1957 Irish general election
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The 1957 Irish general election to the 16th Dáil was held on Tuesday, 5 March, following a dissolution of the
15th Dáil 15 (fifteen) is the natural number following 14 (number), 14 and preceding 16 (number), 16. Mathematics 15 is: * A composite number, and the sixth semiprime; its proper divisors being , and . * A deficient number, a smooth number, a lucky ...
on 12 February by
President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
Seán T. O'Kelly Seán Thomas O'Kelly ( ga, Seán Tomás Ó Ceallaigh; 25 August 1882 – 23 November 1966), originally John T. O'Kelly, was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as the second president of Ireland from June 1945 to June 1959. He also serve ...
on the request of
Taoiseach The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legisl ...
John A. Costello on 4 February. It was the longest election campaign in the history of the state, spanning 30 days. The general election took place in 40
Dáil constituencies There are 39 multi-member electoral districts, known as Dáil constituencies, that elect 160 TDs (members of parliament), to Dáil Éireann, Ireland's lower house of the Oireachtas, or parliament, by means of the single transferable vote, ...
throughout Ireland for 147 seats in
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 ...
, the house of representatives of the
Oireachtas The Oireachtas (, ), sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the Bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of: *The President of Ireland *The bicameralism, two houses of the Oireachtas ...
. The 16th Dáil met at
Leinster House Leinster House ( ga, Teach Laighean) is the seat of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Ireland. Originally, it was the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, ...
on 20 March to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new
government of Ireland The Government of Ireland ( ga, Rialtas na hÉireann) is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland. The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in a government which is headed by the , the head of government. The governm ...
. Costello lost office, and
Éamon de Valera Éamon de Valera (, ; first registered as George de Valero; changed some time before 1901 to Edward de Valera; 14 October 1882 – 29 August 1975) was a prominent Irish statesman and political leader. He served several terms as head of governm ...
was appointed Taoiseach, forming the
8th Government of Ireland 8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9. In mathematics 8 is: * a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2. * a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of t ...
, a single-party majority
Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil â€“ The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil â€“ An Páirtí Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christian- ...
government.


Campaign

The 1957 general election was precipitated by the crisis in the trade balance and the government's reaction to it. As a result of this crisis,
Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil â€“ The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil â€“ An Páirtí Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christian- ...
tabled a
motion of no confidence A motion of no confidence, also variously called a vote of no confidence, no-confidence motion, motion of confidence, or vote of confidence, is a statement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility like in government or mana ...
in the inter-party government of
Fine Gael Fine Gael (, ; English: "Family (or Tribe) of the Irish") is a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil à ...
,
Labour Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...
and
Clann na Talmhan Clann na Talmhan (, "Family/Children of the land"; formally known as the ''National Agricultural Party'') was an Irish agrarian political party active between 1939 and 1965. Formation and growth Clann na Talmhan was founded on 29 June 1939 in ...
. The Dáil has been scheduled to resume on 13 February. Rather than face defeat in the vote, on 4 February the
Taoiseach The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legisl ...
John A. Costello, sought a dissolution of the Dáil for 12 February. The campaign was fought largely over economic issues and the situation in Northern Ireland. In the North, the IRA had launched
Operation Harvest Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...
which drew much popular support in the south.
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( , ; en, " eOurselves") is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Gri ...
had been re-built and re-organized as a party by
Paddy McLogan Paddy J. McLogan ( ga, Pádraig Mac Lógáin) (1899 – 21/22 July 1964) was President of Sinn Féin from 1950–52 and again from 1954 to 1962. Born in Markethill, Co Armagh, he spent some time in Scotland. He joined the Irish Republican Brothe ...
and was fielding abstentionist candidates. Fianna Fáil had produced a major policy document in January, criticising many of its own policies in regard to the economy. While they did not know an election was imminent this became the backbone of their manifesto. The importance of free trade was played up by Fianna Fáil in a clear rejection of the protectionist policies they had advocated in the past. The architect of many of these new policies was the spokesperson for Industry and Commerce and the heir-apparent of the party,
Seán Lemass Seán Francis Lemass (born John Francis Lemass; 15 July 1899 – 11 May 1971) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1959 to 1966. He also served as Tánaiste from 1957 to 1959, 1951 to 1954 ...
. At 75 years of age
Éamon de Valera Éamon de Valera (, ; first registered as George de Valero; changed some time before 1901 to Edward de Valera; 14 October 1882 – 29 August 1975) was a prominent Irish statesman and political leader. He served several terms as head of governm ...
was fighting his last general election as leader of the party. In spite of his age, he carried out a vigorous campaign, often being accompanied by brass bands and torch-lit processions. The Fianna Fáil message was simple: coalition governments were unstable. The other parties, most of them having enjoyed a stint in government over the previous three years, fought the election on their record in office, Fine Gael in particular. Clann na Talmhan failed to broaden their appeal and remained the voice of the farmers.
Clann na Poblachta Clann na Poblachta (; "Family/Children of the Republic") was an Irish republican political party founded in 1946 by Seán MacBride, a former Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army. Foundation Clann na Poblachta was officially launched o ...
under
Seán MacBride Seán MacBride (26 January 1904 – 15 January 1988) was an Irish Clann na Poblachta politician who served as Minister for External Affairs from 1948 to 1951, Leader of Clann na Poblachta from 1946 to 1965 and Chief of Staff of the IRA from 193 ...
had agreed not to stand in constituencies where
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( , ; en, " eOurselves") is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Gri ...
were fielding candidates and lost two of its three seats. Sinn Féin, fighting one of its first post-war elections on an
abstentionist Abstentionism is standing for election to a deliberative assembly while refusing to take up any seats won or otherwise participate in the assembly's business. Abstentionism differs from an election boycott in that abstentionists participate in ...
ticket won 4 seats.


Result


Voting summary


Seats summary


Government formation

Fianna Fáil majority government formed. Éamon de Valera became Taoiseach for the last time.


Change in membership


First time TDs

*
Kevin Boland Kevin Boland (15 October 1917 – 23 September 2001) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Leader of Aontacht Éireann from 1971 to 1976, Minister for Social Welfare from 1961 to 1966 and 1969 to 1970, Minister for Local Governm ...
(Appointed
Minister for Defence {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...
on his first day in the Dáil) * Lionel Booth * Seán Browne * Batt Donegan *
Paddy Clohessy Patrick Clohessy (16 April 1908 – 6 August 1971) was an Irish sportsperson and politician. He played hurling for his local club Fedamore and at senior level for the Limerick county team from 1928 until 1940. He later became a Fianna Fáil ...
* Patrick Dooley *
Pádraig Faulkner Pádraig Faulkner (12 March 1918 – 1 June 2012) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1980 to 1981, Minister for Defence 1979 to 1980, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs and Minister for Tour ...
* Jim Gibbons *
Charles Haughey Charles James Haughey (; 16 September 1925 – 13 June 2006) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach on three occasions – 1979 to 1981, March to December 1982 and 1987 to 1992. He was also Minister for the Gaeltacht from ...
*
Gus Healy Augustine A. Healy (20 May 1904 – 10 July 1987) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A dental laboratory proprietor, Healy was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork Borough constituency at the 195 ...
* Brigid Hogan *
John Joe McGirl John Joe McGirl (25 March 1921 – 8 December 1988) was an Irish republican, a Sinn Féin politician, and a former chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Biography Anti-Treaty IRA Born and raised in Ballinamore, County Leitrim, M ...
* Jack Murphy *
Ruairí Ó Brádaigh Ruairí Ó Brádaigh (; born Peter Roger Casement Brady; 2 October 1932 – 5 June 2013) was an Irish republican political and military leader. He was Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) from 1958 to 1959 and again from 1960 to ...
*
Eighneachán Ó hAnnluain Éighneachán Ó hAnnluain (; 1933 – 14 December 1994; sometimes spelled ''Éineachán'') was an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála (TD) at the 1957 general election for the Monaghan constituency. He was one of fou ...
* James O'Toole *
John Joe Rice John Joe Rice (19 June 1893 – 24 July 1970) was an Irish Sinn Féin politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kerry South constituency from 1957 to 1961. Early life He was born in Cork in 1893, but raised in the town land of Kilm ...
* Patrick Tierney


Re-elected TDs

*
Frank Loughman Francis Loughman (1892 – 13 May 1972) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) and Senator from the 1930s to the 1960s. A pharmaceutical chemist before entering politics, Loughman was first elected to Dáil É ...


Outgoing TDs

*
Patrick Crowe Patrick Crowe (17 February 1892 – 8 August 1969) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who represented Tipperary South. A farmer, Crowe was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for the Tipperary South constituency at the ...
(Lost seat) * Seán Collins (Lost seat) *
Peadar Doyle Peadar Seán Doyle (died 4 August 1956) was an Irish politician. An engineer by profession, his son Seán was killed by British forces at Kilmashogue in the Dublin Mountains on Sunday, 19 September 1920. Doyle was first elected to Dáil Éirea ...
(Retired) *
Brendan Glynn Brendan M. Glynn (6 January 1910 – 10 July 1986) was an Irish Fine Gael politician and solicitor who served as a Teachta Dála (TD), representing the Galway South constituency in Dáil Éireann. He was educated at Garbally College St. Jo ...
(Retired) * James Hession (Lost seat) * Edward Kelly (Lost seat) *
Joseph Roddy Joseph Roddy (1897 – 3 October 1965) was an Irish Fine Gael politician. Early and personal life Roddy was born in 1897 at Kilmacowen, County Sligo, one of at least four sons and two daughters of Patrick Roddy, a farmer, and Jane Roddy (née O ...
(Lost seat) * Thomas Walsh (Deceased)


See also

*
Members of the 9th Seanad This is a list of the members of the 9th Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of the Republic of Ireland, Ireland. These Senate, Senators were elected or appointed in 1957, after the 1957 Irish general election, 1957 ...


Notes


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irish General Election, 1957 1957 elections in Europe General election, 1957
1957 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1957th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 957th year of the 2nd millennium, the 57th year of the 20th century, and the 8th y ...
16th Dáil
General election A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...
March 1957 events in Europe