Irish general election, 1969
Encyclopedia
The Irish general election of 1969 was held on 18 June 1969. The newly elected members of the 19th Dáil
assembled at Leinster House
on 2 July when the new Taoiseach
and government were appointed. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies
throughout Ireland
for 144 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann
.
of Fianna Fáil
became Taoiseach in 1966 and was attempting to win his first election. Liam Cosgrave
took charge of Fine Gael
in 1965 and was now leading his party into his first election. Brendan Corish was fighting his third general election as leader of the Labour Party
.
Fianna Fáil had been in power since 1957 and in spite of media predictions the party was still very popular with the voters. The leader of the party, Jack Lynch, proved to be the party's biggest electoral asset. His quiet, easy-going and reassuring style, coupled with the catchy slogan "Let’s back Jack!" attracted many new voters to Fianna Fáil. The party had introduced many innovative pieces of legislation during the 1960s and was now looking for a fresh mandate. Fianna Fáil were also helped by a deeply divided opposition.
Fine Gael had internal divisions. There was tension between the older conservative members who wanted to keep the party as it was and the younger deputies who wanted to move the party to the left. One of the party's policies proposed to abolish compulsory Irish
for State examinations and civil service jobs.
The Labour Party on the other hand were predicted to make massive gains after firmly ruling out a pre-election pact with Fine Gael. The party had fielded a number of new, high-profile candidates, including Justin Keating
, Conor Cruise O'Brien
, David Thornley
, and Noël Browne
. The slogan "The Seventies will be Socialist" was popular with Labour supporters; however, Fianna Fáil played the "red card", linking the Labour Party with communism
. The tactic worked successfully.
The result marked a third successive victory for Fianna Fáil, led by Jack Lynch. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael each lost votes, yet gained seats. Labour gained votes, yet lost seats. It was the last re-election of an Irish government for twenty years, and even in the 1989 general election
, Fianna Fáil was only re-elected with a minority in Dáil Éireann.
Members of the 19th Dáil
This is a list of the members who were elected to the 19th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. These TDs were elected at the 1969 general election on 18 June 1969 and met on 2 July 1969. The 19th 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 2 July 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 42 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 144 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 1969 saw two new leaders of the two main parties fight their first general election. Jack LynchJack Lynch
John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
of 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...
became Taoiseach in 1966 and was attempting to win his first election. Liam Cosgrave
Liam Cosgrave
Liam Cosgrave is an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach and as Leader of Fine Gael . He was a Teachta Dála from 1943 to 1981....
took charge 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...
in 1965 and was now leading his party into his first election. Brendan Corish was fighting his third general election as leader of the Labour Party
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...
.
Fianna Fáil had been in power since 1957 and in spite of media predictions the party was still very popular with the voters. The leader of the party, Jack Lynch, proved to be the party's biggest electoral asset. His quiet, easy-going and reassuring style, coupled with the catchy slogan "Let’s back Jack!" attracted many new voters to Fianna Fáil. The party had introduced many innovative pieces of legislation during the 1960s and was now looking for a fresh mandate. Fianna Fáil were also helped by a deeply divided opposition.
Fine Gael had internal divisions. There was tension between the older conservative members who wanted to keep the party as it was and the younger deputies who wanted to move the party to the left. One of the party's policies proposed to abolish compulsory Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
for State examinations and civil service jobs.
The Labour Party on the other hand were predicted to make massive gains after firmly ruling out a pre-election pact with Fine Gael. The party had fielded a number of new, high-profile candidates, including Justin Keating
Justin Keating
Justin Keating was an Irish Labour Party politician, broadcaster, journalist, lecturer and veterinary surgeon. In later life he was President of the Humanist Association of Ireland....
, Conor Cruise O'Brien
Conor Cruise O'Brien
Conor Cruise O'Brien often nicknamed "The Cruiser", was an Irish politician, writer, historian and academic. Although his opinion on the role of Britain in Northern Ireland changed over the course of the 1970s and 1980s, he always acknowledge values of, as he saw, the two irreconcilable traditions...
, David Thornley
David Thornley
David Thornley was an Irish Labour Party politician and university professor at Trinity College, Dublin.-Political career:...
, and Noël Browne
Noel Browne
Noël Christopher Browne was an Irish politician and doctor. He holds the distinction of being one of only five Teachtaí Dála to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. His controversial Mother and Child Scheme in effect brought down the First Inter-Party Government of John A...
. The slogan "The Seventies will be Socialist" was popular with Labour supporters; however, Fianna Fáil played the "red card", linking the Labour Party with communism
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...
. The tactic worked successfully.
Result
|}- Fianna Fáil majority government formed. Turnout: 74%
The result marked a third successive victory for Fianna Fáil, led by Jack Lynch. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael each lost votes, yet gained seats. Labour gained votes, yet lost seats. It was the last re-election of an Irish government for twenty years, and even in the 1989 general election
Irish general election, 1989
The Irish general election of 1989 was held on Thursday, 15 June 1989, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 25 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 26th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 29 June...
, Fianna Fáil was only re-elected with a minority in Dáil Éireann.
First time TDs
A total of 37 TDs were elected for the first time:- Peter Barry
- Michael Begley
- Seán BrosnanSeán BrosnanSeán Brosnan was an Irish barrister and Fianna Fáil politician from County Cork. He served for 10 years in the Oireachtas, as a Teachta Dála and as a Senator....
- John BrutonJohn BrutonJohn Gerard Bruton is an Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 1994 to 1997. A minister under two taoisigh, Liam Cosgrave and Garret FitzGerald, Bruton held a number of the top posts in Irish government, including Minister for Finance , and Minister for Industry, Trade,...
- Liam BurkeLiam BurkeLiam Burke was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the constituency of Cork North Central. Burke was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1969 general election for Cork City North West. After the constituencies were redrawn, he stood at the 1977 general election in the new...
- Richard Burke
- Hugh ByrneHugh Byrne (Fine Gael)Hugh Byrne is a former Fine Gael politician from Dublin, Ireland. He was a Teachta Dála for 13 years.He was elected to Dáil Éireann on his first attempt, at the 1969 general election, when he won a seat in the 19th Dáil as a TD for the Dublin North West constituency...
- Edward Collins
- John ConlanJohn Conlan (Monaghan politician)John Francis Conlan was an Irish Fine Gael politician, grocer and publican. He was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 on the Industrial and Commercial Panel. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála at the 1969 general election for the Monaghan constituency...
- Ger ConnollyGer ConnollyGerard Connolly is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician.A farmer and auctioneer, Connolly was firest elected to the 19th Dáil as a TD for the Laois–Offaly constituency on his first attempt at the 1969 general election and re-elected until retiring at the 1997 general election.When Charles...
- Gerard CottGerard CottGerard Cott is a former Irish Fine Gael politician and secondary teacher. He was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Cork North East constituency at the 1969 general election. He did not contest the 1973 general election.-References:...
- Bernard CowenBernard CowenBernard F. "Ber" Cowen was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was elected five times to Dáil Éireann.-Early life:...
- Kieran CrottyKieran CrottyKieran Crotty was a former Irish Fine Gael party politician who served for twenty years as Teachta Dála for the constituency of Carlow–Kilkenny.Crotty was first elected to the 19th Dáil in the 1969 general election...
- Conor Cruise O'BrienConor Cruise O'BrienConor Cruise O'Brien often nicknamed "The Cruiser", was an Irish politician, writer, historian and academic. Although his opinion on the role of Britain in Northern Ireland changed over the course of the 1970s and 1980s, he always acknowledge values of, as he saw, the two irreconcilable traditions...
- Noel DavernNoel DavernNoel Davern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was Teachta Dála for Tipperary South from 1969 to 1981 and from 1987 until he retired from politics at the 2007 general election...
- Barry DesmondBarry DesmondBarry Desmond is a former Irish Labour Party politician and government minister.He was educated at the Presentation Brothers, the School of Commerce and University College Cork, and became a trade union official with the ITGWU and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions...
- Tom EnrightTom EnrightThomas W. Enright is a former Irish Fine Gael politician.Enright was born in Shinrone, County Offaly in 1940. He was educated at the Cistercian College, Roscrea, University College Dublin and the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland...
- Martin FinnMartin FinnMartin Finn was an Irish Fine Gael politician and farmer. He was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Mayo East constituency at the 1969 general election and was re-elected at the 1973 general election. He lost his seat at the 1977 general election but was nominated by the Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave to...
- Garret FitzGeraldGarret FitzGeraldGarret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
- Paddy FordePaddy FordePatrick "Paddy" Forde was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and vinter. Forde stood unsuccessfully for election at the 1965 general election. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála at the 1969 general election for the Cork Mid constituency...
- Billy Fox
- Michael HerbertMichael HerbertMichael Herbert was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.A publican from Castleconnell, County Limerick, he unsuccessfully contested the 1965 general election and was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the 1969 general election as a Teachta Dála for Limerick East...
- Thomas HusseyThomas Hussey (Irish politician)Thomas Hussey is a former Fianna Fáil politician from County Galway in Ireland. He was a Teachta Dála from 1969 to 1981, and then a senator from 1981 to 1992....
- Liam KavanaghLiam KavanaghLiam Kavanagh is a former Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1969 general election as a Labour Party Teachta Dála for the Wicklow constituency. He remained in the Dáil until losing his seat at the 1997 general election...
- Justin KeatingJustin KeatingJustin Keating was an Irish Labour Party politician, broadcaster, journalist, lecturer and veterinary surgeon. In later life he was President of the Humanist Association of Ireland....
- Bill LoughnaneBill LoughnaneWilliam Loughnane was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A medical doctor by profession, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Clare-Galway South constituency at the 1969 general election. He was re-elected at the 1973 general election for the same constituency...
- Gerard LynchGerard Lynch (Irish politician)Gerard M. Lynch is a former Irish Fine Gael politician. A baker and farmer by profession, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála for the Kerry North constituency at the 1969 general election. He was re-elected at the 1973 general election but lost his Dáil seat at the...
- Ray MacSharryRay MacSharryRaymond MacSharry is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a range of cabinet positions, most notably as Tánaiste, Minister for Finance and European Commissioner.-Early life:...
- Tom McEllistrim
- Michael J. NoonanMichael J. Noonan (Fianna Fáil)Michael J. Noonan is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He served as Minister for Defence from 1987 until 1989.Michael J. Noonan was born in Bruff, County Limerick in 1935. He was educated locally at Salesian College in Limerick, before graduating from University College Cork with a Diploma...
- Michael O'KennedyMichael O'KennedyMichael O'Kennedy is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a range of cabinet positions, most notably as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Finance and Irish European Commissioner.-Early life:...
- John O'SullivanJohn O'Sullivan (Cork politician)John L. O'Sullivan was an Irish farmer and Fine Gael Party politician from West Cork who was a Senator for 7 years and later a TD for 8 years....
- Paddy PowerPaddy Power (politician)Patrick Power is a former Irish Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála and Minister of the Haughey era. He served as Minister for Fisheries and Forestry from 1979 to June 1981 and Minister for Defence in the Government of March to December 1982...
- Michael SmithMichael Smith (Irish politician)Michael Smith is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for Tipperary North on several occasions since 1969...
- Frank TaylorFrank Taylor (Irish politician)"Frank" Taylor was an Irish Fine Gael Party politician and TD for Clare from 1969–1981.A farmer before entering politics, he was first elected to the 19th Dáil at the 1969 general election, recapturing the seat held by Fine Gael TD William Murphy, who had died in 1967 and been replaced at...
- David ThornleyDavid ThornleyDavid Thornley was an Irish Labour Party politician and university professor at Trinity College, Dublin.-Political career:...
- Jim Tunney
Outgoing TDs
- 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...
(Retired) - 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...
(Retired) - 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) - John A. CostelloJohn A. CostelloJohn 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....
(Retired) - Edward CotterEdward CotterEdward Cotter was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He lost the Cork West constituency June 1949 by-election caused by the death of Timothy J. Murphy but was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála at the 1954 general election for the Cork West constituency...
(Retired) - Nicholas EganNicholas EganNicholas Egan was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He contested the 1951 general election in the Leix–Offaly constituency but was not elected. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála at the subsequent 1954 general election and held his seat until retiring at the 1969...
(Retired) - John FanningJohn Fanning (politician)John Fanning was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and farmer. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála at the 1951 general election for the Tipperary North constituency...
(Retired) - Denis LarkinDenis LarkinDenis Larkin was an Irish Labour Party politician and trade union official, and son of Dublin's most noted trade union leader, the Liverpool-born Jim Larkin, who died in 1948 . He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party Teachta Dála for the Dublin North East constituency at the 1954...
(Retired) - Seán LemassSeán LemassSeán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
(Retired) - Patrick McAuliffePatrick McAuliffePatrick McAuliffe was an Irish Labour Party politician. A farmer before entering politics, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party Teachta Dála for the Cork North constituency at the 1944 general election. He was re-elected at each subsequent general election until he lost his seat...
(Lost seat) - Seán MacEnteeSeán MacEnteeSeán MacEntee was an Irish politician. In a career that spanned over forty years as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála, MacEntee was one of the most important figures in post-independence Ireland. He served in the governments of Éamon de Valera and Seán Lemass in a range of ministerial positions,...
(Retired) - Michael O'HigginsMichael O'HigginsMichael Joseph O'Higgins was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a member of the Oireachtas for nearly thirty years....
(Lost seat) - 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...
(Retired)
By-elections
- Patrick CooneyPatrick CooneyPatrick Cooney is a former Irish politician of the Fine Gael party. Most notable as Minister for Justice from 1973 to 1977, he was a Teachta Dála for 15 years, a senator for four years, and Member of the European Parliament for five years.Cooney was born in 1931 and was educated at Castleknock...
- Patrick DelapPatrick DelapPatrick Delap was an Irish politician and doctor. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at a 1970 by-election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Donegal–Leitrim. The by-election was caused by the death of the Fine Gael TD Patrick O'Donnell.He served in public office for three years before he lost...
- Seán SherwinSeán SherwinSeán Sherwin was an Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician who sat from 1970–1973 as TD for Dublin South West.He was an unsuccessful candidate in the Dublin South West constituency at the 1969 general election. However, Dublin South West's long-serving Labour Party TD Seán Dunne, who had been...
- Larry McMahon
- Patrick MalonePatrick Malone (Irish politician)Patrick Malone was an Irish Fine Gael politician.Malone was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for Kildare from 1970, when he won a by election caused by the death of Gerard Sweetman. He was re-elected at the subsequent general election in 1973 but was defeated in the 1977 general...
- Gene FitzgeraldGene FitzGeraldEugene Fitzgerald was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and company director. He was a Teachta Dála and a Member of the European Parliament , and also served as Minister for Labour and Minister for Finance.Gene Fitzgerald was born in Crookstown, County Cork in August 1932...
See also
- Members of the 19th DáilMembers of the 19th DáilThis is a list of the members who were elected to the 19th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. These TDs were elected at the 1969 general election on 18 June 1969 and met on 2 July 1969. The 19th Dáil was dissolved by President Éamon de Valera, at the request of the...
- Government of the 19th DáilGovernment of the 19th DáilThe 19th Dáil was elected at the 1969 general election on 18 June 1969 and first met on 2 July when the 13th Government of Ireland was appointed. The 19th Dáil lasted for 1,351 days.-13th Government of Ireland:...
- Parliamentary Secretaries of the 19th DáilParliamentary Secretaries of the 19th DáilOn 2 July 1969 the 13th Government of Ireland was officially appointed by Dáil Éireann. The new Fianna Fáil government was led by the Taoiseach Jack Lynch, who appointed the following Parliamentary Secretaries....