From the 1985 Local Elections in the Blackrock Ward, Fianna Fail candidate Michael Cotter. Michael Cotter failed to be elected and stood again in 1991 without success.
A plea about being the youngest candidate and asking young and first time voters to vote for him is a fairly common theme.
From the 2007 General Election campaign in Dublin North a flyer from Socialist Party candidate Clare Daly. Clare Daly narrowly missed out on a seat.
‘Elect a tireless campaigner with an unrivalled record’.
From the 1998 Assembly elections, a letter from Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams to Belfast voters.
An election badge for Count Plunkett from either the 1917 by election or 1918 General Election ( “Election of the Snows”) for the Roscommon constituency where he was returned.
Many thanks to Liam Byrne
Quite an interesting leaflet produced by Westmeath Fine Gael TD Paul McGrath on ‘The System (P.R) Of Voting In Ireland’.
Explained in detail are the Irish version of Proportional Representation and how it works.There are Sections on the following…
The Tally, County and Mixing of Votes.
Spoiled ballot papers.
Calcualting the quota.
Transferring a Surplus.
What happens to the Votes of an Eliminated candidate?
Being Elected without Reaching the Quota.
There are also details on voter registration and the 1997 General Election count for Westmeath.
From the 2009 Local Elections in Galway West, the Fine Gael candidates Hildegarde Naughton and John Mulholland.
Despite both polling well, it was longstanding councillor John Mulholland who lost his seat to party colleague Hildegarde Naughton.
A christmas card produced, I assume by the Republican movement or Sinn Fein. I think its from the 70s or early 80s.
Aside from the traditional ‘Nollaig faoi shean is faoi mhaise duit’ in the card there is also a quote from Marie Drumm.
‘We must take no steps backwards, our steps must be forward, for if we don’t our martyrs who died for you, for me, for this country, will haunt us for eternity’
Marie Drumm was a former vice president of Sinn Féin who was assinated whilst in hospital by Loyalists in 1976. She was also a commander in Cumann na mBan.
many thanks to the donor
I saw this and couldn’t resist posting it. The Labour candidate Dan Norris contrasts himself to the Tory candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg. You wouldn’t be exactly thrilled if you were the Tory candidate.
thanks to thestraightchoice.org
I’m not sure if this is a supplement to the October 1992 edition of Futureline or if it was an edition produced by itself (and I’m missing the cover?). Futureline was (is?) a Young Fine Gael Magazine.
The main focus of this is an interview with John Bruton. We also have amongst other things an editorial from a Young Brian Hayes (The New National Youth and Education Officer), items on condoms and stuff on the Rio summit.
The items on condoms by Colm Brophy and John Armstrong are especially interesting and give an insight into the time.
If you cant see the full image click on it (I’ll have to start doing pdf files for some of these soon)
From the 1989 European Elections campaign a letter from Garret Fitzgerald asking voters to vote for Mary Banotti. He also, in what looks like an afterthought asks for a vote for Chris O’Malley (O’Malley had been co-opted as an MEP in 1986 to replace Richie Ryan who had taken a role with the European Court of Auditors).
Mary Banotti had been elected an MEP in 1984, according to the letter she was fluent in French and Italian. Banotti was another former RTE person who had entered politics. She was too Fine Gael blue blood in that Michael Collins was her Grand Uncle. She was also sister of Nora Owen.
Garret Fitzgerald had resigned as leader of Fine Gael two years previously, I think this letter was to constituents in Dublin South East.
In the 1989 European Elections,Mary Banotti held her seat and Chris O’Malley lost his.
From the summer of 1993 a freesheet produced by Des Geraghty of Democratic Left called ‘Euro-Dub’ (not exactly the catchiest title). Geraghty , who had stood unsuccessfully in the 1984 European Elections for The Workers Party, was co-opted to replace Prionsias De Rossa as MEP in the Summer of 1992. In effect this freesheet was advertising the fact that he was now the MEP. I’m not sure what the situation was in 1994 when it was Pat Rabbitte rather than Geraghty who fought the Euro Election in Dublin for The Democratic Left.
The paper argues that Dublin was neglected, that a lot of the EU money went elsewhere in the country than Dublin. There is an attack on The Dirty Dozen
Theres an interesting article ‘Culture on the Dole’ written by ‘Joxer Daly’. I presume to illustrate that the Democratic Left were not just concerned with the peoples economic wellbeing but also with their quality of life.
The in brief mentions amongst other items, the dispute at Pat the Baker, Sellafield and a new CD ‘Step by Step’ by the Work and Play Band. There is also a further indication of culture with a competition to win the Roddy Doyle book ‘Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha’.
I have yet to perfect pdfs so you’ll need to click on the image to read the pages.
From 24th April 2010, an Éirígí Smash NAMA pamphlet advertising a protest at Anglo Irish Bank. A number of Éirígí activists occupied the bank. It was the anniversary of the Easter rising. Many thanks to the donor
From the 1997 General Election in Dublin South, Richard Greene running for Muintir na hÉireann. The party may not have been registered at the time so Greene would have been classed as an Independent. Greene polled 1,431 votes and failed to win a seat.
It had been founded in 1994 and lasted a number of years. Although Richard Greene was a Councillor in 1997 , he had been initially elected as a Green Party councillor for Clonskeagh before a parting of ways. The party never had anyone elected. Emmanuel Sweeney who stood in the 2009 local and European Elections was also a member of the party.
Richard Greene is now known for his involvement in Coir.
A Green Cross 1977 Christmas Card and another ‘Release all Our Political Prisoners’ Christmas Card from the Late Seventies.
Amongst the groups to benefit were Free The Casement Accused , Anti Extradition Committee, Campaign against Strip Searching, Campaign for Lifers, Voice of the Innocent, Irish Political Prisoners in Europe Solidarity Group and Committee for the Transfer of Irish Prisoners.
many thanks again to the donor.
A Yes to the Good Friday Agreement flyer produced by The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) in 1998. The PUP were seen as the political wing of the UVF so their approval (along with that of the UDP) was seen as vital for the passing of the Referendum in May 1998. Many thanks to the donor.
Not exactly Irish but I thought some were amusing, A number of Posters from ‘The Church of the Militant Elvis Party’ also known as the ‘Bus Pass Elvis Party’ . The Website is http://grumpyoldelvis.co.uk/ and there are plenty more posters there.
Dave Bishop is standing for the Party in Kettering..
A sticker issued by The National H-Block Armagh Committee during the 1981 Hunger Strike urging people to ‘Support The Hunger Strike Demands’. These stickers, black flags, posters of the Hunger Strikers and black armbands were commonplace at the time.
These demands were
1. The right to wear their own clothes.
2. The right to refrain from compulsory do prison work, use the time for education in vocational, craft or culture fields.
3. Free association with other political prisoners
4. One letter, one parcel and one visit per week.
5. Restoration of remission of sentence lost through the protest.
Many thanks to the donor
Irish Election Literature 
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