# Donegal North-East (Dáil constituency)

Donegal North-East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas, from 1961 to 1977 and from 1981 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

The constituency was first created for the 1961 general election, taking in parts of the abolished Donegal East constituency. It lasted until 1977, when it was abolished and became part of a new Donegal constituency, and was then recreated for the 1981 general election. It was abolished at the 2016 general election, and again became part of the re-created Donegal constituency.

## Boundaries

The constituency was located in the northern part of County Donegal. It encompassed the Letterkenny, Milford and Inishowen electoral areas of Donegal County Council.
The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009 defined the constituency as:
   Ardmalin, Ballyliffin, Birdstown, Buncrana Rural, Burt, Carndonagh, Carthage, Castlecary, Castleforward, Culdaff, Desertegny, Dunaff, Fahan, Glenagannon, Gleneely, Glentogher, Greencastle, Illies, Inch Island, Kilderry, Killea, Malin, Mintiaghs, Moville, Newtown Cunningham, Redcastle, Straid, Three Trees, Turmone, Whitecastle, in the former Rural District of Inishowen;
   Ballymacool, Castlewray, Corravaddy, Edenacarnan, Gartán, Gortnavern, Killymasny, Kincraigy, Letterkenny Rural, Magheraboy, Manorcunningham, Mín an Lábáin, Suí Corr, Templedouglas, in the former Rural District of Letterkenny;
   An Cheathrú Chaol, An Tearmann, Ballyarr, Carraig Airt, Cnoc Colbha, Creamhghort, Fánaid Thiar, Fánaid Thuaidh, Glen, Glenalla, Grianfort, Killygarvan, Kilmacrenan, Loch Caol, Millford, Rathmelton, Rathmullan, Ros Goill, Rosnakill, in the former Rural District of Millford;

## TDs

Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Donegal North-East 1961–2016 :
| Key to parties  FF = Fianna Fáil  FG = Fine Gael  IFF = Independent Fianna Fáil  SF = Sinn Féin ||||||||
| Dáil | Election | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) |
| 17th | 1961 | | Liam Cunningham (FF) | | Neil Blaney (IFF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 18th | 1965 | | Liam Cunningham (FF) | | Neil Blaney (IFF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 19th | 1969 | | Liam Cunningham (FF) | | Neil Blaney (IFF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 20th | 1973 | | Liam Cunningham (FF) | | Neil Blaney (IFF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 20th | 1976 by-election | | Paddy Keaveney (IFF) | | Neil Blaney (IFF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 21st | 1977 | Constituency abolished. See Donegal | Constituency abolished. See Donegal | Constituency abolished. See Donegal | Constituency abolished. See Donegal | Constituency abolished. See Donegal | Constituency abolished. See Donegal |
| 22nd | 1981 | | Hugh Conaghan (FF) | | Neil Blaney (IFF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 23rd | 1982 (Feb) | | Hugh Conaghan (FF) | | Neil Blaney (IFF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 24th | 1982 (Nov) | | Hugh Conaghan (FF) | | Neil Blaney (IFF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 25th | 1987 | | Hugh Conaghan (FF) | | Neil Blaney (IFF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 26th | 1989 | | Jim McDaid (FF) | | Neil Blaney (IFF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 27th | 1992 | | Jim McDaid (FF) | | Neil Blaney (IFF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 27th | 1996 by-election | | Jim McDaid (FF) | | Cecilia Keaveney (FF) | | Paddy Harte (FG) |
| 28th | 1997 | | Jim McDaid (FF) | | Cecilia Keaveney (FF) | | Harry Blaney (IFF) |
| 29th | 2002 | | Jim McDaid (FF) | | Cecilia Keaveney (FF) | | Niall Blaney (IFF) |
| 30th | 2007 | | Jim McDaid (FF) | | Joe McHugh (FG) | | Niall Blaney (FF) |
| 31st | 2011 | | Charlie McConalogue (FF) | | Joe McHugh (FG) | | Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF) |
| 32nd | 2016 | Constituency abolished. See Donegal | Constituency abolished. See Donegal | Constituency abolished. See Donegal | Constituency abolished. See Donegal | Constituency abolished. See Donegal | Constituency abolished. See Donegal |
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

### 2011 general election

2011 general election: Donegal North-East :
| 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 |
| | Sinn Féin | Pádraig Mac Lochlainn | 24.5 | 9,278 | 9,350 | 9,585 | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Joe McHugh | 19.3 | 7,330 | 7,368 | 7,513 | 7,524 | 7,662 | 8,147 | 8,731 | 12,049 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Charlie McConalogue | 17.4 | 6,613 | 6,661 | 6,795 | 6,816 | 7,064 | 7,255 | 7,511 | 8,245 | 8,976 |
| | Fine Gael | John Ryan | 12.3 | 4,657 | 4,710 | 4,871 | 4,884 | 4,950 | 4,976 | 5,081 | | |
| | Labour | Jimmy Harte | 10.8 | 4,090 | 4,162 | 4,301 | 4,319 | 4,535 | 4,801 | 5,646 | 6,131 | 7,219 |
| | Independent | Dessie Shiels | 4.9 | 1,876 | 1,903 | 2,063 | 2,085 | 2,299 | 2,605 | | | |
| | Independent | Ian McGarvey | 3.4 | 1,287 | 1,296 | 1,399 | 1,409 | 1,653 | | | | |
| | New Vision | MacDara Blaney | 3.2 | 1,228 | 1,249 | 1,317 | 1,327 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Betty Holmes | 3.0 | 1,150 | 1,197 | | | | | | | |
| | Green | Humphrey Murphy | 0.5 | 206 | | | | | | | | |
| | New Vision | Ryan Stewart | 0.5 | 203 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 59,084 Valid: 37,918 Spoilt: 406 (1.1%) Quota: 9,480 Turnout: 38,324 (64.9%) |||||||||||||
* 1 2 New Vision was an electoral alliance of Independent candidates and did not appear on the ballot.

### 2007 general election

2007 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Fine Gael | Joe McHugh | 22.6 | 8,711 | 8,800 | 8,900 | 9,134 | 10,034 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Pádraig Mac Lochlainn | 17.5 | 6,733 | 6,789 | 6,896 | 6,997 | 7,315 | 7,410 | 8,821 | 8,876 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Jim McDaid | 17.5 | 6,724 | 6,746 | 6,786 | 6,932 | 7,343 | 7,489 | 10,008 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cecilia Keaveney | 16.5 | 6,362 | 6,441 | 6,471 | 6,481 | 6,674 | 6,744 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Niall Blaney | 16.3 | 6,288 | 6,332 | 6,360 | 6,538 | 6,802 | 6,888 | 9,123 | 9,439 |
| | Independent | Jimmy Harte | 3.4 | 1,313 | 1,353 | 1,415 | 1,469 | | | | |
| | Independent | Ian McGarvey | 2.0 | 733 | 795 | 823 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Siobhan McLaughlin | 1.8 | 703 | 723 | 844 | 884 | | | | |
| | Green | Frank Gallagher | 1.4 | 520 | 546 | | | | | | |
| | Christian Solidarity | Mary Doherty | 0.9 | 339 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Arthur McGuinness | 0.1 | 86 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 57,244 Valid: 38,545 Spoilt: 386 (1.0%) Quota: 9,637 Turnout: 38,931 (68.0%) ||||||||||||

### 2002 general election

2002 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Jim McDaid | 26.5 | 9,614 | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cecilia Keaveney | 22.9 | 8,340 | 8,463 | 8,712 | 9,724 | | |
| | Independent Fianna Fáil | Niall Blaney | 16.8 | 6,124 | 6,261 | 6,392 | 7,667 | 8,031 | 8,789 |
| | Fine Gael | Bernard McGuinness | 10.8 | 3,914 | 4,101 | 4,111 | 4,376 | 4,551 | |
| | Fine Gael | Seán Maloney | 10.3 | 3,694 | 4,081 | 4,181 | 4,627 | 4,680 | 7,432 |
| | Sinn Féin | Pádraig Mac Lochlainn | 9.9 | 3,611 | 3,714 | 3,751 | | | |
| | Labour | Jackie McNair | 2.8 | 1,021 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 58,208 Valid: 36,347 Spoilt: 549 (1.5%) Quota: 9,087 Turnout: 36,896 (63.4%) ||||||||||
* ↑ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.

### 1997 general election

1997 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cecilia Keaveney | 23.4 | 8,317 | 8,450 | 8,860 | 9,712 | |
| | Independent Fianna Fáil | Harry Blaney | 21.1 | 7,484 | 7,608 | 7,723 | 9,387 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Jim McDaid | 18.4 | 6,538 | 6,710 | 6,788 | 7,894 | 8,244 |
| | Fine Gael | Paddy Harte | 14.0 | 4,969 | 5,860 | 6,798 | 7,627 | 7,729 |
| | Sinn Féin | Pat Doherty | 8.1 | 2,881 | 2,917 | 2,975 | | |
| | Labour | Seán Maloney | 5.5 | 1,948 | 2,038 | 2,178 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Jim Sheridan | 4.9 | 1,735 | 1,793 | | | |
| | Donegal Progressive Party | Jim Devenney | 4.7 | 1,657 | | | | |
| Electorate: 52,576 Valid: 35,529 Spoilt: 422 (1.2%) Quota: 8,883 Turnout: 35,951 (68.4%) |||||||||
* ↑ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
* ↑ Devenney was a member of the Donegal Progressive Party, which was registered to contest local elections only, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.

### 1996 by-election

Independent Fianna Fáil TD Neil Blaney died on 8 November 1995. A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 2 April 1996.
1996 by-election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cecilia Keaveney | 32.2 | 9,872 | 10,351 | 11,454 | 14,115 |
| | Independent Fianna Fáil | Harry Blaney | 29.2 | 8,943 | 10,208 | 11,444 | 13,077 |
| | Fine Gael | Jim Sheridan | 18.5 | 5,679 | 5,813 | 6,861 | |
| | Labour | Seán Maloney | 12.4 | 3,791 | 4,003 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Pat Doherty | 7.6 | 2,340 | | | |
| Electorate: 50,443 Valid: 30,625 Quota: 15,313 Turnout: 60.7% ||||||||
* ↑ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.

### 1992 general election

1992 general election: Donegal North-East :
| 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 | Jim McDaid | 22.2 | 6,927 | 6,952 | 7,036 | 7,119 | 7,347 | 7,531 | 8,834 | |
| | Independent Fianna Fáil | Neil Blaney | 16.8 | 5,248 | 5,345 | 5,403 | 5,722 | 5,819 | 6,125 | 6,734 | 7,061 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Hugh Conaghan | 14.5 | 4,538 | 4,638 | 4,679 | 4,770 | 4,883 | 5,137 | 5,477 | 5,722 |
| | Fine Gael | Paddy Harte | 13.8 | 4,292 | 4,330 | 4,387 | 4,424 | 5,487 | 7,036 | 8,055 | |
| | Labour | Seán Maloney | 11.3 | 3,538 | 3,590 | 3,794 | 3,888 | 4,093 | 4,379 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Bernard McGuinness | 8.6 | 2,667 | 2,707 | 2,790 | 2,817 | 2,907 | | | |
| | Donegal Progressive Party | Jim Devenney | 6.7 | 2,082 | 2,096 | 2,121 | 2,135 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Jim Ferry | 2.6 | 819 | 844 | 876 | | | | | |
| | Green | Brigid McGonagle | 2.0 | 611 | 657 | | | | | | |
| | Christian Centrist | Patrick Doherty | 1.6 | 487 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 46,978 Valid: 31,209 Spoilt: 560 (1.8%) Quota: 7,803 Turnout: 31,769 (67.6%) ||||||||||||
* ↑ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
* ↑ Devenney was a member of the Donegal Progressive Party, which was registered to contest local elections only, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.

### 1989 general election

1989 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Fine Gael | Paddy Harte | 27.0 | 7,506 | | | | |
| | Independent Fianna Fáil | Neil Blaney | 25.1 | 6,961 | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Jim McDaid | 20.0 | 5,553 | 5,623 | 5,717 | 5,951 | 6,254 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Hugh Conaghan | 19.3 | 5,363 | 5,399 | 5,447 | 5,576 | 5,730 |
| | Sinn Féin | Patrick Doherty | 3.9 | 1,091 | 1,102 | 1,164 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Joachim Loughrey | 3.2 | 891 | 1,320 | 1,405 | 1,474 | |
| | Independent | Anne Wilkinson | 1.5 | 428 | 440 | | | |
| Electorate: 44,450 Valid: 27,793 Quota: 6,949 Turnout: 62.5% |||||||||
* ↑ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.

### 1987 general election

1987 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Independent Fianna Fáil | Neil Blaney | 26.2 | 7,720 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Hugh Conaghan | 24.9 | 7,324 | 7,455 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Paddy Harte | 23.8 | 6,997 | 7,041 | 7,481 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Eddie Fullerton | 8.0 | 2,365 | 2,438 | 2,536 | 2,663 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Ronan Sweeney | 7.4 | 2,188 | 2,269 | 2,390 | 2,471 |
| | Fine Gael | Joachim Loughrey | 5.9 | 1,737 | 1,757 | 1,870 | |
| | Ind. Unionist | Michael Brooks | 2.4 | 696 | 705 | | |
| | Labour | Kevin Monaghan | 1.3 | 393 | 399 | | |
| Electorate: 44,853 Valid: 29,420 Quota: 7,356 Turnout: 65.6% ||||||||
* ↑ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.

### November 1982 general election

November 1982 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Fine Gael | Paddy Harte | 31.4 | 9,486 | | | | |
| | Independent Fianna Fáil | Neil Blaney | 26.5 | 7,997 | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Hugh Conaghan | 21.8 | 6,599 | 6,698 | 6,795 | 7,033 | 7,529 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Bernard McGlinchey | 12.9 | 3,889 | 3,975 | 4,056 | 4,219 | 4,615 |
| | Fine Gael | Joachim Loughrey | 5.6 | 1,697 | 3,389 | 3,654 | 3,692 | |
| | Labour | Anne Wilkinson | 1.9 | 562 | 613 | | | |
| Electorate: 41,462 Valid: 30,230 Quota: 7,558 Turnout: 72.9% |||||||||
* ↑ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.

### February 1982 general election

Unusually, all seats were filled on the first count. A further two counts were then held to give lower-placed candidates a chance to save their deposits.
February 1982 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | Fine Gael | Paddy Harte | 31.3 | 9,362 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Hugh Conaghan | 27.1 | 8,116 | | |
| | Independent Fianna Fáil | Neil Blaney | 26.3 | 7,864 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Joachim Loughrey | 7.1 | 2,112 | 3,823 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Ian McGarvey | 6.6 | 1,959 | 2,046 | 2,670 |
| | Labour | Anne Wilkinson | 1.6 | 493 | 580 | 595 |
| Electorate: 40,811 Valid: 29,906 Spoilt: 410 (1.4%) Quota: 7,477 Turnout: 30,316 (74.3%) |||||||
* ↑ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.

### 1981 general election

1981 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Independent Fianna Fáil | Neil Blaney | 24.5 | 7,920 | 7,999 | 8,228 | |
| | Fine Gael | Paddy Harte | 24.3 | 7,853 | 7,967 | 10,995 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Hugh Conaghan | 22.6 | 7,283 | 7,319 | 7,536 | 7,814 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Bernard McGlinchey | 15.8 | 5,111 | 5,191 | 5,324 | 5,500 |
| | Fine Gael | Bernard McGuinness | 11.3 | 3,650 | 3,753 | | |
| | Labour | Anne Wilkinson | 1.5 | 470 | | | |
| Electorate: 40,807 Valid: 32,287 Spoilt: 405 (1.2%) Quota: 8,072 Turnout: 32,992 (80.8%) ||||||||
* ↑ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.

### 1976 by-election

Fianna Fáil TD Liam Cunningham died on 29 February 1976. A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 10 June 1976.
1976 by-election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | Fine Gael | Joachim Loughrey | 31.8 | 10,188 | 10,777 | 11,957 |
| | Independent Fianna Fáil | Paddy Keaveney | 31.1 | 9,986 | 10,525 | 13,579 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Hugh Conaghan | 30.7 | 9,865 | 10,323 | |
| | Independent | Tony Gill | 6.4 | 2,053 | | |
| Electorate: 42,390 Valid: 32,092 Quota: 16,047 Turnout: 75.7% |||||||
* ↑ Keaveney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.

### 1973 general election

1973 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Independent Fianna Fáil | Neil Blaney | 29.3 | 8,368 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Liam Cunningham | 23.5 | 6,704 | 7,052 | 7,538 | |
| | Fine Gael | Paddy Harte | 19.2 | 5,480 | 5,795 | 5,998 | 6,543 |
| | Fine Gael | Bertie Boggs | 14.2 | 4,056 | 4,174 | 4,289 | 4,445 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Bernard McGlinchey | 8.9 | 2,537 | 2,659 | 3,245 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Harkin | 4.2 | 1,191 | 1,356 | | |
| | Independent | Daniel MacCarron | 0.7 | 205 | 369 | | |
| Electorate: 37,924 Valid: 28,541 Quota: 7,136 Turnout: 75.3% ||||||||
* ↑ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil, an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.

### 1969 general election

1969 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Neil Blaney | 30.4 | 8,706 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Liam Cunningham | 24.1 | 6,903 | 8,325 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Paddy Harte | 21.1 | 6,057 | 6,104 | 6,545 | 6,576 |
| | Fine Gael | Bertie Boggs | 20.8 | 5,962 | 6,012 | 6,172 | 6,180 |
| | Labour | Colum O'Donnell | 3.6 | 1,037 | 1,057 | | |
| Electorate: 37,371 Valid: 28,665 Quota: 7,167 Turnout: 76.7% ||||||||

### 1965 general election

1965 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Neil Blaney | 35.5 | 9,003 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Liam Cunningham | 23.8 | 6,039 | 8,501 | |
| | Fine Gael | Paddy Harte | 23.7 | 6,016 | 6,142 | 6,328 |
| | Fine Gael | Seán McLaughlin | 12.5 | 3,170 | 3,185 | 3,279 |
| | Labour | Dominick McCauley | 4.5 | 1,147 | 1,203 | 1,374 |
| Electorate: 35,152 Valid: 25,375 Quota: 6,344 Turnout: 72.2% |||||||

### 1961 general election

1961 general election: Donegal North-East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Neil Blaney | 37.2 | 8,738 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Liam Cunningham | 24.2 | 5,686 | 8,349 | |
| | Fine Gael | Paddy Harte | 23.1 | 5,427 | 5,568 | 5,888 |
| | Fine Gael | Seán McLaughlin | 15.5 | 3,650 | 3,708 | 3,789 |
| Electorate: 34,844 Valid: 23,501 Quota: 5,876 Turnout: 67.5% |||||||