Fine Gael from the 1985 local elections. Joe O’Donnell ‘best known locally as ‘Joe 90’.
Bob Quinn -Progressive Democrat- 2002 Dublin South Central December 10, 2009
Former president of the Students Union of the National College of Ireland Bob Quinn from his 2002 campaign. He received 1,377 votes.
The PDs used a lot of these cartoons on their 2002 literature.
John Reddington -Independent -1999 LE Limerick
Independent candidate John Reddington, who states ‘The party machines have done nothing for the people of County Limerick …..’
He later stood for Fianna Fail .
Invite to the 2005 Fianna Fail Ard Fheis
How special one must have felt when this arrived in the post, with an almost personal message from Bertie too.
Richard Bruton- vote 1 Jim Mitchell and 2 Mary Banotti- European Elections 1994 Dublin December 9, 2009
1994 European Elections, Fianna Fail and Labour are in coalition and Richard Bruton asks voters to vote no 1 Jim Mitchell, No 2 Mary Banotti.
Vote management for General elections in Dublin can be difficult to manage, however the Liffey provides a perfect boundary in European Elections.
Mary Banotti was elected, Jim Mitchell missed out.
The ‘Recent Events’ refered to, could have been anything from the Tax Amnesty to the Beef Tribunal.
“Party Pizzas! -The Election Selection” -John O’Neill -Irish Socialist Network 2007 December 8, 2009
This is the back of a 4 page leaflet issued by the Irish Socialist Network for the 2007 General Election campaign of John O’Neill.
Fantastic imagination, playing on the fact that election material is so often mixed in with Pizza Menus… and often the Pizza Menu is more popular!
The letter that got Cyprian Brady elected -Fianna Fail 2007 -Dublin Central
The night before the 2007 General Election, this leaflet was distributed in almost all areas (note the ‘your area’) of Dublin Central (Such stunts are not unusual). Mary Fitzpatrick wasn’t best pleased, especially as she didn’t have time to respond before the election.
Having received just 939 first preference votes, Cyprian Brady gets elected. How? He got the lions share of transfers from Bertie Aherns surplus, it was enough to put him ahead of Mary Fitzpatrick. When Mary Fitzpatrick was eliminated, Cyprian got the bulk of her transfers and finished comfortably ahead of Paschal Donohoe to win the final seat.
So this letter was deemed to have worked.
Richard Boyd-Barrett -People Before Profit- Dun Laoghaire 2007 December 7, 2009
SWP man Richard Boyd-Barrett missed out on the last seat at the 2007 General election, but romped home in the 2009 locals elections and is seen as having a great chance at the next election.
Jimmy Hogan -Workers Party -Greystones TC 1985
A simple flyer from Jimmy Hogan for the 1985 Greystones Town Commission Elections. He also stood in the 1991 Local Elections for the Workers Party.
Emmet Stagg- “Cuts Kill, defend your right to Health”- 1989 GE Kildare December 6, 2009
Emmet Stagg attacks the cuts in the Health Services in 1989.
“If you can pay,
your child gets heart surgery in a week.
If you can’t pay,
join the waiting list or die. “
Brendan Ryan – “A Voice for the Voiceless” NUI Seanad 1989
Brendan Ryan, former Independent Senator and former Labour Party Senator (as well as European and General Election candidate) in 1989.
In 1989 we faced similar challenges than those we face at the minute. This leaflet from Ryan is especially interesting as Ryan challenged the economic consensus of the time.
He finsihes with the lines….
“The cruel values of selfish competition, greed, individualism and indifference, which currently dominate our country are resisted. Our country must be drawn together and this can only be done if the cult of greed and selfishness is resisted.”
Anne Colley -Progressive Democrat- Dublin South- 1987 December 5, 2009
Anne Colley, Daughter of George Colley, Granddaughter of Henry Colley (who lost his seat to Charles Haughey!) from the 1987 general Election.
With such a background it was no surprise when she joined the Progressive Democrats and subsequently topped the poll with well over a quota.
She lost her seat in the 1989 election and retired from politics.
Marcus McCabe -Green Party – Cavan-Monaghan 2002 GE
Marcus McCabe (who kindly sent me this) stood in the 2002 General Election in Cavan-Monaghan for the Green Party. It was the first time the Green Party stood there. He polled 1,100 votes, 843 votes behind Monaghan based Independent councillor Vincent Martin (a former president of the Students Union in Maynooth) who subsequently joined the Greens and stood in 2007.
Donegal Labour /Labour Youth -1985 LE
Donegal Labour weren’t happy about being in coalition with Fine Gael. Being Socialists they didn’t want coalition with Fianna Fail either.God knows what they would have thought of the yet to be formed Progressive Democrats.
That small piece shows the problems parties (especially of the Left) have when going into Coalition. Here were Donegal Labour in effect, disavowing the party that they were standing for. Maybe thats why the literature differs from the 1985 Labour Party template.
Under the No Coalition is a small bit about Labour Youth and a recruitment ‘form’. The name to send off to is F McCafferty. Francis McClafferty stood in the 2004 local elections for the Socialist Party. In 2009 he was part of the group that set up the ‘Letterkenny Residents Party’ which had Tom Crossan elected to the UDC.
On the Reverse is a profile of Anne Wilkinson who was standing in the 1985 local elections for Labour.
Frank O’Flynn , Kevin O’Keefe -Fianna Fail- Fermoy 1999 December 4, 2009
Frank O’Flynn and Kevin O’Keefe (Son of Ned O’Keefe) from the 1999 Local elections (A Thanks to Frank for sending me these a few years back). Both candidates have been returned at each local election since.
Benny Cooney- Independent- Athlone TC 2009
For those of you like myself who are consumed with all things elections, Benny Cooneys name may ring a bell.
He polled 18 votes in the 1998 Dublin North by-election, 21 votes in the 1996 Dublin West by-election, has stood on at least eleven occasions and in that time has a top vote of 239 votes. (Benny at ElectionsIreland.org)
Yet theres not much wrong with his policies….
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin, Andrew McCarthy -Labour -Killarney 1999 Local Elections
Breeda Moynihan Cronin, Labour TD for Kerry South from 1992 until 2007 and Andrew McCarthy running in the 1999 Local Elections in Killarney.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin won a seat and with the deemise of the Dual Mandate in 2003 Andrew McCarthy was co-opted onto the Council.
(Judge) Henry Abbott -Fianna Fail – 1987 Longford-Westmeath December 3, 2009
Another member of the judiciary with a political past, Judge Henry Abbott.
He had one term in the Dail in 1987 (where the specimen ballot paper below is from) before losing his seat in 1989.
Note Helena McAuliffe Ennis has her occupation as ‘senator and housewife’.
She was also the only Labour member of the Oireachtas to join the PD’s in the months after their formation.
Irish Election Literature 
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