1933 Irish general election

The 1933 Irish general election to the 8th Dáil was held on Tuesday, 24 January following the dissolution of the 7th Dáil on 2 January by Governor-General Domhnall Ua Buachalla on the advice of the Executive Council. The general election took place in 30 parliamentary constituencies throughout the Irish Free State for 153 seats in Dáil Éireann.

1933 Irish general election

24 January 1933
153 seats in Dáil Éireann 77 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	81.3% 4.8pp
First party Second party   Leader Éamon de Valera W. T. Cosgrave Party Fianna Fáil Cumann na nGaedheal Leader since 26 March 1926 April 1923 Leader's seat Clare Cork Borough Last election 72 seats, 44.5% 56 seats, 35.2% Seats won 77 48 Seat change 5 8 Popular vote 689,054 422,495 Percentage 49.7% 30.5% Swing 5.2% 4.8%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Frank MacDermot William Norton Party National Centre Party Labour Leader since 1932 1932 Leader's seat Roscommon Kildare Last election N/A 7 seats, 7.7% Seats won 11 8 Seat change 11 1 Popular vote 126,909 79,221 Percentage 9.2% 5.7% Swing New party 2.0%
President of the Executive Council before election Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil President of the Executive Council after election Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil

The 8th Dáil met at Leinster House on 8 February to nominate the President and Executive Council of the Irish Free State for appointment by the Governor-General. Outgoing president Éamon de Valera was re-appointed leading a Fianna Fáil government, which fell one seat short of an overall majority.

Campaign

Newsreel footage of campaign

• De Valera campaigning in Clare
• Cosgrave campaigning in Dublin

Result

Election to the 8th Dáil – 24 January 1933
Party		Leader	Seats	±	% of seats	First pref. votes	% FPv	±%
	Fianna Fáil	Éamon de Valera	77	+5	50.3	689,054	49.7	+5.2
	Cumann na nGaedheal	W. T. Cosgrave	48	–9	31.4	422,495	30.5	–4.8
	National Centre Party	Frank MacDermot	11	New	7.2	126,909	9.2	–
	Labour	William Norton	8	+1	5.2	79,221	5.7	–2.0
	Independent	N/A	9	–5	5.9	68,882	5.0	–5.4
Spoilt votes						14,707	—	—
Total			153	0	100	1,401,265	100	—
Electorate/Turnout						1,727,680	81.3%	—

Voting summary

First preference vote Fianna Fáil   49.70% Cumann na nGaedheal   30.47% National Centre   9.15% Labour   5.71% Independent   4.97%

Seats summary

Dáil seats Fianna Fáil   50.33% Cumann na nGaedheal   31.37% National Centre   7.19% Labour   5.23% Independent   5.88%

Government formation

Excluding the Ceann Comhairle, Fianna Fáil won exactly half the seats and formed the 7th Executive Council of the Irish Free State with support from the Labour Party. Fianna Fáil eventually won enough by-elections to govern without Labour Party support.

Changes in membership

First time TDs

• James Burke
• John A. Costello
• Patrick Daly
• Robert Davitt
• Hugh Doherty
• Eamon Donnelly
• Séamus Keely
• Patrick Kehoe
• James McGuire
• James Morrisroe
• Margaret Mary Pearse

Re-elected TDs

• Martin McDonogh
• Michael Óg McFadden
• Patrick O'Dowd

Outgoing TDs

• Eamonn Duggan (Retired)
• Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll (Defeated)
• Francis Gormley (Defeated)
• Patrick Gorry (Defeated)
• Raphael Keyes (Defeated)
• John Kiersey (Defeated)
• Joseph Mongan (Defeated)
• Fred McDonogh (Defeated)
• Eugene O'Brien (Defeated)
• Patrick O'Hara (Retired)
• Martin Sexton (Defeated)