The 1931 Seanad was the part of the Seanad of the Irish Free State (1922–1936) in office from the 1931 Seanad election to the 1934 Seanad election. Elections to the Seanad, the Senate of the Oireachtas (parliament of the Irish Free State), took place on a triennial basis, with senators elected in stages. The 1931 Seanad included members nominated in 1922, and members elected at the 1925, 1928 and 1931 Seanad elections.

It sat as a second chamber to the 6th Dáil elected at the September 1927 general election, the 7th Dáil elected at the 1932 general election and the 8th Dáil elected at the 1933 general election. The Seanad of the Irish Free State was not numbered after each election, with the whole period later considered the First Seanad.

Composition of the 1931 Seanad

There were a total of 60 seats in the Seanad. In 1931, 23 senators were elected. The 1925 Seanad election was a popular election. However, at the 1928 and subsequent Free State Seanad elections, the franchise was restricted to Oireachtas members.

17 Senators had been elected at the 1928 Seanad election and 19 Senators had been elected at the 1925 Seanad election. In 1922, 30 Senators had been elected by Dáil Éireann, and 30 had been nominated by the President of the Executive Council, W. T. Cosgrave.{{cite web|url=http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/1922/12/06/00010.asp|title=President's nominees for Seanad|publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas|date=6 December 1922|accessdate=15 February 2013}}

The following table shows the composition by party when the 1931 Seanad first met on 9 December 1931.{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/senators/?term=%2Fie%2Foireachtas%2Fhouse%2Fseanad%2F1931|title=1931 Seanad|work=Oireachtas Members Database}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Party

!Seats

|20

|12

|6

|22

style="font-weight:bold; background:rgb(232,232,232);"

|colspan=2|Total

|60

List of senators

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Countess of

| lastname = Desart

| articlename = Ellen Cuffe, Countess of Desart

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = {{nowrap|Nominated in 1922}}

| term = {{nowrap|12 years}}

| filledvacancy =

| notes = Died on 29 June 1933{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=1931&MemberID=1260&ConstID=214|title=Countess of Desart|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=21 November 2009}}

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = James Charles

| lastname = Dowdall

| articlename =

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Nominated in 1922

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Sir Thomas

| lastname = Esmonde

| articlename = Sir Thomas Esmonde, 11th Baronet

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Nominated in 1922

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Earl of

| lastname = Granard

| articlename = Bernard Forbes, 8th Earl of Granard

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Nominated in 1922

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Henry

| lastname = Guinness

| articlename =

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Nominated in 1922

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Sir John

| lastname = Keane

| articlename = Sir John Keane, 5th Baronet

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Nominated in 1922

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = James

| lastname = Moran

| articlename = James Moran (Irish politician)

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Nominated in 1922

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Jennie Wyse

| lastname = Power

| articlename =

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Nominated in 1922

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Thomas Westropp

| lastname = Bennett

| articlename =

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes = Cathaoirleach

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Sir Edward Coey

| lastname = Bigger

| articlename = Edward Coey Bigger

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Francis

| lastname = McGuinness

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Henry

| lastname = Barniville

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Sir Edward

| lastname = Bellingham

| articlename = Sir Edward Bellingham, 5th Baronet

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = William

| lastname = Cummins

| articlename = William Cummins (Irish politician)

| party = Labour Party (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = James

| lastname = Dillon

| articlename = James Dillon (senator)

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Michael

| lastname = Fanning

| articlename = Michael Fanning (politician)

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Thomas

| lastname = Foran

| articlename =

| party = Labour Party (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Sir William

| lastname = Hickie

| articlename = William Hickie

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Cornelius

| lastname = Kennedy

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Thomas

| lastname = Linehan

| articlename =

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Joseph

| lastname = O'Connor

| articlename = Joseph O'Connor (Irish politician)

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = J. T.

| lastname = O'Farrell

| articlename =

| party = Labour Party (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Michael F.

| lastname = O'Hanlon

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes = Leas-Chathaoirleach

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = James

| lastname = Parkinson

| articlename = James Parkinson (Irish politician)

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Thomas

| lastname = Toal

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1925

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Samuel Lombard

| lastname = Brown

| articlename =

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1926

| term = 12 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes = Elected to Seanad at a by-election on 10 February 1926, replacing the Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=1922&MemberID=2109&ConstID=215|title=Mr. Samuel Lombard Brown|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=19 November 2009}}

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = John Philip

| lastname = Bagwell

| articlename =

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1928

| term = 6 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Alfie

| lastname = Byrne

| articlename =

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1928

| term = 6 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes = Resigned on 10 December 1931{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=1931&MemberID=137&ConstID=215|title=Mr. Alfred Byrne|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=21 November 2009}}

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Oliver St. John

| lastname = Gogarty

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1928

| term = 6 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Andrew

| lastname = Jameson

| articlename = Andrew Jameson (politician)

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1928

| term = 6 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Thomas

| lastname = Johnson

| articlename = Thomas Johnson (Irish politician)

| party = Labour Party (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1928

| term = 6 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Richard

| lastname = Wilson

| articlename = Richard Wilson (Irish politician)

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1928

| term = 6 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Kathleen

| lastname = Clarke

| articlename =

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1928

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Joseph

| lastname = Connolly

| articlename = Joseph Connolly (Irish politician)

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1928

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Seán

| lastname = Milroy

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1928

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Joseph

| lastname = O'Doherty

| articlename =

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1928

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes = Elected to 8th Dáil at the general election on 24 January 1933{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=1931&MemberID=856&ConstID=215|title=Mr. Joseph O'Doherty

|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=21 November 2009}}

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Séumas

| lastname = Robinson

| articlename = Séumas Robinson (Irish republican)

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1928

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Kathleen

| lastname = Browne

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 3 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Eileen

| lastname = Costello

| articlename =

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 3 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = William

| lastname = O'Sullivan

| articlename = William O'Sullivan (politician)

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 6 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Michael

| lastname = Comyn

| articlename =

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = John

| lastname = Counihan

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = James G.

| lastname = Douglas

| articlename =

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Michael

| lastname = Duffy

| articlename = Michael Duffy (Irish politician)

| party = Labour Party (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Thomas

| lastname = Farren

| articlename =

| party = Labour Party (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Hugh

| lastname = Garahan

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Sir John

| lastname = Griffith

| articlename = John Griffith (engineer)

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Seán

| lastname = MacEllin

| articlename =

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Ross

| lastname = McGillycuddy

| articlename =

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = James J.

| lastname = MacKean

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = John

| lastname = MacLoughlin

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Daniel

| lastname = MacParland

| articlename =

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Maurice George

| lastname = Moore

| articlename =

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Laurence

| lastname = O'Neill

| articlename =

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Brian

| lastname = O'Rourke

| articlename = Brian O'Rourke (politician)

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = William

| lastname = Quirke

| articlename =

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = David

| lastname = Robinson

| articlename = David Robinson (Irish politician)

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Séamus

| lastname = Ryan

| articlename =

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes = Died on 30 June 1933{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=1931&MemberID=1672&ConstID=215|title=Mr. Séamus Ryan|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=21 November 2009}}

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Michael

| lastname = Staines

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes =

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Arthur

| lastname = Vincent

| articlename = Arthur Vincent (politician)

| party = Independent politician (Ireland)

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1931

| term = 9 years

| filledvacancy =

| notes = Resigned on 21 February 1934{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=1931&MemberID=1701&ConstID=214|title=Mr. Arthur Vincent|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=21 November 2009}}

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = George

| lastname = Crosbie

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1932

| term = Until 1934 election

| filledvacancy = yes

| notes = Elected to Seanad at a by-election on 2 January 1932, replacing Alfie Byrne{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=1928&MemberID=1235&ConstID=215|title=Mr. George Crosbie|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=21 November 2009}}
Died on 28 November 1934

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Eamonn

| lastname = Duggan

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1933

| term = Until 1934 election

| filledvacancy = yes

| notes = Elected to Seanad at a by-election on 19 April 1933, replacing Joseph O'Doherty{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=7&MemberID=350&ConstID=148|title=Mr. Eamonn Duggan|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=21 November 2009}}

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Ernest

| lastname = Blythe

| articlename =

| party = Cumann na nGaedheal

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1934

| term = Until 1934 election

| filledvacancy = yes

| notes = Elected to Seanad at a by-election on 2 January 1934, replacing the Countess of Desart{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=1931&MemberID=61&ConstID=215|title=Mr. Ernest Blythe|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=21 November 2009}}

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Raphael

| lastname = Keyes

| articlename =

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1934

| term = Until 1934 election

| filledvacancy = yes

| notes = Elected to Seanad at a by-election on 2 January 1934, replacing Séamus Ryan{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=1931&MemberID=590&ConstID=215|title=Mr. Raphael Keyes|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=21 November 2009}}

}}

{{First Seanad member entry

| firstname = Patrick

| lastname = Lynch

| articlename = Patrick Lynch (Irish attorney general)

| party = Fianna Fáil

| enteredoffice = Elected in 1934

| term = Until 1934 election

| filledvacancy = yes

| notes = Elected to Seanad at a by-election on 28 September 1934, replacing Arthur Vincent{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=1931&MemberID=1731&ConstID=215|title=Mr. Patrick Lynch|work=Oireachtas Members Database|accessdate=21 November 2009}}

}}

Changes

{{Constituency changes

|date = 10

|month = December

|year = 1931

|gain =

|loss = Independent politician (Ireland)

|note = Resignation of Alfie Byrne

}}

{{Constituency changes

|date = 2

|month = January

|year = 1932

|gain = Cumann na nGaedheal

|loss =

|note = George Crosbie elected at a by-election to replace Alfie Byrne

}}

{{Constituency changes

|date = 24

|month = January

|year = 1933

|gain =

|loss = Fianna Fáil

|note = Joseph O'Doherty elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1933 general election

}}

{{Constituency changes

|date = 19

|month = April

|year = 1933

|gain = Cumann na nGaedheal

|loss =

|note = Eamonn Duggan elected at a by-election to replace Joseph O'Doherty

}}

{{Constituency changes

|date = 29

|month = June

|year = 1933

|gain =

|loss = Independent politician (Ireland)

|note = Death of Ellen Cuffe, Countess of Desart

}}

{{Constituency changes

|date = 30

|month = June

|year = 1933

|gain =

|loss = Fianna Fáil

|note = Death of Séamus Ryan

}}

{{Constituency changes

|date = 2

|month = January

|year = 1934

|gain = Cumann na nGaedheal

|loss =

|note = Ernest Blythe elected at a by-election to replace the Countess of Desart

}}

{{Constituency changes

|date = 2

|month = January

|year = 1934

|gain = Fianna Fáil

|loss =

|note = Raphael Keyes elected at a by-election to replace Séamus Ryan

}}

{{Constituency changes

|date = 21

|month = February

|year = 1934

|gain =

|loss = Independent politician (Ireland)

|note = Resignation of Arthur Vincent

}}

{{Constituency changes

|date = 28

|month = September

|year = 1934

|gain = Fianna Fáil

|loss =

|note = Patrick Lynch elected at a by-election to replace Arthur Vincent

}}

{{Constituency changes

|date = 28

|month = November

|year = 1934

|gain =

|loss = Cumann na nGaedheal

|note = Death of George Crosbie

}}{{end}}

References

External links

{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/find/?debateType=seanad&datePeriod=term&term=%2Fie%2Foireachtas%2Fhouse%2Fseanad%2F1931|title=1931 Seanad|work=Oireachtas Debates}}

1931