Jump to content

1977 Irish general election: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Adding missing popular vote figures to infobox
 
(33 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|1977 Irish general election}}
{{Short description|Election to the 21st Dáil}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Irish English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox election
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1977 Irish general election
| election_name = 1977 Irish general election
Line 12: Line 12:
| next_election = 1981 Irish general election
| next_election = 1981 Irish general election
| next_year = 1981
| next_year = 1981
| seats_for_election = 148 seats in [[Dáil Éireann]]{{efn|name=CC|Including [[Seán Treacy (politician)|Seán Treacy]] (Lab), returned automatically for [[Tipperary South (Dáil constituency)|Tipperary South]] as outgoing [[Ceann Comhairle]], under Art. 16.6 of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 1963, as adapted by the [[Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974]].<ref>{{cite Irish legislation|year=1963|number=19|name=Electoral Act 1963|date=12 July 1963|section=14|stitle=Re-election of outgoing Ceann Comhairle}}</ref><ref>{{cite Irish legislation|year=1974|number=7|name=[[Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974]]|date=7 May 1974|section=5|stitle=Re-election of outgoing Ceann Comhairle}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=21st Dáil 1977: Tipperary South |url=https://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1977&cons=219 |website=ElectionsIreland.org |access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>}}
| seats_for_election = 147 of 148 seats in [[Dáil Éireann]]
| majority_seats = 75
| majority_seats = 75
| turnout = 76.3% {{decrease}} 0.3[[percentage point|pp]]
| turnout = 76.3% {{decrease}} 0.3 [[percentage point|pp]]
| previous_mps = Members of the 20th Dáil
| previous_mps = 20th Dáil
| elected_mps = [[Members of the 21st Dáil|TDs elected]]
| elected_mps = 21st Dáil
| alliance_name = no


<!-- Fianna Fáil -->
<!-- Fianna Fáil -->
| image1 = [[File:Jack Lynch 1967 (cropped).jpg|150x150px]]
| image1 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Jack Lynch 1979 (cropped).jpg|bSize = 113|cWidth = 113|cHeight = 150|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader1 = [[Jack Lynch]]
| leader1 = [[Jack Lynch]]
| party1 = Fianna Fáil
| party1 = Fianna Fáil
| leader_since1 = [[1966 Fianna Fáil leadership election|9 November 1966]]
| leader_since1 = [[1966 Fianna Fáil leadership election|9 November 1966]]
| leaders_seat1 = [[Cork City (Dáil constituency)|Cork City]]
| leaders_seat1 = [[Cork City (Dáil constituency)|Cork City]]
| last_election1 = {{nowrap|69 seats, 46.2%}}
| last_election1 = {{nowrap|69 seats, 46.2%}}
| seats_before1 = 65
| seats1 = '''84'''
| seats1 = '''84'''
| seat_change1 = {{increase}}19
| seat_change1 = {{increase}}15
| popular_vote1 = '''811,615'''
| percentage1 = '''50.6%'''
| percentage1 = '''50.6%'''
| swing1 = {{increase}}4.4%
| swing1 = {{increase}}4.4 pp
<!-- Fine Gael -->
<!-- Fine Gael -->
| image2 = [[File:Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave-Patricks Day 1976.jpg|150x150px]]
| image2 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave-Patricks Day 1976.jpg|bSize = 113|cWidth = 113|cHeight = 150|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader2 = [[Liam&nbsp;Cosgrave]]
| leader2 = [[Liam&nbsp;Cosgrave]]
| leader_since2 = 21 April 1965
| leader_since2 = 21 April 1965
| party2 = Fine Gael
| party2 = Fine Gael
| alliance2 = National Coalition
| leaders_seat2 = [[Dún Laoghaire (Dáil constituency)|Dún Laoghaire]]
| leaders_seat2 = [[Dún Laoghaire (Dáil constituency)|Dún Laoghaire]]
| last_election2 = {{nowrap|54 seats, 35.1%}}
| last_election2 = {{nowrap|54 seats, 35.1%}}
| seats_before2 = 55
| seats2 = 43
| seats2 = 43
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}}12
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}}12
| popular_vote2 = 488,767
| percentage2 = 30.5%
| percentage2 = 30.5%
| swing2 = {{decrease}}4.6%
| swing2 = {{decrease}}4.6 pp


<!-- Labour -->
<!-- Labour -->
| image3 = [[File:Brendan Corish 1949.png|150x150px]]
| image3 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Brendan Corish 1949.png|bSize = 113|cWidth = 113|cHeight = 150|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader3 = [[Brendan Corish|Brendan&nbsp;Corish]]
| leader3 = [[Brendan Corish|Brendan&nbsp;Corish]]
| leader_since3 = 2 March 1960
| leader_since3 = 2 March 1960
| party3 = Labour Party (Ireland)
| party3 = Labour Party (Ireland)
| alliance3 = National Coalition
| leaders_seat3 = [[Wexford (Dáil constituency)|Wexford]]
| leaders_seat3 = [[Wexford (Dáil constituency)|Wexford]]
| last_election3 = {{nowrap|19 seats, 13.7%}}
| last_election3 = {{nowrap|19 seats, 13.7%}}
| seats_before3 = 20
| seats3 = 17
| seats3 = 17
| seat_change3 = {{decrease}}3
| seat_change3 = {{decrease}}3
| popular_vote3 = 186,410
| percentage3 = 11.6%
| percentage3 = 11.6%
| swing3 = {{decrease}}2.1%
| swing3 = {{decrease}}2.1 pp


| map_image = Irish_general_election_1977.png
| map_image = Irish_general_election_1977.png
| map_size = 450px
| map_size = 350px
| map_caption = Percentage of seats gained by each of the three major parties, and number of seats gained by smaller parties and independents.
| map_caption = Percentage of seats gained by each of the three major parties, and number of seats gained by smaller parties and independents.


Line 68: Line 71:
| after_party = Fianna Fáil
| after_party = Fianna Fáil
}}
}}
The '''1977 Irish general election''' was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth-century Irish politics. [[Jack Lynch]] led [[Fianna Fáil]] to a landslide election win. The general election took place in [[Dáil constituencies|42 parliamentary constituencies]] throughout [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, [[Dáil Éireann]]. The number of seats in the Dáil was increased by 4 from 144 to 148. The newly elected 148 [[members of the 21st Dáil]] assembled at [[Leinster House]] on 5 July, when a new Fianna Fáil [[Government of Ireland|government]] replaced the incumbent [[Fine Gael]]–[[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] coalition, Jack Lynch becoming [[Taoiseach]] for the second time.
The '''1977 Irish general election''' to the [[21st Dáil]] was held on Thursday, 16 June, following the [[Dissolution of Parliament|dissolution]] of the [[20th Dáil]] on 25 May by [[President of Ireland|President]] [[Patrick Hillery]] on the request of [[Taoiseach]] [[Liam Cosgrave]]. The general election took place in 42 [[Dáil constituencies]] throughout Ireland for 148 seats in [[Dáil Éireann]], the house of representatives of the [[Oireachtas]], an increase of four seats. There was a significant revision of constituencies under the [[Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974]]. [[Jack Lynch]] led [[Fianna Fáil]] to a landslide election win, clearly defeating the outgoing [[Fine Gael]]–[[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour]] government.

The 21st Dáil met at [[Leinster House]] on 5 July to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new [[government of Ireland]]. Jack Lynch was appointed Taoiseach, forming the [[15th government of Ireland]], a single-party majority Fianna Fáil government. It was the last election to result in a single-party majority government.


==Campaign==
==Campaign==
In the lead-up to the 1977 general election, the Fine Gael–Labour coalition government was determined to defy political history by securing a second term. Despite facing a range of challenges, including dissatisfaction over economic conditions and rising inflation, the government hoped that the redrawing of constituency boundaries through the [[Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974]] (famously known as the “Tullymander”) would give them an advantage. The scheme, spearheaded by [[Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage|Minister for Local Government]] [[James Tully (Irish politician)|James Tully]], was designed to maximise the coalition’s chances by gerrymandering constituencies, particularly in Dublin where new three-seat constituencies were introduced. The aim was for Fine Gael and Labour to win two of the three seats in these areas, limiting Fianna Fáil to just one. This strategy was also applied in rural areas, where Fine Gael was traditionally stronger than Labour, and was expected to consolidate the coalition’s position in power.<ref name="Echo November 2024">{{cite news |last=O’Keeffe |first=Donal |date=9 November 2024 |title='Jack is back' papers wrote following Fianna Fáil's success at 1977 election |url=https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41513405.html |work=[[The Echo (Cork)|The Echo]] |location= |access-date=21 November 2024}} </ref>


As the election campaign progressed, however, it became clear that Fianna Fáil, under the leadership of Jack Lynch, was gaining ground. Though the party was initially not expected to win, Fianna Fáil’s campaign took a bold turn with an ambitious manifesto, which promised significant financial and economic “sweeteners” to the electorate. These included the abolition of motor tax and rates on houses, as well as a pledge to reduce unemployment to under 100,000. While these promises would later be criticised for their cost, they resonated strongly with voters in 1977, especially during a time of economic hardship.<ref name="Echo November 2024"/> Before and during the campaign, Both ''[[The Irish Times]]'' and ''[[The Irish Press]]'', which were then edited by [[Tim Pat Coogan]], were extremely critical of the FG–Labour government's curtailment of freedom of speech and in particular of [[Conor Cruise O'Brien]], the [[Minister for Posts and Telegraphs]], who used these restrictions against the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|Provisional IRA]].
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2021}}


The Fianna Fáil campaign was heavily focused on Jack Lynch's personal popularity. His leadership, calm manner, and widespread appeal across the country were central to the campaign’s success.<ref name="Echo November 2024"/> The party’s director of elections, [[Séamus Brennan]], ran an American-style operation, with Lynch touring the country to rally support. His slogan, “Bring Back Jack,” capitalised on his image as a dependable and unifying figure, drawing huge crowds. The campaign was marked by music, rallies, and a strong sense of momentum as Fianna Fáil sought to capitalise on public discontent with the coalition government.<ref name="Echo November 2024"/>
In spite of having faced some controversial issues during its term of office, the ruling [[Fine Gael]]–[[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] coalition looked set to defy political history by winning an unprecedented second term. This belief was further augmented following the so-called "[[Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974|Tullymander]]" of parliamentary constituencies. This refers to the [[Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government|Minister for Local Government]] [[James Tully (Irish politician)|James Tully]], and his scheme of redrawing every constituency in the country in an effort to maximise the vote for the coalition partners. For example, in [[Dublin]] there were thirteen three-seat constituencies. It was hoped that the coalition partners would win two of the seats, leaving [[Fianna Fáil]] with only one seat. A similar tactic was used in rural areas where the party was at its strongest.


⚫
==Result==
As a result of this, Fianna Fáil and its leader [[Jack Lynch]] believed that they couldn't win the general election. The party drew up a manifesto which offered the electorate a string of financial and economic "sweeteners", encouraging them to vote for Fianna Fáil. Some of the promises that were offered included the abolition of rates on houses, the abolition of car tax and the promise of reducing unemployment to under 100,000. Lynch agreed to the manifesto because he believed that the party needed something dramatic if it were to win the election.
By election day, June 16, 1977, the mood had shifted significantly. Early reports indicated that Fianna Fáil was on track to win, though the full scale of the victory was not immediately apparent. The coalition was left struggling, and the final result saw Fianna Fáil securing 84 seats in the Dáil, a gain of 15 seats and an unprecedented nine-seat majority. This victory marked the most significant electoral win in Irish history up to that point, surpassing even the achievements of Éamon de Valera in his prime. The Fine Gael and Labour parties, in contrast, suffered heavy losses, with Fine Gael losing 12 seats and Labour losing three. The defeat led to the resignation of both Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and Tánaiste Brendan Corish as leaders of their respective parties, marking a major shift in Ireland's political landscape.<ref name="Echo November 2024"/>


Fianna Fáil’s overwhelming victory was largely attributed to Lynch’s personal popularity, the appeal of the party’s economic promises, and the effective mobilisation of the electorate. The “Tullymander,” designed to secure an advantage for the coalition, ultimately had the opposite effect, contributing to the scale of their defeat. This election would also be the last time any Taoiseach led a single-party government with an overall majority in the Dáil, as Fianna Fáil’s success effectively ended the National Coalition’s tenure in power.<ref name="Echo November 2024"/>
Both ''[[The Irish Times]]'' and ''[[The Irish Press]]'', which was then edited by [[Tim Pat Coogan]], were extremely critical of the government's curtailment of freedom of speech and in particular of the [[Minister for Posts and Telegraphs]] [[Conor Cruise O'Brien]], who used these restrictions against the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|PIRA]].


The Fianna Fáil campaign was based on the [[United States|American]] model. Inspired by director of elections [[Séamus Brennan]], Lynch travelled the length and breadth of the country, music blaring, accompanied by his followers. His popularity was at its highest, and it soon became clear he might win the election. Lynch's popularity was a big electoral asset. The party slogan "Bring Back Jack" even played on Lynch's huge appeal. But the monetary sweeteners were Fianna Fáil's biggest asset.

In contrast to Fianna Fáil, the government parties of Fine Gael and the Labour Party fought the general election on their record in government. The redrawing of the constituency boundaries also gave them hope for success, however they offered little to the electorate except for the policies they had been pursuing for the previous four years.

While towards the end of the campaign Fianna Fáil were expected to win the general election, nobody predicted the scale of that victory. An unprecedented nine-seat majority in Dáil Éireann for Fianna Fáil saw the [[Government of the 20th Dáil|National Coalition]] swept from power in what was at the time the biggest political hurricane in Irish history. Only [[Éamon de Valera]] had ever done better, but only once out of 13 elections. Following the election defeat the leaders of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, [[Liam Cosgrave]] and [[Brendan Corish]] resigned as leaders of their respective parties, the first occasion in which a defeated [[Taoiseach]] or [[Tánaiste]] had done so.

"Tullymandering" and the unprecedented sweeteners were the cause for the scale of the coalition's defeat. The new government established an [[Constituency Commission|independent commission]] to carry out future boundary revisions.

⚫
==Result==
{{Irish general election header
{{Irish general election header
|elec_no = 21st
|elec_no = 21st
|elec_date = 16 June
|elec_date = 16 June
|elec_year = 1977
|elec_year = 1977
|note = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/results/general/21dail.cfm|title=21st Dáil 1977 General Election|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=19 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/gdala.htm|title=Dáil elections since 1918|work=ARK Northern Ireland|access-date=19 June 2009}}</ref><ref name=NS>[[Dieter Nohlen]] & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', pp1009-1017 {{ISBN|978-3-8329-5609-7}}</ref>
|note =<ref>{{cite web |title=Election results and transfer of votes in general election (June, 1977) for twenty-first Dáil and bye-elections to twentieth Dáil (1973–1977) |url=https://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library3/Official%20Publications/pdf/21stDail_June1977_ByeElections20th_1973_1977.pdf |website=Houses of the Oireachtas |publisher=Dublin Stationery Office |access-date=2 August 2022 |date=February 1978}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/results/general/21dail.cfm|title=21st Dáil 1977 General Election|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=19 June 2009|archive-date=28 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428134659/http://electionsireland.org/results/general/21dail.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/gdala.htm|title=Dáil elections since 1918|work=ARK Northern Ireland|access-date=19 June 2009|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127122828/https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/gdala.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NS>{{cite book|author-link1=Dieter Nohlen|first1=Dieter|last1=Nohlen|first2=Philip|last2=Stöver|date=2010 |title=Elections in Europe: A data handbook|pages=1009–1017|publisher=Nomos |isbn=978-3-8329-5609-7}}</ref>
|image = [[File:Irish general election 1977.svg|center|360px]]
|image = [[File:Irish general election 1977.svg|center|360px]]
}}
}}
Line 119: Line 117:
|party = Labour Party (Ireland)
|party = Labour Party (Ireland)
|leader = [[Brendan Corish]]
|leader = [[Brendan Corish]]
|seats = 17
|seats = 17{{efn|name=CC}}
|seats_chg = –2
|seats_chg = –2
|seats_% = 11.5
|seats_% = 11.5
Line 130: Line 128:
|leader = [[Tomás Mac Giolla]]
|leader = [[Tomás Mac Giolla]]
|seats = 0
|seats = 0
|seats_chg = New
|seats_chg = –
|seats_% = 0
|seats_% = 0
|fpv = 27,209
|fpv = 27,209
|fpv_% = 1.7
|fpv_% = 1.7
|fpv_chg = –
|fpv_chg = +0.6
}}
}}
{{Irish general election party
{{Irish general election party
Line 157: Line 155:
}}
}}
{{Irish general election party
{{Irish general election party
|party = Independent politicians in Ireland
|party = Independent politician (Ireland)
|leader = ''N/A''
|leader = ''N/A''
|seats = 4
|seats = 4
Line 180: Line 178:
|}
|}
Independents include [[Independent Fianna Fáil]] (13,824 votes, 1 seat) and the Community group in Dublin (9,427 votes).
Independents include [[Independent Fianna Fáil]] (13,824 votes, 1 seat) and the Community group in Dublin (9,427 votes).
*Fianna Fáil majority government formed.


===Voting summary===
===Voting summary===
Line 189: Line 186:
|barwidth=350px
|barwidth=350px
|bars=
|bars=
{{bar percent|'''Fianna Fáil'''|{{Fianna Fáil/meta/color}}|50.63}}
{{bar percent|'''Fianna Fáil'''|{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}|50.63}}
{{bar percent|Fine Gael|{{Fine Gael/meta/color}}|30.49}}
{{bar percent|Fine Gael|{{party color|Fine Gael}}|30.49}}
{{bar percent|Labour|{{Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color}}|11.63}}
{{bar percent|Labour|{{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}|11.63}}
{{bar percent|Sinn Féin (Workers' Party)|{{Workers' Party of Ireland/meta/color}}|1.70}}
{{bar percent|Sinn Féin (Workers' Party)|{{party color|Workers' Party (Ireland)}}|1.70}}
{{bar percent|Others|#777777|0.09}}
{{bar percent|Others|#777777|0.09}}
{{bar percent|Independent|{{Independent (politician)/meta/color}}|5.46}}
{{bar percent|Independent|{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}|5.46}}
}}
}}


===Seats summary===
===Seats summary===
{{bar box
{{bar box
|title=Assembly seats
|title=Dáil seats
|titlebar=#ddd
|titlebar=#ddd
|width=600px
|width=600px
|barwidth=350px
|barwidth=350px
|bars=
|bars=
{{bar percent|'''Fianna Fáil'''|{{Fianna Fáil/meta/color}}|56.76}}
{{bar percent|'''Fianna Fáil'''|{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}|56.76}}
{{bar percent|Fine Gael|{{Fine Gael/meta/color}}|29.05}}
{{bar percent|Fine Gael|{{party color|Fine Gael}}|29.05}}
{{bar percent|Labour|{{Labour Party (Ireland)/meta/color}}|11.49}}
{{bar percent|Labour|{{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}|11.49}}
{{bar percent|Independent|{{Independent (politician)/meta/color}}|2.70}}
{{bar percent|Independent|{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}|2.70}}
}}
}}


==First time TDs==
==Government formation==
[[Fianna Fáil]] formed a majority government, the [[15th government of Ireland]], led by [[Jack Lynch]] as Taoiseach. In December 1979, [[Charles Haughey]] succeeded Lynch as Taoiseach, forming the [[16th government of Ireland]].
⚫
A total of 42 TDs were elected for the first time:

==Membership changes==
===First time TDs===
⚫
42 TDs were elected for the first time:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Bertie Ahern]]
*[[Bertie Ahern]]
Line 257: Line 258:
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


==By-elections==
===Retiring TDs===
*[[Myra Barry]]
*[[Gus Healy]]

*[[Clement Coughlan]]
===Defeated TDs===
*[[Liam Burke]]
*[[Liam Burke]]
⚫
*[[Ruairí Brugha]]
⚫
*[[Justin Keating]]
⚫
*[[Conor Cruise O'Brien]]
⚫
*[[Seán Flanagan]]
⚫
*[[Richard Gogan]]
⚫
*[[Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins]]
⚫
*[[Eugene Timmons]]


==Outgoing TDs==
==Seanad election==
The Dáil election was followed by an election to the [[14th Seanad]].
*[[Liam Burke]] (Lost seat)
⚫
*[[Ruairí Brugha]] (Lost seat)
⚫
*[[Justin Keating]] (Lost seat)
⚫
*[[Conor Cruise O'Brien]] (Lost seat)
⚫
*[[Seán Flanagan]] (Lost seat)
⚫
*[[Richard Gogan]] (Lost seat)
*[[Gus Healy]] (Retired)
⚫
*[[Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins]] (Lost seat)
⚫
*[[Eugene Timmons]] (Lost seat)


==See also==
==See also==
⚫
*[[Gerrymandering in Ireland]]
*[[Members of the 21st Dáil]]

*[[Government of the 21st Dáil]]
==Notes==
*[[Ministers of State of the 21st Dáil]]
{{notelist}}
⚫
*[[Gerrymandering#Ireland|Gerrymandering in Ireland]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|first1=Ted|last1=Nealon|author-link1=Ted Nealon|first2=Frank|last2=Dunlop|author-link2=Frank Dunlop (civil servant)|date=1977|title=Ted Nealon's guide to the 21st Dáil and Seanad|publisher=Platform Press |isbn=0950598410}}


{{Irish elections}}
{{Irish elections}}

Latest revision as of 16:56, 5 December 2024

1977 Irish general election
← 1973 16 June 1977 1981 →
148 seats in Dáil Éireann[a]
75 seats needed for a majority
Turnout76.3% Decrease 0.3 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Jack Lynch 1979 (cropped).jpg
Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave-Patricks Day 1976.jpg
Brendan Corish 1949.png
Leader Jack Lynch Liam Cosgrave Brendan Corish
Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour
Alliance National Coalition National Coalition
Leader since 9 November 1966 21 April 1965 2 March 1960
Leader's seat Cork City Dún Laoghaire Wexford
Last election 69 seats, 46.2% 54 seats, 35.1% 19 seats, 13.7%
Seats won 84 43 17
Seat change Increase15 Decrease12 Decrease3
Popular vote 811,615 488,767 186,410
Percentage 50.6% 30.5% 11.6%
Swing Increase4.4 pp Decrease4.6 pp Decrease2.1 pp
Percentage of seats gained by each of the three major parties, and number of seats gained by smaller parties and independents.
Taoiseach before election

Liam Cosgrave
Fine Gael

Taoiseach after election

Jack Lynch
Fianna Fáil

The 1977 Irish general election to the 21st Dáil was held on Thursday, 16 June, following the dissolution of the 20th Dáil on 25 May by President Patrick Hillery on the request of Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave. The general election took place in 42 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas, an increase of four seats. There was a significant revision of constituencies under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974. Jack Lynch led Fianna Fáil to a landslide election win, clearly defeating the outgoing Fine Gael–Labour government.

The 21st Dáil met at Leinster House on 5 July to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new government of Ireland. Jack Lynch was appointed Taoiseach, forming the 15th government of Ireland, a single-party majority Fianna Fáil government. It was the last election to result in a single-party majority government.

Campaign

[edit]

In the lead-up to the 1977 general election, the Fine Gael–Labour coalition government was determined to defy political history by securing a second term. Despite facing a range of challenges, including dissatisfaction over economic conditions and rising inflation, the government hoped that the redrawing of constituency boundaries through the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974 (famously known as the “Tullymander”) would give them an advantage. The scheme, spearheaded by Minister for Local Government James Tully, was designed to maximise the coalition’s chances by gerrymandering constituencies, particularly in Dublin where new three-seat constituencies were introduced. The aim was for Fine Gael and Labour to win two of the three seats in these areas, limiting Fianna Fáil to just one. This strategy was also applied in rural areas, where Fine Gael was traditionally stronger than Labour, and was expected to consolidate the coalition’s position in power.[4]

As the election campaign progressed, however, it became clear that Fianna Fáil, under the leadership of Jack Lynch, was gaining ground. Though the party was initially not expected to win, Fianna Fáil’s campaign took a bold turn with an ambitious manifesto, which promised significant financial and economic “sweeteners” to the electorate. These included the abolition of motor tax and rates on houses, as well as a pledge to reduce unemployment to under 100,000. While these promises would later be criticised for their cost, they resonated strongly with voters in 1977, especially during a time of economic hardship.[4] Before and during the campaign, Both The Irish Times and The Irish Press, which were then edited by Tim Pat Coogan, were extremely critical of the FG–Labour government's curtailment of freedom of speech and in particular of Conor Cruise O'Brien, the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, who used these restrictions against the Provisional IRA.

The Fianna Fáil campaign was heavily focused on Jack Lynch's personal popularity. His leadership, calm manner, and widespread appeal across the country were central to the campaign’s success.[4] The party’s director of elections, Séamus Brennan, ran an American-style operation, with Lynch touring the country to rally support. His slogan, “Bring Back Jack,” capitalised on his image as a dependable and unifying figure, drawing huge crowds. The campaign was marked by music, rallies, and a strong sense of momentum as Fianna Fáil sought to capitalise on public discontent with the coalition government.[4]

Result

[edit]

By election day, June 16, 1977, the mood had shifted significantly. Early reports indicated that Fianna Fáil was on track to win, though the full scale of the victory was not immediately apparent. The coalition was left struggling, and the final result saw Fianna Fáil securing 84 seats in the Dáil, a gain of 15 seats and an unprecedented nine-seat majority. This victory marked the most significant electoral win in Irish history up to that point, surpassing even the achievements of Éamon de Valera in his prime. The Fine Gael and Labour parties, in contrast, suffered heavy losses, with Fine Gael losing 12 seats and Labour losing three. The defeat led to the resignation of both Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and Tánaiste Brendan Corish as leaders of their respective parties, marking a major shift in Ireland's political landscape.[4]

Fianna Fáil’s overwhelming victory was largely attributed to Lynch’s personal popularity, the appeal of the party’s economic promises, and the effective mobilisation of the electorate. The “Tullymander,” designed to secure an advantage for the coalition, ultimately had the opposite effect, contributing to the scale of their defeat. This election would also be the last time any Taoiseach led a single-party government with an overall majority in the Dáil, as Fianna Fáil’s success effectively ended the National Coalition’s tenure in power.[4]

Election to the 21st Dáil – 16 June 1977[5][6][7][8]
Party Leader Seats ± % of
seats 		First pref.
votes 		% FPv ±%
Fianna Fáil Jack Lynch 84 +15 56.8 811,615 50.6 +4.4
Fine Gael Liam Cosgrave 43 –11 29.0 488,767 30.5 –4.6
Labour Brendan Corish 17[a] –2 11.5 186,410 11.6 –2.1
Sinn Féin The Workers' Party Tomás Mac Giolla 0 – 0 27,209 1.7 +0.6
Irish Republican Socialist Seamus Costello 0 New 0 955 0.1 –
Communist Michael O'Riordan 0 – 0 544 0.0 –
Independent N/A 4 +2 2.7 87,527 5.5 +2.6
Spoilt votes 13,743 — —
Total 148 +4 100 1,616,770 100 —
Electorate/Turnout 2,118,606 76.3% —

Independents include Independent Fianna Fáil (13,824 votes, 1 seat) and the Community group in Dublin (9,427 votes).

Voting summary

[edit]
First preference vote
Fianna Fáil
 
 50.63%
Fine Gael
 
 30.49%
Labour
 
 11.63%
Sinn Féin (Workers' Party)
 
 1.70%
Others
 
 0.09%
Independent
 
 5.46%

Seats summary

[edit]
Dáil seats
Fianna Fáil
 
 56.76%
Fine Gael
 
 29.05%
Labour
 
 11.49%
Independent
 
 2.70%

Government formation

[edit]

Fianna Fáil formed a majority government, the 15th government of Ireland, led by Jack Lynch as Taoiseach. In December 1979, Charles Haughey succeeded Lynch as Taoiseach, forming the 16th government of Ireland.

Membership changes

[edit]

First time TDs

[edit]

42 TDs were elected for the first time:

Retiring TDs

[edit]

Defeated TDs

[edit]

Seanad election

[edit]

The Dáil election was followed by an election to the 14th Seanad.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Including Seán Treacy (Lab), returned automatically for Tipperary South as outgoing Ceann Comhairle, under Art. 16.6 of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 1963, as adapted by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974.[1][2][3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Electoral Act 1963, s. 14: Re-election of outgoing Ceann Comhairle (No. 19 of 1963, s. 14). Enacted on 12 July 1963. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  2. ^ Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974, s. 5: Re-election of outgoing Ceann Comhairle (No. 7 of 1974, s. 5). Enacted on 7 May 1974. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  3. ^ "21st Dáil 1977: Tipperary South". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f O’Keeffe, Donal (9 November 2024). "'Jack is back' papers wrote following Fianna Fáil's success at 1977 election". The Echo. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Election results and transfer of votes in general election (June, 1977) for twenty-first Dáil and bye-elections to twentieth Dáil (1973–1977)" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. Dublin Stationery Office. February 1978. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  6. ^ "21st Dáil 1977 General Election". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 28 April 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  7. ^ "Dáil elections since 1918". ARK Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  8. ^ Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. Nomos. pp. 1009–1017. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7.

Further reading

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=1977_Irish_general_election&oldid=1261351411"