The 8th Seanad was in office from 1954 to 1957. An election to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), followed the 1954 general election to the 15th Dáil. The senators served until the close of poll for the 9th Seanad in 1957.

Cathaoirleach

On 22 July 1954, Patrick Baxter (CnaT), was proposed by Michael Hayes (FG) and seconded by William Quirke (FF) for the position of Cathaoirleach. He was elected unopposed.

On 27 July 1954, Liam Ó Buachalla (FF), Cathaoirleach of the 7th Seanad, was proposed by Frederick Hawkins (Ind) and seconded by Michael Hayes (FG) for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach. He was elected unopposed.

Composition of the 8th Seanad

There are a total of 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels, 6 were elected from two university constituencies and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach.

The following table shows the composition by party when the 8th Seanad first met on 22 July 1954.

OriginPartyVocational panelsNUIDUNominatedTotal
AdminAgriCult & EducInd & CommLabour
Fianna Fáil3424100014
Fine Gael2312120314
Labour Party011130039
Clann na Talmhan020000013
Independent2112523420
Total7115911331160

List of senators

  • Note: The entries for Senators who were elected or appointed to fill vacancies are shown in italics
NamePanelPartyNotes
Gerry L'EstrangeAdministrative PanelFine Gael
James McGeeAdministrative PanelIndependentDied on 19 January 1956
John L. O'SullivanAdministrative PanelFine Gael
Margaret Mary PearseAdministrative PanelFianna Fáil
Thomas RuaneAdministrative PanelFianna Fáil
Patrick TeehanAdministrative PanelFianna Fáil
Louis WalshAdministrative PanelIndependent
William WoodsAdministrative PanelIndependentElected to Seanad at a by-election on 14 May 1956, replacing James McGee
Patrick BaxterAgricultural PanelClann na Talmhan
Patrick CoganAgricultural PanelFianna Fáil
Bernard CommonsAgricultural PanelClann na Talmhan
John MannionAgricultural PanelFine Gael
James J. McCreaAgricultural PanelLabour
William O'CallaghanAgricultural PanelFine Gael
Patrick O'ReillyAgricultural PanelFianna Fáil
Timothy O'SullivanAgricultural PanelFianna Fáil
Micheál PrendergastAgricultural PanelFine Gael
William QuirkeAgricultural PanelFianna FáilDied on 5 March 1955
John Donnelly SheridanAgricultural PanelIndependent
Joe SheridanAgricultural PanelIndependentElected to Seanad at a by-election on 14 May 1956, replacing William Quirke
James CrosbieCultural and Educational PanelFine Gael
Michael ffrench-O'CarrollCultural and Educational PanelIndependent
Eamon KissaneCultural and Educational PanelFianna Fáil
Liam Ó BuachallaCultural and Educational PanelFianna Fáil
Thomas J. O'ConnellCultural and Educational PanelLabour
Seamus BohanIndustrial and Commercial PanelIndependentElected to Seanad at a by-election on 14 May 1956, replacing Andrew Clarkin
Denis BurkeIndustrial and Commercial PanelFine Gael
Andrew ClarkinIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna FáilDied on 23 November 1955
Mary DavidsonIndustrial and Commercial PanelLabour
Jane DowdallIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna Fáil
Seán HartneyIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna Fáil
John LynchIndustrial and Commercial PanelFine Gael
Peter LynchIndustrial and Commercial PanelIndependent
Edward McGuireIndustrial and Commercial PanelIndependent
James O'KeeffeIndustrial and Commercial PanelFine GaelElected to Seanad at a by-election on 14 May 1956, replacing Matthew Smith
Matthew SmithIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna FáilDied on 3 November 1955
Richard AnthonyLabour PanelIndependent
John ButlerLabour PanelFine Gael
Victor CartonLabour PanelFine Gael
Patrick CrowleyLabour PanelLabour
Frederick HawkinsLabour PanelIndependentDied on 2 August 1956
Seán HayesLabour PanelFianna Fáil
Liam KellyLabour PanelIndependent
Dominick MurphyLabour PanelLabour
Frank PurcellLabour PanelIndependent
Seán RuaneLabour PanelIndependent
Patrick TierneyLabour PanelLabour
Henry BarnivilleNational University of IrelandFine Gael
Roger McHughNational University of IrelandIndependent
George O'BrienNational University of IrelandIndependent
William FearonDublin UniversityIndependent
Owen Sheehy-SkeffingtonDublin UniversityIndependent
William Bedell StanfordDublin UniversityIndependent
Patrick BerginNominated by the TaoiseachLabour
Arthur CoxNominated by the TaoiseachIndependent
James G. DouglasNominated by the TaoiseachIndependentDied on 16 September 1954
John DouglasNominated by the TaoiseachIndependentNominated on 1 October 1954, replacing James G. Douglas
Henry Eustace GuinnessNominated by the TaoiseachIndependent
Michael HayesNominated by the TaoiseachFine Gael
James HickeyNominated by the TaoiseachLabour
John MeighanNominated by the TaoiseachClann na Talmhan
Frank J. Hugh O'DonnellNominated by the TaoiseachIndependent
Patrick O'GormanNominated by the TaoiseachFine Gael
James ReidyNominated by the TaoiseachFine Gael
James TunneyNominated by the TaoiseachLabour

Changes

DatePanelLossGainNote
16 September 1954Nominated by the TaoiseachIndependentDeath of James G. Douglas
1 October 1954Nominated by the TaoiseachIndependentJohn Douglas nominated to replace James G. Douglas
5 March 1955Agricultural PanelFianna FáilDeath of William Quirke
3 November 1955Industrial and Commercial PanelFianna FáilDeath of Matthew Smith
23 November 1955Industrial and Commercial PanelFianna FáilDeath of Andrew Clarkin
19 January 1956Administrative PanelIndependentDeath of James McGee
14 May 1956Agricultural PanelIndependentJoe Sheridan elected at a by-election to succeed William Quirke
14 May 1956Industrial and Commercial PanelFine GaelJames O'Keeffe elected at a by-election to succeed Matthew Smith
14 May 1956Industrial and Commercial PanelIndependentSeamus Bohan elected at a by-election to succeed Andrew Clarkin
14 May 1956Administrative PanelIndependentWilliam Woods elected at a by-election to succeed James McGee
2 August 1956Labour PanelIndependentDeath of Frederick Hawkins

External links

  • . Oireachtas Debates.