1959 Meath by-election

1959 Meath by-election

← 1957 22 July 1959 1961 →
Turnout	25,621 (68.0%)
Johnston Farrelly Nominee Henry Johnston James Tully Denis Farrelly Party Fianna Fáil Labour Fine Gael First preferences 11,063 6,918 5,751 Percentage 43.2% 27.0% 22.5% Final count 12,475 10,926 –
TD before election James Griffin Fianna Fáil TD after election Henry Johnston Fianna Fáil

A Dáil by-election was held in the constituency of Meath in Ireland on Wednesday, 22 July 1959, to fill a vacancy in the 16th Dáil. It followed the death of Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) James Griffin on 22 March 1959.^[1]

The writ of election to fill the vacancy was agreed by the Dáil on 30 June 1959.^[2]

The by-election was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Henry Johnston.^[3]

Two other by-elections were held on the same day, in Clare and Dublin South-West.

Johnston lost his seat at the 1961 general election, and was never subsequently re-elected to the Dáil.

Result

1959 Meath by-election^[4][5][6]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3
	Fianna Fáil	Henry Johnston	43.2	11,063	11,338	12,475
	Labour	James Tully	27.0	6,918	7,593	10,926
	Fine Gael	Denis Farrelly	22.5	5,751	6,100
	Sinn Féin	Leo Collins	7.4	1,889
Electorate: 37,686   Valid: 25,621   Quota: 12,811   Turnout: 68.0%

References

1. "Bás Teachtaí: Rún Cómhbhróin". Dáil Debates (in Irish). 174 (1). Houses of the Oireachtas. 8 April 1959.
2. "Issue of Writs: Dublin South (West), Meath and Clare By-Elections". Dáil Debates. 176 (2). Houses of the Oireachtas. 30 June 1959.
3. "Returns to Writs: Introduction of New Members". Dáil Debates. 177 (1). Houses of the Oireachtas. 21 October 1959.
4. "By-election 1959: Meath". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 6 February 2025. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
5. Gallagher, Michael (2009). Irish Elections 1948–77: Results and Analysis Sources for the Study of Irish Politics 2. Routledge. ISBN 9781138973343.
6. "Meath: 1959 by-election". Ireland Election. Retrieved 4 May 2026.