Irish general election, 1932
Encyclopedia
The Irish general election of 1932 was held on 16 February 1932, just over two weeks after the dissolution
of the Dáil on 29 January. The newly elected 153 members of the 7th Dáil
assembled at Leinster House
on 9 March 1932 when the new President of the Executive Council
and Executive Council
of the Irish Free State
were appointed by Governor-General
James McNeill
on the nomination of Dáil Éireann
.
The general election took place in 30 parliamentary constituencies
throughout the Irish Free State for 153 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann
. The 1932 general election was one of the most important general elections held in Ireland
in the 20th Century.
, and provided honest government. However, by 1932 this provision of solid government was wearing thin, particularly since the party had no solution to the collapse in trade which followed the depression
of the early 1930s. Instead of offering new policies the party believed that its record in government would be enough to retain power. Cumann na nGaedheal also played the "red card" tactic, describing Fianna Fáil
as communist
s and likening Éamon de Valera
to Joseph Stalin
.
to avoid alarm, but provided very popular social and economic policies. The party promised to free IRA
prisoners, abolish the Oath of allegiance
and reduce the powers of the Governor-General
and the Senate
. It also promised the introduction of protectionist
policies, industrial development, self-sufficiency and improvements in housing and social security benefits.
". The editor was also brought before a military
tribunal. This was seen by many as a major blunder and a serious infringement on the belief of freedom of speech. The "red scare" tactics also seemed to backfire on the government, who seemed to have little else to offer the electorate.
When the results were known Fianna Fáil was still 5 seats short of an overall majority, but it still looked like the only party capable of forming a government. Discussions got underway immediately after the election and an agreement was reached in which the Labour Party would support Fianna Fáil. The party now had the necessary votes to form a minority government.
only ten years before to hand over power to their opponents. Similar to when the party first entered the Dáil in 1927, a number of Fianna Fáil TD
s had guns in their pockets. However, the feared coup d'état
did not take place. W. T. Cosgrave was determined to adhere to the principles of democracy that he had practised while in government. Likewise, the army
, Garda Síochána
and the civil service all accepted the change of government, despite the fact that they would now be taking orders from men who had been their enemies less than ten years previously. After a brief and uneventful meeting in the Dáil chamber, Éamon de Valera was appointed President of the Executive Council
of the Irish Free State by the Governor-General
, James McNeill
, who had come to Leinster House to make the appointment rather than require de Valera travel to the Viceregal Lodge
, formerly a symbol of British rule. Fianna Fáil, the party most closely identified with opposing the existence of the state ten years earlier, were now the party of government. Not only that but the 1932 general election was the beginning of a sixteen year period in government for Fianna Fáil.
Dissolution of parliament
In parliamentary systems, a dissolution of parliament is the dispersal of a legislature at the call of an election.Usually there is a maximum length of a legislature, and a dissolution must happen before the maximum time...
of the Dáil on 29 January. The newly elected 153 members of the 7th Dáil
Members of the 7th Dáil
This is a list of the members who were elected to the 7th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State. These TDs were elected at the 1932 general election on 16 February 1932 and met on 9 March 1932...
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 9 March 1932 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 by Governor-General
Governor-General of the Irish Free State
The Governor-General was the representative of the King in the 1922–1937 Irish Free State. Until 1927 he was also the agent of the British government in the Irish state. By convention the office of Governor-General was largely ceremonial...
James McNeill
James McNeill
James McNeill was an Irish politician and diplomat, who served as first High Commissioner to London and second Governor-General of the Irish Free State....
on the nomination of Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
.
The general election took place in 30 parliamentary constituencies
Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland
The lower house of the Oireachtas , Dáil Éireann, contains 166 Teachtaí Dála , representing 43 parliamentary constituencies throughout the Republic of Ireland. Depending on its size, each constituency must have at least 3 members and a maximum of five members. The most recent ratio indicates that...
throughout the Irish Free State for 153 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann
Dáil 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...
. The 1932 general election was one of the most important general elections held in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in the 20th Century.
Cumann na nGaedheal
Cumann na nGaedheal fought the general election on its record of providing ten years of stable government. The party brought stability following the chaos of the Irish Civil WarIrish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
, and provided honest government. However, by 1932 this provision of solid government was wearing thin, particularly since the party had no solution to the collapse in trade which followed the depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
of the early 1930s. Instead of offering new policies the party believed that its record in government would be enough to retain power. Cumann na nGaedheal also played the "red card" tactic, describing 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...
as communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
s and likening Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
to Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
.
Fianna Fáil
In comparison to Cumann na nGaedheal, Fianna Fáil had an elaborate election programme, designed to appeal to a wide section of the electorate. It played down its republicanismIrish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
to avoid alarm, but provided very popular social and economic policies. The party promised to free IRA
Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
The original Irish Republican Army fought a guerrilla war against British rule in Ireland in the Irish War of Independence 1919–1921. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the IRA in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and...
prisoners, abolish the Oath of allegiance
Oath of Allegiance (Ireland)
The Irish Oath of Allegiance was a controversial provision in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which Irish TDs and Senators were required to take, in order to take their seats in Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann .-Text of the Oath:The Oath was included in Article 17 of the Irish Free State's 1922...
and reduce the powers of the Governor-General
Governor-General of the Irish Free State
The Governor-General was the representative of the King in the 1922–1937 Irish Free State. Until 1927 he was also the agent of the British government in the Irish state. By convention the office of Governor-General was largely ceremonial...
and the Senate
Seanad Éireann (Irish Free State)
Seanad Éireann was the upper house of the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State from 1922–1936. It has also been known simply as the Senate, or as the First Seanad. The Senate was established under the 1922 Constitution of the Irish Free State but a number of constitutional amendments were...
. It also promised the introduction of protectionist
Protectionism
Protectionism is the economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow "fair competition" between imports and goods and services produced domestically.This...
policies, industrial development, self-sufficiency and improvements in housing and social security benefits.
Campaign
The election campaign was reasonably peaceful between the two ideologically opposed parties. However, during the campaign the government prosecuted de Valera's newly established newspaper, "The Irish PressThe Irish Press
The Irish Press was an Irish national daily newspaper published by Irish Press plc between 5 September 1931 and 25 May 1995.-Foundation:...
". The editor was also brought before a military
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
tribunal. This was seen by many as a major blunder and a serious infringement on the belief of freedom of speech. The "red scare" tactics also seemed to backfire on the government, who seemed to have little else to offer the electorate.
Result
|}- Fianna Fáil minority government formed.
When the results were known Fianna Fáil was still 5 seats short of an overall majority, but it still looked like the only party capable of forming a government. Discussions got underway immediately after the election and an agreement was reached in which the Labour Party would support Fianna Fáil. The party now had the necessary votes to form a minority government.
Transition of power
On 9 March 1932 the first change of government in the Irish Free State took place. Many in the country and abroad wondered if the true test of democracy would be passed, whether it would be possible for the men who won a civil warIrish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
only ten years before to hand over power to their opponents. Similar to when the party first entered the Dáil in 1927, a number of Fianna Fáil 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 had guns in their pockets. However, the feared coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
did not take place. W. T. Cosgrave was determined to adhere to the principles of democracy that he had practised while in government. Likewise, the army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
, Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
and the civil service all accepted the change of government, despite the fact that they would now be taking orders from men who had been their enemies less than ten years previously. After a brief and uneventful meeting in the Dáil chamber, Éamon de Valera was appointed 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...
of the Irish Free State by the Governor-General
Governor-General of the Irish Free State
The Governor-General was the representative of the King in the 1922–1937 Irish Free State. Until 1927 he was also the agent of the British government in the Irish state. By convention the office of Governor-General was largely ceremonial...
, James McNeill
James McNeill
James McNeill was an Irish politician and diplomat, who served as first High Commissioner to London and second Governor-General of the Irish Free State....
, who had come to Leinster House to make the appointment rather than require de Valera travel to the Viceregal Lodge
Áras an Uachtaráin
Áras an Uachtaráin , formerly the Viceregal Lodge, is the official residence of the President of Ireland. It is located in the Phoenix Park on the northside of Dublin.-Origins:...
, formerly a symbol of British rule. Fianna Fáil, the party most closely identified with opposing the existence of the state ten years earlier, were now the party of government. Not only that but the 1932 general election was the beginning of a sixteen year period in government for Fianna Fáil.
First time TDs
- Gerald BartleyGerald BartleyGerald Bartley was an Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1932 as a Fianna Fáil TD for Galway. Bartley served in the Irish Cabinet on two occasions, both under the Taoiseach, Seán Lemass. He was re-elected at every election until 1965 when he retired from politics.-References :...
- William BroderickWilliam BroderickWilliam Joseph Broderick was an Irish politician and farmer. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Cork East constituency at the 1932 general election. He was re-elected at the 1933 general election but lost his seat at the 1937 general election...
- William BrowneWilliam Browne (Irish politician)William Frazer Browne was an Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Leitrim–Sligo constituency at the 1932 general election. He was re-elected at the 1933 general election but lost his seat at the 1937 general election.-References:...
- Patrick Burke
- Thomas DowdallThomas DowdallThomas Dowdall was an Irish politician and company director. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Cork Borough constituency at the 1932 general election. He was re-elected at the 1933, 1937 and 1938 general elections. He died in 1942 during the 10th Dáil, no...
- Francis GormleyFrancis GormleyFrancis Gormley was an Irish soldier and politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the 1932 general election. He lost his seat at the 1933 general election...
- James KellyJames Kelly (Fianna Fáil)James Patrick Kelly was an Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician who served for eleven years as a Teachta Dála , from 1932–1943.Kelly first stood as a candidate for Dáil Éireann at the June 1927 general election in the Meath constituency, when he was unsuccessful...
- Raphael KeyesRaphael KeyesRaphael Patrick Keyes was an Irish politician, born in Cork. During the war of independence he was captain of the Bantry company of the fifth battalion of IRA in West Cork, listed as a Cinema Proprietor when elected to the oireachtas. He was elected to the Free State Senate in 1931...
- John KierseyJohn KierseyJohn Kiersey was an Irish politician and farmer. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Waterford constituency at the 1932 general election. He lost his seat at the 1933 general election.-References:...
- Conor MaguireConor MaguireConor Alexander Maguire was an Irish politician, lawyer and judge. He was a founding member of the Legal and Economic Society in UCD in 1911; now known as the University College Dublin Law Society...
- Sydney MinchSydney MinchSydney B. Minch was an Irish politician, army officer and brewer.From Athy, County Kildare, and educated at Clongowes Wood College, he fought with the 16th Division in France during World War I, achieving the rank of Captain.He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta...
- Edward MoaneEdward MoaneEdward Moane was an Irish politician and farmer. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Mayo South constituency at the 1932 general election. He was re-elected at the 1933 and 1937 general elections but lost his seat at the 1938 general election.-References:...
- Patrick MurphyPatrick Murphy (Irish politician)Patrick Stephen Murphy was an Irish politician and solicitor. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Cork East constituency at the 1932 general election. He was re-elected at the 1933 general election but lost his seat at the 1937 general election.-References:...
- Eugene O'Brien
- Patrick O'HaraPatrick O'HaraPatrick O'Hara was an Irish politician, general merchant and farmer. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Mayo North constituency at the 1932 general election. He did not contest the 1933 general election....
- James ReidyJames ReidyJames Reidy was an Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Limerick constituency at the 1932 general election. He was re-elected at the 1933 general election but lost his seat at the 1937 general election. At the 1938 general election,...
- Robert RyanRobert Ryan (Irish politician)Robert Ryan was an Irish politician and farmer. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Limerick constituency at the 1932 general election. He was re-elected at the each subsequent general election until he lost his seat at the 1951 general election.-References:...
Outgoing 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:...
(Deceased) - 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...
(Lost seat) - Michael Connolly (Lost seat)
- 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...
(Retired) - 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...
(Lost seat) - Michael Óg McFaddenMichael Óg McFaddenMichael Óg McFadden was an Irish Fine Gael politician, merchant and auctioneer. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Donegal constituency at the June 1927 general election. He was re-elected at the September 1927 general election but lost his seat at...
(Lost seat) - Arthur Matthews (Lost seat)
- Thomas MullinsThomas Mullins (Irish politician)Thomas Lincoln Mullins was an American-born Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A journalist, Mullins was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Cork West constituency at the June 1927 general election and was re-elected at the September 1927 general election. He did not...
(Retired) - Thomas J. O'ConnellThomas J. O'ConnellThomas J. O'Connell was an Irish trade unionist and politician, and was leader of the Irish Labour Party from 1927 to 1932....
(Lost seat)