The latest book to emerge from the Centre for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG) – Democracy on Your Doorstep – by Dr Aodh Quinlivan, Director of the CLRG at the University of Cork, was officially launched at the CLRG’s 9th Annual Public Lecture Series in UCC in November.
Dr Rory Costello (University of Limerick), Cllr Gillian Coughlan (Cork County Council) and Dr Aodh Quinlivan (University College Cork) were guest speakers at the CLRG’s 9th Annual Public Lecture Series, chaired by UCC’s Dr Theresa Reidy, on Thursday 21 November.
Dr Rory Costello discussed voting behaviour in Ireland’s first direct mayoral election in Limerick on 7 June.
Discussing voting behaviour in Ireland’s first Direct Mayoral Election in Limerick in June, Dr Costello highlighted the importance of personal contact and canvassing. Cllr Coughlan outlined the realities of being a 21st century local elected representative, while also making suggestions for a reform of the system. Dr Quinlivan, Director of the CLRG, analysed local government issues from 100 years ago and linked them to the present day.
The Jane Dowdall Undergraduate Essay prize was presented to Jessica Hurley (BSc Government and Political Science I). Marking the successful completion of her 10-year term as Chief Executive of Cork City Council, Ann Doherty was presented with the Philip Monahan Local Government Recognition Award by the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dan Boyle (pictured below)
The Lord Mayor also officially launched ‘Democracy on Your Doorstep’ by Dr Aodh Quinlivan. The publication of the book, supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, was officially announced in October by Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning.
‘Democracy on Your Doorstep’, which examines each set of local elections in Ireland from 1899 to 2024 inclusive, was described by the Lord Mayor as “a valuable addition to the understocked library of books on local government in Ireland”. Art O’Leary, Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission, welcomed the book as “an absorbing must-read” for anyone with an interest in local government.
In ‘Democracy on Your Doorstep’, Dr Quinlivan categorises the 26 sets of local elections since 1899. The six elections from 1899 to 1914 represent the national struggle for Home Rule. The seminal election of 1920 stands alone due to the success of Sinn Féin and the use of the local councils in the war against British authorities.
The elections after the Civil War, in 1925 and 1928, were absorbing due to the efforts – mainly of Cumann na nGaedheal – to depoliticise local government and make it less partisan. Those efforts largely failed and the 17 local contests that have taken place since 1934 have tended to match, with some variations, the results of Dáil elections. In 1934, Fianna Fáil emerged as the strongest grouping in local government, followed by the United Ireland Party or Fine Gael. Fast forward 90 years to 2024 and Fianna Fáil was, once again, the strongest party of local government with 248 seats, closely followed by Fine Gael on 245.
Following the publication of his 10th book, Dr Quinlivan said that the aim of ‘Democracy on Your Doorstep’ “is modest, merely to tell the stories behind the city and county council elections over the past 125 years and to give a flavour of the colour, excitement, and controversy … not to mention some of the fascinating characters involved”.
