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Irish general election, 1957
Encyclopedia
The Irish general election of 1957 was held on 5 March 1957, just over three weeks after the dissolution
of the Dáil on 4 February. The newly elected members of the 16th Dáil
assembled at Leinster House
on 20 March 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
.
tabled a motion of no confidence
in the inter-party government of Fine Gael
, Labour
and Clann na Talmhan
. Rather than face defeat in the vote the Taoiseach
John A. Costello
, decided to dissolve the Dáil and let the people decide. The campaign was fought largely over economic issues and the situation in the North. In the north the IRA launched Operation Harvest which drew much popular support in the south. Sinn Féin
had been re-built and re-organized as a party by Paddy McLogan
and was fielding abstentionist candidates.
Fianna Fáil had produced a major policy document in January, criticising many of its own policies in regard to the economy. While they did not know an election was imminent this became the backbone of their manifesto. The importance of free trade was played up by Fianna Fáil in a clear rejection of the protectionist policies they had advocated in the past. The architect of many of these new policies was the spokesperson for Industry and Commerce
and the heir-apparent of the party, Seán Lemass
. At 75 years of age Éamon de Valera
was fighting his last general election as leader of the party. In spite of his age he carried out a vigorous campaign, often being accompanied by brass bands and torch-lit processions. The Fianna Fáil message was simple: coalition governments were unstable.
The other parties, most of them having enjoyed a stint in government over the previous three years, fought the election on their record in office, Fine Gael in particular. Clann na Talmhan failed to broaden their appeal and remained the voice of the farmers. Clann na Poblachta
under Sean MacBride
had agreed not to stand in constituencies where Sinn Féin
were fielding candidates and never made the breakthrough it had hoped for and lost two of its three seats. Sinn Féin, fighting one of its first post-war elections polled well on an abstentionist
ticket, winning 4 seats
When the votes were counted it was clear that Fianna Fáil had achieved an overall majority. Éamon de Valera became Taoiseach for the last time.
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 4 February. The newly elected members of the 16th Dáil
Members of the 16th Dáil
This is a list of the members who were elected to the 16th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. These TDs were elected at the 1957 general election on 5 March 1957 and met on 20 March 1957. The 16th Dáil was dissolved by President Éamon de Valera, at the request of the...
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 20 March when the new Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
and government were appointed.
The general election took place in 40 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 Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
for 147 seats in the lower house of parliament, 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...
.
Campaign
The general election of 1957 was precipitated by the crisis in the trade balance and the government's reaction to it. As a result of this Fianna FáilFianna 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...
tabled a 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 inter-party government of Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
, Labour
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...
and Clann na Talmhan
Clann na Talmhan
Clann na Talmhan , abbreviated CnaT, was an Irish agrarian political party active between 1939 and 1965.- Formation and Growth :Clann na Talmhan was founded on 29 June 1939 in Athenry, County Galway, in the wake of the breakdown of unification talks between the Irish Farmers Federation and...
. Rather than face defeat in the vote the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
John A. Costello
John A. Costello
John Aloysius Costello , a successful barrister, was one of the main legal advisors to the government of the Irish Free State after independence, Attorney General of Ireland from 1926–1932 and Taoiseach from 1948–1951 and 1954–1957....
, decided to dissolve the Dáil and let the people decide. The campaign was fought largely over economic issues and the situation in the North. In the north the IRA launched Operation Harvest which drew much popular support in the south. 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...
had been re-built and re-organized as a party by Paddy McLogan
Paddy McLogan
Paddy J. McLogan was President of Sinn Féin from 1950–52 and again from 1954 to 1962.Born in Markethill, Co Armagh, he spent some time in Scotland. He joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1913 and the Irish Volunteers. The same year he was imprisoned by the British authorities and went on a...
and was fielding abstentionist candidates.
Fianna Fáil had produced a major policy document in January, criticising many of its own policies in regard to the economy. While they did not know an election was imminent this became the backbone of their manifesto. The importance of free trade was played up by Fianna Fáil in a clear rejection of the protectionist policies they had advocated in the past. The architect of many of these new policies was the spokesperson for Industry and Commerce
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is the senior minister at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is Richard Bruton, TD...
and the heir-apparent of the party, Seán Lemass
Seán Lemass
Seán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
. At 75 years of age 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...
was fighting his last general election as leader of the party. In spite of his age he carried out a vigorous campaign, often being accompanied by brass bands and torch-lit processions. The Fianna Fáil message was simple: coalition governments were unstable.
The other parties, most of them having enjoyed a stint in government over the previous three years, fought the election on their record in office, Fine Gael in particular. Clann na Talmhan failed to broaden their appeal and remained the voice of the farmers. Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Poblachta , abbreviated CnaP, was an Irish republican and social democratic political party founded by former Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff Seán MacBride in 1946.-Foundation:...
under Sean MacBride
Seán MacBride
Seán MacBride was an Irish government minister and prominent international politician as well as a Chief of Staff of the IRA....
had agreed not to stand in constituencies where 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...
were fielding candidates and never made the breakthrough it had hoped for and lost two of its three seats. Sinn Féin, fighting one of its first post-war elections polled well on an abstentionist
Abstentionism
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 the election itself...
ticket, winning 4 seats
Result
|}- Fianna Fáil majority government formed.
When the votes were counted it was clear that Fianna Fáil had achieved an overall majority. Éamon de Valera became Taoiseach for the last time.
First time TDs
- Kevin BolandKevin BolandKevin Boland , was a senior Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1957 as a Fianna Fáil TD. He served as Minister for Defence , Minister for Social Welfare and Minister for Local Government...
(Appointed Minister for DefenceMinister for Defence (Ireland)The Minister for Defence is the senior minister at the Department of Defence in the Government of Ireland. Under new arrangements this department is being merged with the Department of Justice over which Mr. Shatter will also preside....
on his first day in the Dáil.) - Lionel BoothLionel BoothLionel O. Booth was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and businessman. He was a Teachta Dála for twelve years.Educated at Wesley College in Ballinteer, Dublin, he first entered politics in the 1950s serving on both Dublin County Council and Dún Laoghaire Corporation.He was first elected to Dáil...
- Seán BrowneSeán BrowneSeán Browne was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Wexford constituency — first elected in 1957.-Early and private life:Browne was a prominent member of the GAA...
- Batt DoneganBatt DoneganBartholomew "Batt" Donegan was a Fianna Fáil politician from County Cork in Ireland. He was a Teachta Dála from 1957 to 1961, and a senator from 1963 to 1965....
- Patrick ClohessyPatrick ClohessyPatrick Clohessy was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and farmer. He contested the 1954 general election in the Limerick East constituency but was not elected. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála at the subsequent 1957 general election and held his seat until...
- Patrick DooleyPatrick DooleyPatrick Dooley was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.A native of Athy, County Kildare and a schoolteacher, he was a Teachta Dála for the Kildare constituency from 1957 to 1965. Dooley was related to Kildare TD Thomas Harris and to the Fenian, Land Leaguer and MP Matthew Harris.-References:...
- Pádraig FaulknerPádraig FaulknerPádraig Faulkner is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was first elected in 1957 as a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency, serving until 1987...
- Jim GibbonsJim Gibbons (Irish politician)James "Jim" Gibbons was a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was first elected in 1957 as a Teachta Dála for Carlow–Kilkenny. He held his seat until 1982...
- Charles HaugheyCharles HaugheyCharles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
- Gus HealyGus HealyAugustine A. Healy was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A dental laboratory proprietor, Healy was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Cork Borough constituency at the 1957 general election but failed to be re-elected in the 1961 general election and was instead...
- Brigid HoganBrigid Hogan-O'HigginsBrigid Hogan-O'Higgins is a retired Irish Fine Gael politician, who served for twenty years as a member of Dáil Éireann for constituencies in County Galway....
- John Joe McGirlJohn Joe McGirlJohn Joe McGirl was an Irish republican, an elected TD and a former chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army.Born and raised in Ballinamore, County Leitrim, McGirl became involved with the IRA in the 1930s...
- Jack Murphy
- Ruairí Ó BrádaighRuairí Ó BrádaighRuairí Ó Brádaigh is an Irish republican. He is a former chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army , former president of Sinn Féin and former president of Republican Sinn Féin.-Early life:...
- James O'TooleJames O'Toole (Irish politician)James O'Toole was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and publican who served as a Teachta Dála , representing the Wicklow constituency in Dáil Éireann. O'Toole was elected at the 1957 general election but lost his seat at the subsequent 1961 general election.-References:...
- Patrick TierneyPatrick Tierney (Irish politician)Patrick Tierney was an Irish Labour Party politician. A labourer before entering politics, he was elected to the 8th Seanad on the Labour Panel in 1954. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party Teachta Dála for the Tipperary North constituency at the 1957 general election. He was...
Outgoing TDs
- Patrick CrowePatrick CrowePatrick Crowe was an Irish Fine Gael politician who represented Tipperary South.A farmer, Crowe was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála in the 1951 general election for the Tipperary South constituency, having failed to be elected in the 1948 general election...
(Lost seat) - Seán CollinsSeán Collins (politician)Seán Collins was an Irish Fine Gael politician. A barrister, Collins was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for the Cork West constituency at the 1948 general election and retained his seat in each election until losing it in the 1957 general election...
(Lost seat) - Peadar DoylePeadar DoylePeadar S. Doyle was an Irish politician. An engineer by profession, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency at the 1923 general election. He was re-elected at each subsequent general election until he retired from politics at...
(Retired) - Brendan GlynnBrendan GlynnBrendan M. Glynn was an Irish Fine Gael politician and solicitor who served as a Teachta Dála , representing the Galway South constituency in Dáil Éireann. Educated at Garbally College, Glynn served one term following the 1954 general election having previously unsuccessfully contested the August...
(Retired) - James HessionJames HessionJames M. Hession was an Irish Fine Gael politician and solicitor who served as a Teachta Dála , representing the Galway North constituency in Dáil Éireann...
(Lost seat) - Edward KellyEdward Kelly (Monaghan politician)Edward Kelly was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, merchant and farmer. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Monaghan constituency at the 1954 general election but lost his seat at the 1957 election.-References:...
(Lost seat) - Joseph RoddyJoseph RoddyJoseph Roddy was an Irish Fine Gael politician from County Leitrim.A Company Director and farmer, Roddy was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála in the 1948 general election for the Sligo-Leitrim constituency. He retained his seat until losing it at the 1957 general election...
(Lost seat) - Thomas Walsh (Deceased)
See also
- Members of the 16th DáilMembers of the 16th DáilThis is a list of the members who were elected to the 16th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. These TDs were elected at the 1957 general election on 5 March 1957 and met on 20 March 1957. The 16th Dáil was dissolved by President Éamon de Valera, at the request of the...
- Government of the 16th DáilGovernment of the 16th DáilThe 16th Dáil was elected at the 1957 general election on 5 March 1957 and first met on 20 March when the 8th Government of Ireland was appointed...
- Parliamentary Secretaries of the 16th DáilParliamentary Secretaries of the 16th DáilOn 20 March 1957 the 8th Government of Ireland was officially appointed by Dáil Éireann. The new Fianna Fáil government was led by the Taoiseach Éamon de Valera, who appointed the following Parliamentary Secretaries.-Parliamentary Secretaries of the 8th Government:...