A Dublin South City constituency existed from 1921 to 1948 when it was abolished. It consisted of the St Patrick's and St Stephen's Green divisions. The constituency was re-created under the terms of the Electoral Act 1980 and was first used for the 1981 general election. The legislation establishing the constituency defined it as consisting of the wards of: Pembroke East D, Rathfarnham B, Rathfarnham C, Rathfarnham South together with the district electoral divisions of: DundrumNumber One, Dundrum Number Two, Dundrum Number Three, Dundrum Number Four, Dundrum Number Five, Glencullen, Milltown Number One, Milltown Number Two, Rathfarnham Number One, Rathfarnham Number Two, Stillorgan Number One, Whitechurch and the part of the district electoral division of Firhouse Number One situated south of the centre of the River Dodder. Of these, Pembroke East D and Dundrum number one had been in Dublin South-East in 1977. All five Rathfarnam wards as well as Whitechurch had been in the abolished Dublin County Mid seat while Dundrum 2–5 along with Glencullen and Milltown 1–2 had been in Dublin County South constituency while Stilorgan one had been divided between Dublin County South and Dún Laoghaire. From 2009 the constituency covered the Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown and South Dublin county areas. It covered areas such as Stillorgan, Cabinteely, Dundrum, Mount Merrion, Kilmacud, Goatstown, Rathfarnham, Sandyford, Stepaside, Kilternan, Ballinteer, Churchtown and Ballyboden. The Electoral Act 2009 defined the area of the constituency as: It ceased to exist at the 2016 general election; areas from Dublin South were added to both Dublin South-West and Dún Laoghaire, and the remaining area formed the new three-seat Dublin Rathdown constituency.
Constituency profile
It was one of Ireland's most affluent constituencies, the 2006 Census reported that residents tended to have higher-than-average levels of educational attainment, especially in terms of third-level qualifications, and were much more likely to work in professional and managerial positions. "Volatile, unpredictable and utterly ruthless, Dublin South voters have hired and fired TDs with abandon over the years" – The Irish Times description of the constituency in August 2012.
Following the resignation of Cumann na nGaedheal TD Daniel McCarthy, a by-election was held on 11 March 1925. The seat was won by the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate Thomas Hennessy.
November 1924 by-election
Following the appointment of Cumann na nGaedheal TD Hugh Kennedy as Chief Justice, a by-election was held on 18 November 1924. The seat was won by the Republican candidate Seán Lemass.
Following the death of Cumann na nGaedheal TD Philip Cosgrave, a by-election was held on 12 March 1924. The seat was won by the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate James O'Mara.
1923 by-election
was also elected for the National University of Ireland constituency and resigned his seat in Dublin South following the election. A by-election was held on 25 October 1923 and the seat was won by the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate Hugh Kennedy.
1923 general election
1922 general election
, an election agent, published a sample ballot incorrectly stating that voters had only six preferences. Markievicz secured an injunction in the Republican Supreme Court against Reddin, who published an apology on election day in The Irish Times. The official notice of poll listed Markievicz's name first, but the ballot listed her third. She later complained that the electoral register was "rotten".
