Athlone (UK Parliament constituency)

Athlone
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyCounty Roscommon and County Westmeath
BoroughAthlone
1801–1885
Seats1
Created fromAthlone (IHC)
Replaced by

Athlone was a borough constituency representing the parliamentary borough of Athlone on the border of County Roscommon and County Westmeath, Ireland from 1801 to 1885. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

History

Prior to 1801, the town of Athlone was a two-seat borough constituency in the Irish House of Commons.[1][2] Under the Acts of Union 1800, which united the Kingdom of Ireland with the Kingdom of Great Britain to form the United Kingdom, it was one of 33 boroughs to retain representation, but was reduced to one MP.[3] Its first MP in 1801 was chosen by lot.

The right of election was vested in the burgesses and freemen. They numbered 71 in April 1831. By the Representation of the People (Ireland) Act 1832, the non-resident freemen (except those living within seven miles) were disfranchised and the right to vote was extended to the £10 householders. The registered electorate, in 1832, numbered 243.

Athlone ceased to have parliamentary representation under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, which took effect at the 1885 general election.[4] The town was then represented in the county constituencies of South Roscommon and South Westmeath.

Boundaries

Before 1832 the limit of the borough, under its charter, was a circle of a mile and a half radius from the centre of the bridge over the River Shannon, which waterway divided the town in two.[5] However, for electoral purposes, those boundaries were diminished in 1832 and thereafter included only the town and a very small surrounding district, comprising 485 statute acres. A report into the boundaries of the borough of Athlone was undertaken in January 1832. The report found that limits of the borough were not defined, but as the limits were not connected with the elective franchise, it drew a line as closely as possible around the town.[6] This comprised an area of 439 acres (1.78 km2).

Under the Parliamentary Boundaries (Ireland) Act 1832, it was defined as:[7]

From the Point at which the Southern End of the Canal joins the River Shannon, along the Canal, to the Point at which the Northern End thereof joins the River Shannon; thence along the River Shannon to the Point at which the same is met by the North-western Inclosure Wall of the Barracks; thence in a straight Line to the Angle in the Hare Island Road at which the same turns Northward, and at which there are Two Gateways with Pillars opposite each other; thence in a straight Line to a Gateway with Pillars on the Ballymahon Road, about Twenty Yards to the East of the Glebe Wall; thence in a straight Line to the North-eastern Corner of the Wall of the Townland called Anchor's Bower; thence, Southward, along the Wall of Anchor's Bower to the Point at which the same meets the old Dublin Road; thence in a straight Line in the Direction of Mr. Dawson's House in Bunavally to the Point at which such straight Line cuts a small Bye Road which runs into the Dublin Road; thence along the said small Bye Road to the Point at which the same joins the Dublin Road; thence in a straight Line to the Point at which the Brideswell Bog Road is joined by a Bye Road leading thereto from the East, about Three hundred Yards from the Point at which the Brideswell Bog Road leaves the Dublin Read; thence in a straight Line in the Direction of the Chimney of Mr. Robinson’s Distillery to the Point at which such straight Line cuts the River Shannon; thence along the River Shannon to the Point first described.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMemberPartyNote
1801 (co-option) William Handcock
1802
1803 (b) Thomas Tyrwhitt Jones Resignation of Handcock
1806 George Tierney Whig
1807 Henry Wellesley Tory
1807 (b) John Frewen-Turner Wellesley sits for Eye
1812 John Wilson Croker Tory
1818 John Gordon
1820 John McClintock Tory
1820 (b) David Ker Tory
1826 Richard Handcock Tory[8]
1830
1831
1832 James Talbot Whig[9][8]
1835 George Mathew Conservative[9][8]
1837 John O'Connell Repeal (Liberal)[9][8][a]
1841 George Beresford Conservative[8]
1842 petition Daniel Farrell Whig[9][10] Beresford unseated on petition
1843 (b) John Collett Whig Farrell unseated on petition and new writ issued[9][11][12]
1847 William Keogh[b] Peelite[9][13][14]
1852 Independent Liberal
1853 (b) Whig[15] Keogh appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland
1855 (b) Keogh appointed Attorney-General for Ireland
1856 (b) Henry Handcock Conservative[9] Keogh appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas
1857 John Ennis Independent Liberal[9]
1859 Liberal[9]
1865 Denis Rearden Liberal[16]
1868 Sir John Ennis Liberal[16]
1874 Edward Sheil Home Rule[16]
1880 Sir John Ennis Liberal[16]
1884 (b) Justin Huntly McCarthy Irish National League
1885 Constituency abolished: See South Roscommon and South Westmeath
Notes
  1. ↑ O'Connell was the candidate of a Liberal/Repealer pact.
  2. ↑ Keogh belonged to a number of parties during his tenure. He was elected in 1847 as a Peelite and he was re-elected in 1852 as a Liberal pledged to form an independent opposition in Parliament. Shortly after the election he briefly joined the Independent Irish Party, but upon being appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland he was re-elected as a Liberal candidate in 1853. Until he was appointed a judge in 1856, Keogh remained a Liberal.

Elections

Elections in the 1880s

By-election, 12 June 1884: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Parliamentary Justin Huntly McCarthy Unopposed
Registered electors 365
Irish Parliamentary gain from Liberal
  • Caused by Ennis' death.
General election 1880: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Ennis 163 50.2 +1.0
Home Rule Edward Sheil 162 49.8 −1.0
Majority 1 0.4 N/A
Turnout 325 90.3 +4.5
Registered electors 360
Liberal gain from Home Rule Swing +1.0

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Home Rule Edward Sheil 153 50.8 New
Liberal John Ennis 148 49.2 −8.9
Majority 5 1.6 N/A
Turnout 301 85.8 +2.2
Registered electors 351
Home Rule gain from Liberal Swing N/A
  • The original count for the 1874 election had both candidates receiving 140 votes. However, on petition, the poll was amended to the above figures.

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Ennis 154 57.9 +26.0
Conservative Robert Preston Bayley 111 41.7 +30.5
Liberal John Staniforth (1832-1894) 1 0.4 N/A
Majority 43 16.2 −8.8
Turnout 266 83.6 +7.2
Registered electors 318
Liberal hold Swing −2.3
General election 1865: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Denis Rearden 107 56.9 N/A
Liberal John Ennis 60 31.9 −29.4
Conservative George Handcock 21 11.2 −27.5
Majority 47 25.0 +2.4
Turnout 188 76.4 −8.5
Registered electors 246
Liberal hold Swing

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Ennis 117 61.3 −5.4
Conservative Robert Preston Bayley 74 38.7 +5.4
Majority 43 22.6 −10.8
Turnout 191 84.9 −0.8
Registered electors 225
Liberal hold Swing −5.4
General election 1857: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Irish John Ennis 100 66.7 −23.0
Conservative Henry Handcock 50 33.3 +23.0
Majority 50 33.4 −46.0
Turnout 150 85.7 +32.1
Registered electors 175
Independent Irish hold Swing −23.0
By-election, 14 April 1856: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Handcock 82 53.9 +43.6
Peelite John Ennis[18] 70 46.1 N/A
Majority 12 7.8 N/A
Turnout 152 86.9 +33.3
Registered electors 175
Conservative gain from Independent Irish Swing N/A
By-election, 7 March 1855: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite William Keogh Unopposed
Peelite gain from Independent Irish
By-election, 23 April 1853: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite William Keogh 79 66.4 −23.3
Whig Thomas Norton[19] 40 33.6 New
Majority 39 32.8 N/A
Turnout 119 70.0 +16.4
Registered electors 170
Peelite gain from Independent Irish Swing N/A
General election 1852: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Irish William Keogh 87 89.7 +38.2
Conservative Robert Bartholomew Lawes 10 10.3 New
Majority 77 79.4 N/A
Turnout 97 53.6 +7.3
Registered electors 181
Independent Irish gain from Peelite Swing N/A

Elections in the 1840s

General election 5 August 1847: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite William Keogh 101 51.5 N/A
Repeal John L M O'Beirne 95 48.5 New
Majority 6 3.0 N/A
Turnout 196 46.3 +32.6
Registered electors 423
Peelite gain from Conservative Swing N/A
By-election, 4 April 1843: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Collett 114 51.4 +15.2
Conservative George Beresford 108 48.6 −15.2
Majority 6 2.8 N/A
Turnout 222 64.9 +51.2
Registered electors 342
Whig gain from Conservative Swing
  • Caused by the previous election being declared void on petition. Originally, Farrell had been declared elected, with the poll amended to 110 votes for Farrell and 60 votes for Beresford, but a counter-petition was successful[20] and a new writ was issued.
General election 8 July 1841: Athlone[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Beresford 30 63.8 New
Whig Daniel Farrell 17 36.2 N/A
Majority 13 27.6 N/A
Turnout 47 13.7 N/A
Registered electors 342
Conservative gain from Radical Swing

Elections in the 1830s

General election 4 August 1837: Athlone[17][8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Radical John O'Connell Unopposed
Registered electors 385
Radical gain from Conservative
General election 12 January 1835: Athlone[17][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Benvenuto Mathew 96 53.6 +8.2
Whig James Talbot 83 46.4 −8.2
Majority 13 7.2 N/A
Turnout 179 65.3 −28.9
Registered electors 274
Conservative gain from Whig Swing −8.2
General election 15 December 1832: Athlone[17][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig James Talbot 125 54.6 +46.3
Tory Richard Handcock 104 45.4 −46.3
Majority 21 9.2 N/A
Turnout 229 94.2 c. +43.5
Registered electors 243
Whig gain from Tory Swing +46.3
General election 4 May 1831: Athlone[17][8][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Richard Handcock 33 91.7 −2.7
Whig James Talbot 3 8.3 +2.7
Majority 30 83.4 −5.4
Turnout 36 c. 50.7 c. ±0.0
Registered electors c. 71
Tory hold Swing
General election 6 August 1830: Athlone[17][8][21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Richard Handcock 34 94.4
Whig James Talbot 2 5.6
Majority 32 88.8
Turnout 36 c. 50.7
Registered electors c. 71
Tory hold

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "Athlone". History of the Irish Parliament. Ulster Historical Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  2. ↑ Johnston-Liik, Edith Mary. "County Westmeath". History of the Irish Parliament. Ulster Historical Foundation. Archived from the original on 16 January 2026. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "Union with Ireland Act 1800 (39 & 40 Geo. III., c. 67), Article Fourth" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk.
  4. ↑ "Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 (48 & 49 Vict. c. 23), s. 2 and First Schedule, Part 1" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk.
  5. ↑ Lewis, Samuel (1837). "Bandon, or Bandonbridge". A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. London: S. Lewis & Co. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2026 – via Library Ireland: Irish History and Culture.
  6. ↑ "Report on the Borough of Athlone". Instructions by Secretary for Ireland, respecting Cities and Boroughs in Ireland sending Representatives to Parliament; Reports of Commissioners. Sessional papers. Vol. 43. Sessional papers. December 1831. pp. 4–8.
  7. ↑ "Parliamentary Boundaries (Ireland) Act 1832 (2 & 3 Will. IV., c. 89), Schedule" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 215.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Walker 1978, p. 251.
  10. ↑ "Limerick Chronicle". 10 July 1841. p. 2. Retrieved 18 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ↑ "Stamford Mercury". 14 April 1843. p. 4. Retrieved 18 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ↑ "Athlone Election". Coventry Standard. 7 April 1843. p. 4. Retrieved 18 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ↑ "Athlone". Bell's Weekly Messenger. 7 August 1847. p. 1. Retrieved 15 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ↑ "Irish Members Returned". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 11 August 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 15 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ↑ "Dublin Weekly Nation". 9 April 1853. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 15 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Walker 1978, p. 252.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Walker 1978.
  18. ↑ "Ennis and Athlone". Kilkenny Journal, and Leinster Commercial and Literary Advertiser. 9 April 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 15 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ↑ "Athlone". Warder and Dublin Weekly Mail. 16 April 1853. p. 5. Retrieved 15 September 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ↑ "Athlone Election (1843)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 21 March 1843.
  21. 1 2 Salmon 2009.

Sources

  • The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), 2nd edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)
  • Walker, Brian M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. pp. 197, 251–252. ISBN 0901714127.
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 3)
  • Jupp, P. J. (1986). "Athlone". In Thorne, R. (ed.). The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790–1820. The History of Parliament.
  • Salmon, Philip (2009). "Athlone". In Fisher, D. R. (ed.). The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1820–1832. The History of Parliament.
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