In the 1969 General Election, the then President of USI Ciaran McKeown ran in Dublin South West as an Independent. This episode covers McKeown in College, USI, the election, the aftermath and his life afterwards
A look at the 1969 General Election campaign of Eunan Curristan of The South West Donegal Hospitalization Committee. He was the first major Independent Hospital candidate to run in a General Election here.
From The 1969 General Election, a Leaflet from Kevin Boland, Ruairi Brugha and Jim Murphy running for Fianna Fáil in Dublin South County. Kevin Boland was elected.
From the 1969 General Election A Leaflet from Sean Fitzpatrick, Tom O’Brien and Donal O’Sullivan who were running for Labour in Dublin County South. None of them were elected (Result here)
From the 1969 General Election, two ads aimed at the Farming Community from Labour with Brendan Corish pictured talking to those involved in agriculture with the “Let’s build the New Republic” Slogan.
From the 1969 General Election an Ad from Fine Gael aimed at voters in Rural areas regarding their plans to set up a Rural Development Policy.
From the 1969 General Election a leaflet from Labour Party Dublin County South Candidates Sean Fitzpatrick, Tom O’Brien and Donal O’Sullivan. The leaflet also shows the policies of Labour for that 1969 Election. None of the three were elected. Donal O’Sullivan polled 2,300 votes, Sean Fitzpatrick 1814 and Tom O’Brien 830 votes.
A bumper post of pictures, newspaper cuttings and leaflets that Charlie Flanagan kindly pictured and sent me (many thanks again).
The first two pictures are from the 1969 General Election Campaign.
Then we have a 1981 General Election flyer from Oliver J Flanagan, Johny Butterfield, Tom Enright and Charlie McDonald (Oliver J Flanagan and Tom Enright were elected result here).
Then the front page of the Irish Times from August 18th 1953 where Oliver J ‘took his jacket off’ ! , he was campaigning in the Galway South By Election.
The a great clipping of Charlie Flanagan and Brian Cowen from the 1987 General Election Campaign.
Then some invites to the 1975 and also the 1976 Fine Gael Ard Fheis.
Finally a picture from the 1966 Presidential Platform.
From the 1969 General Election a Labour Party ad that appeared in the June 1969 edition of Woman’s Way magazine. “Let’s build the New Republic…..this time vote Labour” . Pictured is Brendan Corish with School Children with the text focusing on emigration and Labours plans for full employment.
Many thanks to the sender.
From the 1969 General Election campaign an ad from Fine Gael from Womens Way Magazine. The Ad features Richie Ryan the ‘shadow minister of health an Social Welfare’ asking the question “Wouldn’t you like a better Social Welfare system?” and giving the answer in various proposed changes from Fine Gael.
Many thanks to the sender.
From the 1969 General Election, the ITGWU advertise the Labour candidates standing in the election that were members of the union. There were 32 ITGWU members listed , amongst them Conor Cruise O’Brien, David Thornley, Dan Spring and Brendan Corish.
“Remember When There Was No Housing Problem?” ask Fianna Fail from the 1969 General Election. The amount of houses built, the speed of house building and other feats that were the hallmark of our recent construction boom are all mentioned.
We also have the slogan “Let’s Back Jack”.
From the 1969 General Election in Cavan “Fianna Fail Stands For Progress And Prosperity”. The Fianna Fail candidates were Paddy Smith, Richard Black and Seamus Dolan with Smith being elected.
There are attacks on Fine Gael and Labour including that
“Labour wants to disgrace us in the eyes of the world by opening an embassy in Cuba a Communist Dictatorship in Latin America”
From the 1969 General Election a poster for Hilda O’Malley who was running as an Independent in Limerick East. O’Malley was the widow of former Fianna Fail Minister the late Donogh O’Malley so was pitted against her nephew Des O’Malley in the contest. Because of the family connections, the campaign gained worldwide attention.
In the end Hilda O’Malley polled 3,361 votes and missed out on a seat. As an aside the Patrick Kavanagh poem ‘Raglan Road’ was written about his unrequited love for Her.
This is fantastic, gives a glimpse of domestic life in the late 60s as well as warning the many many pitfalls that may arise.
At the time too not that many had cars, so the Driver was a very important figure at election time, especuially in rural areas.
Yet You’d think that giving lifts to voters was a simple enough matter…….
Its full of handy tips
“Try to have your car as clean as possible….. do not take any alcohol while polling is in progress”
“…Encourage the women to vote early as this will leave the men free in the evening… ”
and of course “Don’t forget to vote yourself!”
Irish Election Literature 
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