REVERSE FOR MR DE VALERA

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21826, 4 July 1936, Page 15

REVERSE FOR MR DE VALERA

i DUBLIN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS LONDON, July 2. The Dublin correspondent of the 1 “Daily Telegraph” says that Mr de Valera suffered a reverse in the Dublin municipal elections, which resulted:—Cosgrave party 13, Fianna Fail 12 (the latter losing a seat to the Cosgrave party), Independents 8, Labour 2. The Fianna Fail made desperate efforts to oust Alderman Byrne as Lord Mayor. They strongly opposed him because he was the only public man to travel from the Irish Free State to attend King George’s funeral. The election was unprecedentedly fought on a political basis, the Government in its effort to win abolishing the commercial register and extending the manhood franchise. Nevertheless, Alderman Byrne headed the poll with j first preference votes, the highest 'recorded in his area. All the Independents c::cept Mr James Larkin are supporting Mr Byrne, who is assured of his seventh year of the Mayoralty. Mr W. T. Cosgrave declared that the result proved that the Government’s popularity was waning. Mr George Gilmore, a Republican, who was defeated, said it wa; i a victory for the Union Jack.