John Bruton stands for the last time in 2002 in Meath where he was elected on the 8th count. Former Taoiseach and Fine Gael Leader, Bruton resigned his seat to take up the role of EU Ambassador to Washington in 2004.
“They Will Tax the Roof over Your Head” -Fine Gael anti Property Tax Leaflet 1994 January 16, 2010
1994 and the Labour/ Fianna Fail coalition announce that they intend to introduce a ‘Property Tax’. The arguements here against the tax still stand, so its just as relevant today as it was in 1994. The 1994 tax seemed to take into account both the value of the house and the income of householders.
Paddy Bourke, Michael O’Halloran -Labour Party -1985 LE January 15, 2010
Former Dublin Lord Mayor Michael O’Halloran and running mate Paddy Bourke. O’Halloran was one of only two Labour Councillors to be elected to Dublin City Council in these 1985 Local Elections.
Paddy McNamara -Labour -2005 Kildare North by-election January 13, 2010
Labour councillor Paddy McNamara from the 2005 Kildare North by-election where he got almost 18% of the vote. The by-election was won by Catherine Murphy.
Sean Quirke -Progressive Democrat -Enniscorthy 2004 LE
Sean Quirke PD candidate in Enniscorthy in the 2004 Local Elections. Despite an excellent GAA pedigree (Chairman of the Wexford County Board and member of Oylegate/Glenbrien) and some other impressive community activity such as helping in pilgrimages to Lourdes and being involved with the Irish Rural Dwellers Association, Sean failed to get in.
Amongst his priorities was ‘Ensuring decentralisation is delivered to Enniscorthy’. Theres a message too from Tom Parlon, Minister for OPW, complimenting Sean.
Declan Ganley-Libertas Canvassers Newsletter May 2009 January 11, 2010
Not sure if this was a widely distributed newsletter or not. I think it was for canvassers. From the 2009 European Election campaign.
It shows how populist Libertas was. The issues covered were all simple, popular generalities such as ‘Cut Red Tape’, ‘job protection’, ‘turf cutting’, ‘culling quangos’and so on. It is simple and well produced and its hard to disagree with most of the sentiments involved.
Mallie Jacobsen, Shay Monaghan, Joe Sweeney -Labour -Greystones TC 1985 January 10, 2010
From the 1985 Greystones TC election. I’m not sure who of the three, Mallie Jacobsen, Shay Monaghan and Joe Sweeney were elected.
It’s unusual to see ‘….we understand that the Commissions powers are very limited…..’, where often in Town Council elections you see candidates promising to change a lot of things that would be outside the Town Councils remit.
Ivor Callelys Internet Safety Message- 2007 GE January 9, 2010
“From the desk of Ivor Callely T.D., Dail Eireann” ….. A guide to Internet Safety.
From the 2007 General election campaign. It must have been prompted by some News Story (or urban myth) about children and the Internet.
Libertas- Rebuttal of Negative issues and ‘Primetime’ leaflet for Canvassers
In the run up to the 2009 European Elections a Primetime Special was done on Declan Ganley and Libertas.
Arising from the show this was sent out to Libertas canvassers.
Owen Hammond, Richard Conroy, Noel Long, Noirin Butler – Ballybrack 1991 LE
From the 1991 local elections in Ballybrack. Richard Conroy held on to his seat, the long serving Owen Hammond lost his and Noel Long and Noirin Butler failed to be elected.
There had been a lot of accusations regarding planning decisions in the area (see here for an example) which would not have favoured Fianna Fail nor indeed Fine Gael.
Killian Forde -Sinn Fein- Donaghmede 2004 LE
Killian Forde from the 2004 LE in Donaghmede where he topped the poll and got in on the first count. He was re-elected in 2009 although his vote fell.
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanaghan – Castlerea – 2009 LE
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanaghan once considered a joke candidate as he campaigned for the legalisation of Cannabis and once sent a joint to each member of the Oireachtas as part of the campaign. He modeled himself on ‘Ming The Merciless’ from the Flash Gordon series.
Elected first in the 2004 local elections, where he topped the poll, he has gained a reputation as an excellent councillor which was reflected in 2009 when he was returned on the first count again.
He has a special interest in gaining recreational facilities for Castlerea. After his 2004 election, in relation to recreational facilities he was quoted “I’m not exactly looking for the Olympics to be held in Castlerea, but we are asking for something to be done.”
Liam O’ Gogain- Fathers Rights -Dublin South 2007 January 8, 2010
This is from either Dublin South 2007 (or Meath 2005?). Liam O’Gogain continuing his election campaigns to promote fathers rights.
Simple but effective messages.
Flor O’Mahony, Jane Dillon Byrne -Labour- Dun Laoghaire 1989
With Barry Desmond off to Europe, Labours chances of retaining the seat were slim, especially with the Workers Partys Eamon Gilmore on the up. A two candidate strategy made it harder and despite the stature of both candidates the seat was lost to The Workers Party.
Jane Dillon Byrne is still a councillor and the brief pen pic below only gives brief highlights of her career (another leaflet from 1985 gives a better detail) .She was also a swimming teacher…
Eamonn Murphy -Independent -1994 European Elections Dublin
Eamonn Murphy from the 1994 European elections. It has one of the strangest reasons to vote for a person I’ve seen.
Based on an apparition of the Blessed Virgin to a Japanese Stigmatist in 1973, accepted by the now Pope Benedict XVI (Cardinal Ratzinger) , Murphy wants to prepare for the prophesies and other forthcoming disasters by maximizing food production.
He is also a Pro Life Candidate. He had stood for the Short Lived Christian Centrist Party in 1991 and was standing for a group called
“Independent European Alliance’ in 1994.
Amongst those he outpolled in 1994 were PD candidate Stephen O’Byrnes, Fianna Fails Olive Braiden and Sinn Feins Larry O’Toole.
Gemma Hussey, Godfrey Timmins -Fine Gael- Wicklow 1987 January 7, 2010
Gemma Hussey and Godfrey Timmins from the 1987 General Election. Having been in government since November 1982 Fine Gael lost 20 seats in the 1987 election amongst them Godfrey Timmins. The advent of the PDs hit Fine Gael badly.
Gemma Hussey only served as a TD from 1982 to 1989 yet made an impact. Hurricane Charlie is mentioned too.
Liam Blaney, Joseph Cullen,Michael McBride- Independent Fianna Fail -Milford 2004 LE January 6, 2010
Liam Blaney (son of Harry Blaney, Brother of Niall Blaney, nephew of Neil T Blaney etc….), Joseph Cullen and Michael McBride from the 2004 Local Elections which were not brilliant by any means for Independent Fianna Fail. In Milford Liam Blaney held on to his seat but McBride and Cullen failed to get elected.
(kindly sent by IFF at the time)
Ronan Garvey -PD -Clontarf 1999 LE
A trodden Ronan Garvey (sadly I pick these things up when I see them on the ground) from the 1999 local Elections in Clontarf where he failed to be elected. The leaflet has details of the PDs proposed Transport policy for the Dublin area. Much of which has come to fruition since.
Irish Election Literature 
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