Queen's University of Belfast (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Encyclopedia
Queen's University of Belfast (QUB), was a former potential Dáil Éireann
parliamentary constituency. It was a Dáil constituency 1919-1922.
Parliament constituency. It was represented by one member from 1918 until 1950. The University sent four MPs to the Northern Ireland House of Commons 1921-1969.
The University was, in Irish republican theory, entitled to return one Teachta Dála
(known in English as a Deputy) in 1918 to serve in the Irish Republic
's First Dáil
. Sinn Féin
used the UK general election
in 1918 to elect the Dáil. The revolutionary body assembled on 21 January 1919. The list of members read out on that day included everyone elected in Ireland. Only the Sinn Féin Deputies participated in the Dáil, but the other Irish MPs
could have done so if they had chosen to adhere to the Republic.
The First Dáil, passed a motion at its last meeting on 10 May 1921, the first three parts of which make explicit the republican view.
The Second Dáil
first met on 16 August 1921, thereby dissolving the First Dáil.
Sinn Féin had decided to use the polls for the Northern Ireland House of Commons and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland as an election for the Irish Republic's Second Dáil
. No actual voting was necessary in Southern Ireland
as all the seats were filled by unopposed returns. Except for Dublin University all other constituencies elected Sinn Féin TDs. As with the First Dáil, Deputies from all parties could have joined the Dáil if they chose, but only the Sinn Féin members did.
From the Third Dáil
onwards the Dáil represented only the twenty-six counties which formed the Irish Free State
.
In the Second Dáil there were deemed to be four Deputies elected from the Queen's University, but none took their seat.
set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908. It had been part of earlier federal universities since its founding in 1845.
As part of the redistribution of Parliamentary seats in 1918 it was enfranchised as a new non-territorial Parliamentary constituency. It was one of a number of University constituencies given legislative representation.
also entitled to vote in a territorial constituency.
In 1921 parliamentary representatives of the University were elected using the single transferable vote
method of proportional representation
.
, U Irish Unionist (1918), U Ulster Unionist (1921).
Note a: The polling date given was that used for the territorial constituencies. The University poll was open for five days.
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
parliamentary constituency. It was a Dáil constituency 1919-1922.
Representation
Queen's University of Belfast was a former United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Parliament constituency. It was represented by one member from 1918 until 1950. The University sent four MPs to the Northern Ireland House of Commons 1921-1969.
The University was, in Irish republican theory, entitled to return one Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(known in English as a Deputy) in 1918 to serve in the Irish Republic
Irish Republic
The Irish Republic was a revolutionary state that declared its independence from Great Britain in January 1919. It established a legislature , a government , a court system and a police force...
's First Dáil
First Dáil
The First Dáil was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 1919–1921. In 1919 candidates who had been elected in the Westminster elections of 1918 refused to recognise the Parliament of the United Kingdom and instead assembled as a unicameral, revolutionary parliament called "Dáil Éireann"...
. Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
used the UK general election
Irish (UK) general election, 1918
The Irish general election of 1918 was that part of the 1918 United Kingdom general election that took place in Ireland. It is seen as a key moment in modern Irish history...
in 1918 to elect the Dáil. The revolutionary body assembled on 21 January 1919. The list of members read out on that day included everyone elected in Ireland. Only the Sinn Féin Deputies participated in the Dáil, but the other Irish MPs
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
could have done so if they had chosen to adhere to the Republic.
The First Dáil, passed a motion at its last meeting on 10 May 1921, the first three parts of which make explicit the republican view.
- That the Parliamentary elections which are to take place during the present month be regarded as elections to Dáil Éireann.
- That all deputies duly returned at these elections be regarded as members of Dáil Éireann and allowed to take their seats on subscribing to the proposed Oath of Allegiance.
- That the present Dáil dissolve automatically as soon as the new body has been summoned by the President and called to order.
The Second Dáil
Second Dáil
The Second Dáil was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 16 August 1921 until 8 June 1922. From 1919–1922 Dáil Éireann was the revolutionary parliament of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic. The Second Dáil consisted of members elected in 1921...
first met on 16 August 1921, thereby dissolving the First Dáil.
Sinn Féin had decided to use the polls for the Northern Ireland House of Commons and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland as an election for the Irish Republic's Second Dáil
Second Dáil
The Second Dáil was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 16 August 1921 until 8 June 1922. From 1919–1922 Dáil Éireann was the revolutionary parliament of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic. The Second Dáil consisted of members elected in 1921...
. No actual voting was necessary in Southern Ireland
Southern Ireland
Southern Ireland was a short-lived autonomous region of the United Kingdom established on 3 May 1921 and dissolved on 6 December 1922.Southern Ireland was established under the Government of Ireland Act 1920 together with its sister region, Northern Ireland...
as all the seats were filled by unopposed returns. Except for Dublin University all other constituencies elected Sinn Féin TDs. As with the First Dáil, Deputies from all parties could have joined the Dáil if they chose, but only the Sinn Féin members did.
From the Third Dáil
Third Dáil
The Third Dáil, also known as the Provisional Parliament or the Constituent Assembly, was:*the "provisional parliament" or "constituent assembly" of Southern Ireland from 9 August 1922 until 6 December 1922; and...
onwards the Dáil represented only the twenty-six counties which formed the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
.
In the Second Dáil there were deemed to be four Deputies elected from the Queen's University, but none took their seat.
Boundaries
Queen's University Belfast is a universityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908. It had been part of earlier federal universities since its founding in 1845.
As part of the redistribution of Parliamentary seats in 1918 it was enfranchised as a new non-territorial Parliamentary constituency. It was one of a number of University constituencies given legislative representation.
Electorate
In 1918 the electorate included all registered graduates of the University. Male graduates qualified to vote if they had attained the age of 21 but female ones had to be at least 30 to acquire the franchise. There were 2,039 voters registered for the 1918 general election. Most, if not all, of those electors would have been plural votersPlural voting
Plural voting is the practice whereby one person might be able to vote multiple times in an election. It is not to be confused with a plurality voting system which does not necessarily involve plural voting...
also entitled to vote in a territorial constituency.
Politics of the constituency
Sinn Féin was massively defeated by the Unionist, in 1918. In 1921 the Unionist dominance was so complete that even proportional representation could not stop them winning all four seats.Electoral System
In 1918 the constituency used the first past the post system.In 1921 parliamentary representatives of the University were elected using the single transferable vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
method of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
.
MPs
Key to parties: SF Sinn FéinSinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, U Irish Unionist (1918), U Ulster Unionist (1921).
| From | To | Name (Party) | Born | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | 1921 | Sir William Whitla William Whitla Sir William Whitla was an Irish physician and politician.-Early life:Born at The Diamond, Monaghan, County Monaghan, Ireland, the fourth son of Robert Whitla, a woollen draper and pawnbroker, and his wife, Anne, daughter of Alexander Williams of Dublin... (U) |
September 1851 | 11 December 1933 |
| 1921 | 1922 | John Campbell (U) | 1862 | 31 August 1929 |
| 1921 | 1922 | Professor Robert James Johnstone (U) | 1872 | 26 October 1938 |
| 1921 | 1922 | Hugh Smith Morrison (U) | 1858 | 20 May 1929 |
| 1921 | 1922 | John Hanna Robb John Hanna Robb John Hanna Robb was a Northern Irish barrister and Ulster Unionist Party politician.The son of Rev. J. Gardner Robb, DD, LLD, Robb was educated at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Queen's College, Belfast and called to the Bar at Gray's Inn and King's Inns, Dublin in 1898.He was a Stormont MP... (U) |
1884 | 1957 |
Elections
- 1918 (polling 18 December-22 December, result declared 23 December) general election (1 seat)
- 2,039 electors; 1,605 voted; turnout 78.72%
- Sir William Whitla (U) 1,487 (92.65%) (elected)
- Sean B. Dolan (SF) 118 (7.35%)
- majority 1,369 (85.30%)
- 1921 (24 May) (note a) general election (4 seats)
- 2,528 electors; 1,926 voted; turnout 76.19%; quota 386
- First count
- J. Campbell (U) 835 (43.35%) (elected)
- J.H. Robb (U) 368 (19.11%)
- Professor R.J. Johnstone (U) 279 (14.49%)
- H.S. Morrison (U) 243 (12.62%)
- Sean B. Dolan (SF) 201 (10.44%)
- Second count (distribution of Campbell's surplus)
- J. Campbell (U) (-449) 386 (elected)
- J.H. Robb (U) (+70) 438 (elected)
- Professor R.J. Johnstone (U) (+323) 602 (elected)
- H.S. Morrison (U) (+53) 296
- Sean B. Dolan (SF) (+3) 204
- Third count (distribution of Johnstone's and Robb's surpluses)
- J. Campbell (U) (..) 386 (elected)
- J.H. Robb (U) (-52) 386 (elected)
- Professor R.J. Johnstone (U) (-216) 386 (elected)
- H.S. Morrison (U) (+268) 564 (elected)
- Sean B. Dolan (SF) (..) 204 (runner up)
Note a: The polling date given was that used for the territorial constituencies. The University poll was open for five days.
External links
- http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0
- http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/en.toc.dail.html
- http://www.election.demon.co.uk/stormont/stormont.html
See also
- Queen's University of Belfast (UK Parliament constituency)
- List of Dáil Éireann constituencies in Ireland (historic)
- Dáil Éireann (1919-1922)Dáil Éireann (1919-1922)Dáil Éireann was the revolutionary, unicameral parliament of the unilaterally declared Irish Republic from 1919–1922. The Dáil was first formed by 73 Sinn Féin MPs elected in the 1918 United Kingdom general election. Their manifesto refused to recognise the British parliament at Westminster and...