# Erne West (District Electoral Area)

Erne West is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Fermanagh and Omagh, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and contains the wards of Belcoo and Garrison, Boho, Cleenish and Letterbreen, Derrygonnelly, Derrylin and Florence Court and Kinawley. Erne West forms part of the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1985 local elections, replacing Fermanagh Area A and Fermanagh Area C which had existed since 1973, where it originally contained five wards (Belcoo and Garrison, Boho, Cleenish and Letterbreen, Derrygonnelly, Derrylin and Florence Court and Kinawley).

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| 2023 | Anthony Feely (Sinn Féin) | Declan McArdle (Sinn Féin) | Elaine Brough (Sinn Féin) | Adam Gannon (SDLP) | Mark Ovens (UUP) |
| 2019 | Anthony Feely (Sinn Féin) | Chris McCaffrey (Sinn Féin) | Bernice Swift (Sinn Féin)/ (Independent) | Adam Gannon (SDLP) | Alex Baird (UUP) |
| 2014 | Anthony Feely (Sinn Féin) | Barry Doherty (Sinn Féin) | Bernice Swift (Sinn Féin)/ (Independent) | Brendan Gallagher (SDLP) | Alex Baird (UUP) |
| 2011 | Frankie Rice (Sinn Féin) | Barry Doherty (Sinn Féin) | Bernice Swift (Sinn Féin)/ (Independent) | Brendan Gallagher (SDLP) | Alex Baird (UUP) |
| 2005 | Stephen Huggett (Sinn Féin) | Póilín Uí Cathaín (Sinn Féin) | Bernice Swift (Sinn Féin)/ (Independent) | Gerry Gallagher (SDLP) | Alex Baird (UUP) |
| 2001 | Stephen Huggett (Sinn Féin) | Robin Martin (Sinn Féin) | Pat Cox (Sinn Féin) | Gerry Gallagher (SDLP) | Wilson Elliott (UUP) |
| 1997 | Patrick McCaffrey (IIP)/ (Independent Nationalist) | Robin Martin (Sinn Féin) | Derrick Nixon (UUP) | Gerry Gallagher (SDLP) | Wilson Elliott (UUP) |
| 1993 | Patrick McCaffrey (IIP)/ (Independent Nationalist) | Robin Martin (Sinn Féin) | Derrick Nixon (UUP) | Gerry Gallagher (SDLP) | Wilson Elliott (UUP) |
| 1989 | Patrick McCaffrey (IIP)/ (Independent Nationalist) | Paul Corrigan (Sinn Féin) | Derrick Nixon (UUP) | Gerry Gallagher (SDLP) | Wilson Elliott (UUP) |
| 1985 | Patrick McCaffrey (IIP)/ (Independent Nationalist) | Paul Corrigan (Sinn Féin) | Patrick McBrien (Sinn Féin) | Gerry Gallagher (SDLP) | Wilson Elliott (UUP) |

## 2023 Election

2019: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent
2023: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP
2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin gain from Independent
Erne West - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Sinn Féin | Anthony Feely* | 19.68% | 1,493 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Elaine Brough | 17.95% | 1,362 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Declan McArdle | 16.56% | 1,256 | 1,426.40 | | | |
| | SDLP | Adam Gannon* | 11.01% | 835 | 869.35 | 1,005.55 | 1,053.40 | 1,313.40 |
| | UUP | Mark Ovens | 15.78% | 1,197 | 1,198.35 | 1,250.35 | 1,250.95 | 1,273.95 |
| | DUP | Aaron Elliott | 9.06% | 687 | 687.90 | 692.90 | 693.05 | 699.05 |
| | Independent | Paul McColdrick | 6.67% | 506 | 517.85 | 555.15 | 580.65 | |
| | Alliance | Gerard McCusker | 3.30% | 250 | 251.95 | | | |
| Electorate: 11,196 Valid: 7,586 (67.76%) Spoilt: 66 Quota: 1,265 Turnout: 7,652 (68.35%) |||||||||

## 2019 Election

2014: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent
2019: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent
2014-2019 Change: No change
Erne West - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | UUP | Alex Baird* | 18.05% | 1,333 | | | |
| | Independent | Bernice Swift* | 15.69% | 1,159 | 1,160.05 | 1,295.05 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Anthony Feely* | 16.36% | 1,208 | 1,208.14 | 1,238.14 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Chris McCaffrey | 15.38% | 1,136 | 1,136 | 1,153 | 1,154.56 |
| | SDLP | Adam Gannon | 8.27% | 611 | 619.82 | 799.8 | 1,116.59 |
| | Sinn Féin | Fionnuala Leonard | 11.90% | 879 | 879 | 895 | 898.28 |
| | DUP | Carol Johnston | 7.41% | 547 | 601.88 | 712.65 | |
| | Independent | Trevor Armstrong | 6.93% | 512 | 537.27 | | |
| Electorate: 10,825 Valid: 7,385 (68.22%) Spoilt: 88 Quota: 1,231 Turnout: 7,473 (69.03%) ||||||||

## 2014 Election

2011: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent
2014: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent
2011-2014 Change: No change
Erne West - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | UUP | Alex Baird* | 23.39% | 1,619 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Bernice Swift* | 17.26% | 1,195 | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Barry Doherty* | 14.23% | 985 | 987.48 | 993.09 | 1,567.09 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Anthony Feely | 13.66% | 946 | 946.93 | 956.47 | 1,083.41 | 1,465.61 | |
| | SDLP | Brendan Gallagher | 13.90% | 962 | 1,014.39 | 1,024.83 | 1,090.67 | 1,120.07 | 1,199.87 |
| | DUP | Jeremy Campbell | 6.14% | 425 | 831.1 | 831.37 | 831.37 | 832.21 | 834.73 |
| | Sinn Féin | Leanne Maguire | 11.43% | 791 | 791.43 | 798.47 | | | |
| Electorate: 10,279 Valid: 6,923 (67.35%) Spoilt: 88 Quota: 1,154 Turnout: 7,011 (68.21%) ||||||||||

## 2011 Election

2005: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP
2011: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent
2005-2011 Change: Independent leaves Sinn Féin
Erne West - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | SDLP | Brendan Gallagher | 17.04% | 1,265 | | | |
| | UUP | Alex Baird* | 16.95% | 1,259 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Frankie Rice | 14.79% | 1,098 | 1,101 | 1,636 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Barry Doherty | 15.61% | 1,159 | 1,159 | 1,274 | |
| | Independent | Bernice Swift* | 13.52% | 1,004 | 1,010 | 1,078 | 1,224 |
| | DUP | Alan Hassard | 9.61% | 714 | 846 | 847 | 850 |
| | Sinn Féin | Stephen Huggett* | 10.19% | 757 | 757 | | |
| | UUP | Ruth Wilson | 2.29% | 170 | | | |
| Electorate: 10,250 Valid: 7,426 (72.45%) Spoilt: 160 Quota: 1,238 Turnout: 7,586 (74.01%) ||||||||

## 2005 Election

2001: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP
2005: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP
2001-2005 Change: No change
Erne West - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | SDLP | Gerry Gallagher* | 21.62% | 1,559 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Stephen Huggett* | 15.55% | 1,121 | 1,240.48 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Póilín Uí Catháin | 15.73% | 1,134 | 1,175.18 | 1,210.18 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Bernice Swift | 15.06% | 1,086 | 1,153.86 | 1,207.86 | |
| | UUP | Alex Baird | 9.56% | 689 | 702.92 | 728.23 | 1,153.34 |
| | DUP | Cyril Brownlee | 12.65% | 912 | 916.93 | 922.80 | 1,022.99 |
| | UUP | Derrick Nixon | 7.14% | 515 | 532.69 | 561.32 | |
| | Independent | Kevin Nolan | 1.60% | 115 | 158.79 | | |
| | Green (NI) | Laurence Speight | 1.10% | 79 | 125.69 | | |
| Electorate: 9,424 Valid: 7,210 (76.51%) Spoilt: 135 Quota: 1,202 Turnout: 7,345 (77.94%) ||||||||

## 2001 Election

1997: 2 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Nationalist
2001: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP
1997-2001 Change: Sinn Féin (two seats) gain from UUP and Independent Nationalist
Erne West - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | SDLP | Gerry Gallagher* | 21.62% | 1,578 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Pat Cox | 17.34% | 1,266 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Stephen Huggett | 15.22% | 1,111 | 1,112 | 1,298.66 |
| | Sinn Féin | Robin Martin* | 15.60% | 1,139 | 1,140 | 1,253.22 |
| | UUP | Wilson Elliott* | 13.44% | 981 | 1,179 | 1,217.08 |
| | UUP | Derrick Nixon* | 11.40% | 832 | 979 | 1,000.42 |
| | DUP | David Black | 5.37% | 392 | | |
| Electorate: 9,196 Valid: 7,299 (79.37%) Spoilt: 167 Quota: 1,217 Turnout: 7,466 (81.19%) |||||||

## 1997 Election

1993: 2 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Nationalist
1997: 2 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Nationalist
1993-1997 Change: No change
Erne West - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | UUP | Wilson Elliott* | 23.88% | 1,616 | | | | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Patrick McCaffrey* | 18.47% | 1,250 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Robin Martin* | 17.42% | 1,179 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Gerry Gallagher* | 15.83% | 1,071 | 1,077.6 | 1,183.6 | | |
| | UUP | Derrick Nixon* | 9.04% | 612 | 1,078.8 | 1,088.2 | 1,100.6 | 1,113.6 |
| | Sinn Féin | Stephen Huggett | 12.75% | 863 | 863.9 | 892.2 | 996.8 | 1,025.8 |
| | NI Women's Coalition | Imelda Maguire | 2.60% | 176 | 180.2 | | | |
| Electorate: 8,872 Valid: 6,767 (76.27%) Spoilt: 149 Quota: 1,128 Turnout: 6,916 (77.95%) |||||||||

## 1993 Election

1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Nationalist
1993: 2 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Nationalist
1989-1993 Change: No change
Erne West - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | UUP | Wilson Elliott* | 21.89% | 1,507 | | | | | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Patrick McCaffrey* | 21.23% | 1,462 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Gerry Gallagher* | 15.09% | 1,039 | 1,042.12 | 1,120.55 | 1,159.55 | | |
| | UUP | Derrick Nixon* | 8.73% | 601 | 937.48 | 939.78 | 1,139.82 | 1,160.82 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Robin Martin | 10.60% | 730 | 730.24 | 785.67 | 844.44 | 937.13 | 939.13 |
| | Sinn Féin | Francis Doherty | 7.96% | 548 | 548.24 | 578.6 | 708.51 | 915.78 | 915.78 |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Patrick Flanagan | 7.86% | 541 | 542.92 | 674.94 | 696.72 | | |
| | SDLP | Stephen Huggett | 3.63% | 250 | 250.72 | 260.61 | | | |
| | DUP | Jack Thompson | 3.01% | 207 | 220.44 | 221.13 | | | |
| Electorate: 8,474 Valid: 6,885 (81.25%) Spoilt: 180 Quota: 1,148 Turnout: 7,065 (83.37%) ||||||||||

## 1989 Election

1985: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x IIP
1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Nationalist
1985-1989 Change: UUP gain from Sinn Féin, Independent Nationalist leaves IIP
Erne West - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Patrick McCaffrey* | 23.60% | 1,604 | | | |
| | UUP | Wilson Elliott* | 20.55% | 1,397 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Paul Corrigan* | 17.45% | 1,186 | | | |
| | SDLP | Gerry Gallagher* | 13.08% | 889 | 1,055.6 | 1,265.6 | |
| | UUP | Derrick Nixon | 12.81% | 871 | 875.08 | 880.46 | 1,138.86 |
| | Sinn Féin | Vincent Martin | 8.75% | 595 | 754.12 | 815.46 | 816.98 |
| | SDLP | Patrick McGovern | 3.77% | 256 | 390.98 | | |
| Electorate: 8,034 Valid: 6,798 (84.62%) Spoilt: 203 Quota: 1,134 Turnout: 7,001 (87.14%) ||||||||

## 1985 Election

1985: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x IIP, 1 x SDLP
Erne West - 5 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 | Wilson Elliott* | 17.05% | 1,261 | | | | | | | |
| | Irish Independence | Patrick McCaffrey* | 15.63% | 1,156 | 1,167 | 1,202 | 1,203 | 1,305 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Paul Corrigan | 9.68% | 716 | 720 | 868 | 868 | 881 | 884.68 | 1,511.68 | |
| | SDLP | Gerry Gallagher* | 11.17% | 826 | 937 | 973 | 977 | 1,123 | 1,167.16 | 1,202.16 | 1,216.73 |
| | Sinn Féin | Patrick McBrien | 7.20% | 532 | 536 | 659 | 660 | 844 | 867 | 932.92 | 1,193.77 |
| | UUP | Derrick Nixon | 10.27% | 759 | 759 | 759 | 1,143 | 1,151 | 1,151 | 1,154 | 1,154 |
| | Sinn Féin | Patrick Reilly | 10.24% | 757 | 758 | 765 | 765 | 767 | 767.92 | | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Patrick Flanagan* | 6.29% | 465 | 486 | 489 | 491 | | | | |
| | DUP | Diannah Gott | 5.48% | 405 | 407 | 407 | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Thomas Keaney | 4.80% | 355 | 356 | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Patrick McGovern | 2.19% | 162 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 8,343 Valid: 7,394 (88.63%) Spoilt: 141 Quota: 1,233 Turnout: 7,535 (90.32%) ||||||||||||