411 REFERENCE · Wikipedia
1981 Belfast City Council election
Reference material by Wikipedia contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
Northern Ireland local election
April 2022
Northern Ireland local elections, 1981
1981 Belfast City Council election Northern Ireland Flag of Belfast.svg parliamentary no 1977 Belfast City Council election 1977 20 May 1981 1985 Belfast City Council election 1985 All 51 seats to Belfast City Council 26 Democratic Unionist Party 15 8 Ulster Unionist Party 13 2 Alliance Party of Northern Ireland 7 6 Social Democratic and Labour Party 6 2 People's Democracy (Ireland) 2 2 Irish Republican Socialist Party 2 2 Progressive Unionist Party 1 1 Ulster Democratic Party 1 1 Unionist Party of Northern Ireland 1 1 Party with the most votes by district. Lord Mayor John Carson Ulster Unionist Party Lord Mayor Grace Bannister Ulster Unionist Party
Elections to Belfast City Council were held on 20 May 1981 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used nine district electoral areas to elect a total of 51 councillors, most representing the more heavily populated north and west.
The DUP became the largest party, overtaking the UUP, while Grace Bannister from the UUP became the first female Lord Mayor.
Election results
Belfast local election result 1981http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/lgbelfast.htm Belfast Council results 27 July 2011 29 May 2021
Democratic Unionist Party
15
8
0
8
29.4
25.8
33,433
12.5
Ulster Unionist Party
13
1
3
2
25.5
23.7
30,685
3.1
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
7
0
6
6
13.7
13.2
17,164
5.4
Social Democratic and Labour Party
6
0
2
2
11.8
14.1
18,227
4.5
People's Democracy (Ireland)
2
2
0
2
3.9
3.7
4,734
New
Irish Republican Socialist Party
2
2
0
2
3.9
2.6
3,418
New
Ulster Democratic Party
1
1
0
1
0.0
2.3
2,989
New
Progressive Unionist Party
1
1
0.0
1
2.0
1.9
2,434
New
Unionist Party of Northern Ireland
1
0
1
1
2.0
2.2
2,859
2.8
Independent Unionist
1
0
1
1
2.0
1.9
2,540
2.2
Independent Socialist
1
1
0
1
2.0
1.5
1,884
1.4
Anti H-Block
1
1
0
1
2.0
0.8
1,070
New
Republican Clubs
0
0
3
3
0.0
3.9
4,993
0.8
Northern Ireland Labour Party
0
0
0
0
0.0
1.4
1,824
1.2
Independent (politician)
0
0
1
1
0.0
0.7
933
2.5
Ulster Popular Unionist Party
0
0
0
0
0.0
0.1
187
New
Independent Nationalist
0
0
0
0
0.0
0.1
167
0.1
Communist Party of Ireland
0
0
0
0
0.0
0.1
97
0.0
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.
Districts summary
Results of the Belfast City Council election, 1981by district yes
|- class="unsortable" align="centre"
!rowspan=2 align="left"|Ward
! %
!Cllrs
! %
!Cllrs
! %
!Cllrs
! %
!Cllrs
! %
!Cllrs
! %
!Cllrs
! %
!Cllrs
! %
!Cllrs
! %
!Cllrs
! %
!Cllrs
!rowspan=2|TotalCllrs
|- class="unsortable" align="center"
!colspan=2 bgcolor="Democratic Unionist Party" | DUP
!colspan=2 bgcolor="Ulster Unionist Party" | UUP
!colspan=2 bgcolor="Alliance Party of Northern Ireland" | Alliance
!colspan=2 bgcolor="Social Democratic and Labour Party"| SDLP
!colspan=2 bgcolor="People's Democracy" | PD
!colspan=2 bgcolor="Irish Republican Socialist Party" | IRSP
!colspan=2 bgcolor="Ulster Democratic Party" | UDP
!colspan=2 bgcolor="Unionist Party of Northern Ireland" | UPNI
!colspan=2 bgcolor="Progressive Unionist Party" | PUP
!colspan=2 bgcolor="white"| Others
|-
|align="left"|Area A
|bgcolor="#D46A4C"|39.3
|bgcolor="#D46A4C"|3
|33.5
|3
|12.1
|1
|9.2
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|5.9
|0
|7
|-
|align="left"|Area B
|bgcolor="#D46A4C"|33.5
|bgcolor="#D46A4C"|2
|26.8
|2
|23.0
|2
|1.1
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|2.0
|0
|11.0
|1
|0.0
|0
|2.6
|0
|7
|-
|align="left"|Area C
|21.6
|2
|bgcolor="40BFF5"|33.6
|bgcolor="40BFF5"|2
|28.6
|2
|9.4
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|3.3
|0
|0.0
|0
|3.3
|0
|6
|-
|align="left"|Area D
|0.0
|0
|3.3
|0
|5.3
|0
|bgcolor="#99FF66"|44.8
|bgcolor="#99FF66"|3
|17.0
|1
|10.9
|1
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|18.7
|1
|6
|-
|align="left"|Area E
|bgcolor="#D46A4C"|35.1
|bgcolor="#D46A4C"|2
|22.1
|2
|5.8
|0
|3.5
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|6.5
|0
|0.0
|0
|11.1
|0
|15.9
|1
|6
|-
|align="left"|Area F
|bgcolor="#D46A4C"|26.4
|bgcolor="#D46A4C"|2
|18.4
|1
|10.0
|1
|20.8
|1
|0.0
|0
|15.2
|1
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|9.3
|0
|6
|-
|align="left"|Area G
|bgcolor="#D46A4C"|24.8
|bgcolor="#D46A4C"|2
|17.7
|1
|3.1
|0
|7.5
|0
|19.6
|1
|0.0
|0
|14.3
|1
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|13.0
|0
|6
|-
|align="left"|Area H
|21.7
|2
|bgcolor="40BFF5"|27.4
|bgcolor="40BFF5"|2
|11.5
|1
|19.6
|1
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|0.0
|0
|2.5
|0
|17.3
|1
|7
|-
|- class="unsortable" class="sortbottom" style="background:#C9C9C9"
|align="left"| Total
|25.8
|15
|23.7
|13
|13.2
|7
|14.1
|6
|3.7
|2
|2.6
|2
|2.3
|1
|2.2
|1
|1.9
|1
|10.5
|3
|51
|-
|}
District results
Area A
1977: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP
1981: 3 x DUP, 3 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
1977-1981 Change: DUP and UUP gain from Alliance and SDLP
Area A - 7 seatsLocal Government Results 1981 https://www.eoni.org.uk/getmedia/064e8d36-856a-4f60-b950-716cf2c3c7bb/local_government_election_results_1981 EONI 8 July 2021
15
Democratic Unionist Party
John Foster
3,333
18.32%
Ulster Unionist Party
Jeremy Burchill
2,589
14.23%
Democratic Unionist Party
Raymond McCrea*
2,342
12.87%
Democratic Unionist Party
Sammy Wilson
1,479
8.13%
2,431.64
Ulster Unionist Party
Grace Bannister*
2,055
11.29%
2,081.88
2,202
2,265
2,285.64
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Donnell Deeny
1,439
7.91%
1,440.92
1,447.52
1,449.41
1,450.05
1,460.09
1,464.57
1,477.81
1,553.17
1,560.49
1,645.85
1,657.44
2,463.44
Ulster Unionist Party
William Blair*
900
4.95%
918.56
1,024.64
1,054.7
1,067.14
1,072.27
1,101.76
1,211.3
1,250.36
1,250.36
1,258.63
1,742.86
1,793.34
1,936.94
1,944.62
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Alasdair McDonnell*
1,262
6.94%
1,263.6
1,263.84
1,264.02
1,264.34
1,272.66
1,272.66
1,273.66
1,291.66
1,660.75
1,856.1
1,856.27
1,889.76
1,932.16
1,932.16
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Mervyn Jones
766
4.21%
771.44
770.16
779.69
781.21
787.21
791.6
808.62
907.05
913.05
964.37
984.13
Ulster Unionist Party
Tony Wilkins
544
2.99%
569.28
611.76
634.26
645.94
650.19
669.27
721.95
733.24
734.24
736.33
Republican Clubs
Francis Cullen
418
2.30%
419.28
419.52
419.88
419.88
445.01
446.33
446.76
467.3
483.3
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Patrick McGourty
410
2.25%
410.64
410.76
410.85
410.89
412.89
412.89
412.89
419.98
Northern Ireland Labour Party
Derek Peters
276
1.52%
278.24
278.72
279.44
279.8
297.89
306.35
310.55
Ulster Popular Unionist Party
Benjamin Horan
187
1.03%
196.28
206.12
223.31
228.67
230.67
239.44
Independent (politician)
John McKeague
99
0.54%
103.8
107.88
116.34
120.94
126.26
Communist Party of Ireland
James Stewart
97
0.25%
98.92
99.52
100.15
100.51
15
31,215
18,196 (58.29%)
937
2,275
19,133 (61.29%)
Area B
1977: 3 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x UPNI
1981: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UPNI
1977-1981 Change: DUP gain from UUP
Area B - 7 seats
10
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Oliver Napier*
2,631
12.41%
2,719
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Michael Brown*
1,602
7.55%
1,653
1,671
1,706.2
1,923
1,929
2,641.4
Democratic Unionist Party
Henry Evans*
2,513
11.85%
2,513
2,546
2,546
2,554
2,571
2,574
3,090
Democratic Unionist Party
Bill Morrison
2,152
10.15%
2,152
2,201
2,201
2,214
2,243
2,243
2,481
2,765.8
Ulster Unionist Party
Thomas Patton*
2,081
9.81%
2,081
2,195
2,195.8
2,264.8
2,411.8
2,418.8
2,443.8
2,450.92
2,839.92
Unionist Party of Northern Ireland
Joshua Cardwell*
2,327
10.97%
2,336
2,363
2,363.8
2,428.4
2,472.4
2,487.2
2,519.2
2,529.88
2,710.88
Ulster Unionist Party
William Corry
1,733
8.17%
1,733
1,737
1,737
1,744
1,919
1,930
1,938
1,944.23
2,703.23
Democratic Unionist Party
Samuel Foster
1,464
6.90%
1,465
1,521
1,521
1,525
1,535
1,537
1,695
1,808.92
1,865.92
Ulster Unionist Party
Dorothy Dunlop*
1,248
5.88%
1,249
1,261
1,261
1,278
1,452
1,459
1,478
1,490.46
Democratic Unionist Party
Albert Greer
979
4.62%
979
1,009
1,009
1,018
1,026
1,026
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Samuel Coulson
647
3.05%
660
663
683
784.6
792.6
Ulster Unionist Party
John Kennedy
613
2.89%
614
620
620
628
Northern Ireland Labour Party
David McKee
548
2.58%
587
602
611.6
Ulster Democratic Party
Louis Scott
434
2.05%
439
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Peter Prendiville
236
1.11%
10
35,901
21,208 (59.07%)
630
2,652
21,838 (60.83%)
Area C
1977: 3 x Alliance, 2 x UUP, 1 x UPNI
1981: 2 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 2 x DUP
1977-1981 Change: DUP (two seats) gain from Alliance and UPNI
Area C - 6 seats
9
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
David Cook*
2,493
15.65%
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Muriel Pritchard*
1,158
7.27%
1,217.52
1,280.08
1,347.72
1,362.88
2,376.96
Ulster Unionist Party
Andrew Cairns*
1,933
12.13%
1,937.32
1,942.32
2,166.88
2,187.88
2,202.84
2,835.84
Ulster Unionist Party
Mary Crooks*
2,099
13.18%
2,104.2
2,111.1
2,191.6
2,216.76
2,260.24
2,828.24
Democratic Unionist Party
Brian Gibson
1,503
9.43%
1,504.04
1,505.12
1,529.12
1,720.12
1,727.12
1,805.48
2,040.48
2,229.48
Democratic Unionist Party
William Stevenson
1,214
7.62%
1,214.32
1,214.32
1,222.32
1,687.56
1,694.8
1,753.28
1,872.28
1,971.28
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Ben Caraher
1,501
9.42%
1,508.6
1,792.12
1,795.12
1,795.12
1,828.96
1,843.44
1,845.44
1,850.44
Ulster Unionist Party
John Gilmore
1,326
8.32%
1,330.72
1,336.88
1,396.04
1,411.12
1,421
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
William Jeffrey*
913
5.73%
1,021
1,108.48
1,150.2
1,156.44
Democratic Unionist Party
Thomas McIntyre
729
4.58%
729.8
730.8
744.88
Unionist Party of Northern Ireland
Victor Brennan*
532
3.34%
534.72
536.72
Republican Clubs
Gerard Carr
530
3.33%
532.96
9
28,354
15,931 (56.19%)
529
2,276
16,460 (58.05%)
Area D
1977: 4 x SDLP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
1981: 3 x SDLP, 1 x People's Democracy, 1 x IRSP, 1 x Independent Socialist
1977-1981 Change: People's Democracy and IRSP gain from Republican Clubs and Alliance, Independent Socialist leaves SDLP
Area D - 6 seats
10
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Joe Hendron
4,291
26.20%
People's Democracy (Ireland)
John McAnulty
2,781
16.98%
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Cormac Boomer*
2,070
12.64%
2,919.16
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Mary Muldoon*
636
3.88%
987.44
1,143.37
1,148.3
1,166.98
1,187.34
1,191.34
1,917.48
1,937.84
2,262.01
Irish Republican Socialist Party
Gerry Kelly
957
5.84%
1,015.88
1,020.22
1,238.16
1,276.77
1,284.95
1,285.95
1,302.89
2,185.21
2,197.01
Independent Socialist
Paddy Devlin*
1,343
8.20%
1,515.1
1,560.45
1,573.88
1,616
1,659.4
1,668.4
1,741.36
1,787.23
2,058.99
Republican Clubs
Mary McMahon
1,125
6.87%
1,176.52
1,185.2
1,193.87
1,211.85
1,546.39
1,547.39
1,604.52
1,628.3
1,738.82
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Dan McGuinness*
725
4.43%
781.12
795.69
797.22
883.01
895.93
1,064.93
1,108.6
1,116.83
Irish Republican Socialist Party
William Browning
822
5.02%
846.84
854.9
1,012.49
1,041.67
1,046.52
1,049.52
1,066.12
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Anne McElroy
346
2.11%
642.7
962.93
974.49
1,008.88
1,034.96
1,040.27
Ulster Unionist Party
John Hand
538
2.92%
538
538.31
538.48
555.48
558.48
Republican Clubs
Kevin Smyth
438
2.67%
467.9
471.93
476.01
488.35
Independent Nationalist
Liam Hunter*
167
1.02%
189.54
192.95
200.77
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Robert Turkington
137
0.84%
146.2
146.51
147.36
10
35,812
16,376 (45.73%)
1,060
2,340
17,436 (48.69%)
Area E
1977: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent, 1 x Independent Unionist
1981: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Anti H-Block
1977-1981 Change: DUP and Anti H-Block gain from Alliance and Independent, Independent Unionist joins PUP
Area E - 6 seats
12
Democratic Unionist Party
George Haffey
4,142
23.73%
Ulster Unionist Party
Billy Bell*
3,105
17.79%
Democratic Unionist Party
George Seawright
1,989
11.39%
3,442.6
Progressive Unionist Party
Hugh Smyth*
1,931
11.06%
1,957
2,177.72
2,204.72
2,220.72
2,229.72
2,231.92
2,234.12
2,311.85
2,316.36
2,548.36
Ulster Unionist Party
Alfie Ferguson*
367
2.10%
395.4
625.42
989.62
990.24
1,016.79
1,017.3
1,019.1
1,375.09
1,380.69
1,789.06
2,200.15
Anti H-Block
Laurence Kennedy
1,070
6.13%
1,070
1,070
1,070
1,092
1,100.2
1,184.2
1,510
1,510
1,890
1,892.86
1,904.97
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Samuel Egerton*
1,011
5.79%
1,017.8
1,033.92
1,062.72
1,090.92
1,165.83
1,169.83
1,186.83
1,207.67
1,500.67
1,569.39
1,706.56
Ulster Democratic Party
Samuel Doyle
1,135
6.50%
1,164.2
1,257.82
1,293.42
1,294.42
1,312.53
1,316.24
1,318.44
1,359.66
1,367.28
1,481.88
Independent Unionist
Fred Proctor*
692
3.96%
754.4
982.56
1,032.36
1,032.36
1,046.89
1,050.29
1,053.2
1,129.37
1,130.88
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Alphonsus Maginness
618
3.54%
618
618.62
619.42
663.42
678.42
719.42
863.82
864.44
Ulster Unionist Party
James Sands
386
2.21%
413.2
546.81
639.61
640.61
655.16
656.16
657.16
Independent (politician)
Patrick Hunter
321
1.84%
324.2
324.82
325.62
332.62
345.13
524.13
Independent (politician)
James Weir*
311
1.78%
311.8
313.35
313.95
322.95
329.95
Independent (politician)
Peter Emerson
202
1.16%
203.6
214.45
220.45
232.76
Republican Clubs
Margaret McNulty
177
1.01%
177
178.86
179.06
12
28,598
17,457 (61.04%)
624
2,494
18,081 (63.22%)
Area F
1977: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
1981: 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x IRSP, 1 x Alliance
1977-1981 Change: DUP and IRSP gain from UUP and Republican Clubs
Area F - 6 seats
10
Democratic Unionist Party
William Dickson*
1,913
17.80%
Irish Republican Socialist Party
Sean Flynn
1,639
15.25%
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Owen Allen*
898
8.36%
898.4
923.88
938.01
1,045.03
1,242.88
1,244.88
1,784.88
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Will Glendinning*
844
7.85%
852
865
1,036.69
1,060.21
1,102.06
1,176.59
1,350.01
1,498.97
1,603.97
Democratic Unionist Party
Eric Smyth
924
8.60%
1,203.2
1,203.98
1,204.44
1,207.57
1,211.97
1,304.57
1,308.57
1,317.39
1,512.99
Ulster Unionist Party
James Stewart*
719
6.69%
742.6
742.86
742.86
742.86
753.99
969.39
969.59
970.57
1,460.35
Republican Clubs
Jim Sullivan*
1,002
9.32%
1,002
1,013.7
1,024.96
1,048.74
1,093.43
1,095.43
1,147.29
1,232.55
1,235.53
Ulster Unionist Party
Linda Cust
638
5.94%
663.2
663.33
667.33
667.33
674.93
920.13
921.13
925.05
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Maurice Fitzmaurice
719
6.69%
719.4
737.21
739.6
764.29
868.06
869.06
Ulster Unionist Party
Harry Fletcher*
621
5.78%
651
651.13
652.33
652.33
661.73
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Mary Smyth
389
3.62%
395.2
406.64
410.16
458.8
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Thomas Lappin
227
2.11%
227
243.64
245.9
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Paul Maguire
215
2.00%
215.4
219.56
10
18,575
10,748 (57.86%)
680
1,536
11,428 (61.52%)
Area G
1977: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
1981: 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x IRSP, 1 x UDP
1977-1981 Change: DUP, PD and UDP gain from UUP, Republican Clubs and Alliance
Area G - 6 seats
7
Democratic Unionist Party
Frederick Ashby*
2,076
20.84%
People's Democracy (Ireland)
Fergus O'Hare
1,953
19.60%
Ulster Democratic Party
Samuel Millar
1,420
14.25%
1,437.36
Ulster Unionist Party
Cecil Walker*
1,173
11.77%
1,186.33
1,188.09
1,233.71
1,642.71
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Brian Feeney
749
7.52%
749.31
1,033.55
1,102.63
1,108.94
1,110.6
1,419.23
Democratic Unionist Party
Joseph Coggle
392
3.93%
979.76
980.64
1,000.88
1,143.04
1,323.15
1,375.7
Republican Clubs
Seamus Lynch*
750
7.53%
750.31
899.03
941.95
944.95
946.61
1,209.77
Independent Socialist
Gerry Fitt*
541
5.43%
542.24
602.08
696.79
729.03
762.23
Ulster Unionist Party
Herbert Ditty*
595
5.97%
610.19
610.19
642.19
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Philip McGarry
313
3.14%
315.48
348.04
7
17,207
9,962 (57.90%)
374
1,424
10,336 (60.07%)
Area H
1977: 2 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Independent Unionist
1981: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist
1977-1981 Change: DUP gain from Alliance
Area H - 7 seats
9
Ulster Unionist Party
John Carson*
5,014
25.37%
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Paschal O'Hare*
3,057
15.47%
Democratic Unionist Party
William Annon*
3,010
15.23%
Independent Unionist
Frank Millar*
1,848
9.35%
2,438.07
2,438.64
2,464.2
2,581.2
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
John Cushnahan*
1,739
8.80%
1,881.8
1,918.09
1,923.85
1,928.54
1,928.54
2,046.59
2,500.59
Ulster Unionist Party
Raymond Trimble
408
2.06%
1,729.92
1,729.92
1,736.58
1,770.19
1,782.19
1,786.19
1,978.92
2,295.92
Democratic Unionist Party
William Gault
813
4.11%
990.48
990.48
1,423.38
1,506
1,530
1,532.87
1,993.65
2,239.65
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Alban Maginness
818
4.14%
829.22
1,336.52
1,336.52
1,336.52
1,336.52
1,593.23
1,613.71
1,723.71
Northern Ireland Labour Party
Alan Carr
1,000
5.06%
1,091.8
1,095.6
1,110.54
1,231.25
1,246.25
1,334.79
1,397.21
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Robert Jamison*
531
2.69%
646.26
651.58
653.2
655.2
659.2
676.84
Democratic Unionist Party
Pauline Strong
466
2.36%
510.37
510.37
555.01
611.88
630.88
630.88
Republican Clubs
Liam Clarke
553
2.80%
560.14
579.52
580.42
580.42
580.42
Progressive Unionist Party
David Overend
503
2.55%
520.85
521.04
524.1
9
33,505
19,760 (58.98%)
720
2,471
20,480 (61.13%)
References
Category:Belfast City Council elections
Belfast