September 1927 Irish general election

September 1927 Irish general election

15 September 1927
152 of 153 seats in Dáil Éireann 77 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	69.0% 0.9pp
First party Second party   Leader W. T. Cosgrave Éamon de Valera Party Cumann na nGaedheal Fianna Fáil Leader since April 1923 26 March 1926 Leader's seat Cork Borough Clare Last election 46 seats, 27.4% 44 seats, 26.2% Seats before 47 43 Seats won 61 57 Seat change 14 14 Popular vote 453,028 411,777 Percentage 38.6% 35.2% Swing 11.2% 9.0%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Thomas Johnson Michael Heffernan Party Labour Farmers' Party Leader since 1922 1927 Leader's seat Dublin County (defeated) Tipperary Last election 22 seats, 12.6% 11 seats, 8.9% Seats before 22 11 Seats won 13 6 Seat change 9 5 Popular vote 106,184 74,626 Percentage 9.1% 6.4% Swing 3.5% 2.5%
Percentage of seats gained by each of the five biggest parties, and number of seats gained by smaller parties and independents.
President of the Executive Council before election W. T. Cosgrave Cumann na nGaedheal Subsequent President of the Executive Council W. T. Cosgrave Cumann na nGaedheal

The September 1927 Irish general election was held on 15 September 1927. The newly elected members of the 6th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 11 October when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of the Irish Free State were appointed. The result was a Cumann na nGaedheal minority government.

Campaign

The second general election of 1927 was caused by the uncertain political arithmetic within Dáil Éireann. Only three votes separated the two largest parties, Cumann na nGaedheal and Fianna Fáil, and the government was very unstable. When, during August, Fianna Fáil decided to enter the Dáil, it gave its support to the Labour Party's motion of no confidence in the Cumann na nGaedheal government and to replace it with a Labour-led coalition with Labour leader Thomas Johnson as President of the Executive Council. The Labour Party was supported by Fianna Fáil and the National League Party. On the other hand, the Cumann na nGaedheal government had the backing of the Farmers' Party and most of the Independent TDs. When the vote was taken, John Jinks, a National League TD, failed to attend. The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Thomas J. O'Connell, was away in Canada at the time and also was unable to participate in the crucial vote. As a result, the vote was a dead heat and the Ceann Comhairle voted with the government. The motion failed.

W. T. Cosgrave realised that this situation could not continue and a general election was called in the hope of providing a clear result. Cumann na nGaedheal fought the election on its record in government so far. Fianna Fáil was the new party on the political scene with new policies and the promise of self-sufficiency. The Labour Party had done well on its last outing and was hoping, and was predicted, to win extra seats, in spite of internal divisions. The Farmers' Party represented the needs of agricultural labourers. Sinn Féin had been reduced by the founding of Fianna Fáil from 47 to five seats in the first 1927 election, and did not contest a single seat this time, due to lack of financial assets.

Result

Election to the 6th Dáil – 15 September 1927
Party		Leader	Seats	±	% of seats	First pref. votes	% FPv	±%
	Cumann na nGaedheal	W. T. Cosgrave	62	+15	40.5	453,028	38.7	+11.3
	Fianna Fáil	Éamon de Valera	57	+13	37.3	411,777	35.2	+9.1
	Labour	Thomas Johnson	13	–9	8.5	106,184	9.1	–3.4
	Farmers' Party	Michael Heffernan	6	–5	3.9	74,626	6.4	–2.5
	National League	William Redmond	2	–6	1.3	18,990	1.6	–5.7
	Irish Worker League	James Larkin	1	New	0.7	12,473	1.1	–
	Town Tenants' Association			0	0	832	0.1	0
	Independent politicians in Ireland	N/A	12	–4	7.8	92,959	7.9	–5.5
Spoilt votes						21,886	—	—
Total			153	0	100	1,192,755	100	—
Electorate/Turnout						1,730,177	69.0%	—

• Cumann na nGaedheal minority government formed.

As stated above, Sinn Féin had won five seats in the first 1927 election, but did not contest a single seat this time. As a result, the number of seats it held decreased from five to zero.

Following the general election, Cumann na nGaedheal was able to form a minority government with the support of the Farmers' Party and other Independent TDs. The Labour Party leader, Thomas Johnson, lost his seat in the election and subsequently retired from politics.

Voting summary

First preference vote Cumann na nGaedheal   38.69% Fianna Fáil   35.17% Labour   9.07% Farmers'   6.37% National League Party   1.62% Irish Worker League   1.07% Others   0.07% Independent   7.94%

Seats summary

Assembly seats Cumann na nGaedheal   40.52% Fianna Fáil   37.25% Labour   8.50% Farmers'   3.92% National League Party   1.31% Irish Worker League   0.65% Independent   7.84%

First time TDs

• William Aird
• Seán Brady
• Robert Briscoe
• Edmond Carey
• Michael Connolly
• Eamonn Cooney
• Peter de Loughry
• Patrick Gorry
• Stephen Jordan
• William Kent
• Arthur Matthews
• Joseph Mongan
• Daniel O'Leary
• Martin Sexton
• Richard Walsh

Outgoing TDs

• Austin Stack (Retired)
• Kathleen Clarke (Lost seat)
• John Jinks (Lost seat)
• Thomas Johnson (Lost seat)
• Timothy Quill (Lost seat)
• James J. Walsh (Retired)

See also

• Members of the 6th Dáil
• Government of the 6th Dáil