From the 1979 Westminster Elections a leaflet for Sean Farren of the SDLP running in North Antrim. Powersharing is amongst the items covered.
Sean Farren who was until recently a leading figure in the SDLP.
As images are difficult to read the text of each image is below.
From 1989 a leaflet distributed by the Sean Lemass Cumann in Maynooth entitled ‘Some Notes on Ireland’s Premier Political Party‘
We get a little history of Fianna Fail as well as party Philosophies and attacks on both Labour and Fine Gael. The leaflet is also very much of its time in that it harks back to Fianna Fail basics, or what were Fianna Fail basics.
“The electoral record of the pasty reflects it’s success in forming policies on national and constitutional issues that appeal to all sections of the Irish people. Fianna Fail has made a unique and historic contribution to the building up of our state and the welfare of its people. Its achievements have been the result of progressive policies formilated by a caring listening leadership in tune with a true cross section of our people. ”
“That Fianna Fail is to the Left of Fine Gael may be seen in the party’s commitment to the problems of the small man….”
“The Labour party’s commitment to nationalisation in pursuit of a Social Workers’ Republic goes much further than is acceptable to the Fianna Fail view of the importance of individual rights and freedoms in society. Labour has also opposed Fianna Fail policy on free trade and Irish entry to the E.E.C.
In the field of economic and social development, the most significant advances of Fianna Fail in Government in recent years were the provision of free post-primary education for all, membership of the European Economic Community and the European Monetary System.”
First off many thanks to the sender.
A Fianna Fail leaflet from the 1945 Borough Council Elections in Dun Laoghaire. With the Presidential Election on the same day there is also a plea for voters to vote for Sean T O’Kelly.
Amongst the issues mentioned are Ground Rents, Housing, employment and the potential for Tourism in the Borough.
The candidate list is of great interest too.
Sean Brady (him at electionsireland.org) was a longstanding TD for the area.
Rogers, “Terry” was Ignatius Terence Rogers born in Roscommon, died in January 1968, an athlete, father of John Daniel Rogers (former amateur snooker champion) and Terence Ignatius Rogers (The Red Menace) bookmaker of some renown who was one of the first to open betting shops in England. He and his business partner sold their chain of offices to Ladbrokes thus making Terry Ireland’s youngest millionaire.
Hudson, “Brackie” was a relative of Sonny Hudson killed in Glasthule during the Civil war. Hudson Road in Glasthule was named after Sonny.
O h-Uadhaigh, Robert was a Barrister and the family had a law practise in Nassau Street up to the 1980’s.
Proud, Liam completed his studies, married Ann Daniel (her father was the Sub Agent and later Agent of Bank of Ireland, Anglesea Buildings, Dun Laoghaire) his son is a pianist. Liam Proud was also an Artist.
Michael O’Rourke had O’Rourkes Chemist in Dun Laoghaire. O Rourkes Park in Sallynoggin is named after him .
Matthew Cullen, Patrick Gallagher, Michael Kennedy and Oliver Moriarty were the other candidates.
Thanks also to contributors at http://www.dunlaoghairecounty.ie/ for helping with the History of the candidates.
From the 1998 Good Friday Agreement Referendum campaign, a leaflet from the SDLP asking for a Yes vote.
A happy looking family on a merry go round (was there some significance in the choice of a merry go round?) with a message from John Hume and other key points.
From the 1967 Local Elections in the Rathdown Ward Labour Party candidates Bernard Connolly, Vincent MacDowell, Joseph Maguire and Gerard O’Reilly.
Was given a loan of this to scan – many thanks.
The Leaflet starts off by telling us that the local Elections had been delayed because they feared the Labour Party.
Labour seeks your active support -to change the quality of our local life by encouraging all sections of the community to develop a new progressive civic spirit.
Bernard Connolly was involved in the ITGWU, and would have been well known in the area at the time.
Vincent MacDowell, who later stood for the Green Party in 1992 and 1997 General Elections was father of former MEP Nuala Ahern. The Socialist Republican Labour Party which he was a founder of was the Party of Gerry Fitt amongst others.
It split in 1970 as Gerry Fitt and others joined the newly formed SDLP. The party disbanded in 1973.
Joseph Maguire was another involved in the ITGWU as well as music where he helped reestablish St Kevins Band in Bray.
Gerard O’Reilly was a businessman in Stillorgan and interested in the care of the mentally handicapped.
A leaflet produced for Caroline Lucas, who became the Green Partys first Westminster MP when winning a seat in Brighton Pavillion in the 2010 UK election.
An election badge for Count Plunkett from either the 1917 by election or 1918 General Election ( “Election of the Snows”) for the Roscommon constituency where he was returned.
Many thanks to Liam Byrne
Was sent these , many thanks to the donor.A Jack Lynch poster from 1973 and a Brendan Corish one also from the 1973 General Election.
The Wexford based, Brendan Corish, was first elected in 1945 in a by-election caused by the death of his father Richard Corish.He was re elected to the Dail on each occasion before retiring in 1982. He served as Labour Leader for 17 years.
He served as Minister for Social Welfare from 1954 until 1957 and was Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Social Welfare from 1973 to 1977. He passed away in 1990.
The late Jack Lynch first forays into the public world were as a player for both the Cork football and Cork Hurling teams.
In his time he won five Hurling All Ireland medals and one Football All Ireland.
He was first elected to the Dail in 1948 and retired in 1981. He succeeded Sean Lemass as Leader of Fianna Fail and as Taoiseach. In his time he served three terms as Taoiseach and was at the helm in the turbulent days of the Arms Crisis and Bloody Sunday. He passed away in 1999.
Another item received from a most kind donor. The prices are in old old money and from brief calculations the increases are bad.
Amongst the things to go up in price were Cigarettes (can you imagine any party giving out about that now) and the Wireless licence. The bread in the picture is what looks like a batch loaf (none of your sliced pans back then!) and all the other staples of tea, butter, flour, sugar and porter are there too.
I actually don’t know what party issued this though, other than it mustn’t have been Fianna Fail. I presume it’s from the 1954 General Election also.
Any ideas?
I got emailed these by a kind donor, apparently they are from Life Magazine.
First off the Posters are all pasted on to the wall in billboard slots, not a poster to be seen on the lamppost!
The 1948 election will be remembered for the coming of Clann na Poblachta. Here in Dublin North Central constituency. (Result from Electionsireland.org) they didn’t win a seat.
There is also a picture of Fine Gael Leader General Richard Mulcahy Fine Gael leader from 1944 to 1959. When Fine Gael did come to power in 1948 it was John A. Costello rather than party leader Mulcahy who became Taoiseach. This was due to Mulcahy having been in government during the post Civil War executions. In the 1948 government he held the role of Minister for Education.
Note how the Fianna Fail poster has been defaced with ‘And Emigrate!’.
The sender notes …”I found a TIME article about the election which stated that adulterating and appending derogatory statements to posters was a frequent occurrence during the campaign”
This is part of a leaflet produced by Fianna Fail Councillor Stephen Riney for the 1991 local elections. Alas the names of the places were all that was on the leaflet/map. No 8 on the map Butterfield House was supposedly one of the houses Robert Emmett hid in. Rathfarnham Castle, The Bottle Tower, Hell Fire Club, Lamb Doyles and Loreto Abbey would be familiar name to those from outside the area.
I might return to this at a later date and add some more background to the places.
Anyway an unusual piece of election material. Riney wasn’t elected.
You’ll need to click on the image to read the finer details.
‘Why There is No Alternative to Reconstitution’ a letter to members from Prionsias De Rossa and Seamus Lynch prior to the split with the Democratic Left.
Prionsias De Rossa and Seamus Lynch outline their case for changing the Party from Democratic Centralism to that of being member driven.
It’s language is very much of the dogmatic variety and spells out the direction they want the Workers Party to move in. It also indirectly makes reference to the existence and activities of the Official IRA mentioning ‘unlawful activities in the North’.
The split occurred after the special conference with 6 of the 7 TDs as well as a majority of the parties other elected representatives going off to form a group initially called ‘New Agenda’ which became the ‘Democratic Left’. The Workers Party continued on.
Irish Election Literature 
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