Irish Election Literature

… what you maybe meant to keep…

Benny (Benedict) McElwee -Sinn Fein- 1982 Stormont Elections December 21, 2009


This Poster was sent in by a kind reader , who writes …..

It is about as early as you will find from modern day Sinn Féin. It’s from one of the initiatives I think it’s 1982 but it’s definitely the Jim Prior organised one for a Stormont Assembley/Forum which SF fought on an abstenion policy. I think the SDLP ended up the same too.
The candidate is Benny (Benedict) Mcelwee from Bellaghy, the brother of Hunger Striker, Thomas and cousin of Francis Hughes. Second on the paper is Danny Morrison of Ballot box and Armalite fame.

It was for the mid-ulster constituency and this one was the South Derry version. Up until this election, most full on Republicans had stood on a H-Blocks ticket and for the short lived Irish Independence Party so it’s as early a PSF poster as you’ll find.
Ironic indeed the ‘Smash Stormont’ legend at the top, I think the DUP ran with ‘Smash Sinn Féin’ in the same campaign.

 

Paul Kane – ‘Framed by a Supergrass’ -Irish Anti Extradition Committee 1988


Paul Kane was one of the 38 prisoners that escaped the Maze Prision in 1983.Extradition was a big issue in the Republic all throughout the troubles. Despite the quotes from Charles Haughey and Gerry Collins on the back of the leaflet, Paul Kane was extradited in 1989. The Quotes from Haughey and Collins also illustrate how throughout the Troubles Fianna Fails policies shifted to populist Republican ones most often when in opposition.
Others mentioned as awaiting extradition in the leaflet include Dermote Finucance, brother of the late Pat Finucane and former MP and election agent for Bobby Sands, Owen Carron.

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Dermot Tobin- Workers Party -Wicklow 1989


Dermot Tobins literature from the 1989 General Election. Times were not unlike today, with fiscal considerations the main issue.
A public jobs scheme is suggested, De Rossas message to the electorate is almost as relevant today as it was back than.
Tobin polled a disappointing 2049 votes down 1500 from John McManus two years previously.

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Padraig O’Neill -Independent -Dublin South 1987 December 20, 2009


‘Thatcherism has not Worked in the UK. It will not work in Ireland’ proclaims Padraig. Also shows the Tax rates of the times in a little chart. He got 142 votes….

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Vote No to Citizenship Referendum 2004 December 19, 2009


Up until 2004 if your child was born in Ireland, you were entitled to citizenship. It was felt that this left the country open to people coming into the country to give birth so they could automatically gain citizenship. It was passed by 79% Yes to 21% No.
Michael McDowell was Minister for Justice at the time.

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Noel O’Gara -The Planning Reform Party 2007 GE


The 2007 Manifesto of Noel O’Gara, current owner of Dartmouth Square. He is the only Candidate to have stood for The Planning Reform Party. In 2007 he stood in Dublin South East(27 votes), Laois Offaly (45 votes), Longford Westmeath (84 votes), Roscommon South Leitrim (66 votes) and
he also stood in the 2009 Dublin South by-election (172 votes).
Noel O’Gara is not a fan of planning permission.

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“Don’t throw it all away” -2007 Progressive Democrats December 18, 2009


Saw these and couldn’t resist….

 

Young Fine Gael Leaflet circa 1990


Not quite sure when this is from, as some of the press cuttings look to be from different years. Young Fine Gael went to the USSR, they called for State Funding for Parties, Weren’t too happy about a rugby tour to South Africa and lots more in the press clippings. Hugh Gillanders is listed as the National Youth Officer.

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Victor Boyhan -Progressive Democrats- Blackrock 1999 LE December 17, 2009


Victor Boyhan of the Progressive Democrats for the 1999 local elections in Blackrock. He won a seat, lost it in 2004 and was elected as an Independent in 2009. Boyhan grew up with Paul McGrath and some of his 2009 literature had recommondations from Paul McGrath as opposed to Liz O’donnell as we have here. (I’ll post that in due course)

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Donogh MacCarthy Morrogh (Mr Mac) – Green Party -Cork North Central 1992


Donogh MacCarthy Morrogh (Mr Mac) from the 1992 General election where he polled 818 votes. He was the Gardener on Cork Multichannel, how big a role that was I don’t know.
Given the current prominence of ‘Green Jobs’ here we have them being promoted in 1992 by Donogh MacCarthy Morrogh. Amongst the proposals were recycling and insulation, the Green jobs still being touted today.
I don’t know if the Beautiful City – Garden Festival ever took place.

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Yes to the Good Friday Agreement – Labour Party 1998 December 16, 2009


A Labour Party Leaflet urging a Yes vote for the Good Friday Agreement.
Many of the implications of the ‘Yes’ vote came through.
“A Yes Vote will mean more jobs and prosperity” The Good Friday Agreement is rarely cited when talking of the Celtic Tiger. It must have had a large impact. Ireland in the glare of the worlds media at the centre of a global good news story. American and other investment must have seen us through green tinted glasses. Of course it wasn’t the only reason for investment, but it shone a positive global light on our country.

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Michael Gleeson-South Kerry Independent Alliance (SKIA) 1999 LE.


All Ireland Medal winner Michael Gleeson of SKIA from the 1999 local elections.

In 1999 he wanted to abolish holy hour on a Sunday

There were issues around potential conflicts of Interests of councillors. Hence “I Have no vested interest in any property in Killarney”.
As a tourist attraction, Michael Gleeson also wanted a GAA Museum in Killarney (I suppose the rest of the country needs to be reminded how good Kerry are at the football, even on holidays).
Lots more here besides.

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Carmencita Hederman-Letter looking for support, help and funds 1985 LE December 15, 2009


A Letter from Carmencita Hederman looking for help and funds for the 1985 Local Elections. Carmencita Hederman served from 1974 to 1999 on Dublin City Council as an Independent. She was also elected to the Senate for Trinity in 1989.

 

Martin McAneny -Natural Law Party – Dun Laoghaire 1992


 Martin McAneny listed as the “Natural Law Candidate for Dublin South East” ,  it was actually Dun Laoghaire where he stood in 1992 gaining a massive 48 votes.

 

Joe Higgins- Militant Labour- (Leaflet 2) 1996 Dublin West By-Election


Another Joe Higgins Leaflet from the 1996 Dublin West By-Election. This time Ballyfermot focused. It was the election that put Joe on the map, as he came close to winning the seat won by our current Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.
He asks Voters to vote for him and ‘Other Genuine Left Wing Candidates’ which is fairly uncommon.
We also learn that in 1996 a TD earned £32,000 a year. In 1983 it was £16,400 a year .What is it now?

 

Tom Simpson -Green Party -2002 Dublin Central


I think this is from 2002 Dublin Central (A Tom Simpson also stood in Dublin North West for the Greens in 1997). Tom Simpson, a founder member of the Green Party and also an active Trade Unionist.
Regarding the Fianna Fail government of the time…
‘They still want to poison our air with incinerators’ ………

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Anne Speed -Sinn Fein 1989 European Elections- Dublin December 14, 2009


Sinn Fein Candidate Anne Speed from the 1989 European Elections in Dublin where she polled 11,582 votes (2.58%), down from the 14,604 (5.17%) achieved by John Noonan in 1984.
Sinn Fein are still anti EC in 1989. “Sinn Fein is the only party standing in this election saying that there is an alternative to the EC…”


Also “Please transfer your preferences to other anti-EC candidates”
Presumably this meant to Ray Crotty.

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Vincent Ballyfermot Jackson -Dublin South Central 2002


In the past 20 years Dublin has had two Lord Mayors which have changed their names to include a locality, Sean Dublin Bay Loftus and Vicent Ballyfermot Jackson.
This is a Jacksons flyer from the 2002 General Election. A good deal of it is taken up with a message from Tony Gregory.
Jacksons Ballyfermot base has been moved between \Dublin West, Dublin Central and Dublin South Central over the recent past.