Irish general election, 1951
Encyclopedia
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
.
, 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 TD
s 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.
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.
Members of the 14th Dáil
This is a list of the members who were elected to the 14th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. These TDs were elected at the 1951 general election on 30 May 1951 and met on 13 June 1951. The 14th Dáil was dissolved by President Seán T. O'Kelly, 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 13 June 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 1951 was caused by a number of crises within the First Inter-Party GovernmentGovernment of the 13th Dáil
The 13th Dáil was elected at the 1948 general election on 4 February 1948 and first met on 18 February when the 5th Government of Ireland was appointed. The 13th Dáil lasted for 1,211 days....
, most notably the Mother and Child Scheme
Mother and Child Scheme
The Mother and Child Scheme was a healthcare programme in the Republic of Ireland that would later become remembered as a major political crisis involving primarily the Irish Government and Roman Catholic Church in the early 1950s....
. While the whole affair, which saw the resignation of the Minister for Health
Minister for Health and Children (Ireland)
The Minister for Health is the senior minister at the Department of Health in the Government of Ireland and is responsible for health care in the Republic of Ireland and related services.The current Minister for Health is James Reilly, TD...
, 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...
, 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 TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
s 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
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...
. 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
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...
were the big winners increasing to forty seats. 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...
patched up its differences with the National Labour Party
National Labour Party (Ireland)
The National Labour Party was an Irish political party active between 1944 and 1950. It was founded in 1944 from a rebel faction of the Labour Party, inspired by the intransigence of the incumbent leadership of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union against the majority of the party.The...
and fought the election together but in spite of this the party lost seats. 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:...
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
- Philip BradyPhilip Brady (Irish politician)Philip A. Brady was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála for Dublin South Central for 19 years.He was elected to Dáil Éireann on his first attempt, at the 1951 general election...
- Joseph Brennan
- Patrick CawleyPatrick CawleyPatrick Cawley was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was elected on his sixth attempt, to Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for the Galway South constituency at the 1951 general election. He lost his seat at the 1954 general election.-References:...
- Declan CostelloDeclan CostelloDeclan Costello was an Irish jurist and Fine Gael party politician, who served as a Teachta Dála for twenty years, as Attorney General for four years and as a High Court judge for another twenty years before his retirement....
- 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...
- Liam CunninghamLiam Cunningham (Irish politician)Liam Cunningham was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was born in County Donegal in 1915. A qualified national school teacher, Cunningham was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1951 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Donegal East constituency...
- Percy DockrellPercy DockrellPercy Dockrell was an Irish Fine Gael party politician who served for twenty years as a TD.Percy Dockrell was first elected to the 14th Dáil in the 1951 general election for the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown constituency, and was re-elected in the 1954 election...
- Peadar DuignanPeadar DuignanPeadar Duignan was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency at the 1951 general election. He did not contest the 1954 general election.-References:...
- Anthony Esmonde
- 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...
- Michael ffrench-O'Carroll
- Seán FlanaganSeán FlanaganSeán Flanagan was an Fianna Fáil politician and Gaelic footballer in Ireland. He served under Taoiseach Jack Lynch as Minister for Health and Minister for Lands .-Early life and education:...
- Colm GallagherColm GallagherColm Gallagher was an Irish Fianna Fáil Party politician who was elected twice as TD for Dublin North Central, in 1951 and in 1957....
- 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...
- Patrick HilleryPatrick HilleryPatrick John "Paddy" Hillery was an Irish politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. First elected at the 1951 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Clare, he remained in Dáil Éireann until 1973...
- John LynchJohn Lynch (Kerry politician)John Lynch was an Irish Fine Gael Party politician who was a one-term TD and then a Senator.Lynch was elected to Dáil Éireann on his first attempt, at the 1951 general election, as a Fine Gael candidate in the Kerry North constituency taking his seat in the 14th Dáil.At the 1954 general election,...
- Peadar MaherPeadar MaherPeadar Maher is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician and publican who served as a Teachta Dála for Leix–Offaly constituency....
- John Mannion, SnrJohn Mannion, SnrJohn Mannion was an Irish Fine Gael party politician from Clifden, County Galway. He was a Teachta Dála for three years and a senator for 11 years....
- Michael MurphyMichael Murphy (Irish politician)Michael Pat Murphy was an Irish Labour Party politician. A publican before entering politics, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party Teachta Dála for the Cork West constituency at the 1951 general election. He was re-elected at each subsequent election until he was retired at the...
- William MurphyWilliam Murphy (Irish politician)William Murphy was an Irish Fine Gael Party politician and TD for Clare from 1951 until his death in 1967....
- Denis J. O'SullivanDenis J. O'SullivanDenis J. O'Sullivan was an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at his second attempt at the 1951 general election. He served as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála for various Cork constituencies until losing his seat at the 1965 general election. He served in the Second...
Outgoing TDs
- John EsmondeSir John Esmonde, 14th BaronetSir John Lymbrick Esmonde, 14th Baronet was an Irish nationalist politician who served as Member of Parliament in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and later as a Teachta Dála in Dáil Éireann....
(Retired) - John FrielJohn FrielJohn Friel was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and merchant. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Donegal East constituency at the 1937 general election. He was re-elected at each subsequent election until he lost his seat at the 1951 general election.-References:...
(Lost seat) - Patrick GorryPatrick GorryPatrick J. Gorry was an Irish politician and farmer. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Leix–Offaly constituency at the September 1927 general election. He was re-elected at the 1932 general election but lost his seat at the 1933 general election...
(Lost seat) - James KilroyJames Kilroy (politician)James Kilroy was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A farmer, he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for the Mayo North constituency at the 1943 general election, and was re-elected at the 1944 and 1948 general elections...
(Lost seat) - Michael LydonMichael LydonMichael F. Lydon was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A civil engineer, he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency at the 1944 general election. He was re-elected at the 1948 general election but lost his seat at the 1951 general election...
(Lost seat) - Michael Óg McFaddenMichael Óg McFaddenMichael Óg McFadden was an Irish Fine Gael politician, merchant and auctioneer. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Donegal constituency at the June 1927 general election. He was re-elected at the September 1927 general election but lost his seat at...
(Lost seat) - Joseph MonganJoseph MonganJoseph W. Mongan was an Irish politician. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the June 1927 general election, but was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for the Galway constituency at the September 1927 general election. He was re-elected at the 1932 general election...
(Deceased) - Martin O'SullivanMartin O'SullivanMartin O'Sullivan was an Irish Labour Party politician. A railway official, he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party Teachta Dála for the Dublin North West constituency at the 1943 general election. He was re-elected at the 1944 and 1948 general elections. He lost his seat at the 1951...
(Lost seat) - Robert RyanRobert Ryan (Irish politician)Robert Ryan was an Irish politician and farmer. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Limerick constituency at the 1932 general election. He was re-elected at the each subsequent general election until he lost his seat at the 1951 general election.-References:...
(Lost seat) - Richard WalshRichard WalshRichard Walsh was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for the Mayo South constituency at the September 1927 general election...
(Retired)
See also
- Members of the 14th DáilMembers of the 14th DáilThis is a list of the members who were elected to the 14th Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. These TDs were elected at the 1951 general election on 30 May 1951 and met on 13 June 1951. The 14th Dáil was dissolved by President Seán T. O'Kelly, at the request of the...
- Government of the 14th DáilGovernment of the 14th DáilThe 14th Dáil was elected at the 1951 general election on 30 May 1951 and first met on 13 June when the 6th Government of Ireland was appointed. The 14th Dáil lasted for 1,084 days.-6th Government of Ireland:...
- Parliamentary Secretaries of the 14th DáilParliamentary Secretaries of the 14th DáilOn 13 June 1951 the 6th 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:-See also:...