Sinn Fein candidates Pat Doherty, Dermot Guy and ‘gifted orator’ Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin from the 1989 European Elections Connaught-Ulster constituency. (The result from electionsireland.org). Pat Doherty is now an MP whilst Caoimhghin O Caolain is the Senior figure for Sinn Fein in the Dail having been first elected in 1997.
Sinn Fein at the time were anti EC (EU) , the issues covered in related to Connaught-Ulster indicate the state of the country at the time.
This is what went through the letterbox of the voters in Munster in 1999. It is unusual as it tell you nothing about the candidate, despite the fact that Ferris wasn’t a TD yet.
Martin Ferris polled 6.5% of the vote.
This Poster was sent in by a kind reader , who writes …..
It is about as early as you will find from modern day Sinn Féin. It’s from one of the initiatives I think it’s 1982 but it’s definitely the Jim Prior organised one for a Stormont Assembley/Forum which SF fought on an abstenion policy. I think the SDLP ended up the same too.
The candidate is Benny (Benedict) Mcelwee from Bellaghy, the brother of Hunger Striker, Thomas and cousin of Francis Hughes. Second on the paper is Danny Morrison of Ballot box and Armalite fame.
It was for the mid-ulster constituency and this one was the South Derry version. Up until this election, most full on Republicans had stood on a H-Blocks ticket and for the short lived Irish Independence Party so it’s as early a PSF poster as you’ll find.
Ironic indeed the ‘Smash Stormont’ legend at the top, I think the DUP ran with ‘Smash Sinn Féin’ in the same campaign.
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.
‘Give me your support by voting Christy Burke number 1 on polling day’ writes Gerry Adams. Adams was incredibly popular at the time.
The leaflet also illustrates the role Christy Burke played in Sinn Fein at the time. Amongst other things it mentions that he stood in the 1996 Forum elections.
In 1985, the troubles and their impact were still very much part of life.
Compare Liam MacElinneys profile here which is in effect his CV as a Republican volunteer to the Sinn Fein of today and its very different.
It is of course of its time. At roughly the same time in Dublin, candidates were emphasising their work in the community as well as giving a brief mention to their Republican CV.
‘Section 31’ gets a mention. Also prominent is the fact that Sinn Fein Councillors “.. play a full and active part in the work of their councils…” a nod to let the public know that they took their council seats ?, especially given that Gerry Adams had been elected an MP two years previous and continued the party policy of abstentionism from Westminister.
A Saoirse leaflet given out in Cork in 1995, a year or so after the first IRA Ceasefire. It contrasts the treatment of Lee Clegg with that of other prisoners such as Paul Norney and also gives ways in which you can help the campaign.
In September 1987 at Winchester Court ,Martina Shanahan, Finbar Cullen and John McCann were charged with Conspiracy with persons unknown to murder the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Tom King. They became known as ‘The Winchester Three’. They were found guilty and sentenced to 25 years on each charge.
After a vigorous campaign to show their innocence, they were released on 27th April 1990. This Protest is from that period.
Pamphlet advertising a meeting in Cork in 1995. “Peace Through British Withdrawal”. Indicates Sinn Fein policy of the time , “Central to the resolution…. they will have to withdraw from our country….”
The 1994 IRA Ceasefire (which lasted 17 months) after a while saw the launch of a new recruitment drive by Sinn Fein.
This leaflet is from that period where Sinn Fein saw the first of the ‘Peace Dividend’ in the Local Elections of 1995.
Irish Election Literature 
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