Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
South Donegal was won by Sinn Féin at the 1918 general election, with a majority of 1,035 votes over Irish Parliamentary Party. This page covers every general election in South Donegal from 1885 to 1918.
Full Election History, 1885–1918
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1885
Bernard Kelly (Irish Parliamentary Party)
5,055
78.7%
Arthur William Hamilton Foster (Irish Unionist)
3,686 (57.4 pts)
81.8%
1886
Bernard Kelly (Irish Parliamentary Party)
4,905
77.8%
Arthur William Hamilton Foster (Irish Unionist)
3,506 (55.6 pts)
80.3%
1892
John Gordon Swift MacNeill (Irish Parliamentary Party)
3,930
73.7%
Henry Stubbs (Irish Unionist)
2,530 (47.5 pts)
79.4%
1895
John Gordon Swift MacNeill (Irish Parliamentary Party)
3,614
73.4%
Henry Stubbs (Irish Unionist)
2,301 (46.7 pts)
77.2%
1900
John Gordon Swift MacNeill (Irish Parliamentary Party)
Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record
0.0%
1906
John Gordon Swift MacNeill (Irish Parliamentary Party)
Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record
0.0%
Jan 1910
John Gordon Swift MacNeill (Irish Parliamentary Party)
Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record
0.0%
Dec 1910
John Gordon Swift MacNeill (Irish Parliamentary Party)
Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record
0.0%
1918
Peter Joseph Ward (Sinn Féin)
5,787
54.9%
John Thomas Donovan (Irish Parliamentary Party)
1,035 (9.8 pts)
62.4%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1885
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Bernard Kelly
Irish Parliamentary Party
5,055
78.7%
Yes
Arthur William Hamilton Foster
Irish Unionist
1,369
21.3%
No
1886
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Bernard Kelly
Irish Parliamentary Party
4,905
77.8%
Yes
Arthur William Hamilton Foster
Irish Unionist
1,399
22.2%
No
1892
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Gordon Swift MacNeill
Irish Parliamentary Party
3,930
73.7%
Yes
Henry Stubbs
Irish Unionist
1,400
26.3%
No
1895
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Gordon Swift MacNeill
Irish Parliamentary Party
3,614
73.4%
Yes
Henry Stubbs
Irish Unionist
1,313
26.6%
No
1900
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Gordon Swift MacNeill
Irish Parliamentary Party
Unopposed
Yes
1906
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Gordon Swift MacNeill
Irish Parliamentary Party
Unopposed
Yes
Jan 1910
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Gordon Swift MacNeill
Irish Parliamentary Party
Unopposed
Yes
Dec 1910
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
John Gordon Swift MacNeill
Irish Parliamentary Party
Unopposed
Yes
1918
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Peter Joseph Ward
Sinn Féin
5,787
54.9%
Yes
John Thomas Donovan
Irish Parliamentary Party
4,752
45.1%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
South Donegal has been contested at 9 general elections on record since 1885. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Irish Parliamentary Party, Sinn Féin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won South Donegal in the 1918 general election?
Sinn Féin won South Donegal in 1918 with 5,787 votes (54.9%), a majority of 1,035 votes over Irish Parliamentary Party in second place.
Which parties have won South Donegal since 1885?
Since 1885, South Donegal has been won by: Irish Parliamentary Party, Sinn Féin.
What was the closest result in South Donegal?
The closest result on record for South Donegal was 1918, when Sinn Féin beat Irish Parliamentary Party by just 1,035 votes (9.8 percentage points).