This Episode covers The Legion of Ex-Servicemen (Later the British Legion) that contested a number of Irish elections between 1925 and 1934.
In the 1997 General Election , 11 candidates stood for The Independent Dublin Dream Team Band. This was the Irish branch of The Rainbow Dream Ticket, Vote For Yourself, Make Politicians History series of Parties founded by Rainbow George Weiss. This episode covers the 1997 General Election Campaign as well as Rainbow Georges various forays into Irish Politics, North and South.
In early 1991, An Post issued details of a massive cost cutting plan which involved the closure and downgrading of various Post Offices throughout the Country as well as the introduction of roadside boxes for those whose dwellings were a distance from the road. Two ‘Post Office Candidates’ , Paul Beirne and Danny Burke stood in Roscommon in the Local Elections as a protest.
A look at the 1944 General Election Campaign of James Clarke running as an Old IRA candidate in Laois Offaly. This episode also has a brief history of the Old IRA, their aims, objectives and so on.
Having been elected for Fianna Fáil in June 1927, Patrick Belton took his seat in the Dail and was expelled from Fianna Fáil for doing so. He stood as an Independent in September 1927. He later stood for Cumann na nGaedheal and was elected for them in 1933. One of the few people to have been elected as a TD for both Fianna Fáil and Cumann na nGaedheal.
A look at the Vanguard a far Left group set up by Peadar Cowan in 1944 as well as Cowan’s Political career in Labour and Clann Na Poblachta.
United Front Labour was an Alliance of The Communist Party of Ireland, Socialist Party of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Labour Party and various Trade Union groups that contested the 1936 Municipal and Guardians elections in Belfast. This episode covers initial overtures about Left Unity as well as the election campaigns themselves.
The Ulster Christian Democrat Party contested the 1996 Forum Elections. They wanted all churches to recognise the Northern Irish state, Northern Ireland to be renamed ‘Ulster’, to become Independent and be part of the Commonwealth. Their Website
Democratic Partnership was a group made up of Peace People, Peace Activists , Trade Unionists and ex Northern Ireland Labour Party members. They contested the 1996 Northern Ireland Forum Elections. This episode also covers the Northern Ireland Forum electoral system, which was unique and as far as I know hasn’t been used since.
In the 1937 General Election, War of Independence and Civil War veteran Martin Brennan ran as an Independent Republican in Sligo. This episode looks at that campaign and briefly looks at his War of Independence record and time as a Fianna Fail TD.
Founded in 2014, The National Citizens Movement grew out of The Anti Water Charges and wider anti Austerity Movement. They contested the 2015 Carlow Kilkenny By-Election before merging with Direct Democracy Ireland in December 2015.
Founded in 1945, The Cork Civic Party had representation on Cork Corporation until they disbanded in 1966. They represented Business interests in the City.
Founded in 2014, Meath Centre Left contested the 2014 Local Elections, running two candidates in Ashbourne
Founded in 1985 , The Community Party contested the 1985 Local Elections for Letterkenny UDC and had a Councillor elected. This episode also covers the debate around slot machines in Donegal in that period.
In the 1969 General Election, the then President of USI Ciaran McKeown ran in Dublin South West as an Independent. This episode covers McKeown in College, USI, the election, the aftermath and his life afterwards
In 1953 William Lawless was selected at the Fianna Fáil Convention to contest the WIcklow By-Election. However He wasn’t ratified by Party HQ and Paudge Brennan who came second in the Convention was chosen as the Party Candidate. Lawless ran as an Independent under the banner of The “Fianna Fáil Convention Choice” Candidate. Locally much of the Party supported him.
Initially The Fine Gael Dublin City Group, in 1963 they met and hosted Young Unionists in Dublin and Belfast, by doing so they recognised The Constitution of Northern Ireland. For taking that position they were rebuked by The Fine Gael Leadership and subsequently resigned en masse from the Party. They continued as the Dublin City Group. In the 1965 General Election Jim Deegan stood as an Independent backed by The Dublin City Group. He also stood in the 1970 Dublin South County By-Election.
Irish Election Literature 
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