Eamonn O’ Liatháin from the 1987 General Election in Dublin South. (O’ Liatháin at electionsireland.org).
He polled over 1000 votes. His membership of groups such as CND, The Irish Anti Apartheid movement and,support of ‘Nicaragua must survive’ tells much of the International politics of the time.
In the 1987 election The Workers Party doubled their Dail representation from 2 to 4.
Eamonn O’Liatháin- Workers Party -Dublin South 1987 General Election January 20, 2010
“Who’ll protect my daughter from the pushers?” -Fianna Fails ‘Zero Tolerance’ 1997 GE
“Who’ll protect my daughter from the pushers?” ask Fianna Fail in 1997. Answer -Bertie Ahern and his Zero tolerance policy.
‘People Before Politics’ was the Fianna Fail catch phrase.
As for the Zero Tolerance promises….. did we get the 2000 extra prison places? were the Courts reformed? etc etc
“Left-Wing Government? NO thanks!” -Progressive Democrats 2007 January 19, 2010
From the 2007 General election. The Progressive Democrats quote Labour, Sinn Fein and Green Politicians to illustrate what they would do if a Rainbow Left Coalition got in.
Amongst the quotes
Pat Rabbitte – “It’s my job to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable”
Gerry Adams- “We are actively looking to be in government after the election”
Green Party Policy on housing -“The Green Party wants to apply commercial rates to second homes and to investment properties”
“Has your Labour Candidate been telling you the Truth?- NO!”-Dr Pat Lee -Fine Gael – 1992 Dublin NC
From the 1992 General Election, Dr Pat Lee of Fine Gael attacks Labour.
With the Spring led Labour party on the up, they were being attacked not just by Fianna Fail (an example) but by Fine Gael also.
Pat Lee (electionsIreland.org record) had originally been elected for Dublin Central, however due to boundary changes he ended up standing in Dublin North Central, where he lost his seat.
Items such as the Residential Property tax and means testing Childrens allowance get a run out as Fine Gael try to portray Labour as about to attack the middles classes again.
UK Conservatives ‘Tree’ logo inspired by old Progressive Democrat ‘Tree’ logo? January 18, 2010
Just noticed that the current UK Conservatives Tree logo is very similar to one our own Progressive Democrats used for years.
mmmm… maybe the Tories were inspired. Whilst not exactly the same , it certainly has the ‘inspired by’ feel about it.
‘Who is Alan Foran?’- Fianna Fail- 2004 LE Rathfarnham/Terenure
From the 2004 Local elections Terenure/Rathfarnham Ward.(Result from electionsireland.org).
Fianna Fail candidate Alan Foran is the ‘big 30’ …. He failed to get in.
A selection of 1948 Election Posters
I got emailed these by a kind donor, apparently they are from Life Magazine.
First off the Posters are all pasted on to the wall in billboard slots, not a poster to be seen on the lamppost!
The 1948 election will be remembered for the coming of Clann na Poblachta. Here in Dublin North Central constituency. (Result from Electionsireland.org) they didn’t win a seat.
There is also a picture of Fine Gael Leader General Richard Mulcahy Fine Gael leader from 1944 to 1959. When Fine Gael did come to power in 1948 it was John A. Costello rather than party leader Mulcahy who became Taoiseach. This was due to Mulcahy having been in government during the post Civil War executions. In the 1948 government he held the role of Minister for Education.
Note how the Fianna Fail poster has been defaced with ‘And Emigrate!’.
The sender notes …”I found a TIME article about the election which stated that adulterating and appending derogatory statements to posters was a frequent occurrence during the campaign”
Tom Parlon- Progressive Democrats -2007 GE Laois-Offaly January 17, 2010
From the 2007 General Election, former IFA president Tom Parlon. Parlon then a junior Minister was big on decentralisation.
Having won a seat in 2002, he lost it in this 2007 election. (Parlon on ElectionsIreland.org) . He then became DG of the Connstruction Industry Federation.
John Bruton-Fine Gael- Meath 2002
John Bruton stands for the last time in 2002 in Meath where he was elected on the 8th count. Former Taoiseach and Fine Gael Leader, Bruton resigned his seat to take up the role of EU Ambassador to Washington in 2004.
“They Will Tax the Roof over Your Head” -Fine Gael anti Property Tax Leaflet 1994 January 16, 2010
1994 and the Labour/ Fianna Fail coalition announce that they intend to introduce a ‘Property Tax’. The arguements here against the tax still stand, so its just as relevant today as it was in 1994. The 1994 tax seemed to take into account both the value of the house and the income of householders.
Paddy Bourke, Michael O’Halloran -Labour Party -1985 LE January 15, 2010
Former Dublin Lord Mayor Michael O’Halloran and running mate Paddy Bourke. O’Halloran was one of only two Labour Councillors to be elected to Dublin City Council in these 1985 Local Elections.
John De Courcy Ireland -Democratic Socialist Party- Dublin- 1984 European Elections January 14, 2010
This is from the 1984 Euro Elections. De Courcy Ireland, aside from his political interests was heavily involved in the foundation of the Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire. The profile below shows the calibre. He had been Jim Larkins election agent and aside from the DSP, had spells affiliated or involved with the Northern Ireland Labour Party, the Irish Labour Party, the Communist Party of Ireland, the Workers Party, Democratic Left and the Socialist Workers Party. (Party details from Wikipedia)
He was a founding member of Irish CND and also involved with The Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement.
He passed away in 2006.
(This leaflet was previously part of another post)
Joe Leonard, John Perry and Gerry Reynolds- Fine Gael- Sligo-Leitrim 1997 General Election.
Joe Leonard, John Perry and Gerry Reynolds from the 1997 General Election in Sligo-Leitrim. With Ted Nealon having retired and Labours Declan Bree holding a seat, Fine Gael had a challenge to win a second seat. In the end John Perry and the Leitrim based Gerry Reynolds won seats, with Decklan Bree losing out.
John Perry mentions work having started on a 15 acre Tourism park in Ballymote. Was this completed?
“Students- Everything you wanted to know about the Workers’ Party” -circa 1990 January 13, 2010
A leaflet produced around 1990 to help recruit Student members to The Workers Party.
Leaflet explains core Workers Party policy, issues that impacted student, the party’s position on the North, Womens issues, international policy, as well as what Democratic Centralism was.
It also goes on to say what a party member would be expected to do.
Paddy McNamara -Labour -2005 Kildare North by-election
Labour councillor Paddy McNamara from the 2005 Kildare North by-election where he got almost 18% of the vote. The by-election was won by Catherine Murphy.
Sean Quirke -Progressive Democrat -Enniscorthy 2004 LE
Sean Quirke PD candidate in Enniscorthy in the 2004 Local Elections. Despite an excellent GAA pedigree (Chairman of the Wexford County Board and member of Oylegate/Glenbrien) and some other impressive community activity such as helping in pilgrimages to Lourdes and being involved with the Irish Rural Dwellers Association, Sean failed to get in.
Amongst his priorities was ‘Ensuring decentralisation is delivered to Enniscorthy’. Theres a message too from Tom Parlon, Minister for OPW, complimenting Sean.
Owen Hammond Letter to the Electorate- Fianna Fail- November 1982 GE Dun Laoghaire
A Letter from Fianna Fail candidate Owen Hammond in the November 1982 General Election where he stood in Dun Laoghaire. The fact that it’s personally signed illustrates the changes over the years…These days it would be a ‘sorry I missed you’ card with the pre printed signature.
Hammond polled 893 votes as Fine Gael won 3 of the 5 seats.
Irish Election Literature 
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