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Ballot Paper
Ballot Paper, East Clare Parliamentary Election, 1917, Counterfoil No., No 6129.
Ballot Paper, East Clare By Election, 1917, Counterfoil No., No 6129; features the two candidates, ‘De Valera’ (Edward de Valera, of 34 Munster Street, Phibsboro, in the City of Dublin, Professor) and ‘Lynch (Patrick Lynch, of 2 Mount Stree, Crescent, Dublin, King’s Counsel). On the reverse it reads ‘Election for the East Clare Division of the County of Clare, the 10th day of July, 1917, NOTE, The number on the Ballot Paper is to correspond with that in the counterfoil.
The donor, Kevin Rynne, came across this document in the family home following the death of his mother. It had been the property of his father Michael Rynne (1922-1975), and is believed to have been collected by him.
The 1917 East Clare by-election was held on 10th July 1917 and it followed the death of the incumbent MP, Willie Redmond, in action on the western front during the First World War. The seat had been held since its creation in 1885 by constitutional nationalists and Redmond had been unopposed in every election since 1900. The result was announced on 11th July 1917, with Eamon de Valera of Sinn Féin defeating the Irish Party candidate Patrick Lynch. It launched de Valera’s political career and he would go on to be the most influential Irish political leader of the 20th century.
Collection: Kevin Rynne
Category: Communication Equipment