Meath was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1923 to 1937 and from 1948 to 2007. The method of election was proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).
History and boundaries
The constituency was first created under the Electoral Act 1923 for the 1923 general election, electing 3 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs). It was abolished in 1937. It was recreated under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947 for the 1948 general election, again electing 3 deputies. It gained a fourth seat in 1977 and a fifth seat in 1981.
It was abolished for the 2007 general election, being divided into the two new 3-seat constituencies of Meath East and Meath West.
The constituency spanned the entire area of County Meath in Leinster, taking in Navan, Trim and Ashbourne. It also included small parts of County Kildare.
TDs
TDs 1923–1937
TDs 1948–2007
Elections
2005 by-election
Following the resignation of Fine Gael TD John Bruton, a by-election was held on 11 March 2005. The seat was won by Fine Gael candidate Shane McEntee.