Creator(s): Democratic Left (Ireland), Workers' Party (Ireland)
Administrative History ↴
Democratic Left was founded in February 1992 when six Workers’ Party Teachta Dála, along with a majority of the membership, resigned from the party. This group subsequently founded Democratic Left. Democratic Left participated in the government on one occasion, from December 1994 – June 1997, when the party leader, Proinsias De Rossa, served as Minister of Social Welfare. The party voted to dissolve itself and merge with the Labour Party in January 1999.
Archival History ↴
The collection was donation by Mr. Tony Heffernan in April 2014.
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Donation
Content & Structure
Scope & Content: Democratic Left (Ireland), Workers' Party (Ireland) ↴
The collection includes: press releases; parliamentary questions; text of speeches; annual conference files; policy documents; working papers; pamphlets; publications; ephemera; periodicals; National Executive minutes; correspondence; internal circulars; and memoranda. The collection also includes legacy records of the Workers Party retained by Democratic Left.
Appraisal Destruction ↴
Permanent Retention
Accruals ↴
No further accruals are expected.
Arrangement ↴
The collection is arranged as follows:
I. Organisation and Governance, 1992-1999
II. Electioneering, 1992-1998
III. Communications, 1994-1999
IV. Parliamentary Party 1992-1999
V. Policy Positions, 1992-1998
VI. Workers Party 1993-1992
Conditions of Access & Use
Access Conditions
Access with a valid National Library of Ireland Readers Ticket.
Conditions Governing Reproduction
Copyright and reproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland.
Creation Dates
1983-1999
Extent Medium
13 boxes
Material Language Script
English
Finding Aids
An item level catalogue is available online (http://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000578082/CollectionList?lookfor=#).
Archive Web Link →
Allied Materials
Related Material
A collection of Labour Party papers, dated 1967-2001. The collection includes c. 8 boxes of materials originating from Democratic Left. These materials were deposited with the Irish Labour History Society (ILHS), Beggars Bush, Haddington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, in 2001. Finding aid is a collection list prepared in 2003.
Descriptive Control Area
Archivist Note
Ross Higgins
Rules/Conventions
NLI guidelines based on ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000, and Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
