Farmers' Party

Farmers' Party, a political party that appeared before the general election of 16 June 1922. It emerged as the political wing of the Irish Farmers' Union, which had been formed in 1919. With 7.8 per cent of the vote (seven seats) in 1922 and 12.1 per cent (fifteen seats) in 1923, it was a sizeable bloc in the Dáil and was generally supportive of the Cumann na nGaedheal government. Its share of the vote dropped in the elections of June and September 1927 (to 8.9 and 6.4 per cent, eleven and six seats, respectively). Following the second 1927 election its leader entered the government and much of its support base moved to Cumann na nGaedheal, though its survivors contested the 1932 general election (2.1 of the vote, three seats) and were eventually absorbed by the National Centre Party.

The party represented the interests in particular of the larger commercially oriented farmers of the east and south, but was divided on the question of tariff policy (a vital one for farmers), having both protectionist and free trade wings. It was protreaty on the constitutional issue, and its leader, Denis Gorey, defected to Cumann na nGaedheal in 1927 when plans for a merger with that party came to nothing. His successor, Michael Heffernan, became a parliamentary secretary in 1927.

John Coakley