This section has sparked my curiosity. Subsection (2) (a) reads, "a reference to a former rural district shall be construed as a reference to that district as constituted immediately before the 1st day of October, 1925". It is time definitions such as this were tidied up.
Subsection (2) (b) reads, "a reference to a line drawn along any motorway, road, railway or pathway shall be construed as a reference to a line drawn along the centre of such motorway, road, railway or pathway". That is clear and succinct but, from a cursory examination, there are a number of cases where the border between constituencies is marked by a lake or river. I am aware that, as far as Lough Corrib and Lough Mask are concerned, the borders have been defined otherwise by ancient agreements but Lough Rea is not in the same boat. The Shannon marks the border between Laoighis-Offaly and Longford-Roscommon and Galway East. Lough Derg marks the border between Tipperary North and Galway East and Clare. The Shannon estuary marks the border between Clare and Kerry North, Limerick West and Limerick East. Is it clear beyond doubt from other statutes where the borders lie or are these areas defined with reference to the former rural districts as constituted immediately before 1 October 1925?