The Government of the 1st Dáil was the

executive Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to: Role or title * Executive, a senior management role in an organization ** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators ** Executive dir ...

of the unilaterally declared

Irish Republic The Irish Republic ( ga, Poblacht na hÉireann or ) was an unrecognised revolutionary state that declared its independence from the United Kingdom in January 1919. The Republic claimed jurisdiction over the whole island of Ireland, but by ...

. At the 1918 Westminster election, candidates for

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 G ...

stood 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 ...

platform, declaring that they would not remain in the

Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative suprema ...

but instead form a unicameral, revolutionary parliament for Ireland called Dáil Éireann. The first meeting of the

First Dáil The First Dáil ( ga, An Chéad Dáil) was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 1919 to 1921. It was the first meeting of the unicameral parliament of the revolutionary Irish Republic. In the December 1918 election to the Parliament of the United ...

was held on 21 January 1919 in the Round Room of the Mansion House in Dublin and made a

Declaration of Independence A declaration of independence or declaration of statehood or proclamation of independence is an assertion by a polity in a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state. Such places are usually declared from part or all of th ...

. It also approved the

Dáil Constitution The Constitution of Dáil Éireann ( ga, Bunreacht Dála Éireann), more commonly known as the Dáil Constitution, was the constitution of the 1919–22 Irish Republic. It was adopted by the First Dáil at its first meeting on 21 January 1919 an ...

. Under Article 2 of this Constitution, there would be a Ministry of Dáil Éireann led by a President, with five Secretaries leading government departments. There were two Ministries of Dáil Éireann during the First Dáil. The 1st Ministry (22 January to 1 April 1919) was led by Cathal Brugha and lasted for 69 days; it was formed when a large number of those elected for Sinn Féin were in prison. The 2nd Ministry (1 April 1919 to 26 August 1921) was led by

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 govern ...

, leader of Sinn Féin, and lasted for 878 days.

1st Ministry

The 1st Ministry was a temporary cabinet headed by Cathal Brugha, because

, the leader of

, was in prison at the time.

2nd Ministry

On 1 April, the 1st Ministry resigned. On a motion proposed by Cathal Brugha and seconded by Pádraic Ó Máille,

was declared elected as

President of Dáil Éireann 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 f ...

(). The Constitution was amended to allow for up to nine members of the Ministry, as well as the President. The following day, he formed the 2nd Ministry.

Countess Markievicz Constance Georgine Markievicz ( pl, Markiewicz ; ' Gore-Booth; 4 February 1868 – 15 July 1927), also known as Countess Markievicz and Madame Markievicz, was an Irish politician, revolutionary, nationalist, suffragist, socialist, and the firs ...

became the first Irish female Cabinet minister. She served until 26 August 1921, and the next woman appointed to cabinet was

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (; born 5 September 1950) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science from 2010 to 2014, Member of the European Court of Auditors from 2000 to 2010, ...

, who was appointed as Minister for the Gaeltacht in 1979. De Valera travelled to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

in June 1919, and by letter requested that Arthur Griffith be appointed as Deputy President in his absence and that Ernest Blythe take a place at cabinet. De Valera resumed his position in the Dáil on 25 January 1921.

Resignation of Ministry

In May 1921, the Dáil passed a resolution declaring that

elections An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold Public administration, public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative ...

to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland would be used as the election for the

Second Dáil The Second Dáil () was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 16 August 1921 until 8 June 1922. From 1919 to 1922, Dáil Éireann was the revolutionary parliament of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic. The Second Dáil consisted of members elect ...

. The

members of the 2nd Dáil There were two elections in Ireland on 24 May 1921, as a result of the Government of Ireland Act 1920 to establish the House of Commons of Northern Ireland and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. A resolution of Dáil Éireann on 10 Ma ...

first met on 16 August 1921. The outgoing Ministry did not resign immediately. On 26 August 1921,

resigned as president. De Valera was then re-elected, taking the new title of President of the Republic, and formed the 3rd Ministry of Dáil Éireann.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Government Of The 1st Dail 1st Dáil Government 01 1918 establishments in Ireland 1919 disestablishments in Ireland Cabinets established in 1918 Cabinets disestablished in 1919

1st Ministry

2nd Ministry

Resignation of Ministry

See also

References