A Leaflet from Bernadette McAliskey from the February 1982 General Election running in Dublin North Central. Running as a Peoples Democracy Sponsored candidate , she polled 2085 votes.
Many thanks to the sender
Leaflet from Bernadette McAliskey – February 1982 General Election -Dublin North Central December 15, 2021
From February 1982 ‘Getting Down to the job’ and ‘Fianna Fails fair, realistic budget’ June 18, 2013
From the February 1982 General Election (caused by the Budget being defeated due to increased VAT on Children’s shoes), two ads from Fianna Fail focusing on their own budget proposals. Note the proposed abolition of VAT on Clothes and Shoes. Interesting too that they would “restore the grant and mortgage subsidy to single people”. Also interesting how they proposed paying for their various measures…. These benefits will be financed by various measures which affect companies and financial institutions.”
Leaflet from Joe O’Connell- Sinn Fein – Feb 1982 General Election -Clare August 17, 2012
From the February 1982 General Election a leaflet from Sinn Fein candidate Joe O’Connell running in Clare. O’Connell, then a prisoner in Parkhurst Jail polled 1,233 votes.
More on him here
Leaflet from Rod Eley -Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist Leninist) -Feb 1982 General Election Dublin West July 18, 2012
From the February 1982 General Election a leaflet from Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist Leninist) candidate Rod Eley running in Dublin West where he polled 59 votes.
Many thanks to the sender.
“When the going gets tough … we don’t run away” -Labour February 1982 March 19, 2012
I really love this Labour Ad from the February 1982 General Election its so full of irony. A big headline “When the going gets tough … we don’t run away” with a picture of then Labour Party leader Michael O’Leary. Nine months later he had resigned as Labour Party leader and joined Fine Gael!!
Thirty years collecting election leaflets February 21, 2012
This month marks an anniversary of sorts for me, its 30 years since I started collecting election leaflets!
What began as a small pile of Dun Laoghaire Constituency leaflets from the February 1982 election has grown over time to seven plastic crates full of material in my attic and a few hundred leaflets in my office space downstairs and a few old posters too!
30 years later I’m also totally confident in my hobby. For years I felt embarrassed when asking people to keep stuff for me, I got strange looks and was asked umpteen times “What do you want to keep them for?”.
I was lucky too in that relatives and friends of my parents kept material for me and in school and college people kept stuff for me too. Over the years I also wrote letters to parties and candidates requesting material.
The advent of the internet and email really opened up a whole new world for me, not just being able to start this blog but also in the ability to communicate with candidates and parties requesting material.
It has also enabled people to get in contact with me and send me stuff, something which I am eternally grateful for.
I’ve also been able to supply leaflets to people for various needs. Be it leaflets from deceased relatives, museums, exhibitions, leaflets for books , magazines, newspapers, a thesis on women politicians fashion, or even recently leaflets for a TV show. Last week some old leaflets I’d posted were quoted in the Dail.
It has also opened the door for radio and television appearances, interviews, features in newspapers and magazines.
Aside from the physical material I have also collected thousands of election/ political related images and pdf files which are all backed up regularly to an external disk.
Given I’m a one man band and this is only a hobby I still have thousands of leaflets unscanned and yet to be posted.
As ever if you’ve an old or new leaflet lying about , want to see a certain candidate, want some old leaflets to start a collection yourself , then get in touch. irishelectionliterature AT gmail.com is the email.
Anyway, instead of posting my favourites (of which there are way too many), Here’s some leaflets from that February 1982 election
“Fianna Fail Cares for Rural Ireland” -February 1982 General Election January 8, 2011
From the February 1982 General Election an ad for Fianna Fail with the headline “Fianna Fail Cares for Rural Ireland” .
The Ad outlines Fianna Fails ‘Ten Point Programme’.
Taken from the Galway Advertiser archive.
Feb 1982-“The Coalition has taken away the right of YOUR child to enter this school at 4 years of age.Fianna Fail will Put This Right” January 7, 2011
An intriguing Fianna Fail ad from the February 1982 General Election with the message…
“The Coalition has taken away the right of YOUR child to enter this school at 4 years of age. Fianna Fail will Put This Right”
I’m not sure as to the background and what the coalition proposals about School going age were.
The ad asks for a vote for the Fianna Fail candidates in Galway West, Frank Fahey, Maire Geoghegan Quinn, Bobby Molloy, Mark Killilea and Nicholas O’Connor.
Taken from the wonderful Galway Advertiser site.
Bobby Molloy, Maire Geoghegan Quinn, Frank Fahey, Nicholas O’Connor and Mark Killilea-Fianna Fail-Galway West Feb 82 November 12, 2010
From the February 1982 General Election an Ad for Fianna Fail and its Galway West candidates Bobby Molloy, Maire Geoghegan Quinn, Frank Fahey, Nicholas O’Connor and Mark Killilea. Running five candidates Fianna Fail won three seats.
Taken from the Galway Advertiser site.
From February 1982 ‘Voters of Dun Laoghaire. For Your Future’ Vote Andrews, O’Donoghue, O Méalóid -Fianna Fail October 8, 2010
From the February 1982 General Election a leaflet from Fianna Fail in Dun Laoghaire. ‘Voters of Dun Laoghaire. For Your Future’ Vote Andrews, O’Donoghue, O Méalóid.
David Andrews and Martin O’Donoghue both held their seats, Clare O Méalóid polled 945 votes and failed to get in.
Monica Barnes, Sean Barrett, Liam Cosgrave-Fine Gael -Dun Laoghaire Feb 1982 March 1, 2010
From the february 1982 General election in Dun Laoghaire. The Fine Gael candidates Monica Barnes, Sean Barrett and Liam Cosgrave. Sean Barrett and Liam Cosgrave were both elected.
Give Garret the go ahead Feb 82 February 5, 2010
Just posting this message from Garret Fitzgerald, to illustrate the state of the Country in the Feb 1982 election.
Martin Donohoe – Independent -Dun Laoghaire Feb 82 October 16, 2009
As often is the case,candidates of similar names put themselves before the electorate.
In February 1982 Independent Martin Donohoe and Fianna Fails Martin O’Donoughue both stood in Dun Laoghaire. There were no pictures on Ballot papers then, so I’m sure he hoped for some confusion.
The views here of the major parties was the publics perception.
Other things include, The proposed Oil Refinery in Dublin Bay, ‘wasteful day-to-day Government Squandering’ as well as he hope that it were a hung Dail.
Barry Desmond -Labour Dun Laoghaire Feb 82 September 24, 2009
How times have changed…. Food Subsidies, AnCO and still no Garda Station in Ballybrack either.
Barry Desmond served 7 Dail Terms before in 1989 he was elected to The European Parliament for Dublin. He held a number of ministerial appointments and also served as deputy leader of the Labour Party. He then served on the European Court of Auditors.
Fianna Fail February 1982 – ‘Nail the Lies’ leaflet September 23, 2009
A Nail the Lies leaflet from the Fianna Fail Feb 1982 campaign.Hitting out at Fine Gaels 1981 promises. Mentions the famous Vat on clothing and footwear that brought down that government.
Mention too of ‘housewives’… you wouldn’t get that today.
(click on image to make it larger)
‘He puts the Nation First’ -Fine Gael – Dun Laoghaire February 1982 September 10, 2009
From the second of the three elections held within 18 months a Fine Gael leaflet from Dun Laoghaire. The candidates were Monica Barnes, Liam Cosgrave and Sean Barrett.
‘He puts the Nation First’ was the slogan for that Election. In part a dig at Haughey.
The reasons surrounding the budget defeat are listed and Fine Gaels plans also.
‘Garret’ was also now on first name terms with the electorate. Since then…’Charlie’ ,’Bertie’ and not too many more.
Garrets message could apply almost word for word today.
Liam Cosgrave and Sean Barrett were both elected.
Click on images to see full size
Haugheys message to the electorate – February 1982
Fianna Fail Feb 1982, a lovely picture of Charlie with him claiming that FF Do a better job. His message is interesting also.
Irish Election Literature 
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