Donegal South-West by-election, 2010

Donegal South-West by-election, 2010

← 2007 25 November 2010 2011 →
Turnout	34,424 (57.4%)
Nominee Pearse Doherty Barry O'Neill Brian Ó Domhnaill Party Sinn Féin Fine Gael Fianna Fáil First preferences 13,719 6,424 7,344 Percentage 39.85 18.66 21.33 Final count 16,897 8,182 8,069   Nominee Thomas Pringle Frank McBrearty, Jnr Anne Sweeney Party Independent Labour Party Independent First preferences 3,438 3,366 133 Percentage 9.99 9.78 0.39 Final count – – –
Donegal South-West shown within Ireland
TD before election Pat the Cope Gallagher Fianna Fáil Elected TD Pearse Doherty Sinn Féin

Pat the Cope Gallagher
Fianna Fáil

Pearse Doherty
Sinn Féin

A by-election was held on 25 November 2010 in the Donegal South-West constituency in Ireland, following the election of the Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) Pat the Cope Gallagher to the European Parliament at the June 2009 election. Most voters cast their ballot on 25 November 2010; 754 voters on offshore islands (Arranmore, Tory, Inishbofin, Gola, and Inishfree) were entitled to cast their ballots on 22 November.

The government through a vote in the parliament decides when by-elections are called. With a rather tenuous majority in the parliament, the government had delayed in calling this by-election. While there is no specific legal requirement on when to hold a by-election in Ireland, they are generally held within six months of a vacancy occurring. The 17-month gap between the seat becoming vacant and the writ being moved is the longest in the history of the state.

Sinn Féin senator Pearse Doherty was elected on the fourth count.

Due to the delay in the Government holding the by-election, a number of attempts to force the by-election were carried out by the Opposition. On 4 May 2010, Sinn Féin attempted to force the holding of the by-election. The next day the Government narrowly avoided a defeat in the motion calling for the by-election to be held immediately when two of their TDs accidentally voted with the opposition.