The 1923 Irish general election to elect the 4th Dáil was held on Monday, 27 August, following the dissolution of the Third Dáil on 9 August 1923. It was the first general election held since the establishment of the Irish Free State on 6 December 1922. The election was held shortly after the end of the Irish Civil War in May 1923. Many of the Republican TDs, who represented the losing anti-Treaty side, were still imprisoned during and after the election and had committed to not participating in the Dáil if elected.

Quick Facts All 153 seats in Dáil Éireann 77 seats needed for a majority, Turnout ...

1923 Irish general election

← 1922 27 August 1923 Jun 1927 →
← outgoing members elected members →
All 153 seats in Dáil Éireann 77 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	61.3% 1.2pp
First party Second party   Leader W. T. Cosgrave Éamon de Valera Party Cumann na nGaedheal Republican Leader since April 1923 1917 Leader's seat Carlow–Kilkenny Clare Last election 58 seats, 38.5% 36 seats, 21.8% Seats won 63 44 Seat change 5[lower-alpha 1] 8[lower-alpha 2] Popular vote 410,695 288,794 Percentage 39.0% 27.4% Swing 0.5%[lower-alpha 1] 5.6%[lower-alpha 2]   Third party Fourth party   Leader Denis Gorey Thomas Johnson Party Farmers' Party Labour Leader since 1922 1922 Leader's seat Carlow–Kilkenny Dublin County Last election 7 seats, 7.8% 16 seats, 21.3% Seats won 15 14 Seat change 8 3 Popular vote 127,184 111,939 Percentage 12.1% 10.6% Swing 4.3% 10.7%
Election results and first-preference votes in each constituency Number of seats gained by each party in each constituency
President of the Executive Council before election W. T. Cosgrave Cumann na nGaedheal President of the Executive Council after election W. T. Cosgrave Cumann na nGaedheal

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The 4th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 19 September to nominate the President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of the Irish Free State for appointment by the Governor-General. Cumann na nGaedheal, the successor to the Pro-Treaty wing of Sinn Féin, won the election and formed the government.^[1]

It was the first general election fought since the establishment of the Irish Free State and the adoption of the Constitution of the Irish Free State on 6 December 1922. It was contested under the Electoral Act 1923, which increased the seats in the Dáil from 128 to 153, and introduced a franchise of all citizens over the age of 21, without distinction of sex. Lax electoral practices were tightened up by The Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act 1923.^[2]

Most parties made gains, in part because the total number of seats in the Dáil was increased by 25 from 128 to 153.

The Republican TDs continued to abstain from the Dáil. Therefore, Cumann na nGaedheal had a majority of seats which were taken in the Dáil and formed the 2nd Executive Council of the Irish Free State on 19 September 1923.