# Donegal West (Dáil constituency)

Donegal West was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1937 to 1961. The constituency elected 3 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) to the Dáil, on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

## History

The constituency was created under the Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935, for the 1937 general election to Dáil Éireann. It succeeded the constituency of Donegal. It was abolished under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1961, when it and Donegal East were replaced by the new constituencies of Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West.

## Boundaries

It consisted of the district electoral divisions of:
    Annagry, Aran, Ardara, Ballintra (Ballyshannon), Ballintra, (Donegal), Ballyshannon Rural, Ballyshannon Urban, Binbane, Bonnyglen, Bundoran Rural, Carrickboy, Cavangarden, Cliff, Clogher, Corkermore, Cross Roads, Crovehy, Crowkeeragh, Crowarad, Dawros, Donegal, Doocharry, Dunfanaghy, Dungloe, Dunkineely, Dunlewy, Eanymore, Fintown, Glencolmcille, Glengesh, Glenleheen, Glenties, Gortahork, Graffy, Grousehall, Haugh, Inishkeel, Inver, Kilcar, Kilgoly, Killybegs, Laghey, Largymore, Lettermacward, Lough Eask, Maas, Magheraclogher, Maghery, Malin Beg, Meenaclady, Mountcharles, Mulmosog, Pettigo, Rutland, Tawnawully, Templecarn, Tieveskeelta, and Tullynaught,
    and the Urban District of Bundoran in the administrative county of Donegal.

## TDs

Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Donegal West 1937–1961 :
| Key to parties  FF = Fianna Fáil  FG = Fine Gael ||||||||
| Dáil | Election | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) |
| 9th | 1937 | | Cormac Breslin (FF) | | Brian Brady (FF) | | Michael Óg McFadden (FG) |
| 10th | 1938 | | Cormac Breslin (FF) | | Brian Brady (FF) | | Michael Óg McFadden (FG) |
| 11th | 1943 | | Cormac Breslin (FF) | | Brian Brady (FF) | | Michael Óg McFadden (FG) |
| 12th | 1944 | | Cormac Breslin (FF) | | Brian Brady (FF) | | Michael Óg McFadden (FG) |
| 13th | 1948 | | Cormac Breslin (FF) | | Brian Brady (FF) | | Michael Óg McFadden (FG) |
| 13th | 1949 by-election | | Cormac Breslin (FF) | | Patrick O'Donnell (FG) | | Michael Óg McFadden (FG) |
| 14th | 1951 | | Cormac Breslin (FF) | | Patrick O'Donnell (FG) | | Joseph Brennan (FF) |
| 15th | 1954 | | Cormac Breslin (FF) | | Patrick O'Donnell (FG) | | Joseph Brennan (FF) |
| 16th | 1957 | | Cormac Breslin (FF) | | Patrick O'Donnell (FG) | | Joseph Brennan (FF) |
| 17th | 1961 | Constituency abolished. See Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West | Constituency abolished. See Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West | Constituency abolished. See Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West | Constituency abolished. See Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West | Constituency abolished. See Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West | Constituency abolished. See Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West |
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
### 1957 general election

1957 general election: Donegal West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick O'Donnell | 27.7 | 6,208 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Joseph Brennan | 27.5 | 6,153 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 16.6 | 3,711 | 3,743 | 4,228 | 4,525 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Seán Ó Cinnéide | 15.9 | 3,560 | 3,606 | 3,652 | 3,841 |
| | Fine Gael | Robert Gardiner | 12.3 | 2,759 | 3,291 | 3,315 | |
| Electorate: 32,871 Valid: 22,391 Quota: 5,598 Turnout: 68.1% ||||||||

### 1954 general election

1954 general election: Donegal West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Joseph Brennan | 26.8 | 6,748 | |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick O'Donnell | 25.2 | 6,338 | |
| | Fine Gael | John Barry | 22.0 | 5,545 | 5,625 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 14.1 | 3,548 | 6,123 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Seán Kennedy | 12.0 | 3,026 | |
| Electorate: 34,018 Valid: 25,205 Quota: 6,302 Turnout: 74.1% ||||||

### 1951 general election

1951 general election: Donegal West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Joseph Brennan | 29.8 | 8,023 | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick O'Donnell | 23.3 | 6,294 | 6,304 | 6,461 | 6,501 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | 21.5 | 5,790 | 5,835 | 5,885 | 5,912 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 14.3 | 3,856 | 4,999 | 7,724 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Seán Kennedy | 11.2 | 3,008 | 3,090 | | |
| Electorate: 36,665 Valid: 26,971 Quota: 6,743 Turnout: 73.56% ||||||||

### 1949 by-election

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Brian Brady, a by-election was held on 16 November 1949. The seat was won by the Fine Gael candidate Patrick O'Donnell.
1949 by-election: Donegal West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Joseph Brennan | 47.4 | 12,700 | 12,863 |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick O'Donnell | 42.1 | 11,256 | 13,634 |
| | Clann na Poblachta | Alphonsus Canning | 10.5 | 2,812 | |
| Electorate: 37,541 Valid: 26,768 Quota: 13,385 Turnout: 71.30% ||||||

### 1948 general election

1948 general election: Donegal West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Brian Brady | 24.0 | 6,262 | 6,280 | 6,364 | 6,795 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 18.4 | 4,800 | 4,894 | 4,924 | 5,820 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | 17.7 | 4,627 | 4,722 | 6,761 | |
| | Independent | Daniel C. Boyle | 12.4 | 3,224 | 3,489 | 3,511 | |
| | Clann na Poblachta | Joseph McDevitt | 9.8 | 2,546 | 4,278 | 4,401 | 5,044 |
| | Fine Gael | Christopher Gallagher | 8.9 | 2,332 | 2,378 | | |
| | Clann na Poblachta | Hugh Duggan | 8.9 | 2,314 | | | |
| Electorate: 37,662 Valid: 26,105 Quota: 6,527 Turnout: 69.31% ||||||||

### 1944 general election

1944 general election: Donegal West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | % | Seat |
| | Fianna Fáil | Brian Brady | Unopposed | N/A | 1 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | Unopposed | N/A | 2 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | Unopposed | N/A | 3 |
| Electorate: 39,192 Valid: Quota: Turnout: |||||||

### 1943 general election

1943 general election: Donegal West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | 26.4 | 6,873 | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Brian Brady | 24.9 | 6,495 | 6,525 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 21.4 | 5,581 | 5,596 | 5,602 | 5,720 | 5,871 |
| | Labour | Daniel Boyle | 13.3 | 3,458 | 3,577 | 3,578 | 4,198 | 4,876 |
| | Clann na Talmhan | Hugh Callaghan | 10.0 | 2,599 | 2,762 | 2,768 | 2,918 | |
| | Labour | Joseph Doherty | 4.0 | 1,041 | 1,075 | 1,075 | | |
| Electorate: 39,192 Valid: 26,047 Quota: 6,512 Turnout: 66.5% |||||||||

### 1938 general election

1938 general election: Donegal West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | % | Seat |
| | Fianna Fáil | Brian Brady | Unopposed | N/A | 1 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | Unopposed | N/A | 2 |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | Unopposed | N/A | 3 |
| Electorate: 38,072 Valid: Quota: Turnout: |||||||

### 1937 general election

1937 general election: Donegal West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Brian Brady | 28.9 | 7,833 | |
| | Fine Gael | Michael Óg McFadden | 26.8 | 7,250 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Cormac Breslin | 23.3 | 6,311 | 7,354 |
| | Fine Gael | John O'Donnell | 21.1 | 5,712 | 5,725 |
| Electorate: 38,532 Valid: 27,106 Quota: 6,777 Turnout: 70.4% ||||||