Tags: Election.
The Irish presidential election of 1966 was the fifth presidential election in Ireland and was held on 1 June 1966. Outgoing president Éamon de Valera 83 and with a rapidly deteriorating eyesight reluctantly agreed under pressure from his Fianna Fáil party to seek a second term. Fine Gael decided to run one of its younger TDs Tom O’Higgins against him. In an astonishing upset O’Higgins came within 1% (or 10000 votes) of defeating de Valera.
