By the time the general election was called in 1973, Fianna Fáil had been in office since March 1957, just under sixteen years. During that time the party had seen three different leaders: Éamon de Valera, Seán Lemass, and since 1966, Jack Lynch. Lynch had hoped to dissolve the Dáil in December 1972; however, events did not permit this, and the election was eventually called for February 1973.
While Fine Gael and the Labour Party had pursued individual opposition policies since 1957, they agreed to a pre-election pact to fight the election together on the issues that united them. The National Coalition, as it was known, offered the electorate the first credible alternative government in many years.
While Fianna Fáil increased its percentage of the vote, it lost seats. A transfer pact between the National Coalition parties in the single transferable vote system enabled a change of government to take place.
In an interview with Brian FarrellonRTÉ, Jack Lynch became the first Taoiseach to concede defeat live on Irish television. Although the full result was not yet known, Lynch was certain that the transfers between candidates would result in Fianna Fáil losing the general election.
The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, approved in a referendum in December 1972 and signed into law in January 1973, had reduced the voting age from 21 to 18.[3][4] However, the electoral register would not be updated until 15 April, five weeks after the election date.[3][5] A 20-year-old student, represented by Seán MacBride, sought an injunction from the High Court postponing the election to vindicate his right to vote.[3] He lost his case, although he was awarded his costs due to its "public importance".[3]
^Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Act 1972 ([1]). Enacted on 5 January 1973. Amendment to the Constitution of Ireland. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 30 March 2014.
^Registration of Electors and Juries Acts (Specification of Dates) Regulations 1963, §4(3) (S.I. No. 169 of 1963). Signed on 20 August 1963. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 26 November 2007. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 30 March 2014.
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