This year marks the centenary of the local elections of 1920 (urban authorities in January and the remainder in June) which were pivotal in the history of local government in Ireland.
In the context of the Decade of Centenaries, it is important to mark these events because of their significance for the struggle for independence and the enduring place of proportional representation in our political system.
Working with the Local Government Archivists and Records Managers, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government recently commissioned the production of a booklet to commemorate the 1920 local elections, an impressive publication marking the centenary of the 1920 County and City Councils which pioneered the use of the Proportional Representation system of voting in Ireland.
The booklet 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.
The booklet is available to download on our website by clicking here.
