The first issue of Socialist Quarterly published by the Socialist Quarterly Editorial Board , which consisted of representatives of the Left Liason Committee and The Irish Marxist Society.
Edited by Paddy Carmody, this issue has contributions from Noel Browne, Matt Merrigan, Naomi Wayne, Anthony Cronin, Dave Neligan and George Jeffares.
Many thanks to the sender.
From the 1970 Dublin South West By-Election a leaflet from Matt Merrigan running for Labour. The By-election came about due to the death of Labour TD Sean Dunne. The leaflet contains a profile of Matt Merrigan, a message from John O’Connell (Labour TD for Dublin South West) , a message from Brendan Corish as well as an endorsement from all the Dublin based Labour TD’s.
Merrigan polled 5,004 votes losing out narrowly to Seán Sherwin of Fianna Fáil. Sean Dunnes widow Cora Dunne also stood in the by-election and this hampered Merrigans chances. Incidentally Sherwin subsequently joined Aontacht Éireann and of course Merrigan was expelled from The Labour Party in 1977 and subsequently was a founder member of The Socialist Labour Party.
Many thanks to the sender
From the run up to the 1983 Abortion Referendum a leaflet from the The Anti Amendment Campaign outlining their reasons for opposing the holding of a Referendum. It has the founding statement of the Campaign as well as a list of public figures and groups that backed the campaign.
Many thanks to the sender.
From the 1954 General Election a Flyer from JB Colgan, Matt Merrigan, Richard Deasy running for Labour in Dublin South West. None of them were elected
Many thanks to the sender.
This is a recruitment leaflet from the Socialist Labour Party circa 1980.
The Socialist Labour Party was short-lived, having been co-founded in 1977 by Noel Browne and Matt Merrigan (who both had been thrown out of the Labour Party). It finally disbanded just five years later in 1982.
It fought the 1979 local elections as well as the 1981 General Election.
In the 1981 election, Browne was re-elected to the Dail for Dublin North-Central. Other candidates fielded by the Socialist Labour Party included Billy Keegan and Matt Merrigan in Dublin North-West, Michael O’Donoghue in Dublin North-East and Dermot Boucher in Dún Laoghaire. None of them polled well. Matt Merrigan also stood for the SLP in the 1982 Dublin West By-Election.
In the leaflet we have a piece from the Parties Constitution. Sections on its Policies and activities.
The Socialist Labour Party indicate here its willingness to work with other parties of the left. Rather than use differences , use what parties had in common…
‘..We would seek to avoid the isolation and impotence of many small political groupings on the Irish Left. When we find
ourselves in agreement…. we attempt to work together..’
Ray (Raymond) Crottys 1989 leaflet. It was Crotty who took the case that stopped the Dail ratifying the Single European Act, so it is because of that Supreme Court Judgement we now have Referendums on all EU treaties…. How those in power must rue the day he took that case.
He was also an opponent of Irelands entry into the EEC. The Trustees listed are a varied and interesting bunch in Kevin Boland, Hubert Butler, Desmond Fennell, Noreen Kearney, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, Matt Merrigan and Senator John Robb.
Irish Election Literature 
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