Northern Ireland general election, 1921 - Definition and Overview

Two elections in Ireland took place in 1921, as a result of the Government of Ireland Act 1920 to establish the House of Commons of Northern Ireland and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. The election was used by Irish Republicans as the basis of membership of the Second Dáil. Where contested, the elections used Single Transferable Vote.

The general election to the Northern Ireland House of Commons occurred on 24 May. Of 52 seats, 40 were won by Unionists, 6 by moderate nationalists and 6 by Sinn Féin.

No actual polling took place in Southern Ireland as all 128 candidates were returned unopposed. Of these, 124 were won by Sinn Féin and four by independent Unionists representing the University of Dublin (Trinity College).

Only Sinn Féin candidates recognised the Dáil and five of these had been elected in two constituencies (Michael Collins, Eamon de Valera, Arthur Griffith, Sean Milroy and Eoin MacNeill) one in each part of Ireland. The total number of members who assembled in the Second Dáil was 125: 119 elected solely in Southern Ireland, 1 solely in Northern Ireland, and 5 in both.