The first Dáil January 21, 2013
Posted by doctorfive in Irish History.Tags: Irish History, Oireachtas
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Perhaps a fitting anniversary given discussion on the merits of (extra) parliamentary activity here lately. The first meeting of Dáil Éireann took place in the Round Room of the Mansion House on 21 January 1919.
Ninety four years ago today.
A revolutionary assembly by all accounts.
The Proclamation was ratified & Declaration of Irish Independence adopted
Whereas the Irish People is by right a free people:
And whereas for seven hundred years the Irish People has never ceased to repudiate and has repeatedly protested in arms against foreign usurpation:
And whereas English rule in this country is, and always has been, based upon force and fraud and maintained by military occupation against the declared will of the people:
And whereas the Irish Republic was proclaimed in Dublin on Easter Monday, 1916, by the Irish Republican Army, acting on behalf of the Irish People:
And whereas the Irish People is resolved to secure and maintain its complete independence in order to promote the common weal, to re-establish justice, to provide for future defence, to ensure peace at home and good will with all nations, and to constitute a national policy based upon the people’s will with equal right and equal opportunity for every citizen:
And whereas at the threshold of a new era in history the Irish electorate has in the General Election of December, 1918, seized the first occasion to declare by an overwhelming majority its firm allegiance to the Irish Republic:
Now, therefore, we, the elected Representatives of the ancient Irish People in National Parliament assembled, do, in the name of the Irish Nation, ratify the establishment of the Irish Republic and pledge ourselves and our people to make this declaration effective by every means at our command:
We ordain that the elected Representatives of the Irish People alone have power to make laws binding on the people of Ireland, and that the Irish Parliament is the only Parliament to which that people will give its allegiance:
We solemnly declare foreign government in Ireland to be an invasion of our national right which we will never tolerate, and we demand the evacuation of our country by the English Garrison:
We claim for our national independence the recognition and support of every free nation in the world, and we proclaim that independence to be a condition precedent to international peace hereafter:
In the name of the Irish People we humbly commit our destiny to Almighty God Who gave our fathers the courage and determination to persevere through long centuries of a ruthless tyranny, and strong in the justice of the cause which they have handed down to us, we ask His Divine blessing on this the last stage of the struggle we have pledged ourselves to carry through to freedom.
You can add or subtract a few words there for a more contemporary feel. Now in it’s 31st incarnation, the Dáil has arguable more power, for now at least. 1919 also marks the first step on Gombeen man’s long journey to TD of course.
Cathal Brugha was elected Ceann Comhairle though replaced by Seán T. O’Kelly the following day. After fourteen or so sittings Dáil Éireann was declared a dangerous association by the British Government.
The RTÉ archive have uploaded a 1969 lecture from Professor Kevin B. Nowlan on the 50th anniversary and a short clip of Ernest Blythe, Robert Barton and James Ryan recalling how they were chosen as Sinn Féin candidates for the landmark 1918 election.
Conor McCabe shows how we got on since.
This Week At The Irish Election Literature Blog April 6, 2012
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Irish Election Literature Blog.Tags: fianna fail, Irish History, Irish Politics
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First off a booklet giving details of each candidate for the 1980 Fianna Fail Committee of 15 elections, includes amongst others a young Willie O’Dea and Ryan Tubridys father.
Then it looks as if Fine Gael are using Jobs again in their Fiscal Treaty Campaign “This Treaty supports jobs and recovery. It protects all our interests – yours, mine and our children’s.”
from there to a leaflet that is being distributed in West Dublin at the minute about Oireachtas members pay and expenses “Real Leadership is about being First, not Last to take cuts”
Then a 1973 flyer from Conor Cruise O’Brien, Joe O’Connor and Paddy Dunne running for Labour in Dublin North East
An A to Z of Parties and Labels in Irish Elections from 1924 to date January 4, 2012
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Irish History, Irish Politics.Tags: Irish History, Irish Politics
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Have spent the last while trawling through old election results and was surprised at the amount of different parties and Labels that candidates put themselves forward under. This was especially the case for Local Elections.
Needless to say many of these parties / groups were not registered, so I relied on leaflets, books, old newspaper cuttings and more to get the names.
Would love to know if there are more that I’ve missed.
Agricultural League
Ailtirí na hAiséirghe
An Chomhdhail Phobail | People’s Convention
Anti-Communist
Army Wives
Businessmens Party
Cannabis Legalisation Party
Cavan Road Action Group
Chamber of Commerce
Christian Centrist Party
Christian Democrats
Christian Principles Party
Christian Solidarity Party
Cine Gael
Clann Éireann
Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Talmhan
Coiste Cearta Sibhialta na Gaeltachta
Combined Residents Associations
Communist Party of Ireland
Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist-Leninist)
Community Party
Community Democrats of Ireland
Conservative and Unionist
Constitutional Group
Córas na Poblachta
Cork Socialist Party
Cumann na nGaedheal
Cumann na Poblachta
Cumann Poblachta na hÉireann
Cumhacht
Democratic Left
Democratic Socialist Party
Direct Democracy Ireland
Donegal Progressive Party
Ecology Party of Ireland
Éirígí ***
Farmers
Fathers’ Rights-Responsibility Party
Fianna Fail
Fine Gael
Fis Nua
GAY (Gay and Lesbian Equality Campaign)
Green Party/ Green Alliance
GOD- (For Bible Readings in the Dail)
H-Block
Immigration Control Platform
Independent
Independent Farmer
Independent Fianna Fail (Blaney)
Independent Fianna Fail
Independent Fine Gael
Independent Health Alliance
Independent Labour
Independent Ratepayers
Independent Republican
Independent Socialist
Independent Unemployed Worker
Independent Youth
Irish Housewives Association
Irish Liberal Party
Irish Republican Socialist Party
Irish Socialist Network
Irish Solidarity Party
Irish Workers’ League
Labour
Labour Municipal Workers
League for a Workers Republic
Legion of Ex Servicemen
Libertas
Licensed Trade
Local Residents
Letterkenny Residents Party
Militant Labour
Monetary Reform Party
Muintir na hÉireann
Municipal Tennants
National Action
National Businessmen’s Association
National Corporate Party *
National Centre Party
National Labour Party
National League
National Legal Justice Action Group
National Party (1924)
National Party (Nora Bennis)
National Progressive Democrats
Natural Law Party
New Agenda**
New Island Party
New Vision
No Party Ticket
People Before Profit Alliance
Peoples Democracy
Peoples Party of Ireland
Poblacht Chríostúil
Political Organisation for Work
Planning Reform Party
Progressive
Progressive Democrats
Pro Life
Protectionist Farmer
Protestant Association
Ratepayers
Ratepayers Association
Republican Congress
Republican Labour
Republican Sinn Fein
Revolutionary Workers Party
Roscommon Hospital Action Committee
Salthill Citizens Organisation
Saor Éire*
Seniors Solidarity Party
Sinn Fein
Sinn Fein the Workers’ Party
Sligo/ Leitrim Independent Socialist Organisation
Socialist Labour Party
Socialist Party
Socialist Party of Ireland
Socialist Workers Party
South Kerry Independent Alliance
Tax Reform League
Tennants Association
Town Tennants
Transport Union
Travellers Rights
Ulster Protestant
Unemployed
Unionist
United Citizens Party
United Left Alliance
Waterford Peoples Party
The Workers’ Party
Workers and Unemployed Action Group
Workers Union
Young Ireland
* Not sure if they contested elections
** Only contested Elections in the North under that name
*** Councillor in the Republic, have contested Local Elections in the North
Frank Ryan and Doctor Lynch January 4, 2012
Posted by irishelectionliterature in History.Tags: Irish History
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In the 1937 General Election Frank Ryan stood in Dublin South whilst recuperating from injuries sustained in the Spanish Civil War.
An Appeal for votes and ‘subscriptions’ was put in the paper. Which led to a letter from a Fianna Fail Doctor and a lovely reply from Peadar O’Donnell.
Frank Ryan polled 875 votes in the election.
(Oh and would anyone happen to know the names of the 2 Republican Congress Councillors elected in the 1934 Local Elections?)
Sóivéidí na hÉireann September 15, 2011
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Irish Politics.Tags: Irish History
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Given the debate elsewhere on the site about the Soviets I thought this may be of interest.
This documentary was shown on TG4 a year or two back.
Sóivéidí na hÉireann – Soviet Ireland.
A programme about the ways in which the Russian Revolution influenced the working class of Ireland during the Tan War period. Workers took possession of factories and other workplaces around the country and soviets were declared, democratic councils under the workers’ control.
This Week At The Irish Election Literature Blog August 19, 2011
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Irish Election Literature Blog.Tags: fianna fail, Irish History, Irish Politics
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From the 1985 Local Elections Sean Walsh running for The Workers Party in Piltown , Kilkenny
From the 2011 General Election, The “Sinn Fein 10-Point Plan on Job Creation”
From 1961 “Fianna Fail’s New Deal for Rural Ireland”.
From the 1959 Referendum on changing the voting system to First Past The Post, some Fianna Fail material looking for a yes vote
and finally a 1977 flyer for Enda Kenny and Myles Staunton
This Week At The Irish Election Literature Blog July 29, 2011
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Irish Election Literature Blog.Tags: Irish History, Irish Politics
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Starting off this week with “Thank Norris it’s Friday!”
From the 1944 General Election Tomas O Dochartaigh, Cathal Brughas nephew, running for Ailtirí na hAiséirghe in Tipperary
then from the 1932 General Election “Please! Don’t Commit any More Murders …. Keep Your Bullwark Against The Terrorists Vote for Cumann na nGaedheal”
Then from the 1948 General Election “To every voter under 30 .. Vote Fine Gael”
And Finally from earlier in the year “A Message from Cllr. John Halligan”
“Brightly Ornamented Slovak Easter Eggs” -TV in 1975 July 14, 2011
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Film and Television.Tags: History, ireland, Irish History, television, tv
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From September 1975, very different times in TV land than today. When many parts of the country had just one channel this was a typical weeks viewing pleasure.
The earliest it came on air was on Sunday at 12 for mass and it must have been some Mass as it was scheduled for two and a half hours.
The country would have been well tucked away before midnight with the Late News generally well over by midnight. Interestingly the 6.01 news slot was An Nuacht with the News as Bearla at 6.40.
Some choice shows too in “An evening with Nana Mouskouri” and I’m sure I sat through “Brightly Ornamented Slovak Easter Eggs” on more than one occasion.
The Anti-Jazz Campaign July 11, 2011
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Ireland.Tags: Irish History
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A great article in The Irish Story on The Anti Jazz Campaign of the 1930s in Ireland.
Some snippets…
On New Year’s Day 1934 over three thousand people from South Leitrim and surrounding areas marched through Mohill to begin the Anti – Jazz campaign. The procession was accompanied by five bands and the demonstrators carried banners inscribed with slogans such as ‘Down with Jazz’ and ‘Out with Paganism.’
Fr. Conefrey was asked to chair the February meeting of the South Leitrim Executive of the Gaelic League held in Ballinamore. He thanked all the people who had sent messages of support to the campaign, particularly the Irish National Teachers Organisation, ‘who are willing to do everything possible both for Church and State.’ Conefrey responded to those who asked ‘what is jazz’ by stating that, ‘the Anti – Jazz Campaign excludes no dance that is in keeping with public Christian decency.’ He described jazz as, ‘something that should not as much be mentioned among us and is borrowed from the language of the savages of Africa and its object is to destroy virtue in the human soul.’[34]
Conefrey declared that some of the worst offenders were the Gardaí, who were regularly holding all night jazz dances, ‘even since the Anti – Jazz campaign started,’ and, in most cases, bars were open and the, ‘people attending them are blinded with drink.’ He called this a disgrace and de Valera should, ‘be ashamed of his face to stand by and allow this conduct to be carried on.’ Conefrey called on the Minister of Justice to take action and introduce céilís in every barracks in the country.
enjoy …
There is also a Radio Documentary on RTE about The Anti Jazz Campaign (thanks ejennin)
Stevie and the ‘Red Menace’ …. Maoists in Limerick in 1970 June 16, 2011
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Uncategorized.Tags: History, Irish History
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“There are amongst us left-wing extreme agents of a foreign power who are distributing insidious propaganda and seek to tear down and destroy our Christian way of life”
A quote from former Labour TD Stevie Coughlan about Maoists in Limerick in 1970. Article taken from The Limerick Leader.
Many thanks to the sender.
Click on the image to enlarge.
