1938 Irish general election

The 1938 Irish general election to the 10th Dáil was held on Friday, 17 June following the dissolution of the 9th Dáil on 27 May 1938 by the Presidential Commission on the request of Taoiseach Éamon de Valera. It was a snap election, less than a year after the previous election, the proximate cause being the government's loss of an opposition motion recommending use of arbitration to resolve Civil Service labour disputes. The general election took place in 34 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 138 seats in Dáil Éireann. It was the first election held after the coming into force of the Constitution of Ireland on 29 December 1937. Fianna Fáil won the first overall majority in the history of the State.

1938 Irish general election

17 June 1938
138 seats in Dáil Éireann 70 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	76.7% 0.5pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Éamon de Valera W. T. Cosgrave William Norton Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour Leader since 26 March 1926 September 1934 19 July 1932 Leader's seat Clare Cork Borough Carlow–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 Popular vote 667,996 428,633 128,945 Percentage 51.9% 33.3% 10.0% Swing 6.7% 1.5% 0.3%
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 Taoiseach after election Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil

The 10th Dáil met at Leinster House on 30 June to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by President Douglas Hyde and to approve the appointment of a new government of Ireland on the nomination of the Taoiseach. Outgoing Taoiseach Éamon de Valera was re-appointed leading a single-party Fianna Fáil government.

Result

Election to the 10th Dáil – 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	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%	—

Voting summary

First preference vote Fianna Fáil   51.93% Fine Gael   33.32% Labour   10.02% Independent   4.72%

Seats summary

Dáil seats Fianna Fáil   55.80% Fine Gael   32.61% Labour   6.52% Independent   5.07%

Government formation

Fianna Fáil formed a majority government, the 2nd government of Ireland.

Changes in membership

First time TDs

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

Re-elected TDs

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

Outgoing TDs

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

Seanad election

The election was followed by an election to the 3rd Seanad.