The 1923 Irish general election to elect the

4th Dáil Fourth or the fourth may refer to: * the ordinal form of the number 4 * ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971 * Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision * Fourth (music), a musical interval * ''The Fourth'' (1972 film), a Sovie ...

was held on Monday, 27 August, following the dissolution of the Third Dáil on 9 August 1923. It was the first general election held since the establishment of the Irish Free State on 6 December 1922. The election was held shortly after the end of the

Irish Civil War The Irish Civil War ( ga, Cogadh Cathartha na hÉireann; 28 June 1922 – 24 May 1923) was a conflict that followed the Irish War of Independence and accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State, an entity independent from the United ...

in May 1923. Many of the Republican TDs, who represented the losing anti- Treaty side, were still imprisoned during and after the election and had committed to not participating in the Dáil if elected. The 4th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 19 September to nominate the President of the Executive Council and

Executive Council Executive Council may refer to: Government * Executive Council (Commonwealth countries), a constitutional organ that exercises executive power and advises the governor * Executive Council of Bern, the government of the Swiss canton of Bern * Ex ...

of the Irish Free State for appointment by the

Governor-General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

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 ...

, the successor to the Pro-Treaty wing of Sinn Féin, won the election and formed the government.

Legal background

It was the first general election fought since the establishment of the Irish Free State and the adoption of the Constitution of the Irish Free State on 6 December 1922. It was contested under the Electoral Act 1923, which increased the seats in the Dáil from 128 to 153, and introduced a franchise of all citizens over the age of 21, without distinction of sex. Lax electoral practices were tightened up by The Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act 1923.

Result

Most parties made gains, in part because the total number of seats in the Dáil was increased by 25 from 128 to 153.

Voting summary

Seats summary

Government formation

The Republican TDs continued to abstain from the Dáil. Therefore, Cumann na nGaedheal had a majority of seats which were taken in the Dáil and formed the 2nd Executive Council of the Irish Free State on 19 September 1923.

First time TDs

* Frank Aiken * Patrick Baxter *

Dan Breen Daniel Breen (11 August 1894 – 27 December 1969) was a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. In later years he was a Fianna Fáil politician. Background Breen was born in Grange, ...

* Frank Cahill *

John James Cole John James Cole (1874 – 24 May 1959) was an Irish politician, farmer and auctioneer. Early and personal life Born in Kinnegar, Holywood, County Down in 1874. He married Jeanie Jones in 1909, and they had one son and two daughters. Cole studi ...

Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll (18 August 1876 – 17 June 1945) was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North constituency from 1923 to 1933. Early life Margaret Mary Collins was born in Wood ...

Cornelius Connolly Cornelius Connolly was an Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork West constituency at the 1923 general election. He did not contest the June 1927 general election. He ...

* Edward Doyle * Peadar Doyle *

Seán Gibbons Séan Francis Gibbons (31 May 1883 – 19 April 1952) was an Irish politician who sat as Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála (TD) in the 1920s and as a Fianna Fáil TD in the 1930s. He later became a Senator, and was Cathaoirleach (chairperson) of ...

Kathleen Lynn Kathleen Florence Lynn (28 January 1874 – 14 September 1955) was an Irish Sinn Féin politician, activist and medical doctor. Lynn was so greatly affected by the poverty and disease among the poor in the west of Ireland that, at 16, she decid ...

Patrick McFadden Patrick McFadden was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Donegal Donegal may refer to: County Donegal, Ireland * County Donegal, a county in the Republic of Ireland, part of the province of Uls ...

James Myles James Sproule Myles (1877 – 13 February 1956) was an Irish soldier, politician and rugby union player. Rugby player Myles played rugby for City of Derry and Ireland. In October 1899, together with Arnold Harvey, he was a member of the Ire ...

* Michael Shelly * Paddy Smith

Outgoing TDs

Joseph Whelehan Joseph B. Whelehan (19 May 1882 – 29 October 1968) was an Irish politician, scout leader and teacher. He was born in Tyrrellspass, County Westmeath, the son of grocery shopkeeper Michael Whelehan and Jane Gavin. He was married in Tuam in April ...

(Retired)

References

Notes

Sources

Citations

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irish General Election, 1923 1923 elections in Europe 1923 in Irish politics General election, 1923

1923 Events January–February * January 9 – Lithuania begins the Klaipėda Revolt to annex the Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory). * January 11 – Despite strong British protests, troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area, t ...

4th Dáil August 1923 events General