The constituency was created in 1979 for the first direct elections to the European Parliament.

It comprised the counties of Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow from the historic province of Leinster excluding the County Dublin area.

[1] It was abolished under the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2004 and succeeded by the new East constituency.

^ †: Outgoing MEP coopted subsequent to the previous election.

Mark Clinton stepped down and was replaced by his party colleague Patrick Cooney.