Labour councillor Paddy McNamara from the 2005 Kildare North by-election where he got almost 18% of the vote. The by-election was won by Catherine Murphy.
Paddy McNamara -Labour -2005 Kildare North by-election January 13, 2010
Sean Quirke -Progressive Democrat -Enniscorthy 2004 LE
Sean Quirke PD candidate in Enniscorthy in the 2004 Local Elections. Despite an excellent GAA pedigree (Chairman of the Wexford County Board and member of Oylegate/Glenbrien) and some other impressive community activity such as helping in pilgrimages to Lourdes and being involved with the Irish Rural Dwellers Association, Sean failed to get in.
Amongst his priorities was ‘Ensuring decentralisation is delivered to Enniscorthy’. Theres a message too from Tom Parlon, Minister for OPW, complimenting Sean.
Owen Hammond Letter to the Electorate- Fianna Fail- November 1982 GE Dun Laoghaire
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.
Liz McManus -Democratic Left- Wicklow-1997 GE
Liz McManus, Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal, from the 1997 General Election in Wicklow. The Democratic Left produced leaflets in this style for each candidate, all pictured walking purposefully, often by the sea. Here Liz walks on Bray seafront.
It has praising quotes about the candidate from newspapers . The achievements both in Wicklow and Nationally of The Rainbow government are listed. Amongst them ‘Tour De France 1998 for Wicklow’
Finian McGrath -Independent – Dublin North Central -1992 GE January 12, 2010
Finian McGrath from his first General Election in 1992 where he gained 764 votes. His vote in the 1997 GE increased and in 1999 he won a seat on Dublin City Council.
He was Elected to the Dail in 2002 when standing as part of the Independents Health Alliance.
His record as a fighter for the rights of the vulnerable is listed here as is his emphasis on Jobs and Health.
Karen Canning -Independent Health Alliance (IHA) -Dublin South 2002
Karen Canning of the The Independents Health Alliance who stood eight candidates in the 2002 General Election.
Amongst them Finian McGrath who was elected. Others included the now Fine Gael Councillor Molly Buckley in Laois Offaly and former Limerick Hurling manager Tom Ryan.
Karen Canning polled over 2000 votes which was impressive.
Sadhbh O’Neill, David Healy -Green Party -1992 GE Dublin NE
David Healy, a prominent Green member/councillor in Dublin for many years. The mention of Esperanto is interesting as a number of Founding members such as Christopher Fettes were enthusiastic about Esperanto.
Sadhbh O’Neill who famously was elected to Dublin City Council in 1991 despite not having campaigned (She was in the US at the time).
Oddly enough, that victory is attributed as part of why the Greens did not do particularly well (or as well as they thought they would) in the 1992 General Election, as some candidates/branches felt that the vote would turn out, canvass or no canvass.
The 6 Billion would have refered to money Albert promised we’d get from Europe.
Declan Ganley-Libertas Canvassers Newsletter May 2009
Not sure if this was a widely distributed newsletter or not. I think it was for canvassers. From the 2009 European Election campaign.
It shows how populist Libertas was. The issues covered were all simple, popular generalities such as ‘Cut Red Tape’, ‘job protection’, ‘turf cutting’, ‘culling quangos’and so on. It is simple and well produced and its hard to disagree with most of the sentiments involved.
Gerry Browne -Independent Labour- 2005 Kildare North By-Election January 10, 2010
Gerry Browne the ‘Independent Labour’ candidate in the 2005 by-election in Kildare North caused by Charlie McCreeveys move to Brussells. Browne received 226 votes in a contest won by Catherine Murphy.
Mallie Jacobsen, Shay Monaghan, Joe Sweeney -Labour -Greystones TC 1985
From the 1985 Greystones TC election. I’m not sure who of the three, Mallie Jacobsen, Shay Monaghan and Joe Sweeney were elected.
It’s unusual to see ‘….we understand that the Commissions powers are very limited…..’, where often in Town Council elections you see candidates promising to change a lot of things that would be outside the Town Councils remit.
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.
Libertas- Rebuttal of Negative issues and ‘Primetime’ leaflet for Canvassers
In the run up to the 2009 European Elections a Primetime Special was done on Declan Ganley and Libertas.
Arising from the show this was sent out to Libertas canvassers.
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.
Killian Forde -Sinn Fein- Donaghmede 2004 LE
Killian Forde from the 2004 LE in Donaghmede where he topped the poll and got in on the first count. He was re-elected in 2009 although his vote fell.
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanaghan – Castlerea – 2009 LE
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanaghan once considered a joke candidate as he campaigned for the legalisation of Cannabis and once sent a joint to each member of the Oireachtas as part of the campaign. He modeled himself on ‘Ming The Merciless’ from the Flash Gordon series.
Elected first in the 2004 local elections, where he topped the poll, he has gained a reputation as an excellent councillor which was reflected in 2009 when he was returned on the first count again.
He has a special interest in gaining recreational facilities for Castlerea. After his 2004 election, in relation to recreational facilities he was quoted “I’m not exactly looking for the Olympics to be held in Castlerea, but we are asking for something to be done.”
Liam O’ Gogain- Fathers Rights -Dublin South 2007 January 8, 2010
This is from either Dublin South 2007 (or Meath 2005?). Liam O’Gogain continuing his election campaigns to promote fathers rights.
Simple but effective messages.
Irish Election Literature 
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