1979 European Parliament election in Ireland

The 1979 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1979 European Parliament election. These were the first direct elections to the European Parliament, and the first election to be held simultaneously across the entire Island of Ireland since the 1921 Irish elections. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote.

1979 European Parliament election in Ireland

7 June 1979

15 Irish seats to the European Parliament
Turnout1,392,285 (63.6%)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Labour
Leader Jack Lynch Garret FitzGerald Frank Cluskey
Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour
Alliance EPD EPP SOC
Leader since 9 November 1966 1977 1977
Seats won
5 / 15
4 / 15
4 / 15
Popular vote 464,451 443,652 193,898
Percentage 34.7% 33.1% 14.5%

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
IFF
Leader Neil Blaney Tomás Mac Giolla
Party Independent Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin - The Workers' Party
Alliance CDI NI
Leader since 1972 14 October 1962
Seats won
1 / 15
0 / 15
Popular vote 81,522 43,942
Percentage 6.1% 3.3%

Although the election was held simultaneously across the entire island of Ireland, Provisional Sinn Féin did not to contest the election. However, the relative success of Bernadette McAliskey in Northern Ireland helped prompt Sinn Féin to stand in subsequent European elections.

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