# Limerick City (UK Parliament constituency)

Limerick City was a United Kingdom Parliament constituency in Ireland. It returned one MP 1801–1832, two MPs 1832–1885 and one thereafter. It was an original constituency represented in Parliament when the Union of Great Britain and Ireland took effect on 1 January 1801. It ceased to be represented in the United Kingdom Parliament in 1922.

## Boundaries

This was a borough constituency, comprising the parliamentary borough of Limerick in County Limerick. After 1885, It was south of Clare East but was otherwise surrounded by Limerick East.

## Members of Parliament
### One member 1801–1832

| Election | Election | Member | Party | Note |
| | 1801, 1 January | Henry Deane Grady | | 1801: Co-opted |
| | 1802, 16 July | Charles Vereker | Tory | Succeeded as the 2nd Viscount Gort |
| | 1817, 25 July | Hon. John Vereker | Tory | Unseated on petition |
| | 1820, 3 July | Thomas Spring Rice | Whig | Declared duly elected |
| 1832 | 1832 | Constituency allocated two seats | Constituency allocated two seats | Constituency allocated two seats |

### Two members 1832–1885

| Election | Election | Election | First member | First party | Second member | Second party |
| | | 1832, 21 December | William Roche | Repeal Association | Sir David Roche, Bt $^a$ | Repeal Association |
| | | 1841, 6 July | John O'Brien | Radical | Sir David Roche, Bt $^a$ | Repeal Association |
| | | 1844, 9 July | John O'Brien | Radical | James Kelly | Repeal Association |
| | | 1847, 6 August | John O'Brien | Repeal Association | John O'Connell $^a$ | Repeal Association |
| | | 1851, 1 August | John O'Brien | Repeal Association | Henry Fitzalan-Howard | Independent Whig |
| | | 1852, 15 July | Robert Potter $^b$ | Ind. Irish | Francis William Russell $^b$ | Whig |
| | | 1854, 28 October | James O'Brien $^c$ | Whig | Francis William Russell $^b$ | Whig |
| | | 1858, 15 February | George Gavin $^d$ | Ind. Irish | Francis William Russell $^b$ | Whig |
| | | 1858, 21 May | James Spaight | Conservative | Francis William Russell $^b$ | Whig |
| | | 1859, 5 May | George Gavin | Liberal | Francis William Russell $^b$ | Liberal |
| | | 1871, 20 September | George Gavin | Liberal | Isaac Butt | Home Rule League |
| | | 1874, 5 February | Richard O'Shaughnessy $^e$ | Home Rule League | Isaac Butt | Home Rule League |
| | | 1879, 20 September | Richard O'Shaughnessy $^e$ | Home Rule League | Daniel Fitzgerald Gabbett | Home Rule League |
| | | 1883, 16 November | Edward McMahon | Home Rule League | Daniel Fitzgerald Gabbett | Home Rule League |
| 1885 | 1885 | 1885 | Constituency allocated one seat | Constituency allocated one seat | Constituency allocated one seat | Constituency allocated one seat |
Notes:-
* $^a$ Resigned.
* $^b$ Died.
* $^c$ Appointed a Judge of the Irish Court of Queen's Bench.
* $^d$ Unseated on petition and new writ issued.
* $^e$ Appointed Registrar of Petty Sessions Clerk.

### One member 1885–1922

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1885, 27 November | Henry Joseph Gill | Irish Parliamentary |
| | 1888, 17 April | Francis Arthur O'Keefe | Irish Parliamentary |
| | 1892, 7 July | Francis Arthur O'Keefe | Irish National Federation |
| | 1895, 13 July | John Daly | Irish National League |
| | 1895, 11 September | Francis Arthur O'Keefe | Irish National Federation |
| | 1900, 4 October | Michael Joyce | Irish Parliamentary Party |
| | 1918, 14 December | Michael Colivet | Sinn Féin |
| 1922 | 1922 | Constituency abolished | Constituency abolished |

## Elections

In 1801–1832 and 1885–1922 the constituency used the first past the post electoral system to fill its one seat. In 1832–1885 the block vote was used to elect two members and first past the post to return one member at by-elections.

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Thomas Spring Rice | 796 | 62.1 |
| | Irish Repeal | Samuel Dickson | 485 | 37.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 311 | 24.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,281 | c. 40.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 3,200 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1831: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Thomas Spring Rice | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,200 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1832: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Irish Repeal | William Roche (Irish politician) | 1,648 | 38.1 |
| | Irish Repeal | David Roche | 1,285 | 29.7 |
| | Tory | John Vereker | 1,105 | 25.5 |
| | Irish Repeal | Samuel Dickson | 184 | 4.3 |
| | Tory | Ralph Westropp | 104 | 2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 180 | 4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,444 | 85.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,868 | |
| | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig | Irish Repeal gain from Whig |
| | Irish Repeal win (new seat) | Irish Repeal win (new seat) | Irish Repeal win (new seat) | Irish Repeal win (new seat) |
General election 1835: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | William Roche (Irish politician) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | David Roche | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,976 | |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
General election 1837: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | William Roche (Irish politician) | 973 | 40.2 |
| | Irish Repeal (Whig) | David Roche | 960 | 39.7 |
| | Conservative | William Monsell | 387 | 16.0 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Wilson | 101 | 4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 573 | 23.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,355 | 38.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,534 | |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | John O'Brien | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Repeal | David Roche | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,893 | | |
| | Radical gain from Irish Repeal | Radical gain from Irish Repeal | Radical gain from Irish Repeal | Radical gain from Irish Repeal | Radical gain from Irish Repeal |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
Roche resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.
By-election, 9 July 1844: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Repeal | James Kelly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold |
General election 1847: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Repeal | John O'Connell | 583 | 50.4 | N/A |
| | Irish Repeal | John O'Brien | 537 | 46.4 | N/A |
| | Irish Confederate | Richard O'Gorman | 37 | 3.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 500 | 43.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 579 (est) | 28.1 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,063 | | |
| | Irish Repeal hold | Irish Repeal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Irish Repeal gain from Radical | Irish Repeal gain from Radical | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1850s

O'Connell resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.
By-election, 1 August 1851: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Whig | Henry Fitzalan-Howard | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Ind. Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Ind. Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Ind. Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Ind. Whig gain from Irish Repeal | Ind. Whig gain from Irish Repeal |
General election 1852: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Irish | Robert Potter | 512 | 33.6 | N/A |
| | Whig | Francis William Russell | 461 | 30.2 | N/A |
| | Whig | James O'Brien | 457 | 30.0 | N/A |
| | Irish Conservative | Thadeus McDonnell | 94 | 6.2 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 762 (est) | 66.6 (est) | +35.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,144 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51 | 3.4 | N/A |
| | Independent Irish gain from Irish Repeal | Independent Irish gain from Irish Repeal | Swing | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 367 | 0.2 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Ind. Whig | Whig gain from Ind. Whig | | | |
Potter's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 28 October 1854: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | James O'Brien | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig gain from Independent Irish | Whig gain from Independent Irish | Whig gain from Independent Irish | Whig gain from Independent Irish | Whig gain from Independent Irish |
General election 1857: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Francis William Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | James O'Brien | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,913 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Independent Irish | Whig gain from Independent Irish | Whig gain from Independent Irish | Whig gain from Independent Irish | Whig gain from Independent Irish |
O'Brien resigned after being appointed a judge of the Queen's Bench, causing a by-election.
By-election, 15 February 1858: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Irish | George Gavin | 782 | 51.6 | N/A |
| | Whig | John Ball | 733 | 48.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 49 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,515 | 79.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,913 | | |
| | Independent Irish gain from Whig | Independent Irish gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |
On petition, Gavin was unseated, causing a by-election.
By-election, 21 May 1858: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Conservative | James Spaight | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Conservative gain from Whig | Irish Conservative gain from Whig | Irish Conservative gain from Whig | Irish Conservative gain from Whig | Irish Conservative gain from Whig |
General election 1859: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Francis William Russell | 1,208 | 41.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | George Gavin | 902 | 30.9 | N/A |
| | Irish Conservative | James Spaight | 807 | 27.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 95 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,458 (est) | 72.4 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,013 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal gain from Irish Conservative | Liberal gain from Irish Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Gavin | 1,004 | 40.1 | +9.2 |
| | Liberal | Francis William Russell | 838 | 33.5 | −7.9 |
| | Irish Conservative | James Spaight | 658 | 26.3 | −1.4 |
| | Irish Conservative | Josh Seaward | 4 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 180 | 7.2 | +4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,579 (est) | 78.8 (est) | +6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,005 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +5.0 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −3.6 | |
General election 1868: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Gavin | 1,026 | 37.6 | −2.5 |
| | Liberal | Francis William Russell | 794 | 29.1 | −4.4 |
| | Liberal-Conservative | Peter Tait | 720 | 26.4 | N/A |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Richard Pigott | 187 | 6.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 74 | 2.7 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,364 (est) | 67.1 (est) | −11.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,032 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1870s

Russell's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 20 Sep 1871: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Isaac Butt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,193 | | |
| | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal |
General election 1874: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Isaac Butt | 856 | 30.3 | N/A |
| | Home Rule | Richard O'Shaughnessy | 848 | 30.0 | N/A |
| | Irish Conservative | James Spaight | 587 | 20.8 | New |
| | Home Rule | Peter Tait | 291 | 10.3 | −16.1 |
| | Home Rule | Charles Smyth Vereker | 242 | 8.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 261 | 9.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,706 (est) | 85.1 (est) | +18.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,004 | | |
| | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal |
| | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal | Home Rule gain from Liberal |
Butt's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 23 May 1879: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Daniel Fitzgerald Gabbett | 860 | 56.7 | −22.5 |
| | Irish Conservative | James Spaight | 658 | 43.3 | +22.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 202 | 13.4 | +4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,518 | 78.7 | −6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,930 | | |
| | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Swing | −22.5 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Home Rule | Richard O'Shaughnessy | 1,109 | 40.8 | +10.8 |
| | Home Rule | Daniel Fitzgerald Gabbett | 989 | 36.4 | +6.1 |
| | Irish Conservative | James Spaight | 620 | 22.8 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 369 | 13.6 | +4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,729 (est) | 89.4 (est) | +4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,934 | | |
| | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Swing | +4.9 | |
| | Home Rule hold | Home Rule hold | Swing | +3.6 | |
O'Shaughnessy resigned after being appointed a registrar of petty sessions clerk, causing a by-election.
By-election, 16 Nov 1883: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Parliamentary | Edward McMahon | 922 | 66.1 | −11.1 |
| | Irish Conservative | James Spaight | 473 | 33.9 | +11.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 449 | 32.2 | +18.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,395 | 71.0 | −18.4 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,964 | | |
| | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Swing | +11.1 | |
For the 1885 election, the seat was reduced to one MP.
1885 general election: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Parliamentary | Henry Joseph Gill | 3,098 | 83.0 | +5.8 |
| | Irish Conservative | James Spaight | 635 | 17.0 | −5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,463 | 66.0 | +52.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,733 | 62.1 | −27.3 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,010 | | |
| | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Swing | +5.8 | |
1886 general election: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Parliamentary | Henry Joseph Gill | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold |
By-election 1888: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Parliamentary | Francis Arthur O'Keefe | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

1892 general election: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish National Federation | Francis Arthur O'Keefe | 1,878 | 55.8 | N/A |
| | Irish National League | Pat O'Brien | 1,490 | 44.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 388 | 11.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,368 | 66.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,084 | | |
| | Irish National Federation gain from Irish Parliamentary | Irish National Federation gain from Irish Parliamentary | Swing | N/A | |
1895 general election: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish National League | John Daly | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish National League gain from Irish National Federation | Irish National League gain from Irish National Federation | Irish National League gain from Irish National Federation | Irish National League gain from Irish National Federation | Irish National League gain from Irish National Federation |
Daly, who was serving a term of life imprisonment, was elected unopposed after the Official Nationalist candidate (O'Keefe) withdrew in his favour. As a convicted felon, Daly was not eligible to sit in the House of Commons, and the election was declared void.
By-election, 1895: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish National Federation | Francis Arthur O'Keefe | 1,851 | 51.2 | N/A |
| | Irish National League | Joseph Nolan | 1,764 | 48.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 87 | 2.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,615 | 66.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,407 | | |
| | Irish National Federation gain from Irish National League | Irish National Federation gain from Irish National League | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1900s

1900 general election: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Parliamentary | Michael Joyce | 2,521 | 84.2 | N/A |
| | Irish Unionist | Francis Edgar Kearney | 474 | 15.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,047 | 68.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,995 | 68.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,297 | | |
| | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Swing | N/A | |
1906 general election: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Parliamentary | Michael Joyce | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold |

### Elections in the 1910s

January 1910 general election: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Parliamentary | Michael Joyce | 2,137 | 68.7 | N/A |
| | All-for-Ireland | John Rice | 973 | 31.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,164 | 37.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,110 | 66.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,686 | | |
| | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Swing | N/A | |
December 1910 general election: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Irish Parliamentary | Michael Joyce | 2,452 | 78.2 | +9.5 |
| | All-for-Ireland | John Rice | 682 | 21.8 | −9.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,770 | 56.4 | +19.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,134 | 66.9 | +0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,686 | | |
| | Irish Parliamentary hold | Irish Parliamentary hold | Swing | +9.5 | |
1918 general election: Limerick City :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Sinn Féin | Michael Colivet | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Sinn Féin gain from Irish Parliamentary | Sinn Féin gain from Irish Parliamentary | Sinn Féin gain from Irish Parliamentary | Sinn Féin gain from Irish Parliamentary | Sinn Féin gain from Irish Parliamentary |