Irish general election, 1951

Irish general election, 1951

30 May 1951

146 of 147 seats in Dáil Éireann 74 seats were needed for a majority Turnout 75.3%   First party Second party Third party   Leader Éamon de Valera Richard Mulcahy William Norton Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour Party Leader since 26 March 1926 1944 1932 Leader's seat Clare Tipperary Kildare Last election 68 seats, 41.9% 31 seats, 19.8% 19 seats, 11.3%[1] Seats before 66 32 19 Seats won 69 40 16 Seat change 3 8 3 Percentage 46.3% 25.8% 11.4% Swing 4.4% 6.0% 0.1%   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Joseph Blowick Seán MacBride Party Clann na Talmhan Clann na Poblachta Leader since 1944 1946 Leader's seat Mayo South Dublin South–West Last election 7 seats, 5.5% 10 seats, 13.3% Seats before 7 10 Seats won 6 2 Seat change 1 8 Percentage 2.9% 4.1% Swing 2.6% 9.2%

Percentage of seats gained by each of the five biggest parties, and number of seats gained by smaller parties and independents.

Taoiseach before election John A. Costello Fine Gael Subsequent Taoiseach Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil

The Irish general election of 1951 was held on 30 May 1951. The newly elected members of the 14th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 13 June when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.

The general election took place in 40 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 147 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann.

Campaign

The general election of 1951 was caused by a number of crises within the First Inter-Party Government, most notably the Mother and Child Scheme. While the whole affair, which saw the resignation of the Minister for Health, Noël Browne, was not entirely to blame for the collapse of the government it added to the pressure between the various political parties. There were other problems facing the country such as rising prices, balance of payments problems and two farmer TDs withdrew their support for the government because of rising milk prices.

Although the first inter-party government was now coming to an end it had a number of achievements. It proved that the country could be led by a group other than Fianna Fáil. It also provided a fresh perspective after sixteen years of unbroken rule by that party.

The coalition parties fought the general election on their record on government over the previous three years, while Fianna Fáil argued strongly against coalition governments.

Result

• Fianna Fáil minority government formed.

The election result was inconclusive. Fianna Fáil's support increased by 61,000 votes, however, the party only gained one extra seat. The coalition parties had mixed fortunes. Fine Gael were the big winners increasing to forty seats. The Labour Party patched up its differences with the National Labour Party and fought the election together but in spite of this the party lost seats. Clann na Poblachta were the big losers of the election. Three years earlier the party was a big political threat, but now the party was shattered.

Fianna Fáil had not won enough seats to govern alone. However, the party was able to form a government with the support of Noël Browne, the sacked Minister for Health, and other Independent deputies.

First time TDs

Re-elected TDs

• Laurence Walsh

Outgoing TDs

• John Esmonde (Retired)
• Mick Fitzpatrick (Lost seat)
• John Friel (Lost seat)
• Patrick Gorry (Lost seat)
• James Kilroy (Lost seat)
• Michael Lydon (Lost seat)
• Michael Óg McFadden (Lost seat)
• Joseph Mongan (Deceased)
• Martin O'Sullivan (Lost seat)
• Robert Ryan (Lost seat)
• Richard Walsh (Retired)

See also

• Members of the 14th Dáil
• Government of the 14th Dáil
• Parliamentary Secretaries of the 14th Dáil

References

Elections and referendums in the Republic of Ireland General elections 1918 1921 1922 1923 1927 (Jun) 1927 (Sep) 1932 1933 1937 1938 1943 1944 1948 1951 1954 1957 1961 1965 1969 1973 1977 1981 1982 (Feb) 1982 (Nov) 1987 1989 1992 1997 2002 2007 2011 2016 By-elections Seanad elections 1925 Presidential elections 1938 1945 1952 1959 1966 1973 1974 1976 1983 1990 1997 2004 2011 European elections 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 Local elections 1920 1925 1928 1934 1942 1945 1950 1955 1960 1967 1974 1979 1985 1991 1999 2004 2009 2014 Referendums 1937 1959 1968 1972 (May) 1972 (Dec) 1979 1983 1984 1986 1987 1992 (Jun) 1992 (Nov) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 (Mar) 2002 (Oct) 2004 2008 2009 2011 2012 (May) 2012 (Nov) 2013 2015 See also: Elections in the Kingdom of Ireland Elections in Ireland as part of the UK Elections in Northern Ireland