Dr Kathleen Lynn's 1927 Election Poster
With
a General Election being held in Ireland this week, it seems a good time to
look at an election poster held in our archive. The poster dates from 1927,
when Dr Kathleen Lynn was standing for re-election as a TD (Teachta Dála) for Dublin.
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| KL/2/15 - Election Poster of Kathleen Lynn |
Kathleen
Lynn was involved in suffragist and nationalist politics from 1911, taking an
active role in supporting the workers during the 1913 lock-out. In 1916 she
served as Chief Medical Officer for the Irish Citizen’s Army during the Easter
Rising. She was an active member of Sinn
Féin, and was elected vice-president in 1917.
Lynn
first stood for election in 1923 on the Anti-Treaty side; she opposed the
signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921 which ended the Irish War of
Independence and led to the partition of Ireland. After mounting a successful campaign, she was
elected to the Dáil; however, due to the Sinn Féin’s policy of absentia in
protest of the treaty, she refused to take her seat.
In
the 1920s a number of members of Sinn Féin split from the organisation to form
a new anti-treaty party, Fianna Fáil, led by Éamon de Valera. Lynn felt that Fianna Fáil did not remain loyal
to the 1916 Proclamation, and referred to Fianna Fáil as ‘Devites’ (supporters
of De Valera) in her diaries. As a
result she stood as an independently candidate for the constituency of Dublin
in 1927.
In
her general election poster for 1927, she laid out her political aspirations
for Ireland, and what she would like to achieve in the next government. She cites major political figures, James
Connolly (who had been a close friend of hers), and Wolfe Tone as inspirations
behind her political views. Lynn wanted
equality for all and an Irish Republic free from outside influences; she
frequently references the 1916 Proclamation.
Lynn
failed to gain re-election in 1927, finishing bottom of the poll. Her refusal
to compromise and accept the political situation of the time ultimately led to
her political demise, in the national arena.
However, Lynn remained active in
local politics, serving as a councillor for the Rathmines’ Urban District Council
during the 1920s and 1930s.