Éamon de Valera Fianna Fáil John A. Costello Fine Gael The 1954 Irish general election to elect the 15th Dáil was held on Tuesday, 18 May, following the dissolution of the 14th Dáil on 24 April by President Seán T. O'Kelly on the request of Taoiseach Éamon de Valera.

De Valera failed to secure a majority, and John A. Costello was appointed Taoiseach, forming the second inter-party government, a minority coalition of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Clann na Talmhan.

After the 1951 general election, Fianna Fáil had formed a minority single-party government.

Shortly after the Minister for Finance, Seán McEntee, had delivered the 1954 budget, Éamon de Valera called a general election.

[3][4] Fianna Fáil had the most to lose, their campaign concentrated on providing political stability for the next five years.