November 1924 Dublin South by-election

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November 1924 Dublin South by-election
18 November 1924
Turnout33,637 (42.8%)
 
Nominee Seán Lemass Seamus Hughes
Party Republican Cumann na nGaedheal
First preferences 17,297 16,340
Percentage 51.4% 48.6%
TD before election

Hugh Kennedy
Cumann na nGaedheal

 TD after election

Seán Lemass
Republican

A Dáil by-election was held in the constituency of Dublin South in the Irish Free State on Tuesday, 18 November 1924, to fill a vacancy in the 4th Dáil. Dublin South was a 7-seat constituency which included the borough electoral areas of Dublin 3, 5, 7, 9, and 10, being the wards of Fitzwilliam, Mansion House, Royal Exchange, South City, Merchant's Quay, New Kilmainham, Usher's Quay, Wood Quay, South Dock and Trinity.[1][2]

The Attorney General, Hugh Kennedy, who had been elected as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Cumann na nGaedheal at the 1923 Dublin South by-election, resigned on 5 June 1924 to take office as the first Chief Justice of Ireland.[3][4] The writ of election to fill the vacancy was agreed by the Dáil on 28 October 1924.[5] It was one of five by-elections agreed that day.

The Cumann na nGaedheal candidate, Seamus Hughes, was the first general secretary of the party.[6] The Republican candidate, Seán Lemass, was a veteran of the Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence and of the Anti-Treaty forces during the Civil War. He had been the runner-up in the March 1924 Dublin South by-election.[7]

Result

The by-election was held on 18 November 1924. It was held on the same day as 1924 Cork East by-election and the 1924 Mayo North by-election. Five arrests were made for attempted personation.[8] The seat was won by Seán Lemass.[9][10] The results in Dublin South and in Mayo North were the first defeats for Cumann na nGaedheal in Dáil by-elections. The 1924 Cork Borough by-election and the 1924 Donegal by-election were held later that week; Cumann na nGaedheal held both seats.

November 1924 Dublin South by-election[11][12][13]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1
Republican Seán Lemass 51.4 17,297
Cumann na nGaedheal Seamus Hughes 48.6 16,340
Electorate: 78,682   Valid: 33,637   Quota: 16,819   Turnout: 42.8%  

Lemass did not take his seat in the 4th Dáil. He was re-elected at the June 1927 general election to the 5th Dáil for Fianna Fáil, taking his seat when the party dropped its policy of abstentionism in August 1927.[14] Lemass later served as a TD until 1969 and in several government positions, culminating as Taoiseach from 1959 to 1966.

References

  1. Electoral Act 1923, 8th Sch.: Constituencies (No. 12 of 1923, 8th Sch.). Enacted on 17 April 1923. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 May 2022.
  2. "1926 Census: Table 6: Population, etc., of each County Electoral Area, each Borough Electoral Area and of each Rural District of County Dublin" (PDF). Central Statistics Office. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  3. "Resignation of Attorney-General". Dáil Debates. 7 (20). 5 June 1924. Archived from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  4. Keane, Keane (May 2012). "Kennedy, Hugh". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.004483.v1.
  5. "Writs for By-elections. - Dublin South". Dáil Debates. 9 (4). 20 February 1924.
  6. Rouse, Paul (October 2009). "Hughes, James Joseph ('Séamus')". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.004149.v1. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  7. Fanning, Ronan (March 2021) [October 2009]. "Lemass, Seán". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.004787.v1.
  8. "By-Elections — Polling in Three Constituencies — Apathetic Voters — Legal Ruling in South Dublin". The Irish Times. 19 November 1924. p. 7.
  9. "South Dublin — A Small Poll — Government Candidate Defeated". The Irish Times. 20 November 1924. p. 7.
  10. "New Members". Dáil Debates. 9 (16). 26 November 1924. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  11. "By-election November 1924: Dublin South". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  12. "Dublin South: November 1924 by-election". Irish Elections. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  13. Gallagher, Michael (1993). Irish Elections 1922–44: Results and Analysis. PSAI Press. ISBN 0951974815.
  14. "New Deputies take their seats". Dáil Debates. 20 (20). Houses of the Oireachtas. 12 August 1927. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2025.