# Belfast Area D

Area D was one of the eight district electoral areas (DEA) which existed in Belfast, Northern Ireland from 1973 to 1985. Located in the west of the city, the district elected six members to Belfast City Council and contained the wards of Andersonstown; Ladybrook; Milltown; Saint James; Suffolk; and Whiterock. The DEA largely formed part of the Belfast West constituency.

## History

Covering the upper parts of the Falls Road areas, the DEA was created for the 1973 local government elections. It combined most of the former Falls ward with parts of the Saint Anne's ward and parts of the former Lisburn Rural District. It was abolished for the 1985 local government elections. The number of wards in the area had increased to eight. Three of the wards formed part of a new Lower Falls DEA, together with the Falls and Clonard wards, formerly part of Area F. The remaining five wards formed the new Upper Falls DEA.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| June 1983 by-election | Paddy Devlin (Independent Socialist)/ (SDLP) | Joe Hendron (SDLP) | Cormac Boomer (SDLP) | Mary Muldoon (SDLP) | John McAnulty (People's Democracy) | Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin) |
| 1981 | Paddy Devlin (Independent Socialist)/ (SDLP) | Joe Hendron (SDLP) | Cormac Boomer (SDLP) | Mary Muldoon (SDLP) | John McAnulty (People's Democracy) | Gerry Kelly (IRSP) |
| 1977 | Paddy Devlin (Independent Socialist)/ (SDLP) | Liam Hunter (SDLP) | Cormac Boomer (SDLP) | Mary Muldoon (SDLP) | Bernard McDonagh (Republican Clubs) | Dan McGuinness (Alliance) |
| 1973 | J. Gillespie (SDLP) | Desmond O'Donnell (SDLP) | J. P. McCarron (SDLP) | P. G. Wilson (SDLP) | Raymond O'Hagan (Republican Clubs) | P. D. Corrie (Alliance) |

## 1981 Election

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 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| | SDLP | Joe Hendron | 26.20% | 4,291 | | | | | | | | | |
| | People's Democracy | John McAnulty | 16.98% | 2,781 | | | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Cormac Boomer* | 12.64% | 2,070 | 2,919.16 | | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Mary Muldoon* | 3.88% | 636 | 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 | Gerry Kelly | 5.84% | 957 | 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* | 8.20% | 1,343 | 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 | 6.87% | 1,125 | 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 | Dan McGuinness* | 4.43% | 725 | 781.12 | 795.69 | 797.22 | 883.01 | 895.93 | 1,064.93 | 1,108.6 | 1,116.83 | |
| | Irish Republican Socialist | William Browning | 5.02% | 822 | 846.84 | 854.9 | 1,012.49 | 1,041.67 | 1,046.52 | 1,049.52 | 1,066.12 | | |
| | SDLP | Anne McElroy | 2.11% | 346 | 642.7 | 962.93 | 974.49 | 1,008.88 | 1,034.96 | 1,040.27 | | | |
| | UUP | John Hand | 2.92% | 538 | 538 | 538.31 | 538.48 | 555.48 | 558.48 | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Kevin Smyth | 2.67% | 438 | 467.9 | 471.93 | 476.01 | 488.35 | | | | | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Liam Hunter* | 1.02% | 167 | 189.54 | 192.95 | 200.77 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Robert Turkington | 0.84% | 137 | 146.2 | 146.51 | 147.36 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 35,812 Valid: 16,376 (45.73%) Spoilt: 1,060 Quota: 2,340 Turnout: 17,436 (48.69%) ||||||||||||||

## 1977 Election

1973: 4 x SDLP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
1977: 4 x SDLP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Alliance
1973-1977 Change: No change
Area D - 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 |
| | SDLP | Paddy Devlin* | 53.13% | 7,087 | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Cormac Boomer | 6.79% | 905 | 2,925.84 | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Liam Hunter | 3.58% | 477 | 1,741.64 | 2,290.74 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Mary Sullivan | 5.70% | 760 | 1,669.72 | 2,006.4 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Dan McGuinness | 9.26% | 1,235 | 1,612.72 | 1,664.78 | 1,827.8 | 1,891.3 | 1,915.19 | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Bernard McDonagh | 7.06% | 942 | 1,119.08 | 1,129.34 | 1,158.22 | 1,178.72 | 1,189.17 | 1,496.57 | 1,607.82 |
| | Republican Clubs | Martin Lynch | 5.42% | 723 | 862.08 | 873.48 | 905.02 | 944.58 | 955.79 | 1,228.61 | 1,338.67 |
| | Alliance | Robert Turkington | 4.31% | 575 | 660.88 | 667.34 | 745.62 | 762.5 | 785.68 | 824.15 | |
| | Republican Clubs | Kevin Smyth | 3.95% | 527 | 622 | 629.98 | 660 | 675.04 | 682.45 | | |
| | Independent Socialist | Gerard Campbell | 0.80% | 107 | 187.56 | 212.64 | 235.44 | | | | |
| Electorate: 35,266 Valid: 13,338 (37.82%) Spoilt: 1,594 Quota: 1,906 Turnout: 14,932 (42.34%) ||||||||||||

## 1973 Election

1973: 4 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Republican Clubs
Area D - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| | SDLP | J. Gillespie | 15.46% | 2,306 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Raymond O'Hagan | 4.35% | 649 | 649.84 | 652.84 | 652.84 | 652.84 | 657.84 | 663.91 | 791.91 | 796.91 | 799.91 | 985.05 | 996.26 | 1,005.47 | 1,035.47 | 1,040.75 | 1,509.82 | 1,573.78 | 1,574.78 | 2,559.38 | |
| | SDLP | Desmond O'Donnell | 8.93% | 1,332 | 1,360.84 | 1,364.91 | 1,366.98 | 1,371.19 | 1,383.19 | 1,394.19 | 1,402.19 | 1,406.19 | 1,414.33 | 1,416.33 | 1,471.82 | 1,690.48 | 1,728.97 | 1,760.95 | 1,776.02 | 2,114.9 | 2,115.9 | 2,138.32 | |
| | Alliance | P. D. Corrie | 7.77% | 1,159 | 1,162.92 | 1,163.92 | 1,164.92 | 1,167.99 | 1,174.99 | 1,175.99 | 1,177.99 | 1,184.06 | 1,266.06 | 1,268.06 | 1,351.13 | 1,366.41 | 1,386.48 | 1,656.7 | 1,668.9 | 1,698.18 | 1,810.18 | 1,853.18 | 1,819.18 |
| | SDLP | J. P. McCarron | 5.84% | 871 | 954.09 | 959.16 | 963.65 | 965.72 | 971.93 | 979.07 | 983.07 | 1,004.21 | 1,015.95 | 1,017.42 | 1,099.96 | 1,176.73 | 1,244.36 | 1,272.78 | 1,286.13 | 1,493.21 | 1,498.21 | 1,566.26 | 1,701.26 |
| | SDLP | P. G. Wilson | 7.24% | 1,080 | 1,087.14 | 1,088.14 | 1,091.14 | 1,097.14 | 1,104.35 | 1,108.4 | 1,112.42 | 1,136.49 | 1,145.7 | 1,152.7 | 1,183.7 | 1,294.75 | 1,332.96 | 1,356.1 | 1,383.17 | 1,532.53 | 1,553.53 | 1,572.53 | 1,687.53 |
| | Alliance | Reginald Donnelly | 5.52% | 822 | 825.29 | 827.29 | 828.29 | 832.29 | 838.29 | 839.29 | 847.29 | 849.36 | 923.43 | 924.43 | 986.57 | 1,005.64 | 1,023.92 | 1,364.48 | 1,375.55 | 1,396.76 | 1,441.76 | 1,468.83 | 1,483.83 |
| | Republican Clubs | John Brady | 5.08% | 758 | 758.91 | 765.91 | 773.05 | 774.05 | 775.05 | 787.19 | 866.19 | 888.86 | 889.26 | 945.26 | 955.47 | 963.47 | 1,136.89 | 1,143.89 | 1,383.03 | 1,412.1 | 1,412.1 | | |
| | UUP | A. W. Shaw | 7.01% | 1,045 | 1,045.07 | 1,045.07 | 1,046.07 | 1,046.07 | 1,049.07 | 1,050.07 | 1,050.07 | 1,050.07 | 1,052.07 | 1,052.07 | 1,057.07 | 1,058.07 | 1,059.07 | 1,065.14 | 1,066.14 | 1,066.14 | | | |
| | SDLP | A. McKenna | 3.55% | 530 | 541.97 | 548.97 | 562.11 | 565.11 | 568.11 | 672.18 | 676.18 | 680.18 | 701.39 | 709.39 | 730.88 | 808.37 | 851.72 | 878.14 | 909.21 | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Ethel McAllister | 4.59% | 684 | 684.56 | 686.56 | 691.7 | 691.7 | 691.7 | 692.7 | 709.7 | 727.84 | 729.84 | 818.84 | 826.05 | 832.05 | 861.12 | 866.12 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | A. J. McGrogan | 3.82% | 569 | 572.01 | 573.08 | 573.08 | 579.15 | 585.22 | 585.22 | 586.22 | 588.22 | 691.29 | 698.29 | 754.36 | 764.36 | 772.71 | | | | | | |
| | Republican Labour | D. Barnes | 2.41% | 360 | 362.66 | 376.66 | 388.73 | 389.73 | 392.73 | 451.73 | 454.73 | 592.8 | 596.94 | 607.01 | 634.08 | 652.15 | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | O'Connor | 3.51% | 524 | 529.32 | 532.32 | 533.32 | 534.32 | 537.32 | 543.6 | 544.6 | 550.6 | 557.67 | 565.74 | 583.81 | | | | | | | | |
| | NI Labour | T. Hannon | 2.19% | 326 | 329.64 | 330.64 | 334.64 | 362.64 | 501.64 | 508.64 | 508.64 | 526.71 | 538.71 | 539.71 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Bernard McDonagh | 2.28% | 340 | 340.21 | 343.21 | 346.42 | 346.42 | 346.42 | 346.49 | 369.49 | 378.56 | 381.56 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Monica Slavin | 2.23% | 332 | 332.98 | 334.05 | 336.05 | 341.12 | 345.12 | 350.12 | 351.12 | 353.12 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Labour | J. Flanigan | 1.62% | 241 | 241.84 | 248.84 | 275.84 | 275.84 | 277.84 | 299.84 | 303.84 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | J. J. McElroy | 1.85% | 276 | 276.07 | 281.07 | 283.07 | 283.07 | 285.07 | 291.07 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Labour | J. J. McNamee | 1.72% | 256 | 256.7 | 264.84 | 269.84 | 271.91 | 272.91 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | NI Labour | R. Watson | 1.13% | 169 | 169.56 | 170.56 | 171.56 | 220.63 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | NI Labour | P. Moyna | 0.73% | 109 | 109.63 | 112.63 | 112.7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Labour | J. Lavelle | 0.60% | 90 | 91.26 | 97.33 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Labour | F. McDermott | 0.58% | 86 | 86.49 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 34,437 Valid: 14,914 (43.31%) Spoilt: 1,001 Quota: 2,131 Turnout: 15,915 (46.21%) ||||||||||||||||||||||||