# Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh

_Irish judge and 5th President of Ireland (1911-1978)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/cearbhall-o-dalaigh
Last updated: 2026-11-07

> Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh was an Irish barrister, judge and Fianna Fáil politician who served as the president of Ireland from December 1974 to October 1976. Following a breakdown in relations with the government intensified by remarks made by a senior minister, he was the first president of Ireland to resign from office.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 12 February 1911 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Bray ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894#P19))
- **Died:** 21 March 1978 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894#P570))
- **Place of death:** Dublin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Ireland ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894#P27))
- **Occupation:** judge; politician; lawyer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894#P106))
- **Political party:** Fianna Fáil ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894#P102))
- **Education:** University College Dublin; Saint Cronan's Boys' National School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894#P69))
- **Spouse:** Máirín Uí Dhálaigh ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894#P26))
- **Official website:** cearbhallodalaigh.org ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894#P856))
- **Positions held:** president of Ireland (19 December 1974 – 22 October 1976); Judge of the European Court of Justice (10 March 1973 – 19 December 1974); Chief Justice of Ireland (16 June 1961 – 22 September 1973); Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland (3 November 1953 – 22 September 1973); Attorney General of Ireland (14 June 1951 – 11 July 1953) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894#P39))

## Questions

**When was Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh born?**  
Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh was born on 12 February 1911 in Bray.

**What positions has Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh held?**  
Positions held by Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh include: president of Ireland (1974–1976); Judge of the European Court of Justice (1973–1974); Chief Justice of Ireland (1961–1973); Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland (1953–1973); Attorney General of Ireland (1951–1953).

**Where did Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh study?**  
Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh was educated at University College Dublin, Saint Cronan's Boys' National School.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cearbhall_%C3%93_D%C3%A1laigh) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q380894](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380894) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, 1975 (cropped).jpg by European Communities (CC BY 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cearbhall_%C3%93_D%C3%A1laigh,_1975_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, 1975 (cropped).jpg — European Communities, CC BY 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh". DigiNepal. Last updated 7 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/cearbhall-o-dalaigh. Retrieved 7 November 2026.