Irish general election, 1927 (September)
Encyclopedia
The Irish general election of September 1927 was held on 15 September 1927. The newly elected members of the 6th Dáil
assembled at Leinster House
on 11 October when the new President of the Executive Council
and Executive Council
of the Irish Free State
were appointed.
. Only three votes separated the two largest parties, Cumann na nGaedheal and Fianna Fáil
. It looked as if the government could collapse at any moment. When Fianna Fáil decided to enter the Dáil in August it gave its support to the Labour Party's
motion of no confidence
in the Cumann na nGaedheal government and to replace it with a Labour led coalition with Labour leader Thomas Johnson
as President. The Labour Party was supported by Fianna Fáil and the National League Party. On the other hand the Cumann na nGaedheal government had the backing of the Farmers' Party
and most of the Independent TD
s. When the vote was taken, John Jinks, a National League TD failed to attend. As a result the vote was a dead heat and the Ceann Comhairle
voted with the government. The motion had failed.
W. T. Cosgrave realised that this situation could not continue and a general election was called in the hope of providing a clear result. The election was fought by a number of parties, each with their own different message. Cumann na nGaedheal was fighting the election on its record in government so far. Fianna Fáil was the new party on the scene with new policies and the promise of self-sufficiency. The Labour Party had done well on its last outing and was hoping, and was predicted, to win extra seats, in spite of internal divisions. The Farmers' Party represented the needs of agricultural labourers. Sinn Féin
, whose electoral hopes had been diminished with the setting up of Fianna Fáil, did not contest a single seat.
Following the general election Cumann na nGaedheal were able to form a minority government with the support of the Farmers' Party and other Independent TDs. The Labour Party leader, Thomas Johnson
, lost his seat in the election and subsequently retired from politics.
Members of the 6th Dáil
This is a list of the members who were elected to the 6th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State. These TDs were elected at the September 1927 general election on 15 September 1927 and met on 11 October 1927...
assembled at Leinster House
Leinster House
Leinster House is the name of the building housing the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland.Leinster House was originally 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, which house Oireachtas Éireann, its...
on 11 October when the new President of the Executive Council
President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State
The President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State was the head of government or prime minister of the Irish Free State which existed from 1922 to 1937...
and Executive Council
Executive Council of the Irish Free State
The Executive Council was the cabinet and de facto executive branch of government of the 1922–1937 Irish Free State. Formally, the role of the Executive Council was to "aid and advise" the Governor-General who would exercise the executive authority on behalf of the King...
of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
were appointed.
Campaign
The second general election of 1927 was caused by the uncertain political arithmetic within Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann (Irish Free State)
Dáil Éireann served as the directly elected lower house of the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1937. The Free State constitution described the role of the house as that of a "Chamber of Deputies". Until 1936 the Free State Oireachtas also included an upper house known as the Seanad...
. Only three votes separated the two largest parties, Cumann na nGaedheal and Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
. It looked as if the government could collapse at any moment. When Fianna Fáil decided to enter the Dáil in August it gave its support to the Labour Party's
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
in the Cumann na nGaedheal government and to replace it with a Labour led coalition with Labour leader Thomas Johnson
Thomas Johnson (Irish politician)
Thomas Johnson was an Irish nationalist and Irish Labour Party leader. He was elected a Teachta Dála for Dublin County to the Third Dáil at the 1922 general election and was the leader of the Labour Party until 1927...
as President. The Labour Party was supported by Fianna Fáil and the National League Party. On the other hand the Cumann na nGaedheal government had the backing of the Farmers' Party
Farmers' Party (Ireland)
The Farmers' Party or Farmers' Union was an agrarian political party in the Irish Free State between 1922 and 1932. It was concerned almost exclusively with the interests of the agricultural community, and never sought to widen its scope beyond the countryside.The party won seven seats in Dáil...
and most of the Independent TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
s. When the vote was taken, John Jinks, a National League TD failed to attend. As a result the vote was a dead heat and the Ceann Comhairle
Ceann Comhairle
The Ceann Comhairle is the chairman of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. The person who holds the position is elected by members of the Dáil from among their number in the first session after each general election...
voted with the government. The motion had failed.
W. T. Cosgrave realised that this situation could not continue and a general election was called in the hope of providing a clear result. The election was fought by a number of parties, each with their own different message. Cumann na nGaedheal was fighting the election on its record in government so far. Fianna Fáil was the new party on the scene with new policies and the promise of self-sufficiency. The Labour Party had done well on its last outing and was hoping, and was predicted, to win extra seats, in spite of internal divisions. The Farmers' Party represented the needs of agricultural labourers. Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, whose electoral hopes had been diminished with the setting up of Fianna Fáil, did not contest a single seat.
Result
|}- Cumann na nGaedheal minority government formed.
Following the general election Cumann na nGaedheal were able to form a minority government with the support of the Farmers' Party and other Independent TDs. The Labour Party leader, Thomas Johnson
Thomas Johnson (Irish politician)
Thomas Johnson was an Irish nationalist and Irish Labour Party leader. He was elected a Teachta Dála for Dublin County to the Third Dáil at the 1922 general election and was the leader of the Labour Party until 1927...
, lost his seat in the election and subsequently retired from politics.
First time TDs
- William AirdWilliam AirdWilliam Patrick Aird was an Irish politician. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Leix–Offaly constituency at the September 1927 general election. He died during the 6th Dáil but no by-election was held for his seat.-References:...
- Seán BradySeán Brady (Irish politician)John Ernest Brady was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and businessman who served as a Teachta Dála for 38 years....
- Robert BriscoeRobert Briscoe (politician)Robert Briscoe , known as Bob Briscoe was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála in the Oireachtas from 1927 to 1965.- Family :...
- Edmond CareyEdmond CareyEdmond Carey was an Irish politician. He was an unsuccessful independent candidate at the June 1927 general election, but was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Cork East constituency at the September 1927 general election. He lost his seat at the 1932 general...
- Michael Connolly
- Eamonn CooneyEamonn CooneyEamonn Cooney was an Irish politician. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Dublin North constituency at the September 1927 general election. He was re-elected at the 1932 and 1933 general elections...
- Peter de LoughryPeter de LoughryPeter de Loughry was an Irish politician. He was elected to the Irish Free State Seanad in 1922 as an independent, but lost his seat at the 1925 election. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency at the September 1927 general election...
- Patrick GorryPatrick GorryPatrick J. Gorry was an Irish politician and farmer. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Leix–Offaly constituency at the September 1927 general election. He was re-elected at the 1932 general election but lost his seat at the 1933 general election...
- Stephen JordanStephen Jordan (Irish politician)Stephen Jordan was an Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Galway constituency at the September 1927 general election...
- William KentWilliam Kent (Irish politician)William Rice Kent was an Irish politician. He was first elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Cork East constituency at the September 1927 general election. He lost his seat at the 1932 general election. He was elected as a National Centre Party TD at the 1933 general election...
- Arthur Matthews
- Joseph MonganJoseph MonganJoseph W. Mongan was an Irish politician. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the June 1927 general election, but was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Galway constituency at the September 1927 general election. He was re-elected at the 1932 general election...
- Daniel O'LearyDaniel O'Leary (Fine Gael)Daniel O'Leary was an Irish politician, farmer and vintner. He was an unsuccessful independent candidate at the 1923 general election, but was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Cork North constituency at the September 1927 general election. He was re-elected at...
- Martin Sexton
- Richard WalshRichard WalshRichard Walsh was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for the Mayo South constituency at the September 1927 general election...
Outgoing TDs
- Austin StackAustin StackAustin Stack was an Irish revolutionary and politician.-Early life:Stack was born in Ballymullen, Tralee, County Kerry. He was educated at the Christian Brothers School in Tralee. At the age of fourteen he left school and became a clerk in a solicitor's office. A gifted Gaelic footballer, he...
(Retired) - Kathleen ClarkeKathleen ClarkeKathleen Clarke, née Daly was a member of Cumann na mBan, and one of very few privy to the plans of the Easter Rising in 1916. She was the wife of Tom Clarke and sister to Ned Daly, both of whom would be executed for their part in the Rebellion...
(Lost seat) - John Jinks (Lost seat)
- Thomas JohnsonThomas Johnson (Irish politician)Thomas Johnson was an Irish nationalist and Irish Labour Party leader. He was elected a Teachta Dála for Dublin County to the Third Dáil at the 1922 general election and was the leader of the Labour Party until 1927...
(Lost seat) - James J. Walsh (Retired)