From the 1999 Local Elections a letter to Killarney voters from Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan. Coghlan failed to hold on to his council seat. However he has been elected to the Seanad via the Industrial and Commercial Panel since 1997 and was returned again in 2011.
Letter from Senator Paul Coghlan -Fine Gael- 1999 Local Elections Killarney August 29, 2011
1983 Election Leaflet for Tony Blair
From the 1983 UK General Election a leaflet for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who was running for the first time in Sedgefield. The Oxford graduate was then “a practising Barrister specialising in trade union and industrial law.”
Many thanks to the sender
From 1923 “Vote for Sinn Fein and your own Unpartitioned Republic” August 27, 2011
From the 1923 General Election Ads from Sinn Fein decrying unfair treatment from the authorities. “Loading the Dice -Terrorism all over the Country”.
“Forward Working People” -Mick Dunphy -Sinn Fein The Workers’ Party -Munster- 1979 European Elections August 25, 2011
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 1977 “Support the Fianna Fail Plan for National Reconstruction” August 23, 2011
From the 1977 General Election an ad for Galway West Fianna Fail candidates Maire Geoghegan Quinn , Bobby Molloy, William Loughnane and Micheal O Morain with the headline “Support the Fianna Fail Plan for National Reconstruction”. The Plan is outlined with details under the headings of Jobs, Tax, Prices and Housing.
Via The Galway Advertiser Archive
From 1957 “Export of Horses and the General Election”-Irish National Campaign against the Export of Horses for Slaughter August 22, 2011
From the 1957 General Election campaign “Export of Horses and the General Election” from the Irish National Campaign against the Export of Horses for Slaughter.
This group wanted an abattoir to be set up here for the killing of ‘redundant horses’ as it would eliminate cruelty and create jobs. Amongst the candidates listed as supporting the abattoir were Noel Browne, Sean McBride and Jack Lynch.
I’m not sure if an abattoir for ‘redundant horses’ was ever set up.
“Paschal Donohoe … On Health” -2007 General Election Dublin Central August 21, 2011
From the 2007 General Election a leaflet from Fine Gael candidate in Dublin Central Paschal Donohoe with the title “Paschal Donohoe … On Health”. He polled 3,302 votes and missed out on a seat.
From 1951 “For your family’s sake…. Vote Fine Gael” August 20, 2011
From the 1951 General Election “For your family’s sake…. Vote Fine Gael”. The achievements of the Inter Party Government in relation to the family are listed. The focus on the family was I’m sure in part a reaction to the furore caused by the Mother and Child Scheme.
At the bottom is the message “Get full value for your vote by continuing your preferences for all the Inter-Party Candidates”
You would have got great value for your vote as the other Inter-Party candidates would have included those from the Labour Party, Clann na Poblachta, Clann na Talmhan , the National Labour Party and some Independents.
Sean Walsh -Workers Party – Piltown – Kilkenny 1985 Local Elections August 18, 2011
From the 1985 Local Elections , Workers Party candidate Sean Walsh who was running in the Piltown LEA. Walsh was elected on the first count with 1,145 votes. He first won a seat in the 1974 Local elections and was returned again in the 1979 Local Elections. He stood in a number of General Elections as well as the 1979 European Elections.
The closure of Clover Meats which was based in Ferrybank and closed in 1984 is a big issue for Walsh. Was something amiss with the closure?
Fianna Fail 1959 Referendum on change in voting system”Give Yourself a Really Effective Vote” -Vote Yes August 17, 2011
From the 1959 Referendum on the voting system Fianna Fail material looking for a yes vote. They wanted to implement a first past the post system like the one that exists in the UK. The real point of the exercise was to enable Fianna Fail to get an overall majority, yet this wasn’t used in their official arguements listed here.
The Referendum was defeated by a narrow enough margin of 51.79% of voters voting No and 48.21% voting Yes.
In 1968 a similar Referendum was held on changing the voting system which was again rejected by voters.
1977 Flyer for Enda Kenny and Myles Staunton -Fine Gael -Mayo West August 16, 2011
From 1977 A flyer for Fine Gael candidates Enda Kenny and Myles Staunton who were running in Mayo West. Kenny topped the poll and was elected on the first count.
Many thanks to the sender.
Leaflet from Felix Gallagher -Sinn Fein -2007 GE Dublin West
From the 2007 General Election Campaign a leaflet introducing Sinn Fein candidate Felix Gallagher to the electorate of Dublin West.
Gallagher polled 1,624 votes and didn’t win a seat.
Leaflet from Eddie Fitzpatrick- Independent (Joined FF recently) -Laois Offaly 2011 GE August 15, 2011
A 2011 General Election Leaflet from then Independent Eddie Fitzpatrick who joined Fianna Fail recently. The Portarlington based, former PD councillor left the PDs after the 2007 General Election and held his council seat in 2009.
In the 2011 General Election he polled a respectable 2554 votes. He had been voting with Fianna Fail on the council prior to joining them.
Tullamore Tribune article on Cllr Fitzpatrick Joining Fianna Fail
Leaflet and Broadcast from Alan Beirne- Fathers Rights – Responsibility Party(FRR) -2007 General Election Dublin Central
From the 2007 General Election Campaign a leaflet and broadcast from Fathers Rights – Responsibility Party (FRR) candidate Alan Beirne who was running in Dublin Central.
Beirne polled 116 votes.
Many thanks to the sender.
The Fathers Rights and Responsibility Party Broadcast 2007
Leaflet
From 1961 “Fianna Fail’s New Deal for Rural Ireland” ..”For another Spurt forward Vote Fianna Fail” August 14, 2011
From the 1961 General Election “Fianna Fail’s New Deal for Rural Ireland”. The areas covered included Housing, Land Division, Schools, Roads, Electricity and Water.
At the bottom we have the slogan
“For another Spurt forward Vote Fianna Fail”
Government Information Services- “10 Reasons why you should Vote Yes” to the Single European Act 1987 August 11, 2011
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From the 1987 Referendum on the Single European Act an ad placed by the Government Information Services with the headline “Ten Reasons why you should Vote Yes”.
Prior to the McKenna Judgement the Government were free to take out ads such as this for various Referendum campaigns.
Presidential Election Leaflet from Gay Mitchell – Fine Gael -2011 Presidential Election August 9, 2011
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First off many thanks to the sender.
A leaflet from Gay Mitchell for this years Presidential Election.
Amongst other things Mitchell writes “As President I would put the welfare of our people at the heart of the Presidency.”
From 1951 “Keep Fianna Fail away from your Pay Packets!”- “….Vote Labour…” August 7, 2011
From the 1951 General Election a Labour Party leaflet urging voters to
“Keep Fianna Fail away from your Pay Packets!” by voting Labour.
“Wage control means Fianna Fail! , Fianna Fail means Wage Control”
Irish Election Literature 
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