Irish general election, 1965

The Irish general election of 1965 was held on 7 April 1965. The newly elected 144 members of the 18th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 21 April when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed.

The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout the Republic of Ireland for 144 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann.

Campaign

The general election of 1965 was caused by the ruling Fianna Fáil party's failure to gain a seat in a by-election. The success of Eileen Desmond of the Labour Party in Cork Mid in holding a seat previously held by her husband led to an unacceptable mathematical situation with regard to the government's majority. The Taoiseach, Seán Lemass immediately dissolved the Dáil and the campaign began in earnest.

Fianna Fáil ran its campaign on its record in government. Over the last number of years the economy had seen a huge improvement and the party played up on its record in government. The party also played up heavily on the personality of the party leader with the slogan "Let Lemass Lead On." The Fine Gael party put forward a comprehensive manifesto, which included the establishment of a government department concerned with economic planning. However, the older, conservative members of the party did not warm to the new turn the party was taking.

Result

The general election gave Fianna Fáil an extra two seats, and with it an overall majority in the Dáil. Seán Lemass continued as Taoiseach. James Dillon resigned as leader of Fine Gael immediately after the result was announced.

First time TDs

* David Andrews
* Flor Crowley
* Michael O'Leary
* Tom Fitzpatrick (Cavan)
* Tom Fitzpatrick (Dublin South-Central)
* Patrick Lenihan
* Michael Lyons
* Bobby Molloy
* Ben Briscoe
* Gerry L'Estrange (replacing Seán Mac Eoin)
* Pearse Wyse
* Luke Belton
* John O'Connell
* Augustine A. Healy (re-elected)

Outgoing TDs

* Gerald Bartley
* Joseph Blowick
* James Ryan
* Dan Breen
* Denis J. O'Sullivan (Lost seat)
* Robert Briscoe

Footnotes

ee also

* Members of the 18th Dáil
* Government of the 18th Dáil
* Parliamentary Secretaries of the 18th Dáil