EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS essential in politics.

Be it a leaflet, a poster or a tweet, an election candidate has about five seconds to grab a voter’s attention.

The medium has changed, but the message is still the same: vote for me.

So what have politicians done to reach out to the electorate over the years? Here’s a round-up of how their approach has evolved in the last century.

Warning: The below material features an excessive use of exclamation marks(!)

1920s: Presentation was key

Source: Irish Election Literature

You wouldn’t get a font like that nowadays. People have gone sans serif mad.

Name-calling was acceptable, though.

1926 Dublin County By-Election Source: Irish Election Literature

1930s: Integration was highly frowned upon

During the 1938 General Election, an ad for Fine Gael Meath-Westmeath candidates Michael Sweeney, Patrick Giles and Charles Fagan claimed: “Meath Wants No More Migrants!!”

Source: Irish Election Literature

So where were all these immigrants coming from? England? America? Asia?

Close. Connemara. (Is countyism a thing?)

Following the foundation of a new Gaeltacht, an influx of Irish speakers from Co Galway decided to start a new life in the strange, unknown land of Rathcairn. Blow-ins.

All three men were elected.

1940s: Exclamation marks were the emoticons of their day

If you weren’t surprised during the 1948 election campaign, you simply weren’t informed!

Source: Irish Election Literature

1950s: Cigarettes were a good thing back then

The Inter-Party promised to lower the price of bread and cigarettes to make life more “bearable”.

Source: Irish Election Literature

1960s: Euro-scepticism isn’t new

Source: Irish Election Literature

Labour was keeping an eye on Europe during the 1961 General Election.

1970s: It was all about the hair

On this poster for the 1975 Mayo West by-election, a unique interpretation of the Irish flag provided the backdrop for a fine-haired, if slightly-surprised-looking, young man by the name of Enda Kenny.

Our future Taoiseach topped the poll and was elected on the first count. Because he’s worth it.

Source: Irish Election Literature

1980s: Sing – or pay someone to sing for you

Campaign songs aren’t a recent invention, you know.



Hail the leader, hail the man

With Freedom’s cause it all began

With Irish Pride in every man

We’ll Rise and Follow Charlie

Seems like a nice fella.

1990s: Make people squint

In the ’90s, it wasn’t an election leaflet if you didn’t have to squint. Hard. They really made you earn information back then.

Source: Irish Election Literature

Source: Irish Election Literature

Ah, the winter of ’92 – a simpler time when people wrote letters and didn’t open bank accounts.

If making people’s eyes sore doesn’t have the desired effect, one could fall back on the ever-popular: “My policies? I own a dog.”

1997 General Election Source: Irish Election Literature

2000s: Get down with the kids

Grassroots designer #1: Andy Warhol is still cool, right? Young people like cool people, right?

Grassroots designer #2: I believe we’ve found our ‘in’.

*high fives*

Source: Irish Election Literature

This 2005 issue of Grassroots, the Ógra Fianna Fail Newsletter, showed Eamon de Valera in a new light. Several new lights, in fact.

Alternatively, you could adopt a mysterious persona. It will intrigue the masses.

2004 Local Election Source: Irish Election Literature

Current Day: Give the people what they want

A recent poll* asked voters to rate the traits they most valued in politicians. The results were as follows:

1. Ability to look off into the distance

2. Own a dog

3. Own a lamb

4. Ability to look off into the distance

Fine Gael candidates are particularly good at looking off into the distance – but, to be fair, as the largest party in the country it has more money than others to invest in that type of training.

*Publication date to be confirmed

Brian Hayes, European Election 2014. Source: Screengrab via Fine Gael

Jim Higgins, European Election 2014. Source: Screengrab via Fine Gael

It's a double whammy from Mairead McGuinness, European Election 2014. Source: Screengrab via Fine Gael

If none of the above apply to you, you could always go down the ‘prove you’re human’ route.

You know, do regular person stuff like take selfies and eat soup. Preferably at once.

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Sinn Féin at the launch of their 2014 European Election campaign. Source: Sam Boal/Photocall

And remember, regardless of the era: always embrace new technology.

2011 General Election Source: Irish Election Literature

This poster is from 2011. As in, the 2011 that happened THREE years ago.

2014 European Election

Phil Prendergast adopted one of the most unique approaches to election campaigning this year by advertising on Grindr, a dating app for gay men.

We’ve come a long way.

All images courtesy of Irish Election Literature, unless otherwise stated.

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