An election to Donegal County Council took place on Wednesday 26 May 1920 as part of that year's Irish local elections. 45 councillors were elected from 10 electoral divisions by PR-STV voting for a five-year term of office.
Sinn Féin won a majority of the seats, and won majorities in 6 of the 10 voting areas.
The vote was largely characterised by poor turnout, with less than 50% of the electorate voting. Buncrana, Letterkenny, and Milford saw particularly poor turnout. At one station in Rathmullan only 3 of the areas 140 voters turned out. Donegal Town saw better turnout.
The total number of invalid votes for the county stood at 9,193.
At the first sitting of the new council, on Friday 18 June, the council voted to recognise Dáil Éireann.
Following the election Peter J. Ward (Sinn Féin) was elected chairman. Thomas McFadden (Unionist) was elected vice-chairman.Belfast News-Letter - Saturday 19 June 1920: Donegal County Council, Released Hunger Striker Elected Chairman
Results by party PartySeats±First Pref. votesFPv%±% 14 4 2 0Totals20100%—
Results by county electoral area Buncrana
Donegal
Glenties
Letterkenny
Milford
District council results The county was split into urban and rural districts, each with a council. Rural district councils were elected on the same day as the county council. Most districts were split into multiple district electoral areas (DEAs). Each district council chairperson was ex officio a member of the county council.
+Rural districts and DEAs in County Donegal, 1920 Rural district District electoral area DEA seats Total seats Ballyshannon Ballyshannon Rural 9 9 Donegal Donegal 5 18 Dunkineely 4 Laghy 5 Mountcharles 4 Dunfanaghy Dunfanaghy 4 10 Gortahork 6 Glenties Annagarry 7 27 Ardara 4 Dunglow 6 Glencolumbkille 4 Glenties 3 Killybegs 3 Inishowen Buncrana Rural 7 21 Carndonagh 4 Malin 4 Moville 6 Letterkenny Letterkenny Rural 8 13 Temple Douglas 5 Londonderry No. 2 Londonderry No. 2 Rural 8 8 Milford Carrickart 5 19 Fanad 4 Milford 7 Rathmullan 3 Strabane No. 2 Castlefinn 4 10 Raphoe 6 Stranorlar Cloghan 4 11 Stranorlar 7
Donegal Rural District Donegal DEA
Dunkineely DEA
Laghey DEA
Mountcharles DEA
Dunfanaghy Rural District Dunfanaghy DEA
Letterkenny Rural District Letterkenny Rural DEA
Rathmullan DEA
References