Downpatrick is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland.Final Northern Ireland super council recommendations, BBC News, 13 December 2013, accessed 24 May 2014 The district elects five members to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and contains the wards of Cathedral, Knocknashinna, Lecale, Quoile and Strangford., ARK, accessed 8 July 2023 Downpatrick forms part of the South Down constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1985 local elections, replacing Down Area B which had existed since 1973, where it contained seven wards (Ardglass, Audleys Acre, Cathedral, Flying Horse, Killough, Quoile and Strangford). For the 2014 local elections it was reduced to five wards.
Councillors Election Councillor (Party) Councillor (Party) Councillor (Party) Councillor (Party) Councillor (Party) Councillor (Party) Councillor (Party)September 2025 Co-Option Cadogan Enright (Independent)/ (Alliance)/ (Green Party) Conor Galbraith (SDLP) Aurla King (SDLP) Philip Campbell (Sinn Féin) Oonagh Hanlon (Sinn Féin) 5 seats2014–present 5 seats2014–presentJuly 2025 Defection Gareth Sharvin (SDLP)2023July 2022 Defection Dermot Curran (SDLP) John Trainor (SDLP)2019May 2016 Co-Option Naomi Bailie (Sinn Féin)2014 Colin McGrath (SDLP) 2011 Peter Craig (SDLP) John Doris (SDLP) Liam Johnston (Sinn Féin) Éamonn McConvey (Sinn Féin)December 2005 Co-Option 2005 Bill Corry (Green Party) 2001 Jack McIlheron (UUP) Ann Trainor (SDLP) Raymond Blaney (Independent) 1997 Owen Adams (SDLP) Gerard Mahon (SDLP) Patrick McGreevy (Sinn Féin) 1993 John Ritchie (SDLP) Malachi Curran (SDLP) Francis McCann (SDLP) 1989 Samuel McCartney (UUP) Sean Quinn (SDLP) Michael Healy (Alliance) 1985 Eddie McGrady (SDLP) Geraldine Ritchie (Sinn Féin) Raymond Blaney (Workers' Party)
2023 Election
2019: 3 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Independent
2023: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin and Alliance gain from SDLP and Independent
2019 Election
2014: 3 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Independent
2019: 3 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Independent
2014-2019 Change: No change
2014 Election
2011: 4 x SDLP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Green
2014: 3 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Independent
2011-2014 Change: SDLP and Sinn Féin loss due to the reduction of two seats, Independent leaves Greens
2011 Election
2005: 4 x SDLP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Green
2011: 4 x SDLP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Green
2005-2011 Change: No change
2005 Election
2001: 4 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent
2005: 4 x SDLP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Green
2001-2005 Change: Sinn Féin and Green gain from UUP and Independent
2001 Election
1997: 5 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP
2001: 4 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent
1997-2001 Change: Independent gain from SDLP
1997 Election
1993: 6 x SDLP, 1 x UUP
1997: 5 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP
1993-1997 Change: Sinn Féin gain from SDLP
1993 Election
1989: 5 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
1993: 6 x SDLP, 1 x UUP
1989-1993 Change: SDLP gain from Alliance
1989 Election
1985: 4 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Workers' Party
1989: 5 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
1985-1989 Change: SDLP and Alliance gain from Sinn Féin and Workers' Party
1985 Election
1985: 4 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Workers' Party
References