From the 1943 General Election an Ad for Denis O’Driscoll who was running for Córas na Poblachta in Tipperary. O’Driscoll polled 1,297 votes and failed to win a seat . Córas na Poblachta were a Republican Party that existed briefly in the early 1940s. It fielded five candidates in the 1943 General Election. Other than O’Driscoll the candidates were (I think) Simon Donnelly and Sean Dowling in Dublin South. Martin Bell in Dublin North East.
Many members of Córas na Poblachta went on to join and stand for Clann na Poblachta.
Denis O’Driscoll – Córas na Poblachta – Tipperary 1943 General Election September 20, 2011
Ad for Kieran Doherty -H-Block -Cavan Monaghan 1981 General Election August 2, 2011
From the 1981 General Election an ad for H-Block candidate Hunger Striker Kieran Doherty who was running in Cavan Monaghan. Doherty polled 9,121 votes and was elected. Another H-Block candidate Paddy Agnew was elected in Louth.
After 73 days on Hunger Strike, Doherty died on the 2nd of August 1981.
“Rebel Cork Says No To British Queen” -Sticker from éirígí May 20, 2011
From éirígí a “Rebel Cork Says No To British Queen” sticker for the Cork leg of the Royal visit.
Leaflet from Gary Donnelly- Independent Republican -Derry City Council 2011 May 8, 2011
A Leaflet from Independent Republican (and prominent 32 County Sovereignty Movement member) Gary Donnelly running for a seat on Derry City Council in the 2011 Local Elections in Northern Ireland.
Donnelly is quoted “I’ll be an independent candidate running on an republican agenda. The Sovereignty Movement does not endorse constitutional politics but it is up to individual members whether they choose to stand in elections.”
He ran in the 2005 Local Elections polling 493 votes (8%).
Amongst the issues raised in his leaflet are Derry being the UK City of Culture, A Fair deal for local workers, especially Taxi drivers, The PSNI and Political Prisoners.
He was recently arrested in connection with the murder of Denis Donaldson.
Many Thanks to the sender.
Oliver Hughes -Independent Republican Party- Magherafelt Council
From the 2011 Local Elections in Northern Ireland a leaflet for Independent Republican Party candidate Oliver Hughes who is standing in Moyola. Oliver Hughes is the brother of IRA hunger striker Francis Hughes. Hughes was originally elected for Sinn Fein but has since left the party. Another former Sinn Fein Councillor Patsy Groogan is also standing for the Independent Republican Party in the Sperrin ward of Magherafelt DC.
Many thanks to the sender.
From 1980 -Hunger Strike Bulletin -Issue 2 -IRSP November 2, 2010
First off many thanks to the sender. I’m afraid, despite my best efforts, that its quite difficult to read in parts.
Its issue 2 of the IRSPs Hunger Strike Bulletin produced during the ‘First Hunger strike’ in 1980. The Hunger Strike began on October 27th 1980. Among the Seven initial Hunger Strikers was INLA member John Nixon.
This issue contains a letter from John Nixon and a diary of events for the period between the 26th of October and the 4th of November.
Issue one is posted HERE
’10 Reasons why YOU should join Ógra Shinn Féin’ August 21, 2010
A simple enough flyer from Ógra Shinn Féin with the line,
‘10 Reasons why YOU should join Ógra Shinn Féin‘ and pictures of the ten dead Hunger Strikers. They were Bobby Sands MP, Francis Hughes, Raymond McCreesh, Patsy O’Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Tom McElwee, Kieran Doherty TD and Mickey Devine.
From 1966 a fully filled “Laois Republican Commeration Committee” Easter draw card July 16, 2010
From 1966 a Laois Republican Commemoration Committee Easter Draw card (I assume its a misspelling of commemoration).
The sender notes
Its a fully filled out Republican Easter draw card from 1966 – not sure if someone ever dropped it in for the draw or just made off with money – it was probably someone from Newbridge (or Droichead Nua) as thats where all the addresses are from.
Note that some of the names and addresses are Army men from The Curragh Camp and of course some are care of ‘The Liffey Bar’ in Newbridge.
John Turnly – Irish Independence Party -1979 Westminster Elections -North Antrim June 14, 2010
Many thanks to the Sender who notes…
“John Turnly, a Protestant Nationalist who started out as a councillor for the SDLP but left to help form the short lived Irish Independence Party which gathered up a lot of hitherto unused Republican votes but were sidelined when SF came back in to the fray.
Turnley was shot dead by the UDA a year later as he went to a meeting in Carnlough, a commemoration for him is till held there annually I believe.
He was very much involved in the H-Blocks campaign during the first strike, quite something for a Protestant living in Paisley’s constituency. He represented the Glens area which covered the current Moyle DC and part of Larne DC and had a Nationalist majority.”
*apologies for the size of the text
As its an interesting leaflet I have transcribed the text beneath each image.
Irish Independence Party
JOHN TURNLY was born in 1935 in the town of Ballycastle, in fact he is the only candidate in this election born in this constituency. He now lives on the family farm at Garronpoint close to the town of Carnlough. He has traveled widely and lived for several years in Japan working with various Japanese companies and organisations. In the last election held in the Constituency of North Antrim in 1975 he was elected to the Convention.
After that body’s dissolution in 1976 he continued to serve the people of North Antrim In an unpaid capacity as a Constituency Representative. In 1977 he was returned unopposed to Larne Council and is a member of the roads sub committee and the North Eastern Group Committee Building control Service. He figured prominently in the Campaign for the ending of internment and now favours the re-introduction Political Status pending an amnesty for those imprisoned as a result of the current upheavals.
Recently elected as Vice-Chairman of the Irish Independence Party, he is a strong advocate of complete British Withdrawal.
Gerry Adams letter to Belfast voters- Sinn Fein -1998 Assembly Elections May 2, 2010
From the 1998 Assembly elections, a letter from Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams to Belfast voters.
Out of The Ashes Arose The Provisionals -Republican Christmas Card April 30, 2010
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
Green Cross and ‘Release all Our Political Prisoners’ Christmas Cards April 24, 2010
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.
‘Support the Hunger Strike Demands’ Sticker – National H-Block Armagh Committee 1981 April 22, 2010
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
Election Leaflet for Tony O’Hara -H-Block -1981 Dublin West March 30, 2010
Firstly many thanks to the donor.
From the 1981 General Election Tony O’Hara (also refered to as Anthony),running on a H Block ticket in Dublin West.
Tony O’Hara was the brother of deceased hunger striker Patsy O’Hara. He recieved 3,034 votes.
For those like myself who lived through the time of the Hunger Strike this leaflet brings back memories. Memories of the posters of the Hunger Strikers,the posters of Maggie Thatcher Wanted for murder, people wearing Black armbands, black flags on lampposts and the other protest marches in Dublin at the time.
In the leaflet, amongst others things are a biography of Tony O’Hara and The Hunger Strikers Five Demands
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.
Christy Dunne, John Noonan -Sinn Fein -1987 GE Dublin South West March 29, 2010
From the 1987 General Election, Christy Dunne and John Noonan running for Sinn Fein in Dulin South West. Christy Dunne got 378 votes whilst John Noonan got 1001 votes. Neither were elected.
The Leaflet gives mention of the issues of the time, Unemployment , housing and the establishment of a 32 county Socialist Republic.
‘Fight your corner -Dont Emigrate’ -Sinn Fein / Republican Clubs posters from the 1970s
From the 1970s a selection of images of Republican Clubs and Sinn Fein posters kindly sent to me by a donor.
An Anti EEC poster presumably from the 1973 Referendum (with the Slogan Fight your corner – Don’t Emigrate), a poster criticising The Cosgrave Government , a Republican Clubs poster and one also for the Freeing of all Political Prisoners.
This version of Sinn Fein / Republican Clubs was the precursor of Sinn Fein The Workers Party which became The Workers Party although I’m not 100% sure they all are.
Kieran Doherty -H-Block Candidate -1981 GE Cavan-Monaghan February 22, 2010
Many thanks to the donor.
The H-Block campiagn fielded 9 candidates in the 1981 General Election. Two were elected. Kieran Doherty was Elected in Cavan-Monaghan and Paddy Agnew was elected in Louth.
The other candidates were Joe McDonnell in Sligo/Leitrim, Martin Hurson in Longford-Westmeath, Kevin Lynch in Waterford, Tony O’Hara (Brother of Patsy O’Hara) in Dublin West, Joe McDonnell in Sligo/Leitrim , Mairéad Farrell (one of the Gibraltar 3) in Cork North Central, Sean McKenna in Kerry North and Tom McAllister in Clare.
Between them they got over 3% of the national vote.
Three other candidates stood on an Anti H-Block ticket. These were Sean Kelleher in Cork South West, Vincent Doherty (of Peoples Democracy) in Dublin North Central
and Paddy Healy in Dublin North-East.
On the second of August 1981 ,Hunger striker Kieran Doherty TD died.
Irish Election Literature 
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