Irish Election Literature

… what you maybe meant to keep…

Phil Kearney -Green- 1985 LE Ballybrack November 4, 2009

This is from the 1985 Local election,  Ballybrack ward.  Apologies that the scan is so poor. I’ll try and redo it in due course.
Looking back a quarter of a century on, a number of things stand out, amongst them,
‘Stop and Reverse the Growth of Dublin’
A sign of the times too that Acid Rain was seen as the big threat as Global Warming wasn’t known about.
‘Energy Efficient homes- major insulation scheme needed to stop hypothermia, ‘
‘An end to Land Rezoning / Speculation scandal. Tax unused property.’
‘Double Jobbing- Councillors should not also be T.Ds or Euro M.P.s’.
Sellafield still known as Windscale.
Also the reference to Bishopscourt peace camp, which was a camp beside bishopscourt radar base in Co Down that ran from 1983 to 1986.
Theres a pamphlet from Bishopscourt here

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Pat Upton- Labour- Dublin South Central 1997

The late Pat Uptons last election campaign. This leaflet gives the mark of the man , his experience, his attitude to fairness in Society and you can see that his politics is in the mould of the late Frank Cluskeys. His early passing at just 54 years of age deprived the public of an excellent representative.

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Alan Dukes Led Fine Gael- Dun Laoghaire 1989 November 3, 2009

An Alan Dukes led Fine Gael in the 1989 General election. “Putting the Country First” was the Slogan. The Tallaght strategy is not mentioned by name but refered to as ‘The revolution of Consensus Politics’. The ‘Alan’ of his signature looks as if it may have a letter or two too many.

The familiar Barnes , Barrett, Cosgrave ticket was running for Fine Gael. Both Barnes and Barrett held their seats.

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Paula Desmond – Labour -1999 Euro Elections Munster.

Paula Desmond – Labour -1999 Euro Elections Munster.
A stylish Paula Desmond from the 1999 Euro Elections Munster constituency.
Paula was daughter of the late Eileen Desmond and the late Dan Desmond.
Eileen Desmond had served for many years as a TD and had also been elected to the European Parliament in 1979. Eileen Desmond initially won a Dail seat at the 1965 Cork Mid By-election caused by the death of her husband Dan Desmond. Dan Desmond had been a TD for over 16 years.

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Diarmuid Naessens – Socialist Party 2004 South West Inner City

Diarmuid Naessens wasn’t elected although did outpoll one of the Fianna Fail candidates.
Another thing from that count was that of the SWPs Martin Donohoes 308 tranfers, he got just 84.
Naessens was a very active member of the anti bin tax campaign.

 

Dick Roche -Fianna Fail – Wicklow 1987

Dick Roches first attempt at a Dail seat in 1987. He won a seat.   Nothing much to it only a lovely picture of Dick and a few other bibs and bobs.

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Roisin Shortall -Labour -1997 Dublin North West November 2, 2009

Plenty of good facts about 1997 here.
The Childrens allowance was £39, its now €166
‘84% of students now finish second level’ -Whats the figure now?
Water charges and Residential Property Tax both scrapped look to be on the way back.

Other bits of interest there too.

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Fianna Fail National Collection 1985. November 1, 2009

Fianna Fail are gathering their war chest for the 1985 local elections…

“Please contribute generously to our collectors when they call.” asks Charlie.
At the last elections Fianna Fail were afraid to call to the door looking for your vote….
.. can you imagine them calling to the door looking for your money?

“If you are not at home when they call please post your contribution to Fianna Fail Headquarters ….
Also “When making your contribution ask the collector for identification”
Nothing as to who to make a Cheque out to? and I cant help but imagine certain individuals ripping open envelopes with glee.

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Olga Bennett- ‘Why Me?’- Fianna Fail 1992

1992 and Dubli Central had been dramatically redrawn. Twice Dublin West candidate and Cllr for Ballyfermot Senator Olga Bennett finds herself on the Fianna Fail ticket with Bertie Ahern and Dermot Fitzpatrick.
Despite using the title of Linda Mrtins Eurovision winning song as a slogan she polled 1,087 votes and Aherns healthy surplus wasn’t enough to help herself or Dermot Fitzpatrick over the line.

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‘Women in An Ireland Of Equals’- Sinn Fein 2002 GE

Sinn Fein show off all their female candidates sitting and standing happily with a smiling Gerry Adams. The Back of the leaflet covers issues such as equal pay, childcare etc..

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Richard Conroy, Mary Gray, Owen Hammond, David Kane- FF -Ballybrack 1985

One of Professor Richard Conroys runs for public office (He served in the Senate). Conroy has been involved in many exploration projects through various companies such as Conroy Diamonds and Gold  and also Conroy petroleum.
From David Kanes profile you’ll notice a number of local issues such as Dun Laoghaire Baths that are still contentious.

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Des O’Malley -Munster- Euro 94

1994 Euro Elections Munster constituency. A split in the PDs led to Pat Cox standing as an Independent and Des O’Malley standing for the PDs . Cox despite being behind O’Malley on the first count took the last seat.

It was O’Malleys first election not being the party leader.

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Geraldine Kennedy- PD- 1989 Dun Laoghaire October 31, 2009

The 1989 General Election where Geraldine Kennedy loses her seat. The profile of her on the reverse is interesting in that she was the PD spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Northern Ireland. She was also their chief whip and has a number of other plaudits there too.

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Bertie Ahern, George Colley, Tom Leonard- Fianna Fail-Dublin Central November 1982 October 26, 2009

From the November 1982 General Election, a flyer for Fianna Fail candidates in Dublin Central. A young Bertie, George Colley months before his passing and Tom Leonard who would win the by election caused by Colleys death.
Ahern topped the poll with 10,542 votes with Colley also elected polling 5,622 votes, Leonard missed out polling 2,396 votes.

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Paul Gogarty -Green Party- 1992 Dublin West October 25, 2009

Paul Gogarty in 1992. Nice little history of the Greens in Dublin West as well as some catchy slogans…”Other Parties try to steal our clothes but they dont fit” .
Nothing about Deputy Stagg in this either….

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1997- Bertie- “A Young Leader for a Young Country” ‘..in politics only to serve the people’

“A Young Leader for a Young Country” who on the inside of this doc is  “A New Leader for a New Century”. The profile of Bertie “.. he is in politics only to serve the people” and other plaudits that in hindsight ring hollow.

This was one of a series of leaflets for the 1997 election produced by Fianna Fail. Some were on Crime, some on Drugs, some on Job creation and so on. The fact that there was a whole leaflet dedicated to their leader shows how much they played on ordinary Bertie who is in touch with the people. He was that important to them.

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Tim O’Malley – Progressive Democrat -1998 Limerick East By-election October 24, 2009

Tim O’Malley’s first Dail attempt in the 1998 Limerick East By-Election , caused by the death of Jim Kemmy. In a constituency where a year earlier they had held two seats, O’Malley polled 4,287 (10%) votes.

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Tom Stafford “He’s a true blue” – Fianna Fail 1985 LE October 23, 2009

This is a tiny card from Tom Stafford in the 1985 local elections campaign. Its not often Candidates write their message in verse.
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