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 May 1979 a flyer advertising a meeting “Say No To EEC!” organised by The Anti-EEC Committee urging a boycott or a spoiling of Ballot papers in the European Elections due to take place in June 1979.
Among those addressing the meeting were Kadar Asmal, Des Bonass (SLP),Jimmy Graham, Daltun O’Ceallaigh and writer ANthony Cronin.
From the 1979 European Elections a leaflet from Independent candidate T J Maher who was running in Munster. A former president of the IFA, by 1979 he was Presient of the Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society. He topped the poll in these 1979 elections being elected on the first count. He was returned again in 1984 and 1989.
Many thanks to the lender.
3 samples of Typical Shopping Baskets from election material. Starting off with Labour in 1981 then Fianna Fail in 1977 and lastly Fine Gael in 1979
From the 1979 European Elections in Munster a flyer for Fianna Fail candidates Jerry Cronin, Noel Davern, Sean French, Michael Herbert and Chub O’Connor. Cronin and Davern were elected. Result here
Many thanks to the lender.
From the 1979 European Elections a leaflet from the then Councillor and now President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins running for Labour in Connaught Ulster.
He polled 13,062 votes and failed to win a seat. (Result Here)
From the 1979 European Elections a leaflet from Fianna Fail candidates for Dublin Ruairi Brugha, Sile De Valera, Joe Fox and Michael Yeats. Of the four candidates just Sile De Valera was elected. Result here
The leaflet also contains a message from then Taoiseach Jack Lynch.
Its an interesting line up in that Ruairi Brugha was the son of Cathal Brugha, Sile DeValera the Granddaughter of Eamon DeValera and Michael Yeats son of the Poet WB Yeats.
From the 1979 European Election a leaflet for John Blair, Alan Dukes, Tom O’Donnell, Jim O’Keefe running for Fine Gael in Munster. Tom O’Donnell was elected. Result here .
From the 1979 Local and European Elections a letter to voters from Fianna Fail Taoiseach Jack Lynch.
Fianna Fail and Irelands record in Europe since joining is praised and there are some details of the Fianna Fail Local Elections manifesto.
Many thanks to the sender.
Click on image to enlarge
From the 1979 European Elections,”The Workers Voice in Europe” from Sinn Fein The Workers Party. There is a message of how the current representatives only had farmers interests at heart rather than workers interests. The party’s candidates Tony Coffey, Seamus Rodgers, Donnchadha Mac Raghnaill, Sean Walsh, Tomas MacGiolla and Mick Dunphy are listed at the bottom.
From the 1979 European Elections an ad for Sinn Fein The Workers’ Party candidate Mick Dunphy who was running in Munster. The Waterford based Dunphy polled 11,526 votes. He also stood in the Local Elections the same day narrowly missing out on a seat.
It offers a critique of Irelands entry into the EEC making points such as rising prices, lack of jobs being created and that it was Big Farmers that were benefiting most from entry into the EEC.
Click on Image to Enlarge
From the 1979 Local and European Elections a Fine Gael ad with the headline
“Due to 2 years of Government mismanagement -LOOK AT YOUR SHOPPING BASKET”.
The cost of the Shopping Basket was a common enough tool in previous elections .
From the 1977 Election a Fianna Fail Ad ‘The Coalition Shopping Basket‘.
From the 1979 European Elections ads from The Galway Advertiser for Independent Fianna Fail candidate Neil Blaney running in Connaught Ulster.
“The EEC has failed to deliver on the promises made when you voted Yes to entry 7 years ago” writes Blaney giving details on faults from Potato marketing policy to The Regional Fund.
Blaney topped the poll and was elected on the first count.
The Community Democrats of Ireland are a party I know little about. There is little or nothing on them online. They fielded 3 candidates in the 1979 European Elections. (ElectionsIreland.org)
The three were, Christopher Morris in Conaught Ulster, Kevin Clear in Dublin and Michael B Crowe in Munster. All polled poorly.
The below is an interview with Christopher Morris, the party candidate in Connaught Ulster. He mentions the Liberals standing in Northern Ireland. Presumably that was James Murray who also polled poorly.
The Clipping is taken from the wonderful Galway Advertiser Site.
First off man thanks to the sender. A Charming item.
From 1979 a Menu for the Labour Party Victory dinner held in honour of the election of Wicklow TD Liam Kavanagh to the European Parliament.
Amongst the menu are some delights such as Grapefruit Marachino and Brussels Sprouts Chateau (presumably in honour of the new Job in Brussels).
There is also a list of Toasts, proposed by various luminaries such as Michael O’Leary, Brendan Halligan and Justin Keating.
On the back of the Menu there was a page for autographs.
This one has Brendan Halligans, Liam Kavanaghs and another which is difficult to identify.
Irish Election Literature 
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