# Abbey (District Electoral Area)

Abbey was one of the four district electoral areas in North Down, Northern Ireland which existed from 1985 to 2014. The district elected six members to North Down Borough Council and formed part of the North Down constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1985 local elections, replacing North Down Area B and North Down Area C which had existed since 1973, and contained the wards of Bangor Castle, Bloomfield, Conlig, Harbour, Rathgael and Whitehill. It was abolished for the 2014 local elections and mainly replaced by the Bangor Central DEA.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| 2011 | Michael Bower (Alliance) | Steven Agnew (Green Party) | Harry Dunlop (DUP)/ (UUP) | Ivy Cooling (DUP) | William Montgomery (DUP) | Wesley Irvine (DUP) |
| 2005 | Stephen Farry (Alliance) | Roberta Dunlop (UUP) | Harry Dunlop (DUP)/ (UUP) | Ivy Cooling (DUP) | William Montgomery (DUP) | Wesley Irvine (DUP) |
| 2001 | Stephen Farry (Alliance) | Roberta Dunlop (UUP) | Irene Cree (UUP) | Ivy Cooling (DUP) | William Montgomery (DUP) | Valerie Kinghan (UKUP)/ (UPUP) |
| 1997 | Stephen Farry (Alliance) | Roberta Dunlop (UUP) | Ann Thompson (Conservative) | Ivy Cooling (DUP) | Stewart Currie (PUP) | Valerie Kinghan (UKUP)/ (UPUP) |
| 1993 | Stephen Farry (Alliance) | Irene Cree (UUP) | Ann Thompson (Conservative) | Ivy Cooling (DUP) | Cecil Braniff (UPUP) | Valerie Kinghan (UKUP)/ (UPUP) |
| 1989 | James Magee (Alliance) | Irene Cree (UUP) | George Green (Conservative)/ (UUP) | Denny Vitty (DUP) | Cecil Braniff (UPUP) | Valerie Kinghan (UKUP)/ (UPUP) |
| 1985 | James Magee (Alliance) | John Preston (UUP) | George Green (Conservative)/ (UUP) | Ivy Cooling (DUP) | Cecil Braniff (UPUP) | Brian Meharg (UPUP) |

## 2011 Election

2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
2011: 4 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Green
2005-2011 Change: DUP and Green gain from UUP (two seats)
Abbey - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 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 |
| | DUP | Ivy Cooling* | 16.01% | 859 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Michael Bower | 14.74% | 791 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Wesley Irvine* | 12.99% | 697 | 702.3 | 703.14 | 703.2 | 706.23 | 709.23 | 712.23 | 717.23 | 732.29 | 742.45 | 759.68 | 828.68 | |
| | Green (NI) | Steven Agnew | 11.51% | 618 | 619 | 629.56 | 633.62 | 641.68 | 651.95 | 656.95 | 663.17 | 682.38 | 698.57 | 711.88 | 776.88 | |
| | DUP | Harry Dunlop* | 9.99% | 536 | 606.3 | 607.92 | 607.92 | 609.92 | 614.01 | 618.01 | 620.11 | 630.24 | 647.3 | 662.53 | 731.75 | 753.75 |
| | DUP | William Montgomery* | 9.04% | 485 | 489.2 | 489.92 | 492.92 | 492.92 | 497.95 | 503.95 | 508.95 | 521.95 | 534.01 | 546.11 | 592.43 | 610.43 |
| | UUP | Heather Bingham-Steele | 5.65% | 303 | 303.9 | 305.07 | 305.1 | 307.2 | 312.23 | 313.23 | 318.26 | 332.44 | 348.6 | 518.53 | 549.89 | 554.89 |
| | Community Partnership | Mark Gordon | 6.80% | 365 | 365.8 | 366.7 | 368.7 | 372.73 | 376.76 | 379.76 | 423.03 | 432.12 | 444.21 | 455.33 | | |
| | UUP | Aaron Jamison | 4.06% | 218 | 219.1 | 220.09 | 220.09 | 223.09 | 225.12 | 228.12 | 230.15 | 255.24 | 275.3 | | | |
| | UKIP | William Ferguson | 1.90% | 102 | 102.2 | 102.83 | 102.83 | 104.89 | 107.92 | 148.95 | 150.05 | 164.11 | | | | |
| | NI Conservatives | Dean Russell | 2.35% | 126 | 126.1 | 126.97 | 127 | 127.1 | 129.16 | 133.16 | 136.16 | | | | | |
| | Community Partnership | Karen Worrall | 1.42% | 76 | 76.3 | 76.78 | 77.78 | 78.78 | 84.78 | 86.81 | | | | | | |
| | UKIP | Stuart Tanner | 1.36% | 73 | 73 | 73.06 | 73.06 | 74.06 | 77.09 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Ed Simpson | 1.36% | 44 | 44 | 44.72 | 61.05 | 70.11 | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Christopher Carter | 0.73% | 39 | 39.3 | 39.72 | 42.72 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Robert Mooney | 0.65% | 35 | 35 | 35.57 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 13,358 Valid: 5,367 (40.18%) Spoilt: 128 Quota: 767 Turnout: 5,495 (41.14%) |||||||||||||||||

## 2005 Election

2001: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UKUP
2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
2001-2005 Change: DUP gain from UKUP
Abbey - 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 |
| | DUP | Ivy Cooling* | 16.96% | 1,044 | | | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Wesley Irvine | 13.68% | 842 | 964.94 | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Harry Dunlop | 12.28% | 756 | 766.08 | 768.48 | 791.48 | 818.48 | 871.48 | | | | |
| | DUP | William Montgomery* | 10.11% | 622 | 653.14 | 750.42 | 766.6 | 804.96 | 859.96 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Stephen Farry* | 11.59% | 713 | 713.9 | 714.38 | 724.38 | 751.38 | 781.56 | 782.88 | 783.44 | 822.8 | 863.8 |
| | UUP | Roberta Dunlop* | 5.64% | 347 | 352.58 | 353.38 | 358.38 | 375.38 | 458.74 | 475.02 | 479.78 | 593.26 | 773.28 |
| | Green (NI) | Kelly Andrews | 6.14% | 378 | 378.72 | 378.88 | 402.96 | 425.96 | 437.14 | 437.58 | 438.42 | 469.42 | 520.24 |
| | Independent | Irene Cree* | 5.00% | 308 | 312.14 | 312.94 | 341.28 | 353.28 | 385.68 | 387.88 | 389 | 446.06 | |
| | PUP | Mark Gordon | 5.43% | 334 | 338.86 | 341.1 | 347.1 | 349.28 | 380.62 | 380.62 | 382.3 | | |
| | UK Unionist | Valerie Kinghan* | 4.74% | 292 | 294.88 | 297.6 | 306.78 | 328.78 | | | | | |
| | NI Conservatives | Dean Russell | 2.83% | 174 | 174.54 | 175.18 | 183.18 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Christopher Carter | 2.29% | 141 | 142.8 | 142.96 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 12,675 Valid: 6,154 (48.55%) Spoilt: 203 Quota: 851 Turnout: 5,951 (46.95%) ||||||||||||||

## 2001 Election

1997: 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UKUP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP
2001: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UKUP
1997-2001 Change: UUP and DUP gain from Conservative and PUP
Abbey - 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 |
| | DUP | Ivy Cooling* | 18.11% | 1,263 | | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Irene Cree | 17.86% | 1,246 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Stephen Farry* | 17.13% | 1,195 | | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Roberta Dunlop* | 12.09% | 843 | 874.24 | 1,073.32 | | | | | | | |
| | UK Unionist | Valerie Kinghan* | 13.08% | 912 | 936.64 | 950.92 | 984.2 | 1,014.56 | | | | | |
| | DUP | William Montgomery | 4.29% | 299 | 462.24 | 464.76 | 468.92 | 477.28 | 491.83 | 498.36 | 527.31 | 572.13 | 705.53 |
| | PUP | Stewart Currie* | 5.98% | 417 | 431.3 | 441.17 | 470.29 | 476.89 | 482.37 | 489.68 | 515.63 | 551.49 | 648.45 |
| | Independent | Karl McLean | 4.26% | 297 | 330.3 | 304.29 | 320.93 | 325.33 | 334.81 | 366.95 | 430.23 | 498.27 | |
| | NI Conservatives | Lisa Fleming | 2.74% | 191 | 194.96 | 198.74 | 247.1 | 261.62 | 275.93 | 292.49 | 324.03 | | |
| | Independent | Christopher Carter | 2.51% | 175 | 180.06 | 182.16 | 211.28 | 213.92 | 217.13 | 234.72 | | | |
| | Independent | William Gordon | 1.28% | 89 | 91.64 | 94.16 | 119.38 | 122.79 | 129.61 | | | | |
| | NI Unionist | Colin Dean | 1.28% | 48 | 54.6 | 63 | 70.8 | 75.86 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 13,445 Valid: 6,975 (51.88%) Spoilt: 250 Quota: 997 Turnout: 7,225 (53.74%) ||||||||||||||

## 1997 Election

1993: 2 x UPUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Conservative
1997: 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UKUP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP
1993-1997 Change: UKUP and PUP gain from UPUP (two seats)
Abbey - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Alliance | Stephen Farry* | 16.53% | 650 | | | | | | |
| | UK Unionist | Valerie Kinghan* | 16.53% | 650 | | | | | | |
| | NI Conservatives | Ann Thompson* | 15.18% | 597 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Ivy Cooling* | 11.98% | 471 | 474.06 | 498.42 | 503.7 | 528.44 | 610.44 | |
| | UUP | Roberta Dunlop | 12.26% | 482 | 495.86 | 516.58 | 525.1 | 532.24 | 587.24 | |
| | PUP | Stewart Currie | 8.75% | 344 | 352.46 | 357.92 | 359.9 | 417.26 | 483.96 | 505.96 |
| | UUP | Karl McLean | 8.34% | 328 | 339.34 | 354.74 | 363.44 | 386.52 | 446.3 | 465.3 |
| | Ind. Unionist | Cecil Braniff* | 4.20% | 165 | 176.7 | 186.78 | 190.08 | 198.42 | | |
| | Independent | William Gordon | 2.92% | 115 | 147.58 | 151.36 | 152.8 | 155.66 | | |
| | Ulster Democratic | Richard McCullough | 3.33% | 131 | 134.06 | 137.84 | 138.92 | | | |
| Electorate: 13,415 Valid: 3,933 (29.32%) Spoilt: 93 Quota: 562 Turnout: 4,026 (30.01%) |||||||||||

## 1993 Election

1989: 2 x UPUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Conservative
1993: 2 x UPUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Conservative
1989-1993 Change: No change
Abbey - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | UPUP | Valerie Kinghan* | 18.26% | 719 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Stephen Farry | 15.52% | 611 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Irene Cree* | 14.45% | 408 | 539 | 569.13 | | | |
| | UPUP | Cecil Braniff* | 11.53% | 454 | 468 | 537.92 | 546.83 | 635.83 | |
| | NI Conservatives | Ann Thompson | 9.34% | 368 | 386 | 408.08 | 419.06 | 508.58 | 530.58 |
| | DUP | Ivy Cooling | 10.41% | 410 | 423 | 437.26 | 438.16 | 471.8 | 479.8 |
| | DUP | Geoffrey Bairsto | 10.41% | 403 | 412 | 420.28 | 421.9 | 442.94 | 460.94 |
| | Independent | William Gordon | 9.29% | 366 | 372 | 381.89 | 403.85 | | |
| | UUP | Karl McLean | 5.05% | 199 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 12,961 Valid: 3,938 (30.38%) Spoilt: 133 Quota: 563 Turnout: 4,071 (31.41%) ||||||||||

## 1989 Election

1985: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UPUP
1989: 2 x UPUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Conservative, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP
1985-1989 Change: UPUP and Conservative gain from DUP and UUP
Abbey - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | UPUP | Valerie Kinghan | 18.19% | 745 | | | | | | |
| | NI Conservatives | George Green* | 13.09% | 536 | 546.12 | 551.66 | 558.66 | 752.66 | | |
| | UPUP | Cecil Braniff* | 11.67% | 478 | 560.50 | 580.36 | 584.80 | 587.46 | | |
| | Alliance | James Magee* | 7.30% | 299 | 305.82 | 308.92 | 513.80 | 541.46 | 605.46 | |
| | DUP | Denny Vitty | 10.47% | 429 | 438.68 | 445.34 | 445.56 | 448.78 | 454.78 | 609.78 |
| | UUP | Irene Cree | 8.52% | 349 | 364.40 | 483.26 | 483.26 | 498.92 | 546.92 | 571.9 |
| | DUP | Ivy Cooling* | 7.89% | 323 | 332.24 | 337.12 | 337.12 | 338.34 | 349.34 | 462.10 |
| | NI Conservatives | Shirley McCann | 6.10% | 250 | 252.86 | 254.30 | 262.30 | | | |
| | Alliance | Mariam Judge | 5.57% | 228 | 229.76 | 229.98 | | | | |
| | UUP | Edward Johnston | 2.91% | 119 | 128.02 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Robert Todd | 1.03% | 42 | 45.30 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 11,789 Valid: 4,096 (34.74%) Spoilt: 188 Quota: 586 Turnout: 4,284 (36.34%) |||||||||||

## 1985 Election

1985: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UPUP
Abbey - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | DUP | John McCormick* | 23.64% | 1,104 | | | | | | |
| | UUP | George Green* | 20.24% | 945 | | | | | | |
| | UPUP | Brian Meharg | 16.40% | 766 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | James Magee* | 13.58% | 634 | 653.27 | 670.09 | | | | |
| | UUP | John Preston | 6.34% | 296 | 337.82 | 428.3 | 458.45 | 479.82 | 527.66 | 719.42 |
| | DUP | Ivy Cooling | 9.79% | 457 | 591.48 | 609.46 | 625.51 | 645.35 | 645.95 | 675.2 |
| | DUP | Raymond Trousdale* | 2.89% | 135 | 338.36 | 345.32 | 358.22 | 374.71 | 381.28 | 391.36 |
| | UUP | Ernest Jackson | 1.58% | 74 | 88.76 | 216.65 | 234.8 | 257.49 | 288.87 | |
| | Alliance | James Pettis | 3.58% | 167 | 169.87 | 173.06 | 185.21 | 192.1 | | |
| | PUP | Kenneth McMullan | 3.58% | 92 | 106.76 | 111.69 | 118.29 | | | |
| Electorate: 11,424 Valid: 4,670 (40.88%) Spoilt: 154 Quota: 668 Turnout: 4,824 (42.23%) |||||||||||