# 1973 Newry and Mourne District Council election

Elections to Newry and Mourne District Council were held on 30 May 1973 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used six district electoral areas to elect a total of 30 councillors.

## Election results

| Party | Party | Seats | First Pref. votes | FPv% | ±% |
| | SDLP | 13 | 10,291 | 35.3 | |
| | Ind. Unionist | 5 | 4,412 | 15.1 | |
| | Alliance | 4 | 3,939 | 13.5 | |
| | UUP | 3 | 3,757 | 12.9 | |
| | Republican Clubs | 2 | 3,160 | 10.8 | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | 2 | 1,256 | 4.3 | |
| | Ind. Republican | 1 | 881 | 3.0 | |
| | Independent | 0 | 886 | 3.0 | |
| | Irish Labour | 0 | 290 | 1.0 | |
| | Ulster Liberal | 0 | 288 | 1.0 | |
| Totals | Totals | 30 | 29,160 | 100.0 | — |

## Districts summary

Results of the Newry and Mourne District Council election, 1973 by district :
| Ward | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | Total Cllrs |
| Ward | SDLP | SDLP | Alliance | Alliance | UUP | UUP | RC | RC | Others | Others | | Total Cllrs |
| Area A | 17.8 | 1 | 4.3 | 0 | 52.7 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 25.2 | 1 | 5 |
| Area B | 37.9 | 2 | 19.8 | 1 | 13.0 | 0 | 12.8 | 0 | 29.3 | 1 | 4 |
| Area C | 40.3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 6.4 | 0 | 7.0 | 0 | 46.3 | 2 | 4 |
| Area D | 38.4 | 3 | 10.9 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 15.7 | 1 | 35.0 | 2 | 7 |
| Area E | 46.3 | 3 | 5.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 16.1 | 1 | 32.3 | 2 | 6 |
| Area F | 37.8 | 2 | 42.1 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 16.1 | 0 | 4.0 | 0 | 6 |
| Total | 35.3 | 13 | 13.5 | 4 | 12.9 | 3 | 10.8 | 2 | 27.5 | 8 | 30 |

## Districts results
### Area A

1973: 3 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Nationalist
Newry and Mourne Area A - 5 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 | William Russell | 20.86% | 1,254 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Arthur Coulter | 17.76% | 1,068 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Norman Gordon | 14.12% | 849 | 1,088.4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Arthur Doran | 6.62% | 398 | 399.2 | 401.4 | 405 | 408 | 427.2 | 439.2 | 473.8 | 562.6 | 684.6 | 889.2 |
| | SDLP | Anne Marie Cunningham | 7.70% | 463 | 463 | 463.2 | 463.2 | 470.2 | 505 | 545 | 561 | 637 | 808 | 877.4 |
| | SDLP | Hugh Cunningham | 7.47% | 449 | 449.2 | 450 | 450.4 | 452.4 | 467.4 | 548.4 | 566.4 | 648.4 | 743.8 | 775 |
| | Ulster Liberal | Stanley Archer | 4.79% | 288 | 293.2 | 318.8 | 352 | 355.8 | 361.8 | 363.8 | 483 | 520.2 | 556.6 | |
| | Ind. Republican | Paul O'Reilly | 6.34% | 381 | 381 | 381 | 381.8 | 385.8 | 400.8 | 408.8 | 417.2 | 498.2 | | |
| | Independent | Michael Hardy | 5.59% | 336 | 336.2 | 338.2 | 341.4 | 348 | 357 | 368 | 397.4 | | | |
| | Alliance | Margaret Hall | 2.56% | 154 | 156.2 | 168.4 | 188.4 | 265.2 | 267.6 | 273.6 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Patrick Murphy | 2.68% | 161 | 161 | 161 | 161.4 | 162.4 | 165.4 | | | | | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Austin Crawford | 1.80% | 108 | 108 | 108.4 | 110 | 110 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | P. J. McKeown | 1.71% | 103 | 104.4 | 106.4 | 108 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 8,589 Valid: 6,012 (70.00%) Spoilt: 118 Quota: 1,003 Turnout: 6,130 (71.37%) |||||||||||||||

### Area B

1973: 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Nationalist
Newry and Mourne Area B - 4 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 |
| | SDLP | Jim McCart | 21.99% | 994 | | | | | | | | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | John McAteer | 16.59% | 750 | 758.1 | 762.73 | 781.54 | 799.63 | 805.72 | 816.17 | 873.76 | 993.76 |
| | Alliance | Anthony Williamson | 12.99% | 587 | 592.4 | 595.4 | 602.12 | 631.39 | 641.66 | 800.1 | 825.24 | 852.59 |
| | SDLP | John Tinnelly | 8.54% | 386 | 398.69 | 401.69 | 427.2 | 432.32 | 454.65 | 457.83 | 645.71 | 759.4 |
| | UUP | William Gordon | 12.96% | 586 | 587.53 | 588.53 | 588.62 | 591.62 | 591.62 | 634.98 | 640.25 | 649.61 |
| | Republican Clubs | Gerard Burns | 8.67% | 392 | 395.96 | 428.14 | 435.77 | 452.77 | 562.31 | 563.4 | 586.18 | |
| | SDLP | Edward Byrne | 4.65% | 210 | 242.76 | 244.94 | 309.74 | 313.1 | 317.46 | 326.18 | | |
| | Alliance | Roland Gordon | 3.69% | 167 | 170.24 | 170.24 | 175.42 | 231.42 | 231.42 | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Gerald Sherry | 2.88% | 130 | 130.9 | 141.53 | 144.71 | 153.71 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Michael Gallagher | 3.10% | 140 | 140.9 | 140.9 | 142.99 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | William Trainor | 2.68% | 121 | 138.01 | 140.1 | | | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | James McGivern | 1.26% | 57 | 58.71 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 6,662 Valid: 4,520 (67.85%) Spoilt: 140 Quota: 905 Turnout: 4,660 (69.95%) |||||||||||||

### Area C

1973: 2 x SDLP, 2 x Independent Unionist
Newry and Mourne Area C - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Ind. Unionist | David Little | 27.02% | 1,166 | | | | | |
| | Ind. Unionist | Violet Cromie | 19.23% | 830 | 1,118.08 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Joseph Brannigan | 16.33% | 705 | 705.26 | 705.52 | 714.04 | 834.3 | 905.3 |
| | SDLP | Nan Sands | 14.60% | 630 | 630.78 | 631.82 | 634.82 | 667.82 | 710.82 |
| | SDLP | Finian Sands | 9.36% | 404 | 404 | 406.08 | 413.34 | 466.4 | 500.6 |
| | Alliance | David Crory | 4.59% | 198 | 206.32 | 285.1 | 357.48 | 365.48 | |
| | Republican Clubs | Daniel Mussen | 4.26% | 184 | 184.26 | 184.52 | 187.52 | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Seamus Murray | 2.78% | 120 | 120.26 | 120.26 | 120.52 | | |
| | Alliance | Violet Watts | 1.83% | 79 | 81.34 | 101.62 | | | |
| Electorate: 6,477 Valid: 4,316 (66.64%) Spoilt: 111 Quota: 864 Turnout: 4,427 (68.35%) ||||||||||

### Area D

1973: 3 x SDLP, 2 x Independent Unionist, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Republican Clubs
Newry and Mourne Area D - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 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 |
| | Ind. Unionist | Clarence Morrow | 19.03% | 1,297 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | John Bell | 13.25% | 903 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | John McEvoy | 10.98% | 748 | 748.34 | 758.34 | 763.44 | 765.44 | 767.44 | 774.44 | 785.44 | 837.89 | 860.89 | | | | | | |
| | Ind. Unionist | Arthur Lockhart | 5.85% | 399 | 823.66 | 823.66 | 824.66 | 824.66 | 825.66 | 825.66 | 825.66 | 825.66 | 826.66 | 829.66 | 831.66 | 835 | 835 | 859 | |
| | SDLP | Thomas McGrath | 4.80% | 327 | 327 | 331.55 | 339.65 | 345.7 | 348.7 | 353.75 | 364.25 | 435.55 | 440.99 | 446.08 | 489.28 | 505.88 | 506.51 | 564.15 | 937.15 |
| | Alliance | Victor Frizell | 5.46% | 372 | 376.08 | 377.98 | 381.42 | 381.42 | 382.42 | 386.47 | 397.92 | 403.17 | 443.66 | 445.76 | 456.76 | 710.15 | 713.93 | 809.14 | 833.37 |
| | Republican Clubs | Noel Collins | 6.59% | 449 | 449 | 451.65 | 455.7 | 478.75 | 507.75 | 513.8 | 523.7 | 533.05 | 534.2 | 554.3 | 690.95 | 697.15 | 697.78 | 753.17 | 769.27 |
| | Republican Clubs | Thomas Moore | 3.82% | 260 | 260 | 261.65 | 262.3 | 277.3 | 301.35 | 307.35 | 311.4 | 313.45 | 318.55 | 376.75 | 447.55 | 452.8 | 453.43 | 492.58 | 520.58 |
| | SDLP | Denis Smyth | 6.10% | 416 | 416 | 416.55 | 417.55 | 421.55 | 421.55 | 421.55 | 423.65 | 428 | 431.2 | 439.5 | 442.5 | 453.95 | 456.47 | 483.86 | |
| | Independent | Basil McGinn | 4.93% | 336 | 343.48 | 343.93 | 346.93 | 347.93 | 348.93 | 392.93 | 406.32 | 411.62 | 413.96 | 429.06 | 438.16 | 446.16 | 446.79 | | |
| | Alliance | Monica Sweeney | 2.92% | 199 | 200.02 | 201.82 | 203.82 | 204.82 | 204.82 | 205.87 | 208.07 | 212.27 | 308.02 | 334.32 | 340.47 | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Hugh Golding | 2.96% | 202 | 202 | 204.25 | 212.25 | 221.25 | 244.3 | 248.35 | 255.65 | 257.9 | 262.9 | 268.25 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Thomas Hollywood | 3.14% | 214 | 214.34 | 215.69 | 216.74 | 219.74 | 219.74 | 225.84 | 226.94 | 232.39 | 234.59 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Maureen McMahon | 2.58% | 176 | 177.02 | 178.12 | 180.17 | 182.17 | 182.17 | 185.17 | 187.32 | 192.77 | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | John Hillen | 1.89% | 129 | 129 | 135.5 | 136.65 | 137.7 | 137.7 | 140.9 | 171.65 | | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | R. Blair | 1.35% | 92 | 92.34 | 100.89 | 100.94 | 100.94 | 103.94 | 107.09 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Irish Labour | Patrick Lynch | 1.19% | 81 | 81 | 81.55 | 97.7 | 98.7 | 100.7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Daniel Hughes | 1.17% | 80 | 80 | 80.1 | 80.1 | 89.1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Martin McAlinden | 1.13% | 77 | 77 | 77.1 | 78.15 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Irish Labour | Michael Murphy | 0.85% | 58 | 58.68 | 59.58 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 11,514 Valid: 6,815 (59.19%) Spoilt: 194 Quota: 852 Turnout: 7,009 (60.87%) ||||||||||||||||||||

### Area E

1973: 3 x SDLP, 1 x Republican Clubs, 1 x Independent Unionist, 1 x Independent Republican
Newry and Mourne Area E - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Ind. Unionist | Caroline Donaldson | 19.06% | 720 | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Peter McMahon | 13.92% | 526 | 526 | 529 | 550 | | | |
| | Ind. Republican | Sean McCreesh | 13.23% | 500 | 504.6 | 510.6 | 541.6 | | | |
| | SDLP | Pat Toner | 9.16% | 346 | 346.46 | 349.46 | 365.46 | 368.16 | 442.62 | 536.62 |
| | SDLP | Jim Murphy | 8.42% | 318 | 318.92 | 332.92 | 343.38 | 345.18 | 434.08 | 541.08 |
| | Republican Clubs | Bernard McKeown | 7.91% | 299 | 300.38 | 309.38 | 441.84 | 443.64 | 473.64 | 499.64 |
| | Alliance | John Magowan | 5.29% | 200 | 362.38 | 362.38 | 366.84 | 368.64 | 403.32 | 462.32 |
| | SDLP | James McPartland | 7.57% | 286 | 286.92 | 289.92 | 310.38 | 311.28 | 356.2 | |
| | SDLP | Owen Kelly | 7.23% | 273 | 279.9 | 281.9 | 298.9 | 299.8 | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Michael Rafferty | 3.94% | 149 | 149.92 | 163.92 | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Joseph Daly | 2.57% | 97 | 98.38 | 105.38 | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Oliver Toner | 1.69% | 64 | 64 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 8,870 Valid: 3,778 (42.59%) Spoilt: 112 Quota: 540 Turnout: 3,890 (43.86%) |||||||||||

### Area F

1973: 2 x Alliance, 2 x SDLP
Newry and Mourne Area F - 4 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 |
| | Alliance | Michael McVerry | 26.16% | 973 | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Hugh Breslin | 15.89% | 591 | 733.62 | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Sean Hollywood | 16.32% | 607 | 620.11 | 624.01 | 629.01 | 682.23 | 752.23 | | |
| | SDLP | Arthur Ruddy | 8.85% | 329 | 332.68 | 334.78 | 342.01 | 366 | 464.38 | 484.9 | 749.9 |
| | Republican Clubs | Samuel Dowling | 8.58% | 319 | 321.07 | 321.37 | 363.37 | 388.55 | 398.07 | 587.13 | 615.13 |
| | SDLP | Patrick Crilly | 7.23% | 269 | 274.29 | 279.15 | 279.21 | 303.44 | 340.57 | 352.86 | |
| | Republican Clubs | Colman Rowntree | 3.93% | 146 | 147.15 | 147.21 | 217.39 | 230.8 | 234.8 | | |
| | SDLP | Kevin Reynolds | 5.35% | 199 | 205.44 | 209.34 | 209.4 | 227.64 | | | |
| | Irish Labour | Francis Burns | 4.06% | 151 | 156.75 | 166.89 | 178.18 | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Jean Rooney | 1.91% | 71 | 71.23 | 71.47 | | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Peter Shields | 1.72% | 64 | 64.23 | 64.41 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 6,649 Valid: 3,719 (55.93%) Spoilt: 269 Quota: 744 Turnout: 3,988 (59.98%) ||||||||||||