# Cork South-Central (Dáil constituency)

Cork South-Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects five deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

## History and boundaries

The constituency was created under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1980 and first used at the 1981 general election, taking in parts of the former Cork City and Cork Mid constituencies. It is a mixed urban-rural constituency encompassing the south of Cork City, county towns and a rural hinterland. It encompasses the electoral areas of Cork City south of the river Lee, together with most of the Carrigaline electoral area of County Cork, including the Ringaskiddy and Passage West areas.
The Constituency Review Report 2023 of the Electoral Commission recommended that at the next general election, Cork South-Central be increased to a five-seat constituency with the transfer of territory from Cork North-Central.
The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 defines the constituency as:
   and, in the county of Cork, the electoral divisions of:
       Carrigaline, Monkstown Urban, in the former Rural District of Cork;
   and those parts contained in the county of Cork of the electoral divisions of:
       Ballygarvan, Douglas, Inishkenny, Monkstown Rural, in the former Rural District of Cork;
       Carrigaline, Kilpatrick, Liscleary, Templebreedy, in the former Rural District of Kinsale."

## TDs

Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Cork South-Central 1981– :
| Key to parties  FF = Fianna Fáil  FG = Fine Gael  GP = Green  Lab = Labour  PDs = Progressive Democrats  SF = Sinn Féin  SD = Social Democrats ||||||||||||
| Dáil | Election | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) |
| 22nd | 1981 | | Eileen Desmond (Lab) | | Gene Fitzgerald (FF) | | Pearse Wyse (FF) | | Hugh Coveney (FG) | | Peter Barry (FG) |
| 23rd | 1982 (Feb) | | Eileen Desmond (Lab) | | Gene Fitzgerald (FF) | | Pearse Wyse (FF) | | Jim Corr (FG) | | Peter Barry (FG) |
| 24th | 1982 (Nov) | | Eileen Desmond (Lab) | | Gene Fitzgerald (FF) | | Pearse Wyse (FF) | | Hugh Coveney (FG) | | Peter Barry (FG) |
| 25th | 1987 | | Toddy O'Sullivan (Lab) | | John Dennehy (FF) | | Batt O'Keeffe (FF) | | Pearse Wyse (PDs) | | Peter Barry (FG) |
| 26th | 1989 | | Toddy O'Sullivan (Lab) | | John Dennehy (FF) | | Micheál Martin (FF) | | Pearse Wyse (PDs) | | Peter Barry (FG) |
| 27th | 1992 | | Toddy O'Sullivan (Lab) | | Batt O'Keeffe (FF) | | Micheál Martin (FF) | | Pat Cox (PDs) | | Peter Barry (FG) |
| 27th | 1994 by-election | | Toddy O'Sullivan (Lab) | | Batt O'Keeffe (FF) | | Micheál Martin (FF) | | Hugh Coveney (FG) | | Peter Barry (FG) |
| 28th | 1997 | | John Dennehy (FF) | | Batt O'Keeffe (FF) | | Micheál Martin (FF) | | Hugh Coveney (FG) | | Deirdre Clune (FG) |
| 28th | 1998 by-election | | John Dennehy (FF) | | Batt O'Keeffe (FF) | | Micheál Martin (FF) | | Simon Coveney (FG) | | Deirdre Clune (FG) |
| 29th | 2002 | | John Dennehy (FF) | | Batt O'Keeffe (FF) | | Micheál Martin (FF) | | Simon Coveney (FG) | | Dan Boyle (GP) |
| 30th | 2007 | | Ciarán Lynch (Lab) | | Michael McGrath (FF) | | Micheál Martin (FF) | | Simon Coveney (FG) | | Deirdre Clune (FG) |
| 31st | 2011 | | Ciarán Lynch (Lab) | | Michael McGrath (FF) | | Micheál Martin (FF) | | Simon Coveney (FG) | | Jerry Buttimer (FG) |
| 32nd | 2016 | | Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (SF) | | Michael McGrath (FF) | | Micheál Martin (FF) | | Simon Coveney (FG) | 4 seats 2016–2024 | 4 seats 2016–2024 |
| 33rd | 2020 | | Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (SF) | | Michael McGrath (FF) | | Micheál Martin (FF) | | Simon Coveney (FG) | 4 seats 2016–2024 | 4 seats 2016–2024 |
| 34th | 2024 | | Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (SF) | | Séamus McGrath (FF) | | Micheál Martin (FF) | | Jerry Buttimer (FG) | | Pádraig Rice (SD) |
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.

## Elections

^ *: Outgoing TD

### 2024 general election

2024 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 23.2 | 14,526 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Séamus McGrath | 12.4 | 7,794 | 9,940 | 9,950 | 9,957 | 9,972 | 9,982 | 10,016 | 10,051 | 10,064 | 10,758 | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire | 11.1 | 6,947 | 7,041 | 7,055 | 7,068 | 7,092 | 7,116 | 7,179 | 7,245 | 7,383 | 7,405 | 7,418 | 7,468 | 7,580 | 7,853 | 10,152 | 10,647 | | |
| | Social Democrats | Pádraig Rice | 8.6 | 5,368 | 5,447 | 5,455 | 5,481 | 5,512 | 5,630 | 5,665 | 5,680 | 6,194 | 6,220 | 6,238 | 6,324 | 7,103 | 7,279 | 7,527 | 9,418 | 9,533 | 10,242 |
| | Fine Gael | Jerry Buttimer | 7.0 | 4,407 | 4,834 | 4,840 | 4,846 | 4,854 | 4,878 | 4,909 | 4,918 | 4,927 | 5,082 | 5,181 | 5,955 | 6,286 | 6,459 | 6,532 | 7,223 | 7,250 | 10,917 |
| | Fine Gael | Shane O'Callaghan | 5.8 | 3,664 | 3,959 | 3,960 | 3,962 | 3,976 | 3,980 | 3,989 | 4,009 | 4,014 | 4,082 | 4,133 | 5,004 | 5,232 | 5,479 | 5,512 | 5,943 | 5,958 | |
| | Independent | Mick Finn | 5.7 | 3,582 | 3,706 | 3,734 | 3,770 | 3,816 | 3,843 | 4,083 | 4,323 | 4,369 | 4,408 | 4,433 | 4,486 | 4,585 | 5,488 | 5,640 | 6,138 | 6,177 | 6,651 |
| | Labour | Laura Harmon | 4.8 | 3,005 | 3,111 | 3,114 | 3,128 | 3,147 | 3,200 | 3,237 | 3,243 | 3,315 | 3,378 | 3,404 | 3,555 | 4,262 | 4,405 | 4,643 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Michelle Cowhey Shahid | 4.3 | 2,714 | 2,731 | 2,745 | 2,753 | 2,774 | 2,816 | 2,838 | 2,860 | 2,960 | 2,968 | 2,969 | 2,993 | 3,060 | 3,214 | | | | |
| | Aontú | Anna Daly | 3.6 | 2,273 | 2,297 | 2,303 | 2,313 | 2,379 | 2,393 | 2,434 | 2,784 | 2,815 | 2,835 | 2,846 | 2,892 | 2,951 | | | | | |
| | Green | Monica Oikeh | 3.4 | 2,156 | 2,233 | 2,240 | 2,260 | 2,265 | 2,294 | 2,307 | 2,314 | 2,381 | 2,418 | 2,447 | 2,596 | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Úna McCarthy | 3.3 | 2,078 | 2,213 | 2,215 | 2,217 | 2,221 | 2,227 | 2,233 | 2,247 | 2,251 | 2,313 | 2,347 | | | | | | | |
| | PBP–Solidarity | Shane Laird | 1.4 | 876 | 882 | 894 | 914 | 926 | 1,002 | 1,018 | 1,052 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | National Party | Ted Neville | 1.4 | 858 | 864 | 894 | 904 | 959 | 962 | 978 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Margaret Kenneally | 1.2 | 726 | 1,214 | 1,215 | 1,218 | 1,221 | 1,225 | 1,232 | 1,239 | 1,241 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Paudie Dineen | 0.9 | 543 | 569 | 580 | 598 | 619 | 633 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rabharta | Lorna Bogue | 0.7 | 425 | 433 | 436 | 451 | 460 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent Ireland | Veronica Houlihan | 0.5 | 348 | 353 | 381 | 392 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Graham de Barra | 0.3 | 217 | 223 | 230 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent Ireland | Valerie Ward | 0.2 | 104 | 105 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | John O'Leary | 0.1 | 58 | 61 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Tony Field | 0.1 | 35 | 37 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 105,076 Valid: 62,704 Spoilt: 423 Quota: 10,451 Turnout: 60.1% ||||||||||||||||||||||
* ↑ Laird is a member of People Before Profit.

### 2020 general election

2020 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Sinn Féin | Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire | 24.6 | 14,057 | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 19.3 | 11,023 | 11,197 | 11,234 | 11,297 | 11,360 | 11,505 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Simon Coveney | 16.3 | 9,327 | 9,408 | 9,439 | 9,465 | 9,525 | 9,720 | 9,847 | 12,170 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Michael McGrath | 16.2 | 9,236 | 9,499 | 9,527 | 9,576 | 9,636 | 9,775 | 10,350 | 10,809 |
| | Green | Lorna Bogue | 9.4 | 5,379 | 5,787 | 5,833 | 5,931 | 6,448 | 7,184 | 7,537 | 9,179 |
| | Fine Gael | Jerry Buttimer | 4.9 | 2,828 | 2,869 | 2,882 | 2,897 | 2,926 | 3,066 | 3,112 | |
| | Aontú | Anna Daly | 2.4 | 1,350 | 1,495 | 1,565 | 1,664 | 1,736 | 1,821 | | |
| | Labour | Ciara Kennedy | 2.2 | 1,263 | 1,404 | 1,424 | 1,490 | 1,707 | | | |
| | Social Democrats | Patricia O'Dwyer | 1.9 | 1,077 | 1,311 | 1,367 | 1,439 | | | | |
| | Solidarity–PBP | Bobby Murray Walsh | 1.3 | 764 | 1,360 | 1,466 | 1,651 | 1,977 | 2,120 | 2,377 | |
| | Independent | Paudie Dineen | 0.8 | 429 | 697 | 898 | | | | | |
| | Independent | William O'Brien | 0.4 | 202 | 381 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | John Donohoe | 0.2 | 103 | 145 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Sean O'Leary | 0.2 | 102 | 158 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 90,916 Valid: 57,140 Spoilt: 317 Quota: 11,429 Turnout: 63.2% ||||||||||||
* ↑ Murray Walsh was a member of People Before Profit.

### 2016 general election

2016 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Michael McGrath | 21.2 | 11,795 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 20.4 | 11,346 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Simon Coveney | 14.3 | 7,965 | 8,180 | 8,233 | 8,241 | 8,293 | 8,303 | 8,468 | 8,527 | 8,591 | 9,315 | 10,372 |
| | Sinn Féin | Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire | 12.5 | 6,986 | 7,090 | 7,122 | 7,152 | 7,257 | 7,414 | 7,524 | 7,877 | 8,366 | 8,526 | 10,653 |
| | Fine Gael | Jerry Buttimer | 11.5 | 6,419 | 6,498 | 6,530 | 6,532 | 6,568 | 6,582 | 6,701 | 6,727 | 6,786 | 7,843 | 9,117 |
| | Labour | Ciarán Lynch | 4.3 | 2,417 | 2,462 | 2,478 | 2,481 | 2,504 | 2,513 | 2,574 | 2,611 | 2,685 | | |
| | Independent | Mick Finn | 4.3 | 2,378 | 2,423 | 2,446 | 2,454 | 2,528 | 2,583 | 2,686 | 2,869 | 3,199 | 3,356 | |
| | Green | Lorna Bogue | 3.7 | 2,064 | 2,095 | 2,108 | 2,114 | 2,183 | 2,243 | 2,364 | 2,452 | 2,930 | 3,291 | |
| | AAA–PBP | Fiona Ryan | 1.7 | 937 | 954 | 960 | 976 | 1,037 | 1,492 | 1,592 | 1,882 | | | |
| | Renua | Ciarán Kenneally | 1.6 | 887 | 931 | 944 | 951 | 990 | 1,014 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Diarmuid Ó Cadhla | 1.6 | 869 | 885 | 891 | 941 | 1,047 | 1,107 | 1,188 | | | | |
| | AAA–PBP | Jim O'Connell | 1.4 | 795 | 810 | 815 | 829 | 880 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Joe Harris | 0.6 | 350 | 371 | 376 | 388 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Elizabeth Hourihane | 0.5 | 304 | 327 | 329 | 333 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Michael Mohally | 0.3 | 170 | 173 | 176 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 84,482 Valid: 55,682 Spoilt: 404 Quota: 11,137 Turnout: 66.4% |||||||||||||||

### 2011 general election

2011 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 16.7 | 10,715 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Simon Coveney | 14.8 | 9,447 | 9,450 | 9,471 | 9,521 | 9,558 | 9,712 | 9,976 | 10,169 | 10,531 | 10,872 | | |
| | Labour | Ciarán Lynch | 13.2 | 8,481 | 8,484 | 8,516 | 8,543 | 8,593 | 8,810 | 9,218 | 9,921 | 12,565 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Michael McGrath | 11.3 | 7,221 | 7,248 | 7,274 | 7,327 | 7,350 | 7,484 | 7,635 | 7,911 | 8,120 | 8,393 | 9,025 | 10,023 |
| | Fine Gael | Jerry Buttimer | 11.1 | 7,128 | 7,130 | 7,150 | 7,173 | 7,194 | 7,327 | 7,553 | 7,822 | 8,032 | 8,410 | 13,096 | |
| | Fine Gael | Deirdre Clune | 8.8 | 5,650 | 5,652 | 5,672 | 5,689 | 5,709 | 5,803 | 5,982 | 6,124 | 6,364 | 6,690 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Chris O'Leary | 8.2 | 5,250 | 5,251 | 5,291 | 5,319 | 5,414 | 5,688 | 5,796 | 6,463 | 6,719 | 7,268 | 7,640 | 8,187 |
| | Labour | Paula Desmond | 5.3 | 3,388 | 3,389 | 3,412 | 3,455 | 3,499 | 3,609 | 3,877 | 4,127 | | | | |
| | Independent | Mick Finn | 3.7 | 2,386 | 2,387 | 2,440 | 2,540 | 2,597 | 2,882 | 2,960 | | | | | |
| | Green | Dan Boyle | 2.6 | 1,640 | 1,641 | 1,650 | 1,672 | 1,708 | 1,800 | | | | | | |
| | New Vision | David McCarthy | 1.4 | 880 | 880 | 917 | 952 | 1,037 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Ted Neville | 0.8 | 523 | 523 | 547 | 581 | 639 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Diarmaid Ó Cadhla | 0.8 | 508 | 508 | 531 | 563 | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Seán Dunphy | 0.7 | 448 | 448 | 481 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Eric Isherwood | 0.3 | 193 | 193 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Finbarr O'Driscoll | 0.1 | 92 | 92 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Gerard Linehan | 0.1 | 90 | 90 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 90,044 Valid: 64,040 Spoilt: 624 (1.0%) Quota: 10,674 Turnout: 64,664 (71.8%) ||||||||||||||||
* ↑ New Vision was an electoral alliance of independent non-party candidates and did not appear on the ballot.

### 2007 general election

2007 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 19.0 | 11,226 | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Michael McGrath | 16.7 | 9,866 | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Simon Coveney | 9.9 | 5,863 | 5,960 | 6,058 | 6,451 | 8,042 | 9,363 |
| | Fine Gael | Deirdre Clune | 9.7 | 5,739 | 5,843 | 5,941 | 6,447 | 8,565 | 9,875 |
| | Labour | Ciarán Lynch | 9.2 | 5,466 | 5,566 | 5,730 | 6,528 | 7,285 | 9,851 |
| | Fine Gael | Jerry Buttimer | 8.8 | 5,180 | 5,242 | 5,337 | 5,760 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Dennehy | 8.6 | 5,062 | 5,810 | 5,921 | 7,087 | 7,448 | 8,067 |
| | Green | Dan Boyle | 8.4 | 4,945 | 5,057 | 5,263 | 6,318 | 6,994 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Henry Cremin | 5.1 | 3,020 | 3,054 | 3,198 | | | |
| | Progressive Democrats | John Minihan | 2.7 | 1,596 | 1,706 | 1,807 | | | |
| | Immigration Control | Ted Neville | 1.4 | 804 | 814 | | | | |
| | Independent | Gerard Linehan | 0.2 | 155 | 156 | | | | |
| | Independent | Morgan Stack | 0.2 | 116 | 118 | | | | |
| | Independent | Maurice Fitzgerald | 0.1 | 30 | 31 | | | | |
| Electorate: 91,090 Valid: 59,068 Spoilt: 592 (0.9%) Quota: 9,845 Turnout: 59,660 (65.5%) ||||||||||

### 2002 general election

2002 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 26.7 | 14,742 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Batt O'Keeffe | 11.9 | 6,556 | 8,224 | 8,279 | 8,393 | 8,694 | 8,897 | 9,112 | 9,331 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Deirdre Clune | 10.0 | 5,535 | 5,848 | 5,886 | 5,982 | 6,075 | 6,593 | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Dennehy | 10.0 | 5,533 | 7,256 | 7,295 | 7,697 | 8,061 | 8,281 | 8,480 | 8,684 | 8,766 | 8,789 |
| | Fine Gael | Simon Coveney | 9.4 | 5,183 | 5,757 | 5,793 | 5,906 | 6,038 | 6,634 | 11,573 | | | |
| | Independent | Kathy Sinnott | 9.0 | 4,984 | 5,393 | 5,491 | 5,909 | 6,450 | 7,215 | 7,724 | 8,654 | 8,696 | 8,783 |
| | Green | Dan Boyle | 9.0 | 4,952 | 5,394 | 5,506 | 5,766 | 6,334 | 7,761 | 8,304 | 9,317 | | |
| | Labour | Brendan Ryan | 5.9 | 3,282 | 3,461 | 3,509 | 3,743 | 3,966 | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Tom Hanlon | 3.7 | 2,063 | 2,176 | 2,254 | 2,480 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Con O'Connell | 3.3 | 1,821 | 1,914 | 2,004 | | | | | | | |
| | Immigration Control | Ted Neville | 0.7 | 372 | 383 | | | | | | | | |
| | Socialist Workers | Michael O'Sullivan | 0.4 | 217 | 227 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 89,646 Valid: 55,240 Spoilt: 545 (0.9%) Quota: 9,207 Turnout: 55,785 (62.2%) ||||||||||||||

### 1998 by-election

Fine Gael TD Hugh Coveney died on 14 March 1998. A by-election to fill the vacancy was held on 23 October 1998. It was won by the Fine Gael candidate Simon Coveney, son of the deceased TD.
1998 by-election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | Fine Gael | Simon Coveney | 37.7 | 16,212 | 16,720 | 23,230 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Sinead Behan | 29.4 | 12,658 | 13,372 | 16,379 |
| | Labour | Toddy O'Sullivan | 19.0 | 8,171 | 8,689 | |
| | Green | Dan Boyle | 8.1 | 3,461 | 4,017 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Henry Cremin | 2.7 | 1,158 | | |
| | Progressive Democrats | Peter Kelly | 2.3 | 971 | | |
| | Independent | Benny Cooney | 0.5 | 197 | | |
| | Natural Law | Brian McEnery | 0.4 | 150 | | |
| | Independent | Jim Tallon | 0.1 | 29 | | |
| Electorate: 87,606 Valid: 43,007 Quota: 21,504 Turnout: 49.1% |||||||

### 1997 general election

1997 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 17.5 | 9,652 | | | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Hugh Coveney | 17.2 | 9,524 | | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Batt O'Keeffe | 13.2 | 7,279 | 7,462 | 7,478 | 7,585 | 7,812 | 8,419 | 9,194 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Dennehy | 11.9 | 6,524 | 6,682 | 6,694 | 6,788 | 6,938 | 7,118 | 7,851 | 8,124 | 8,975 |
| | Labour | Toddy O'Sullivan | 8.9 | 4,908 | 4,933 | 4,979 | 5,090 | 5,229 | 5,410 | 5,512 | 6,054 | 7,636 |
| | Fine Gael | Deirdre Clune | 8.4 | 4,602 | 4,622 | 4,781 | 4,860 | 5,009 | 5,196 | 5,476 | 7,274 | 8,469 |
| | Green | Dan Boyle | 6.6 | 3,622 | 3,650 | 3,666 | 4,051 | 4,375 | 4,588 | 4,884 | 5,184 | |
| | Fine Gael | Sylvester Cotter | 4.9 | 2,701 | 2,712 | 2,794 | 2,853 | 2,935 | 3,048 | 3,182 | | |
| | Progressive Democrats | Tom Coughlan | 4.2 | 2,304 | 2,339 | 2,347 | 2,400 | 2,473 | 2,536 | | | |
| | Independent | Derry Canty | 2.7 | 1,497 | 1,501 | 1,505 | 1,540 | 1,719 | | | | |
| | Independent | Matty O'Callaghan | 2.3 | 1,254 | 1,263 | 1,268 | 1,444 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Tim Murphy | 1.2 | 663 | 665 | 666 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Seán P. Twomey | 0.4 | 215 | 216 | 217 | | | | | | |
| | Natural Law | Nora Anne Luck | 0.3 | 182 | 183 | 183 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Séan Ahern | 0.2 | 112 | 113 | 113 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 84,288 Valid: 55,039 Spoilt: 362 (0.7%) Quota: 9,174 Turnout: 55,401 (65.7%) |||||||||||||

### 1994 by-election

Progressive Democrats TD Pat Cox resigned as a TD on 19 July 1994 following his re-election to the European Parliament. A by-election to fill the vacancy was held on 10 November 1994.
1994 by-election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Dennehy | 31.6 | 13,316 | 13,423 | 13,832 | 14,040 | 14,683 | 17,421 |
| | Fine Gael | Hugh Coveney | 31.2 | 13,128 | 13,224 | 13,539 | 14,337 | 14,810 | 19,396 |
| | Green | Dan Boyle | 15.8 | 6,677 | 6,982 | 7,453 | 7,928 | 8,437 | |
| | Independent | Brendan Ryan | 6.2 | 2,618 | 2,853 | 3,074 | 3,268 | 3,561 | |
| | Labour | Joe O'Flynn | 4.6 | 1,940 | 2,022 | 2,073 | 2,144 | | |
| | Progressive Democrats | Alan Ellard | 4.1 | 1,719 | 1,789 | 1,873 | | | |
| | Christian Solidarity | Catherine Kelly | 4.0 | 1,704 | 1,764 | | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Sean McCarthy | 1.9 | 813 | | | | | |
| | Natural Law | Brian McEnery | 0.5 | 219 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 78,420 Valid: 42,134 Quota: 21,068 Turnout: 53.7% ||||||||||

### 1992 general election

1992 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| | Labour | Toddy O'Sullivan | 18.0 | 9,662 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 14.8 | 7,939 | 7,994 | 8,001 | 8,010 | 8,026 | 8,082 | 8,148 | 8,267 | 8,400 | 8,493 | 8,971 | | | | |
| | Progressive Democrats | Pat Cox | 12.5 | 6,720 | 6,816 | 6,824 | 6,829 | 6,839 | 6,868 | 6,884 | 6,953 | 7,134 | 7,436 | 7,545 | 7,546 | 8,100 | 8,842 | 9,400 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Batt O'Keeffe | 10.3 | 5,532 | 5,566 | 5,569 | 5,570 | 5,579 | 5,588 | 5,638 | 5,709 | 5,754 | 5,792 | 6,128 | 6,146 | 6,549 | 6,762 | 6,985 |
| | Fine Gael | Peter Barry | 9.4 | 5,020 | 5,099 | 5,099 | 5,105 | 5,111 | 5,133 | 5,146 | 5,180 | 5,286 | 6,157 | 6,261 | 6,262 | 6,721 | 7,088 | 9,408 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Dennehy | 7.3 | 3,925 | 3,951 | 3,953 | 3,955 | 3,961 | 3,983 | 4,027 | 4,081 | 4,122 | 4,138 | 4,736 | 4,750 | 4,986 | 5,309 | 5,733 |
| | Fine Gael | Denis (Dino) Cregan | 5.5 | 2,925 | 3,003 | 3,004 | 3,007 | 3,014 | 3,081 | 3,110 | 3,148 | 3,222 | 3,715 | 3,761 | 3,762 | 3,999 | 4,552 | |
| | Democratic Left | Kathleen Lynch | 4.7 | 2,539 | 2,720 | 2,732 | 2,737 | 2,780 | 2,937 | 3,032 | 3,056 | 3,395 | 3,436 | 3,470 | 3,471 | 3,807 | | |
| | Independent | Liam Hurley | 4.2 | 2,239 | 2,278 | 2,281 | 2,292 | 2,304 | 2,339 | 2,404 | 2,482 | 2,651 | 2,685 | 2,974 | 2,976 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Barry Cogan | 3.6 | 1,941 | 1,952 | 1,955 | 1,962 | 1,965 | 1,967 | 1,983 | 2,030 | 2,058 | 2,081 | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Jim Corr | 3.4 | 1,828 | 1,859 | 1,860 | 1,863 | 1,867 | 1,872 | 1,881 | 1,911 | 1,975 | | | | | | |
| | Green | Dan Boyle | 2.2 | 1,166 | 1,205 | 1,219 | 1,227 | 1,246 | 1,281 | 1,378 | 1,462 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | John Weldon | 1.3 | 697 | 703 | 706 | 729 | 734 | 773 | 795 | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Liam Burke | 1.1 | 592 | 598 | 599 | 599 | 610 | 633 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Con O'Connell | 1.0 | 526 | 540 | 554 | 560 | 592 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Jerry McCarthy | 0.3 | 172 | 196 | 197 | 198 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Seán P. Twomey | 0.2 | 87 | 93 | 105 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Nora-Anne Luck | 0.2 | 85 | 89 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 76,141 Valid: 53,595 Spoilt: 712 (1.3%) Quota: 8,933 Turnout: 54,307 (71.3%) |||||||||||||||||||

### 1989 general election

1989 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Fine Gael | Peter Barry | 14.5 | 7,791 | 7,975 | 8,178 | 8,360 | 12,843 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 12.2 | 6,564 | 6,612 | 7,294 | 7,685 | 7,917 | 8,074 | 8,458 |
| | Labour | Toddy O'Sullivan | 11.8 | 6,300 | 6,393 | 6,534 | 9,092 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Batt O'Keeffe | 11.2 | 6,012 | 6,068 | 6,754 | 6,882 | 7,020 | 7,130 | 7,388 |
| | Fine Gael | Jim Corr | 11.0 | 5,899 | 6,109 | 6,233 | 6,421 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Dennehy | 10.4 | 5,586 | 5,638 | 7,134 | 7,372 | 7,552 | 7,660 | 8,017 |
| | Progressive Democrats | Pearse Wyse | 10.3 | 5,527 | 6,490 | 6,684 | 7,171 | 8,323 | 11,825 | |
| | Workers' Party | Kathleen Lynch | 8.3 | 4,457 | 4,533 | 4,611 | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Barry Cogan | 6.8 | 3,652 | 3,731 | | | | | |
| | Progressive Democrats | John Kevin Coleman | 3.1 | 1,679 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | William Fitzsimon | 0.3 | 150 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 78,385 Valid: 53,617 Quota: 8,937 Turnout: 68.4% |||||||||||

### 1987 general election

1987 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| | Progressive Democrats | Pearse Wyse | 19.4 | 10,935 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Peter Barry | 13.0 | 7,328 | 7,449 | 7,570 | 7,695 | 7,960 | 8,089 | 8,207 | 9,343 | 9,541 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Dennehy | 10.8 | 6,099 | 6,185 | 6,264 | 6,318 | 6,425 | 6,738 | 8,471 | 8,831 | 12,113 | |
| | Fine Gael | Hugh Coveney | 8.8 | 4,926 | 5,023 | 5,117 | 5,245 | 5,530 | 5,637 | 5,717 | 7,052 | 7,408 | 7,500 |
| | Labour | Toddy O'Sullivan | 8.6 | 4,862 | 5,045 | 5,159 | 5,337 | 5,607 | 6,607 | 6,922 | 7,673 | 7,952 | 8,069 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Batt O'Keeffe | 7.9 | 4,437 | 4,507 | 4,552 | 4,585 | 4,641 | 4,763 | 5,713 | 6,034 | 7,184 | 9,711 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Barry Cogan | 7.7 | 4,305 | 4,367 | 4,403 | 4,514 | 4,721 | 4,935 | 5,475 | 5,723 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 6.4 | 3,619 | 3,710 | 3,754 | 3,811 | 3,909 | 4,219 | | | | |
| | Progressive Democrats | Owen Curtin | 5.5 | 3,112 | 3,295 | 4,245 | 4,424 | 4,775 | 5,036 | 5,168 | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Kathleen Lynch | 4.2 | 2,349 | 2,539 | 2,566 | 2,791 | 2,940 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Charles Hennessy | 2.8 | 1,585 | 1,739 | 1,762 | 1,967 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Mary Dunphy | 2.2 | 1,229 | 1,377 | 1,402 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Sean Beausang | 1.3 | 756 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Bernie Murphy | 0.8 | 441 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Cornelius O'Donovan | 0.4 | 245 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Michael T. Murphy | 0.1 | 31 | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 75,322 Valid: 56,259 Quota: 9,377 Turnout: 74.7% ||||||||||||||

### November 1982 general election

November 1982 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Fine Gael | Peter Barry | 19.2 | 9,472 | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Pearse Wyse | 17.5 | 8,673 | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Hugh Coveney | 15.4 | 7,604 | 8,615 | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Gene Fitzgerald | 14.4 | 7,136 | 7,149 | 7,364 | 7,367 | 7,660 | 7,813 | 8,048 |
| | Labour | Eileen Desmond | 13.1 | 6,496 | 6,577 | 6,620 | 6,675 | 6,878 | 7,415 | 8,473 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Barry Cogan | 6.8 | 3,375 | 3,387 | 3,471 | 3,473 | 3,758 | 3,875 | 4,003 |
| | Fine Gael | Tomás Ryan | 5.4 | 2,689 | 2,777 | 2,787 | 3,093 | 3,162 | 3,468 | 3,619 |
| | Workers' Party | Noel Power | 3.0 | 1,485 | 1,490 | 1,499 | 1,501 | 1,755 | 1,964 | |
| | Independent | Owen Casey | 2.6 | 1,307 | 1,323 | 1,329 | 1,333 | 1,444 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Valentine Jago | 0.9 | 447 | 448 | 507 | 508 | | | |
| | Irish Republican Socialist | Jim Lane | 0.8 | 398 | 400 | 403 | 403 | | | |
| | Democratic Socialist | Garry O'Sullivan | 0.8 | 369 | 370 | 372 | 372 | | | |
| Electorate: 67,062 Valid: 49,451 Quota: 8,242 Turnout: 73.7% |||||||||||

### February 1982 general election

February 1982 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Pearse Wyse | 16.7 | 8,092 | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Peter Barry | 16.6 | 8,062 | 8,089 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Gene Fitzgerald | 15.5 | 7,500 | 7,562 | 7,625 | 8,093 | |
| | Labour | Eileen Desmond | 13.4 | 6,494 | 6,613 | 6,907 | 7,287 | 8,399 |
| | Fine Gael | Jim Corr | 11.9 | 5,769 | 5,862 | 6,297 | 6,846 | 10,297 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Donal Coleman | 9.7 | 4,688 | 4,732 | 4,764 | 5,060 | 5,209 |
| | Fine Gael | Hugh Coveney | 8.7 | 4,210 | 4,246 | 4,558 | 4,780 | |
| | Independent | Mary Kelly | 3.9 | 1,929 | 2,057 | 2,090 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Denis Cregan | 2.4 | 1,168 | 1,192 | | | |
| | Independent | Declan Murphy | 1.2 | 564 | | | | |
| Electorate: 64,507 Valid: 48,476 Spoilt: 347 (0.7%) Quota: 8,080 Turnout: 48,823 (75.7%) |||||||||

### 1981 general election

1981 general election: Cork South-Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Fine Gael | Peter Barry | 18.1 | 9,010 | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Gene Fitzgerald | 15.8 | 7,889 | 7,898 | 8,295 | 8,413 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Pearse Wyse | 15.7 | 7,819 | 7,827 | 8,533 | | | | |
| | Labour | Eileen Desmond | 13.9 | 6,961 | 7,001 | 7,261 | 7,273 | 7,861 | 8,900 | |
| | Fine Gael | Hugh Coveney | 10.6 | 5,274 | 5,492 | 5,629 | 5,638 | 6,256 | 6,647 | 6,946 |
| | Fine Gael | Jim Corr | 9.4 | 4,705 | 5,055 | 5,153 | 5,158 | 5,958 | 6,364 | 6,571 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Barry Cogan | 7.7 | 3,821 | 3,831 | 4,439 | 4,503 | 4,602 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Denis Cregan | 4.2 | 2,109 | 2,155 | 2,206 | 2,210 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Chrissie Ahern | 3.9 | 1,988 | 1,993 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Sean Twomey | 0.7 | 358 | 359 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 64,507 Valid: 49,934 Spoilt: 399 (0.8%) Quota: 8,323 Turnout: 50,333 (78.0%) |||||||||||