertie-fi/176335939/ 10 July 2025 Evening Herald 46 with some media sources claiming this was a sign of the end of the Ahern family's political machine.O'Farrell Stephen 8 June 2009 Maurice loses seat in final blow to Aherns https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-maurice-loses-seat-in/176335988/ 10 July 2025 Irish Independent T77 June 2009 End of the road for Ahern dynasty in Dublin https://www.businesspost.ie/legacy/end-of-the-road-for-ahern-dynasty-in-dublin/ 10 July 2025 en-GB Some opined that the aggressive promotion of Ahern by Fianna Fáil caused a disappointing result for the party, with Richard Bruton suggesting that he did not "get the full Fianna Fáil vote". Five days after the election, Sinn Féin's candidate Christy Burke quit the party to become an independent politician, accusing the party of not sufficiently supporting him during his run.Byrne Ciaran 10 June 2009 Burke blames lack of support in election bid as he quits SF https://www.newspapers.com/article/irish-independent-burke-blames-lack-of-s/176336021/ 10 July 2025 Irish Independent T23 See also 2009 Dublin South by-election References Category:2009 in Irish politics Category:2009 elections in the Republic of Ireland Category:30th Dáil Dublin Central 2009 Category:Elections in Dublin (city) Category:2000s in Dublin (city) Category:June 2009 in Europe