ABSTRACT
Fianna Fail’s crushing victory at the 1944 election, when it had won 76 seats out of 138, could have ensured it a further five years in office, but in the event the next election came when the twelfth Dail had fifteen months to run. The Clann won two by-elections in spectacular style in October 1947. Eamon de Valera, who had been Taoiseach since 1932, might have reacted cautiously, reasoning that the factors that had led to disappointing Fianna Fail performances in the by-elections would also count against it in a general election. Instead, he seems to have decided that the Clann would only grow stronger and better organised if allowed time to develop and that in the long run it would be best for Fianna Fail to tackle the challenge head on and as soon as possible. Clann na Poblachta was widely expected to do well at the election given the problems that all the established parties were facing.
