A Crime Survey from Dun Laoghaire Progressive Democrat TD, Helen Keogh in 1996.
Crime is one of the political constants, being seen to be tough on Crime or tougher than the others.
So here we have a survey asking about Crime and then asking the constituent to send it back to the TD. Needless to say I’d assume that people who had been victims of crime would be more inclined to return the survey. So hey presto the TD can say “In a survey of constituents I did 50% had been robbed…. etc etc”
It was in 1997 that Fianna Fail ran with its Zero Tolerance policy.
Helen Keogh Crime Survey -Progressive Democrats- Dun Laoghaire 1996 March 7, 2010
Chris Andrews -Fianna Fail -1999 Local Elections Pembroke March 4, 2010
From the 1999 local elections, Fianna Fail candidate Chris Andrews running in the Pembroke Ward. Chris Andrews was elected, his running mate Liz Donnelly lost out.
He lost his seat in 2004, before being co-opted in 2006 and then winning a Dail seat in Dublin South East in 2007.
Chris Andrews is son of Niall Andrews, grandson of Todd Andrews, nephew of David Andrews and of course a cousin of amongst others Dun Laoghaire TD Barry Andrews and RTEs Ryan Tubridy.
Again for a Dublin South East based candidate the background for the photo is the Pidgeon house. Amongst the issues covered here are the needs for Taxi deregulation and more recycling and better waste management.
Killian Forde-Donaghmede Sinn Fein Special Bulletin 2004 on Donaghmede Probation Office March 2, 2010
From April 2004 in the run up to the 2004 local and European Elections, a Donaghmede Sinn Fein special Bulletin on Donaghmede Probation Office.
Then Sinn Fein candidate Killian Forde writes of the true costs of the project and the link between prominent Fianna Fail donors and the location of the office.
Other concerns include the fact that other sites weren’t inspected, the cost overruns, waste of public money and only a part of the offices capacity being used.
Is the office fully occupied now?
Letter to Irish Times and Poster advertising First meeting of The Ecology Party of Ireland in 1981 March 1, 2010
In 1981 Christopher Fettes wrote a letter (below) to the Irish Times enquiring if anyone was interested in setting up an Irish Ecology Party. He got around 80 responses. In turn this led to a meeting of all those interested. This is the poster Advertising the first meeting.
The Ecology Party of Ireland did not field any candidates in the February 1982 election, but did field seven candidates
in the November 1982 Election.(Seven candidates were needed to get coverage on RTE). These Seven were Roger Garland in Dublin South (950 votes) ,Maire Mullarney in Dublin South East (312), Aidan Meagher (188) in Dublin North West, Liam DeSuin (463) in Wicklow, Richard Power in Limerick East (177), Owen Casey (1307) Cork South Central and Elizabeth Ryder (319) in Cork South West.
Many members were unhappy with the name of the new Party and with Greens such as Petra Kelly in Germany household names the name of the Party was changed. On April the 12th 1984 ‘The Green Alliance/ An Comhaontas Glas’ formally applied to be registered as a political Party.
Many thanks to the donor.
What is The Independent Socialist Party? February 28, 2010
A Leaflet from the shortlived Independent Socialist Party entitled ‘What is The Independent Socialist Party?’. Its from around 1977.
Plenty of interest as they explain what their version of socialism is.
The Party had addresses in bothe Dublin and Belfast.
From Wikipedia.. The Independent Socialist Party was a far left political party in Ireland. It was founded in 1976 as a split from the Irish Republican Socialist Party named the Irish Committee for a Socialist Programme, calling for more prominent socialist politics and less emphasis on paramilitary activity….
Mary McAleese ,Gerard Brady, Michael Donnelly and Eoin Ryan -Fianna Fail -Dublin South East 1987 February 25, 2010
From the 1987 General Election in Dublin South East. The fianna Fail candidates of Mary McAleese, Gerard Brady, Michael Donnelly and Eoin Ryan.
Gerard Brady won a seat. (result at electionsireland.org)
The profiles of all the candidates have items of interest.
For instance Mary McAleese was a member of the Roman Catholic Episcopal Delegation to the New Ireland Forum. Who remembers her now from her time on RTE Radio and Television. Eoin Ryan is a graduate of Kildalton Horticultural College.
Pat Cox -Progressive Democrats -1992 Cork South Central February 23, 2010
The then Progressive Democrat Pat Cox from the 1992 General Election in Cork South Central where he won a seat.
Pat Cox left RTE to run for the Progressive Democrats in the 1989 European Elections where he topped the poll in Munster. This leaflet is from his 1992 Dail Campaign.
In 1994 it was expected that he would remain in the Dail, instead he took on former Party Leader Des O’Malley and held his MEP seat as an Independent. In Brussels he was elected president of the ELDR group in the European Parliament in 1998 and in 2002 he was elected President of the European Parliament. He continued in that role until 2004.
He is now President of ‘The European Movement’.
There are some awaiting his return to Irish Politics.
‘A New and Exciting Option in Irish Politics’- Progressive Democrat booklet 1986 February 22, 2010
From 1986 a booklet ‘A New and Exciting Option in Irish Politics’ from the Progressive Democrats.
Given the current climate, where it is seen as an ideal opportunity for a new party to emerge, it makes interesting reading.
There is a message from Des O’Malley who states “The Progressive Democrats came into existence in response to inherent weaknesses in the
Irish political structure and the disaffection of very many people with the manner this country has been governed in recent years…”
There are a number of different sections to the booklet. These are “Origins and aims of the Progressive Democrats”, ‘What is the philosophy of the party?’,
“Right or Left?” , ‘What about The Economy?’, ‘How can you reduce taxation?’, ‘Can you reduce unemployment?’, ‘Will you tackle difficult social issues?’,
‘Waht hope for Northern Ireland?’, ‘How will party policy be framed?’ and ‘After the next Election?’. And of course ”How do I join?’.
It gives an idea as to what the parties policies were initially and also what was attractive about them.
Michael Healy-Rae and Jackie Healy Rae calling card February 19, 2010
Jackie Healy-Raes card, himself on the front and his constituency secretary Michael Healy-Rae on the back. Jackie Healy-Rae doesn’t advertise his mobile number.
(Thanks to Michael Healy-Rae for this)
‘VOTE MING’ -Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan -Choice Party -late 90s February 17, 2010
A couple of ‘Ming’ posters from Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan. They date from the 1997 General Election in Galway West and 1999 European Elections in Connaught-Ulster.
I’ve no idea who won the Frank Fahey look-a-like competition.
Ming The Merciless was campaigning for the legalisation of Cannabis at the time. He now of course is one of the most popular and respected councillors in Roscommon.
More ‘Ming’ Posters are located here.
Thanks to Liam Byrne .
Deirdre De Burca Newsletter 2009 European Elections. February 12, 2010
Déirdre de Búrca Resigns Quit gormley Green senator
From the 2009 European Election Campaign a Newsletter from Green Party candidate Deirdre De Burca. She failed to be elected.
Also in the leaflet is a picture of her with John Gormley, Trevor Sargent and Joe Corr.
Each Green Party local election candidate is also pictured.
Senator Déirdre de Búrca has since resigned from the Senate.
“JOIN The Independent Socialist Party” Leaflet -Circa 1976 February 8, 2010
Firstly Thanks to the donor. (This is the first of two Independent Socialist Party Leaflets I’ll be posting )
“Join the Independent Socialist Party” with details of the party’s aims, a piece on Socialism in Ireland and the directions it has taken since 1968 and also membership details on the back.
The Contact details for the Independent Socialist Party are ‘The Five Eighth Bookshop’ which was a small bookshop run by Johnny White.
What else I know is that The Independent Socialist Party was shortlived (1976 to 1978) and came from a split with the IRSP. I’d assume this leaflet is from 1976.
Wikipedia states…
The Independent Socialist Party was a far left political party in Ireland. It was founded in 1976 as a split from the Irish Republican Socialist Party named the Irish Committee for a Socialist Programme, calling for more prominent socialist politics and less emphasis on paramilitary activity. The following year, it renamed itself the “Independent Socialist Party” and was joined by former UK Member of Parliament Bernadette McAliskey.
The party entered discussions with the Socialist Workers’ Movement (SWM), with the aim of forming a joint organisation, but the SWM chose instead to join the Socialist Labour Party in 1978. As a result, the Independent Socialist Party decided to disband.
You will also find some more information here.
Mairead Duchon -Tax Reform League- flyer 2 Dublin South 1987 February 5, 2010
The Tax Reform League candidate, Mairead Duchon from the 1987 General Election in Dublin South.
The Tax Reform League stood in the 1987 General Election (I’m not sure if they were a registered party). Aside from Mairead Duchon, who got 1253 votes, they fielded at least 3 other candidates.
Camella Cummins stood in Meath getting 636 votes.
Timothy Cahill stood in Dublin South Central and got 711 votes.
Patrick McKiernan stood in Cavan-Monaghan getting 1,868 votes.
Tomás MacGiolla -‘Dublin People’ -Workers Party Paper- 1994 European Elections. February 4, 2010
The Late Tomás MacGiolla from the 1994 European Elections. Although not winning a seat, he polled respectably.
This is a freesheet given out during the campaign. It highlights The Workers Party policy on the EU. From the paper you can see how proud Tomás MacGiolla was to have been Lord Mayor of Dublin . The issues of the day both European and domestic are shown too. The real isssue though was jobs….
Click on an image to enlarge it.
Tom Crilly, Angie Murphy -Workers Party -1991 Local Elections Pembroke February 2, 2010
The Workers Party candidates Tom Crilly and Angie Murphy from the 1991 local elections in Pembroke Ward for Dublin City Council. Neither were elected.
The Johnston Mooney and O’Brien site and The Irish Sweepstakes site in Ballsbridge are amongst the developments mentioned here. Both had their share of controversy.
The infestation of rats in Herbert Park may have been to do with the bakery closing. There were always lots of fat rats on the bank of the Dodder by the bakery when it was in business.
Janet Waddock and Damien Waddock are also mentioned.
Liam Cosgrave – Fine Gael – Dun Laoghaire 1989 February 1, 2010
The now disgraced former Fine Gael TD Liam T. Cosgrave from the 1989 General Election in Dun Laoghaire.
From a Fine Gael dynasty, Liam T Cosgrave is son of former Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and also grandson of another former Fine Gael leader W. T. Cosgrave.
Having lost his seat in 1987 Liam Cosgrave again failed to win a seat in 1989 despite having won the fourth most first preferences in a five seat constituency.
In 2003 he resigned from Fine Gael, after evidence in the Mahon tribunal heard that Cosgrave had accepted illegal payments from property developers in return for voting to rezone property in Dublin. In 2005, Cosgrave pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to disclose to the Standards in Public Office Commission a political donation of £2,500 received from lobbyist Frank Dunlop. He was sentenced to 75 hours Community Service.
Proinsias De Rossa, Ivana Bacik -Labour -2004 European Elections -Dublin January 30, 2010
From the 2004 European Elections in Dublin. Labour candidates Proinsias De Rossa and Ivana Bacik. DeRossa was elected.
From the blurb Proinsias DeRossa must have been very busy in Brussells.
Bernadette Martin- Green Party 2004 LE Drogheda
Green Party candidate Bernadette Martin from the 2004 Local Elections in Drogheda. In 2004 she writes ‘….they leave Jesse James in charge of the banks” .
Irish Election Literature 
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