Niamh Bhreathnach in her first electoral outing in 1985. She was elected to the Dail for one term in 1992 and had a spell as Minister for Education.
Nice leaflet with running mate Kevin Cronins name stamped on.
Marian White -Workers Party 1991 LE -Blackrock
Two leaflets, the first coming after the election.
On the front Marian White thanks voters, she came within 28 votes of winning a seat in Blackrock (First Count Details Here). It illustrates the inroads made by the Workers Party at the time and the future potential.
On the reverse we have Eamon Gilmore proclaiming ‘In Dun Laoghaire The Workers Party are Winning’ detailing the vote increase and election of himself, Denis O’Callaghan, Colm Breathnach and how close Marian White came to being elected.
The Second leaflet was ‘and the last shall be first’…..
Eileen Lemass -Fianna Fail – 1989 European Elections
Eileen Lemass- Daughter in law of Sean Lemass and Sister in law of Charlie Haughey. Here she mentions the Sean Lemass connection, but not the Haughey one.
The Double jobbing reference is a bit rich considering that she had a spell from 1984 to 1987 double jobbing as both an MEP and TD.
I presume the double jobbing jibe was against Prionsias de Rossa and Mary Harney who both stood for the Dail the same day.
Eileen Lemass failed to retain her seat .
1988 National Collection for Alan Dukes led Fine Gael
After the 1987 election Alan Dukes was appointed Fine Gael Leader. On the 2nd of September that year in an address to the Tallaght Chamber of Commerce, Dukes said “When the Government is moving in the right direction, I will not oppose the central thrust of its policy….”
This became known as ‘The Tallaght Strategy’. It is refered to here “….Fine Gael will not obstruct the Government if it seriously goes about correcting our finances”.
This is the parties Fundraising/Membership drive from late 1987/ early 1988.
‘Anglo Irish’ gets a mention too, but its the Agreement rather than the Bank thats being refered to.
Martin Hogan -‘Pro Life Man’-1992 Longford-Roscommon
The 1992 General election was held on the same day as the Abortion Referenda on The Right to Life, The right to travel and The right to information.
A lot of pro life candidates stood as for the first time Fianna Fail were seen by many as no longer 100% Anti Abortion.
It was the aftermath of the ‘X Case’ and later this Referendum that led to the formation of the likes of the Christian Principles Party, The National Party,
The Christian Solidarity Party, The Christian Centreist Party and Muintir Na hEireann.
Martin Hogan Polled just 459 votes.
Owen Poole -Anti Water Charges Campaign 1997 Dublin North-East November 10, 2009
From the 1997 General Election, Anti Water Charges candidate Owen Poole running in Dublin North East.
The ‘template’ for this was also used by The Socialist Party in 1997, although as they were against the Water Charges it may have been a common template.
Poole polled 641 votes.
Don Lydon -Fianna Fail 2002 Seanad
A shocking photo of the candidate Don Lydon with Bertie Ahern and a dreadful Slogan.
Lydon was recently charged with Corruption along with 3 other Fianna Fail councillors. Tony Fox (leaflet here ) , Colm McGrath (featured in this leaflet ) and Sean Gilbride.
Trevor Sargent -Green Party -Dublin North -2002 General Election
First elected in 1992, the then Green Party Leader Trevor Sargents almost apocalyptic letter to Dublin North voters in 2002. Despite the Earth being on its last legs the inside part is positive and paints an excellent picture of Sargent. Not too many leaflets have planes,trains, boats and buses in with a picture of a red squirrel. The leaflet also illustrates the diversity of the constituency from farming to fishing, recyling to Aer Lingus and transport issues also.
The Greens have a fondness for quotes from the papers and this is no different with quotes from teh Sunday World and Foinnse amongst others.
Sargent had been the Green Partys first ever Leader for less than a year.
Jimmy Somers -Labour Party Newsletter – November 1983 Dublin Central By-election
This was delivered during the 1983 Dublin Central by-election campaign. In tight times the Social Welfare Christmas Bonus was to be paid thanks to Labour Minister Barry Desmond. The voters weren’t thanking him as Somers finished fifth on the day behind the Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Workers Party and Sinn Fein Candidates.
Jimmy Somers is a former President of SIPTU and was previously in the ITGWU. He was also a local to the area.
Mae Sexton- Independent 1992 -Longford Roscommon
New Labour Party recruit, Mae Sexton was initially elected to Longford County Council and UDC in 1991 as an Independent.
This is her missive from the 1992 General Election.
Over the years a number of Independent Councillors such as Mae Sexton and Kate Walsh joined the PDs.
Here though Mae ‘never felt that joining a political party would accomodate the free expression of my points of view’.
She was also opposed to Service charges and a number of other items that could have seemed incompatible with the PDs.
In 2010 she joined the Labour Party. Another councillor to do so was John Kelly in neighbouring Roscommon.
Jim Fitzsimons , Paddy Lalor -Fianna Fail Leinster 1989 Euro Elections. November 9, 2009
In 1989 both the General and European Elections were held on the same day.
Both Lalor and Fitzsimons were elected here as Fianna Fail held its 2 seats, despite a drop in the Fianna Fail vote since the 1984 Euro Elections.
Laoisman Paddy Lalor, previously a TD for Laois-Offaly since 1961 had been elected to the European Parliament in 1979. Lalor, in his time, had served as a Minister for Posts & Telegraphs and Industry and Commerce.This 1989 election was to be his last. Lalor was a noted hurler and was part of the 1949 Laois team that won the Bob O’Keeffe Cup (Leinster title).
Meathman Jim Fitzsimons, who had briefly been a Minister of State in 1982, had been elected to the Dail in 1977. He stood in four European Elections from 1984 to 1999.
ACRA letter regarding ‘Local Government Service Surcharge’ 1985 Local Elections
Letter from ACRA to householders in the Dun Laoghaire area during the 1985 local elections campaign.
Already only Eight years after Domestic Rates had been abolished by the 1977 Jack Lynch government, Local authorities were looking for ways to supplement their income.
Fianna Fail opposed the Local Government Service surcharge, Labour were split and Fine Gael proposed it!
Tony O’Toole, who signed the leaflet is/was very active in the movement to abolishing ground rents.
I’m curious if the Philip Gillick listed is the same Philip Gillick who was Justice Floods Tipstaff?
It would be an interesting coincidence, especially considering who and what was being investigated.
Jack Fitzsimons -Independent -Euro 1994 Leinster November 8, 2009
Meath Councillor Jack Fitzsimons running on amongst other things an anti hunting and Hare Coursing ticket. He got 6,752 votes.
Leaflet from Barbara Hyland- NLJAG /Independent -1989 General Election
Barbara Hyland has stood multiple times in multiple elections, most notably in 1987 where she along with four other candidates stood for the National Legal Justice Action Group. NLJAG were campaigning against the Law Society, or rather the staus of the Law society as the ‘only avenue of complaint’ if you had ‘Suffered at the hands of the legal profession’.
They wanted an independent ombudsman.
She stood in 13 constituencies top vote of 217 in her home of Wicklow, lowest 33 in Dublin North West.
This is from 1989 where she stood in just Kerry South and Wicklow. She stood again in 1992, 1997 and 2002. She has various newspaper clips in the leaflet which may give you a better idea as to her motives.
She had stood previously in the Local Elections for Labour.
Flyer for the Labour Youth 1989 Summer Festival November 7, 2009
A Paul Newman lookalike on a surfboard advertises the 1989 Labour Youth Summer Festival. At the back the dilema of to stay in the hostel, sports hall or Tent is there as of course is the temptation to say you were under 26.
You may notice a new “Others” Project link at the top of the page.
What is it?
I’m trying to identify as many as possible ‘others’ from previous general elections. Did they represent a small party, a group or an issue?
Have a look and see if you can help fill in the gaps. I’ve started off with the November 1982, the 1987 and the 1989 general elections.
Thanks
AJ
Kevin Fitzpatrick- Sinn Fein Dun Laoghaire -1989 November 6, 2009
Kevin Fitzpatrick who fought a number of elections for Sinn Fein in Dun Laoghaire in the 80s and early 90s. He was involved with the Concerned Parents Against Drugs and the Premier daries in Monkstown refered to is long gone.
Garret Fitzgerald letter of retirement to constituents 1992.
Garret writes thanking ‘all who have supported me in the eight general elections since 1969 in Dublin South East’.
He also asks for a number one vote for Frances Fitzgerald and number 2 for Joe Doyle.
In the end Frances Fitzgerald got in, but the second Fine Gael Seat was lost to Michael McDowell.
Irish Election Literature 
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