1926 Leix–Offaly by-election
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18 February 1926
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| Turnout | 41,438 (64.5%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A Dáil by-election was held in the constituency of Leix–Offaly in the Irish Free State on Thursday, 18 February 1926, to fill a vacancy in the 4th Dáil. Leix–Offaly was a 5-seat constituency comprising the administrative counties of County Leix and County Offaly.[1]
Seán McGuinness was a veteran of the War of Independence who took the Anti-Treaty side in the Civil War. He was elected as an Republican TD for Leix–Offaly at the 1923 general election. He was charged with two counts of assault in April 1924. On 29 October 1925, he was sentenced to a term of eighteen months' imprisonment.[2] As his sentence was for more than six months, he was disqualified from the Oireachtas under section 51 of the Electoral Act 1923, taking effect 30 days after the imposition of the sentence.[3]
On 27 January 1926, the Dáil directed the Clerk to issue the writ of election to fill the vacancy.[4] James Dwyer contested for Cumann na nGaedheal. Art O'Connor, a TD from 1918 to 1922, contested as a Republican candidate.[5] John Gill contested for the Labour Party.
Result
[edit]The by-election was held on 18 February 1926, the same day as the 1926 Dublin County by-election. The seat was won by James Dwyer.[6]
| Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | ||||
| Cumann na nGaedheal | James Dwyer | 40.3 | 16,618 | 19,345 | |
| Republican | Art O'Connor | 37.4 | 15,400 | 18,523 | |
| Labour | John Gill | 22.3 | 9,187 | ||
| Electorate: 64,199 Valid: 41,205 Spoilt: 233 Quota: 20,603 Turnout: 64.5% | |||||
Dwyer took his seat in Dáil Éireann on 24 February, after taking the Oath of Allegiance required under Article 17 of the Constitution of the Irish Free State.[12]
The third-place candidate, John Gill, was elected for Leix–Offaly at the June 1927 general election, but was defeated at the September 1927 general election.
References
[edit]- ^ Electoral Act 1923, 8th Sch.: Constituencies (No. 12 of 1923, 8th Sch.). Enacted on 17 April 1923. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Deputy Imprisoned". Dáil Debates. 13 (1). Houses of the Oireachtas. 3 November 1925. Archived from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
- ^ Electoral Act 1923, s. 51: Disqualification for membership of the Dáil (No. 12 of 1923, s. 51). Enacted on 17 April 1923. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 10 May 2026.
- ^ "Dail Vacancies—Dublin and Leix–Offaly". Dáil Debates. 14 (2). Houses of the Oireachtas. 27 January 1926.
- ^ Murphy, William (October 2009). "O'Connor, Arthur James Kickham ('Art')". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.006581.v1.
- ^ "Teachtaí Nua (New Members)". Dáil Debates. 14 (10). Houses of the Oireachtas. 23 February 1926. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
- ^ "Leix and Offaly – Government Candidate Leads in Leix". The Irish Times. 20 February 1926. p. 7.
- ^ Walker, Brian M., ed. (1992). Parliamentary election results in Ireland, 1918–92. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0-901714-96-8. ISSN 0332-0286.
- ^ Gallagher, Michael (1993). Irish Elections 1922–44: Results and Analysis. PSAI Press. ISBN 0951974815.
- ^ "By-election 1926: Leix–Offaly". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- ^ "Laois–Offaly: 1926 bye-election". Ireland Elections. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
- ^ "Deputy Takes His Seat". Dáil Debates. 14 (11). Houses of the Oireachtas. 24 February 1926. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2026.