This is the story of the short lived Community Democrats of Ireland who contested the 1979 European Elections.
They had a series of self inflicted mishaps during their short lifetime which contributed to them not being a success. They are a lesson in what not to do if you found a new party.
From the 1989 European Elections a leaflet from Father Paddy Ryan who was running as an Independent Anti Extradition Candidate in Munster. He polled 30,934 votes and missed out on a seat
Many thanks to the sender
From 1997 A programme produced by SIPTU for a concert and other celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary of the death of Jim Larkin.
This episode tell the story of the Independent Fianna Fáil party founded by Neil T. Blaney after his expulsion from Fianna Fáil. It lasted from 1973 until 2006. There’s a background to Blaney , a brief bit on his career as a Minister, Blaneys time in Europe as well as the various elections the party fought.
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“For Unity And Socialism” – Manifesto of The Communist Party Of Ireland (1970). A historical 12 page pamphlet issued after the Special Congress that amalgamated the Irish Workers’ Party and the Communist Party Northern Ireland to form The Communist Party Of Ireland. The manifesto has an introduction by Andrew Barr the then Chairman of the National Executive Committee of The CPI as well as details of the parties policies.
I’ve scanned and uploaded it in pdf format here
Many thanks to the sender.
In the 1957 General Election, The Irish Housewives Association stood three candidates.
Mairead McGunness in Dublin North East, Beatrice Dixon in Dublin South West and Kathleen Swanton in Dublin North Central.
This episode is about the campaign, a brief history of the Irish Housewives Association as well as touching on Women in Politics.
This Patreon is to support my work on the Alan Kinsella podcast “The Others” and to support the work I do on the Irish Election Literature Website.
I would love if you could help support this work.
Latest episode of the podcast covers The National Progressive Democrats. A left wing party set up by Noel Browne and Jack McQuillan in the late 1950’s.
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From the 1973 General Election a leaflet from James Kelly running for Aontacht Eireann in Cavan where he polled 2068 votes. Formerly Captain James Kelly he came to National Attention during the arms trail, where he was acquitted.
A look at the campaigns of four different Unionist candidates that ran for the Dáil in the 80’s and 90’s. Stan Gebler Davies in Cork South West in 1987, Michael Brooks in Donegal North East in 1987, Patrick Melly in Sligo Leitrim in 1992 and John McDonald in the 1998 Dublin North Bye-Election.
You’ll find the podcast on spotify here
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on Anchor FM
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A leaflet “This Is Republican Socialism An Introduction To The Politics Of The Irish Republican Socialist Party” produced around 2002 by the IRSP. The leaflet gives details of party ideals and policy.
A Government Information Services leaflet giving details on the 1979 Seanad Referendum. It was the Seventh Amendment of the Constitution and was to expand the electoral franchise for University Seanad seats from the NUI and Trinity College to include other named third level institutions.
It passed with 552,600 voting Yes and 45,484 voting No.
A Government Information Services leaflet giving details on the 1979 Adoption Referendum. The Referendum was the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution and it ensured that certain adoption orders would not be found to be unconstitutional because they had not been made by a court.
It passed with 601,694 votes in favour and 6,265 votes against
Poblacht Chríostúil (Christian Republic) was an Irish political party active from 1956 to the late 1960s. It advocated Catholic social teaching, a planned economy and national self-sufficiency.
From the 1970 Dublin South West By-Election a leaflet from Matt Merrigan running for Labour. The By-election came about due to the death of Labour TD Sean Dunne. The leaflet contains a profile of Matt Merrigan, a message from John O’Connell (Labour TD for Dublin South West) , a message from Brendan Corish as well as an endorsement from all the Dublin based Labour TD’s.
Merrigan polled 5,004 votes losing out narrowly to Seán Sherwin of Fianna Fáil. Sean Dunnes widow Cora Dunne also stood in the by-election and this hampered Merrigans chances. Incidentally Sherwin subsequently joined Aontacht Éireann and of course Merrigan was expelled from The Labour Party in 1977 and subsequently was a founder member of The Socialist Labour Party.
Many thanks to the sender
From November 1986 a copy of Unionist Student published by The Queens University Unionist Association. It covers some Unionist issues from the time including Robert McCartney’s “Campaign for Equal Citizenship”
I’ve scanned and uploaded in pdf format here
Many thanks to the sender.
This episode covers The Cork Socialist Party which existed in Cork in the mid 1940’s. Also how the voting age change in 1973 led to a number of Independent Youth candidates standing in the 1974 Local Elections
This episode covers the Army Wives Campaign in the 1989 General Election as well as The National Army Spouses Association.
Irish Election Literature 
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