The 1997 General Election was the first time the SWP put forward candidates to contest an Irish election. It fielded four candidates- Ritchie Browne, Peadar O’Grady, Brid Smith in Dublin constituencies and Jimmy Kelly in Waterford.
Peadar O’Grady ran in Dublin South East. They use being Anti Corruption to try and attract voters rather than advertising that they are a ‘revolutionary socialist group’.
Fianna Fail November 1982. This was the second election in the year and also the shortest serving Government. It was the GUBU government that did the ‘Gregory Deal’ and was to an extent dependent on support from Sinn Fein The Workers Party who later withdrew their support. That doesn’t get a mention in Haugheys message. Instead he refers to the death of Bill Loughnane and the illness of the late Jim Gibbons for this ‘unwanted and unneccessary General Election’. Yet it was a motion of confidence proposed by Mr Haughey upon which the government fell.
We have a stern Haughey trying to look Statesmanlike on the front …… a friendly but menacing looking Charlie on the inside….
The Pro-life Amendment is now an issue. The usual stuff about stability (give me an overall majority please) is there too.
The part regarding “a sovereign Independent Nation with own policy on international issues …..settlement of international disputes by peaceful means” is a reference to the Falklands war. Haughey whilst initially not supportive of Britain towed the EEC line, He broke ranks after the sinking of the Belgrano, much to Britain’s displeasure.
The 1987 General Election- Dublin South West. This is the Leaflet of Chris Flood and the late Sean Walsh.
Colm McGrath, recently charged with corruption is pictured as one of the Support Team on the back of the leaflet.
(Tony Fox leaflet : http://wp.me/pDoVn-31b and Don Lydon leaflet http://wp.me/pDoVn-FX)
Sean Walsh ‘who has a long record of dedicated public service” and “is totally committed to the needs of his constituency through his council involvement, his Dail experience and his local knowledge” came to the attention of the Planning Tribunals. ….. “his council involvement ……. and his local knowledge” served him well in certain quarters. The Park opposite ‘The Square’ is named after him.
Chris Flood who had his name mentioned in the Tribunals also, “worked unstintingly in the interests of residents…..” etc etc
One or two of the “Support Team” pictured, of John Hannon, Jim Barry, Padraig Lynch, Colm McGrath, Seamus McGowan and Sean Ardagh, have also got a mention at the Tribunals.
Former Leader of the Labour Party Frank Cluskeys literature from the 1984 Euro Elections. In 1991 after losing his Dail seat (and the leadership of Labour) Frank had been co-opted to the European Parliament, to replace Michael O’Leary (who replaced him as leader of the Labour Party) . O’Leary resigned as Party Leader just over a year later (and joined Fine Gael) and was replaced by Dick Spring. Cluskey resigned from government in 1983 over a point of principle regarding Dublin Gas.
It is Spring who gives the leaders message on the main leaflet. That Leaflet (which is hard to read in its original, never mind scanned- but worth the effort) gives an idea of the European issues of the time and Labour dont appear to keen on the European Community in it. The ‘ A Realistic View of Europe” part of the document was quite an eye opener. “..Labour warned the people in 1972 of the harsh realities of Community membership…..” etc
6th of June 2004 outside Croke Park… Westmeath are playing Dublin and Kildare play Wexford. Seamus Kirk and his team give out mock programmes. The Kildare and Westmeath lineups are listed as well as a message from Seamus in the middle, with a play on a slogan used by the Bank Of Ireland in its GAA themed ads.
Seamus uses the leaflet to copy an article from the Sunday Independent which tells the reader of his political career, his triumph over adversity and his GAA pedigree both on and off the field. You would do well to have something more tailored to your potential audience.
It’s very clever too as it covers a team from both matches and may well be looked at for the afternoon. Given that Westmeath beat Dublin that day (on their way to their first ever Leinster title), it may well have been held on to by a few Westmeath fans. Sport is theme used by many politicians to try to get the voter interested. (more on that another day).
You may also notice that the leaflet is printed by BCR press. (On the List of TDs expenses at http://thestory.ie/2009/08/31/donation-to-tds-1997-2008/ BCR contribute over €10,000 to Fianna Fail Meath TDs Noel Dempsey and Johnny Brady).
After Neil T. Blaney’s brother, Harry Blaneys defeat in the 1996 by-Election, Independent Fianna Fail easily won back the seat the following year with Harry Blaney again as candidate.
Harry retired in 2002 and it was his son Niall Blaney who successfully stood for Independent Fianna Fail. The third generation of Blaneys to be elected to the Dail.
After negotiations, Independent Fianna Fail rejoined the Fianna Fail mothership in 2006. So this would be some of the last General Election literature produced by the party. The party literature I have always uses orange as the background. (I’ve more that I will post in due course)
Neil Blaney was originally elected as a Fianna Fail TD in 1948 (a by-election caused by the death of his Father Neal Blaney). After a successful Ministerial career, he was sacked from cabinet over what led to the ‘Arms Trial’. It wasn’t though until 1972 that he was expelled from Fianna Fail for ‘conduct unbecoming’.
Neil Blaney then set about the foundation of the Independent Fianna Fail organisation in Donegal. He was returned 8 times to the Dail and twice to the European Parliment. After his Death in 1995 the subsequent by-election was won not by his Brother Harry, but by Cecilia Keaveney, daughter of former Independent Fianna Fail TD Paddy Keaveney….
These are from the 1989 Euro Elections. I have three different leaflets with the same picture but different slogans. The back of each leaflet was different and where you will get an idea of the policies and the experience of the man. His ‘Record’ reads like a historical document of the 50s, 60s,70s and 80s.
In an age where most politicians were members of GAA clubs, Blaney continued the tradition of soccer in Donegal as he had a spell as President of the FAI. You will also see the ‘Troops Out’ heading, Blaney was unashamedly Republican.
The Fianna Fail Ticket from the 1991 Local Elections in the Buncrana Area.
Aside from Joseph Doherty, Denis McGonagle and John Henry McLaughlin we have amongst others ex Fianna Fail TD Hugh Conaghan and former Independent Fianna Fail TD Paddy Keaveney (the only non Blaney to have sat in Dail Eireann for the Independent Fianna Fail organisation). The Late Paddy was father of current Senator and ex TD Cecilia Keaveney.
Click on images to make them larger
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.
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.
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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.
Irish Election Literature 
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