From the 1989 European Elections Father Paddy Ryan an Independent Republican running in Munster. Father Ryan was subject of an extradition request from Britain which was denied. He polled a respectable 30,934 votes but failed to win a seat.
More info on Father Ryan here
“Father Ryan is a man of the people” -Father Paddy Ryan – Independent – 1989 European Elections -Munster January 20, 2012
Jack Lynch letter to voters- Fianna Fail -1979 European and Local Elections January 16, 2012
From the 1979 Local and European Elections a letter to voters from Fianna Fail Taoiseach Jack Lynch.
Fianna Fail and Irelands record in Europe since joining is praised and there are some details of the Fianna Fail Local Elections manifesto.
Many thanks to the sender.
Leaflet from Eoin O Coigligh (Owen Quigley) -Ailtirí na hAiséirghe -Louth 1943 General Election January 15, 2012
From the 1943 General Election a leaflet from Ailtirí na hAiséirghe candidate Eoin O’ Coiglig (Owen Quigley) running in Louth. A former Labour Party councillor he joined Ailtirí na hAiséirghe after their foundation, he polled 585 votes.
He was reelected to Drogheda Corporation and Louth County Council in 1945. Pictured in the leaflet is Gearóid Ó Cuinneagáin, The Ceannaire (leader) of the party.
Many thanks to the sender.

From the mid 1940s The Ailtirí na hAiséirghe Plan to end Partition January 13, 2012
Something of historical interest from the mid 1940s, The Ailtirí na hAiséirghe Plan to end Partition. The six headings to the plan were ‘Propaganda’ ,’ Passive Resistance’, ‘Physical Force’, ‘Prayer’ , ‘Representatives’ and ‘ Provincial Coucil’.
Ailtirí na hAiséirghe were a relatively popular Christian Nationalist stroke Fascist Party that started in Ireland in the 1940s. There is an excellent book “Architects of The Resurrection” about them with a decent post about it here
In the 1943 General Election the party took its first foray into Electoral Politics fielding four candidates.
Eoin O Coigligh – Louth 585 votes
Sean O Dubhghaill -Cork Borough 1,019 votes
Gearoid O Cuinneagain – Dublin North West 607 votes
Tomas O Dochartaigh – Waterford 943 votes
In the 1944 Election, the party fielded six other candidates, they were
Eoin O Coigligh – Louth 795 votes
Sean O Dubhghaill -Cork Borough 674 votes
Oisin O Droighneain -Dublin County 607 votes
Gearoid O Cuinneagain – Dublin North West 705 votes
Joseph O’Kelly – Roscommon 1217 votes
Liam Walsh (Breathnach) -Waterford 739 votes
In 1945 the party contested the Local Elections winning 9 seats on various Local Authorities. I’ll edit this post in due course with details of those elected , votes etc where possible.
In the 1948 General Election it stood just one candidate.
William Hargadon in Sligo-Leitrim who polled 323 votes.
Many thanks to the sender.
Three vintage Fianna Fail election posters “The Straight Road is Shortest”,”Keep The Wheels Moving” and “Fianna Fail is Building Up” January 10, 2012
Three vintage election posters from Fianna Fail. “The Straight Road is Shortest”,”Keep The Wheels Moving” and “Fianna Fail is Building Up”.
I’m not quite sure which elections they are from, either way they are a reminder of different times.
(If you’d like them in bigger sized versions contact me)
From 1965 – “Do NOT Vote Fianna Fail” From the Garda Pensioners Association January 8, 2012
From the 1965 General Election, voters are urged “Do NOT Vote Fianna Fail” by the Garda Pensioners Association. It asks for a vote for Fine Gael or Labour who had given assurances to them over Pension increases.

“Fianna Fail are Rattled” -1965 General Election Fine Gael flyer January 7, 2012
From the 1965 General Election campaign a flyer from Fine Gael with the message that “Fianna Fail are Rattled”. “Only This could explain their ill-informed attacks”..
Fianna Fail still won an overall majority, indeed gaining two seats on their 1961 total.
1931 Letter from Eamon De Valera to Irish Press Shareholder announcing that the paper was to be published on the following Saturday January 5, 2012
From September 2nd 1931, a letter to each shareholder in The Irish Press from Eamon De Valera. The letter announces the launch of the paper on Saturday 5th of September as well as practical ways of supporting the paper.
I’m curious to know if it would have been signed in person by De Valera, the original looks as if it may have been but given the letter mentions 8,000 shareholders its probably unlikely.
From 1965 -“Prosperity for Whom?” – “Vote Labour” January 3, 2012
From the 1965 General Election a leaflet from the Labour Party asking “Prosperity for Whom?”. Many thanks to the sender.
“If you don’t want to go back to this…. vote ‘yes'” -1972 Referendum on EEC entry from the IFA January 2, 2012
From the 1972 Referendum on entry to the Common Market a simple yet dramatic flyer from the Irish Farmers Association urging a Yes vote . Farming interests were very much in favour of a Yes vote.

“Stop Taxing Work” -Progressive Democrats 1987 General Election December 30, 2011
From the 1987 General Election, “Stop Taxing Work” from the Dessie O’Malley led Progressive Democrats .

“The Birmingham Six , Remember Them This Christmas” -Christmas Card issued by The Birmingham Six Committee mid 80s December 24, 2011
From the mid eighties a Christmas Card issued by The Birmingham Six Committee. “The Birmingham Six , Remember Them This Christmas” . It asked the recipient to light six candles in the window on Christmas Day to show your belief in the innocence of Hugh Callaghan, Paddy Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker.
It also asked the recipients to write to Douglas Hurd, Peter Barry, TDs , MP and other bodies.
The Birmingham Six were wrongly convicted of the 1974 Birmingham Pub Bombings and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1975. After a long campaign they were released in 1991.
Many thanks to the Sender.

1949 booklet from The Anti Partition of Ireland League for the visit of Eamon De Valera to Birmingham December 17, 2011
In January 1949, the then former Taoiseach Eamon De Valera visited Birmingham as a guest of the Anti Partition League of Ireland. This booklet contains a programme of events, a profile of Dev, a message from Hugh Delargy, the aims of the Anti Partition League of Ireland, ads for Connradh Na Gaedhilge and much more.
There is information on The Anti Partition League here and on page 14 and 15 here.
There is more information on former Labour MP Hugh Delargy here and here
Old Local Election Results – Leitrim 1920 to 2009, Kilkenny 1955 to 2009, Laois 1960 to 2009 December 13, 2011
Another selection of Old Local Election results in excel format. This time from Kilkenny, Laois and Leitrim
The Main page for all the old Local Election results posted to date is HERE
Kilkenny County Council Local Election Results 1955 to 2009
Garret Fitzgerald 1986 Divorce Referendum “I call on the women of Ireland to vote YES” December 8, 2011
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 1948 “Fianna Fail has a Plan” December 3, 2011
From the 1948 General Election campaign “Fianna Fail has a Plan” containing details of their plan. Agriculture, Industry, Housing and Health are amongst the areas covered.











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