1957 Irish general election

1957 Irish general election

← 1954 5 March 1957 1961 →
← outgoing members elected members →
147 seats in Dáil Éireann[a] 74 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	71.3% 5.2pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Éamon de Valera Richard Mulcahy William Norton Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour Leader since 26 March 1926 1944 1932 Leader's seat Clare Tipperary South Kildare Last election 65 seats, 43.4% 50 seats, 32.0% 19 seats, 12.1% Seats before 68 48 17 Seats won 78 40 12[a] Seat change 10 8 5 Percentage 48.3% 26.6% 9.1% Swing 4.9% 5.4% 3.0%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   SF CnaT Leader Paddy McLogan Joseph Blowick Seán MacBride Party Sinn Féin Clann na Talmhan Clann na Poblachta Leader since 1950 1944 1946 Leader's seat N/A Mayo South Dublin South-West (defeated) Last election N/A 5 seats, 3.8% 3 seats, 3.1% Seats before N/A 5 3 Seats won 4 3 1 Seat change 4 2 2 Percentage 5.4% 2.4% 1.7% Swing 5.4% 1.4% 1.4%
Percentage of seats gained by each of the five biggest parties, and number of seats gained by smaller parties and independents.
Taoiseach before election John A. Costello Fine Gael Taoiseach after election Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil

The 1957 Irish general election to the 16th Dáil was held on Tuesday, 5 March, following a dissolution of the 15th Dáil on 12 February by President Seán T. O'Kelly on the request of Taoiseach John A. Costello on 4 February. It was the longest election campaign in the history of the state, spanning 30 days. The general election took place in 40 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland for 147 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas.

The 16th Dáil met at Leinster House on 20 March to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new government of Ireland. Costello lost office, and Éamon de Valera was appointed Taoiseach, forming the 8th Government of Ireland, a single-party majority Fianna Fáil government.

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