In comparison, the Liberals were wiped out in Ireland, whilst the Conservatives were reduced to 16 seats.

The IPLU sought to maximise the number of candidates elected from unionist parties in the three southern Irish provinces.

The Representation of the People Act 1884 equalised the county and borough franchises and made all householders and lodgers in the counties eligible to vote,[citation needed] thereby bringing Irish electoral law into line with that in Great Britain.

[1] In spite of this, however, the Irish electorate was still comparatively smaller than the electorates of the other nations of the United Kingdom; whilst 2 in 3 adults males had the vote in England and Wales, or 3 in 5 in Scotland, in Ireland only 1 in 2 adult males could vote.

[2] Not included in the totals are the two Dublin University seats, which were uncontested and were retained by the Conservatives.