# Kerry South (Dáil constituency)

Kerry South was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas, from 1937 to 2016. The constituency elected 3 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs). The method of election was proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

## History and boundaries

The constituency was located in the southern half of County Kerry taking in the Dingle and Iveragh peninsulas, including the towns of Killarney, Dingle, Cahirciveen, Killorglin and Kenmare.
It was established by the Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935 when the former Kerry constituency was divided into the constituencies of Kerry North and Kerry South. It was first used at the 1937 general election for the 9th Dáil.
The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009 defined the constituency as:
    "The county of Kerry, except the part thereof which is comprised in the constituency of Kerry North–West Limerick."
It was abolished at the 2016 general election and replaced by the new Kerry constituency.

## TDs

Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Kerry South 1937–2016 :
| Key to parties  FF = Fianna Fáil  FG = Fine Gael  Ind = Independent  Lab = Labour  SF = Sinn Féin ||||||||
| Dáil | Election | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) |
| 9th | 1937 | | John Flynn (FF) | | Frederick Crowley (FF) | | Fionán Lynch (FG) |
| 10th | 1938 | | John Flynn (FF) | | Frederick Crowley (FF) | | Fionán Lynch (FG) |
| 11th | 1943 | | John Healy (FF) | | Frederick Crowley (FF) | | Fionán Lynch (FG) |
| 12th | 1944 | | John Healy (FF) | | Frederick Crowley (FF) | | Fionán Lynch (FG) |
| 12th | 1944 by-election | | John Healy (FF) | | Frederick Crowley (FF) | | Donal O'Donoghue (FF) |
| 12th | 1945 by-election | | John Healy (FF) | | Honor Crowley (FF) | | Donal O'Donoghue (FF) |
| 13th | 1948 | | John Flynn (Ind) | | Honor Crowley (FF) | | Patrick Palmer (FG) |
| 14th | 1951 | | John Flynn (Ind) | | Honor Crowley (FF) | | Patrick Palmer (FG) |
| 15th | 1954 | | John Flynn (FF) | | Honor Crowley (FF) | | Patrick Palmer (FG) |
| 16th | 1957 | | John Joe Rice (SF) | | Honor Crowley (FF) | | Patrick Palmer (FG) |
| 17th | 1961 | | Timothy O'Connor (FF) | | Honor Crowley (FF) | | Patrick Connor (FG) |
| 18th | 1965 | | Timothy O'Connor (FF) | | Honor Crowley (FF) | | Patrick Connor (FG) |
| 18th | 1966 by-election | | Timothy O'Connor (FF) | | John O'Leary (FF) | | Patrick Connor (FG) |
| 19th | 1969 | | Timothy O'Connor (FF) | | John O'Leary (FF) | | Michael Begley (FG) |
| 20th | 1973 | | Timothy O'Connor (FF) | | John O'Leary (FF) | | Michael Begley (FG) |
| 21st | 1977 | | Timothy O'Connor (FF) | | John O'Leary (FF) | | Michael Begley (FG) |
| 22nd | 1981 | | Michael Moynihan (Lab) | | John O'Leary (FF) | | Michael Begley (FG) |
| 23rd | 1982 (Feb) | | Michael Moynihan (Lab) | | John O'Leary (FF) | | Michael Begley (FG) |
| 24th | 1982 (Nov) | | Michael Moynihan (Lab) | | John O'Leary (FF) | | Michael Begley (FG) |
| 25th | 1987 | | John O'Donoghue (FF) | | John O'Leary (FF) | | Michael Begley (FG) |
| 26th | 1989 | | John O'Donoghue (FF) | | John O'Leary (FF) | | Michael Moynihan (Lab) |
| 27th | 1992 | | John O'Donoghue (FF) | | John O'Leary (FF) | | Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Lab) |
| 28th | 1997 | | John O'Donoghue (FF) | | Jackie Healy-Rae (Ind) | | Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Lab) |
| 29th | 2002 | | John O'Donoghue (FF) | | Jackie Healy-Rae (Ind) | | Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Lab) |
| 30th | 2007 | | John O'Donoghue (FF) | | Jackie Healy-Rae (Ind) | | Tom Sheahan (FG) |
| 31st | 2011 | | Tom Fleming (Ind) | | Michael Healy-Rae (Ind) | | Brendan Griffin (FG) |
| 32nd | 2016 | Constituency abolished. See Kerry | Constituency abolished. See Kerry | Constituency abolished. See Kerry | Constituency abolished. See Kerry | Constituency abolished. See Kerry | Constituency abolished. See Kerry |
Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.
* ↑ O'Donoghue served as Ceann Comhairle in the 30th Dáil from 2007 to 2009.

## Elections
### 2011 general election

2011 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Fine Gael | Brendan Griffin | 19.8 | 8,808 | 8,943 | 10,014 | 10,865 | 12,636 | |
| | Independent | Michael Healy-Rae | 15.0 | 6,670 | 6,789 | 7,412 | 9,146 | 10,129 | 10,326 |
| | Independent | Tom Fleming | 14.5 | 6,416 | 6,548 | 7,357 | 8,746 | 10,389 | 10,697 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Donoghue | 13.3 | 5,917 | 5,960 | 6,200 | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Tom Sheahan | 12.8 | 5,674 | 5,736 | 6,577 | 7,326 | 8,668 | 9,409 |
| | SKIA | Michael Gleeson | 11.1 | 4,939 | 5,222 | 6,378 | 7,037 | | |
| | Labour | Marie Moloney | 11.1 | 4,926 | 5,132 | | | | |
| | Green | Oonagh Comerford | 0.9 | 401 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Richard Behal | 0.8 | 348 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Dermot Finn | 0.6 | 281 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 59,629 Valid: 44,380 Spoilt: 299 (0.7%) Quota: 11,096 Turnout: 44,679 (74.9%) ||||||||||

### 2007 general election

2007 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Donoghue | 23.4 | 9,128 | 9,407 | 9,956 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Tom Fleming | 17.3 | 6,740 | 6,972 | 7,221 | 7,278 | 8,393 | 8,855 |
| | Independent | Jackie Healy-Rae | 15.4 | 5,993 | 6,356 | 6,828 | 6,882 | 8,526 | 9,315 |
| | Fine Gael | Tom Sheahan | 14.3 | 5,600 | 5,819 | 7,927 | 7,960 | 11,010 | |
| | Labour | Breeda Moynihan-Cronin | 13.5 | 5,263 | 5,904 | 6,774 | 6,827 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Séamus Cosaí FitzGerald | 10.7 | 4,195 | 4,419 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Lynn Ní Bhaoigheallain | 3.5 | 1,375 | | | | | |
| | Green | John Hickey | 1.9 | 738 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 53,660 Valid: 39,032 Spoilt: 293 (0.8%) Quota: 9,759 Turnout: 39,325 (73.3%) ||||||||||

### 2002 general election

2002 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Donoghue | 25.8 | 9,445 | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Tom Fleming | 18.9 | 6,912 | 6,995 | 7,255 | 7,407 | 7,593 | 8,276 | 8,381 |
| | Independent | Jackie Healy-Rae | 17.0 | 6,229 | 6,455 | 6,819 | 6,893 | 7,147 | 8,409 | 8,584 |
| | Labour | Breeda Moynihan-Cronin | 14.5 | 5,307 | 5,480 | 5,946 | 5,979 | 6,432 | 9,442 | |
| | Fine Gael | Séamus Cosaí FitzGerald | 12.4 | 4,539 | 4,732 | 4,791 | 4,811 | 6,083 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Sheila Casey | 5.3 | 1,934 | 2,033 | 2,216 | 2,220 | | | |
| | Independent | Donal Grady | 3.7 | 1,346 | 1,449 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Donal Barry | 2.5 | 934 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 51,761 Valid: 36,646 Spoilt: 376 (1.0%) Quota: 9,162 Turnout: 37,022 (61.0%) |||||||||||

### 1997 general election

1997 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Independent | Jackie Healy-Rae | 20.3 | 7,220 | 7,563 | 8,131 | 8,318 | 9,163 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Donoghue | 20.3 | 7,204 | 7,280 | 7,408 | 7,487 | 10,346 | | |
| | Labour | Breeda Moynihan-Cronin | 14.1 | 4,988 | 5,265 | 5,550 | 5,898 | 6,250 | 6,706 | 9,960 |
| | Independent | Breandan MacGearailt | 11.8 | 4,172 | 4,265 | 4,402 | 4,547 | 4,686 | 5,332 | 5,975 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Brian O'Leary | 11.5 | 4,079 | 4,248 | 4,464 | 4,493 | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Aidan O'Connor | 8.6 | 3,041 | 3,204 | 3,353 | 4,578 | 4,729 | 4,904 | |
| | Fine Gael | Jim Kelly | 5.2 | 1,847 | 1,928 | 2,060 | | | | |
| | Independent | P. J. Cronin | 4.4 | 1,557 | 1,717 | | | | | |
| | SKIA | Michael Gleeson | 3.9 | 1,388 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 48,164 Valid: 35,496 Spoilt: 303 (0.9%) Quota: 8,875 Turnout: 35,799 (74.3%) |||||||||||

### 1992 general election

1992 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Donoghue | 26.4 | 8,263 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Breeda Moynihan-Cronin | 24.1 | 7,537 | 7,613 | 7,649 | 7,747 | 7,843 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Leary | 19.5 | 6,113 | 6,407 | 6,420 | 6,470 | 6,535 | 7,407 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Connor-Scarteen | 11.4 | 3,576 | 3,601 | 3,617 | 3,640 | 3,660 | 4,030 |
| | Fine Gael | Paul Coghlan | 8.5 | 2,658 | 2,668 | 2,682 | 2,706 | 2,715 | 3,274 |
| | Independent | P. J. Cronin | 7.9 | 2,481 | 2,497 | 2,518 | 2,549 | 2,625 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Dan Daly | 1.1 | 331 | 333 | 335 | 353 | | |
| | Independent | Pól O'Críocháin | 0.9 | 267 | 270 | 277 | | | |
| | Independent | Liam West | 0.4 | 112 | 114 | | | | |
| Electorate: 44,591 Valid: 31,338 Spoilt: 486 (1.5%) Quota: 7,835 Turnout: 31,824 (71.4%) ||||||||||

### 1989 general election

1989 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Leary | 26.8 | 8,398 | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Donoghue | 26.7 | 8,375 | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Begley | 20.7 | 6,477 | 6,503 | 7,103 | 7,226 | 7,412 |
| | Labour | Michael Moynihan | 20.5 | 6,408 | 6,468 | 7,125 | 7,570 | 7,929 |
| | Progressive Democrats | John Kelly | 4.7 | 1,458 | 1,494 | | | |
| | Independent | Barbara Hyland | 0.6 | 202 | | | | |
| Electorate: 43,159 Valid: 31,318 Quota: 7,830 Turnout: 72.6% |||||||||

### 1987 general election

1987 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Leary | 23.6 | 7,839 | 7,857 | 7,929 | 8,139 | 8,175 | 8,669 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Donoghue | 16.9 | 5,606 | 5,613 | 5,646 | 5,687 | 5,733 | 6,171 | 9,212 | |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Begley | 15.2 | 5,036 | 5,057 | 5,112 | 5,157 | 5,791 | 6,952 | 7,849 | 8,199 |
| | Labour | Michael Moynihan | 13.7 | 4,559 | 4,581 | 4,705 | 4,971 | 5,074 | 6,055 | 6,580 | 6,945 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Breandan Mac Gearailt | 13.5 | 4,481 | 4,489 | 4,571 | 4,637 | 4,652 | 4,947 | | |
| | Progressive Democrats | Michael C. Ahern | 9.7 | 3,215 | 3,233 | 3,371 | 3,534 | 3,654 | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Denis Sheahan | 2.7 | 910 | 914 | 939 | 975 | | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Seán O'Grady | 2.2 | 735 | 741 | 898 | | | | | |
| | Green | Marcus Counihan | 2.1 | 708 | 721 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | James Falvey | 0.4 | 122 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 42,701 Valid: 33,211 Quota: 8,303 Turnout: 77.8% ||||||||||||

### November 1982 general election

November 1982 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Leary | 24.0 | 7,898 | 7,900 | 7,937 | 8,088 | 8,143 | 8,148 | 8,154 | 8,303 |
| | Labour | Michael Moynihan | 23.1 | 7,609 | 7,620 | 7,690 | 8,052 | 8,247 | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Begley | 22.8 | 7,524 | 7,532 | 7,556 | 7,613 | 8,252 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Donoghue | 21.9 | 7,201 | 7,215 | 7,232 | 7,282 | 7,298 | 7,300 | 7,302 | 7,715 |
| | Fine Gael | Tom Randles | 2.7 | 890 | 893 | 908 | 927 | | | | |
| | Independent | Joseph O'Shea | 2.6 | 845 | 850 | 874 | 929 | 941 | 951 | 955 | |
| | Workers' Party | Seán O'Grady | 2.1 | 679 | 687 | 729 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Colm O'Sullivan | 0.7 | 236 | 238 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Stephen Doyle | 0.2 | 57 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 41,941 Valid: 32,939 Quota: 8,235 Turnout: 78.5% ||||||||||||

### February 1982 general election

February 1982 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Leary | 23.1 | 7,510 | 7,515 | 7,758 | 7,764 | 8,811 |
| | Labour | Michael Moynihan | 21.6 | 7,038 | 7,077 | 7,732 | 7,877 | 8,285 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Begley | 20.8 | 6,758 | 6,770 | 8,292 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Donoghue | 15.3 | 4,977 | 4,999 | 5,100 | 5,105 | 7,094 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Tom Fitzgerald | 10.8 | 3,523 | 3,544 | 3,582 | 3,585 | |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Connor Scarteen | 7.9 | 2,584 | 2,599 | | | |
| | Independent | Stephen Doyle | 0.4 | 141 | | | | |
| Electorate: 41,807 Valid: 32,531 (77.8%) Spoilt: 279 (0.9%) Quota: 8,133 Turnout: 32,810 (78.5%) |||||||||

### 1981 general election

1981 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Labour | Michael Moynihan | 24.5 | 8,221 | 8,624 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Leary | 22.0 | 7,383 | 7,550 | 7,757 | 9,036 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Begley | 18.3 | 6,144 | 6,401 | 7,741 | 8,195 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Timothy O'Connor | 14.0 | 4,702 | 4,888 | 4,980 | 6,904 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Donoghue | 11.3 | 3,780 | 4,150 | 4,248 | |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick O'Connor | 5.3 | 1,763 | 1,892 | | |
| | Independent | Michael O'Connell | 4.8 | 1,600 | | | |
| Electorate: 41,807 Valid: 33,593 Quota: 8,399 Turnout: 80.4% ||||||||

### 1977 general election

1977 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Leary | 24.5 | 8,002 | 8,246 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Timothy O'Connor | 24.2 | 7,917 | 8,072 | 8,312 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Begley | 20.4 | 6,655 | 6,722 | 8,818 |
| | Labour | Michael Moynihan | 17.7 | 5,799 | 6,174 | 6,982 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Connor-Scarteen | 10.0 | 3,256 | 3,345 | |
| | Sinn Féin The Workers' Party | Redmond Sullivan | 3.3 | 1,065 | | |
| Electorate: 41,565 Valid: 32,694 Quota: 8,174 Turnout: 78.7% |||||||

### 1973 general election

1973 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Leary | 30.3 | 8,286 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Timothy O'Connor | 21.3 | 5,819 | 7,021 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Begley | 19.7 | 5,390 | 5,444 | 5,610 | 7,752 |
| | Labour | Michael Moynihan | 13.9 | 3,806 | 3,952 | 4,451 | 5,087 |
| | Fine Gael | Daniel Barry | 11.1 | 3,025 | 3,052 | 3,145 | |
| | Sinn Féin (Official) | Patrick O'Callaghan | 3.7 | 1,014 | 1,035 | | |
| Electorate: 36,391 Valid: 27,340 Quota: 6,836 Turnout: 75.1% ||||||||

### 1969 general election

1969 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Leary | 30.6 | 8,656 | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Timothy O'Connor | 22.9 | 6,490 | 7,733 | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Begley | 16.1 | 4,564 | 4,621 | 4,666 | 5,629 | 6,713 |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick Connor | 13.8 | 3,891 | 4,013 | 4,151 | 4,884 | 5,698 |
| | Labour | Tadhg O'Sullivan | 9.4 | 2,652 | 2,795 | 2,945 | 3,109 | |
| | Fine Gael | Daniel Barry | 7.2 | 2,038 | 2,056 | 2,065 | | |
| Electorate: 36,097 Valid: 28,291 Quota: 7,073 Turnout: 78.4% |||||||||

### 1966 by-election

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Honor Crowley, a by-election was held on 7 December 1966. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate John O'Leary.
1966 by-election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Leary | 45.9 | 12,499 | 13,590 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Begley | 36.3 | 9,875 | 12,807 |
| | Labour | Michael Moynihan | 17.8 | 4,849 | |
| Electorate: 35,832 Valid: 27,223 Quota: 13,612 Turnout: 76.0% ||||||

### 1965 general election

1965 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Timothy O'Connor | 22.5 | 5,977 | 6,253 | 6,842 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Honor Crowley | 21.6 | 5,746 | 5,887 | 6,084 | 6,225 | 6,341 |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick Connor | 20.7 | 5,501 | 5,664 | 7,365 | | |
| | Labour | Michael Moynihan | 17.7 | 4,712 | 4,924 | 5,626 | 6,210 | 6,296 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Begley | 12.2 | 3,250 | 3,725 | | | |
| | Independent | James Courtney | 5.2 | 1,370 | | | | |
| Electorate: 36,470 Valid: 26,556 Quota: 6,640 Turnout: 72.8% |||||||||

### 1961 general election

1961 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Honor Crowley | 22.3 | 5,640 | 5,886 | 6,537 |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick Connor | 21.3 | 5,402 | 6,588 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Timothy O'Connor | 20.7 | 5,244 | 5,446 | 5,862 |
| | Labour | Michael Moynihan | 14.3 | 3,630 | 3,952 | 5,073 |
| | Sinn Féin | John Joe Rice | 12.8 | 3,240 | 3,380 | |
| | Fine Gael | Michael O'Sullivan | 8.5 | 2,158 | | |
| Electorate: 36,781 Valid: 25,314 Quota: 6,329 Turnout: 68.8% |||||||

### 1957 general election

1957 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick Palmer | 26.6 | 5,899 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Honor Crowley | 25.4 | 5,632 |
| | Sinn Féin | John Joe Rice | 25.1 | 5,582 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Flynn | 23.0 | 5,101 |
| Electorate: 32,279 Valid: 22,214 Quota: 5,554 Turnout: 68.8% |||||

### 1954 general election

1954 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick Palmer | 25.6 | 6,376 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Flynn | 23.4 | 5,834 | 5,844 | 6,002 | 6,429 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Honor Crowley | 23.0 | 5,732 | 5,740 | 5,946 | 6,380 |
| | Labour | Michael Moynihan | 10.8 | 2,690 | 2,732 | 3,513 | 5,025 |
| | Clann na Talmhan | William Dennehy | 9.9 | 2,461 | 2,499 | 3,112 | |
| | Clann na Poblachta | John O'Leary | 7.4 | 1,853 | 1,894 | | |
| Electorate: 33,411 Valid: 24,946 Quota: 6,237 Turnout: 74.7% ||||||||

### 1951 general election

1951 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick Palmer | 29.5 | 7,437 | | | | |
| | Independent | John Flynn | 21.2 | 5,337 | 5,614 | 6,023 | 7,521 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Honor Crowley | 18.6 | 4,679 | 4,739 | 4,772 | 5,236 | 5,438 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Patrick J. Lane | 16.8 | 4,232 | 4,312 | 4,405 | 4,555 | 4,648 |
| | Clann na Poblachta | John Joe O'Leary | 9.3 | 2,330 | 2,723 | 3,579 | | |
| | Clann na Poblachta | Jeremiah O'Riordan | 4.7 | 1,170 | 1,500 | | | |
| Electorate: 33,680 Valid: 25,185 Quota: 6,297 Turnout: 74.8% |||||||||

### 1948 general election

1948 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick Palmer | 18.9 | 4,924 | 5,400 | 5,548 | 5,689 | 6,059 | 6,161 |
| | Independent | John Flynn | 15.7 | 4,107 | 4,374 | 4,767 | 4,920 | 6,473 | 6,944 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Honor Crowley | 15.7 | 4,091 | 4,244 | 4,274 | 5,973 | 7,900 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Healy | 15.3 | 3,992 | 4,033 | 4,164 | 4,398 | | |
| | Clann na Poblachta | Pádraig O'Donoghue | 12.2 | 3,179 | 3,468 | 4,791 | 4,935 | 5,079 | 5,115 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Donal O'Donoghue | 8.7 | 2,278 | 2,357 | 2,462 | | | |
| | Clann na Poblachta | Patrick Jones | 8.1 | 2,121 | 2,183 | | | | |
| | Independent | Patrick J. O'Shea | 5.5 | 1,424 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 35,580 Valid: 26,116 Quota: 6,530 Turnout: 73.4% ||||||||||

### 1945 by-election

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Frederick Crowley, a by-election was held on 4 December 1945. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Honor Crowley, widow of the deceased TD.
1945 by-election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Honor Crowley | 56.7 | 10,483 |
| | Clann na Talmhan | Edmund Horan | 43.3 | 8,018 |
| Electorate: 36,029 Valid: 18,501 Quota: 9,251 Turnout: 51.4% |||||

### 1944 by-election

Following the resignation of Fine Gael TD Fionán Lynch upon his appointment as a judge, a by-election was held on 10 November 1944. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Donal O'Donoghue.
1944 by-election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Donal O'Donoghue | 48.6 | 10,986 | 11,771 |
| | Clann na Talmhan | Edmund Horan | 30.1 | 6,795 | 9,348 |
| | Fine Gael | Eoin O'Connell | 21.3 | 4,822 | |
| Electorate: 35,940 Valid: 22,603 Quota: 11,302 Turnout: 62.9% ||||||

### 1944 general election

1944 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Frederick Crowley | 26.6 | 6,693 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Healy | 25.9 | 6,526 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Fionán Lynch | 24.1 | 6,057 | 6,232 | 6,344 |
| | Clann na Talmhan | Edmund Horan | 23.5 | 5,908 | 6,129 | 6,246 |
| Electorate: 36,504 Valid: 25,184 Quota: 6,297 Turnout: 69.0% |||||||

### 1943 general election

1943 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Frederick Crowley | 22.4 | 5,934 | 5,994 | 7,144 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Healy | 20.1 | 5,323 | 5,604 | 6,200 | 6,442 |
| | Fine Gael | Fionán Lynch | 18.0 | 4,771 | 5,034 | 6,418 | 6,579 |
| | Clann na Talmhan | Daniel Allman | 16.8 | 4,446 | 5,366 | 6,161 | 6,266 |
| | Labour | William Myers | 16.5 | 4,384 | 4,509 | | |
| | Clann na Talmhan | John Duffy | 6.3 | 1,685 | | | |
| Electorate: 36,504 Valid: 26,543 Quota: 6,636 Turnout: 72.7% ||||||||

### 1938 general election

1938 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | % | Seat |
| | Fianna Fáil | Frederick Crowley | Unopposed | N/A | 1 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Flynn | Unopposed | N/A | 2 |
| | Fine Gael | Fionán Lynch | Unopposed | N/A | 3 |
| Electorate: 35,027 Valid: Quota: Turnout: |||||||

### 1937 general election

1937 general election: Kerry South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Flynn | 28.3 | 7,268 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Frederick Crowley | 26.4 | 6,772 | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Fionán Lynch | 18.4 | 4,741 | 4,955 | 5,009 | 7,252 |
| | Independent | Patrick O'Shea | 13.7 | 3,532 | 4,104 | 4,338 | 5,394 |
| | Fine Gael | William O'Sullivan | 13.2 | 3,384 | 3,441 | 3,500 | |
| Electorate: 35,390 Valid: 25,697 Quota: 6,425 Turnout: 72.6% ||||||||