Cut and thrust: turbulent and colourful political history captured:EVOCATIVE PICTURES from Ireland's turbulent political history have been compiled in an exhibition launched by Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue at Leinster House last night to mark the 90th anniversary of the First Dáil.
Rare and unusual photographs include Seán Collins weeping over the open coffin of his slain brother Michael in August 1922. Other pictures from that fateful year show sandbags piled up at the Four Courts by anti-Treaty forces and the ruins of the building’s main hall after the Free State artillery bombardment.
Historic documents include a proclamation from the War of Independence declaring a ban on emigration without “the written sanction of the government of the Republic” and a copy of the agenda for the First Dáil covered with doodles by an unnamed TD.
Moving forwards, the display shows posters from the 1932 election with Fianna Fáil forecasting in relation to their chief opponent: “Mr Cosgrave will think more about the unemployed after the election – he’ll be one of them.”
The Cumann na nGaedheal “red scare” riposte shows the Tricolour partially overshadowed by a scarlet banner, with the accompanying slogan: “We want no ‘Reds’ here! Keep their colours off your flag!”
Later pictures show president John F Kennedy visiting the Dáil in 1963 and, three decades later, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela.
The surprise Fianna Fáil landslide over Fine Gael and Labour in 1977 is commemorated with an Irish Times front page on voting day carrying the banner headline: “Coalition set to take election”, followed two days later by “Fianna Fáil sweeps to biggest victory”.
The display will feature as part of Leinster House tours for the next four weeks, following which it will move to Rothe House in Kilkenny for a fortnight and University College Cork for a further two weeks.
It is hoped to show the collection throughout the State before the end of the year.
Among those who contributed items for display were the National Library of Ireland, The Irish Times, Irish Independent, Irish Examiner, University College Dublin Archives, RTÉ, Photocall Ireland, the main political parties, the Courts Service, Irish Architectural Archives and others.
Items from the now-defunct Irish Press also form part of the display.