Irish Election Literature

… what you maybe meant to keep…

1945 Fianna Fail Election Leaflet for Dun Laoghaire Borough. June 14, 2010


First off many thanks to the sender.

A Fianna Fail leaflet from the 1945 Borough Council Elections in Dun Laoghaire. With the Presidential Election on the same day there is also a plea for voters to vote for Sean T O’Kelly.
Amongst the issues mentioned are Ground Rents, Housing, employment and the potential for Tourism in the Borough.

The candidate list is of great interest too.
Sean Brady (him at electionsireland.org) was a longstanding TD for the area.

Rogers, “Terry” was Ignatius Terence Rogers born in Roscommon, died in January 1968, an athlete, father of John Daniel Rogers (former amateur snooker champion) and Terence Ignatius Rogers (The Red Menace) bookmaker of some renown who was one of the first to open betting shops in England. He and his business partner sold their chain of offices to Ladbrokes thus making Terry Ireland’s youngest millionaire.

Hudson, “Brackie” was a relative of Sonny Hudson killed in Glasthule during the Civil war. Hudson Road in Glasthule was named after Sonny.

O h-Uadhaigh, Robert was a Barrister and the family had a law practise in Nassau Street up to the 1980’s.

Proud, Liam completed his studies, married Ann Daniel (her father was the Sub Agent and later Agent of Bank of Ireland, Anglesea Buildings, Dun Laoghaire) his son is a pianist. Liam Proud was also an Artist.

Michael O’Rourke had O’Rourkes Chemist in Dun Laoghaire. O Rourkes Park in Sallynoggin is named after him .

Matthew Cullen, Patrick Gallagher, Michael Kennedy and Oliver Moriarty were the other candidates.

Thanks also to contributors at http://www.dunlaoghairecounty.ie/ for helping with the History of the candidates.

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Ann McGoldrick -Green Party -Dun Laoghaire 1987 GE June 11, 2010


From the 1987 General Election, Green Party candidate Ann McGoldrick running in Dun Laoghaire. She polled 929 votes.
She stood again in 1989 as an Independent where she polled 110 votes.

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Oisín Quinn -Labour Party -Dun Laoghaire 2007 General Election June 1, 2010


From the 2007 General Election a leaflet for Labour Party candidate Oisín Quinn running in Dun Laoghaire where he polled 2265 votes and failed to win a seat. Interestingly enough the total of Quinns and Eamon Gilmores votes did not make up a quota.
Elected initially in the 2004 Local Elections for the Rathmines Ward, he was elected again in the 2009 Local Elections for the Pembroke Rathmines Ward. He is a nephew of former Labour leader Ruairi Quinn.

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Magge Blake , Vincent Treanor -Green Party -Ballybrack 1991 LE May 31, 2010


From the 1991 Local Elections, Green Party candidates in the Ballybrack Ward, Maggie Blake and Vincent Treanor. Despite polling well neither were elected. It was the only time either stood for election for the Greens.

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Sean Barrett Letter to Constituents outlining Rainbow Governments achievements -Fine Gael -1997 Dun Laoghaire May 28, 2010


From the 1997 General Election in Dun Laoghaire, a letter from Fine Gael TD Sean Barrett to constituents outlining the achievements of the Rainbow Coalition.
Sean Barrett was first elected in 1981, was reelected each time until he retired in 2002 before answering the call and standing at the 2007 General Election when he again won a seat.

 

To All UK Nationals Eligible to Vote in Dun Laoghaire -Helen Keogh -Progressive Democrats -1992 GE May 26, 2010


From the 1992 General Election a letter from Progressive Democrat candidate Helen Keogh ‘To All UK Nationals Eligible to Vote in Dun Laoghaire’.
It points out that they were entitled to vote in the General Election but not in the three Abortion related Referenda held on the same day.
Although not written, the reader cant help but get the impression that the PDs were advertising themselves as the party most sympathetic to British policy and Britain.
Helen Keogh was elected . She stood in the 2002 General Election for Fine Gael.

 

Niamh Bhreathnach -Labour Party -Dun Laoghaire 1992 General Election May 20, 2010


From the 1992 General Election a leaflet from Labour Party candidate Niamh Bhreathnach running in Dun Laoghaire.
buoyed by the Spring Tide, she was elected on the first count. It was her only term as a TD. She did however serve as Minister of Education and will be remembered for the abolition of third level fees.
She lost her seat in 1997 and again failed in 2002. She is still a councillor.

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Eamon Gilmore -Workers Party -1987 General Election Dun Laoghaire May 15, 2010


From the 1987 General Election, the now Labour Party Leader Eamon Gilmore running for the Workers Party in Dun Laoghaire.
Although polling a respectable 4,054 votes he failed to get in. He did though increase from his November 1982 total and build on the winning of a Council seat in 1985. In the 1989 General Election he was elected.
The Roches Hill Compensation scandal referred to was where in 1986 the Council paid out £2.375 million in compensation for refusal of a residential development at Roches Hill in Killiney, the land had been bought for £40,000. To add insult to injury even after the compensation,the Council did not become the owner of the land.

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Barry Conway -Fianna Fail -Blackrock 2004 Local Elections May 13, 2010


From the 2004 Local Elections Fianna Fail candidate Barry Conway running in Blackrock. Barry Conway won a seat.
He had run unsuccessfully in 1999 and was then co-opted onto the council to replace Barry Andrews.
He is a partner in the law firm William Fry.

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Bernard Connolly, Vincent MacDowell, Joseph Maguire, Gerard O’Reilly- Labour Party- 1967 Local Elections Rathdown May 11, 2010


From the 1967 Local Elections in the Rathdown Ward Labour Party candidates Bernard Connolly, Vincent MacDowell, Joseph Maguire and Gerard O’Reilly.
Was given a loan of this to scan – many thanks.
The Leaflet starts off by telling us that the local Elections had been delayed because they feared the Labour Party.
Labour seeks your active support -to change the quality of our local life by encouraging all sections of the community to develop a new progressive civic spirit.
Bernard Connolly was involved in the ITGWU, and would have been well known in the area at the time.
Vincent MacDowell, who later stood for the Green Party in 1992 and 1997 General Elections was father of former MEP Nuala Ahern. The Socialist Republican Labour Party which he was a founder of was the Party of Gerry Fitt amongst others.
It split in 1970 as Gerry Fitt and others joined the newly formed SDLP. The party disbanded in 1973.
Joseph Maguire was another involved in the ITGWU as well as music where he helped reestablish St Kevins Band in Bray.
Gerard O’Reilly was a businessman in Stillorgan and interested in the care of the mentally handicapped.

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‘It’s time to change the government’ -Ciaran Cuffe -Green Party-Dun Laoghaire 2007 General Election May 5, 2010


It’s time to change the government writes Ciaran Cuffe running for the Green Party in Dun Laoghaire in the 2007 General Election. A feeling many share with him 3 years on.
We have his decent record over the previous 5 years as a TD and the plans for the future.

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Michael Cotter -Fianna Fail -1985 Local Elections Blackrock May 4, 2010


From the 1985 Local Elections in the Blackrock Ward, Fianna Fail candidate Michael Cotter. Michael Cotter failed to be elected and stood again in 1991 without success.
A plea about being the youngest candidate and asking young and first time voters to vote for him is a fairly common theme.

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Election Lookalikes ……? April 21, 2010


It couldn’t be could it?      Tony Clarke and Tony Clarke…..

 

From The 2010 UK Election in Northampton…. Former Labour MP Tony Clarke….

 

Then…..

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Larry Lohan -Progressive Democrats -Dun Laoghaire 1987 April 15, 2010


From the 1987 General Election in Dun Laoghaire, Progressive Democrat candidate Larry Lohan.With Geraldine Kennedy and Helen Keogh also on the PD ticket Lohan didn’t win a seat.
He was elected as a councillor in 1991 , Left the PDs stood again as an independent in 1999 and in 2009 stood for Fianna Fail but failed to win a seat.

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Jane Dillion Byrne, Eric Doyle, Jack Loughran, Philip Murphy -Labour Party -1985 Local elections Dun Laoghaire April 9, 2010


From the 1985 Local Elections in the Dun Laoghaire LEA. Labour Party candidates Jane Dillion Byrne, Eric Doyle, Jack Loughran and Philip Murphy. I think only Jane Dillion Byrne (who taught me to swim many many moons ago) was elected.
Lots here too in the profiles of the candidates showing the local issues of the time and some reminders of times past.
Jane Dillion Byrne was a founder member of Amnesty International in ireland.
Eric Doyle was educated at the long closed CBS Eblana Avenue (Ronnie Drew was another past pupil).
Jack Loughran had fought for Dun Laoghaire harbour to be under democratic control and developed for all.
Philip Murphy campaigned against payment of compensation by Local Authorities to disappointed developers.

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Eamon Gilmore- Workers Party -1985 Local Elections -Ballybrack March 23, 2010


The now Labour Party Leader Eamon Gilmore running for The Workers Party in the 1985 Local Elections in the Ballybrack Ward. It was an important election for Gilmore as he won a seat which was a major breakthrough for The Workers Party and himself.

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‘Dun Laoghaire Report’ -Donal Marren, Barbara Culleton, Jim Ansboro, Steve Nalty -Fine Gael- Ballybrack 1985 LE March 22, 2010


From the 1985 local elections for the new Dun Laoghaire Rathdown council. A Fine Gael newsletter ‘Dun Laoghaire Report’ which focuses on issues of the time in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown. There are short profiles of the Fine Gael Ballybrack candidates Donal Marren, Barbara Culleton, Jim Ansboro and Steve Nalty.
Issues mentioned in the Newsletter included a proposed Planetarium on the old Pavilion site, a new third level college for Dun Laoghaire, housing grants, Dalkey Library and a proposed swimming pool in Loughlinstown Leisure centre

Clicking on the images will make them larger.

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Geraldine Kennedy (large leaflet) -Progressive Democrats – Dun Laoghaire 1989 General Election March 11, 2010


The now editor of The Irish Times, Geraldine Kennedy running for the Progressive Democrats in the 1989 General Election in Dun Laoghaire. Having been elected in the 1987 General Election in the wave of PD success, Geraldine Kennedy lost her seat in this 1989 General Election.
You will see reference to Mr Haughey getting an overall majority, a theme later revisited with success in 2002 due to their ‘Single Party Government – No Thanks’ posters and leaflets. Also covered are local issues such as the Shankill bypass and Dun Laoghaire Harbour.
You will also notice The ‘agreed agenda for action with Fine Gael’. Its forgotten now but the PDs went into the 1989 election with a pact with Fine Gael.

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