Irish general election, 1938

Irish general election, 1938

17 June 1938
137 of 138 seats in Dáil Éireann 70 seats were needed for a majority
Turnout	76.7%
First party Second party Third party   Leader Éamon de Valera W. T. Cosgrave William Norton Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour Party Leader since 26 March 1926 September 1934 1932 Leader's seat Clare Cork Borough Kildare Last election 69 seats, 45.2% 48 seats, 34.8% 13 seats, 10.3% Seats won 77 45 9 Seat change 8 3 4 Percentage 51.9% 33.3% 10.0% Swing 6.7% 1.5% 0.3%
450px Percentage of seats gained by each of the three major parties, and number of seats gained by smaller parties and independents.
Taoiseach before election Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil Subsequent Taoiseach Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil

The Irish general election of 1938 was held on 17 June 1938. The 138 newly elected members of the 10th Dáil assembled on 30 June when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed. Fianna Fáil retained power, and won the first overall majority in the history of the State.

The general election took place in 34 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 138 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann.

Result

10th Irish general election – 17 June 1938

Party		Leader	Seats	±	% of seats	First Pref votes	% FPv	±%
	Fianna Fáil	Éamon de Valera	77	+8	55.8	667,996	51.9	+6.7
	Fine Gael	W. T. Cosgrave	45	–3	32.6	428,633	33.3	–1.5
	Labour Party	William Norton	9	–4	6.5	128,945	10.0	–0.3
	Independent	N/A	7	–1	5.1	60,685	4.7	–5.0
Spoilt votes						15,811	—	—
Total			138	0	100	1,302,070	100	—
Electorate/Turnout						1,770,422	76.7%	—

• Fianna Fáil majority government formed.

First time TDs

• Erskine H. Childers
• Daniel Hogan
• James Hughes
• Frank Loughman
• Henry McDevitt
• Thomas Mullen
• Peter O'Loghlen
• Micheál Ó Móráin

Re-elected TDs

• William Broderick
• Eamonn Cooney
• Richard Mulcahy
• James Reidy

Outgoing TDs

• Archibald Heron (Lost seat)
• Gerrard McGowan (Retired)
• Edward Moane (Lost seat)
• Sydney Minch (Lost seat)
• Daniel O'Leary (Lost seat)

See also

• Members of the 10th Dáil
• Government of the 10th Dáil
• Parliamentary Secretaries of the 10th Dáil