1954 Irish general election

1954 Irish general election

18 May 1954

147 seats in Dáil Éireann
74 seats needed for a majority
Turnout76.5% 1.2 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Éamon de Valera Richard Mulcahy William Norton
Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour
Leader since 26 March 1926 1944 1932
Leader's seat Clare Tipperary South Kildare
Last election 69 seats, 46.3% 40 seats, 25.8% 16 seats, 11.4%
Seats won 65 50 19
Seat change 4 8 3
Popular vote 578,960 427,031 161,034
Percentage 43.4% 32.0% 12.1%
Swing 2.9 pp 6.2 pp 0.7 pp

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Joseph Blowick Seán MacBride
Party Clann na Talmhan Clann na Poblachta
Leader since 1944 1946
Leader's seat Mayo South Dublin South-West
Last election 6 seats, 2.9% 2 seats, 4.1%
Seats won 5 3
Seat change 1 1
Popular vote 51,069 41,249
Percentage 3.8% 3.1%
Swing 0.9 pp 1.0 pp


Taoiseach before election

Éamon de Valera
Fianna Fáil

Taoiseach after election

John A. Costello
Fine Gael

The 1954 Irish general election to elect the 15th Dáil was held on Tuesday, 18 May, following the dissolution of the 14th Dáil on 24 April by President Seán T. O'Kelly on the request of Taoiseach Éamon de Valera. The general election took place in 40 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland for 147 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas.

The 15th Dáil met at Leinster House on 2 June to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new government of Ireland. De Valera failed to secure a majority, and John A. Costello was appointed Taoiseach, forming the second inter-party government, a minority coalition of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Clann na Talmhan.