`THE Roll of Dishonour" shouted the poster looking down at the merrymakers at John Bruton's annual Christmas party in FG headquarters in Dublin's Mount Street on Tuesday. It had nothing to do with either hosts or guests, although it had some connection with the people across the road. It was one of a number of arresting election posters now adorning the walls of the first floor reception rooms.
The posters, dating from the Cumann na Gael pre-1933 period, were discovered in the basement some years ago, and while much material was sent off to the UCD archives, the general secretary, Jim Miley rescued these. It was obviously a time of robust political debate, when vulgar abuse was freely given and taken, unlike in these libel-conscious days. One poster takes off the His Master's Voice campaign and depicts De Valera winding up a gramophone to listen to the IRA.
The most famous from the time is missing; it depicts Devys Circus and describes the enemy as a world-famous illusionist, oathswallower and escapologist. "The Roll of Dishonour" was a riposte to FF's list of then ministerial salaries.
FF had similar posters. One famous one showed W.T. Cosgrave in a crypt shaking hands with Freemasons. As far as Quidnunc is aware there is no intention to hang them across the road.