Two Leaflets from the 1992 General Election. Taxes were still very high. By referencing the introduction of Free Travel, Free fuel etc they were showing that they were on the side of the ordinary person. A far cry from their image today.
The price of drink was important back then. Fianna Fail had only put 1p on the pint in five years whilst the Coalition had put 11p on the pint!
For the Maastricht Treaty the Democratic Left were dead set against it …….. They were in the Rainbow government for the Amsterdam Treaty and sure it was a great Treaty altogether.
If it was celebrity endorsements you were after then this is the leaflet for you.
“John Stafford has done a lot of work for the people of Dublin already. I cannot think of anyone else that I would prefer to represent me in Europe. That is why I am giving John Stafford my number 1 on June 9th. I urge you to do the same.”Says Dickie Rock
Whilst Barney McKenna (of the Dubliners) says “As a real Dub I am supporting John Stafford. He will look after The Town I love so well”
Also pictured though are a host of celebrities John met during his time as Lord Mayor. Is that Linda Martin on the front page?
We certainly have John meeting Dickie Rock. John having his picture taken with Paul Harrington and Charle McGettigan of Eurovision fame. John having a chinwag with Packie Bonnar. Is John attempting a sly thumbs up sign with Paul McGrath?
Then there is John smiling with Kevin Moran and John selling fruit on Moore Street. We have John posing with Sean Haughey as they pull each others chains.
Last but not least we have Mother Theresa who was lucky enough to be greeted by John ……. and of course John with the cardboard cutouts of himself.
Aside from all the pictures, John is a great Family man and thats why hes against the Residential Property Tax……
*John, Despite his connections wasn’t elected.
Futureline, the Young Fine Gael magazine in 1992. Young Fine Gael are delighted with themselves at the Yes vote for Maastricht and the fact that they campaigned during the exam season. Also contains a report of a questions and answers session with John Bruton. in Maynooth .
Interesting to note that the event was chaired by (The now Sunday Independent Jouralist ) John Drennan the chairperson of the Young Fine Gael, Maynooth College branch.
Some lovely images too of the Summer Bar-B-Que on the back page with Brian Hayes amongst others looking as if hes enjoying himself. Others pictured include Stephen Rea, Colm Brophy,Karen Bailey, Tim Wray and John Mullins,Wonder are many of them still involved?
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
From 2009 a leaflet from Alan Shatter. As usual with Shatter there’s an eye catching theme that makes it look like something else. He has done ones in the style of Star Trek and X-Factor amongst other things previously.
Mind you €50 to celebrate 25 years of representing Dublin South is a bit steep.
From the 1987 General Election in Dublin South, a flyer for Fine Gael candidate, the late Nuala Fennell
She was very helpful and encouraging in my early years collecting.
Some of her achievements are listed below.
Brian O’Shea of the Labour Party from Waterford 1987 .
He wants to “Legalise Local Radio”, we only had the State stations legally broadcasting at that time.
He had plenty of other aspirations there, that have yet to be done.
Click on Images to make them larger
A pre election Attack by an Albert led Fianna Fail on future coalition partners Labour. They attacked Labour a lot during that campaign… they must have seen the ‘Spring Tide’ coming.
A young fresh faced, tight haired Noel Whelan as he runs for Fianna Fail in 1997. The now Irish Times columnist and political commentator failed in his attempt to win a seat in Dublin South East.
Will his then running mate be back running there again I wonder…
Another Larger more detailed Leaflet here
Despite it being an official Language, you dont find too many Parties using our native tongue. (Although I do see some FF Lisbon posters in Irish). I’m not even sure we have ‘Litir Um Thoghchan’ too often anymore either.
Heres some rare enough examples that I have…. Pól Ó Foighil agus Fiachra Ó Céilleachair
At this stage from the policies the Greens had moved to a more practical viewpoint. The 1997 election is also when Gormley first won a Dail seat.
What I love about this though is that it includes gushing quotes from the media , “A leader for our times” is good but the best in hindsight has to be “Gormley has been credited with much of the Greens success” ….. and maybe their demise?
A Letter from the late Pearse Wyse announcing his retirement to the electorate.
Pearse Wyse was one of the first Fianna Fail TDs to join the Progressive Democrats.
This is just a simple illustration of how everyone claims to be the best person to get the job done.
From the 1997 General Election, both Fianna Fail candidates Tom Kitt and Ann Ormonde claim that they are the ones to get the school built.
In recent weeks there has been much ado in certain circles about a new disgruntled ex Greens/People Before Profit Alliance.
But what would they call it?
….. was this 2002 Wicklow leaflet of the SWPs Catherine Kennedy a trial run?
“People and Planet Before Profit” anyone?
*Catherine stood for Sinn Fein in the 2009 Bray Town Council elections.
From the 1985 local elections in Dun Laoghaire, Adrian Hardiman, Elizabeth Gregan, Betty Coffey and William Harvey all running for Fianna Fail.
The Adrian Hardiman is the now Judge Adrian Hardiman that was standing for Fianna Fail and who later had connections with the PDs.
(Theres quite a number of our current judiciary such as Pat McCartan, George Bermingham, Henry Abbott and Michael White who have also put themselves before the electorate in the past)
Some of Joe’s literature from the 1999 Euros. If only we’d listened to him about “The outlawing of speculation in building land and profiteering in the housing market….” .
Its a sign of the times too that Joe wouldn’t be mentioning ‘GM foods’ much these days.
This is an Ad from the Meath Echo asking voters to ‘Keep a Strong Voice in County Meath’…….. Funny thing…… Cllr Tommy Reilly never stood for Fianna Fail in the 2005 Meath by-election.
He had to bow out due to some rezoning and other shenanigans that came to light. In the end it was Shane Cassells who stood for Fianna Fail.
A young Martin Cullen in 1987. Cullen had been an Independent councillor(as his father had been too) before joining the PDs.
Here in 1987 he was ‘A fighter for Waterford’ …….
Martin was, amongst other things, looking for ‘……a more Professional Dail with fewer TDs….’
He switched to Fianna Fail after the 1992 General Election.
Irish Election Literature 
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