History of Fianna Fáil History of Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil was founded on 23 March 1926 when a group of Dail deputies led by Éamon de Valera split from Sinn Féin. This happened because de Valera's motion calling for elected members be allowed to take their seats in the Dáil, if and when the controversial Oath of Allegiance was removed, failed to pass at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis. The new party adopted its name on 2 April of the same year. From the formation of the first Fianna Fáil government on 9 March 1932 until the 2011 general election, the party was in
Elections in Northern Ireland at which nationalists failed to gain any seats. 1959 The nationalist vote fell dramatically (it would take until February 1974 to regain the heights it had reached in 1955), and Sinn Féin failed to hold the seats they had won in 1955. Both their MPs had been disqualified shortly after election anyway. 1955 Sinn Fein contested the full range of seats and united the nationalist vote behind them, winning both the seats won by nationalists in 1951. Labour candidates contested only the four Belfast seats. 1951 This was the last election at which candidates stood unopposed; four Unionist candidates in