A young Mary Hanafin in her fisrt electoral outing in Rathmines 1985. Both Hanafin polling 890 votes and Donnelly polling 2133 votes were elected. Derek Mooney polled 534 votes and Gerry Kieran 849 votes and both missed out.
Mary Hanafin, Michael Donnelly, Gerry Kieran and Derek Mooney- Fianna Fail Rathmines 1985 October 19, 2009
Fine Gael 1982 -Taxing the Farmers
Anyone who lived through the 70’s and 80’s will know what an issue taxing farmers was, especially in urban areas. Farmers were seen as gettingall the grants from Europe and not paying tax either.
Meanwhile the PAYE worker was the one left carrying the burden. Here Fine Gael claim that they tax the farmers more than Fianna Fail. I think that its from 1982 or else 1987.
Leaflet from Pat O’Brien -Anti Incinerator Independent-Meath 2002 General Election
Pat O’Brien an anti Incinerator candidate in the 2002 general election in Meath. Having looked to have died out, The incinerator plans appear to be back. Pat stood for Fine Gael in the last local elections but failed to win a seat.
Gerard Casey -Christian Solidarity Party- 1997 October 18, 2009
1997 General Election in Dun Laoghaire and Gerard Casey polls a respectable 2000 votes for the CSP. The Paul O’Donaghue case refered to was regarding education rights for the disabled. Oddly enough it was Justice Rory O’Hanlon who gave the ruling. ( Justice O’Hanlons nephew Paul O’Loughlin has stood a number of times for the CSP.)
Joan Callaghan- Independent -Ballybrack 1985
In case people think ‘greedy developers’ are a recent phenomenon, Joan gives them a few mentions here. Also the photo with those glasses and lack of smile! Joan polled a couple of hundred votes and failed to be elected.
She shares a name with Cheryl Coles mother.
Martin Donohoe – Independent -Dun Laoghaire Feb 82 October 16, 2009
As often is the case,candidates of similar names put themselves before the electorate.
In February 1982 Independent Martin Donohoe and Fianna Fails Martin O’Donoughue both stood in Dun Laoghaire. There were no pictures on Ballot papers then, so I’m sure he hoped for some confusion.
The views here of the major parties was the publics perception.
Other things include, The proposed Oil Refinery in Dublin Bay, ‘wasteful day-to-day Government Squandering’ as well as he hope that it were a hung Dail.
Good Friday Agreement- Referendum Commission booklet
The booklet produced by the Referendum Commission for The Good Friday Agreement Referendum in 1998
Proinsias DeRossa – Workers Party Euro 89
The 1989 Euro elections, a breakthrough as Proinsias DeRossa wins the seat. The style and content of this leaflet was refered to in ‘The Lost Revolution’. The centrepiece where he has the three people was novel at the time.
“Sean is from the Southside ..Dolores is from the Northside..” I wonder where they are now?
Also the leaflet is addressed to my family rather than to each of the then 5 voters in the house. Similar for the Workers Party General election Candidate, probably illustrates how tight funds were at the time.
Michael Quinn -‘Independent For Life ‘-Dun Laoghaire 1992
Michael Quinn was a pro- life Independent who later ran for the National Party. He polled over 1700 first preferences in the Dun Laoghaire 92 election.
He later became involved with the Democratic Right Movement.
Colm Mac Eochaidh -Fine Gael 2002 Dublin South East
Colm Mac Eochaidh, who along with Michael Smith in 1995 offered a reward of €10,000 for information leading to convictions for corruption in the planning system in Dublin. He failed in this attempt at election.
Jeananne Crowley -PDs- Pembroke 1991
Actress Jeananne Crowley in her one forray into politics standing for the PDs in the 1991 local elections. She didn’t win a seat but got over a thousand first preference votes.
You’ll need to click on image to see it in a fuller size
1995 Saoirse Leaflet – ‘Release all political prisoners now’ October 15, 2009
A Saoirse leaflet given out in Cork in 1995, a year or so after the first IRA Ceasefire. It contrasts the treatment of Lee Clegg with that of other prisoners such as Paul Norney and also gives ways in which you can help the campaign.
Michael McDowell 1987- Dublin South East
A fresh faced former PD party leader Michael McDowell, in the 1987 General Election. Contains a profile of him, a message from Dessie O’Malley about him and of course a message from Michael McDowell himself. His pastimes included ‘reading and running’.
Garret Fitzgerald topped the poll on the day, with Ruairi Quinn, Gerard Brady and Michael McDowell all winning seats too. Amongst the vanquished were Mary McAleese, Eoin Ryan, Aengus O Snodaigh and Joe Doyle.
Anne Wilkinson- Labour Donegal 1985 October 14, 2009
Reading this its hard to believe that Labour were in government at the time. .. Yet Donegal Labour had a Socialist Agenda. They “oppose the right -wing Labour leaders who are doing Fine Gaels dirty work in Government”.
On the North the focus was on the Working Class rather than the Nationalist/Unionist divide.
The whole thing is a valuable read to illustrate how ‘diverse’ the Labour Party were at the time.
I’m not sure but I suspect She was part of the Militant Labour group that became the Socialist Party.
Alan Shatter – ‘Star Trek’ 2007
From 2007, one of the most bizarre leaflets I’ve seen. Alan Shatter dressed up (or photoshoped) in Star Trek gear.
Comparing himself to William Shatner and lots more besides…. Shatter regained the seat he had lost in 2002. (his record at electionsireland.org)
Funnily enough William Shatners middle name is Alan, William Alan Shatner.
Alan Shatter ….Alan Shatner … Its a pity Alan Shatters not younger , otherwise there would be a chance that he was named Alan as a tribute to the Star Trek Actor!
I’ve pared down the size but given the amount of colour involved the images are still big.
‘Workers Party News and Views’ – Kildare 1990
In the late 80’s North Kildare was seen a major growth area of the Workers Party. In 1988 Catherine Murphy and Colm Purcell (who later joined Labour) had been elected to Leixlip Town Commission, although Murphy didn’t do brilliantly in the following years General and European Elections. The recently formed Maynooth branch get a mention at the back. Among them Fiachra O Ceilleachair who served as a Democratic Left and later a Labour councillor in Waterford. Also there is Geography lecturer Prionsias Breathnach who is still a regular contributor to various publications (as well as his own).
1989s marked shift in party policy is illustrated by the welcome given to Intel. Not just that but we have Catherine Murphy acting as a conduit for Intel recruiters. What we also see here is that Water Quality issues are not a recent thing!
Dublin Housing Action Campaign (DHAC) 1999 – SWP
The Dublin Housing Action Campaign (DHAC), this time the Socialist Workers Party inspired version. A protest in 1999 against evictions in St Ultans Flats.
One of many organisations to have the name (or at least a similar name) and same initials used numerous times by different groups.
Kevin Fennelly, Liam Aylward, MJ Nolan, Evelyn White -Fianna Fail Carlow-Kilkenny 1992
Fianna Fail had hopes of taking that elusive third seat here with Hurler Kevin Fennelly.
However on the day it was Kilkenny based Liam Aylwards massive first preference vote combined with Kilkenny based Seamus Pattison riding on the Spring Tide meant he had little chance of winning a seat.
Aylward also mentions that he is a ‘prominent member of the GAA’, in fact the same club as Kevin Fennelly!
Kevin Fennelly is the uncle of Hurling star Henry Shefflin.
Irish Election Literature 
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