Meath East by-election, 2013

Meath East by-election, 2013

← Irish general election, 2011 27 March 2013 Irish general election, 2016 →
Nominee Helen McEntee Thomas Byrne Darren O'Rourke Party Fine Gael Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin First preferences 9,356 8,002 3,165 Percentage 38.5 32.9 13.0 Final count 11,473 9,582 –   Nominee Ben Gilroy Eoin Holmes Seán Ó Buachalla Party Direct Democracy Labour Party Green Party First preferences 1,568 1,112 423 Percentage 6.5 4.6 1.7 Final count – – –
Meath East shown within Ireland
TD before election Shane McEntee Fine Gael Elected TD Helen McEntee Fine Gael

Shane McEntee
Fine Gael

Helen McEntee
Fine Gael

A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann Meath East constituency in Ireland on 27 March 2013 following the death of the Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) Shane McEntee on 21 December 2012.

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 stipulates that a by-election in Ireland must be held within six months of a vacancy occurring. The electorate of Meath East at the 2011 general election was 64,873.

Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee, daughter of the deceased, was elected on the third count.

On 22 February 2013, both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin selected their candidates for the by-election. Fianna Fáil selected Senator Thomas Byrne, a former TD for the constituency. Sinn Féin selected Darren O'Rourke, a medical scientist who works as a health policy advisor to Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD. The Workers' Party of Ireland announced that Seamus McDonagh, a spokesperson for the local Campaign Against the Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT) campaign, would contest the election.

On 5 March, the Green Party selected Seán Ó Buachalla as its candidate, a youth club development officer, while Direct Democracy Ireland announced that Ben Gilroy would be contesting the election. On 7 March, Fine Gael selected Helen McEntee, daughter of Shane McEntee, as its candidate. On 9 March, the Labour Party selected Meath County Councillor Eoin Holmes.