▁against ▁each ▁other ▁more ▁than ▁once . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁the ▁Union ists ▁defeated ▁S inn ▁F é in ▁by ▁a ▁solid ▁margin . ▁This ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁cont ested ▁election ▁for ▁the ▁seat ▁since ▁a ▁ 1 9 0 0 ▁by - e lection . ▁ ▁The ▁First ▁D á il ▁S inn ▁F é in ▁cont ested ▁the ▁general ▁election ▁of ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁on ▁the ▁platform ▁that ▁instead ▁of ▁taking ▁up ▁any ▁seats ▁they ▁won ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁Kingdom ▁Parliament , ▁they ▁would ▁establish ▁a ▁revolution ary ▁assembly ▁in ▁Dublin . ▁In ▁republic an ▁theory ▁every ▁MP ▁elected ▁in ▁Ireland ▁was ▁a ▁potential ▁Deput y ▁to ▁this ▁assembly . ▁In ▁practice ▁only ▁the ▁S inn ▁F é in ▁members ▁accepted ▁the ▁offer . ▁ ▁The ▁revolution ary ▁First ▁D á il ▁assemble d ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁January ▁ 1 9 1 9 ▁and ▁last ▁met ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁May ▁ 1 9 2 1 . ▁The ▁First ▁D á il , ▁according ▁to ▁a ▁resolution ▁passed ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁May ▁ 1 9 2 1 , ▁was ▁formally ▁dissol ved ▁on ▁the ▁assemb ling ▁of ▁the ▁Second ▁D á il . ▁This ▁took ▁place ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁August ▁ 1 9 2 1 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 2 1 ▁S inn ▁F é in ▁decided ▁to ▁use ▁the ▁UK ▁author ised ▁elections ▁for ▁the ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁House ▁of ▁Commons ▁and ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Commons ▁of ▁Southern ▁Ireland ▁as