# Foyle (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)

55°03′07″N 7°14′42″W﻿ / ﻿55.052°N 7.245°W﻿ / 55.052; -7.245
Foyle was a single member constituency in the Parliament of Northern Ireland. It was created in 1929 as one of the five single-member constituencies replacing the former five-member Londonderry constituency. The constituency continued in existence until the Parliament was temporarily suspended in 1972, and then formally abolished in 1973.
The seat was held continuously by nationalist candidates and never even contested by unionists, although labour movement candidates sometimes polled well.

## Members of Parliament

* 1929 – 1937: James Joseph McCarroll, Nationalist Party
* 1937 – 1953: Patrick Maxwell, Nationalist Party
* 1953 – 1969: Eddie McAteer, Nationalist Party
* 1969 – 1972: John Hume, Independent Nationalist (1969–70); Social Democratic and Labour Party (1970–72)

## Election results

At the 1929 Northern Ireland general election, James Joseph McCarroll was elected unopposed.
General Election 1933: Foyle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nationalist | James Joseph McCarroll | 6,557 | 68.4 | N/A |
| | Ind. Republican | Seán McCool | 3,031 | 31.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,526 | 36.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9.588 | 64.9 | N/A |
| | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | N/A | |
At the 1937 Foyle by-election and the 1938 Northern Ireland general election, Patrick Maxwell was elected unopposed.
General Election 1945: Foyle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nationalist | Patrick Maxwell | 6,270 | 56.0 | N/A |
| | Independent Labour | Paddy Fox | 4,920 | 44.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,350 | 12.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,190 | 69.6 | N/A |
| | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | N/A | |
At the 1949 Northern Ireland general election, Patrick Maxwell was elected unopposed.
General Election 1953: Foyle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nationalist | Eddie McAteer | 6,305 | 58.8 | New |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Patrick Maxwell | 4,412 | 41.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,893 | 17.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,717 | 61.7 | N/A |
| | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | N/A | |
General Election 1958: Foyle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nationalist | Eddie McAteer | 6,953 | 57.0 | −1.8 |
| | Independent Labour | Stephen McGonagle | 5,238 | 43.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,893 | 14.0 | −3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,191 | 61.7 | 0.0 |
| | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | | |
General Election 1962: Foyle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nationalist | Eddie McAteer | 8,720 | 61.4 | +4.4 |
| | Independent Labour | Stephen McGonagle | 5,476 | 38.6 | −4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,244 | 22.8 | +8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,196 | 75.7 | +14.0 |
| | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | | |
General Election 1965: Foyle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Nationalist | Eddie McAteer | 7,825 | 64.2 | +2.8 |
| | Independent Labour | Seamus Quinn | 4,371 | 35.8 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,454 | 28.4 | +5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,196 | 62.2 | −13.5 |
| | Nationalist hold | Nationalist hold | Swing | | |
General Election 1969: Foyle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Nationalist | John Hume | 8,920 | 55.1 | New |
| | Nationalist | Eddie McAteer | 5,267 | 32.6 | −31.6 |
| | NI Labour | Eamonn McCann | 1,993 | 12.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,653 | 22.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,180 | 81.4 | +19.8 |
| | Ind. Nationalist gain from Nationalist | Ind. Nationalist gain from Nationalist | Swing | | |