A simple flyer from Jimmy Hogan for the 1985 Greystones Town Commission Elections. He also stood in the 1991 Local Elections for the Workers Party.
Donegal Labour /Labour Youth -1985 LE December 5, 2009
Donegal Labour weren’t happy about being in coalition with Fine Gael. Being Socialists they didn’t want coalition with Fianna Fail either.God knows what they would have thought of the yet to be formed Progressive Democrats.
That small piece shows the problems parties (especially of the Left) have when going into Coalition. Here were Donegal Labour in effect, disavowing the party that they were standing for. Maybe thats why the literature differs from the 1985 Labour Party template.
Under the No Coalition is a small bit about Labour Youth and a recruitment ‘form’. The name to send off to is F McCafferty. Francis McClafferty stood in the 2004 local elections for the Socialist Party. In 2009 he was part of the group that set up the ‘Letterkenny Residents Party’ which had Tom Crossan elected to the UDC.
On the Reverse is a profile of Anne Wilkinson who was standing in the 1985 local elections for Labour.
Joseph C. Lalor – Greystones Town Commission 1985 December 2, 2009
A leaflet and a letter from Independent Community Candidate Joe Lalor for the 1985 Greystones Town Commission elections. Lalor later stood for the PDs.
Amongst the items mentioned are the coming of ‘Advanced Micro Devices’ who were to provide a projected 1000 jobs. That never happened, I dont know why.
By 2011 A.D. (sounded a rather long time in the future) the Greystones / Delgany district had a projected population of 42,500. I think its around 30,000 at the minute.
Leaflet from Kevin Cronin- Labour – Blackrock 1985 Local Elections November 26, 2009
Kevin Cronins main leaflet from the 1985 local elections. He polled well but was unlucky not to take a seat.
It’s not often these days you hear sentiments such as ‘Working to change the social conditions which cause our young people to turn to crime.’
I’d love to have seen the proposed ‘Legal guidelines for the National Finances to ensure that politicians can no longer make the type of economic decisions which were taken in the late ’70s which caused our present economic plight’.
Niamh Bhreathnach- Labour -Blackrock 1985 LE November 11, 2009
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.
ACRA letter regarding ‘Local Government Service Surcharge’ 1985 Local Elections November 9, 2009
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.
Phil Kearney -Green- 1985 LE Ballybrack November 4, 2009
This is from the 1985 Local election, Ballybrack ward. Apologies that the scan is so poor. I’ll try and redo it in due course.
Looking back a quarter of a century on, a number of things stand out, amongst them,
‘Stop and Reverse the Growth of Dublin’
A sign of the times too that Acid Rain was seen as the big threat as Global Warming wasn’t known about.
‘Energy Efficient homes- major insulation scheme needed to stop hypothermia, ‘
‘An end to Land Rezoning / Speculation scandal. Tax unused property.’
‘Double Jobbing- Councillors should not also be T.Ds or Euro M.P.s’.
Sellafield still known as Windscale.
Also the reference to Bishopscourt peace camp, which was a camp beside bishopscourt radar base in Co Down that ran from 1983 to 1986.
Theres a pamphlet from Bishopscourt here
John McManus- Workers Party- 1985 LE November 2, 2009
John McManus was a high profile and important member of The Workers Party, he is married to Liz McManus (in 1985 John McManus would have been a far more important political figure than Liz).
The ERDO report refers to the ‘Eastern Region Settlement Strategy 2011’ report from 1985. Presumably it envisaged Longford and Cavn as being in the Dublin commuter belt, or hinterland as it would have been known back then.
Lots of local stuff from the North Wicklow area which may be of interest to those that know the area.
Fianna Fail National Collection 1985. November 1, 2009
Fianna Fail are gathering their war chest for the 1985 local elections…
“Please contribute generously to our collectors when they call.” asks Charlie.
At the last elections Fianna Fail were afraid to call to the door looking for your vote….
.. can you imagine them calling to the door looking for your money?
“If you are not at home when they call please post your contribution to Fianna Fail Headquarters ….”
Also “When making your contribution ask the collector for identification”
Nothing as to who to make a Cheque out to? and I cant help but imagine certain individuals ripping open envelopes with glee.
Richard Conroy, Mary Gray, Owen Hammond, David Kane- FF -Ballybrack 1985
One of Professor Richard Conroys runs for public office (He served in the Senate). Conroy has been involved in many exploration projects through various companies such as Conroy Diamonds and Gold and also Conroy petroleum.
From David Kanes profile you’ll notice a number of local issues such as Dun Laoghaire Baths that are still contentious.
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Tom Stafford “He’s a true blue” – Fianna Fail 1985 LE October 23, 2009
This is a tiny card from Tom Stafford in the 1985 local elections campaign. Its not often Candidates write their message in verse.
Liam MacElhinney – Sinn Fein Letterkenny 1985 October 21, 2009
In 1985, the troubles and their impact were still very much part of life.
Compare Liam MacElinneys profile here which is in effect his CV as a Republican volunteer to the Sinn Fein of today and its very different.
It is of course of its time. At roughly the same time in Dublin, candidates were emphasising their work in the community as well as giving a brief mention to their Republican CV.
‘Section 31’ gets a mention. Also prominent is the fact that Sinn Fein Councillors “.. play a full and active part in the work of their councils…” a nod to let the public know that they took their council seats ?, especially given that Gerry Adams had been elected an MP two years previous and continued the party policy of abstentionism from Westminister.
Mary Hanafin, Michael Donnelly, Gerry Kieran and Derek Mooney- Fianna Fail Rathmines 1985 October 19, 2009
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.
Joan Callaghan- Independent -Ballybrack 1985 October 18, 2009
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.
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.
Tadhg Colbert, James Larkin, Hugh Dorrian, Jim Lynch- Independent Fianna Fail -Letterkenny UDC 1985 October 11, 2009
Tadhg Colbert, James Larkin, Hugh Dorrian and Jim Lynch. An Interesting bunch here. Unusual to see a candidates name have two different spellings. Tadhg Colbert on the front, Tadgh Culbert on the back. He later joined Fianna Fail and stood for them in the 1994 UDC elections.
James Larkin was Neil T Blaneys director of elections. He had also been a member of the Seanad, nominated as part of the deal for Independent Fianna Fail TD Neil T Blaney to support the 1982 Haughey government. Whilst not quite the headline grabber the Gregory deal was, this was the one and only time the Independent Fianna Fail party had a seat in the Seanad.
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Fine Gael Ballymote 1985 LE-Eddie Cogan,Leo Conlon,Neil Henry, Tommy Lavin, Tony McLoughlin, John Perry. October 5, 2009
The 1985 Local elections Ballymote LEA. The Fine Gael ticket of Eddie Cogan,Leo Conlon,Neil Henry, Tommy Lavin, Tony McLoughlin and John Perry. Current Fine Gael TD John Perry wasn’t elected. The leaflet also urges voters to ‘continue your preferences for the Labour Party’. There was no Labour Party candidate.
Michael Keating, Kevin Byrne -Fine Gael 1985 Local Elections. September 26, 2009
This is from the 1985 local elections, A year later he defected to join the Progressive Democrats. He was the only Fine Gael TD to do so, although later on left the PDs and rejoined Fine Gael.
His reputation took a turn when in later years when, amongst other things, he made a settlement with the CAB over unpaid taxes and was also mentioned in a serious Fraud case.
Irish Election Literature 
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