From the 1999 Local Elections a flyer for Fine Gael candidates Mary Rachel Brophy and William Dockrell running for Fine Gael in Blackrock.
Mary Rachel Brophy would be best known for her founding of ‘Festina Lente‘ which uses Horses and horticulture to provide “a range of training, occupational, learning and employment opportunities for people whose needs are not being met in mainstream services”.
William Dockrell has an impressive political pedigree. He is the son of former TD Percy Dockrell, grandson of former TD Henry Morgan Dockrell, great grandson of Sir Maurice Dockrell a former Unionist MP. He is also brother of former councillor John H. Dockrell.

Mary Rachel Brophy , William Dockerell -Fine Gael -1999 LE Blackrock November 6, 2010
‘One of The Best ‘ Eamon Gilmore -Democratic Left- Dun Laoghaire 1992 GE November 3, 2010
From the 1992 General Election a leaflet from the then Democratic Left TD Eamon Gilmore running in Dun Laoghaire.
Some lovely slogans in ‘One of The Best‘ and ‘Make Sure Vote Gilmore‘.
We get details of how much Gilmore speaks in the Dail. The Leaflet also mentions that Gilmore ‘began the organisation of the first Peace Train‘.
(I had my doubts but here he is at the First Peace Train.)
We learn too that “He helped lead the campaign to reform his old party, and was one of the first to leave to form Democratic Left” (Should read to form New Agenda which became Democratic Left).
Gilmore was elected easily having polled 7,045 votes.
Leaflet for Richard Conroy -Fianna Fail- 1987 General Election Dun Laoghaire. October 16, 2010
From the run up to the 1987 General Election a Leaflet with Calendar and New Years Message from Fianna Fail Dun Laoghaire candidate Richard Conroy. Conroy had four previous attempts running for Fianna Fail in General Elections and had failed to win a seat. Here in 1987 he polled 2897 votes and again missed out. (His record at Electionsireland.org).
Conroy is founder and director of Conroy Diamonds and Gold, a mining and exploration company as well as Conroy Petroleum.

“..Substance and policy are more important than style and performance”- Eamon Gilmore 1992 Letter to Voters October 11, 2010
From the 1992 General Election in Dun Laoghaire a letter to voters from the Democratic Lefts Eamon Gilmore.
One line in particular stands out “….that substance and policy are more important than style and performance”.
Eamon Gilmore was elected, which was a decent performance considering the Spring Tide.

From February 1982 ‘Voters of Dun Laoghaire. For Your Future’ Vote Andrews, O’Donoghue, O Méalóid -Fianna Fail October 8, 2010
From the February 1982 General Election a leaflet from Fianna Fail in Dun Laoghaire. ‘Voters of Dun Laoghaire. For Your Future’ Vote Andrews, O’Donoghue, O Méalóid.
David Andrews and Martin O’Donoghue both held their seats, Clare O Méalóid polled 945 votes and failed to get in.
including “A message of support from Paul McGrath” -Victor Boyhan -Independent -Blackrock 2009 LE
From the 2009 Local Elections in Blackrock an election leaflet from Independent candidate (and former PD councillor) Victor Boyhan. Interestingly, a page of it is taken up with a message of support from Paul McGrath. McGrath and Boyhan spent many years together in the “Birds Nest” home on York Road in Dun Laoghaire and later down in Monkstown.
In McGraths acclaimed book “Back from the Brink” Victor Boyhan gets a number of mentions. Including “…he became one of the most outspoken voices in ensuring that Smyly Trust Homes would be covered under the State Redress Scheme, investigating the abuse of children.”
Boyhan who lost his seat in 2004 regained it here in 2009.
“How to Double Your Vote on Friday” -Helen Keogh -Progressive Democrats -1997 General Election September 30, 2010
From the 1997 General Election a leaflet from Progressive Democrat candidate Helen Keogh with the striking headline “How to Double Your Vote on Friday”.
By voting for Helen Keogh you were also voting to put Mary Harney into government, hence doubling your vote.
Helen Keogh lost her seat.
A Message from Liz O’Donnell TD (asking to vote for Victor Boyhan) -2004 LE Blackrock September 15, 2010
From the 2004 Local Elections a letter from Liz O’Donnell asking for a vote for Victor Boyhan. Oddly enough O’Donnell wasn’t a TD for the area.
Despite polling 1,433 votes (3rd after the first count in a four seater) Boyhan lost his seat. He regained it running as an Independent in 2009.

‘One man and his dog’ -Eamon Gilmore -Democratic Left -1997 GE Dun Laoghaire.
One of my favourite Eamon Gilmore Leaflets. This one is from the 1997 General election when the then Minister of State for the Marine was running for the Democratic Left.
The casual picture of him walking the dog on the beach (Killiney beach?) to him purposefully strolling around the new ferry terminal in Dun Laoghaire.
There is also small pictures of him doing activities such as fishing and meeting people like Neil Kinnock.
The ‘NIREX dump’ refered to was a proposed underground nuclear waste dump near Sellafield.

Paddy Madigan -Fianna Fail -1991 Local Elections- Blackrock September 7, 2010
From the 1991 Local Elections in the Blackrock Ward a leaflet for Fianna Fail candidate Paddy Madigan. Madigan was elected.
Madigan subsequently left Fianna Fail and stood as an Independent in the 1994 European Elections and 1997 General Election.
Note his high court challenge against the Property Tax. …. Paddy Madigan is a great grand nephew of Mayo man James Daly, a co-founder of the Land League with Michael Davitt. Daly was appointed the first secretary of the Land League in 1879.
James Daly on Wikipedia
Ciaran Cuffe -Green Party -1991 Local Elections -South Inner City September 6, 2010
From the 1991 Local Elections a leaflet for Green Party candidate Ciaran Cuffe running in the South Inner City Ward. Cuffe polled 1,141 votes and was elected comfortably. He retained his seat on Dublin City Council in 1999.
Some nice little bits here. I had forgotten about the proposed Motorway on Clanbrassil Street (Which would probably have the 30 kmh limit now!) also “He is a keen cyclist and has ridden his bicycle coast to coast across the U.S.A.”
Lots of other bibs and bobs about policy and Dublin of the time.
Many thanks to the sender.
A 2007 Fiona O’Malley leaflet praising Mary Harneys record in Health September 2, 2010
From the 2007 General Election in Dun Laoghaire, a leaflet from Progressive Democrat candidate Fiona O’Malley praising the performance of Mary Harney in Health.
Fiona, the daughter of former Minister and PD leader Des O’Malley, polled 3,959 votes and lost her seat.
In 2007 she was one of the Taoiseachs nominees to the Seanad.
Fianna Fail -Sean Lemass Cumann-Deansgrane Spring 1990 Newsletter August 26, 2010
From 1990 a local Newsletter produced by the Fianna Fail Sean Lemass Cumann in Deansgrange.
A lot of very local issues are covered as well as details of how to become a member and of a lot of Fianna Fails Dun Laoghaire representatives of the time.

Marian White Leaflet -Workers Party -1991 Local Elections Blackrock August 19, 2010
From the 1991 Local Elections, a leaflet (the general one used by most WP candidates in that election) for Workers Party candidate Marian White running in Blackrock.
She narrowly missed out on a seat.
She stood subsequently for Democratic Left in the 1992 General Election in Dublin South and for Labour in the 1999 Local Elections in Blackrock but without gaining a seat.












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