# Castlereagh East (District Electoral Area)

Castlereagh East is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Lisburn and Castlereagh, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and contains the wards of Ballyhanwood, Carrowreagh, Dundonald, Enler, Graham's Bridge and Moneyreagh. Castlereagh East forms part of the Belfast East constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1985 local elections, replacing Castlereagh Area B which had existed since 1973, where it contained seven wards (Ballyhanwood, Carrowreagh, Dundonald, Enler, Gilnahirk, Graham's Bridge and Tullycarnet). For the 2014 local elections, it was decreased to six wards. The Gilnahirk and Tullycarnet areas were transferred to Belfast City Council, while Moneyreagh was gained from Castlereagh South.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| 2023 | Sharon Lowry (Alliance) | Martin Gregg (Alliance) | Hazel Legge (UUP) | Sharon Skillen (DUP) | John Laverty (DUP) | Samantha Burns (DUP) | 6 seats 2014–present | 6 seats 2014–present |
| January 2020 Co-Option | Sharon Lowry (Alliance) | Martin Gregg (Alliance) | Hazel Legge (UUP) | Sharon Skillen (DUP) | John Laverty (DUP) | David Drysdale (DUP)/ (UUP) | 6 seats 2014–present | 6 seats 2014–present |
| 2019 | Tim Morrow (Alliance) | Martin Gregg (Alliance) | Hazel Legge (UUP) | Sharon Skillen (DUP) | Tommy Jeffers (DUP) | David Drysdale (DUP)/ (UUP) | 6 seats 2014–present | 6 seats 2014–present |
| 2014 | Tim Morrow (Alliance) | Andrew Girvin (TUV) | Hazel Legge (UUP) | Sharon Skillen (DUP) | Tommy Jeffers (DUP) | David Drysdale (DUP)/ (UUP) | 6 seats 2014–present | 6 seats 2014–present |
| 2011 | Tim Morrow (Alliance) | Judith Cochrane (Alliance) | Martin Gregg (Green Party) | Gareth Robinson (DUP) | Tommy Jeffers (DUP) | David Drysdale (DUP)/ (UUP) | | Jim White (DUP) |
| 2005 | Iris Robinson (DUP) | Judith Cochrane (Alliance) | Charlie Tosh (DUP) | Gareth Robinson (DUP) | Tommy Jeffers (DUP) | David Drysdale (DUP)/ (UUP) | | Jim White (DUP) |
| 2001 | Iris Robinson (DUP) | Peter Osborne (Alliance) | Kim Morton (DUP) | Claire Ennis (DUP) | Francis Gallagher (Independent) | David Drysdale (DUP)/ (UUP) | | Jim White (DUP) |
| 1997 | Iris Robinson (DUP) | Peter Osborne (Alliance) | Kim Morton (DUP) | Tommy Jeffers (DUP)/ (UPUP) | William Abraham (UUP)/ (Independent Unionist) | Sarah Cummings (UUP) | | Sandy Geddis (DUP) |
| 1993 | Iris Robinson (DUP) | Peter Osborne (Alliance) | Matthew Anderson (DUP) | Tommy Jeffers (DUP)/ (UPUP) | William Abraham (UUP)/ (Independent Unionist) | John Bell (UUP) | | Sandy Geddis (DUP) |
| 1989 | Iris Robinson (DUP) | William Boyd (Alliance) | Matthew Anderson (DUP) | Tommy Jeffers (DUP)/ (UPUP) | William Abraham (UUP)/ (Independent Unionist) | John Bell (UUP) | | John Boyle (DUP) |
| 1985 | Denny Vitty (DUP) | Addie Morrow (Alliance) | Matthew Anderson (DUP) | William Ward (UUP) | William Abraham (UUP)/ (Independent Unionist) | Ronald Jackson (UUP) | | John Boyle (DUP) |

## 2023 Election

2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP
2023: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP
2019–2023 Change: No change
Castlereagh East - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | DUP | Sharon Skillen* | 21.04% | 1,655 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Martin Gregg* | 17.50% | 1,377 | | | | |
| | DUP | Samantha Burns | 11.17% | 879 | 1,165.72 | | | |
| | Alliance | Sharon Lowry* | 13.28% | 1,045 | 1,057.16 | 1,192.16 | | |
| | DUP | John Laverty* | 11.31% | 890 | 960.72 | 966.68 | 980.62 | 1,130.62 |
| | UUP | Hazel Legge* | 9.03% | 710 | 735.28 | 763.92 | 959.08 | 1,086.60 |
| | DUP | David Drysdale* | 7.40% | 582 | 678 | 682.96 | 703.70 | 931.76 |
| | TUV | Andrew Girvin | 6.79% | 534 | 558.32 | 566.64 | 589.76 | |
| | Green (NI) | Terry Winchcombe | 2.49% | 195 | 199.48 | | | |
| Electorate: 16,289 Valid: 7,867 (48.30%) Spoilt: 90 Quota: 1,124 Turnout: 7,957 (48.85%) |||||||||

## 2019 Election

2014: 3 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x TUV 2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x UUP 2014-2019 Change: Alliance gain from TUV
Castlereagh East - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Alliance | Martin Gregg | 17.36% | 1,212 | | | | |
| | DUP | Sharon Skillen* | 16.81% | 1,174 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Tim Morrow* † | 13.41% | 936 | 1,128.78 | | | |
| | DUP | David Drysdale* | 12.16% | 849 | 850.19 | 951.14 | 956.92 | 1,081.92 |
| | UUP | Hazel Legge* | 10.36% | 723 | 728.1 | 736.65 | 808.9 | 1,040.9 |
| | DUP | John Laverty | 11.64% | 813 | 814.19 | 847.04 | 851.8 | 976.8 |
| | DUP | Tommy Jeffers* | 9.14% | 638 | 640.72 | 666.67 | 672.79 | 768.79 |
| | TUV | Andrew Girvin* | 9.12% | 637 | 637.85 | 644.15 | 656.39 | |
| Electorate: 14,963 Valid: 6,982 (46.66%) Spoilt: 65 Quota: 998 Turnout: 7,047 (47.10%) |||||||||

## 2014 Election

This election was carried out under new ward boundaries, as a result of local government reform.
2011: 4 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x Green
2014: 3 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x TUV, 1 x UUP
2011-2014 Change: TUV and UUP gain from DUP, Alliance and Green and due to the loss of one seat
Castlereagh East - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | DUP | Tommy Jeffers* | 13.37% | 881 | 886 | 897 | 903 | 978 | | | |
| | Alliance | Tim Morrow* | 7.91% | 521 | 537 | 566 | 836 | 852 | 1,065 | | |
| | DUP | David Drysdale* | 12.49% | 823 | 834 | 849 | 858 | 923 | 961 | | |
| | TUV | Andrew Girvin | 10.37% | 683 | 702 | 711 | 716 | 853 | 897 | 908 | 1,159 |
| | DUP | Sharon Skillen* | 11.95% | 787 | 792 | 798 | 801 | 855 | 891 | 903 | 1,155 |
| | UUP | Hazel Legge | 8.81% | 580 | 608 | 634 | 645 | 733 | 837 | 880 | 1,131 |
| | DUP | Lynda Spratt | 10.63% | 700 | 717 | 724 | 726 | 737 | 747 | 754 | |
| | Green (NI) | Martin Gregg* | 6.71% | 442 | 450 | 492 | 537 | 579 | | | |
| | PUP | Izzy Giles | 7.47% | 492 | 496 | 506 | 516 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Stephen Donnan | 4.57% | 301 | 306 | 369 | | | | | |
| | NI21 | Mark Devenney | 3.66% | 241 | 247 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Robert Campbell | 1.14% | 75 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Sandra Wilson | 0.93% | 61 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 13,645 Valid: 6,587 (48.27%) Spoilt: 103 Quota: 942 Turnout: 6,690 (49.03%) ||||||||||||

## 2011 Election

2005: 5 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP
2011: 4 x DUP, 2 x Alliance, 1 x Green
2005-2011 Change: Alliance and Green gain from DUP and UUP
Castlereagh East - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | DUP | Gareth Robinson* | 24.25% | 1,804 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Judith Cochrane* | 17.60% | 1,309 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Jim White* | 5.93% | 441 | 939.5 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Tim Morrow | 8.74% | 650 | 676 | 986.01 | | | | |
| | DUP | Tommy Jeffers* | 10.22% | 760 | 920.5 | 928.62 | 962.62 | | | |
| | DUP | David Drysdale* | 8.72% | 649 | 720.5 | 730.07 | 780.02 | 786.18 | 796.18 | 900.04 |
| | Green (NI) | Martin Gregg | 7.72% | 574 | 599 | 620.46 | 684.99 | 713.34 | 716.34 | 870.15 |
| | DUP | Aileen Graham | 6.86% | 510 | 572 | 575.48 | 588.27 | 591.14 | 598.14 | 687 |
| | UUP | Hazel Legge | 5.61% | 417 | 433 | 444.6 | 553 | 565.04 | 570.04 | |
| | BNP | Ann Cooper | 2.76% | 205 | 216 | 219.19 | | | | |
| | NI Conservatives | Terry Dick | 1.61% | 120 | 122.5 | 129.46 | | | | |
| Electorate: 14,291 Valid: 7,439 (52.05%) Spoilt: 118 Quota: 930 Turnout: 7,557 (52.88%) |||||||||||

## 2005 Election

2001: 4 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent
2005: 5 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
2001-2005 Change: DUP gain from Independent
Castlereagh East - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | Iris Robinson* | 27.08% | 2,090 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Judith Cochrane | 12.40% | 957 | 977.9 | | | | |
| | DUP | Gareth Robinson* | 10.08% | 778 | 1,251 | | | | |
| | DUP | Tommy Jeffers | 11.10% | 857 | 1,033 | | | | |
| | UUP | David Drysdale* | 8.01% | 618 | 648.25 | 657 | 844.05 | 847.41 | 951.17 |
| | DUP | Jim White* | 5.40% | 417 | 668.35 | 761.1 | 786 | 811.2 | 891.76 |
| | DUP | Charlie Tosh | 5.52% | 426 | 520.05 | 671.6 | 698.5 | 728.02 | 861.08 |
| | UUP | Mervyn Bailie | 7.51% | 580 | 597.05 | 602.3 | 719.85 | 722.49 | 805.28 |
| | Independent | Francis Gallagher* | 7.14% | 551 | 579.05 | 590.6 | 665.65 | 670.69 | |
| | UUP | Hazel Legge | 3.41% | 263 | 287.2 | 294.2 | | | |
| | PUP | Colin Neill | 2.35% | 181 | 190.35 | 195.6 | | | |
| Electorate: 13,902 Valid: 7,718 (55.52%) Spoilt: 179 Quota: 965 Turnout: 7,897 (56.80%) ||||||||||

## 2001 Election

1997: 4 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist
2001: 4 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent
1997-2001 Change: Independent gain from Independent Unionist
Castlereagh East - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | DUP | Iris Robinson* | 44.69% | 4,093 | | | | | | |
| | UUP | David Drysdale | 20.52% | 1,879 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Peter Osborne* | 10.08% | 923 | 1,018.25 | 1,165.21 | | | | |
| | DUP | Jim White | 0.95% | 87 | 1,044.75 | 1,098.87 | 1,140.08 | 1,169.08 | | |
| | DUP | Kim Morton* | 1.31% | 120 | 690.75 | 727.71 | 768.85 | 1,078.22 | 1,091.66 | 1,197.58 |
| | DUP | Claire Ennis | 2.23% | 204 | 751.5 | 803.42 | 847.76 | 1,035.54 | 1,043.22 | 1,113.07 |
| | Independent | Francis Gallagher | 7.10% | 650 | 755 | 806.04 | 871.94 | 885.01 | 885.97 | 1,082.17 |
| | Alliance | Gillian Graham | 4.37% | 400 | 439.75 | 626.75 | 695.33 | 711.28 | 712.24 | 840.05 |
| | PUP | Richard Johnston | 5.09% | 466 | 538 | 626.88 | 669.32 | 690.22 | 691.18 | |
| | DUP | Sandy Geddis* | 1.00% | 92 | 569 | 601.12 | 632.7 | | | |
| | Independent | William Abraham* | 2.67% | 245 | 310.25 | 388.57 | | | | |
| Electorate: 15,245 Valid: 9,159 (60.08%) Spoilt: 249 Quota: 1,145 Turnout: 9,408 (61.71%) |||||||||||

## 1997 Election

1993: 3 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x UPUP, 1 x Independent Unionist
1997: 4 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent Unionist
1993-1997 Change: UPUP joins DUP
Castlereagh East - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | Iris Robinson* | 46.08% | 2,787 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Tommy Jeffers* | 2.84% | 172 | 799.52 | | | | |
| | UUP | Sarah Cummings | 11.11% | 672 | 768.2 | | | | |
| | Ind. Unionist | William Abraham* | 10.04% | 607 | 721.7 | 757.4 | | | |
| | DUP | Sandy Geddis* | 2.65% | 160 | 643.96 | 663.92 | 733.56 | 810.56 | |
| | Alliance | Peter Osborne* | 11.19% | 677 | 709.56 | 721.3 | 728.48 | 757.18 | |
| | DUP | Kim Morton | 1.21% | 73 | 400.82 | 411.56 | 555.72 | 624.32 | 663.32 |
| | Alliance | Michael Long | 7.71% | 466 | 486.72 | 504.2 | 505.68 | 539.12 | 545.12 |
| | Ulster Democratic | Stephen McNally | 5.01% | 303 | 365.16 | 387.12 | 401.44 | | |
| | DUP | Sarah Seddon | 0.26% | 16 | 246.14 | 248.88 | | | |
| | Independent | David Brown | 1.90% | 115 | 130.54 | | | | |
| Electorate: 15,542 Valid: 6,048 (38.91%) Spoilt: 130 Quota: 757 Turnout: 6,178 (39.75%) ||||||||||

## 1993 Election

1989: 3 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x UPUP, 1 x Independent Unionist
1993: 3 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x UPUP, 1 x Independent Unionist
1989-1993: No change
Castlereagh East - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | DUP | Iris Robinson* | 45.13% | 2,690 | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Peter Osborne | 15.27% | 910 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Matthew Anderson* | 3.89% | 232 | 1,364.94 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Sandy Geddis | 1.44% | 86 | 298.38 | 831.58 | | | | | |
| | UPUP | Tommy Jeffers* | 9.34% | 557 | 676.88 | 688.88 | 732.66 | 736.36 | | | |
| | UUP | John Bell* | 8.00% | 477 | 531.02 | 539.02 | 563.44 | 607.76 | 608.36 | 632.44 | 723.44 |
| | Ind. Unionist | William Abraham* | 7.03% | 419 | 493.74 | 502.14 | 523.48 | 532.1 | 532.88 | 547.56 | 624.02 |
| | NI Conservatives | David Munster | 3.88% | 231 | 262.08 | 264.48 | 294.18 | 295.18 | 295.48 | 496.52 | 520.6 |
| | DUP | Will Kelly | 1.54% | 92 | 362.1 | 395.3 | 399.48 | 409.52 | 484.1 | 491.2 | |
| | NI Conservatives | Barbara Finney | 3.52% | 210 | 231.46 | 235.06 | 266.3 | 267.52 | 267.88 | | |
| | UUP | John Boyle* | 0.95% | 57 | 76.98 | 81.38 | 89.74 | | | | |
| Electorate: 15,253 Valid: 5,961 (39.08%) Spoilt: 125 Quota: 746 Turnout: 6,086 (39.90%) ||||||||||||

## 1989 Election

1985: 3 x DUP, 3 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
1989: 3 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x UPUP, 1 x Independent Unionist
1985-1989 Change: UPUP and Independent Unionist gain from UUP (two seats)
Castlereagh East - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | DUP | Iris Robinson | 21.05% | 1,168 | | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Matthew Anderson* | 16.91% | 938 | | | | | | | | |
| | Ind. Unionist | William Abraham* | 13.63% | 756 | | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | William Boyd | 13.50% | 749 | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | John Bell | 9.03% | 501 | 522.32 | 535.58 | 538.1 | 563.86 | 626.15 | 643.75 | 868.75 | |
| | UPUP | Tommy Jeffers | 9.17% | 509 | 530.73 | 537.23 | 539.64 | 552.04 | 643.35 | 663.7 | 695.7 | |
| | DUP | John Boyle* | 3.53% | 196 | 344.42 | 527.46 | 532.76 | 539.24 | 548.66 | 550.86 | 592.4 | 650.4 |
| | DUP | Mark Robinson | 2.20% | 122 | 371.28 | 402.22 | 407.04 | 410.88 | 421.71 | 424.24 | 457.28 | 492.28 |
| | UUP | Alexander Murray | 5.62% | 312 | 332.91 | 335.77 | 347.03 | 353.27 | 384.43 | 393.12 | | |
| | Alliance | Muriel Wilkes | 4.63% | 257 | 263.56 | 265.64 | 272.64 | 274.4 | | | | |
| | Ind. Unionist | Michael Brooks | 0.72% | 40 | 41.23 | 43.83 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 14,754 Valid: 5,548 (37.60%) Spoilt: 155 Quota: 694 Turnout: 5,703 (38.65%) |||||||||||||

## 1985 Election

1985: 3 x DUP, 3 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
Castlereagh East - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | DUP | Denny Vitty* | 34.06% | 2,317 | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | William Ward* | 16.96% | 1,154 | | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | John Boyle* | 2.20% | 150 | 1,105.71 | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | William Abraham | 10.95% | 745 | 778.39 | 875.11 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Matthew Anderson* | 7.19% | 489 | 652.8 | 674.64 | 894.96 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Addie Morrow* | 10.27% | 699 | 710.97 | 728.65 | 729.45 | 729.6 | 730.14 | 761.03 | 862.03 | |
| | UUP | Ronald Jackson | 3.97% | 270 | 297.09 | 421.89 | 424.45 | 425.35 | 444.13 | 454.95 | 517.48 | 702.48 |
| | DUP | Albert Johnston | 2.70% | 184 | 414.58 | 432.52 | 448.68 | 487.23 | 488.37 | 501.11 | 574.3 | 606.3 |
| | Alliance | Melissa Jeffers | 5.09% | 346 | 351.67 | 352.97 | 353.29 | 353.35 | 353.47 | 382.73 | 474.38 | |
| | Alliance | Ian Kirkpatrick | 2.84% | 193 | 203.08 | 209.32 | 209.32 | 209.35 | 209.47 | 220.47 | | |
| | Ind. Unionist | Michael Brooks | 1.87% | 127 | 140.86 | 146.84 | 147.64 | 148.03 | 148.69 | 154.95 | | |
| | NI Labour | James Bate | 0.85% | 58 | 59.26 | 59.52 | 60 | 60.03 | 60.15 | | | |
| | NI Labour | William Gunning | 0.65% | 44 | 45.89 | 47.97 | 47.97 | 47.97 | 47.97 | | | |
| | NI Labour | William Copley | 0.40% | 27 | 27 | 27.78 | 27.78 | 27.84 | 27.9 | | | |
| Electorate: 14,584 Valid: 6,803 (46.65%) Spoilt: 183 Quota: 851 Turnout: 6,986 (47.90%) |||||||||||||