An election to Dublin Corporation took place in January 1899 as part of that year's Irish local elections.
Before the next regular local elections, the jurisdiction of the city of Dublin was expanded under the Dublin Corporation Act 1900 (63 & 64 Vict. c. cclxiv). Elections were held for 20 additional seats in this area at the 1901 Dublin Corporation election.
Background The election, being the first following the 1898 changes to Irish local government, saw substantive changes to the franchise. Prior to these changes, the franchise had been restricted to males over the age of 21 who had maintained a continual residence within the borough for the preceding 2 years and 8 months, thereby preventing Dublin's large lodger and floating tenement population from voting.O'Brien 1982 p.72 As a result of the changes the franchise increased from 7,964 in the previous elections to 38,719. Among these voters were 6,500 women who could vote for the first time.
Contest The 60 seats for election were contested by 120 candidates; 18 Unionists, 10 Labourites, 88 Nationalists, and 1 representative of the Irish Socialist Republican Party.O'Brien 1982 p.78
The election was characterised by the divide among Nationalist voters. Redmondite candidates, including Lord Mayor Daniel Tallon and Nationalist member of parliament William Redmond, criticised some nationalist members of the council for voting for the Unionist candidate, Robert Sexton, for Lord Mayor. An Anti-Redmondite ticket led by Alderman Thomas D. Pile opposed the Redmondites, although some candidates were nominated by both tickets.
This was the first time representatives of organised Labour participated in their own right, fighting under the banner of the Labour Electoral Association. Previously the Labour interest had been represented by Nationalist "Labour" spokespersons. That being said, the party only contested 10 of Dublins 60 seats, meaning the party did not even put forward 1 candidate per ward. Some of the party's candidates were additionally nominated by one of the nationalist tickets.
Results The election saw the Redmondites, who had previously dominated the council, substantially reduced. The Redmondites had previously held 44 of the 60 seats in the old council. Following the election the Redmondites held only 18. United Irish League representation increased substantially to 27. Labour representation increased from 3 to 8, whilst Unionist representation declined to 7.O'Brien 1982 pp.285–294
Results by party PartySeats±VotesT %±% 27 18 8 7Totals60100%—
Results by ward
Arran Quay Ward
Fitzwilliam Ward
Inns Quay Ward
Mansion House Ward
Merchants' Quay Ward
Mountjoy Ward
North City Ward
North Dock Ward
Rotunda Ward
Royal Exchange Ward
South City Ward
South Dock Ward
Trinity Ward
Usher's Quay Ward
Wood Quay Ward
References Sources
Citations