Cork South-Central
Co. CorkCork South-Central is a 5-seat constituency covering Cork city's southside, including Ballincollig and Douglas. It is the home constituency of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who topped the poll and exceeded the quota on first preferences alone in 2024 — one of the strongest individual results of the election.
Why this leans Fianna Fáil
The 10.8-point gap between the top two finishers here in 2024 sits on top of a longer pattern: Fianna Fáil's first-preference vote share in Cork South-Central has run 35.6% in 2024, 35.5% in 2020*, then 41.6% in 2016* — this constituency's own results, not a national proxy. * marks a year where boundaries differed from today's: Gained a 5th seat for 2024 (territory from Cork North-Central); 2016 and 2020 share the same 4-seat boundary as each other.
Election History in Cork South-Central
First-preference vote share by party, 2016–2024, from this constituency's own results (top 6 parties by best showing shown; smaller parties omitted for legibility).
* Some years shown used different boundaries than 2024: Gained a 5th seat for 2024 (territory from Cork North-Central); 2016 and 2020 share the same 4-seat boundary as each other.
Elected TDs (5)
23.2% first preference · 14,526 votes
12.4% first preference · 7,794 votes · elected below quota, via transfers
11.1% first preference · 6,947 votes · elected below quota, via transfers
8.6% first preference · 5,368 votes · elected below quota, via transfers
7.0% first preference · 4,407 votes · elected below quota, via transfers
2024 General Election — First Preferences
First-preference vote share by candidate. Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil) topped the poll with 23.2%. Bold candidates were elected — final seats are decided by PR-STV transfers, not first preferences alone.
Under PR-STV, surplus and elimination transfers decide the final seats, so a candidate can be elected from well below the quota — or miss out despite a strong first count. .
Notable Past TDs
Fine Gael's first Tánaiste (1987) and Minister for Foreign Affairs during the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement negotiations.