# Ayre

54°19′37″N 4°26′38″W﻿ / ﻿54.327°N 4.444°W﻿ / 54.327; -4.444
Ayre (/ɛər/ AIR; Manx: Inver Ayre) is one of the six sheadings of the Isle of Man.
It is located in the north of the island (part of the traditional North Side division) and consists of the three historic parishes of Andreas, Bride and (Kirk Christ) Lezayre.
The town of Ramsey, which is administered separately, covers areas of two historic parishes (Lezayre, and Maughold in the sheading of Garff). It is treated as part of Garff for some purposes, e.g. the coroner.
Other settlements in the sheading include Glen Auldyn and Sulby (both in the parish of Lezayre).

## Etymology

The derivation of the word ayre is from Old Norse "eyrr", meaning a shingle beach. It refers to a storm beach forming a narrow spit of shingle or sand cutting across the landward and seaward ends of a shallow bay. This may partly cut off a sheltered stretch of water from the sea to form a shallow freshwater loch. This word is still in use for the particular landform in the Northern Isles of Scotland.

## MHKs and elections

Before the 2016 elections, Ayre was one of the House of Keys constituencies. It is now part of the Ayre & Michael constituency.
| Year | Election | Turnout | Candidates |
| 1903 | General Election | ? | Robert Cowley, 477 votes, elected Robert Sayle Corlett, ? votes, elected William John Radcliffe, 419 votes, elected Thomas Allen, 397 votes |
| 1913 | General Election | ? | William Charles Southward (elected) ? |
| 1919 | General Election | ? | Richard Cain, elected William Charles Southward CP JP, elected Daniel Joughin Teare CP JP, elected ? |
| 1924 | General Election | ? | Richard Cain, elected John Crellin, elected Daniel Joughin Teare CP JP, elected  ? |
| 1929 | General Election | ? | Richard Cain, elected Arthur James Cottier, elected Daniel Joughin Teare CP JP, elected  ? |
| 1934 | General Election | ? | Ewan Farrant, elected Arthur James Cottier, elected Daniel Joughin Teare CP JP, elected  ? |
| 1962 | General Election | ? | Robert Kerruish, elected ? |
| 1966 | General Election | ? | Robert Kerruish, elected ? |
| 1976 | General Election | | Percy Radcliffe John Norman Radcliffe |
| Called following the elevation to the LegCo of Percy Radcliffe. ||||
| 1980 | By-Election | ? | Clare Christian ? |
| 1981 | General Election | ? | John Norman Radcliffe, elected Clare Christian, elected David Cannan |
| Ayre becomes a 1-seat constituency, previously having had 2 seats. Norman Radcliffe elevated to LegCo in 1985. ||||
| 1986 | General Election | 80.8% | Edgar Quine (831 votes, elected) Clare Christian (765 votes) A Robertson (109 votes) |
| 1991 | General Election | | Edgar Quine, elected unopposed |
| 1996 | General Election | 72.9% | Edgar Quine (1246 votes, elected) Eva Bradley (167 votes) |
| 2001 | General Election | 58.85% | Edgar Quine, 1038 votes, elected Thurston Arrowsmith, 202 votes |
| Called following the resignation of Edgar Quine. ||||
| 2004 | By-Election | 69.4% | Eddie Teare, 733 votes, elected John Crellin, 542 votes Hazel Bradley, 283 votes |
| 2006 | General Election | N/A | Eddie Teare, elected unopposed |
| 2011 | General Election | 67.4% | Eddie Teare, 1060 votes, elected Andrew Newington-Bridges, 429 votes Pat Ayres, 134 votes |