Durkan, William (2022) Westmeath Elections 1970-2020. In: Westmeath History and Society: Interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish County. Geography Publications, Dublin, Ireland, pp. 807-830. (In Press)

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Abstract

Adrian Kavanagh and Caoilfhionn D’Arcy’s chapter above noted the significant political developments in Westmeath since the historic 1918 election until the end of the 1970s. During this time, both Westmeath and Ireland underwent a number of significant political developments and a changing approach to politics. Candidates communicated with the electorate in new ways during the 1960s and 1970s. The rise of television and growing professionalism in election campaigns, in what may be considered the ‘second age’ of election communication, placed more of a focus on ‘new’ media and the role of party leaders. This was particularly evident in Jack Lynch’s ‘meet the people tour’ in the 1969 campaign, with a well-resourced Fianna Fáil at the forefront of new developments. While the national focus tended to shift towards ‘new’ forms of advertising, elections in Westmeath continued to reflect a strong appreciation for the ‘local’, as demonstrated by the geographical trends in election results.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	This is the twenty-ninth volume in the acclaimed county History and Society series.
Keywords:	Electoral Geography; Politics; Westmeath; Irish Elections;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography
Item ID:	16785
Depositing User:	William Durkan
Date Deposited:	04 Jan 2023 12:14
Journal or Publication Title:	Westmeath History and Society: Interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish County
Publisher:	Geography Publications
Refereed:	No
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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