# Meath East (Dáil constituency)

Meath East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects four 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

It was established by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005 when the previous 5-seat Meath constituency was divided into two 3-seat constituencies of Meath East and Meath West. It was first used at the 2007 general election to the 30th Dáil.
It spans the eastern portions of County Meath. It includes Nobber, Slane, Dunboyne, Kells and Ashbourne, the constituency's biggest town.
The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 defines the constituency as:
       Drumcondra, Grangegeeth, Killary, in the former Rural District of Ardee No. 2;
       Culmullin, Donaghmore, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Kilbrew, Killeen, Kilmore, Rathfeigh, Ratoath, Rodanstown, Skreen, in the former Rural District of Dunshaughlin;
       Ardagh, Carrickleck, Ceanannas Mór Rural, Cruicetown, Kilmainham, Maperath, Moybolgue, Moynalty, Newcastle, Newtown, Nobber, Posseckstown, Staholmog, Trohanny, in the former Rural District of Kells;
       Ardcath, Duleek, Julianstown, Mellifont, Stamullin, in the former Rural District of Meath;
       Ardmulchan, Castletown, Domhnach Phádraig, Kentstown, Painestown, Rathkenny, Slane, Stackallan, Tara, in the former Rural District of Navan;
       and Ceannanas Mór Urban."

## TDs

Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Meath East 2007– :
| Key to parties  FF = Fianna Fáil  FG = Fine Gael  Lab = Labour  SF = Sinn Féin  Ind = Independent ||||||||||
| Dáil | Election | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) | Deputy (Party) |
| 30th | 2007 | | Thomas Byrne (FF) | | Mary Wallace (FF) | | Shane McEntee (FG) | 3 seats 2007–2024 | 3 seats 2007–2024 |
| 31st | 2011 | | Dominic Hannigan (Lab) | | Regina Doherty (FG) | | Shane McEntee (FG) | 3 seats 2007–2024 | 3 seats 2007–2024 |
| 31st | 2013 by-election | | Dominic Hannigan (Lab) | | Regina Doherty (FG) | | Helen McEntee (FG) | 3 seats 2007–2024 | 3 seats 2007–2024 |
| 32nd | 2016 | | Thomas Byrne (FF) | | Regina Doherty (FG) | | Helen McEntee (FG) | 3 seats 2007–2024 | 3 seats 2007–2024 |
| 33rd | 2020 | | Thomas Byrne (FF) | | Darren O'Rourke (SF) | | Helen McEntee (FG) | 3 seats 2007–2024 | 3 seats 2007–2024 |
| 34th | 2024 | | Thomas Byrne (FF) | | Darren O'Rourke (SF) | | Helen McEntee (FG) | | Gillian Toole (Ind) |
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: Meath East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 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 |
| | Fine Gael | Helen McEntee | 19.9 | 9,957 | 9,959 | 9,959 | 9,996 | 10,006 | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Darren O'Rourke | 16.4 | 8,175 | 8,177 | 8,184 | 8,228 | 8,272 | 8,325 | 8,666 | 9,095 | 9,821 | 12,786 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne | 12.8 | 6,403 | 6,405 | 6,407 | 6,425 | 6,432 | 6,527 | 6,546 | 6,855 | 7,363 | 7,437 | 7,520 | 9,665 | 10,525 |
| | Independent | Gillian Toole | 8.9 | 4,459 | 4,483 | 4,491 | 4,549 | 4,707 | 4,749 | 4,859 | 5,211 | 5,952 | 6,091 | 6,717 | 7,194 | 8,953 |
| | Aontú | Emer Tóibín | 6.6 | 3,281 | 3,285 | 3,306 | 3,341 | 3,608 | 3,633 | 3,721 | 3,871 | 4,165 | 4,289 | 4,785 | 5,027 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Caroline O'Reilly | 6.5 | 3,223 | 3,223 | 3,225 | 3,248 | 3,257 | 3,304 | 3,335 | 3,601 | 3,870 | 3,918 | 3,996 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Sharon Tolan | 6.4 | 3,176 | 3,178 | 3,184 | 3,206 | 3,210 | 3,309 | 3,330 | 3,747 | 4,135 | 4,232 | 4,389 | 5,043 | 5,482 |
| | Sinn Féin | Maria White | 5.8 | 2,894 | 2,900 | 2,903 | 2,917 | 2,939 | 2,951 | 3,264 | 3,568 | 3,657 | | | | |
| | Independent | Joseph Bonner | 5.5 | 2,771 | 2,781 | 2,787 | 2,929 | 3,028 | 3,080 | 3,173 | 3,477 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Eilish Balfe | 4.1 | 2,048 | 2,050 | 2,051 | 2,076 | 2,089 | 2,440 | 2,882 | | | | | | |
| | PBP–Solidarity | Clara McCormack | 2.7 | 1,380 | 1,381 | 1,383 | 1,434 | 1,458 | 1,536 | | | | | | | |
| | Green | Ruadháin Bonham | 1.7 | 845 | 848 | 849 | 874 | 875 | | | | | | | | |
| | National Party | Jean Murray | 1.3 | 652 | 653 | 704 | 720 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Party for Animal Welfare | Carolyn Fahy | 0.4 | 207 | 209 | 210 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Charles Bobbett | 0.4 | 186 | 189 | 190 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Sivakumar Murugadoss | 0.3 | 135 | 140 | 141 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Liberty Republic | Barbara Reid | 0.2 | 119 | 121 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Raymond Westlake | 0.1 | 72 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 84,272 Valid: 49,983 Spoilt: 338 Quota: 9,997 Turnout: 59.7% |||||||||||||||||
* ↑ McCormack is a member of People Before Profit.

### 2020 general election

2020 general election: Meath East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Sinn Féin | Darren O'Rourke | 24.4 | 10,223 | 10,617 | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Helen McEntee | 18.3 | 7,691 | 7,856 | 8,123 | 8,333 | 8,937 | 9,416 | 12,984 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne | 14.4 | 6,039 | 6,095 | 6,348 | 7,637 | 8,222 | 8,999 | 9,622 |
| | Fine Gael | Regina Doherty | 10.0 | 4,180 | 4,272 | 4,330 | 4,505 | 4,643 | 5,122 | |
| | Green | Seán McCabe | 7.8 | 3,251 | 3,756 | 4,036 | 4,167 | 4,677 | 5,999 | 6,547 |
| | Independent | Joe Bonner | 7.0 | 2,934 | 3,053 | 3,240 | 3,338 | 4,037 | | |
| | Independent | Sharon Keogan | 5.9 | 2,475 | 2,570 | 2,939 | 3,024 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Deirdre Geraghty-Smith | 4.6 | 1,941 | 1,977 | 2,047 | | | | |
| | Aontú | Emer Tóibín | 3.9 | 1,634 | 1,705 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Annie Hoey | 2.1 | 874 | | | | | | |
| | Solidarity–PBP | Andrew Keegan | 1.4 | 569 | | | | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Seamus McDonagh | 0.3 | 134 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 66,507 Valid: 41,945 Spoilt: 253 Quota: 10,487 Turnout: 42,198 (63.4%) |||||||||||
* ↑ Keegan was a member of People Before Profit.

### 2016 general election

2016 general election: Meath 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 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne | 26.1 | 10,818 | | | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Helen McEntee | 18.3 | 7,556 | 7,656 | 7,671 | 7,749 | 7,841 | 7,887 | 8,237 | 8,435 | 9,958 |
| | Fine Gael | Regina Doherty | 16.5 | 6,830 | 6,889 | 6,899 | 6,979 | 7,064 | 7,109 | 7,247 | 7,477 | 9,612 |
| | Sinn Féin | Darren O'Rourke | 14.0 | 5,780 | 5,860 | 5,970 | 6,017 | 6,096 | 6,341 | 6,637 | 7,236 | 8,556 |
| | Independent | Joe Bonner | 6.0 | 2,482 | 2,527 | 2,545 | 2,600 | 2,665 | 2,857 | 3,215 | 3,825 | |
| | Labour | Dominic Hannigan | 5.5 | 2,270 | 2,307 | 2,325 | 2,350 | 2,494 | 2,525 | 2,680 | 3,084 | |
| | Social Democrats | Aisling O'Neill | 4.1 | 1,715 | 1,740 | 1,801 | 1,885 | 2,148 | 2,300 | 2,463 | | |
| | Independent | Sharon Keogan | 3.7 | 1,528 | 1,579 | 1,600 | 1,663 | 1,709 | 1,805 | | | |
| | Direct Democracy | Ben Gilroy | 1.9 | 794 | 809 | 841 | 876 | 899 | | | | |
| | Green | Seán Ó Buachalla | 1.9 | 766 | 784 | 801 | 853 | | | | | |
| | Renua | Sarah Tyrrell | 1.3 | 523 | 554 | 563 | | | | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Seamus McDonagh | 0.8 | 326 | 335 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 65,588 Valid: 41,388 Spoilt: 240 Quota: 10,348 Turnout: 63.5% |||||||||||||

### 2013 by-election

Fine Gael TD Shane McEntee died on 21 December 2012. A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 27 March 2013. The seat was won by his daughter Helen McEntee.
2013 by-election: Meath East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | Fine Gael | Helen McEntee | 38.5 | 9,356 | 9,547 | 11,473 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne | 32.9 | 8,002 | 8,106 | 9,582 |
| | Sinn Féin | Darren O'Rourke | 13.0 | 3,165 | 3,370 | |
| | Direct Democracy | Ben Gilroy | 6.5 | 1,568 | 1,793 | |
| | Labour | Eoin Holmes | 4.6 | 1,112 | 1,245 | |
| | Green | Seán Ó Buachalla | 1.7 | 423 | | |
| | Workers' Party | Seamus McDonagh | 1.1 | 263 | | |
| | Independent | Mick Martin | 0.8 | 190 | | |
| | Independent | Charlie Keddy | 0.5 | 110 | | |
| | Independent | Gerard O'Brien | 0.3 | 73 | | |
| | Independent | Jim Tallon | 0.2 | 47 | | |
| Electorate: 64,164 Valid: 24,309 Spoilt: 259 Quota: 12,155 Turnout: 38.3% |||||||

### 2011 general election

2011 general election: Meath East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Labour | Dominic Hannigan | 21.0 | 8,994 | 9,383 | 9,669 | 12,382 |
| | Fine Gael | Shane McEntee | 20.6 | 8,794 | 8,994 | 9,142 | 10,143 |
| | Fine Gael | Regina Doherty | 20.3 | 8,677 | 8,858 | 9,305 | 10,447 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne | 13.4 | 5,715 | 5,892 | 7,354 | 8,173 |
| | Sinn Féin | Michael Gallagher | 8.9 | 3,795 | 3,958 | 4,025 | |
| | Independent | Joe Bonner | 5.8 | 2,479 | 2,866 | 3,074 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Nick Killian | 6.2 | 2,669 | 2,719 | | |
| | New Vision | Sharon Keogan | 2.7 | 1,168 | | | |
| | Green | Seán Ó Buachalla | 1.1 | 461 | | | |
| Electorate: 64,873 Valid: 42,752 Spoilt: 346 (0.8%) Quota: 10,689 Turnout: 43,098 (66.4%) ||||||||

### 2007 general election

2007 general election: Meath 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 | Mary Wallace | 25.3 | 10,901 | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne | 18.2 | 7,834 | 7,866 | 8,267 | 8,469 | 8,628 | 9,079 | 9,770 | 10,077 |
| | Fine Gael | Shane McEntee | 15.7 | 6,766 | 6,789 | 6,877 | 6,941 | 7,106 | 7,351 | 7,870 | 11,619 |
| | Labour | Dominic Hannigan | 11.9 | 5,136 | 5,193 | 5,337 | 5,575 | 6,095 | 6,554 | 7,247 | 8,596 |
| | Fine Gael | Regina Doherty | 10.1 | 4,363 | 4,377 | 4,508 | 4,764 | 4,992 | 5,164 | 5,972 | |
| | Independent | Brian Fitzgerald | 6.0 | 2,586 | 2,617 | 2,659 | 2,816 | 3,008 | 3,334 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Joanne Finnegan | 3.9 | 1,695 | 1,723 | 1,762 | 1,859 | 2,008 | | | |
| | Green | Seán Ó Buachalla | 3.1 | 1,330 | 1,355 | 1,417 | 1,547 | | | | |
| | Independent | Joseph Bonner | 2.7 | 1,170 | 1,195 | 1,223 | | | | | |
| | Progressive Democrats | Sirena Campbell | 2.2 | 957 | 983 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | A. J. Cahill | 0.6 | 269 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 67,443 Valid: 43,007 Spoilt: 359 (0.8%) Quota: 10,752 Turnout: 43,366 (64.3%) ||||||||||||