From the 1991 Local Elections in Athlone. Fianna Fail candidates PJ Coghill, Sean Fallon, George Ledwith, Kieran Molloy, Egbert Moran and Cieran Temple. A strange layout of the candidates in this leaflet. Its unusual that there are no names beside the candidates pictures.I’d hazard there haven’t been too many ‘Egberts’ put before the electorate either.
In 1990 Brian Lenihan was the favourite for the Presidency…… Pee Flynns championing of stay at home mothers, the “on mature recollection” statement about phone calls in 1982 and other happenings led to the loss of the Presidency for the first time ever by Fianna Fail. Mary Robinson became our first female president.
It also ended Lenihans Ministerial career as the PDs called for his head on a plate…. and Charlie duly obliged..
The Below doc has a lovely photo of Lenihan lovingly gazing at Haughey…. the man who would sack him months later. In the family photo you may spot Conor Lenihan with hair and a young Brian junior amongst others.
Fianna Fail November 1982. This was the second election in the year and also the shortest serving Government. It was the GUBU government that did the ‘Gregory Deal’ and was to an extent dependent on support from Sinn Fein The Workers Party who later withdrew their support. That doesn’t get a mention in Haugheys message. Instead he refers to the death of Bill Loughnane and the illness of the late Jim Gibbons for this ‘unwanted and unneccessary General Election’. Yet it was a motion of confidence proposed by Mr Haughey upon which the government fell.
We have a stern Haughey trying to look Statesmanlike on the front …… a friendly but menacing looking Charlie on the inside….
The Pro-life Amendment is now an issue. The usual stuff about stability (give me an overall majority please) is there too.
The part regarding “a sovereign Independent Nation with own policy on international issues …..settlement of international disputes by peaceful means” is a reference to the Falklands war. Haughey whilst initially not supportive of Britain towed the EEC line, He broke ranks after the sinking of the Belgrano, much to Britain’s displeasure.
The 1987 General Election- Dublin South West. This is the Leaflet of Chris Flood and the late Sean Walsh.
Colm McGrath, recently charged with corruption is pictured as one of the Support Team on the back of the leaflet.
(Tony Fox leaflet : http://wp.me/pDoVn-31b and Don Lydon leaflet http://wp.me/pDoVn-FX)
Sean Walsh ‘who has a long record of dedicated public service” and “is totally committed to the needs of his constituency through his council involvement, his Dail experience and his local knowledge” came to the attention of the Planning Tribunals. ….. “his council involvement ……. and his local knowledge” served him well in certain quarters. The Park opposite ‘The Square’ is named after him.
Chris Flood who had his name mentioned in the Tribunals also, “worked unstintingly in the interests of residents…..” etc etc
One or two of the “Support Team” pictured, of John Hannon, Jim Barry, Padraig Lynch, Colm McGrath, Seamus McGowan and Sean Ardagh, have also got a mention at the Tribunals.
6th of June 2004 outside Croke Park… Westmeath are playing Dublin and Kildare play Wexford. Seamus Kirk and his team give out mock programmes. The Kildare and Westmeath lineups are listed as well as a message from Seamus in the middle, with a play on a slogan used by the Bank Of Ireland in its GAA themed ads.
Seamus uses the leaflet to copy an article from the Sunday Independent which tells the reader of his political career, his triumph over adversity and his GAA pedigree both on and off the field. You would do well to have something more tailored to your potential audience.
It’s very clever too as it covers a team from both matches and may well be looked at for the afternoon. Given that Westmeath beat Dublin that day (on their way to their first ever Leinster title), it may well have been held on to by a few Westmeath fans. Sport is theme used by many politicians to try to get the voter interested. (more on that another day).
You may also notice that the leaflet is printed by BCR press. (On the List of TDs expenses at http://thestory.ie/2009/08/31/donation-to-tds-1997-2008/ BCR contribute over €10,000 to Fianna Fail Meath TDs Noel Dempsey and Johnny Brady).
After Neil T. Blaney’s brother, Harry Blaneys defeat in the 1996 by-Election, Independent Fianna Fail easily won back the seat the following year with Harry Blaney again as candidate.
Harry retired in 2002 and it was his son Niall Blaney who successfully stood for Independent Fianna Fail. The third generation of Blaneys to be elected to the Dail.
After negotiations, Independent Fianna Fail rejoined the Fianna Fail mothership in 2006. So this would be some of the last General Election literature produced by the party. The party literature I have always uses orange as the background. (I’ve more that I will post in due course)
The Fianna Fail Ticket from the 1991 Local Elections in the Buncrana Area.
Aside from Joseph Doherty, Denis McGonagle and John Henry McLaughlin we have amongst others ex Fianna Fail TD Hugh Conaghan and former Independent Fianna Fail TD Paddy Keaveney (the only non Blaney to have sat in Dail Eireann for the Independent Fianna Fail organisation). The Late Paddy was father of current Senator and ex TD Cecilia Keaveney.
Click on images to make them larger
Two Leaflets from the 1992 General Election. Taxes were still very high. By referencing the introduction of Free Travel, Free fuel etc they were showing that they were on the side of the ordinary person. A far cry from their image today.
The price of drink was important back then. Fianna Fail had only put 1p on the pint in five years whilst the Coalition had put 11p on the pint!
If it was celebrity endorsements you were after then this is the leaflet for you.
“John Stafford has done a lot of work for the people of Dublin already. I cannot think of anyone else that I would prefer to represent me in Europe. That is why I am giving John Stafford my number 1 on June 9th. I urge you to do the same.”Says Dickie Rock
Whilst Barney McKenna (of the Dubliners) says “As a real Dub I am supporting John Stafford. He will look after The Town I love so well”
Also pictured though are a host of celebrities John met during his time as Lord Mayor. Is that Linda Martin on the front page?
We certainly have John meeting Dickie Rock. John having his picture taken with Paul Harrington and Charle McGettigan of Eurovision fame. John having a chinwag with Packie Bonnar. Is John attempting a sly thumbs up sign with Paul McGrath?
Then there is John smiling with Kevin Moran and John selling fruit on Moore Street. We have John posing with Sean Haughey as they pull each others chains.
Last but not least we have Mother Theresa who was lucky enough to be greeted by John ……. and of course John with the cardboard cutouts of himself.
Aside from all the pictures, John is a great Family man and thats why hes against the Residential Property Tax……
*John, Despite his connections wasn’t elected.
A pre election Attack by an Albert led Fianna Fail on future coalition partners Labour. They attacked Labour a lot during that campaign… they must have seen the ‘Spring Tide’ coming.
A young fresh faced, tight haired Noel Whelan as he runs for Fianna Fail in 1997. The now Irish Times columnist and political commentator failed in his attempt to win a seat in Dublin South East.
Will his then running mate be back running there again I wonder…
Another Larger more detailed Leaflet here
This is just a simple illustration of how everyone claims to be the best person to get the job done.
From the 1997 General Election, both Fianna Fail candidates Tom Kitt and Ann Ormonde claim that they are the ones to get the school built.
From the 1985 local elections in Dun Laoghaire, Adrian Hardiman, Elizabeth Gregan, Betty Coffey and William Harvey all running for Fianna Fail.
The Adrian Hardiman is the now Judge Adrian Hardiman that was standing for Fianna Fail and who later had connections with the PDs.
(Theres quite a number of our current judiciary such as Pat McCartan, George Bermingham, Henry Abbott and Michael White who have also put themselves before the electorate in the past)
This is an Ad from the Meath Echo asking voters to ‘Keep a Strong Voice in County Meath’…….. Funny thing…… Cllr Tommy Reilly never stood for Fianna Fail in the 2005 Meath by-election.
He had to bow out due to some rezoning and other shenanigans that came to light. In the end it was Shane Cassells who stood for Fianna Fail.
This is from 1987 with a baby faced Michael Martin and a young Batt O’Keefe.
Result from ElectionsIreland.org
Click image for larger version.
From the 1992 General Election, The Six Point Plan For National Progress, produced by the Albert Reynolds Led Fianna Fail.
From the 1987 General Election a Flyer and Specimen Ballot paper for Fianna Fail candidate Albert Reynolds running in Longford-Westmeath. He topped the poll and was elected on the first count.
The specimen Ballot paper lists the candidates with Reynolds highlighted. ( Result from electionsireland.org)
A Leaflet for President Mary McAleese from the 1997 Presidential Election. The Slogan and theme of the campaign being ‘Building Bridges’.
Interesting to note that she was a joint Fianna Fail /Progressive Democrat candidate.
Irish Election Literature 
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