Irish Labour Party Archive,
1919-2014
The Labour Party was founded in May 1912 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, when delegates at the Irish Trade Union Congress voted to contest elections on the proposal of James Connolly. This was done to seek trade union representation in the new Irish ‘Home Rule’ parliament due to be created under the terms of the Third Home Rule (Government of Ireland) Bill debated in the House of Commons in 1912. The Labour Party first contested the general election of 1922 and served as the parliamentary opposition of the Irish Free State between 1922-1927. The Labour Party has participated in Government on eight occasions: 1948-1951; 1954-1957; 1973-1977; June 1981-March 1982; December 1982-1987; 1993-1994; 1994-1997; and 2011-present. Six leaders of the Labour Party have served in the office of Tánaiste: William Norton; Brendan Corish; Michael O’Leary; Dick Spring; Eamon Gilmore; and Joan Burton. Two candidates nominated by the Labour Party have been elected to the office of President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, who served from 1990-97, and Michael Daniel Higgins, elected in 2011. The collection is principally composed of the records held in the various headquarters of the Labour Party from 1919-2014. It includes: minutes of meetings of various units of the organisation; published reports, conference documentation; manifestos and policy statements; files concerning local, presidential, European and general election campaigns; files concerning constitutional referendum campaigns; periodicals; photographic prints; election ephemera; financial accounts; donations; staff files; and correspondence.
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| Contributors: | |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
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| Notes: | Note. The Labour Party has merged with other political parties on three occasions. It merged with the National Labour Party, formed in 1944 as a break-away from the Labour Party, in 1950. The party merged with the Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), originally founded in 1972 by Jim Kemmy, in 1990. It also merged with the Democratic Left (DL) party in 1999, which had been formed as a break-away faction of the Workers Party in 1992. Note. The Labour Party was initially known as the ‘parliamentary committee’ of the Irish Trade Union Congress (ITUC). In 1914 the organisation changed its name to the Irish Trade Union Congress and Labour Party (ITUC & LP). In 1917 it again changed its name when it became the Irish Labour Party and Trade Union Congress (ILP & TUC). In 1930 the Irish Trade Union Congress and the Labour Party became separate entities. Associated Materials: Irish Labour History Society, Beggars Bush, Haddington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland. A collection of Labour Party papers principally including: Dáil constituency organisation; files concerning members of the parliamentary Labour Party; and membership lists. These materials were deposited with the ILHS in 2001 and span the period 1967-2001. Finding aid is a collection list prepared in 2003. Physical description: 79 boxes. Physical description: 1252 photographs. Parallel title: Irish Labour Party Papers Parallel title: Labour Party Archive Parallel title: Labour Party (Ireland) Archive more |
| Arrangement: | Fonds I. Organisational Governance, 1969-2010; II. Electioneering, 1932-2012; III. Policy Positions, 1968-2011; IV. Membership Development, 1974-2012; V. Fraternal Relations, 1919-2011; VI. Finance, 1967-2010; VII. Personnel, 1983-2010; VIII. Democratic Left, 1992-2002; IX. Ephemera, 1969-2014. |
| Access: | Certain materials concerning donations, personnel and electioneering; Not available for consultation until 2027; Written permission; |
I.xii.7 Conference,
1984.
| In Collection: | Irish Labour Party Archive, 1919-2014 |
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| Description: | MS 49,494/570: File containing: final agenda for Party Conference, dated 13-15 Apr 1984; circular to units of the organisation concerning Party Conference including preliminary agenda for Party Conference, dated 20 Feb 1984; address by Senator Michael D[aniel] Higgins, Party Chair, entitled ‘The Project of Socialism - The Role of Labour’, dated 13-15 Apr 1984; and address by Ruairi Quinn TD, Minister for Labour, dated 14 Apr 1984. (67 pp) MS 49,494/571: File containing: minutes and reports of the standing orders committee, dated 3 Mar 1984 – [15 Apr 1984]; list of nominated candidates and sample ballot papers for Party Officers and Administrative Council members; and Party Conference supporting documentation circulated to all units of the organisation including delegate, voting, observer and platform admission cards, dated 3 Apr 1984. (57 pp) MS 49,494/572: File containing; correspondence concerning Party Conference 1984, dated 12 Feb 1984 – 2 Apr 1984; bookings, invoices and advice notices arising from the Party Conference 1984, dated 16 June 1982 – [Apr] 1984; and Royal Dublin Society (RDS) ‘Premises Rental Charges’ dated, Sept 1981. Also includes reference correspondence concerning broadcasting of Party Conference, dated 17 Sep 1982. (41 pp, 1 booklet) MS 49,494/573: File containing agenda, notice and supporting documentation of the conference arrangements committee meeting, dated 2 Feb 1984. (45 pp) |
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| Language: | English |
| Extent: | 4 folders (18 items) |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Call Number: |
MS 49,494 /570-573
(Manuscripts Reading Room) |
| Rights: | Copyright owned by the National Library of Ireland. |
| Corporate Author: | Labour Party (Ireland) |