The 1961 Irish general election was held on Wednesday, 4 October, just over three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 8 September. The newly elected members of the 17th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 11 October, when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed. The general election took place in 38 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 144 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann, which had been reduced in size by three seats from the previous election by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1961.