1973 Irish presidential election

Irish presidential election, 1973

30 May 1973
Turnout	62.2%
Nominee Erskine H. Childers Tom O'Higgins Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Popular vote 635,867 587,771 Final percentage 52.0% 48.0%
President before election Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil Elected President Erskine H. Childers Fianna Fáil

The Irish presidential election of 1973 was held on 30 May 1973. Incumbent president Éamon de Valera was 90 years old and constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. His party Fianna Fáil sought to get former Tánaiste Frank Aiken to run for the presidency, but he declined. Under pressure, former Tánaiste Erskine H. Childers agreed to run. The odds-on favourite was Fine Gael deputy leader, Tom O'Higgins, who had come within 1% of defeating Éamon de Valera in the 1966 presidential election. In a political upset, Erskine H. Childers won the presidency.

Result

Irish presidential election, 1973
Party		Candidate	1st Pref	%	Seat	Count
	Fianna Fáil	Erskine H. Childers	635,867	52.0	1	1
	Fine Gael	Tom O'Higgins	587,771	48.0
Electorate: 1,977,817   Valid: 1,223,638   Spoilt: 6,946 (0.5%)   Quota: 611,820   Turnout: 62.2%

Popular vote
Childers			52.0%
O'Higgins			48.0%

See also

• President of Ireland