Down District Council Elections 1993-2005

The SDLP sucessfully defended their position on Down District Council, retaining all ten of their seats. The advance of Sinn Fein's has been slower here than elsewhere but they did manage to pick up an additional seat and saw their overall vote increase by almost 6%. The DUP also increased their vote by 2% and picked up a new seat at the expense of the UUP. Also of note was the Green Party's win in Downpatrick; one of three successful Green candidates elected in Northern Ireland (all in County Down).

map
Map by Conal Kelly

Electoral Area 2005 Result 2001 Result 1997 Result 1993 Result
Downpatrick 4 SDLP, 2 SF, 1 Green 4 SDLP, 1 SF, 1 UUP, 1 Ind 5 SDLP, 1 UUP, 1 SF 6 SDLP, 1 UUP
Newcastle 3 SDLP, 2 SF, 1 UUP 3 SDLP, 2 SF, 1 UUP 3 SDLP, 1 UUP, 1 SF, 1 NIWC 4 SDLP, 1 UUP, 1 DUP
Rowallane 2 DUP, 2 UUP, 1 SDLP 3 UUP, 1 DUP, 1 SDLP 3 UUP, 1 DUP, 1 SDLP 3 UUP, 1 DUP, 1 SDLP
Ballynahinch 2 SDLP, 1 DUP, 1 SF, 1 UUP 2 SDLP, 1 UUP, 1 DUP, 1 SF 3 SDLP, 1 DUP, 1 UUP 2 SDLP, 2 UUP, 1 DUP

Summary

2005 Results 2001 Results 1997 Results 1993 Results
Votes by Party:
SDLP: 10,276 (37.5%), 10 councillors
SF: 6,336 (23.1%), 5 councillors
UUP: 4,748 (17.3%), 4 councillors
DUP: 4,471 (16.3%), 3 councillors
Green: 900 (3.3%), 1 councillor
Alliance: 585 (2.1%)
WP: 97 (0.4%)
 Votes by Party:
UUP: 6,507 (21.8%), 6 councillors
DUP: 4,276 (14.3%), 2 councillors
SF: 5,156 (17.2%), 4 councillors
SDLP: 12,308 (41.2%), 10 councillors
WP: 115 (0.4%)
Ind: 1,521 (5.1%), 1 councillor
 Votes by Party:
UUP: 5,507 (24.1%), 6 councillors
DUP: 2,724 (11.9%), 2 councillors
SF: 1,724 (7.6%), 2 councillors
SDLP: 10,481 (46.0%), 12 councillors
Alliance: 850 (3.7%)
WC: 430 (1.9%), 1 councillor
Lab: 327 (1.4%)
WP: 132 (0.6%)
U: 521 (2.3%)
GP: 113 (0.5%)
 Votes by Party:
UUP: 7,300 (28.5%), 7 councillors
DUP: 2,545 (9.9%), 3 councillors
SF: 815 (3.2%)
SDLP: 13,102 (51.2%), 13 councillors
Alliance: 971 (3.8%)
WP: 151 (0.6%)
Env: 291 (1.1%)
Ind: 403 (1.7%)
Electorate: 44,434; votes cast: 27,949; spoilt votes: 536 (1.9%); valid votes: 27,413 (98.1%) Electorate: 44,909; votes cast: 30,560; spoilt votes: 677 (2.2%); valid votes: 29,883 (97.8%) Electorate: 43,087; votes cast: 23,192; spoilt votes: 383 (1.6%); valid votes: 22.809 (98.4%) Electorate: 40,733; votes cast: 26,152; spoilt votes: 574 (2.2%); valid votes: 25,578 (97.8%)
2001 Census: 39,541 "Catholic" (61.95%); 22,651 "Protestant" (35.49%); 103 Other (0.16%); 1,533 None (2.4%)

See also results from 1985-89 and 1973-81.

Downpatrick

Westminster seat: South Down
Includes these wards: Ardglass, Audley's Acre, Ballymote, Cathederal, Killough, Quoile, Strangford


2005 Results

SF & Green gain from UUP & Ind

First Count:
Éamonn McConvey, (SF) 1259
Peter Craig, (SDLP) 1060
Dermot Curran, (SDLP) 939
John Doris, (SDLP) 865
Liam Johnston, (SF) 722
William Murphy, (UUP) 650
Colin McGrath, (SDLP) 624
Bill Corry, (Green) 565
Caitríona Mackel, (SF) 483
Daniel McEvoy, (SDLP) 400
Desmond O'Hagan, (WP) 97 		Votes by Party:
SDLP: 3,888 (50.7%), 4 seats
SF: 2,464 (32.2%), 2 seat
UUP: 650 (8.5%)
Green: 565 (7.4%), 1 seat
WP: 97 (1.3%)
Electorate: 12,695; seats: 7; votes cast: 7,833; spoilt votes: 169 (2.2%);
valid votes: 7,664 (97.8%); quota: 959


2001 Results

Ind gain from SDLP

First Count:
Eamonn McConvey (SF) 1,147
Peter Craig (SDLP) 1,077
Dermot Curran (SDLP) 1,024
John Doris (SDLP) 852
Ann Trainor (SDLP) 849
Raymond Blaney (Ind) 835
Jack McIlheron (UUP) 782
Liam Johnston (SF) 633
Gerard Mahon (SDLP) 404
John Irvine (SDLP) 233
John Foster (DUP) 203
Patrick O'Connor (Ind) 173
Desmond O'Hagan (WP) 115
Helen Honeyman (Ind) 101 		Votes by Party:
UUP: 782 (9.3%), 1 seat
DUP: 203 (2.4%)
SF: 1,780 (21.1%), 1 seat
SDLP: 4,439 (52.7%), 4 seats
WP: 115 (1.4%)
Ind: 1,109 (13.1%), 1 seat
Electorate: 13,109; seats: 7; votes cast: 8,666; spoilt votes: 238 (2.7%);
valid votes: 8,428 (97.3%); quota: 1,054
2001 Census: 16,138 "Catholic" (81.57%); 3,161 "Protestant" (15.98%); 29 Other (0.15%); 457 None (2.31%)

1997 Results

SF gain from SDLP

First Count:
John Doris, (SDLP) 991
Peter Craig (SDLP) 918
Jack McIlheron, (UUP) 802
Dermot Curran, (SDLP) 748
Patrick McGreevy, (SF) 659
Owen Adams, (SDLP) 477
Michael Healy, (All) 431
Gerard Mahon, (SDLP) 417
Patrick O'Connor, (Lab) 251
John Irvine, (SDLP) 189
Keith Bradford, (Green) 113
Des O'Hagan, (WP) 57
Edna Furey, (Lab) 41
Michael Kearney, (Lab) 35		 Votes by Party:
UUP: 802 (13.2%), 1 seat
SF: 659 (10.8%), 1 seat
SDLP: 3,740 (61.0%), 5 seats
Alliance: 431 (7.0%)
Lab: 327 (5.3%)
WP: 57 (0.9%)
GP: 113 (1.8%)
Electorate: 12,631; seats: 7; valid votes: 6,129; quota: 767

1993 Results

First Count:
Dermot Curran, (SDLP) 1,075
John Anthony Doris, (SDLP) 1,037
John Joseph Ritchie, (SDLP) 1,031
Oliver John Mcllheron, (UUP) 1,005
Malachi Joseph Curran, (SDLP) 724
Francis Patrick Cyril McCann, (SDLP) 569
Owen Francis Adams, (SDLP) 476
Michael Gerard Healy, (Alliance) 443
Patrick Joseph McGreevy, (SF) 314
Keith Gordon Bradford, (Ind) 291
Patrick Mary O'Connor, (Ind) 236
James Masson, (Ind) 167
Desmond O'Hagan, (WP) 151 		Votes by Party:
UUP: 1,005 (13.4%), 1 seat
SF: 314 (4.2%)
SDLP: 4,912 (65.3%), 6 seats
Alliance: 443 (5.9%)
WP: 151 (2.0%)
Ind: 694 (9.2%)
Electorate: 12,290; seats: 7; votes cast: 7,669; spoilt votes: 150 (1.9%);
valid votes: 7,519 (98.1%), quota: 940

2005: ****SDLP 51%, **SF 32%, UUP 8%, *Green 7%, WP 1%
2001: ****SDLP 53%, *SF 21%, *Inds 13%, *UUP 9%, DUP 2%, WP 1%
1997: *****SDLP 61%, *UUP 13%, *SF 11%, Alliance 7%, Lab 5%, Green 2%, WP 1%
1993: ******SDLP 65%, *UUP 13%, Inds 9%, Alliance 6%, SF 4%, WP 2%

Best vote share for the SDLP in Northern Ireland in 1993 and 1997.

Newcastle

Westminster seat: South Down
Includes these wards: Castlewellan, Donard, Dundrum, Murlough, Shimna, Tollymore


2005 Results

No change

First Count:
Eamonn O Neill, (SDLP) 1379
William Clarke, (SF) 1301
Carmel O'Boyle, (SDLP) 936
Gerald Douglas, (UUP) 808
Stanley Priestly, (DUP) 744
Peter Fitzpatrick, (SDLP) 573
Aíne McEvoy, (SF) 541
Hugh McDowell, (SF) 469
Neil Powell, (Alliance) 252
Peter McCarron, (Green) 148 		Votes by Party:
SDLP: 2,888 (40.4%), 3 seats
SF: 2,311 (32.3%), 2 seats
UUP: 808 (11.3%), 1 seat
DUP: 744 (10.4%)
Alliance: 252 (3.5%)
Green: 148 (2.1%)
Electorate: 11,446; seats: 6; votes cast: 7,323; spoilt votes: 172 (2.3%);
valid votes: 7,151 (97.7%); quota: 1,022


2001 Results

SF gain from NIWC

First Count:
Eamonn O'Neill (SDLP) 1,308
Gerry Douglas (UUP) 1,211
William Clarke (SF) 1,163
Carmel O'Boyle (SDLP) 1,000
Hugh McDowell (SF) 972
Peter Fitzpatrick (SDLP) 700
Stanley Priestley (DUP) 695
Charles McGrath (SDLP) 438
David Allister (Ind) 243 		Votes by Party:
UUP: 1,211 (15.7%), 1 seat
DUP: 695 (9.0%)
SF: 2,135 (27.6%), 2 seats
SDLP: 3,446 (44.6%), 3 seats
Ind: 243 (3.1%)
Electorate: 11,339; seats: 6; votes cast: 7,890; spoilt votes: 160 (2.0%);
valid votes: 7,730 (98.0%); quota: 1,105
2001 Census: 11,939 "Catholic" (73.85%); 3,899 "Protestant" (24.12%); 28 Other (0.17%); 301 None (1.86%)

1997 Results

NIWC & SF gain from DUP & SDLP

First Count:
Eamon O'Neill, (SDLP) 913
Frank McDowell, (SF) 831
Gerry Douglas, (UUP) 773
Carmel O'Boyle, (SDLP) 715
Peter Fitzpatrick, (SDLP) 706
Stanley Priestly, (DUP) 552
Anne Carr, (NIWC) 430
Frances Flynn, (SDLP) 422
Ronald Richie, (UUP) 259
Adrienne Healy, (All) 167
Edward O'Hagan, (WP) 75		 Votes by Party:
UUP: 1,032 (17.6%), 1 seat
DUP: 552 (9.4%)
SF: 831 (14.2%), 1 seat
SDLP: 2,756 (47.2%), 3 seats
Alliance: 167 (2.9%)
NIWC: 430 (7.4%), 1 seat
WP: 75 (1.3%)
Electorate: 10,884; seats: 6; valid votes: 5,843; quota: 835

1993 Results

First Count:
Michael John Boyd, (SDLP) 1,405
Eamonn Gerrard O'Neill, (SDLP) 1,150
Gerald Norman Douglas, (UUP) 948
Peter Gerald Fitzpatrick, (SDLP) 667
Catherine Anne Carr, (Alliance) 528
Sean Fitzpatrick, (SF) 501
John Francis Finlay, (DUP) 430
Frances T. Flynn, (SDLP) 411
William Brown, (UUP) 396
 Votes by Party:
UUP: 1,344 (20.9%), 1 seat
DUP: 430 (6.7%), 1 seat
SF: 501 (7.8%)
SDLP: 3,633 (56.4%), 4 seats
Alliance: 528 (8.2%)
Electorate: 10,170; seats: 6; votes cast: 6,618; spoilt votes: 182 (2.7%);
valid votes: 6,436 (97.3%); quota: 920

2005: ***SDLP 40%, **SF 32%, *UUP 11%, DUP 10%, Alliance 3%, Green 2%
2001: ***SDLP 45%, **SF 28%, *UUP 16%, DUP 9%, Ind 3%
1997: ***SDLP 47%, *UUP 18%, *SF 14%, DUP 9%, *NIWC 7%, Alliance 3%, WP 1%
1993: ****SDLP 56%, *UUP 21%, Alliance 8%, SF 8%, *DUP 7%

Rowallane

Westminster seat: South Down/Strangford
Includes these wards: Crossgar, Derryboy, Killyleagh, Kilmore, Saintfield


2005 Results

DUP gain from UUP

First Count:
William Dick, (DUP) 1326
Margaret Ritchie, (SDLP) 1105
Robert Burgess, (UUP) 928
William Walker, (DUP) 721
Edward Rea, (UUP) 580
Albert Colmer, (UUP) 537
Lorna Dunn, (Alliance) 333
Mary Robb, (SF) 313
Patricia McKay, (SDLP) 310
Philip Orr, (Green) 187 		Votes by Party:
DUP: 2,047 (32.3%), 2 seats
UUP: 2,045 (32.3%), 2 seats
SDLP: 1,415 (22.3%), 1 seat
SF: 313 (4.9%)
Alliance: 333 (5.3%)
Green: 187 (2.9%)
Electorate: 10,330; seats: 5; votes cast: 6,429; spoilt votes: 89 (1.4%);
valid votes: 6,340 (98.6%); quota: 1,057


2001 Results

No change

First Count:
Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) 1,440
William Dick (DUP) 1,198
Robert Burgess (UUP) 1,113
Albert Colmer (UUP) 1,027
Edward Rea (UUP) 728
Billy Walker (DUP) 599
Anthony Lacken (SF) 304
Kathleen Stockton (SDLP) 279
James Marks (Ind) 169 		Votes by Party:
UUP: 2,868 (41.8%), 3 seats
DUP: 1,797 (26.2%), 1 seat
SF: 304 (4.4%)
SDLP: 1,719 (25.1%), 1 seat
Ind: 169 (2.5%)
Electorate: 10,464; seats: 5; votes cast: 6,999; spoilt votes: 142 (2.0%);
valid votes: 6,857 (98.0%); quota: 1,143
2001 Census: 4,582 "Catholic" (32.35%); 9,128 "Protestant" (64.44%); 28 Other (0.20%); 427 None (0.83%)

1997 Results

No change

First Count:
Margaret Ritchie, (SDLP) 1,044
Sam Osborne, (UUP) 846
Albert Colmer, (UUP) 817
William Dick, (DUP) 810
William Biggerstaff, (UUP) 695
Billy Walker, (Ind Unionist) 521
Laurence Moffat, (SDLP) 384
Barry Corscadden, (All) 252		 Votes by Party:
UUP: 2,358 (43.9%), 3 seats
DUP: 810 (15.1%), 1 seat
SDLP: 1,428 (26.6%), 1 seat
Alliance: 252 (4.7%)
Ind U: 521 (9.7%)
Electorate: 10,036; seats: 5; valid votes: 5,369; quota: 895

1993 Results

First Count:
Samuel Osborne, (UUP) 1,322
Margaret Mary Ritchie, (SDLP) 1,171
Albert William Kelly Colmer, (UUP), 882
William John Frazer Biggerstaff, (UUP) 952
William James Dick, (DUP) 961
Hugh Edward Flynn, (SDLP) 510
 Votes by Party:
UUP: 3,156 (54.4%), 3 seats
DUP: 961 (16.6%), 1 seat
SDLP: 1,681 (29.0%), 1 seat
Electorate: 9,320; seats: 5; votes cast: 5,908; spoilt votes: 110 (1.9%);
valid votes: 5,798 (98.1%); quota: 967

2005: **DUP 32%, **UUP 32%, *SDLP 22%, SF 5%, Alliance 5%, Green 3%
2001: ***UUP 42%, *DUP 26%, *SDLP 25%, SF 4%, Ind 2%
1997: ***UUP 44%, *SDLP 27%, *DUP 15%, Ind U 10%, Alliance 5%
1993: ***UUP 54%, *SDLP 29%, *DUP 17%

Ballynahinch

Westminster seat: South Down
Includes these wards: Ballymaglave, Ballynahinch East, Dunmore, Drumaness, Seaforde

2005 Results

No change

First Count:
Jim Wells, (DUP) 1305
Michael Coogan, (SF) 1248
Patrick Toman, (SDLP) 877
Peter Bowles, (UUP) 807
Marie McAleenan, (SDLP) 746
Francis Casement, (SDLP) 462
Walter Lyons, (UUP) 438
Samuel Hanna, (DUP) 375 		Votes by Party:
SDLP: 2,085 (33.3%), 2 seats
DUP: 1,680 (26.8%), 1 seat
SF: 1,248 (19.9%), 1 seat
UUP: 1,245 (19.9%), 1 seat
Electorate: 9,963; seats: 5; votes cast: 6,364; spoilt votes: 106 (1.7%);
valid votes: 6,258 (98.3%); quota: 1,044

2001 Results

SF gain from SDLP

First Count:
Patsy Toman (SDLP) 1,150
Ann McAleenan (SDLP) 962
Francis Branniff (SF) 937
Jim Wells (DUP) 862
Harvey Bicker (UUP) 790
John Cochrane (UUP) 674
William Alexander (DUP) 593
Francis Casement (SDLP) 592
John Reid (UUP) 182
Alan McIlroy (DUP) 126 		Votes by Party:
UUP: 1,646 (24.0%), 1 seat
DUP: 1,581 (23.0%), 1 seat
SF: 937 (13.6%), 1 seat
SDLP: 2,704 (39.4%), 2 seats
Electorate: 9,997; seats: 5; votes cast: 7,005; spoilt votes: 137 (2.0%);
valid votes: 6,868 (98.0%); quota: 1,145
2001 Census: 6,882 "Catholic" (50.20%); 6,463 "Protestant" (47.14%); 17 Other (0.12%); 348 None (2.54%)

1997 Results

SDLP gain from UUP

First Count:
Billy Alexander, (DUP) 1,362
Patsy Toman, (SDLP) 1,197
Harvey Bicker, (UUP) 990
Anne McAleenan, (SDLP) 951
Frances Casement, (SDLP) 409
John Reid, (UUP) 325
John Smyth, (SF) 234

Votes by Party:
UUP: 1,315 (24.0%), 1 seat
DUP: 1,362 (24.9%), 1 seat
SF: 234 (4.3%)
SDLP: 2,557 (46.8%), 3 seats
Electorate: 9,536; seats: 5; valid votes: 5,468; quota: 912

1993 Results

First Count:
Patrick Joseph Toman, (SDLP) 1,480
Anne Marie McAleenan, (SDLP) 1,396
William George Alexander, (DUP) 1,154
James Cochrane, (UUP) 939
Walter Leonard Lyons, (UUP) 488
Janet Crothers, (UUP) 368
 Votes by Party:
UUP: 1,795 (30.8%), 2 seats
DUP: 1,154 (19.8%), 1 seat
SDLP: 2,876 (49.4%), 2 seats
Electorate: 8,953; seats: 5; votes cast: 5,957; spoilt votes: 132 (2.2%);
valid votes: 5,825 (97.8%)

2005: **SDLP 33%, *DUP 27%, *SF 20%, *UUP 20%
2001: **SDLP 39%, *UUP 24%, *DUP 23%, *SF 14%
1997: ***SDLP 47%, *DUP 25%, *UUP 24%, SF 4%
1993: **SDLP 49%, **UUP 31%, *DUP 20%

Down District Council Election Results Since 1973

historical chart

2005: SDLP 10, SF 5, UUP 4, DUP 3, Green 1
2001: SDLP 10, UUP 6, SF 4, DUP 2, Ind 1
1997: SDLP 12, UUP 6, DUP 2, SF 2, WC 1
1993: SDLP 13, UUP 7, DUP 3
1989: SDLP 12, UUP 8, DUP 2, Alliance 1
1985: SDLP 10, UUP 7, DUP 3, SF 2, WP 1
1981: SDLP 9, UUP 5, DUP 3, Alliance 1, WP 1, Lab 1
1977: SDLP 10, UUP 7, Alliance 3
1973: UUP 8, SDLP 8, Alliance 2, Van Loy 1, Ind 1

NB: 23 councillors since 1985 election; 20 councillors before that.

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Nicholas Whyte, 5 May 2001; last updated 11 June 2005 by Conal Kelly.

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