How special one must have felt when this arrived in the post, with an almost personal message from Bertie too.
The letter that got Cyprian Brady elected -Fianna Fail 2007 -Dublin Central December 8, 2009
The night before the 2007 General Election, this leaflet was distributed in almost all areas (note the ‘your area’) of Dublin Central (Such stunts are not unusual). Mary Fitzpatrick wasn’t best pleased, especially as she didn’t have time to respond before the election.
Having received just 939 first preference votes, Cyprian Brady gets elected. How? He got the lions share of transfers from Bertie Aherns surplus, it was enough to put him ahead of Mary Fitzpatrick. When Mary Fitzpatrick was eliminated, Cyprian got the bulk of her transfers and finished comfortably ahead of Paschal Donohoe to win the final seat.
So this letter was deemed to have worked.
Noel Ahern – Fianna Fail -1997 Dublin North West December 7, 2009
The then Taoiseach, Bertie Aherns, brother Noel Ahern from the 1997 General Election where he topped the polled getting over 1.5 quotas.
Frank O’Flynn , Kevin O’Keefe -Fianna Fail- Fermoy 1999 December 4, 2009
Frank O’Flynn and Kevin O’Keefe (Son of Ned O’Keefe) from the 1999 Local elections (A Thanks to Frank for sending me these a few years back). Both candidates have been returned at each local election since.
(Judge) Henry Abbott -Fianna Fail – 1987 Longford-Westmeath December 3, 2009
Another member of the judiciary with a political past, Judge Henry Abbott.
He had one term in the Dail in 1987 (where the specimen ballot paper below is from) before losing his seat in 1989.
Note Helena McAuliffe Ennis has her occupation as ‘senator and housewife’.
She was also the only Labour member of the Oireachtas to join the PD’s in the months after their formation.
The Casino at Marino -Sean Haughey -Fianna Fail- Dublin North Central November 30, 2009
A lovely picture of the Casino at Marino, opens up to be a thank you and vote No 1 letter from Sean Haughey.
Although it’s a local landmark, does it signify the voter taking a gamble and voting for Sean?
Ernie Beggs – Fianna Fail 1991 LE November 23, 2009
Ernie Beggs running for Fianna Fail in 1991 local elections, his running mates were Tony Kett and Tom Stafford. Both Stafford and Kett were elected, Beggs got 593 votes.
An interesting title he had too ‘Fianna Fail Trade Union Co-Ordinator’.
Ernie Beggs later ran as an Independent… so must have fallen out with ‘Dublin Central Fianna Fail’…
Betty Coffey -Fianna Fail -Dun Laoghaire 1989 November 22, 2009
Betty (Elizabeth in some records) Coffey stood in both the 1989 and 1992 General Elections for Fianna Fail in Dub Laoghaire. In this 1989 election she was just 26 votes behind party colleague Brian Hillery when she ws eliminated, Hillery was elected. Although not so much here, a lot of her other literature promoted her ‘Liberal Agenda’.
Sorry I Missed you….. Michael Woods November 19, 2009
Michael Woods, the man who signed the deal with the religious… is ‘Sorry I missed you…’
Tony Taaffe – Independent (Fianna Fail) – Dublin NW 1997 GE November 18, 2009
Tony Taaffe, formerly a Fianna Fail Councillor who left and ran as Independent Fianna Fail in the 1997 General Election. I’m not sure but I suspect he may have failed to get on the party ticket. He ran again for Fianna Fail in the 1999 local elections and was elected.
His name is recorded in some places as ‘Taffe’ as opposed to ‘Taaffe’
Margaret Forde – Fianna Fail -Seanad 1997
Margaret Forde the 1992 ‘Sligo Business Person of the Year’ from her run for the Seanad on the Administrative Panel in 1997. She had failed to take a seat in the 1997 General election and was unsuccessful here again.
Tom Kitt- ‘olé olé’ -World Cup 2002 November 17, 2009
From the 2002 World Cup / General Election campaign a leaflet from Tom Kitt to get voters in the spirit.
Fianna Fail – Sean Lemass Cumann Maynooth -‘Be a Driver not a Passenger’ leaflet from 1991 November 16, 2009
A leaflet from the Sean Lemass Cumann in Maynoth, explaining why they are so important . It also has an Ad form the ‘Highlight of the Cumann’s year’ .. the annual Ogra Fianna Fail conference….. Admission included to the ‘BRILL. Party and Disco’….
The 1991 conference took place in Cork.
Marc McSharry -Fianna Fail- Seanad 2002 November 13, 2009
A simple front where he mentions his father (and mother), on the reverse we get the full treatment.
Ray MacSharry smiling beside his son and writing a message of endorsement to his son.
Eileen Lemass -Fianna Fail – 1989 European Elections November 11, 2009
Eileen Lemass- Daughter in law of Sean Lemass and Sister in law of Charlie Haughey. Here she mentions the Sean Lemass connection, but not the Haughey one.
The Double jobbing reference is a bit rich considering that she had a spell from 1984 to 1987 double jobbing as both an MEP and TD.
I presume the double jobbing jibe was against Prionsias de Rossa and Mary Harney who both stood for the Dail the same day.
Eileen Lemass failed to retain her seat .
Don Lydon -Fianna Fail 2002 Seanad November 10, 2009
A shocking photo of the candidate Don Lydon with Bertie Ahern and a dreadful Slogan.
Lydon was recently charged with Corruption along with 3 other Fianna Fail councillors. Tony Fox (leaflet here ) , Colm McGrath (featured in this leaflet ) and Sean Gilbride.
Jim Fitzsimons , Paddy Lalor -Fianna Fail Leinster 1989 Euro Elections. November 9, 2009
In 1989 both the General and European Elections were held on the same day.
Both Lalor and Fitzsimons were elected here as Fianna Fail held its 2 seats, despite a drop in the Fianna Fail vote since the 1984 Euro Elections.
Laoisman Paddy Lalor, previously a TD for Laois-Offaly since 1961 had been elected to the European Parliament in 1979. Lalor, in his time, had served as a Minister for Posts & Telegraphs and Industry and Commerce.This 1989 election was to be his last. Lalor was a noted hurler and was part of the 1949 Laois team that won the Bob O’Keeffe Cup (Leinster title).
Meathman Jim Fitzsimons, who had briefly been a Minister of State in 1982, had been elected to the Dail in 1977. He stood in four European Elections from 1984 to 1999.
Dick Roche -Fianna Fail – Wicklow 1987 November 3, 2009
Dick Roches first attempt at a Dail seat in 1987. He won a seat. Nothing much to it only a lovely picture of Dick and a few other bibs and bobs.
Irish Election Literature
Recent Comments