# Central (District Electoral Area)

Central was one of the four district electoral areas in Craigavon, Northern Ireland which existed from 1985 to 2014. The district elected seven members to Craigavon Borough Council, and formed part of the Upper Bann constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1985 local elections, replacing Craigavon Area C which had existed since 1973, and contained the wards of Bleary, Drumgask, Drumgor, Edenderry, Kernan, Killycomain and Tullygally. It was abolished for the 2014 local elections and replaced with the Craigavon DEA with areas also moving into the Portadown DEA.

## Demography

On Census Day (27 March 2011) the usually resident population of Craigavon District Electoral Area was 25,287 accounting for 1.40% of the NI total.
* 96.92% were from the white (including Irish Traveller) ethnic group;
* 49.12% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian church and 44.12% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related)' churches; and
* 46.47% indicated that they had a British national identity, 25.04% had an Irish national identity and 29.72% had a Northern Irish national identity.
Respondents could indicate more than one national identity
On Census Day 27 March 2011, in Craigavon District Electoral Area, considering the population aged 3 years old and over:
* 10.17% had some knowledge of Irish;
* 4.83% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots; and
* 6.95% did not have English as their first language.
Through the late 1970s and early 1980s, Craigavon hosted many families of Refugees of the Vietnam War.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| 2011 | Mark O'Dowd (Sinn Féin) | Tommy O'Connor (Sinn Féin) | Michael Dixon (Alliance) | Kenneth Twyble (UUP) | Ronald Harkness (UUP) | Robert Smith (DUP) | William Smith (DUP) |
| 2005 | John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin) | Kieran Corr (SDLP) | Philip Weir (DUP) | Kenneth Twyble (UUP) | Ronald Harkness (UUP) | Robert Smith (DUP) | William Smith (DUP) |
| 2001 | Francis Murray (Sinn Féin) | Kieran Corr (SDLP) | Patricia Mallon (SDLP) | Kenneth Twyble (UUP) | Frederick Crowe (UUP) | Robert Smith (DUP) | William Smith (DUP) |
| 1997 | Francis Murray (Sinn Féin) | Sean Hagan (Alliance) | Patricia Mallon (SDLP) | Kenneth Twyble (UUP) | Frederick Crowe (UUP) | Samuel McCammick (UUP) | William Allen (DUP) |
| 1993 | Brendan Curran (Sinn Féin) | Sean Hagan (Alliance) | Patricia Mallon (SDLP) | Kenneth Twyble (UUP) | Frederick Crowe (UUP) | Samuel McCammick (UUP) | William Allen (DUP) |
| 1989 | Elizabeth McClurg (UUP) | Sean Hagan (Alliance) | James Daly (SDLP) | Pauline Lindsay (UUP) | Frederick Crowe (UUP) | Samuel McCammick (UUP) | David Calvin (DUP) |
| 1985 | William Smith (DUP) | Tom French (Workers' Party) | Brid Rodgers (SDLP) | Cyril McLoughlin (UUP) | Mary Simpson (UUP) | Samuel McCammick (UUP) | Robert Dodds (DUP) |

## 2011 Election

2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP
2011: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance
2005-2011 Change: Sinn Féin and Alliance gain from SDLP and DUP
Craigavon Central - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 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 |
| | Sinn Féin | Mark O'Dowd | 16.28% | 1,434 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Robert Smith* | 15.95% | 1,405 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Kenneth Twyble* | 12.54% | 1,104 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Tommy O'Connor | 8.45% | 744 | 1,025.52 | 1,025.73 | 1,038.61 | 1,038.61 | 1,123.61 | | | | | |
| | DUP | William Smith* | 7.81% | 688 | 688.24 | 952.21 | 953.21 | 1,053.04 | 1,057.05 | 1,057.67 | 1,455.67 | | | |
| | UUP | Ronald Harkness* | 6.97% | 614 | 614.48 | 619.52 | 620.52 | 675.52 | 679.52 | 679.52 | 710.34 | 862.34 | 1,266.34 | |
| | Alliance | Michael Dixon | 6.66% | 586 | 587.68 | 588.31 | 591.55 | 596.79 | 676.67 | 687.83 | 698.7 | 706.7 | 769.82 | 900.82 |
| | Independent | Kieran Corr* | 7.86% | 692 | 717.2 | 717.62 | 731.58 | 737.58 | 837.62 | 847.54 | 851.96 | 856.96 | 872.41 | 879.41 |
| | UUP | Andrew Crockett | 5.21% | 459 | 459.48 | 461.58 | 462.58 | 496 | 498 | 498.62 | 511.56 | 596.56 | | |
| | DUP | Louise Templeton | 5.04% | 444 | 444 | 462.69 | 462.93 | 476.14 | 477.14 | 477.14 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Mary Elliott | 3.16% | 278 | 287.12 | 287.33 | 355.49 | 355.73 | | | | | | |
| | TUV | Roy Ferguson | 2.85% | 251 | 251.24 | 253.13 | 254.37 | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Anna Ochal-Molenda | 1.23% | 108 | 115.44 | 115.44 | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 16,864 Valid: 8,807 (52.22%) Spoilt: 277 Quota: 1,101 Turnout: 9,084 (53.87%) |||||||||||||||

## 2005 Election

2001: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin
2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP
2001–2005 Change: DUP gain from SDLP
Craigavon Central - 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 | Robert Smith* | 16.88% | 1,587 | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Kenneth Twyble* | 13.91% | 1,308 | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | John O'Dowd* | 13.07% | 1,229 | | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | William Smith* | 9.87% | 928 | 1,280.82 | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Ronald Harkness | 5.58% | 525 | 527.08 | 580.68 | 710.82 | 713.48 | 714.94 | 1,147.57 | 1,411.57 | |
| | SDLP | Kieran Corr* | 8.38% | 788 | 788 | 788.9 | 792 | 792 | 1,147.1 | 1,157.2 | 1,318.2 | |
| | DUP | Philip Weir | 6.61% | 622 | 666.72 | 674.82 | 744.46 | 830.77 | 831.87 | 859.2 | 912.81 | 998.81 |
| | Sinn Féin | Francis Murray* | 7.37% | 693 | 693 | 693.1 | 694.1 | 694.1 | 740.1 | 743.1 | 772.6 | 778.6 |
| | Alliance | Alan Castle | 6.36% | 598 | 599.3 | 606.3 | 615.36 | 616.34 | 646.8 | 666.86 | | |
| | UUP | Frederick Crowe* | 4.48% | 421 | 423.6 | 452.1 | 517.92 | 520.02 | 522.02 | | | |
| | SDLP | Patricia Mallon* | 4.79% | 450 | 450.52 | 451.12 | 451.22 | 451.29 | | | | |
| | UUP | Robert Oliver | 2.70% | 254 | 259.72 | 289.72 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 15,519 Valid: 9,403 (60.59%) Spoilt: 230 Quota: 1,176 Turnout: 9,633 (62.07%) |||||||||||||

## 2001 Election

1997: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance
2001: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin
1997-2001 Change: DUP and SDLP gain from UUP and Alliance
Craigavon Central - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 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 |
| | UUP | Kenneth Twyble* | 15.93% | 1,694 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Francis Murray* | 11.27% | 1,198 | 1,198 | 1,220 | 1,220 | 1,224 | 1,728 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Patricia Mallon* | 9.37% | 996 | 997.89 | 1,057.89 | 1,062.31 | 1,162.36 | 1,211.78 | 1,390.78 | | | | |
| | UUP | Frederick Crowe* | 7.54% | 802 | 887.26 | 904.26 | 1,030.97 | 1,132.48 | 1,133.48 | 1,133.48 | 1,133.97 | 1,438.97 | | |
| | DUP | William Smith | 9.97% | 1,060 | 1,075.12 | 1,078.12 | 1,082.17 | 1,087.8 | 1,087.8 | 1,087.8 | 1,087.8 | 1,130.14 | 1,149.04 | 1,332.04 |
| | DUP | Robert Smith | 7.62% | 810 | 813.36 | 816.57 | 820.2 | 822.83 | 822.83 | 822.83 | 822.83 | 860 | 883.8 | 1,289.72 |
| | SDLP | Kieran Corr | 7.01% | 745 | 745.63 | 782.63 | 784.63 | 843.47 | 871.68 | 942.68 | 1,000.99 | 1,042.38 | 1,054.28 | 1,062.24 |
| | DUP | Denis Watson | 6.70% | 712 | 738.25 | 741.25 | 752.51 | 758.93 | 758.93 | 758.93 | 759.42 | 839.82 | 876.22 | 1,045.41 |
| | Independent | David Calvert | 7.16% | 761 | 766.46 | 770.46 | 774.51 | 783.93 | 783.93 | 784.93 | 784.93 | 819.48 | 836.98 | |
| | UUP | Samuel McCammick* | 3.72% | 396 | 527.25 | 532.46 | 665.88 | 753.18 | 753.18 | 753.18 | 754.16 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Peter Toland | 5.66% | 602 | 602.21 | 618.42 | 618.42 | 622.63 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Sean Hagan* | 3.56% | 379 | 394.12 | 429.96 | 446.32 | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Audrey Lindsay | 2.35% | 250 | 313.84 | 315.84 | | | | | | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Tom French | 1.24% | 132 | 132.84 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Alan Evans | 0.90% | 96 | 97.05 | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 15,747 Valid: 10,633 (67.52%) Spoilt: 254 Quota: 1,330 Turnout: 10,887 (69.14%) |||||||||||||||

## 1997 Election

1993: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance
1997: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance
1993-1997 Change: No change
Craigavon Central - 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 |
| | UUP | Kenneth Twyble* | 20.15% | 1,576 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | William Allen* | 13.79% | 1,079 | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Francis Murray | 13.40% | 1,048 | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Patricia Mallon* | 12.89% | 1,008 | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Samuel McCammick* | 9.42% | 737 | 965 | 991 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Sean Hagan* | 6.92% | 541 | 563.42 | 564.52 | 565.87 | 566.96 | 568.19 | 708.84 | 914.04 |
| | UUP | Frederick Crowe* | 9.23% | 722 | 831.82 | 883.32 | 883.32 | 883.32 | 883.32 | 890.24 | 910.03 |
| | UUP | Cyril McLoughlin | 4.82% | 377 | 591.7 | 610.8 | 610.8 | 614.8 | 614.89 | 625.49 | 636.44 |
| | Labour Coalition | Alan Evans | 4.97% | 389 | 395.08 | 395.68 | 417.82 | 425.73 | 426.63 | 541.63 | |
| | SDLP | Philip Mallon | 2.33% | 182 | 182 | 182 | 217.01 | 224.37 | 250.86 | | |
| | NI Women's Coalition | Chris Moffat | 1.07% | 84 | 88.56 | 88.76 | 89.93 | 90.93 | 91.17 | | |
| | Workers' Party | Peter Smyth* | 0.70% | 55 | 56.14 | 56.44 | 60.04 | 61.67 | 62.27 | | |
| | Labour Coalition | William McAvoy | 0.32% | 25 | 25 | 25.1 | 28.07 | | | | |
| Electorate: 15,325 Valid: 7,823 (51.05%) Spoilt: 159 Quota: 978 Turnout: 7,982 (52.08%) ||||||||||||

## 1993 Election

1989: 4 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance
1993: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance
1989-1993 Change: Sinn Féin gain from UUP
Craigavon Central - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | UUP | Kenneth Twyble | 16.12% | 1,246 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | William Allen | 15.16% | 1,172 | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Frederick Crowe* | 9.92% | 767 | 808.36 | 907.36 | 910.36 | 982.36 | | |
| | UUP | Samuel McCammick* | 8.47% | 655 | 736.18 | 773.98 | 779.42 | 872.78 | 1,195.78 | |
| | SDLP | Patricia Mallon | 11.01% | 851 | 851.22 | 851.4 | 933.4 | 934.4 | 936.02 | 937.02 |
| | Sinn Féin | Brendan Curran* | 11.19% | 865 | 865.22 | 865.58 | 884.58 | 884.58 | 884.8 | 884.8 |
| | Alliance | Sean Hagan* | 7.79% | 602 | 613.44 | 615.24 | 686.04 | 698.8 | 786.92 | 857.92 |
| | SDLP | Gabriel O'Dowd | 8.49% | 656 | 656.44 | 626.62 | 709.62 | 709.62 | 714.34 | 718.34 |
| | UUP | Elizabeth McClurg* | 4.90% | 379 | 471.84 | 500.28 | 505.12 | 630.08 | | |
| | UUP | Pauline Lindsay* | 3.26% | 252 | 291.6 | 320.04 | 321.04 | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Tom French* | 3.69% | 285 | 286.98 | 287.52 | | | | |
| Electorate: 15,087 Valid: 7,730 (51.24%) Spoilt: 250 Quota: 967 Turnout: 7,980 (52.89%) |||||||||||

## 1989 Election

1985: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Workers' Party
1989: 4 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
1985-1989 Change: UUP and Alliance gain from DUP and Workers' Party
Craigavon Central - 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 |
| | UUP | Samuel McCammick* | 21.69% | 1,642 | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | James Daly | 13.25% | 1,003 | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Frederick Crowe | 10.74% | 813 | 1,079.29 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | David Calvin | 12.09% | 915 | 936.84 | 945.24 | 1,068.24 | | | | |
| | UUP | Pauline Lindsay | 6.54% | 495 | 637.8 | 700.17 | 750.9 | 792.9 | 798.32 | 997.32 | |
| | UUP | Elizabeth McClurg | 6.04% | 457 | 651.04 | 697.87 | 719.55 | 728.55 | 733.97 | 951.31 | |
| | Alliance | Sean Hagan | 7.99% | 605 | 614.24 | 615.29 | 627.29 | 632.29 | 793.29 | 799.34 | 840.22 |
| | Sinn Féin | Sheena Campbell | 8.06% | 610 | 610 | 610.21 | 612.21 | 614.21 | 744.21 | 744.21 | 759.05 |
| | DUP | Eric Patterson | 5.36% | 406 | 451.36 | 462.28 | 495.12 | 555.12 | 559.12 | | |
| | Workers' Party | Peter Smyth | 4.89% | 370 | 370.84 | 371.05 | 373.05 | 373.05 | | | |
| | Ind. Unionist | Barrie Bradbury | 3.37% | 255 | 259.62 | 261.09 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 13,988 Valid: 7,571 (54.12%) Spoilt: 205 Quota: 947 Turnout: 7,776 (55.59%) ||||||||||||

## 1985 Election

1985: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Workers' Party
Craigavon Central - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | UUP | Mary Simpson* | 17.54% | 1,359 | | | | |
| | DUP | William Smith* | 14.84% | 1,150 | | | | |
| | UUP | Samuel McCammick | 13.06% | 1,012 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Brid Rodgers* | 11.40% | 883 | | | | |
| | UUP | Cyril McLoughlin* | 8.27% | 641 | 970.44 | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Tom French* | 6.97% | 540 | 541.16 | 542.44 | 658.37 | 931.37 |
| | DUP | Robert Dodds* | 8.91% | 690 | 706.24 | 791.52 | 810.96 | 813.96 |
| | DUP | Meredith Patterson | 6.92% | 536 | 563.55 | 645.63 | 693.14 | 694.14 |
| | Sinn Féin | Sheena Campbell | 7.15% | 554 | 554 | 554 | 556 | |
| | Alliance | Sean Hagan | 3.85% | 298 | 308.15 | 310.55 | | |
| | Alliance | James Woods | 1.10% | 85 | 88.48 | 89.6 | | |
| Electorate: 13,002 Valid: 7,748 (59.59%) Spoilt: 151 Quota: 969 Turnout: 7,899 (60.75%) |||||||||