Local govt election in Northern Ireland
1981 Banbridge District Council election
Elections to Banbridge District Council were held on 20 May 1981 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections . The election used two district electoral areas to elect a total of 15 councillors .
Election results
Banbridge District Council Election Result 1981[ 1]
Party
Seats
Gains
Losses
Net gain/loss
Seats %
Votes %
Votes
+/−
UUP
8
0
0
0
53.3
42.1
6,241
4.9
DUP
4
1
0
1
26.7
26.5
3,929
9.2
SDLP
2
0
0
0
13.3
14.9
2,217
0.1
Ind. Nationalist
1
0
0
0
6.7
6.4
950
2.2
Ind. Unionist
0
0
1
1
0.0
5.5
818
0.8
Alliance
0
0
0
0
0.0
4.6
677
1.6
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.
Districts summary
Results of the Banbridge District Council election, 1981 by district[ 1]
Ward
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
%
Cllrs
Total Cllrs
UUP
DUP
SDLP
Others
Area A
34.7
3
25.3
2
13.9
1
26.1
1
7
Area B
50.4
5
27.9
2
16.2
1
5.5
0
8
Total
42.1
8
26.5
4
14.9
2
16.5
1
15
Districts results
Area A
1977: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Nationalist, 1 x Independent Unionist
1981: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Nationalist
1977-1981 Change: DUP gain from Independent Unionist
Banbridge Area A - 7 seats[ 2]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
SDLP
James Walsh *
13.86%
1,092
Ind. Nationalist
Laurence McCartan *
10.98%
865
932.6
988.6
DUP
Wilfred McFadden
11.52%
907
907.2
907.5
914.5
993.5
UUP
Wilson Davidson *
11.92%
939
939.2
939.3
972.3
979.3
1,017.3
UUP
Samuel Cowan *
8.66%
682
682.2
683.4
698.4
699.4
909.4
940.4
1,063.4
DUP
Gareth Bennett
6.34%
499
499.1
499.1
500.1
552.1
566.1
882.2
989.2
UUP
Norman Ferguson *
8.68%
684
684.1
685.1
707.1
708.1
736.1
762.1
959.4
Alliance
Kenneth McElroy
7.28%
573
579.6
605.3
608.3
610.3
626.5
659.8
726.1
Ind. Unionist
Hugh Anderson*
6.83%
538
540.8
543.6
550.6
554.6
567.6
579.6
DUP
Irene Todd
5.36%
422
422.3
422.4
425.4
436.4
452.4
UUP
Raymond Armstrong
3.53%
278
278.1
278.2
335.2
337.2
DUP
Mildred McDowell
2.04%
161
161
161
162.1
UUP
Herbert Plunkett
1.92%
151
151.1
151.2
Ind. Nationalist
Margaret McStraw
1.08%
85
111.8
Electorate: 11,561 Valid: 7,876 (68.13%) Spoilt: 259 Quota: 985 Turnout: 8,135 (70.37%)
Area B
1977: 5 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
1981: 5 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
1977-1981 Change: No change
Banbridge Area B - 8 seats[ 2]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SDLP
Patrick McAvoy *
16.17%
1,125
DUP
Brian Biggerstaff *
10.78%
750
751.92
774.92
UUP
Raymond McCullough *
10.19%
709
719.08
720.08
720.08
789.08
UUP
Matthew Bailey *
8.47%
589
598.6
626.6
641.04
685.52
688.51
852.51
UUP
George Gamble
7.55%
525
527.88
528.88
647.2
652.88
652.91
790.91
UUP
Herbert Heslip *
7.09%
493
494.44
502.92
505.92
674.4
682.68
707.39
740.87
784.87
UUP
Robert Hill *
6.40%
445
447.88
455.88
478.88
498.88
501.64
556.64
582.02
646.1
659.7
670.34
DUP
David Herron *
6.79%
472
473.92
530.92
539.4
574.4
574.86
600.57
609.75
623.59
626.95
626.95
DUP
Robert McIlroy
6.40%
445
450.76
569.72
577.72
583.72
584.18
598.18
608.98
617.34
617.82
618.96
Alliance
Ebezener Mulligan
1.50%
104
349.28
353.16
447.4
462.88
462.88
470.8
471.34
UUP
Robert Barr*
5.26%
366
373.2
391.2
429.08
447.08
447.54
UUP
Eric Williamson
5.46%
380
388.16
395.16
397.12
Ind. Unionist
Thompson Howe
4.03%
280
326.56
326.56
DUP
Robert McIlroy
3.92%
273
277.32
Electorate: 9,513 Valid: 6,956 (73.12%) Spoilt: 172 Quota: 773 Turnout: 7,128 (74.93%)
References