# Banbridge (District Electoral Area)

Banbridge is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Northern Ireland. The district elects seven members to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and contains the wards of Banbridge East, Banbridge North, Banbridge South, Banbridge West, Gilford, Loughbrickland and Rathfriland. Banbridge forms part of the Upper Bann constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1985 local elections, replacing Banbridge Area A which had existed since 1973. It was called Banbridge Town until 2014, and contained five wards (Ballydown, Banbridge West, Edenderry, Fort and Seapatrick). For the 1993 local elections it gained an additional ward, The Cut. For the 2014 local elections it gained most of the abolished Knockiveagh DEA.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| 2023 | Joy Ferguson (Alliance) | Kevin Savage (Sinn Féin) | Chris McCartan (Sinn Féin) | Ian Burns (UUP) | Glenn Barr (UUP) | | Ian Wilson (DUP) | | Paul Greenfield (DUP) |
| August 2021 Co-Option | Brian Pope (Alliance) | Kevin Savage (Sinn Féin) | Jill Macauley (UUP) | Ian Burns (UUP) | Glenn Barr (UUP) | | Ian Wilson (DUP) | | Paul Greenfield (DUP) |
| 2019 | Brian Pope (Alliance) | Kevin Savage (Sinn Féin) | Jill Macauley (UUP) | Ian Burns (UUP) | Glenn Barr (UUP) | | Junior McCrum (DUP) | | Paul Greenfield (DUP) |
| August 2016 Co-Option | Seamus Doyle (SDLP) | Kevin Savage (Sinn Féin) | Elizabeth Ingram (UUP) | Ian Burns (UUP) | Glenn Barr (UUP) | | Junior McCrum (DUP) | | Paul Greenfield (DUP) |
| 2014 | Seamus Doyle (SDLP) | Brendan Curran (Sinn Féin) | Elizabeth Ingram (UUP) | Ian Burns (UUP) | Glenn Barr (UUP) | | Junior McCrum (DUP) | | Paul Greenfield (DUP) |
| 2011 | Marie Hamilton (SDLP) | Sheila McQuaid (Alliance) | Joan Baird (UUP) | Ian Burns (UUP) | Jim McElroy (DUP) | | Junior McCrum (DUP) | 6 seats 1993–2014 | 6 seats 1993–2014 |
| 2005 | Patrick McAleenan (SDLP) | Frank McQuaid (Alliance) | Joan Baird (UUP) | Ian Burns (UUP) | Jim McElroy (DUP) | | Junior McCrum (DUP) | 6 seats 1993–2014 | 6 seats 1993–2014 |
| 2001 | Patrick McAleenan (SDLP) | Frank McQuaid (Alliance) | Joan Baird (UUP) | Ian Burns (UUP) | Jim McElroy (DUP) | | Derick Bell (UUP) | 6 seats 1993–2014 | 6 seats 1993–2014 |
| 1997 | James Walsh (SDLP)/ (Independent Nationalist) | Mel Byrne (SDLP) | Joan Baird (UUP) | William Bell (UUP) | Cyril Vage (DUP) | | Derick Bell (UUP) | 6 seats 1993–2014 | 6 seats 1993–2014 |
| 1993 | James Walsh (SDLP)/ (Independent Nationalist) | Frank McQuaid (Alliance) | Joan Baird (UUP) | Archie McKelvey (UUP) | John Dobson (UUP) | | Ian Burns (UUP) | 6 seats 1993–2014 | 6 seats 1993–2014 |
| 1989 | James Walsh (SDLP)/ (Independent Nationalist) | Margaret Walker (DUP) | Joan Baird (UUP) | Archie McKelvey (UUP) | John Dobson (UUP) | 5 seats 1985–1993 | 5 seats 1985–1993 | | 6 seats 1993–2014 | 6 seats 1993–2014 |
| 1985 | James Walsh (SDLP)/ (Independent Nationalist) | Jim Wells (DUP) | Joan Baird (UUP) | Archie McKelvey (UUP) | Ivan Gault (UUP) | 5 seats 1985–1993 | 5 seats 1985–1993 | 6 seats 1993–2014 | 6 seats 1993–2014 |

## 2023 Election

2019: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance
2023: 2 x UUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance
2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin gain from UUP
Banbridge - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Alliance | Joy Ferguson | 14.34% | 1,961 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Glenn Barr* | 13.92% | 1,903 | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Chris McCartan | 12.80% | 1,750 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Paul Greenfield* | 12.78% | 1,747 | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Kevin Savage* | 11.67% | 1,595 | 1,627.34 | 1,629.48 | 1,629.98 | 2,147.98 | |
| | DUP | Ian Wilson* | 9.48% | 1,296 | 1,301.46 | 1,684.74 | 1,702.04 | 1,713.04 | |
| | UUP | Ian Burns* | 7.20% | 984 | 1,029.64 | 1,143.06 | 1,262.96 | 1,344.76 | 1,433.76 |
| | UUP | Jill Macauley* | 7.72% | 1,055 | 1,090.28 | 1,154.28 | 1,201.28 | 1,258.96 | 1,317.96 |
| | SDLP | Seamus Doyle | 5.76% | 787 | 902.78 | 909.62 | 912.62 | | |
| | TUV | Brian Moorhead | 4.34% | 593 | 596.78 | | | | |
| Electorate: 25,504 Valid: 13,671 (53.60%) Spoilt: 141 Quota: 1,709 Turnout: 13,812 (54.16%) ||||||||||

## 2019 Election

2014: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP
2019: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance
2014-2019 Change: Alliance gain from SDLP
Banbridge - 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 | Glenn Barr* | 14.53% | 1,764 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Paul Greenfield* | 12.88% | 1,563 | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Ian Burns* | 10.45% | 1,273 | 1,421.68 | 1,554.68 | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Kevin Savage* | 8.55% | 1,038 | 1,038.14 | 1,040.14 | 1,533.14 | | | | |
| | UUP | Jill Macauley | 11.12% | 1,350 | 1,418.88 | 1,504.28 | 1,506.28 | 1,509.24 | 1,533.11 | | |
| | DUP | Junior McCrum* † | 10.15% | 1,232 | 1,250.06 | 1,478.32 | 1,481.32 | 1,508.4 | 1,519.56 | | |
| | Alliance | Brian Pope | 11.74% | 1,425 | 1,429.34 | 1,442.62 | 1,476.76 | 1,476.94 | 1,477.25 | 1,480.04 | 1,485.93 |
| | SDLP | Seamus Doyle* | 10.78% | 1,309 | 1,310.96 | 1,317.96 | 1,454.76 | 1,455.16 | 1,455.78 | 1,465.95 | 1,468.43 |
| | Sinn Féin | Vincent McAleenan | 5.57% | 676 | 676.28 | 676.42 | | | | | |
| | TUV | William Martin | 4.19% | 508 | 511.12 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 24,418 Valid: 12,138 (49.71%) Spoilt: 136 Quota: 1,518 Turnout: 12,274 (50.27%) ||||||||||||

## 2014 Election

2011: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
2014: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin
2011-2014 Change: UUP and Sinn Féin gain from Alliance and due to the addition of one seat
Banbridge - 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 | Glenn Barr* | 17.49% | 1,999 | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Ian Burns* | 12.01% | 1,373 | 1,724.12 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Elizabeth Ingram* | 11.53% | 1,318 | 1,431.68 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Paul Greenfield | 8.45% | 966 | 986.44 | 1,090.04 | 1,114.12 | 1,114.12 | 1,137.24 | 1,554.24 |
| | DUP | Junior McCrum* | 9.01% | 1,030 | 1,059.68 | 1,157.68 | 1,180.92 | 1,180.92 | 1,217.32 | 1,492.32 |
| | Sinn Féin | Brendan Curran* † | 7.54% | 862 | 862.56 | 862.56 | 866.56 | 1,291.56 | 1,333.56 | 1,334.56 |
| | SDLP | Seamus Doyle* | 8.53% | 975 | 976.96 | 982.84 | 1,023.96 | 1,079.96 | 1,259.88 | 1,275.68 |
| | SDLP | Marie Hamilton* | 5.95% | 680 | 682.8 | 685.04 | 720.6 | 771.6 | 1,003.56 | 1,028.36 |
| | DUP | Ian Wilson | 6.38% | 730 | 755.48 | 814.56 | 843.08 | 843.08 | 868.04 | |
| | Alliance | Sheila McQuaid* | 5.07% | 579 | 582.92 | 592.72 | 740.52 | 753.52 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Kevin Savage | 4.79% | 547 | 547 | 547 | 555 | | | |
| | NI21 | Emma Hutchinson | 3.25% | 371 | 374.92 | 389.48 | | | | |
| Electorate: 23,380 Valid: 11,430 (48.89%) Spoilt: 162 Quota: 1,429 Turnout: 11,592 (49.58%) |||||||||||

## 2011 Election

2005: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
2011: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
2005-2011 Change: No change
Banbridge Town - 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 |
| | UUP | Joan Baird* | 24.86% | 1,466 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Junior McCrum* | 17.60% | 1,038 | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Ian Burns* | 11.46% | 676 | 1,200.6 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Jim McElroy* | 8.02% | 473 | 518.58 | 750.57 | 917.01 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Sheila McQuaid | 8.19% | 483 | 495.47 | 544.68 | 546.39 | 546.63 | 588.63 | 679.03 | 788.34 |
| | SDLP | Marie Hamilton | 6.22% | 367 | 375.17 | 389.97 | 391.11 | 391.27 | 450.7 | 655.84 | 684.07 |
| | Sinn Féin | Vincent McAleenan | 7.38% | 435 | 435.86 | 436.23 | 436.23 | 436.23 | 601.23 | 645.6 | 645.68 |
| | DUP | John McKinstry | 5.22% | 308 | 324.34 | 370.59 | 391.11 | 457.35 | 460.35 | 468.6 | |
| | SDLP | Cassie McDermott* | 5.36% | 316 | 325.46 | 339.52 | 340.66 | 340.99 | 383.9 | | |
| | Independent | Dessie Ward* | 5.68% | 335 | 335.43 | 335.8 | 335.8 | 335.8 | | | |
| Electorate: 11,532 Valid: 5,897 (51.14%) Spoilt: 124 Quota: 843 Turnout: 6,021 (52.21%) ||||||||||||

## 2005 Election

2001: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
2005: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
2001-2005 Change: DUP gain from UUP
Banbridge Town - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | UUP | Joan Baird* | 24.17% | 1,501 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Patrick McAleenan* | 19.91% | 1,236 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Jim McElroy* | 17.54% | 1,089 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Junior McCrum | 15.25% | 947 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Frank McQuaid* | 8.95% | 556 | 593.8 | 920.54 | | | |
| | UUP | Ian Burns* | 8.84% | 549 | 724.14 | 729.72 | 839.44 | 862.93 | 876.13 |
| | UUP | Derick Bell* | 5.33% | 331 | 727.06 | 740.7 | 824.68 | 857.08 | 873.8 |
| Electorate: 10,610 Valid: 6,209 (58.52%) Spoilt: 102 Quota: 888 Turnout: 6,311 (59.48%) ||||||||||

## 2001 Election

1997: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Nationalist
2001: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
1997-2001 Change: Alliance gain from Independent Nationalist
Banbridge Town - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | UUP | Joan Baird* | 28.06% | 1,979 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Patrick McAleenan | 19.90% | 1,404 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Derick Bell* | 6.49% | 458 | 1,063.5 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Frank McQuaid | 5.95% | 420 | 461.5 | 702.68 | 724.68 | 1,054.68 | |
| | DUP | Jim McElroy | 10.97% | 774 | 808.5 | 810.67 | 938.17 | 952.41 | 953.49 |
| | UUP | Ian Burns | 6.88% | 485 | 674 | 679.58 | 800.58 | 882 | 926 |
| | DUP | Kyle Ferguson | 9.88% | 697 | 723 | 723.31 | 813.62 | 819.05 | 819.93 |
| | Independent | Frank Downey | 6.35% | 448 | 467.5 | 608.55 | 633.05 | | |
| | UK Unionist | David Hudson | 5.51% | 389 | 431.5 | 431.81 | | | |
| Electorate: 10,939 Valid: 7,054 (64.48%) Spoilt: 118 Quota: 1,008 Turnout: 7,172 (65.56%) ||||||||||

## 1997 Election

1993: 4 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
1997: 3 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Nationalist
1993-1997 Change: DUP and Independent Nationalist gain from UUP and Alliance
Banbridge Town - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | UUP | Joan Baird* | 28.00% | 1,438 | | | | | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | James Walsh* | 15.75% | 809 | | | | | |
| | UUP | William Bell | 11.72% | 602 | 773.99 | | | | |
| | UUP | Derick Bell | 7.59% | 390 | 729.08 | 730.88 | 752.44 | | |
| | SDLP | Mel Byrne | 10.40% | 534 | 536.94 | 577.34 | 577.45 | 577.45 | 771.45 |
| | DUP | Cyril Vage | 11.31% | 581 | 639.31 | 641.41 | 644.6 | 646.3 | 675.26 |
| | UUP | Ian Burns* | 6.99% | 359 | 460.92 | 462.02 | 472.47 | 487.47 | 571.21 |
| | Alliance | Frank McQuaid* | 8.24% | 423 | 444.56 | 469.96 | 472.05 | 473.15 | |
| Electorate: 10,351 Valid: 5,136 (49.62%) Spoilt: 79 Quota: 734 Turnout: 5,215 (50.38%) ||||||||||

## 1993 Election

1989: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP
1993: 4 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
1989-1993 Change: UUP and Alliance gain from DUP and due to the addition of one seat
Banbridge Town - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | UUP | Joan Baird* | 27.45% | 1,352 | | |
| | SDLP | James Walsh* | 24.08% | 1,186 | | |
| | UUP | Archie McKelvey* | 14.66% | 722 | | |
| | UUP | Ian Burns | 10.29% | 507 | 830.4 | |
| | UUP | John Dobson* | 10.50% | 517 | 744.85 | |
| | Alliance | Frank McQuaid | 5.87% | 289 | 303.21 | 776.25 |
| | DUP | Margaret Davis | 7.17% | 353 | 426.01 | 320.87 |
| Electorate: 9,533 Valid: 4,926 (51.67%) Spoilt: 88 Quota: 704 Turnout: 5,014 (52.60%) |||||||

## 1989 Election

1985: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP
1989: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP
1985-1989 Change: No change
Banbridge Town - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | UUP | Joan Baird* | 31.18% | 1,549 | | | |
| | UUP | Archie McKelvey* | 16.83% | 836 | | | |
| | UUP | John Dobson | 15.74% | 782 | 1,384.07 | | |
| | DUP | Margaret Walker | 9.78% | 486 | 572.01 | 1,054.96 | |
| | SDLP | James Walsh* | 15.58% | 774 | 782.46 | 800.66 | 826.01 |
| | Alliance | Mary Doyle | 6.90% | 343 | 355.22 | 394.87 | 452.72 |
| | SDLP | Robert Murray | 3.99% | 198 | 199.41 | 206.56 | 214.36 |
| Electorate: 8,871 Valid: 4,968 (56.00%) Spoilt: 126 Quota: 829 Turnout: 5,094 (57.42%) ||||||||

## 1985 Election

1985: 3 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP
Banbridge Town - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | Jim Wells | 17.85% | 912 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Archie McKelvey | 17.40% | 889 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | James Walsh* | 12.33% | 630 | 630.24 | 685.24 | 1,023.24 | | |
| | UUP | Joan Baird | 15.87% | 811 | 818.62 | 844.68 | 847.68 | 854.68 | |
| | UUP | Ivan Gault | 10.96% | 560 | 564.32 | 600.38 | 600.38 | 602.38 | 853.38 |
| | Independent | Leslie Mathews | 7.12% | 364 | 366.46 | 435.56 | 442.46 | 580.46 | 618.44 |
| | DUP | Gareth Bennett* | 7.67% | 392 | 431.6 | 432.6 | 432.6 | 433.6 | |
| | SDLP | James Smyth | 6.22% | 318 | 318 | 353 | | | |
| | Alliance | Frank McQuaid | 4.58% | 234 | 234.12 | | | | |
| Electorate: 8,320 Valid: 5,110 (61.42%) Spoilt: 81 Quota: 852 Turnout: 5,191 (62.39%) ||||||||||