A 2004 Newsletter from Workers Party candidate in Cork North Central Ted Tynan. He won a seat in the 2009 Locals
1986 letter from The Workers Party to the Communist Party of The Soviet Union (CPSU) looking for Funds July 8, 2010
First off many many thanks to the Sender for this. (and donations always welcome)
(I’m also assuming that this letter is real)
A 1986 letter from The Workers Party to the Communist Party of The Soviet Union (CPSU) looking for “a grant of one million pounds (Irish) over the proposed five year development period in order to assist.. in this vital and urgent task, which we believe will be Of benefit to the world struggle for Peace, Freedom, and Socialism.”
The letter is signed by Proinsias De Rossa and Sean Garland.
Amongst other things it gives a background to where the party were, their view of Ireland at the time and outlines what they would spend funds on.
There is also a mention of ‘Special Activities’.
Some of this has been detailed in The Lost Revolution.
As its hard to read in places, the text is underneath each page.
Dear Comrade,
The Executive of the Workers Party of Ireland, on the occasion of a visit to Moscow of the General Secretary, Sean Garland, and Vice-President and Chairperson Executive Political Committee, Councillor Proinsias De Rossa TD, wishes to convey its warm regards and fraternal greetings to the Central Committee and members of the C.P.S.U. and to address this important and urgent message to you.
Though it has been a relatively short time since our two parties established relations in December ’83, each year has seen more contact and understanding leading to more positive development and to a better
overall understanding of the two parties objectives strategies and tactics. In regard to the basic fundamentals, of objectives and tasks in the world today, there is we believe a common analysis and a common approach.
We know that you are quite familiar with the general situation in Ireland, just as we ourselves, keep informed as to developments in the Soviet Union and throughout the world. We would however like to briefly sketch for you the present and immediate future situation in Ireland as we see it.
In the Republic of Ireland the continuing economic Crisis is making the coalition government of Fine Gael and Labour very unstable. The parliament has only one year to run but many Observers are now predicting the possibility of a General election this November or early next spring. The government has lost the confidence of the majority of the people, of business, of the trade unions, and even of many of its members both inside and outside parliament. The Main opposition party, Fianna Fail, is expected to table a motion of ‘no confidence’ in the government
Linda Kavanagh -Workers Party -1997 Dublin Central June 29, 2010
From the 1997 General Election a leaflet for Workers Party candidate the late Linda Kavanagh. Linda Kavanagh polled 509 votes. A long time Workers Party activist she stood on a number of occasions in Dail and Local Elections.
In the leaflet itself there is mention of things such as wanting the introduction of a 4.50 minumum wage, an abolition of Water Charges and also Peace.
Kathleen Lynch -The Workers Party -1987 GE Cork South Central June 20, 2010
From the 1987 General Election, A leaflet for The Workers Party candidate for Cork South Central Kathleen Lynch. She failed to win a seat but polled 2,349 votes.
Elected to Cork Corporation in 1985, this was her first General Election. It wasn’t until the 1994 by-election ,running for The Democratic Left ,that she won a Dail seat.
Catherine Murphy -The Workers Party -1989 General Election -Kildare June 8, 2010
From the 1989 General Election a leaflet from Workers Party candidate Catherine Murphy who was running in Kildare. She polled 1,520 votes.
On the same day she was also running in Leinster in the European Elections where she polled 7,089 votes.
Initially elected to Leixlip Town Commission in 1988, she was elected to Kildare County council in 1991 running for the Workers Party.She stood for the Democratic Left in the 1992 and 1997 General Elections before standing for Labour in the 1999 Local Elections. She resigned from Labour and stood as an Independent in the 2004 local elections and sensationally won the 2005 by-election before losing her seat in the 2007 General Election. She topped the poll in in the 2009 Local elections.
Many of the policies and issues mentioned are as relevant now as they were in 1989.
Catherine Murphys Website and Catherine Murphy at electionsireland.org
Tom Crilly -Workers’ Party -1997 GE Dublin South East June 2, 2010
From the 1997 General Election a leaflet for Workers Party Candidate Tom Crilly running in Dublin South East. Tom Crilly got 694 votes.
Eamon Gilmore -Workers Party -1987 General Election Dun Laoghaire May 15, 2010
From the 1987 General Election, the now Labour Party Leader Eamon Gilmore running for the Workers Party in Dun Laoghaire.
Although polling a respectable 4,054 votes he failed to get in. He did though increase from his November 1982 total and build on the winning of a Council seat in 1985. In the 1989 General Election he was elected.
The Roches Hill Compensation scandal referred to was where in 1986 the Council paid out £2.375 million in compensation for refusal of a residential development at Roches Hill in Killiney, the land had been bought for £40,000. To add insult to injury even after the compensation,the Council did not become the owner of the land.
“End Unemployment – Nationalise the Banks..” Sinn Fein posters from the 1970s March 25, 2010
I got sent these images and many thanks to the donor. A Sinn Fein poster with The ‘People Before Profit’ Slogan. The other posters being ‘Join Sinn Fein for a United Socialist Ireland’ , ‘ Eire Nua- Socialist Federal Republic’ , ‘ End Unemployment – Nationalise the Banks….’
This version of Sinn Fein / Republican Clubs was the precursor of Sinn Fein The Workers Party which became The Workers Party ….
Eamon Gilmore- Workers Party -1985 Local Elections -Ballybrack March 23, 2010
The now Labour Party Leader Eamon Gilmore running for The Workers Party in the 1985 Local Elections in the Ballybrack Ward. It was an important election for Gilmore as he won a seat which was a major breakthrough for The Workers Party and himself.
Mick Crowley -Workers Party -2004 LE Cork North West March 21, 2010
From the 2004 Local Elections for Cork City Council in the Cork North West Ward, Workers Party candidate Mick Crowley.
Mick Crowley polled 358 votes.
International Bulletin of Workers Party Youth -Summer 1991 March 7, 2010
From Summer 1991 the ‘International Bulletin of Workers Party Youth’.
The Introduction notes that this was the first issue and that they were looking for a new name for the Bulletin. I don’t know the outcome of that.
There are articles on Palestine/ The Middle East. ‘The New World Order’, Nicaragua since the fall of the Sandinistas, El Salvador, EU Sanctions on the then apartheid South Africa, Cambodia and The Phillipines.
It might bring back a few memories ofthe international issues of the day.
John Dunne – The Workers Party -1997 Dublin North West February 23, 2010
From the 1997 General Election in Dublin North West,The Workers Party candidate John Dunne.
Issues covered in the leaflet include a wish for the LUAS to service Dublin North West, a strategy for Jobs that may be of use today, a novel Bus users charter as well as plenty of problems the Celtic tiger failed to fully address.
Tomás MacGiolla -‘Dublin People’ -Workers Party Paper- 1994 European Elections. February 4, 2010
The Late Tomás MacGiolla from the 1994 European Elections. Although not winning a seat, he polled respectably.
This is a freesheet given out during the campaign. It highlights The Workers Party policy on the EU. From the paper you can see how proud Tomás MacGiolla was to have been Lord Mayor of Dublin . The issues of the day both European and domestic are shown too. The real isssue though was jobs….
Click on an image to enlarge it.
Tom Crilly, Angie Murphy -Workers Party -1991 Local Elections Pembroke February 2, 2010
The Workers Party candidates Tom Crilly and Angie Murphy from the 1991 local elections in Pembroke Ward for Dublin City Council. Neither were elected.
The Johnston Mooney and O’Brien site and The Irish Sweepstakes site in Ballsbridge are amongst the developments mentioned here. Both had their share of controversy.
The infestation of rats in Herbert Park may have been to do with the bakery closing. There were always lots of fat rats on the bank of the Dodder by the bakery when it was in business.
Janet Waddock and Damien Waddock are also mentioned.
“150 words about local issues in Dun Laoghaire” Eamon Gilmore -Workers Party- 1989 GE January 23, 2010
From the 1989 General election where the then Councillor Gilmore wins a Dail seat. It was a breakthrough for the Workers Party as they had 7 TDs elected.
I wonder how many of the “150 words about local issues in Dun Laoghaire” are still valid today.
I’m curious about the reference to ‘..Maternity pay for teachers..” though. Is Hogweed still a problem too?
Eamonn O’Liatháin- Workers Party -Dublin South 1987 General Election January 20, 2010
Eamonn O’ Liatháin from the 1987 General Election in Dublin South. (O’ Liatháin at electionsireland.org).
He polled over 1000 votes. His membership of groups such as CND, The Irish Anti Apartheid movement and,support of ‘Nicaragua must survive’ tells much of the International politics of the time.
In the 1987 election The Workers Party doubled their Dail representation from 2 to 4.
“Students- Everything you wanted to know about the Workers’ Party” -circa 1990 January 13, 2010
A leaflet produced around 1990 to help recruit Student members to The Workers Party.
Leaflet explains core Workers Party policy, issues that impacted student, the party’s position on the North, Womens issues, international policy, as well as what Democratic Centralism was.
It also goes on to say what a party member would be expected to do.
Michael White- Workers Party- 1982 (November) January 3, 2010
From the November 1982 General Election, the now Judge Michael White (refered to here as Mick White in the profile). White stood in a number of Elections and despite hard work on the ground had no electoral success.
The Workers Partys achievements are listed as are their plans. We also have the picture Prionsias De Rossa, Paddy Gallagher and Joe Sherlock outside the Dail.
If using any of these images it would be nice to give me some credit for scanning them and posting them up (Unlike the Irish Independent who again used images from the site without crediting me)
Irish Election Literature 
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