2023 Newry, Mourne and Down District Council election

Main article: 2023 Northern Ireland local elections
2023 Newry, Mourne and Down District Council election
← 2019 18 May 2023 2027 →
All 41 council seats
21 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Colum Eastwood MLA.JPG
Leader Michelle O'Neill[n 1] Colum Eastwood Jeffrey Donaldson
Party Sinn Féin SDLP DUP
Last election 16 11 3
Seats won 20 8 5
Seat change Increase 4 Decrease 3 Increase 2
Popular vote 37,032 13,170 9,124
Percentage 48.3% 17.2% 11.9%
Swing Increase 11.8% Decrease 5.8% Increase 3.4%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Naomi Long 2021.png
Doug Beattie.png
Leader Naomi Long No leader Doug Beattie
Party Alliance Independent UUP
Last election 2 5 4
Seats won 5 2 1
Seat change Increase 3 Decrease 3 Decrease 3
Popular vote 7,176 3,608 4,062
Percentage 9.4% 4.7% 5.3%
Swing Increase 2.0% Decrease 7.8% Decrease 4.7%
Newry, Mourne and Down 2023 Council Election Results by DEA (Shaded by the plurality of FPVs)
Council control before election

No overall control

 Council control after election

TBC

The 2023 election to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council was held on 18 May 2023, alongside other local elections in Northern Ireland, two weeks after local elections in England.[1] The Northern Ireland elections were delayed by 2 weeks to avoid overlapping with the coronation of King Charles III.[2]

41 members were returned to the council via Single Transferable Vote.

Election results

Newry, Mourne and Down Borough Council Election Result 2023
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Sinn Féin 20 4 0 Increase 4 48.78 48.32 37,032 Increase 11.79
  SDLP 8 0 3 Decrease 3 19.51 17.18 13,170 Decrease 5.86
  DUP 5 2 0 Increase 2 12.20 11.90 9,124 Increase 3.40
  Alliance 5 3 0 Increase 3 12.20 9.36 7,176 Increase 1.92
  Independent 2 0 3 Decrease 3 4.88 4.71 3,608 Decrease 7.78
  UUP 1 0 3 Decrease 3 2.44 5.30 4,062 Decrease 4.73
  Aontú 0 0 0 Steady 0 0.00 1.31 1,002 Decrease 0.21
  TUV 0 0 0 Steady 0 0.00 1.15 880 New
  Green (NI) 0 0 0 Steady 0 0.00 0.77 589 Increase 0.32
Total 41 76,643

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

The 2023 LG election in NMD saw the further decline of the SDLP and UUP, whereas Sinn Fein and Alliance made gains, with the DUP also gaining two councillors.

Districts summary

Results of the 2023 Newry, Mourne and Down District Council election by DEA
District Electoral Area (DEA) %
Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 %
 Cllrs
 Total
cllrs
Sinn Féin SDLP DUP Alliance UUP Independents and others
Crotlieve 45.67 3 Increase 1 17.74 1 Decrease 1 4.57 0 Steady 5.03 0 Steady 3.42 0 Steady 23.57 2 Steady 6
Downpatrick 43.45 2 Increase 1 30.71 2 Decrease 1 3.27 0 Steady 13.75 1 Increase 1 2.45 0 Steady 6.37 0 Decrease 1 5
Newry 65.15 4 Increase 1 18.15 2 Steady 0.00 0 Steady 7.94 0 Steady 2.72 0 Steady 6.04 0 Decrease 1 6
Rowallane 10.78 0 Steady 16.42 1 Steady 34.17 2 Steady 24.59 2 Increase 1 12.91 0 Decrease 1 1.12 0 Steady 5
Slieve Croob 47.56 3 Increase 1 11.68 0 Decrease 1 19.34 1 Increase 1 13.28 1 Steady 4.30 0 Decrease 1 3.85 0 Steady 5
Slieve Gullion 67.92 5 Steady 16.00 1 Steady 2.45 0 Steady 2.03 0 Steady 8.15 1 Steady 3.46 0 Steady 7
The Mournes 41.87 3 Steady 12.91 1 Steady 25.65 2 Increase 1 8.27 1 Increase 1 3.82 0 Decrease 1 7.47 0 Decrease 1 7
Total 48.32 20 Increase 4 17.18 8 Decrease 3 11.90 5 Increase 2 9.36 5 Increase 3 5.30 1 Decrease 3 7.93 2 Decrease 3 41

District results

Crotlieve

2019: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP, 2 x Independent

2023: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x Independent, 1 x SDLP

2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin gain from SDLP

Crotlieve - 6 seats[3]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Sinn Féin Selina Murphy 14.20% 1,863 1,879.00                
SDLP Declan McAteer* 9.40% 1,233 1,310.00 1,324.00 1,473.00 1,577.00 1,683.00 1,683.25 2,507.25    
Independent Mark Gibbons* 8.47% 1,111 1,143.00 1,150.00 1,242.00 1,610.00 1,721.00 1,721.75 1,793.75 1,888.75  
Sinn Féin Kate Murphy 10.65% 1,397 1,402.00 1,403.00 1,453.00 1,491.00 1,493.00 1,494.50 1,611.50 1,771.50 1,774.62
Sinn Féin Mickey Ruane* 10.57% 1,387 1,413.00 1,413.00 1,446.00 1,570.00 1,574.00 1,575.00 1,618.00 1,669.00 1,670.04
Independent Jarlath Tinnelly* 7.95% 1,043 1,059.00 1,063.00 1,142.00 1,252.00 1,306.00 1,306.25 1,367.25 1,504.25 1,513.35
Sinn Féin Gerry O'Hare* 10.25% 1,345 1,350.00 1,350.00 1,376.00 1,389.00 1,391.00 1,391.00 1,447.00 1,512.00 1,512.26
SDLP Karen McKevitt* 6.94% 911 948.00 964.00 1,130.00 1,189.00 1,305.00 1,305.25      
DUP Keith Parke 4.57% 600 603.00 946.00 957.00 965.00          
Independent Jim Boylan 6.24% 818 841.00 850.00 926.00            
Alliance Daniel Neary 5.03% 660 710.00 742.00              
UUP Ricky McGaffin 3.42% 448 451.00                
SDLP Anne Sheridan 1.40% 183                  
Green (NI) Hugh O'Reilly 0.73% 96                  
Independent Finbarr Lambe 0.18% 23                  
Electorate: 21,313   Valid: 13,118 (61.55%)   Spoilt: 140   Quota: 1,875   Turnout: 13,258 (62.21%)  

Downpatrick

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

Downpatrick - 5 seats[3]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Sinn Féin Oonagh Hanlon* 19.32% 1,579                  
SDLP Gareth Sharvin* 15.99% 1,307 1,325.59 1,348.72 1,360.98 1,388.78          
Alliance Cadogan Enright* 13.75% 1,124 1,131.67 1,172.67 1,209.67 1,334.80 1,377.80        
Sinn Féin Philip Campbell 14.19% 1,160 1,262.70 1,266.70 1,268.70 1,271.70 1,377.70        
SDLP Conor Galbraith 7.22% 590 597.41 608.41 617.41 641.41 705.06 711.06 718.34 721.23 1,166.23
Sinn Féin Louise Rooney 9.94% 812 866.08 877.21 877.47 877.60 946.11 946.11 950.03 959.38 1,057.38
SDLP Aurla King 7.50% 613 620.67 629.67 643.67 666.67 705.80 712.80 716.16 717.86  
Independent Éamon Mac Con Midhe 4.94% 404 409.46 415.72 418.72 435.72          
DUP Sharon Harvey 3.27% 267 267.26 268.26 388.26            
UUP Alexander Burgess 2.45% 200 200.52 201.52              
Green (NI) Declan Walsh 1.43% 117 117.65                
Electorate: 15,691   Valid: 8,173 (52.09%)   Spoilt: 113   Quota: 1,363   Turnout: 8,286 (52.81%)  

Newry

2019: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Independent

2023: 4 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP

2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin gain from Independent

Newry - 6 seats[3]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Sinn Féin Valerie Harte* 19.95% 2,085          
Sinn Féin Cathal King* 18.96% 1,982          
Sinn Féin Geraldine Kearns* 12.05% 1,259 1,719.88        
Sinn Féin Aidan Mathers 14.19% 1,483 1,526.96        
SDLP Michael Savage* † 8.95% 935 949.84 1,151.03 1,192.47 1,203.34 1,382.34
SDLP Doire Finn 9.20% 961 994.04 1,120.89 1,211.33 1,226.98 1,357.98
Alliance Helena Young 7.94% 830 845.68 925.33 963.69 988.12 1,199.12
Aontú Sharon Loughran 3.04% 318 322.20 356.42 372.94 386.24  
UUP Andrew McCracken 2.72% 285 285.00 287.95 289.35 289.35  
Independent Mariya Krupska 2.00% 209 213.76 237.95 248.03 272.10  
Workers' Party Nicola Grant 1.00% 104 106.24 123.94 130.66    
Electorate: 19,901   Valid: 10,451 (52.51%)   Spoilt: 172   Quota: 1,494   Turnout: 10,623 (53.38%)  

Rowallane

2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP

2023: 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP

2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from UUP

Rowallane - 5 seats[3]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
DUP Jonny Jackson* 17.60% 1,414      
SDLP Terry Andrews* 16.42% 1,319 1,335 1,860  
DUP Callum Bowsie* 16.57% 1,331 1,337 1,340  
Alliance Tierna Kelly 12.01% 965 996 1,118 1,403
Alliance David Lee-Surginor* 12.58% 1,011 1,056 1,199 1,347
UUP Robert Burgess* 11.66% 937 1,018 1,021 1,024
Sinn Féin Dermot Kennedy 10.78% 866 872    
UUP Rachel Gracey 1.26% 101      
Green (NI) Ali McColl 1.12% 90      
Electorate: 15,865   Valid: 8,034 (50.64%)   Spoilt: 81   Quota: 1,340   Turnout: 8,115 (51.15%)  

Slieve Croob

2019: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance

2023: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance

2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin and DUP gain from SDLP and UUP

Slieve Croob - 5 seats[3]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
DUP Alan Lewis* 19.34% 1,723          
Sinn Féin Jim Brennan* 17.61% 1,569          
Sinn Féin Róisín Howell* 16.19% 1,443 1,443.14 1,447.14 1,484.39 1,531.39  
Alliance Andrew McMurray* † 13.28% 1,183 1,189.02 1,244.02 1,246.77 1,327.02 1,521.02
Sinn Féin Siobhan O'Hare 13.76% 1,226 1,226.42 1,232.42 1,259.87 1,301.47 1,305.87
SDLP Hugh Gallagher* 8.48% 756 758.80 771.80 778.50 1,082.18 1,170.54
UUP Walter Lyons 4.30% 383 603.36 604.50 604.55 607.25  
SDLP Will Polland 3.20% 285 286.40 299.40 302.45    
Aontú Rosemary McGlone 2.75% 245 245.70 248.70 249.50    
Green (NI) Seana Pitt 1.10% 98 98.70        
Electorate: 15,797   Valid: 8,911 (56.41%)   Spoilt: 92   Quota: 1,486   Turnout: 9,003 (56.99%)  

Slieve Gullion

2019: 5 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP

2023: 5 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP

2019–2023 Change: No change

Slieve Gullion - 7 seats[3]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Sinn Féin Aoife Finnegan* 13.16% 1,934                
Sinn Féin Áine Quinn 13.15% 1,932                
Sinn Féin Declan Murphy* 12.98% 1,907                
SDLP Pete Byrne* 9.85% 1,447 1,462.30 1,468.30 1,472.54 1,473.35 1,554.56 1,670.23 2,404.23  
Sinn Féin Mickey Larkin* 10.61% 1,558 1,573.26 1,579.30 1,640.54 1,645.61 1,669.12 1,719.61 1,795.24 1,946.24
Sinn Féin Oonagh Magennis* 8.96% 1,316 1,368.55 1,376.60 1,379.62 1,387.95 1,411.32 1,445.60 1,511.77 1,617.77
UUP David Taylor* 8.15% 1,197 1,197 1,198 1,198 1,198.09 1,226.09 1,570.09 1,592.15 1,628.15
Sinn Féin Barra Ó'Muirí* 9.06% 1,331 1,339.30 1,343.30 1,348.86 1,385.76 1,393.08 1,432.23 1,463.35 1,503.35
SDLP Killian Feehan 6.15% 903 904.20 913.20 913.72 917.72 1,015.85 1,102.07    
Aontú Liam Reichenberg 2.99% 439 439.50 446.50 447.66 448.05 489.09      
DUP Linda Henry 2.45% 360 360.10 360.10 360.14 360.14 360.14      
Alliance Caolán Gregory 2.03% 298 298.90 321.95 322.47 323.10        
Green (NI) Molly Ní Mhánais 0.47% 69 69.15              
Electorate: 22,734   Valid: 14,691 (64.62%)   Spoilt: 266   Quota: 1,837   Turnout: 14,957 (65.79%)  

The Mournes

2019: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent

2023: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

2019–2023 Change: DUP and Alliance gain from UUP and Independent

The Mournes - 7 seats[3]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DUP Glyn Hanna* 17.50% 2,340              
Sinn Féin Michael Rice* 15.26% 2,040              
Sinn Féin Willie Clarke* 14.32% 1,915              
Sinn Féin Leeanne McEvoy* 12.29% 1,643 1,643.56 1,946.14          
SDLP Laura Devlin* 10.25% 1,370 1,372.80 1,379.64 1,476.76 1,516.30 1,679.41    
DUP Henry Reilly* 8.15% 1,089 1,622.96 1,623.68 1,623.86 1,626.14 1,626.31 1,638.11 1,835.11
Alliance Jill Truesdale 8.27% 1,105 1,108.64 1,116.38 1,140.32 1,206.76 1,249.09 1.505.94 1,626.94
TUV Harold McKee* 6.58% 880 962.68 963.06 963.24 966.24 966.24 972.61 1,163.12
UUP Lloyd Douglas 3.82% 511 537.88 538.06 538.60 539.60 540.45 557.70  
SDLP Dominic O'Reilly 2.67% 357 359.62 386.52 439.26 443.16 467.13    
Green (NI) Sean O Baoill 0.89% 119 119.28 120.36 127.02        
Electorate: 22,227   Valid: 13,369 (60.15%)   Spoilt: 179   Quota: 1,672   Turnout: 13,548 (60.95%)  

Changes during the term

† Co-options

Date co-opted Electoral Area Party Outgoing Co-optee Reason
13 November 2023 Newry SDLP Michael Savage Killian Feehan Savage resigned.[4]
24 May 2024 Slieve Croob Alliance Andrew McMurray Helena Young McMurray was co-opted to the Northern Ireland Assembly.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ The leader of Sinn Féin is Mary Lou McDonald, who sits as a TD in the Irish Dáil Éireann for Dublin Central. O'Neill is the leader of the party in Northern Ireland.

References

  1. ^ "Local government elections in Northern Ireland". www.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  2. ^ "NI council election moved to avoid coronation clash". BBC News. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Northern Ireland council election: List of all the candidates in the May 2023 poll". Belfast Live. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  4. ^ "New Councillor - Newry District Electoral Area".
  5. ^ "New Councillor - Slieve Croob District Electoral Area".