The Business and Professional Group (also known as the Businessmen's Party) was a minor political party in the Irish Free State that existed between 1922 and 1923. It largely comprised ex- Unionist businessmen and professionals.Barberis, McHugh and Tyldesley (2005), p. 206 It fielded five candidates in Dublin and

Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...

at the 1922 general election. One candidate, Michael Hennessy, was elected. At the 1923 general election, company directors John Good and

William Hewat William Hewat was an Irish politician and company director. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Businessmen's Party Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( , ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish, TDs in English), is a member ...

were elected in Dublin under the label of Businessmen's Party.

Andrew O'Shaughnessy Andrew O'Shaughnessy may refer to: * Andrew O'Shaughnessy (politician) (1866–1956), Irish politician and businessman, independent TD for Cork Borough 1923–1927 * Andrew O'Shaughnessy (historian) (born 1959), British historian * Andrew O'Shau ...

and

Richard Beamish Richard Henrik Beamish (16 June 1861 – 23 February 1938) was an Irish politician, brewer and company director. Early and personal life He was born in Glounthaune, County Cork, the eldest child of Richard Pigott Beamish and his wife Hulda Eli ...

were elected under the label of ''Cork Progressive Association'' (CPA). Both CPA members however sat in the

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( , ; ) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house).Article 15.1.2º of the Constitution of Ireland read ...

as independent and in 1924 both took the

Cumann na nGaedheal Cumann na nGaedheal (; "Society of the Gaels") was a political party in the Irish Free State, which formed the government from 1923 to 1932. In 1933 it merged with smaller groups to form the Fine Gael party. Origins In 1922 the pro-Treaty G ...

party whip.John M. Regan, ''The Irish Counter-Revolution 1921-1936'', Gill & Macmillan, 1999, p. 223 The group's support base was largely Protestant; its policies were pro- Treaty and pro-economic orthodoxy, including low taxes and the Treasury view. It did not contest any general elections after 1923.

General election results

References

Sources

* Political parties established in 1922 Defunct political parties in the Republic of Ireland 1922 establishments in Ireland Political parties disestablished in 1923 1923 disestablishments in Ireland {{Republic-of-Ireland-party-stub