From October 1984 an edition of the Young Fine Gael newsletter “Futureline”. It contains an interview with then Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald, some criticism of the Fine Gael /Labour government , pieces on Taxation as well as some YFG news and other pieces. I’ve uploaded it in pdf format here
Many thanks to the sender.
Garrets Fitzgeralds message and details of various Fine Gael groups from the 1986 Fine Gael Diary. I’ve also included The Leaders of Fine Gael and key dates in the history of Fine Gael. Theres an ad too from Fine Gael Senator Jack Daly trying to sell a few Mercs.
From the 1981 General Election A ‘Vote Fine Gael’ Sticker .
From the 1987 General Election a leaflet from Joe Doyle, Willie Egan and outgoing Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald running for Fine Gael in Dublin South East. Fitzgerald topped the poll with 8,068 votes and was elected on the first count. Doyle polled 3,323 votes and Egan 860. Neither of them were elected.
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From the 1986 Referendum on Divorce, Fine Gael Leader and then Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald calls “… on the women of Ireland to vote YES”.
The Referendum was defeated.
From my attic a November 1982 General Election Fine Gael poster with a picture of the Late Garret Fitzgerald with the slogan “Put The Right Man Back!” .
From the November 1982 General Election. The generic Fine Gael leaflet. Pictured is the leader Garret Fitzgerald with the slogan “Put the right man back!”. There is a profile of Garret, however Garret does not have a personal message to the electorate, just a series of points with his picture above them which is highly unusual.
From the 1987 General Election a leaflet from outgoing Taoiseach , the late Garret Fitzgerald, the late Joe Doyle and Willie Egan running for Fine Gael in Dublin South East.
After five years in government, the Slogan for the election was “We’ve done the Groundwork -Now Let’s Build the Nation”.
Fitzgerald topped the poll but was unable to bring in either of his running mates as Joe Doyle lost his seat.
The Late Garret Fitzgerald 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.
*Had posted this previously
First off many thanks to the sender, who dusted this off to photograph it.
From the 1981 General Election a Fine Gael poster with a picture of Garret Fitzgerald and the slogan ‘Let The Country Win’.
Fitzgerald became Taoiseach after the election although the Government only lasted until February 1982.
From the 1989 European Elections campaign a letter from Garret Fitzgerald asking voters to vote for Mary Banotti. He also, in what looks like an afterthought asks for a vote for Chris O’Malley (O’Malley had been co-opted as an MEP in 1986 to replace Richie Ryan who had taken a role with the European Court of Auditors).
Mary Banotti had been elected an MEP in 1984, according to the letter she was fluent in French and Italian. Banotti was another former RTE person who had entered politics. She was too Fine Gael blue blood in that Michael Collins was her Grand Uncle. She was also sister of Nora Owen.
Garret Fitzgerald had resigned as leader of Fine Gael two years previously, I think this letter was to constituents in Dublin South East.
In the 1989 European Elections,Mary Banotti held her seat and Chris O’Malley lost his.
From the 1992 General Election in Dublin South, Labour Party Candidate Eithne Fitzgerald. In the Spring Tide She topped the poll with 17,256 votes , 28.94% of the vote with almost a surplus to spare.
It was Eithne Fitzgeralds fifth attempt at winning a Dail Seat. She lost her seat in 1997 and failed to regain it in 2002.
In her Dail term, She served as minister of State at the Department of Finance, before moving to Minister of State at the Office of the Tánaiste and Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment.
She is married to John Fitzgerald son of former Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald.
From the 1985 Fine Gael Ard Fheis held in Cork. Which was located in Cork to complement the Cork 800 celebrations.
This is the booklet delegates were sent prior to the event (or indeed at the event). I also have a copy of the pack on Motions and policies debated at the Ard Fheis but it is rather large.
In 1985 Fine Gael were in Government.
Some lovely things here. The Neptune Stadium is ‘at most a 20 minute walk’ from City Hall is a bit like all these new estates that were described on the blurb as ’20 minutes from Dublin’.
Extra Pay Phones were installed for the event. The ‘Bed Bureau for delegates’ run by the Cork Kerry Tourism Organisation almost sound dirty.
We have a map of Cork with the one way system marked by arrows and looking very confusing. The Social events included a fashion of the time a ‘Chicken supper’.
The now deceased delegate who gave me this, had ticked off the events they wanted to attend. There were then lists of the panels for election to The National Executive. With the last pages being taken up by amendments to Fine Gael Constitution and Rules.
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.
Fine Gael in November 1982. Garret Fitzgerald is used prominently. Note the reference to “after the Shambles of Fianna Fail”. Most elections up until the late 90s FF would have campaigned on the benefits and stability of single party government. This was a good dig at that. The outgoing Fianna Fail government had had all sorts of scandals as well as the usual internal dissent over Haugheys leadership.
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.
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Irish Election Literature 
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