Irish Election Literature

… what you maybe meant to keep…

Old Fianna Fail Poster “Mr Cosgrave Will Think More About The Unemployed After The Elections – He’ll be One of Them” May 29, 2011


Not sure when exactly this Old Fianna Fail Poster is from, although I suspect it is from the 1932 General Election. Variations of the slogan “Mr Cosgrave Will Think More About The Unemployed After The Elections – He’ll be One of Them” have been used over the years.
Many thanks to the sender.

 

“The Tax and Spend Rainbow?” – Michael McDowell -Progressive Democrats -1997 General Election May 27, 2011


From the 1997 General Election a flyer from Michael McDowell of the Progressive Democrats running in Dublin South East. In the leaflet he attacks the “The Tax and Spend Rainbow?” the rainbow being The Rainbow Coalition of Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left. He also mentions a 4 and a half party patchwork Rainbow that would have included The Greens and Independents.

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Anti Section 31 poster from Sinn Fein May 24, 2011


An Anti Section 31 poster from Sinn Fein from the early 80s. Under Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act, it was forbidden to broadcast the voice of Sinn Féin members.
Many thanks to the sender.

 

“Put the right man back!”- Garret Fitzgerald led Fine Gael -November 1982 General Election May 19, 2011


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.

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Leaflet from Garret Fitzgerald, Joe Doyle, Willie Egan -Fine Gael- Dublin South East- 1987 General Election


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.

Garret Fitzgerald

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Save 16 Moore Street -“honour the men and women of 1916” -Labour Party April 24, 2011


Given its Easter Sunday, I thought this might be apt to post. A leaflet from the Labour Party as part of the Save 16 Moore Street Campaign.
16 Moore Street was where in 1916 Thomas Clarke, Joseph Plunkett, Sean McDermott , Padraic Pearse and William Pearse gathered around the wounded James Connolly and eventually agreed to surrender.

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Leaflet from Tom Foxe -1992 General Election- Longford Roscommon April 22, 2011


From the 1992 General Election a leaflet for Tom Foxe of the The Roscommon Hospital Action Committee (H.A.C.). Foxe was first elected in the 1989 General Election (leaflet here) and in the 1991 Local Elections he topped the poll in the Roscommon Electoral area bring ing in a running mate Eithne Quinn. You see a reference to Post Office closures being averted in the leaflet, At least 2 Councillors were elected on anti postal cuts platform in the 1991 Local Elections in Roscommon.

In this 1992 election he was elected. He lost his seat in 1997.
There is more on Tom Foxe here.

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From the 1977 Election a Fianna Fail ad -“The Coalition Shopping Basket” -“The Arabs put 12p on petrol- and the Coalition put 35p!” April 21, 2011


From the 1977 General Election campaign an ad from Fianna Fail about price rises since 1973 under the Fina Gael/Labour Coalition . Interesting to see the price rise in cigarettes and beer was less than amongst other items, butter, Tea, Potatoes and Fish Fingers.
We also get the nice line “The Arabs put 12p on petrol- and the Coalition put 35p!”

 

Leaflet from John Ryan -Labour Party-Tipperary North 1989 General Election April 18, 2011


From the 1989 General Election a leaflet from Labour Party candidate for Tipperary North John Ryan. As the European Elections were also held on the same day the leaflet asks for votes for the Labour Party European candidates in Munster Michael Ferris and Eileen Desmond.
“You can vote against these Savage Cuts and Injustices” is something that would be apt today. Indeed many of the issues are the same, just add a burst property bubble to them.
In this election John Ryan failed to win back the seat he lost in 1987, although he later regained the seat in 1992 (his record at Electionsireland.org)
Many thanks to the Sender.

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Leaflet from John McManus -Sinn Fein the Workers Party -1977 General Election Wicklow April 5, 2011


From the 1977 General Election a leaflet from Sinn Fein the Workers Party candidate John McManus running in Wicklow. McManus polled 1,231 votes. Amongst the other names on the ballot paper that day was Seamus Costello.
Amongst the issues mentioned in the leaflet are Jobs, Prices, Family planning law, divorce, equal pay , Peace, land and Fishing

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Fianna Fail ad on Taxation from the 1979 Local Elections April 4, 2011


From the 1979 European Elections an Ad for Fianna Fail focused on its Taxation policy. A fair balance of Taxation was a major issue at the time with Tax marches having taken place earlier that year and later on in the 1980s. Farm taxation and Tax Evasion are amongst the items mentioned here.

 

Ad from Michael D Higgins asking for a Yes vote in the 1995 Divorce Referendum March 31, 2011


From the 1995 Divorce Referendum an ad from The Galway Advertiser Newspaper from Labour Party TD Michael D Higgins asking for a Yes vote. The Referendum was passed, but only just.

 

Fianna Fail leaflet concerning the Partys Jobs programme from the 1932 General Election March 30, 2011


From the historic 1932 General Election a Fianna Fail leaflet concerning their “Prepared Programme” “and the approximate numbers of workers that will get employment when in full productivity”.
It was quite a programme with a huge amount of jobs forecast. Fianna Fail got into power winning 72 seats and formed a minority Government supported by The Labour Party. The Government lasted slightly less than a year.

 

Ad with Yes and No arguements for the 1997 Referendum on Cabinet Confidentiality March 28, 2011


Had this lying about at home, an Ad from the 1997 Referendum on Cabinet Confidentiality produced by a predecessor of the Referendum Commission. The Referendum was passed by a narrowish margin. 52.65% Voted Yes and 47.35% voted No.
The arguments for and against the Referendum are presented.

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Flyer from Michael White -The Workers Party -1983 Dublin Central By Election. March 14, 2011


From the 1983 Dublin Central By-Election, caused by the death of George Colley, a flyer for Workers Party candidate Michael White. White, who had stood previously in 1981 and the two Elections in 1982, polled 4,342 votes (13.28% of the poll) in a contest won by Fianna Fails Tom Leonard.
The flyer makes reference to The Workers Party TDs Tomas MacGiolla and Proinsias de Rossa as well as Water Tax.
Michael White is now a judge.

 

Ad for Tony Coffey -Sinn Fein the Workers Party -Galway West 1977 March 10, 2011


From the 1977 General Election two ads for Sinn Fein The Workers Party candidate Tony Coffey running in Galway West. Coffey a bus driver with CIE polled 926 votes.
Amongst the items covered are jobs, the cost of building land and housing.

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“Blaney For Europe” ads- Neil Blaney-1979 European Elections


From the 1979 European Elections ads from The Galway Advertiser for Independent Fianna Fail candidate Neil Blaney running in Connaught Ulster.
“The EEC has failed to deliver on the promises made when you voted Yes to entry 7 years ago” writes Blaney giving details on faults from Potato marketing policy to The Regional Fund.
Blaney topped the poll and was elected on the first count.

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“Who’ll keep the pushers from our children?” -Fianna Fail -1997 General Election March 7, 2011

Filed under: Fianna Fail — irishelectionliterature @ 11:27 pm
Tags: , , , , ,

From the 1997 General Election campaign a leaflet from Fianna Fail with the headline “Who’ll keep the pushers from our children?”.
Open it up and there is a doe eyed Bertie and promises of all sorts to tackle Drug Abuse and the problems associated with it. Veronica Guerin had been murdered the year before so Fianna Fails Zero Tolerance policies in this area appealed to the electorate.

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