Constituency Profile:

This relatively new constituency, formed prior to the 2007 General Election, is made up of Co Longford and the bulk of Westmeath (excluding the former Delvin Rural District).

Westmeath is the dominant portion in terms of population, with the large towns of Athlone and Mullingar at either end of the county. Roughly a third of the population lives in Co Longford, and Longford town, Granard, Ballymahon and Edgeworthstown are the main urban areas there. The population within the current constituency boundaries grew strongly during the boom years, increasing by 10.1% between 2002 and 2006 for example, well above the national average, and the constituency population based on the 2006 Census is 106,211. Like many midlands counties, Westmeath – and to a lesser extent Longford – has become part of the wider commuter belt for Dublin, with above average levels of constituents commuting long distances by car.

Agriculture is a diminishing but still important part of the local economy, with roughly 6% of workers employed in the farming and forestry sectors. Various tax incentives for property development, such as the Upper Shannon Rural Renewal Scheme, led to accelerated growth in property development in the constituency and there have been problems with unfinished and unsold developments, especially in Longford.

The boom meant that above-average numbers of workers here were employed in the construction sector and the slowdown has led to large numbers of job losses. The 2006 Census also indicated the importance of manufacturing to the local economy, with roughly 15% of workers employed in that sector.

Both counties are home to high-end multinational companies, such as Abbott pharmaceuticals in Longford and Tyco and Ericsson in Westmeath, although there have been concerns over job cuts, such as those at Elan in Athlone, B3 Cable Solutions in Longford, and Capmark in Mullingar. The Athlone Institute of Technology is a focus for local industry and an important employer in the town, as is Custume Army barracks.

Constituency Boundaries: There has been no change since 2007.

Seats: Four

2007 Quota: 10,984

2011 Candidates

Sitting TDs: Willie Penrose (Lab), Mary O’Rourke (FF), James Bannon (FG), Peter Kelly (FF)

General Election 2007:

This was a new constituency in 2007 and with four outgoing TDs and two high-profile Senators competing for just four seats, only Labour’s Willie Penrose seemed assured of a seat. He duly topped the poll with 17.7% of the first preference vote, taking the first seat on the fifth count.

There was intense internal competition within the Fianna Fáil ticket of outgoing Longford TD Peter Kelly, outgoing Westmeath TD Donie Cassidy, and former Cabinet Minister Mary O’Rourke.

Ms O’Rourke came back strongly in 2007, taking 15% of the first preferences, well ahead of main rival Mr Cassidy on 12.1%, who was negatively affected by the fact that the Delvin area of Westmeath was transferred out to Meath West in advance of the 2007 poll.

Ms O’Rourke exceeded the quota comfortably on the final count when Mr Cassidy was excluded, as did party-colleague Peter Kelly, who had taken 14.1% of the vote, mainly from Longford. The three Fianna Fáil candidates had taken a fairly impressive 41.2% between them.

The other outgoing TD was Longford-based Mae Sexton of the Progressive Democrats, but she polled just 4.2% of the first preferences and was excluded on the fourth count. Fine Gael had held a seat in Westmeath through retiring Paul McGrath, and the party was pushing for two seats in the new constituency. In the event, the party managed 31% of the first preferences and never looked likely to add a seat. Longford Senator James Bannon took 13.9%, significantly ahead of Westmeath County Councillor, Nicky McFadden, on 9.8%, and was almost 2,000 votes ahead of her in the race final seat.

Nicky McFadden’s vote was probably limited by the presence of another Fine Gael candidate in Westmeath, Mullingar-based Peter Burke, who took almost 4,000 first preferences, only about 1,300 of which found their way on to Ms McFadden.

2007 Turnout: 66.1% (Constituency formed just prior to the 2007 general election from the old Westmeath constituency and the Longford part of the old Longford-Roscommon constituency)

Oireachtas Constituency Information

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