Dáil

proper noun

As a permanent institution.

Meanings

proper nounDáil (plural Dálaí or Dáils or (hypercorrect) Dáileanna)

plural Dálaí · plural Dáils · hypercorrect plural Dáileanna

  1. Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Ireland.
    1. singularsingular onlywith definite articleAs a permanent institution.

      Even though McEllistrim sat in the Dáil for over forty years, he apparently never mentioned this period in Leinster House.

      2001, T. Ryle Dwyer, Tans, Terror, and Troubles: Kerry's Real Fighting Story, 1913-1923, Cork, Ireland: Mercier, →ISBN, page 11
      1 more example

      We have introduced motions in the Dáil looking to extend voting rights to all Irish citizens in the previous three Dáileanna and in this one earlier this year.

      2025 October 22, Ann Graves, “Office of the President: Motion [Private Members]”, in Dáil Éireann debates, Oireachtas, archived from the original on 07 May 2026
    2. As a body which exists from one general election until its dissolution prior to the next general election.

      Cusack was a member of the member of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Dáils.

      2018 December 14, Rónán Duffy, “Who was your Irish MP in 1918? Here's a list of everyone elected in that historic election”, in The Journal, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2021
      4 more examples

      She served in seven Dálaí between 1965 and 1987 and held office as Minister for Health and Social Welfare in 1981.

      2022, “Eileen Desmond (1932–2005)”, in Women in the Seanad, 1922 - 2022, Oireachtas, archived from the original on 25 Mar 2023

      President Michael D Higgins will formally grant the dissolution, and the 33rd Dáil will be no more. There are, from that moment, no TDs, because there is no Dáil. A new Dáil will meet after the election, probably around December 18th.

      2024 November 5, Pat Leahy, “General election: When and how will it be called?”, in The Irish Times, archived from the original on 12 Feb 2025

      We have introduced motions in the Dáil looking to extend voting rights to all Irish citizens in the previous three Dáileanna and in this one earlier this year.

      2025 October 22, Ann Graves, “Office of the President: Motion [Private Members]”, in Dáil Éireann debates, Oireachtas, archived from the original on 07 May 2026

      I acknowledge the Labour Party has brought forward constructive proposals in relation to housing in this Dáil and the previous Dáil.

      2026 March 19, Simon Harris, “Questions on Policy or Legislation”, in Dáil Éireann debates, Oireachtas, archived from the original on 07 May 2026

Origin

  1. IrishDáil
  2. EnglishDáil

Ellipsis of Dáil Éireann, borrowed from Irish Dáil.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Dáil. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/D%C3%A1il

MLA

“Dáil.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/D%C3%A1il. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Dáil,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/D%C3%A1il.

Source: Dáil on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.