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The Irish general election of September 1927 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.

[edit] 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 nGaedhael and Fianna Fáil. It looked as if the government could collapse at any moment. When Fianna Fáil decided to enter the Dáil in August the party and its allies immediately put down a motion of no confidence in the Cumann na nGaedhael government. Fianna Fáil was supported by the Labour Party and the National League Party. On the other hand the Cumann na nGaedhael 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. As a result the vote was a dead heat and the Ceann Comhairle voted with the government. The motion had 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. The election was fought by a number of parties, each with their own different message. Cumann na nGaedhael was fighting the election on its record in government so far. Fianna Fáil was the new party on the 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, whose electoral hopes had been diminished with the setting up of Fianna Fáil, did not contest a single seat.

[edit] Result

**6th Irish general election** – 15 September 1927^[1]^[2]
Party		Leader	Seats	±	% of seats	First Pref votes	% FPv	±%
	Cumann na nGaedhael	W. T. Cosgrave	61	+15	39.8		38.6	+11.2
	Fianna Fáil	Éamon de Valera	57	+13	37.3		35.2	+9.0
	Labour Party	Thomas Johnson	13	–9	8.5		9.1	–3.5
	Farmers' Party	Michael Heffernan	6	–5	3.9		6.4	–2.5
	National League Party	William Redmond	2	–6	1.3		1.6	–5.7
	Irish Worker League	James Larkin	1	+1	0.7
	Sinn Féin	John J. O'Kelly	0	–5	0	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Independent	N/A	12	–4	7.8
	Ceann Comhairle	N/A	1	N/A	0.7	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total			153	0	100		100	—

Cumann na nGaedhael minority government formed.

Following the general election Cumann na nGaedhael were 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.

[edit] First time TDs

[edit] Outgoing TDs

Austin Stack (Retired)
Kathleen Clarke (Lost seat)
John Jinks (Lost seat)
James J. Walsh (Retired)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ "6th Dáil September 1927 General Election". ElectionsIreland.org. http://electionsireland.org/results/general/06dail.cfm. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
^ "Dáil elections since 1918". ARK Northern Ireland. http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/gdala.htm. Retrieved 13 April 2009.

[0] "6th Dáil September 1927 General Election". ElectionsIreland.org. http://electionsireland.org/results/general/06dail.cfm. Retrieved 8 April 2009.

[1] "Dáil elections since 1918". ARK Northern Ireland. http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/gdala.htm. Retrieved 13 April 2009.

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