From the 1997 General Election a glossy leaflet produced by Fine Gael candidate Richard Bruton with details of the Rainbow Governments achievements. It was illustrated at both the National and The local level. It gives an idea of where we were at in 1997 and how in hindsight it was an awful pity that the Rainbow government was not returned.
The outgoing Minister for Enterprise and Employment was easily elected.
From the 1997 General Election a flyer from Fianna Fails Sean Haughey running in Dublin North Central where he was elected.
It has the lovely slogan “Get Things Moving- with Sean Haughey”.
From the 1997 General election a leaflet for Fine Gael candidate Cathy Fay running in Dublin North Central. Fay polled 1,326 votes and failed to win a seat.
From the 1997 General Election a ‘nike’ ad inspired leaflet from, a man known for his jogging around Clontarf ,Ivor Callely.
The ‘nike’ like tick and the similar slogan.
From the 1997 General Election an Ad for Liam Downes running for the National Party in Galway West, where he polled 959 votes and failed to win a seat.
The National Party was set up after Nora Bennis (who became Party Leader) polled surprisingly well in the 1994 European Elections running as an Independent.
From the Galway Advertiser.
From the 1997 Election a Transcript of Live Webchat with Ruairi Quinn.
It is also archived here
Possibly the first Live Web Chat with an Irish Minister.
The transcript….
From the 1997 General Election a leaflet for Labour Party candidate Tim Collins running in Wicklow. Collins who had previously stood in the 1995 Wicklow By-Election polled 1,924 votes and failed to win a seat. His party colleague Liam Kavanagh also lost his seat.
One of a series of policy leaflets from the Labour Party 1997 Election campaign. This Leaflet 6 focuses on “Regulation and The Economy”.
Needless to say the following paragraphs stand out.
“There is a special need for regulation for banks … The banking system is vital to the working of economic life in the country.
The Central Bank is the regulator for these businesses.
Any bank would have to close down if everyone who has a deposit with it asked for their money back at the same time. It is up to the Central Bank to make sure that banks and building societies are run carefully and prudently. It is the only way to make sure that people have confidence in the banking system and are happy to leave their money in the custody of the banks.
A modern economy cannot work with just paper money. It has to have a developed banking system. It is as important as electricity to a society like ours. Therefore the first task of the Central Bank is to make sure that the banking system never breaks down.”
“We have a social market economy in Ireland. History has shown us that a market economy is the way to provide employment and prosperity to a society.
But experience also tells us that it is essential that the market is accompanied by well-developed public services. it is also essential, not least tor the proper functioning of the market itself, that business is constrained by appropriate regulation.
Market forces acting on their own can be destructive and damage the interests of workers, commerce and society in general. That is why a well- regulated economy, which protects, by law, the interests of all the citizens is essential to our society. Economic justice and equality is not possible without it.”
From the 1997 General Election a Leaflet for Democratic Left candidate Helen Lahert running in Dublin North Central. She polled 1,194 votes and failed to win a seat. She had also stood in 1992.
In the leaflet she outlines her ‘Contract with The Northside’ which included the founding of a ‘Northside Taskforce‘. There was also a “Ten Point Plan For A Better Northside“.
The Democratic Left was part of the Rainbow Coalition, interestingly enough she asks for a number 2 for Labours Derek McDowell and vote 3 an FG candidate of your choice.
From the 1997 General Election a leaflet on Crime from Fianna Fail TD Tom Kitt. Zero Tolerance on Crime was one of the mainstays of the Fianna Fail campiagn. Here Kitt gives details of a survey on Crime he carried out.
He goes on to say that “…The Key element to Fianna Fails policy on crime is to ensure that the laws of the land are implemented.
No crime, no matter how small, is ignored.”
Kitt goes on to tell us Fianna Fails proposals for Drug Crime.
Kitt was elected.
From the 1997 General Election a leaflet from Progressive Democrat candidate Helen Keogh with the striking headline “How to Double Your Vote on Friday”.
By voting for Helen Keogh you were also voting to put Mary Harney into government, hence doubling your vote.
Helen Keogh lost her seat.
One of my favourite Eamon Gilmore Leaflets. This one is from the 1997 General election when the then Minister of State for the Marine was running for the Democratic Left.
The casual picture of him walking the dog on the beach (Killiney beach?) to him purposefully strolling around the new ferry terminal in Dun Laoghaire.
There is also small pictures of him doing activities such as fishing and meeting people like Neil Kinnock.
The ‘NIREX dump’ refered to was a proposed underground nuclear waste dump near Sellafield.
From the 1997 General Election a leaflet for Labour candidates Sean Kenny and Tommy Broughan. Both had been elected in the Spring Tide of 1992 as Labour took 30% of the vote in Dublin North East. In 1997 with the Labour vote down Tommy Broughan held on to his seat whilst Sean Kenny lost out.
The main thing in this leaflet is ‘How Labour has made the Vital Difference’ with stats galore comparing the 1992-1997 period to the previous Fianna Fail/PD government.
You will also notice the Partnership Works Slogan that Labour , Fine Gael and Democratic Left had in the 1997 Election.
In 1997 and even now Dr Bill was Dr Bill Tormey as opposed to Dr Bill Cullen. Tormey now a Fine Gael councillor had prior to being Independent, been a Labour Party candidate. (Dr Bill at electionsireland.org).
A Shamrock Rovers Fan of longstanding, Bill is a specialist in chemical pathology and general internal medicine and a consultant in Beaumont and Connolly hospitals. He is tipped by many to take a seat at the next General Election for Fine Gael.
Amongst the issues mentioned in the Flyer are The Port Tunnel, Water Charges and Residential Property Tax, the development of the New Town in Ballymun and Jobs.
From 1997 a leaflet from The Progressive Democrats criticizing the Rainbow Coalitions 1997 Budget.
“As for taxation, this left-wing government has kept tax reform off the political agenda.”
From 1997 a leaflet against the Residential Property Tax produced by Progressive Democrat TD Helen Keogh.
It was amongst other things, Unfair, Anti Family and Anti Dublin.
It also “YIELDS LESS THAN VAT ON ICE CREAM”
Click on Image if you cant see it all.
From the 1997 General Election a leaflet for Workers Party candidate the late Linda Kavanagh. Linda Kavanagh polled 509 votes. A long time Workers Party activist she stood on a number of occasions in Dail and Local Elections.
In the leaflet itself there is mention of things such as wanting the introduction of a 4.50 minumum wage, an abolition of Water Charges and also Peace.
From the 1997 General Election, Fianna Fail candidate Sean Ardagh running in Dublin South Central.
Ardagh, a councillor at the time was elected.
The “Fair Deal for Married Mothers” is an odd one.
Irish Election Literature 
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