1997 and part of the outgoing ‘Rainbow Government’ The Democratic Left would only enter government on the basis of the biggest jobs plan ever…..
Eric Byrne was made jobless by the electorate as he lost his seat in this election.
Eric Byrne -‘Jobs’ -Democratic Left 1997- Dublin SC November 15, 2009
John Ryan- Democratic Left- Limerick East By Election 1998 October 21, 2009
John Ryan from the 1998 Limerick East By-election (Caused by the death of Jim Kemmy). It took place on the 11th March along with the Dublin North By-election. As far as I’m aware it was the last day the name Democratic Left appeared on an Irish ballot paper.
The By-Election was won by Labours Jan O’Sullivan. Fianna Fail only got 23% of the vote.
John Ryan had been elected to Limerick Corporation in 1991 as a Workers Party candidate and there were hopes that he would build a substantial base from that.
Here we have testaments about Ryan from ‘Limerick people’ and also from the Parties top table.
‘Workers Party News and Views’ – Kildare 1990 October 14, 2009
In the late 80’s North Kildare was seen a major growth area of the Workers Party. In 1988 Catherine Murphy and Colm Purcell (who later joined Labour) had been elected to Leixlip Town Commission, although Murphy didn’t do brilliantly in the following years General and European Elections. The recently formed Maynooth branch get a mention at the back. Among them Fiachra O Ceilleachair who served as a Democratic Left and later a Labour councillor in Waterford. Also there is Geography lecturer Prionsias Breathnach who is still a regular contributor to various publications (as well as his own).
1989s marked shift in party policy is illustrated by the welcome given to Intel. Not just that but we have Catherine Murphy acting as a conduit for Intel recruiters. What we also see here is that Water Quality issues are not a recent thing!
Adi Roche -1997 Presidential Election October 8, 2009
Adi Roche, the highly respected Founder of The Chernobyl Children’s Project ran in the 1997 Presidential election. She had been nominated by the Labour Party, Democratic Left and Green Party.
She was expected to do well and was an early favourite to replace Mary Robinson. However stories of Bullying by a former workmate surfaced during the campaign and her chance went.
Eamon Gilmore – Workers Party- Dun Laoghaire- November 1982 October 6, 2009
The now Labour Party Leader .The then 27 year old Trade Union Official in his first election standing for the Workers Party in Dun Laoghaire – November 1982.
In 1985 he won a council seat in Ballybrack, before winning a seat in the Dail in 1989.
(Judge) Pat McCartan- Democratic Left -Dublin North East 1992 September 29, 2009
Another Judge who had a Political Career was Pat McCartan. Elected initially in 1987 for The Workers Party, he retained his seat in the 1989 General Election.
McCartan was One of the Six TDs that formed Democratic Left in March 1992. This Leaflet is for the Novemver 1992 election where he lost his seat. The list of organisations he is associated with is very much of the time, CND, The Irish Anti Apartheid movement etc. The DLs 7 point plan is there also.
Democratic Left – 1992 Abortion Referendum
The newly formed Democratic Left give the arguments for a No to Abortion, Yes to Travel and Yes to Information. The leaflet also gives a background as to why we had the referendum.
“Partnership That Works” -Rainbow Coalition Flyer 1997 election September 23, 2009
This is a joint document from the 1997 Rainbow Government. Highly unusual that 3 parties have a joint platform for an Irish General election. For the odd referendum you may find a common leaflet but certainly for a General Election its fairly Unique.
Their 21 goals for the 21st Century are spelt out as are their achievements in Government to date. Some nice poses from the three party leaders too.
1997 Rainbow Government- “Partnership Works” slogan
In 1997 the Rainbow government went to the country looking for a new term. It was an already agreed joint platform which is highly
unusual. Each party had a ‘Partnership works’ slogan on their literature asking voters to continue their preferences to other
Government parties.
They also produced a joint policy document. And some joint election material.
In previous times Fine Gael/Labour had on occassion asked voters to continue preferences to the other party. At times it was unrequited as Fine Gael asked , but Labour didn’t. Indeed there are examples here where Fine Gael asked for Transfers to Labour where no Labour Party candidate stood.
Democratic Left 1997 Manifesto- ‘Make The Future Work’ September 18, 2009
A well produced booklet for the 1997 General Election. The Democratic Left had been in government for the previous 3 years as part of the Rainbow Coalition.
Democratic Left – No to Maastricht … but Yes to Amsterdam (when they were in Government) September 14, 2009
For the Maastricht Treaty the Democratic Left were dead set against it …….. They were in the Rainbow government for the Amsterdam Treaty and sure it was a great Treaty altogether.
Litir Um Thoghchan – ‘as gaeilge’ September 12, 2009
Despite it being an official Language, you dont find too many Parties using our native tongue. (Although I do see some FF Lisbon posters in Irish). I’m not even sure we have ‘Litir Um Thoghchan’ too often anymore either.
Heres some rare enough examples that I have…. Pól Ó Foighil agus Fiachra Ó Céilleachair
‘Why There is No Alternative to Reconstitution’ -Workers Party Discussion Document February 1992 (pre DL split) September 10, 2009
‘Why There is No Alternative to Reconstitution’ a letter to members from Prionsias De Rossa and Seamus Lynch prior to the split with the Democratic Left.
Prionsias De Rossa and Seamus Lynch outline their case for changing the Party from Democratic Centralism to that of being member driven.
It’s language is very much of the dogmatic variety and spells out the direction they want the Workers Party to move in. It also indirectly makes reference to the existence and activities of the Official IRA mentioning ‘unlawful activities in the North’.
The split occurred after the special conference with 6 of the 7 TDs as well as a majority of the parties other elected representatives going off to form a group initially called ‘New Agenda’ which became the ‘Democratic Left’. The Workers Party continued on.
Flyer for Eamon Gilmore -Democratic Left -1997 General Election September 9, 2009
An Eamon Gilmore Flyer from the 1997 General Election when he was running for the Democratic Left in Dun laoghaire.
‘New Agenda’ (post Workers Party pre Democratic Left) -Eamon Gilmore, Colm Breathnach and Denis O’Callaghan Letter. September 8, 2009
This is a letter Sent by Eamon Gilmore, Colm Breathnach and Denis O’Callaghan post 1992 Workers Party Split. It outlines the policies and aims of the group. Polices look like those of The Workers Party but without the Democratic Centralism.
The breakway group were initailly called ‘New Agenda’ and contested the 1992 Westminister Elections under that name. However the name didn’t last long and the party called then itself ‘The Democratic Left’, which itself joined the Labour Party in 1998.
Irish Election Literature 
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