A Leaflet for President Mary McAleese from the 1997 Presidential Election. The Slogan and theme of the campaign being ‘Building Bridges’.
Interesting to note that she was a joint Fianna Fail /Progressive Democrat candidate.
Mary McAleese – ‘Building Bridges’ – 1997 Presidential Election September 10, 2009
Berties Electoral Machine
Bertie had a reputation for electioneering with the ‘Drumcondra Mafia’ being part of a fantastic electoral machine.
Below I’ve posted samples of what a Dublin Central resident would have got through the door or personally from Bertie, the majority being from the 1980s….
Click on these to enlarge
Early Progressive Democrat Letters
Some Early Progressive Democrat Letters. The meeting at the Royal Marine mentioned in the first letter(which I was present) would have been their second public meeting in Dublin. Their first public meeting (which I was present) was in Sutton.
The second Letter here is to do with the inaugural branch meeting of the Deansgrange branch.
The the third one is towards the end of the campaign.
Of the three candidates, Geraldine Kennedy was Elected in 1987.
Leaflet from Noel Ryan- Sinn Fein -Waterford 1987 General Election
From the 1987 General Election a leaflet from Noel Ryan standing for Sinn Fein in Waterford. Ryan poled 758 votes and failed to win a seat. He also stood in the 1985 and 1991 Local Elections without success.
Sinn Fein used a generic manifesto for all candidates with just the Candidates picture and profile changing.
There would also be a reference to the area in the document too.
Note the ‘Make sure you can vote’ section. As far as I’m aware no other party carried that in 1987.
Apologies for the middle pages, but I dont think they had my scanner in mind when putting the document together all those years ago.
Fundraising Letter from Charles Haughey to business circa 1987
With the headline “Things cannot go on as they are; the economy must be got going again”, A Four page letter from Mr Haughey to businessmen circa 1987. With a form to donate attached (must have been small business if there was a form!).
I’m not sure if he would have signed it himself.
In the letter the state of the country is outlined as well as Fianna Fails vague plans. It s only at the end that the real purpose of the letter is mentioned.
The Alice Glenn Report May 1986- ‘A Woman voting for Divorce is like a Turkey voting for Christmas’
‘A Woman voting for Divorce is like a Turkey voting for Christmas’ says Alice
We’ve moved on a bit since Alice, but this gives an idea of attitudes in the mid 80’s. Alice wasn’t a crackpot either as these views were fairly mainstream. She was a Fine Gael TD for Dublin Central at the time.
Well worth a read.
Haugheys message to the electorate – February 1982
Fianna Fail Feb 1982, a lovely picture of Charlie with him claiming that FF Do a better job. His message is interesting also.
The Free Press – Democratic Socialist Party paper 1984 September 9, 2009
This special edition of ‘The Free Press’ was published for the Euro Elections of 1984. John De Courcy Ireland was the candidate. He polled 5,350 votes. John De Courcy Ireland had a long and varied career and is associated by many with the Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire.
Amongst those pictured with him are Bill McCamley, Sean Barrett and Manus O’Riordan. Both Bill McCamley and Manus O’Riordan have been involved with SIPTU since. Amongst other titles Manus O’Riordan has been SIPTUs Head of Research, whilst Bill McCamley has been a Worker Director at Dublin Bus.
The leaflet also contains some interesting facts regarding religion, age, gender of Dun Laoghaire as well as topics that may be of interest especially those in/from the Dun Laoghaire area.
Should you want to read it easily, Clicking on the image will increase its size.
Famous Cork Independent – Cllr Bernie Murphy-Cork NC and Cork SC 1987
1987 General election and Bernie Murphy, having been elected to the council two years previous to much ado, stands for the Dail. As you’ll read he was seen as a Joke candidate and his election caused uproar.The only manifesto I’ve ever bought.
Quite amusing and may bring back memories of the man to many Corkonians.
Christopher Fettes -Green Alliance – 1984 Euro Elections
Christopher Fettes from the 1984 European Election Dublin Constituency.
Fettes is a hugely important figure in the Irish Green Party. Not alone was he a founding member of the now Green Party, It was Christopher Fettes who ‘called’ the initial meeting in 1981 that led to the foundation of The Ecology Party… which became the Green Alliance/An Comhaontas Glas and was renamed again as the Green Party/An Comhaontas Glas.
Declan Bree -Sligo/Leitrim Independent Socialist Organisation -1987 General Election
Declan Bree of the Sligo/Leitrim Independent Socialist Organisation from 1987. Long before he joined (and left) the Labour Party. In this 1987 Election Bree polled 2,584 votes and failed to win a seat.
Immigration Control Platform – Ted Neville -2002 Cork South Central
From the 2002 General Election, Immigration Control Platform candidate Ted Neville running in Cork South Central.
Ted Neville polled 372 votes.
Sean Clerkin-Christian Principles Party – ‘Jobs For Youth – Not Condoms’
The Christian Principles Party, one of the many ‘Right wing Catholic Parties’ to spring up since Fianna Fail started showing liberal tendencies.
This is from the 1991 Local Elections where Sean Clerkin narrowly missed out on winning a seat, polling over 1,000 votes in the Drumcondra ward!
‘Jobs for Youth-Not Condoms’ has to be one of the worst election slogans ever.
There is all these Christian messages and then we find that Sean is a GAA man who jumped on the Italia 90/Euro 88 bandwagon and is ‘an enthusiastic supporter of Jack’s Irish Soccer team’
Communist Party of Ireland -Anti Water Rates pamphlet from 1983
‘Pull The Plug On The Water Rates Fraud’ ask the Communist Party of Ireland in a leaflet from around 1983. With Water Rates supposedly on their way back, its worth a read.
There is a Join The Communist Party Form at the back.
Irish Shipping Workers- NO! to Fine Gael and Labour Candidates -1987 General Election.
This is from the 1987 General Election Campaign where Irish Shipping Workers were asking people to Vote against Fine Gael and Labour Candidates
The closure of Irish Shipping was( and still is) the cause of much controversy. The Workers were treated with incredible contempt and having worked on ships myself with some of the ex-workers the feeling of unjustness lives on.
Jackie Healy-Rae- 1999 Local Elections Killarney
A fine Specimen of a man. From the 1999 Local Elections.
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Ruairi Quinn -Lets Make Ireland Work- 1992 GE
A Ruairi Quinn leaflet from 1992 . As often is the case for Dublin South East the Pigeon House is in the background.
Irish Election Literature 
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