Donegal Progressive Party

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Donegal Progressive Party
DissolvedNovember 2009
IdeologyProtestant Minority Interests

The Donegal Progressive Party was a minor political party in the Republic of Ireland.

The party drew its support mostly from the unionist and Protestant community in eastern County Donegal.[1] It was opposed to a united Ireland. At the 1973 general election, the party's leader advised Protestants to vote for Fianna Fáil, as it had "the most stable policy" on the border question.[2] Throughout the 1980s and 90s, the party held a single seat on Donegal County Council, but it lost this at the 1999 local elections.[3][4] The party was registered to contest local elections only.

Jim Devenney, a butcher and member of the East Donegal Ulster Scots Association and the former deputy chairman of the Ulster-Scots Agency,[5] was the party's final representative, also contested Donegal North-East at the 1992 and 1997 general elections, and stood in Letterkenny again in 2004.[6][7] The party was removed from the Register of Political Parties in November 2009.[8]

Elections[edit]

Dáil Éireann[edit]

Year Candidate Votes % Seats
1992 Jim Devenney

(as an Independent)

2,082 6.67%
0 / 166
1997 Jim Devenney

(as an Independent)

1,657 4.66%
0 / 166

Local elections (Donegal County Council)[edit]

Year Candidate Votes % Position Seats
1985 William Buchanan 1,506 10.4% #1

(Letterkenny)

1 / 29
1991 Jim Devenney 1,775 12.9% #1

(Letterkenny)

1 / 29
1999 Jim Devenney 1,229 10.86% #6

(Letterkenny)

0 / 29
2004 Jim Devenney 869 7.06% #7

(Letterkenny)

0 / 29


References[edit]

  1. ^ Crotty, William J.; Schmitt, David A. (17 June 2014). Ireland and the Politics of Change. Routledge. ISBN 9781317881186.
  2. ^ James Knight and Nicolas Baxter-Moore, Republic of Ireland: The General Elections of 1969 and 1973
  3. ^ Protestants lose out in the Republic Grand Orange Order Lodge website, October 1998.
  4. ^ "Independent TD stands, and angers Fianna Fail". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  5. ^ About Us - East Donegal Ulster Scots Association - Official Website
  6. ^ "Jim Devenney". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
  7. ^ "Jim Devenney". Irish Elections. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  8. ^ Coughlan, Kieran (20 November 2009). "Electoral Acts 1992 and 2001: Register of Political Parties" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. Dublin: Government Publications Office: 1509. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2016.