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22 Oct 2025

Editorial: Carlow-Kilkenny constituency - as we know - it looks set to change

Polling stations

There could be some changes as to where local people will vote, pending a review of constituencies

A slew of submissions calling for parts of South Kilkenny to be subsumed into the neighbouring Waterford constituency will have alarm bells ringing in this part of the world.

They are among the many submissions made to the Electoral Commission which is considering how boundaries are to be redrawn in light of population changes. Some want to see the two counties separated; others want to see parts of Kilkenny transferred to other neighbouring counties - or vice versa.

One thing seems certain — the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency, as it currently exists — is going to change. The constitution stipulates one TD for every 30,0000 people and six TDs is too many.

Carlow-Kilkenny is presently a five-seat constituency with a population of 165,616. The person/TD ratio is too high, and something will have to be altered.

Some in Waterford are clamouring for a fifth TD to be added totheir constituency, but to allow for a fifth TD would likely involve adding around a few thousand people from a neighbouring county.

There are multiple possible permutations. Carlow may go its own way, while Kilkenny may end up being divided between north and south. We could end up with a Wexford-Kilkenny area.

Kilkenny has always had to fight for its share when it comes to the bigger urban areas.

Around seven years have passed since the extremely divisive boundary review that pitted neighbour against neighbour, and caused tremendous upset to people living in South Kilkenny. It had been well and truly put to bed, but through the mechanism of the Electoral Commission, proponents have again been airing making their views clear again.

Meanwhile, the electoral constituencies are up in the air until the commission delivers its final report, likely by the end of August.

Hopefully, common sense will prevail and a solution amenable to everyone will be found. Perhaps Kilkenny could be retained as a four-seat constituency, retaining its current level of representation.

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