New booklet marks the centenary of 1920 elections
THIS year marks the centenary of the local elections of 1920 which were pivotal in the history of local government in Ireland.
It started with urban authorities in January of that year, followed by the remainder in June.
Working with the Local Government archivists and records managers, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage recently commissioned the production of a booklet to commemorate the 1920 local elections.
The booklet ‘Democracy and Change - The 1920 Local Elections in Ireland’ contains images and information on areas such as the political climate at the time, the War of Independence, local government reform, rural and urban district councils, county and city councils and both 1920 local elections.
It also provides an insight into the highs and lows of 1920 -1925, as well as the role that women played in the 1920 local elections.
Similar to all counties, the 1920 local elections in County Wicklow saw the election of a new generation of county councillors who were overwhelmingly supporters of Sinn Féin and Labour.
Of the 20 candidates elected for Wicklow County Council that year, 14 were Sinn Féin, three Sinn Féin/Labour, two Farmers’ Association and one Nationalist. The council acknowledged the authority of Dáil Éireann and undertook to give effect to all its decrees.
Robert Barton was a notable figure in the election. An extensive landowner and former British army officer, Robert joined the republican movement after witnessing the ill-treatment of the 1916 leaders in Dublin.
As TD for West Wicklow, he was elected Minister for Agriculture at the first Dáil sitting in 1919. Arrested in February 1919 for making seditious speeches, he was elected as chairman of Wicklow County Council in June 1920 during his detention.
Re-elected to the Dáil in 1922, he was imprisoned later that year for his activities in the Civil War.
He lost his seat in the general election of 1923 and was released from prison in December 1923. He did not seek election again, but held a number of public appointments thereafter. He died in 1975.
The booklet is available to download as a pdf or a limited number of printed publications are also available. Email localgovernment@housing.gov.ie to request a printed booklet.