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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Bibliographic Details
Main Creator: Labour Party (Ireland)
Contributors: Irish Labour Party and Trade Union Congress
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Format: Manuscript
Language:English
Subjects:
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

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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;
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I.i.19.g Minutes,

1988 Jun. 22.
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Bibliographic Details
In Collection: Irish Labour Party Archive, 1919-2014
Description:Minutes of the Administrative Council which took place on 22 Jun 1988 principally concerning: issue of ‘Garda brutality’; national collection returns; ratification of local and general election candidates; ratification of branches; calling of selection convention for general election candidates; national recruitment campaign; renaming of Kilnamangh/Kingswood branch, Dublin South West constituency; statement in support of the ‘Sharpville Six’ under sentence of death by the South Africa government; reduction in the membership of the Administrative Council; and fraternal delegates to British Labour Party conference. Minutes signed by Emmet Stagg TD, Party Vice Chair. Also includes: agenda and text of motions on notice; finance committee report; organisation committee report; economic policy committee report; report of the International Secretary; Labour Women report; Labour Youth report; and text of motion concerning national recruitment campaign in the name of Emmet Stagg TD.
Main Creator: Labour Party (Ireland)
Language:English
Extent:1 folder (9 items)
Format:Manuscript
Call Number: MS 49,494 /195 (Manuscripts Reading Room)
Rights:Copyright owned by the National Library of Ireland.
Corporate Author:Labour Party (Ireland)