From the 1985 local elections, Labour candidates Frank Smyth and Tim Wilson who ran in the Ballybrack ward.
Aside from the profiles of Frank Smyth and Tim Wilson,Rezoning issue and advocating control on the price of building land are amongst the things mentioned. There is also a message from the then local Labour TD Barry Desmond.
Frank Smyth, Tim Wilson -Labour Party -Ballybrack 1985 LE February 13, 2010
Liam Cosgrave – Fine Gael – Dun Laoghaire 1989 February 1, 2010
The now disgraced former Fine Gael TD Liam T. Cosgrave from the 1989 General Election in Dun Laoghaire.
From a Fine Gael dynasty, Liam T Cosgrave is son of former Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and also grandson of another former Fine Gael leader W. T. Cosgrave.
Having lost his seat in 1987 Liam Cosgrave again failed to win a seat in 1989 despite having won the fourth most first preferences in a five seat constituency.
In 2003 he resigned from Fine Gael, after evidence in the Mahon tribunal heard that Cosgrave had accepted illegal payments from property developers in return for voting to rezone property in Dublin. In 2005, Cosgrave pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to disclose to the Standards in Public Office Commission a political donation of £2,500 received from lobbyist Frank Dunlop. He was sentenced to 75 hours Community Service.
“How many Councillors does it take to turn off The Water Tax?”-Democratic Left -1994 January 25, 2010
The Democratic Left were opposed to Water charges, Water Tax or Water Rates. They wanted to put pressure on other councillors to oppose them too.
Looking at the previous years vote thats shown, some Fine Gael and Fianna Fail voted against the charges.
The Government were seen to be bringing in these extra taxes whilst at the same time having the Tax Amnesty.
“In 1985 the Councils in Dublin, following the election of councillors such as The Democratic Lefts Eamon Gilmore…….” took a bit of phrasing considering Gilmore was elected for The Workers Party.
“150 words about local issues in Dun Laoghaire” Eamon Gilmore -Workers Party- 1989 GE January 23, 2010
From the 1989 General election where the then Councillor Gilmore wins a Dail seat. It was a breakthrough for the Workers Party as they had 7 TDs elected.
I wonder how many of the “150 words about local issues in Dun Laoghaire” are still valid today.
I’m curious about the reference to ‘..Maternity pay for teachers..” though. Is Hogweed still a problem too?
Owen Hammond Letter to the Electorate- Fianna Fail- November 1982 GE Dun Laoghaire January 13, 2010
A Letter from Fianna Fail candidate Owen Hammond in the November 1982 General Election where he stood in Dun Laoghaire. The fact that it’s personally signed illustrates the changes over the years…These days it would be a ‘sorry I missed you’ card with the pre printed signature.
Hammond polled 893 votes as Fine Gael won 3 of the 5 seats.
Ivor Callelys Internet Safety Message- 2007 GE January 9, 2010
“From the desk of Ivor Callely T.D., Dail Eireann” ….. A guide to Internet Safety.
From the 2007 General election campaign. It must have been prompted by some News Story (or urban myth) about children and the Internet.
Owen Hammond, Richard Conroy, Noel Long, Noirin Butler – Ballybrack 1991 LE
From the 1991 local elections in Ballybrack. Richard Conroy held on to his seat, the long serving Owen Hammond lost his and Noel Long and Noirin Butler failed to be elected.
There had been a lot of accusations regarding planning decisions in the area (see here for an example) which would not have favoured Fianna Fail nor indeed Fine Gael.
Flor O’Mahony, Jane Dillon Byrne -Labour- Dun Laoghaire 1989 January 8, 2010
With Barry Desmond off to Europe, Labours chances of retaining the seat were slim, especially with the Workers Partys Eamon Gilmore on the up. A two candidate strategy made it harder and despite the stature of both candidates the seat was lost to The Workers Party.
Jane Dillon Byrne is still a councillor and the brief pen pic below only gives brief highlights of her career (another leaflet from 1985 gives a better detail) .She was also a swimming teacher…
Fianna Fail ‘Dun Laoghaire News’- 1989 GE -Brain Hillery, Betty Coffey, David Andrews January 4, 2010
From the 1989 General Election Campaign, where Fianna Fail called an unneccessary election in the hope of gaining an overall majority. Lots here of interest although these lines…..
“FIANNA FAIL IS THE PARTY
Don’t Interupt its good work”
..take some beating.
Pictured under the corny heading of ‘Tuning in to a working majority’ greeting musicians are Charlie Haughey, Betty Coffey, Brian Hillery and David Andrews behind him. (as an aside if I’m correct and its Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre in the picture…the escalator in view is where Georgie Burgess exclaims his love for Sharon in the Film ‘The Snapper’)
Click on Images to increase size
Eamon Gilmore -Labour -DunLaoghaire 2007 December 29, 2009
Eamon Gilmores 2007 leaflet. Pat Rabbitte was still Labour Party Leader. A stylish leaflet with the continued fashion of using quotes from Journalists. Also why print a picture of yourself as a five year old?
Derek McDowell-Labour- 1992- Dublin North Central December 11, 2009
Derek McDowell flew in on the Spring tide in 1992 getting almost a quarter of the votes in Dublin North Central. He held on in 1997 but lost his seat in 2002 to Finian McGrath.
Paddy Gallagher, Tony Wright – Workers Party 1987 Waterford. December 8, 2009
Paddy Gallagher had briefly been a TD between February and November 1982 when won a seat from Fianna Fails Billy Kenneally.
In November 1982 Fianna Fail won the seat back.It had been felt that Gallagher hadn’t done enough to protect jobs in Waterford.
Aside from Fianna Fail Gallagher was also hit on the left by two Independent candidates, Terry Moroney who had been part of a march from Dungarvan to Dublin protesting against Youth Unemployment and also Thomas Brennan who had been formerly a leading light in the local Labour Party.
Brian O’Shea of Labours vote held steady at around 4% in both the February and November 82 elections.
Tony Wright was added to the 1987 ticket to cover the Dungarvan side of Waterford.
Amongst the policies listed in this 1987 campaign leaflet… The idea of an agricultural Development Authority seemed innovative and, as now, Health and Social Welfare cuts are part of the bigger parties plans. Plenty of other things of interest there also.
We also have the achievements of the Workers Party TDs in the previous Dail.
Richard Boyd-Barrett -People Before Profit- Dun Laoghaire 2007 December 7, 2009
SWP man Richard Boyd-Barrett missed out on the last seat at the 2007 General election, but romped home in the 2009 locals elections and is seen as having a great chance at the next election.
Leaflet from Kevin Cronin- Labour – Blackrock 1985 Local Elections November 26, 2009
Kevin Cronins main leaflet from the 1985 local elections. He polled well but was unlucky not to take a seat.
It’s not often these days you hear sentiments such as ‘Working to change the social conditions which cause our young people to turn to crime.’
I’d love to have seen the proposed ‘Legal guidelines for the National Finances to ensure that politicians can no longer make the type of economic decisions which were taken in the late ’70s which caused our present economic plight’.
Fiona O’Malley -Progressive Democrat – 2002 Dun Laoghaire November 24, 2009
Fiona O’Malley, daughter of Dessie O’Malley, from her 2002 election campaign in Dun Laoghaire where she won a seat.
She lost it in the 2007 General Election. She now serves in the Seanad having been nominated by the Taoiseach. Fiona has two websites listed www.voteno1.com and www.no1vote.com, I wonder was one a misprint?
Betty Coffey -Fianna Fail -Dun Laoghaire 1989 November 22, 2009
Betty (Elizabeth in some records) Coffey stood in both the 1989 and 1992 General Elections for Fianna Fail in Dub Laoghaire. In this 1989 election she was just 26 votes behind party colleague Brian Hillery when she ws eliminated, Hillery was elected. Although not so much here, a lot of her other literature promoted her ‘Liberal Agenda’.
Marie Walker – Independent -Blackrock 1991 Local Elections November 21, 2009
Marie Walker from the 1991 Local Elections in Blackrock.
Mentions the proposed Oil refinery in Dublin Bay, a proposed Shopping Centre on Blackrock Seafront and other proposals now long forgoten.
‘Politicians on the Fiddle:Vote Them Out-‘Campaign for Honesty in Politics’ 1991 November 17, 2009
1991 Local Elections and a leaflet from the ‘Campaign for Honesty in Politics’ to Vote Out the Big Parties. As tribunals have shown, they were more than correct about ‘Politicians on the Fiddle’.
I’m not sure who was behind the ‘Campaign for Honesty in Politics’, names such as Michael Smith and Colm MacEochaidh have been suggested, but it may not have been them. (It was in 1995 that the reward was offered that led to the tribunals.)
I had it filed away with Green Party material from Ballybrack if that provides a clue to anyone. The Green Party and The Workers Party were the only ‘Small’ Parties to contest Ballybrack and Blackrock. Sinn Fein contested the Dun Laoghaire ward.
Anyway I’d love to know who was behind the leaflet.
As you can see the issues covered are on the Southside of Dublin. Some of the lands mentioned may have been part of the now infamous ‘Jackson Way’ land. It also illustrates the cynical way councillors were using their vote. Also mentioned is the compensation that councils had to pay developers when they refused planning permission.
Irish Election Literature 
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