1938 Irish presidential election

none November 2021 November 2021 1938 Irish presidential election Ireland presidential no 1945 Irish presidential election 1945 31 May 1938(Unopposed) Douglas Hyde, circa 1940.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Douglas Hyde Independent politician (Ireland) President New office Douglas Hyde Independent politician (Ireland) The 1938 Irish presidential election was the first Irish presidential election, held to fill the new office of president of Ireland. Procedure The office of president was established by Article 12 of the new Constitution of Ireland, which came into force on 29 December 1937. Article 57 of the Constitution provided that the president would enter office not later than 180 days after that date. Until the inauguration of the first president, the powers and functions of the office were carried out by a Presidential Commission consisting of the Chief Justice, the President of the High Court and the Ceann Comhairle. On 14 April 1938, Minister for Local Government and Public Health Seán T. O'Kelly made an order under section 6 of the Presidential Elections Act 1937 opening nominations, with noon on 4 May as the deadline for nominations, and 31 May set as the date for a poll (if any).Presidential election 16 April 1938 The Irish Times Under Article 12, candidates could be nominated by: at least twenty of the 198 serving members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, or at least four of 31 councils of the administrative counties, including county boroughs. All Irish citizens on the Dáil electoral register were eligible to vote. Nomination process The first candidate to seek a nomination was Alfie Byrne, who had been serving as Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1930, and would continue in that position until 1939.The Presidency of Eire. Agreed Candidate Question. Lord Mayor appoints Election Agent https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1938/0420/Pg007.html#Ar00707 subscription 20 April 1938 The Irish Times 7 On 21 April, representatives of the two major parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, met and agreed to nominate Douglas Hyde for the office.Dr. Douglas Hyde chosen for Presidency of Eire. Agreed Candidate of Two Parties 22 April 1938 The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1938/0422/Pg007.html subscription 7 Hyde had been the first president of the Gaelic League, from 1893 to 1915, and was a nominated member of the 2nd Seanad.The New Senate Complete. Mr De Valera's Chosen Eleven https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1938/0401/Pg007.html#Ar00700 The Irish Times subscription 1 April 1938 7 The following day, Labour Party leader William Norton expressed his approval in the Dáil of the nomination of Hyde, and Alfie Byrne issued a statement ending his nomination campaign.Lord Mayor and the Presidency. Will not now seek nomination 23 April 1938 https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1938/0423/Pg009.html#Ar00908 subscription The Irish Times 9 At the close of nominations, Hyde was the only nominated candidate, with two separate nomination forms received on behalf of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Oireachtas members. Accepting the nominations and his election to office on 4 May, Hyde said, "I accept this office willingly, but with humility. I will do my best to carry out my duties in the future".Eire's First President. Dr Douglas Hyde Elected 5 May 1938 subscription The Irish Times 9 https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1938/0505/Pg009.html#Ar00900 Result 1938 Irish presidential electionhttps://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/presidential-election-results-1938-2018.doc Presidential Elections 1938–2018 Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Douglas Hyde Independent politician (Ireland) Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael After the close of nominations on 4 May, the election scheduled for 31 May was cancelled as superfluous, and 1 June was set as the date of Hyde's inauguration as President. However, on 27 May, the 9th Dáil was dissolved and a general election called for 17 June. Since the Constitution mandates that members of the Dáil be present when the President takes his oath of office, the inauguration was postponed until 25 June.Installation of President; Postponed Till End of June https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1938/0528/Pg009.html#Ar00905 25 February 2021 subscription The Irish Times 28 May 1938 9 References collapsed Category:1938 elections in the Republic of Ireland Presidential election Category:Presidential elections in Ireland Category:Uncontested elections Category:June 1938 in Europe