A simple flyer from Jimmy Hogan for the 1985 Greystones Town Commission Elections. He also stood in the 1991 Local Elections for the Workers Party.
Tomas MacGiolla -The Workers Party-1994 European Elections December 2, 2009
On this we have ‘litir um thoghcán’ usually its spelt ‘litir um thoghchán’.
Having been Lord Mayor of Dublin Tomas MacGiolla writes to the ‘Dear Citizens’ of Dublin looking for a vote.
He Writes…
‘At a time when there is literally enough wealth being created to serve the needs of everyone we have 32% unemployed …’
Pat Rabbitte – Workers Party – Dublin South West 1987 November 25, 2009
From the 1987 General election in Dublin South West. He mentions an awful lot that came to pass, such the the Hospital, Luas, Town Centre and so on. He polled 5,086 votes and failed to win a seat. He was elected in 1989 though.
The leaflet itself is fading so had to play around with it to make it readable.
Eric Byrne -‘Jobs’ -Democratic Left 1997- Dublin SC November 15, 2009
1997 and part of the outgoing ‘Rainbow Government’ The Democratic Left would only enter government on the basis of the biggest jobs plan ever…..
Eric Byrne was made jobless by the electorate as he lost his seat in this election.
Marian White -Workers Party 1991 LE -Blackrock November 11, 2009
Two leaflets, the first coming after the election.
On the front Marian White thanks voters, she came within 28 votes of winning a seat in Blackrock (First Count Details Here). It illustrates the inroads made by the Workers Party at the time and the future potential.
On the reverse we have Eamon Gilmore proclaiming ‘In Dun Laoghaire The Workers Party are Winning’ detailing the vote increase and election of himself, Denis O’Callaghan, Colm Breathnach and how close Marian White came to being elected.
The Second leaflet was ‘and the last shall be first’…..
‘We buy our homes and developers buy the big parties’-Eamon Gilmore -Workers Party-1989 Dun Laoghaire November 5, 2009
How apt was this, If all of the below propositions had been in place at the time, we may not be in as bad a state as we are now.
Its this 1989 election where Gilmore was first elected to the Dail.
1987 Leaflet concerning the closure of Sir Patrick Dunns Hospital from Tom Crilly and Andy Smith – Workers Party Dublin South East
Letter from Tom Crilly and Andy Smith during the 1987 election campaign about the closure of Sir Patrick Dunns Hospital.
Andy Smith was a councillor at the time and a longstanding member of the Workers Party. Both candidates stayed with the Workers Party after the 1992 split and Crilly stood a number of times in Dublin South East and Local elections.
In this 1987 Election Crilly polled 660 votes and Smith polled 1250 votes.
John McManus- Workers Party- 1985 LE November 2, 2009
John McManus was a high profile and important member of The Workers Party, he is married to Liz McManus (in 1985 John McManus would have been a far more important political figure than Liz).
The ERDO report refers to the ‘Eastern Region Settlement Strategy 2011’ report from 1985. Presumably it envisaged Longford and Cavn as being in the Dublin commuter belt, or hinterland as it would have been known back then.
Lots of local stuff from the North Wicklow area which may be of interest to those that know the area.
Catherine Murphy , Michael Enright -Workers Party- Leinster 1989 Euro Elections October 21, 2009
There were high hopes that both Michael Enright and Catherine Murphy could put down a marker for future Dail progress. A General election was held on the same day and it was hoped that their candidacy in the Euro Elections would give them a boost.
Although the Workers Party vote increased from 1984s Euro Election, both candidates lost their deposits with a combined 4.38% of the vote.
In the General election Enrights vote actually fell, whilst Murphys 1,520 vote was decent enough in the circumstances (An ‘Army Wives’ candidate, Carol Tiernan also stood in Kildare polling 2,690 votes, some of which would have gone to Murphy).
The thorny issue of party policy towards Farmers must have also had an impact on the vote. “Reorganisation of Agricultural production…”
wasn’t the policy to have rural voters flocking to the party. Also we had another new party ‘Logo’.
Proinsias DeRossa – Workers Party Euro 89 October 16, 2009
The 1989 Euro elections, a breakthrough as Proinsias DeRossa wins the seat. The style and content of this leaflet was refered to in ‘The Lost Revolution’. The centrepiece where he has the three people was novel at the time.
“Sean is from the Southside ..Dolores is from the Northside..” I wonder where they are now?
Also the leaflet is addressed to my family rather than to each of the then 5 voters in the house. Similar for the Workers Party General election Candidate, probably illustrates how tight funds were at the time.
‘Workers Party News and Views’ – Kildare 1990 October 14, 2009
In the late 80’s North Kildare was seen a major growth area of the Workers Party. In 1988 Catherine Murphy and Colm Purcell (who later joined Labour) had been elected to Leixlip Town Commission, although Murphy didn’t do brilliantly in the following years General and European Elections. The recently formed Maynooth branch get a mention at the back. Among them Fiachra O Ceilleachair who served as a Democratic Left and later a Labour councillor in Waterford. Also there is Geography lecturer Prionsias Breathnach who is still a regular contributor to various publications (as well as his own).
1989s marked shift in party policy is illustrated by the welcome given to Intel. Not just that but we have Catherine Murphy acting as a conduit for Intel recruiters. What we also see here is that Water Quality issues are not a recent thing!
Eamon Gilmore – Workers Party- Dun Laoghaire- November 1982 October 6, 2009
The now Labour Party Leader .The then 27 year old Trade Union Official in his first election standing for the Workers Party in Dun Laoghaire – November 1982.
In 1985 he won a council seat in Ballybrack, before winning a seat in the Dail in 1989.
Tomas MacGiolla Workers Party -Euro 94 – Pub Quiz
There are many gimmicks to get a voter to hold on to your leaflet, it may list telephone numbers of local services, be a fridge magnet calendar , a sporting fixtures guide, a match programme….. and then there’s the quiz!
A nice picture of yourself on the front and A Quiz where you also sneak yourself in as two of the answers on the back!
Featuring a cool looking Eamon Gilmore….Workers Party 1991 – ‘Do You Remember 1985?” September 30, 2009
Its from the back of a Marian White Leaflet (the lady on the left of the picture). Its eyecatching to say the least.
Colm Breathnach, Denis O’Callaghan and Eamon Gilmore were elected.
All aboard “The Condom Train” – Workers Party Maynooth 1991 September 29, 2009
Its 1991 – Maynooth is rotten with Sex…..
Actually at the time Condoms were difficult to buy, the Virgin Megastore was one of the few places one could get condoms unless one was married.A Condom Machine had been quite a divisive issue in the College, especially considering at the time 15% of the Student body would have been Clerical Students and there would have also been a good number of ‘lay’ Theology students. There had been student Referendums on the issue (I wish I had kept that ‘Self Control – Not Condoms’ poster) and this Workers Party Group ‘Students For Change’ were trying a number of different protests.
The Condom Train was one of them….
(Judge) Michael White- Workers Party- 1983 Dublin Central By-Election. September 28, 2009
His last of four attempts at winning a Dail seat, the now Judge Michael White poses with Tomas McGiolla and Prionsias De Rossa. He polled a respectable 13% of the vote in the By-Election. He is one of a number of our judiciary that have electoral records, amongst them George Birmingham, Henry Abbott, Adrian Hardiman and Pat McCartan.
Socialist Student (Workers Party) – 1991 September 27, 2009
An Edition of Socialist Student from 1991. It was to be the “Autumn of Action”…. Features an article by Prionsias De Rossa “…I see no role for the Workers Party as another middle of the road populist party, trying to be all things to all people“…. He writes, Months before the Split.
A wonderful looking Super Hero called ‘Condoman’, alas we cant make out his full catchphrase. A Trip on “The Condom Train ” is advertised too.
The article on the condoms mentioned Student Referendums in Maynooth on the condom issue. These may well bring back memories to those who studied there at the time. It was always my regret that I never took one of the “Self Control -Not Condoms” posters to add to my collection…
Liz McManus, Dermot Tobin, Anne Egan -Workers Party 1991 Local Elections -Bray September 24, 2009
From the 1991 local elections, a leaflet for Liz McManus, Dermot Tobin, and Anne Egan running for The Workers Party in Bray.
We also have a smiling Prionsias De Rossa pictured with a happy family. The Workers Party with a new logo and leaflet design. They went back to the old logo (or something very similar) after the split.
“Anne is well known as a Lollipop lady..” .
Irish Election Literature 
Recent Comments