11 March 2005 2007 → 5,985 6,201 23.6 24.5 | Turnout 25,524 (39.2%) 6,201 4,630 24.5 18.3 | |
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On 31 October 2004, the Teachta Dála (TD) for Kildare North, Charlie McCreevy, officially resigned as a member of Dáil Éireann to take up his new position as a European Commissioner. His resignation resulted in the need for a by-election. As McCreevy was a Fianna Fáil member, that party had the responsibility of deciding when the by-election should take place.
On 15 February 2005 the campaign began in earnest when it was announced that polling would take place on 11 March. Eight candidates contested the vacant seat, with victory going to the Independent candidate, Catherine Murphy. Her 23.6% share of the first-preference vote was the lowest recorded at any by-election since Patrick Kinane won the Tipperary by-election in October 1947 with a 21.4% share.
As a result of her election, Kildare North was the only constituency in the Republic of Ireland that did not have a TD from one of the government parties of Fianna Fáil or the Progressive Democrats. Murphy also went into the record books as County Kildare's first ever female member of Dáil Éireann.
On the same day, a by-election took place in Meath.