Irish presidential election, 1966

Irish presidential election, 1966

1 June 1966

Turnout 65.3%   Nominee Éamon de Valera Tom O'Higgins Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Popular vote 558,861 548,144 Final percentage 50.5% 49.5%

President before election Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil Elected President Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil

The Irish presidential election of 1966 was the fifth presidential election in Ireland and was held on 1 June 1966. Outgoing president Éamon de Valera, 83 and with a rapidly deteriorating eyesight, reluctantly agreed under pressure from his Fianna Fáil party to seek a second term. Fine Gael decided to run one of its younger TDs, Tom O'Higgins, against him. In an astonishing upset, O'Higgins came within 1% (or 10,000 votes) of defeating de Valera. De Valera left the blame for this near-defeat with his campaign manager Charles Haughey.

Result

See also

• President of Ireland

References

Elections and referendums in the Republic of Ireland
General elections	1918 1921 1922 1923 1927 (Jun) 1927 (Sep) 1932 1933 1937 1938 1943 1944 1948 1951 1954 1957 1961 1965 1969 1973 1977 1981 1982 (Feb) 1982 (Nov) 1987 1989 1992 1997 2002 2007 2011 2016 next By-elections
Seanad elections	1925
Presidential elections	1938 1945 1952 1959 1966 1973 1974 1976 1983 1990 1997 2004 2011
European elections	1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014
Local elections	1920 1925 1928 1934 1942 1945 1950 1955 1960 1967 1974 1979 1985 1991 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014
Referendums	1937 1959 1968 1972 (May) 1972 (Dec) 1979 1983 1984 1986 1987 1992 (Jun) 1992 (Nov) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 (Mar) 2002 (Oct) 2004 2008 2009 2011 2012 (May) 2012 (Nov) 2013 2015
See also: Elections in the Kingdom of Ireland Elections in Ireland as part of the UK Elections in Northern Ireland