Special Election to Sligo Corporation
Introduction from Chronology
A special election is held for Sligo Corporation. (The first election held using proportional
representation.) There are 24 seats on
the Corporation. Sinn Féin get seven
seats; the Ratepayers Association get eight seats; Labour get
five seats and independents get four seats.
Sinn Féin and Labour, along with one independent, control the
Corporation.
Background
Proportional
representation was introduced by the British in the hope of diluting support
for Sinn Féin. The British were pleased
enough with the outcome of the Sligo Corporation election (in that it did
reduce somewhat the seats won by Sinn Féin compared to a first past the post
system) that they introduced proportional representation in the local elections
in Ireland for January and June 1920.
However, the introduction of proportional representation did not have
the effect the British desired – See January 15th 1920 (Jan-15-20/1) and June
12th 1920 (Jun-12-20/1). (Note: Despite
being then part of the UK, proportional representation was introduced only in
Ireland but not in Britain.)