 On 11 August 1927, having signed the Oath of Allegiance in front of a representative of the Governor-General of the Irish Free State, the TDs from what Lemass described as "a slightly constitutional party" entered the Dáil.The party had another strong showing at a fresh election in September, taking 57 seats.Lemass was one of the party's stronger performers in opposition, attacking Cumann naGadheal as being too pro-British.