The 1922 Seanad was the part of the Seanad of the Irish Free State (1922–1936) in office from the establishment of the Seanad in 1922 to the 1925 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 1922 Seanad included 30 members nominated by the President of the Executive Council and the 30 members elected by the Dáil in the 1922 Seanad election. It was first constituted on 8 December 1922.

It sat as a second chamber to 3rd Dáil elected at the 1922 general election and the 4th Dáil elected at the 1923 general election. The Seanad of the Irish Free State was not numbered after each election, with the whole period later considered the First Seanad.

Initial membership During the negotiations in 1921 of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Arthur Griffith gave assurances to southern unionists and the British government that unionists would have adequate representation in the new parliament to safeguard their interests. Griffith himself died in August 1922, and was succeeded as President of Dáil Éireann by W. T. Cosgrave. The 3rd Dáil, elected in June 1922 as a "provisional parliament" or "constituent assembly", approved the Constitution of the Irish Free State in September, and continued as the Dáil of the new Free State when the Constitution came into force on 6 December 1922.

Article 12 of the Constitution established the Oireachtas as a bicameral legislature consisting of a Chamber of Deputies called Dáil Éireann and a Senate called Seanad Éireann. The Constitution specified a 60-seat Seanad, with senators serving 12-year terms and divided into four cohorts with one cohort re-elected every three years.Constitution of the Irish Free State, Articles 31, 32

Article 82 of the Constitution provided that the composition of the 1922 Seanad was to be 30 elected by the Dáil and 30 nominated by the President of the Executive Council who should "have special regard to the providing of representation for groups or parties not then adequately represented in Dáil Éireann".Constitution of the Irish Free State, Article 82 Those elected by the Dáil would provide the first and third, for re-election in 1925 and 1931; while those nominated by the President would provide the second and fourth cohorts, for re-election in 1928 and 1934. In October 1922, the provisional parliament passed a resolution moved by W. T. Cosgrave which stated that the President should "consult with representative persons and bodies, including the following: Chamber of Commerce, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the benchers of the Honourable Society of King's Inns, Dublin, the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, Councils of the County Boroughs of the Irish Free State". Cosgrave announced his selection in the Dáil on 6 December 1922, immediately after his election as president had been ratified by the Governor-General. The 15 who would serve 12-year terms were selected by lot. The 1922 Seanad election by members of the Dáil took place on 7 December.

Of the sixty members of the 1922 Seanad, 36 were Catholic, 20 were Protestant, 3 were Quakers and 1 was Jewish. It contained 7 peers, a dowager countess (Ellen, Countess of Desart, who was Jewish), 5 baronets and several knights. The New York Times remarked that the first senate was "representative of all classes". It was described in 2008 as "the most curious political grouping in the history of the Irish state".

On 26 November 1924, Alice Stopford Green presented to the Seanad a vellum parchment signed by all but one member of the 1922–1925 Seanad, in an ornate casket commissioned from Mia Cranwill based on Gallarus Oratory. After the abolition of the Seanad in 1936, the casket was donated to the Royal Irish Academy.

Cathaoirleach When the Seanad first convened on 11 December 1922, Sir Thomas Esmonde proposed that George Sigerson, as the oldest member, sit as temporary chairman. This was seconded by Alice Stopford Green and agreed by the Seanad. Sigerson sat again as temporary chairman on the following day. Later on 12 December, Lord Glenacy was proposed by John MacLoughlin and seconded by Henry Guinness for the position of chairman for one year. This was agreed without a vote, but with Maurice George Moore and Jennie Wyse Power speaking against. On the same day, James Douglas was proposed by Edward MacLysaght and seconded by James Moran for the position of vice-chairman for one year, and this was agreed by the Seanad. Their positions were confirmed on 12 December 1923.

Party composition The following table shows the composition by party when the 1922 Seanad first met on 11 December 1922.

PartySeats 13 4 1 42Total60

List of senators

Changes

Footnotes

Sources Constitution of the Irish Free State

References