Fine Gael from the 1985 local elections. Joe O’Donnell ‘best known locally as ‘Joe 90’.
Richard Bruton- vote 1 Jim Mitchell and 2 Mary Banotti- European Elections 1994 Dublin December 9, 2009
1994 European Elections, Fianna Fail and Labour are in coalition and Richard Bruton asks voters to vote no 1 Jim Mitchell, No 2 Mary Banotti.
Vote management for General elections in Dublin can be difficult to manage, however the Liffey provides a perfect boundary in European Elections.
Mary Banotti was elected, Jim Mitchell missed out.
The ‘Recent Events’ refered to, could have been anything from the Tax Amnesty to the Beef Tribunal.
George Allen assists the presiding officer- Fine Gael- Athlone 1991 LE December 3, 2009
An odd leaflet as there must surely be no way this piece of paper will assist the presiding officer.
Especially as it asks you to vote for George Allen.
I can only presume, this little trick got him a few extra votes.
Phil Hogan, John Browne ,Andy Cotterell -Fine Gael Carlow-Kilkenny- 1992 December 2, 2009
From the 1992 General Election a leaflet from Fine Gael Carlow Kilkenny candidates John Browne, Andy Cotterell and Phil Hogan. Both Hogan and Browne were elected with Cotterell again falling short as he had done in 1989.
Click on Image to enlarge.
Chris O’Malley -Fine Gael- 1989 European Elections Dublin December 1, 2009
Chris O’Malley was Co-opted to replace Richie Ryan in the European Parliament in 1986.He then lost his seat here in 1989. The Reference to being an Expert on 1992 is to down with the Single European Act where Europe was to be a Single Market by 1992. His fluency in French and German may have been a dig at some of the Mark Killilea stories that were about at the time.
Chris O’Malley later surfaced as a Labour Councillor on Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council having been co-opted to replace Eamon Gilmore.
He lost his seat the following year in the 2004 local elections.
Austin Currie – 1990 Presidential Election- Fine Gael November 30, 2009
Austin Currie from the 1990 presidential election. Austin Currie, a candidate of some calibre, finished third behind Brian Lenihan and Mary Robinson. His poor showing was one of the factors of Alan Dukes demise as Fine Gael leader.
There are not too many political leaflets where on the front a candidates wife takes up more space than the candidate themselves. Here you wouldn’t be too sure if it was Annita or Austin Currie you were being asked to vote for. The fashion in the family photo was very much of the era.
Gay Mitchell -Fine Gael -‘Sorry I Missed You’ 1997 November 28, 2009
Gay Mitchell is sorry he missed you but can send you information on a host of topics that are listed here.
His contact address at the time ‘Dept. of the Taoiseach, Merrion St,Dublin 2’.
George Allen, Pauline Coughlan, Vincent Dooley, Brendan McFadden, Dick O’Brien -Fine Gael -Athlone 1991 LE November 27, 2009
George Allen a councillor since 1955 and stood in the 1957 General Election.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn- Fine Gael- Seanad 2002 November 26, 2009
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn from the 2002 Seanad election. She had firs been elected to the Dail in 1981, lost her seat in Feb 1982
before regaining it in the November 82 election. She Lost her seat in 1992 and has failed to regain it since.
She has also stood in European elections for Fine Gael.
One little thing here…She notes that she ‘Fully resigned teaching post when first elected…’
Mary Banotti, Richie Ryan -Fine Gael -1984 Euro Elections Dublin November 24, 2009
Mary Banotti, Grand Niece of Michael Collins, MEP for four terms and the Fine Gael candidate in the 1999 Presidential election.
Richie Ryan, elected to the Dail in 1959, probably most famous for his time as Minister for Finance in the 1973 to 1977 Fine Gael/Labour coalition. He was satirised as ‘Richie Ruin’ by ‘Halls Pictorial Weekly’. He served in the European Parliament from 1973 until 1986 when he was appointed to the European Court of Auditors. He was replaced as MEP by Chris O’Malley.
Note how Fine Gael are pushing the fact that they are part of the Christian Democrats in the European Parliament.
Alice Glenn Report – 1987 GE November 23, 2009
The now Independent TD, Alice Glenn explains why she left Fine Gael or how Fine Gael left her. Today Alices views look a bit extreme , however in 1987 Alices views were mainstream enough. The Other Alice Glenn report I have from around the 1986 Divorce Referendum was published by a group called ‘Family Forum’, although not mentioned here the PO box address is the same as Alices here.
Alice Glenn was first elected to the Dail in 1981 before losing her seat in the Feb 82 election. She regained her seat in the November 1982 election and served until 1987 where running as an independent she lost her seat.
Derek Connolly – Cork NE -Fine Gael 2004 LE November 15, 2009
Derek Connolly who was unsuccessful in his 2004 (and later 2009) attempt to be elected to Cork City Council. (Many Thanks to the donor)
1988 National Collection for Alan Dukes led Fine Gael November 11, 2009
After the 1987 election Alan Dukes was appointed Fine Gael Leader. On the 2nd of September that year in an address to the Tallaght Chamber of Commerce, Dukes said “When the Government is moving in the right direction, I will not oppose the central thrust of its policy….”
This became known as ‘The Tallaght Strategy’. It is refered to here “….Fine Gael will not obstruct the Government if it seriously goes about correcting our finances”.
This is the parties Fundraising/Membership drive from late 1987/ early 1988.
‘Anglo Irish’ gets a mention too, but its the Agreement rather than the Bank thats being refered to.
Garret Fitzgerald letter of retirement to constituents 1992. November 6, 2009
Garret writes thanking ‘all who have supported me in the eight general elections since 1969 in Dublin South East’.
He also asks for a number one vote for Frances Fitzgerald and number 2 for Joe Doyle.
In the end Frances Fitzgerald got in, but the second Fine Gael Seat was lost to Michael McDowell.
Dino Cregan – Fine Gael -Cork South Central 1992 November 5, 2009
Denis ‘Dino’ Cregan from the 1992 General Election in Cork South Central. Dino is another ‘Man of the people’, this time though ‘a man of the people for the people’. Dino evidently did a great job as Lord Mayor (and possibly has friends in the Evening Echo) and according to himself did a great job in the Seanad. Still he failed to win the seat.
He is also associated with ‘Dinos’ chipper in Cork.
‘Important Message For West Wicklow’- Billy Timmins 2002 Fine Gael
Geography plays a major part in Irish elections, especially in larger rural constituencies. Often transfers are done locally rather than party wise. The nature of things is that more appears to be done in an area or town which has a TD than not.
Alan Dukes Led Fine Gael- Dun Laoghaire 1989 November 3, 2009
An Alan Dukes led Fine Gael in the 1989 General election. “Putting the Country First” was the Slogan. The Tallaght strategy is not mentioned by name but refered to as ‘The revolution of Consensus Politics’. The ‘Alan’ of his signature looks as if it may have a letter or two too many.
The familiar Barnes , Barrett, Cosgrave ticket was running for Fine Gael. Both Barnes and Barrett held their seats.
Fine Gael ‘Yes’ to Bail Referendum 1996. October 30, 2009
1996 and the Rainbow government were getting tough on crime. A number of cases had arisen where the culprits had been out on bail. So the bail laws had to be changed, which in turn needed a referendum.
Irish Election Literature 
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