1997 Northern Ireland local elections

Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland on 21 May 1997, shortly after the 1997 general election across the entire United Kingdom.

Results

Overall PartyLocal Government Elections 1997, Northern Ireland Elections Councillors Votes Total +/- % share Total 185—1228.1175,036 120―721.0130,387 74+2317.2106,934 91―1216.099,651 41―36.741,952 23+33.823,695 7+6212,051 15―6210,376 4+316,244 1+113,380 4+40.52,945 3+20.42,774 3―30.42,634 3―10.42,450 0―10.42,348 Community2+20.31,905Newtownabbey Ratepayers2+20.21,424 000.1706 100.1560Community Labour000.1464Upper Bann Labour000.1353 000.071 000.067

By council

Council Council Seats by Party TotalAPDUPPUPSDLPSFUUPUKUPUDP Others Ind. Antrim 2 3 – 4 1 9 – – – – – – 19 Ards 5 5 – 1 – 10 – – – – 2 – 23 Armagh – 2 – 7 3 10 – – – – – – 22 Ballymena 1 8 – 3 – 10 – – – – 1 – 24 Ballymoney – 6 – 3 1 4 – – – – – 2 16 Banbridge – 3 – 3 – 9 – – – – – 2 17 Belfast 6 7 3 7 13 13 – 1 – – 1 – 51 Carrickfergus 5 3 – – – 4 – – – – 2 3 17 Castlereagh 4 10 – 2 – 5 1 – – – 1 – 23 Coleraine 3 5 – 3 – 10 – – – – – 1 22 Cookstown – 2 – 4 5 4 – – – – 1 – 16 Craigavon 1 3 – 7 2 11 – – 2 – – – 26 Derry – 4 – 14 8 3 – – – – 1 – 30 Down – 2 12 2 6 – – 1 NIWC – – 1 23 Dungannon – 3 – 4 5 8 – – 1 DL – – 1 22 Fermanagh – 2 – 4 5 9 – –1 1 – 1 23 Larne 1 3 – 1 – 6 – – – – – 4 15 Limavady – 1 – 7 1 6 – – – – – – 15 Lisburn 3 2 1 2 4 13 – 2 1 Con – 2 – 30 Magherafelt – 3 – 5 5 3 – – – – – – 16 Moyle – 3 – 3 1 3 – – – 2 1 2 15 Newry and Mourne – 1 – 12 8 5 – – – – – 4 30 Newtownabbey 3 2 1 1 – 10 1 4 (2 NR 2 Lab) – 3 – 25 North Down 6 2 2 – – 6 3 – 2 Con – 1 3 25 Omagh 1 3 – 6 6 4 – – 1 Lab – – – 21 Strabane – 3 – 5 4 3 – – – – – 1 16 Total4191712074186441331524582 Change-3-12+6-7+23-11+4+3 –+3-6 – +2 Lab +2 NR +2 +1 -3 Con -3 UPUP -1 WP -1 Elected 1993 44 103 1 127 51 197 – 1 13 – 21 24 6 Con 3 UPUP 1 Lab 1 WP 1

Councils

Antrim

Antrim North WestAntrim District Council Elections 1993-2011, Northern Ireland Elections Party Candidate 1st Pref Bobby Loughran1,115 James Graham1,063 Wilson Clyde683 Henry Cushinan612 Donovan McClelland430 Avril Swann254 George Picken133Turnout4,290No change

Antrim South East Party Candidate 1st Pref Roy Thompson996 Thomas Burns963 Edgar Wallace763 Mervyn Rea716 David Ford613 Samuel Dunlop495 William Harkness385 Ken Wilkinson358 Roderick Swann180 Lucia Trowlen177 Roy Stinson150Turnout5,796Roy Thompson joins UUP

Antrim Town Party Candidate 1st Pref Paddy Marks1,066 Robert McClay642 Oran Keenan514 Sean McKee433 Adrian Watson357 Andrew Ritchie287 Brian McConnell268 Andrew Thompson218 Mary Wallace159 Stanley Lynn124 S. J. Greer111Turnout4,179No change

Ards

Ards East Party Candidate 1st Pref Thomas Benson882 Ronnie Ferguson676 Hamilton Gregory621 John Shields606 Jeffrey Magill480 Linda Cleland418 Larry Thompson352 St Clair McAlister295 Tom Sheridan269 Hamilton Lawther251 Gina McCrory220Turnout5,070UUP gain from DUP

Ards PeninsulaArds District Council Elections 1993-2011, Northern Ireland Elections Party Candidate 1st Pref Paul Carson1,114 Kieran McCarthy1,047 Jim Shannon993 Daniel McCarthy770 Robin Drysdale473 John Smyth221 Billy Sheldon154 Iain Bell131 Owen Crawford131Turnout4,936DUP gain from Alliance

Ards West Party Candidate 1st Pref Robert Gibson1,103 David McNarry1,066 Kathleen Coulter741 David Gilmore635 Margaret Craig572 Tim McBriar481 Lorraine Gilmore285Turnout4,883No change

Newtownards Party Candidate 1st Pref Wilbert Magill914 Alan McDowell724 David Smyth690 George Ennis653 Tom Hamilton565 Nancy Orr327 Bobby McBride326 John Purdy225 Alfred McCrory221 Billy McKeown55Turnout4,710Wilbert Magill leaves DUP

Armagh

Armagh CityArmagh District Council Elections 1993-2011, Northern Ireland Elections Party Candidate 1st Pref Pat Brannigan1,251 Sylvia McRoberts898 Noel Sheridan845 Sean McGirr841 Gordon Frazer749 Anna Brolly547 Michael Carson531 Noel Donnelly529 Ryan Williams167 Ann McKenna146Turnout6,504Sinn Féin gain from SDLP

Crossmore Party Candidate 1st Pref Brian Cunningham1,207 Evelyn Corry1,135 Tommy Kavanagh1,107 James McKernan862 William Hamilton747 Joseph McGleenan534 James Lennon509Turnout6,101Sinn Féin gain from SDLP

Cusher Party Candidate 1st Pref Eric Speers1,915 Heather Black1,577 Tom Canavan1,057 Robert Turner872 Sharon McClelland810 James Clayton797 Thomas Carroll355Turnout7,383No change

The Orchard Party Candidate 1st Pref Jim Speers1,630 Brian Hutchinson1,011 Joe Campbell882 Charles Rollston836 Eamon Mcneill629 Olive Whitten613 Liz Gartland578Turnout6,179No change

Ballymena

Ballymena NorthBallymena District Council Elections 1993-2011, Northern Ireland Elections Party Candidate 1st Pref Patrick McAvoy975 William Wright953 Sam Henry728 Joe McKernan630 Maurice Mills610 James Alexander547 Jayne Dunlop447 John Stewart417 David Warwick247 Herbie Parke235Turnout5,789Sam Henry changes designation from Independent

Ballymena South Party Candidate 1st Pref Declan O'Loan967 James Currie918 Davy Tweed832 Martin Clarke571 Hubert Nicholl534 Peter Brown377 Malcolm Gilmour365 John Scott357 John Carson315Ulster PartyAgnes McLeister184 Cowan Balmer86Turnout5,506UUP gain from Independent Unionist

Bannside Party Candidate 1st Pref Roy Gillespie1,110 Tommy Nicholl1,048 Robert Coulter1,014 Seamus Laverty967 Ian Johnston936 Sandy Spence845Turnout5,920No change

Braid Party Candidate 1st Pref Margaret Gribben1,042 David Clyde961 Des Armstrong816 Lexie Scott765 Sam Gaston627 Sam Hanna623 David McClintock490Turnout5,324SDLP gain from UUP

Ballymoney

Ballymoney TownBallymoney District Council Elections 1993-2011, Northern Ireland Elections Party Candidate 1st Pref Cecil Cousley493 Bob McComb433 Thomas McKeown333 Samuel McConaghie293 Bill Williamson261 Joan McCaffrey255 James Simpson242 Colin McVicker233 Jeffrey Balmer180 Mary McCusker31Turnout2,754Independent gain from UUP

Bann Valley Party Candidate 1st Pref Joe Gaston719 Malachy McCamphill706 Robert Halliday608 Martin O'Neill508 Robert Wilson441 Mary McPoland382 John Finlay351 John Watt260Turnout3,975Sinn Féin gain from SDLP

Bushvale Party Candidate 1st Pref Harry Connolly725 Frank Campbell473 Bill Kennedy443 William Logan350 John Ramsay341 William Johnston222 Frank McCluskey181 Joan Cosgrove35Turnout2,770SDLP gain from UUP

Banbridge

Banbridge TownBanbridge District Council Elections 1993-2011, Northern Ireland Elections Party Candidate 1st Pref Joan Baird1,438 Jim Walsh809 William Bell602 Cyril Vage581 Mel Byrne534 Frank McQuaid423 Derick Bell390 Ian Burns359Turnout5,215Jim Walsh leaves SDLPDUP gain from UUPSDLP gain from Alliance

Dromore Party Candidate 1st Pref William McCracken1,358 David Herron770 Cassie McDermott729 William Martin709 Tom Gribben667 Robert Hill289 Julian Crozier202Turnout4,787No change

Knockiveagh Party Candidate 1st Pref John Ingram1,129 Wilfred McFadden1,103 Seamus Doyle946 John Hanna799 Malachy McCartan692 Violet Cromie671 Oliver Moore661Turnout6,273No change

Belfast

Balmoral Party Candidate 1st Pref Margaret Crooks2,329 Carmel Hanna1,916 Catherine Molloy1,047 Tom Ekin971 Philip McGarry958 Bob Stoker949 Harry Smith924 Joan Parkes654 Heather Calvert520 Gordon McCrea397 Gordon Lucy304 Nuala Bradley236 Mary Ringland92 Hubert Mullan71Turnout11,368SDLP gain from DUP

Castle Party Candidate 1st Pref Nigel Dodds2,081 Alban Maginness1,781 Tom Campbell1,417 Danny Lavery1,362 David Browne1,134 Nelson McCausland1,065 John Carson1,025 Jim Crothers Jr778 Jonathan Stephenson720 Raymond Gilliland216 Eileen Calder149 Robert Ferris85 Alan Warren73 Paul Treanor53 Norman McClelland8 Andrea Gribben5Turnout11,952Alliance gain from UUPSinn Féin gain from SDLP

CourtBelfast City Council Elections 1993–2005, Northern Ireland Elections Party Candidate 1st Pref Hugh Smyth3,070 Eric Smyth1,573 Frank McCoubrey1,200 Fred Cobain1,048 Chris McGimpsey800 Glenn Bradley513 Joe Coggle407 Dennis Robinson237 Margaret Serris208 Linda Walker150 John Roberts144Turnout9,350UDP gain from Independent Unionist

Laganbank Party Candidate 1st Pref Alasdair McDonnell1,614 Seán Hayes1,388 Jim Clarke1,337 Steve McBride1,118 Michael McGimpsey966 Peter O'Reilly902 Ernie Purves644 Jim Kirkpatrick473 Anne Campbell406 Patrick Lynn160 Andrew Frew138 James Anderson18 Vincent McKenna12Turnout9,176Sinn Féin gain from SDLP

Lower Falls Party Candidate 1st Pref Fra McCann2,420 Seán McKnight2,286 Tom Hartley2,022 Marie Moore1,810 Margaret Walsh1,764 Janice Austin1,274 John Lowry468 Mary White227 Keith Jacques45Turnout12,316No change

Oldpark Party Candidate 1st Pref Mick Conlon2,317 Bobby Lavery2,230 Martin Morgan1,941 Paddy McManus1,773 Billy Hutchinson1,582 Fred Proctor1,316 Fred Rodgers986 David Smylie659 Paddy Bird427 Dympna O'Hara365 Peter Emerson245 Mark Long177 Steven Doran109Turnout14,127PUP gain from UUP

Pottinger Party Candidate 1st Pref Sammy Wilson2,265 Reg Empey2,309 David Ervine2,110 Dominic Corr978 Mervyn Jones870 Margaret Clarke768 Robert Clelland605 Marga Foley309 Alexander Gordon262 Andrew Muers251 Robert Girvan169 Pearl Sagar149 Frank Leslie142 Joseph Bell115 Josephine Challis21 David Collins19 Sean McGouran19Turnout11,361PUP gain from DUP

Upper Falls Party Candidate 1st Pref Alex Attwood2,855 Alex Maskey2,807 Michael Browne2,580 Martin Livingstone2,394 Chrissie McAuley1,738 Stephen McGowan616 Patricia Lewsley596 David McNerlin201 James McAllister110 Dan McGuinness85Turnout13,982Sinn Féin gain from SDLP

Victoria Party Candidate 1st Pref David Alderdice2,419 Ian Adamson2,367 Jim Rodgers1,508 Wallace Browne1,485 Robin Newton1,036 Danny Dow1,024 John McQuillan915 Glyn Roberts553 Margaret McKenzie523 Alan Crowe519 Lesley Donaldson256 Peter Weir192 Thomas Mullins25Turnout12,822Independent Unionist gain from UUP

Carrickfergus

Carrick CastleCarrickfergus District Council Elections 1993-2011, Northern Ireland Elections Party Candidate 1st Pref Sean Neeson741 David Hilditch626 William Hamilton494 Samuel McCamley466 Nicholas Wady233 Samuel Stewart144 Arthur McQuitty54Turnout2,758Independent gain from Alliance

Kilroot Party Candidate 1st Pref James Brown908 Janet Crampsey554 Samuel Crowe553 Robin Cavan531 Eric Ferguson371 Colin McAuley362 William Ashe357 Desmond Robinson261 Billy Donaldson237 Norman Dixon127Turnout4,261James Brown leaves UUPSamuel Crowe leaves NI ConservativesDUP gain from Independent

Knockagh Monument Party Candidate 1st Pref Stewart Dickson867 Thomas Creighton754 May Beattie580 Charles Johnston457 Joseph Reid377 William Haggan336 Noreen McIlwrath209 Carolyn Howarth121Turnout3,764No change

Castlereagh

Castlereagh CentralCastlereagh District Council Elections 1993-2011, Northern Ireland Elections Party Candidate 1st Pref Peter Robinson2,783 Alan Carson854 Patrick Mitchell600 Grant Dillon267 Dominic Marsella224 Ann Smith134 John Dunn87 John Norris61 Alwyn McClernon23Turnout5,033Grant Dillon joins UKUP

Castlereagh East Party Candidate 1st Pref Iris Robinson2,787 Peter Osborne677 Sarah Cummings672 William Abraham607 Michael Long466 Blakeley McNally303 Thomas Jeffers172 Sandy Geddis160 David Brown115 Kim Morton73 Sarah Seddon16Turnout6,048Thomas Jeffers leaves UPUP

Castlereagh South Party Candidate 1st Pref John Beattie1,219 Myreve Chambers1,146 Arthur Hegney864 Geraldine Rice628 Margaret Marshall556 Michael Henderson325 Andrew Ramsey205Turnout4,943SDLP gain from Alliance

Castlereagh West Party Candidate 1st Pref William Clulow952 Cecil Hall744 Sara Duncan697 Rosaleen Hughes619 Simon Robinson607 Samuel Johnston367 Marie Luney274 Ernest Harper267 Thomas Scott142 Malcolm Gilmore140Turnout4,809SDLP gain from UUP

Coleraine

BannColeraine District Council Elections 1993-2011, Northern Ireland Elections Party Candidate 1st Pref John Dallat1,234 Olive Church1,023 Jim Watt990 William King855 Robert Bolton658 Eamon Mullan642 James McCloskey522 Ian McEwan152Turnout6,076No change