Michael Mulcahy stood on four occasions in Dublin South Central before finally being elected in 2002.
Mairead McGuinness Letter to electors -Fine Gael -2004 European Elections- East December 23, 2009
It was quite a coup when Fine Gael secured Journalist and TV presenter, Mairead McGuinness on its ‘East’ ticket for the 2004 European Elections. A hard-fought campaign and rivalry between herself and Avril Doyle led to Fine Gael winning two of the three seats on offer. McGuinness topping the poll with just over a quota.
Stephen Rineys Rathfarnham Heritage Map-1991 LE
This is part of a leaflet produced by Fianna Fail Councillor Stephen Riney for the 1991 local elections. Alas the names of the places were all that was on the leaflet/map. No 8 on the map Butterfield House was supposedly one of the houses Robert Emmett hid in. Rathfarnham Castle, The Bottle Tower, Hell Fire Club, Lamb Doyles and Loreto Abbey would be familiar name to those from outside the area.
I might return to this at a later date and add some more background to the places.
Anyway an unusual piece of election material. Riney wasn’t elected.
You’ll need to click on the image to read the finer details.
Leaflet advertising ‘Berties Walkabout’ -Phibsboro 1993 December 22, 2009
A leaflet advertising Berties forthcoming Walkabout in the St Peters Parish area along with Tony Kett. I had thought that ‘Berties Walkabouts’ were somewhat impromptu but it wasn’t the case.
Like an awful lot to do with the Ahern organisation it had a military precision about it.
The Advice Centres are held in conjunction with Tony Kett and Willie O’Byrne.
Tony Kett was a councillor and later a senator. In the obituary of Tony Kett, Bertie Ahern wrote that he was ‘a man I am so proud to have been able to call my best friend’.
Willie O’Byrne stood for Fianna Fail in the 1991 local elections but failed to win a seat.
Throughout the Advice centre details, Bertie puts emphasis on the fact that he would deal with any queries ‘personally’.
Paddy Cooney, Charlie McDonald -Fine Gael -1989 European Elections Leinster
From the 1989 European Elections Leinster. Paddy Cooney and Charlie McDonald.
Cooney was Minister for Justice in the 1973 to 77 Coalition government and later served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, Minister for Transport, Minister for Defence and Minister for Education. He was elected to the Dail in 1970 for Longford Westmeath, lost his seat in 1977, regained it in 1981 and held it until 1989 when (in the election the flyer is from) he won a seat in The European Parliament.
Charlie McDonald had a number of spells in the Seanad and also in the European Parliament. He served one Dail term from 1973 to 1977 for Laois Offaly.
Fine Gael emphasised their link to the Christian Democrats to imply that they had a bigger influence than Fianna Fail in the European Parliament.
Brian Cowen -Final Election Message -Laois-Offaly 2007 GE
Brian Cowens final election message to constituents in 2007. He asks Voters to ‘let us proceed with the Next Steps’… ‘to ensure Bertie Ahern continues the good work…’
The candidates shown are Sean Fleming, John Moloney and John Foley.
John Foley is the chap who disappeared and then reappeared in that David Davin Power report from the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis a few years back.
“Don’t throw it all away” -2007 Progressive Democrats December 18, 2009
Saw these and couldn’t resist….
Donogh MacCarthy Morrogh (Mr Mac) – Green Party -Cork North Central 1992 December 17, 2009
Donogh MacCarthy Morrogh (Mr Mac) from the 1992 General election where he polled 818 votes. He was the Gardener on Cork Multichannel, how big a role that was I don’t know.
Given the current prominence of ‘Green Jobs’ here we have them being promoted in 1992 by Donogh MacCarthy Morrogh. Amongst the proposals were recycling and insulation, the Green jobs still being touted today.
I don’t know if the Beautiful City – Garden Festival ever took place.
Yes to the Good Friday Agreement – Labour Party 1998 December 16, 2009
A Labour Party Leaflet urging a Yes vote for the Good Friday Agreement.
Many of the implications of the ‘Yes’ vote came through.
“A Yes Vote will mean more jobs and prosperity” The Good Friday Agreement is rarely cited when talking of the Celtic Tiger. It must have had a large impact. Ireland in the glare of the worlds media at the centre of a global good news story. American and other investment must have seen us through green tinted glasses. Of course it wasn’t the only reason for investment, but it shone a positive global light on our country.
Michael Gleeson-South Kerry Independent Alliance (SKIA) 1999 LE.
All Ireland Medal winner Michael Gleeson of SKIA from the 1999 local elections.
In 1999 he wanted to abolish holy hour on a Sunday
There were issues around potential conflicts of Interests of councillors. Hence “I Have no vested interest in any property in Killarney”.
As a tourist attraction, Michael Gleeson also wanted a GAA Museum in Killarney (I suppose the rest of the country needs to be reminded how good Kerry are at the football, even on holidays).
Lots more here besides.
Carmencita Hederman-Letter looking for support, help and funds 1985 LE December 15, 2009
A Letter from Carmencita Hederman looking for help and funds for the 1985 Local Elections. Carmencita Hederman served from 1974 to 1999 on Dublin City Council as an Independent. She was also elected to the Senate for Trinity in 1989.
Martin McAneny -Natural Law Party – Dun Laoghaire 1992
Martin McAneny listed as the “Natural Law Candidate for Dublin South East” , it was actually Dun Laoghaire where he stood in 1992 gaining a massive 48 votes.
Joe Higgins- Militant Labour- (Leaflet 2) 1996 Dublin West By-Election
Another Joe Higgins Leaflet from the 1996 Dublin West By-Election. This time Ballyfermot focused. It was the election that put Joe on the map, as he came close to winning the seat won by our current Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.
He asks Voters to vote for him and ‘Other Genuine Left Wing Candidates’ which is fairly uncommon.
We also learn that in 1996 a TD earned £32,000 a year. In 1983 it was £16,400 a year .What is it now?
Tom Simpson -Green Party -2002 Dublin Central
I think this is from 2002 Dublin Central (A Tom Simpson also stood in Dublin North West for the Greens in 1997). Tom Simpson, a founder member of the Green Party and also an active Trade Unionist.
Regarding the Fianna Fail government of the time…
‘They still want to poison our air with incinerators’ ………
Anne Speed -Sinn Fein 1989 European Elections- Dublin December 14, 2009
Sinn Fein Candidate Anne Speed from the 1989 European Elections in Dublin where she polled 11,582 votes (2.58%), down from the 14,604 (5.17%) achieved by John Noonan in 1984.
Sinn Fein are still anti EC in 1989. “Sinn Fein is the only party standing in this election saying that there is an alternative to the EC…”
Also “Please transfer your preferences to other anti-EC candidates” Presumably this meant to Ray Crotty.
Betty Reeves, Michael Dunphy -Green Party- Blackrock 1991 LE December 12, 2009
In the 1991 local elections in the Blackrock Ward, the late Betty Reeves was elected to the council having polled 491 First preferences, well short of the 1,623 quota. She served one term. As written on the leaflet she was a founder member of the Green Party. Her niece is married to John Gormley. I think the Newtown Park/ Carysfort bus committee was to do with the lack of service and the state of the buses used, on the 6 and 6A routes.
In 1991 Greens were still thought of as outside the mainstream, yet here we had a candidate Michael Dunphy who ran his own business, was an active member of the GAA and so on.
Amongst the issues covered are ‘The Owen Rua proposals for a huge infill and a 630 unit luxury housing estate out in the bay” and opposition to ‘Dalkey gun club’….
Nicky Kelly -Independent -Wicklow 1997 December 11, 2009
Growing up it was common to see ‘Free Nicky Kelly’ graffiti around the place. In 1978 Kelly, a then IRSP member was wrongly convicted along with Osgur Breatnach and Brian McNally of The 1976 Sallins Train Robbery. After a campaign for his release, he was release on “humanitarian grounds’ in 1984 and was pardoned in 1992.
Here having been elected to Arklow UDC in 1994 (topping the poll), Kelly stood in the 1995 Wicklow by-election. These leaflets are from the 1997 General Election, where he polled almost 5000 votes but failed to get in.
Irish Election Literature 
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