# Cusher (District Electoral Area)

Cusher is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and contains the wards of Hamiltonsbawn, Markethill, Richhill, Seagahan and Tandragee. Armagh forms part of the Newry and Armagh constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1985 local elections, replacing Armagh Area B which had existed since 1973, where it contained six wards (Hamiltonsbawn, Killeen, Laurelvale, Markethill, Poyntz Pass and Tandragee). For the 2014 local elections it was reduced by one ward but gained most of the abolished The Orchard DEA.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| 2023 | Bróna Haughey (Sinn Féin) | Keith Ratcliffe (TUV) | Gordon Kennedy (UUP) | Gareth Wilson (DUP) | Paul Berry (Independent)/ (DUP) | 5 seats 2014–present | 5 seats 2014–present |
| 2019 | Bróna Haughey (Sinn Féin) | Jim Speers (UUP) | Gordon Kennedy (UUP) | Gareth Wilson (DUP) | Paul Berry (Independent)/ (DUP) | 5 seats 2014–present | 5 seats 2014–present |
| 2014 | Sharon Haughey (SDLP) | Jim Speers (UUP) | Gordon Kennedy (UUP) | Gareth Wilson (DUP) | Paul Berry (Independent)/ (DUP) | 5 seats 2014–present | 5 seats 2014–present |
| 2011 | Sharon Haughey (SDLP) | Robert Turner (UUP) | Gordon Kennedy (UUP) | Gareth Wilson (DUP) | Paul Berry (Independent)/ (DUP) | | Terry McWilliams (DUP) |
| 2005 | Sharon Haughey (SDLP) | Robert Turner (UUP) | Eric Speers (UUP) | Gareth Wilson (DUP) | Paul Berry (Independent)/ (DUP) | | Margaret Black (DUP) |
| 2001 | Thomas Canavan (SDLP) | Robert Turner (UUP) | Eric Speers (UUP) | James Clayton (UUP) | Paul Berry (Independent)/ (DUP) | | Margaret Black (DUP) |
| 1997 | Thomas Canavan (SDLP) | Robert Turner (UUP) | Eric Speers (UUP) | James Clayton (UUP) | Sharon McClelland (UUP) | | Margaret Black (DUP) |
| 1993 | Thomas Canavan (SDLP) | Robert Turner (UUP) | Eric Speers (UUP) | James Clayton (UUP) | Robert McWilliams (UUP) | | Margaret Black (DUP) |
| 1989 | Thomas Canavan (SDLP) | Robert Turner (UUP) | Eric Speers (UUP) | James Clayton (UUP) | Thomas Johnston (UUP) | | Thomas Black (DUP) |
| 1985 | Seamus Mallon (SDLP) | Robert Turner (UUP) | Eric Speers (UUP) | James Clayton (UUP) | Thomas Johnston (UUP) | | Thomas Black (DUP) |

## 2023 Election

2019: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Independent
2023: 1 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x TUV, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent
2019–2023 Change: TUV gain from UUP
Cusher - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Sinn Féin | Bróna Haughey* | 17.73% | 2,177 | | | |
| | Independent | Paul Berry* | 16.77% | 2,059 | | | |
| | TUV | Keith Ratcliffe | 16.59% | 2,037 | 2,037.28 | 2,072.28 | |
| | DUP | Gareth Wilson* | 15.57% | 1,912 | 1,912.07 | 1,941.07 | 1,963.49 |
| | UUP | Gordon Kennedy* | 8.95% | 1,099 | 1,099.84 | 1,432.91 | 1,832.93 |
| | DUP | Philip Weir | 11.24% | 1,380 | 1,380.14 | 1,402.14 | 1,432.61 |
| | SDLP | Emma Jayne McKernan | 4.71% | 578 | 685.03 | 688.03 | |
| | Alliance | Mark Skillen | 4.84% | 594 | 605.34 | 620.34 | |
| | UUP | Ewan McNeill | 3.60% | 442 | 442.07 | | |
| Electorate: 19,358 Valid: 12,278 (63.43%) Spoilt: 92 Quota: 2,047 Turnout: 12,370 (63.90%) ||||||||

## 2019 Election

2014: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent
2019: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Independent
2014-2019 Change: Sinn Féin gain from SDLP
Cusher - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | DUP | Gareth Wilson* | 19.62% | 2,248 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Paul Berry* | 17.54% | 2,009 | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Bróna Haughey | 13.26% | 1,519 | 1,519.15 | 1,552.3 | 2,094.3 | | | |
| | UUP | Jim Speers* | 14.25% | 1,633 | 1,697.05 | 1,827.3 | 1,931.3 | | | |
| | UUP | Gordon Kennedy* | 10.73% | 1,229 | 1,254.95 | 1,393.5 | 1,465.5 | 1,520.5 | 1,567.6 | 1,585.96 |
| | DUP | Quincey Dougan | 10.60% | 1,215 | 1,445.1 | 1,514.95 | 1,527.4 | 1,538.4 | 1,581.4 | 1,584.12 |
| | SDLP | Seamus Livingstone | 7.86% | 901 | 902.45 | 1,106.05 | | | | |
| | Alliance | Gareth Hay | 4.03% | 462 | 463.05 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Paul Bowbanks | 2.10% | 241 | 253.15 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 18,496 Valid: 11,457 (61.94%) Spoilt: 112 Quota: 1,910 Turnout: 11,569 (62.55%) |||||||||||

## 2014 Election

2011: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent
2014: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent
2011-2014 Change: DUP loss due to the reduction of one seat
Cusher - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | UUP | Jim Speers* | 21.17% | 2,221 | | | |
| | Independent | Paul Berry* | 18.36% | 1,927 | | | |
| | UUP | Gordon Kennedy* | 17.27% | 1,812 | | | |
| | SDLP | Sharon Haughey* | 11.44% | 1,200 | 1,229.52 | 1,235.52 | 1,949.52 |
| | DUP | Gareth Wilson* | 12.25% | 1,285 | 1,547.8 | 1,631.6 | 1,632.6 |
| | DUP | Tim McClelland | 9.77% | 1,025 | 1,195.88 | 1,273.18 | 1,281.18 |
| | Sinn Féin | Mary Doyle* | 9.75% | 1,023 | 1,023.48 | 1,024.48 | |
| Electorate: 17,523 Valid: 10,493 (59.88%) Spoilt: 122 Quota: 1,749 Turnout: 10,615 (60.58%) ||||||||

## 2011 Election

2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP
2011: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent
2005-2011 Change: Independent gain from DUP
Cusher - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | UUP | Gordon Kennedy | 23.05% | 1,785 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Paul Berry* | 14.67% | 1,136 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Robert Turner* | 12.19% | 944 | 1,138.61 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Sharon Haughey* | 10.63% | 823 | 834.7 | 835.3 | 842.69 | 1,271.69 | |
| | DUP | Terry McWilliams | 10.37% | 803 | 903.62 | 906.44 | 1,038.61 | 1,040 | 1,052 |
| | DUP | Gareth Wilson* | 7.68% | 595 | 625.03 | 627.97 | 986.33 | 988.33 | 992.33 |
| | UUP | John Moore | 7.31% | 566 | 847.97 | 867.89 | 903.64 | 903.64 | 925.64 |
| | Sinn Féin | Liam Lappin | 7.63% | 591 | 591.39 | 591.39 | 591.39 | | |
| | DUP | Philip Murdock | 6.47% | 501 | 550.53 | 552.33 | | | |
| Electorate: 12,337 Valid: 7,744 (62.77%) Spoilt: 146 Quota: 1,107 Turnout: 7,890 (63.95%) ||||||||||

## 2005 Election

2001: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP
2001-2005 Change: DUP gain from UUP
Cusher - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | Paul Berry* | 40.48% | 3,263 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Eric Speers* | 16.08% | 1,296 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Margaret Black* | 3.09% | 249 | 1,591.25 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Sharon Haughey | 9.85% | 794 | 801.8 | 802.85 | 853.5 | 855.7 | 1,300.7 |
| | DUP | Gareth Wilson | 4.12% | 332 | 749.95 | 1,060.96 | 1,131.39 | 1,138.87 | 1,138.87 |
| | UUP | Robert Turner* | 11.14% | 898 | 829.3 | 867.1 | 953.32 | 1,045.17 | 1,048.17 |
| | UUP | James Clayton* | 5.58% | 450 | 570.25 | 625.27 | 764.32 | 801.17 | 807.03 |
| | Sinn Féin | Siobhán Vallely | 8.13% | 655 | 655 | 655.21 | 660.86 | 660.97 | |
| | Independent | Paul Bowbanks | 4.02% | 324 | 393.55 | 408.88 | | | |
| Electorate: 11,376 Valid: 8,061 (70.86%) Spoilt: 125 Quota: 1,152 Turnout: 8,186 (71.96%) ||||||||||

## 2001 Election

1997: 4 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
2001: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
1997-2001 Change: DUP gain from UUP
Cusher - 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 | Paul Berry | 41.33% | 3,549 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Margaret Black* | 2.15% | 185 | 1,579.58 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Eric Speers* | 14.00% | 1,202 | 1,399.34 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Thomas Canavan* | 11.66% | 1,001 | 1,003.64 | 1,006.02 | 1,039.68 | 1,040.3 | 1,048.96 | 1,493.96 |
| | UUP | Robert Turner* | 8.44% | 725 | 797.6 | 811.2 | 856.5 | 918.5 | 1,163.93 | 1,168.59 |
| | UUP | James Clayton* | 7.91% | 679 | 837.4 | 884.83 | 939.77 | 973.25 | 1,146.23 | 1,148.23 |
| | DUP | Mervyn Spratt | 1.20% | 103 | 479.86 | 746.08 | 768.21 | 807.89 | 850.07 | 850.07 |
| | Sinn Féin | Noel Sheridan* | 6.88% | 591 | 591.66 | 592 | 594 | 594 | 594.17 | |
| | UUP | Sharon McClelland* | 4.27% | 367 | 429.7 | 441.94 | 480.11 | 514.21 | | |
| | Independent | Derrick Mathews | 2.17% | 186 | 212.4 | 218.52 | | | | |
| Electorate: 11,175 Valid: 8,588 (76.85%) Spoilt: 140 Quota: 1,227 Turnout: 8,728 (78.10%) |||||||||||

## 1997 Election

1993: 4 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
1997: 4 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
1993-1997 Change: No change
Cusher - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | UUP | Eric Speers* | 25.94% | 1,915 | | |
| | DUP | Margaret Black* | 21.36% | 1,577 | | |
| | SDLP | Thomas Canavan* | 14.32% | 1,057 | | |
| | UUP | Robert Turner* | 11.81% | 872 | 1,266.2 | |
| | UUP | Sharon McClelland | 10.97% | 810 | 1,129.05 | |
| | UUP | James Clayton* | 10.80% | 797 | 929.3 | 1,438.9 |
| | Sinn Féin | Thomas Carroll | 4.80% | 355 | 355.45 | 357.05 |
| Electorate: 10,774 Valid: 7,383 (68.53%) Spoilt: 84 Quota: 1,055 Turnout: 7,467 (69.31%) |||||||

## 1993 Election

1989: 4 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP
1993: 4 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP
1989-1993 Change: No change
Cusher - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | UUP | Robert McWilliams | 22.94% | 1,685 | | |
| | UUP | Eric Speers* | 21.40% | 1,572 | | |
| | SDLP | Thomas Canavan* | 15.85% | 1,164 | | |
| | DUP | Margaret Black* | 14.30% | 1,050 | | |
| | UUP | Robert Turner* | 12.62% | 927 | 1,370.2 | |
| | UUP | James Clayton* | 9.49% | 697 | 879.4 | 1,393.03 |
| | Sinn Féin | Margaret McNally | 3.40% | 250 | 250.4 | 253.13 |
| Electorate: 10,288 Valid: 7,345 (71.39%) Spoilt: 127 Quota: 1,050 Turnout: 7,472 (72.63%) |||||||

## 1989 Election

1985: 4 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP
1989: 4 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP
1985-1989 Change: No change
Cusher - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | UUP | Eric Speers* | 20.38% | 1,561 | | |
| | DUP | Thomas Black* | 18.85% | 1,444 | | |
| | UUP | Thomas Johnston* | 17.15% | 1,314 | | |
| | SDLP | Thomas Canavan | 15.07% | 1,154 | | |
| | UUP | Robert Turner* | 12.22% | 936 | 1,239.49 | |
| | UUP | James Clayton* | 10.73% | 822 | 974.52 | 1,314.72 |
| | Sinn Féin | Margaret McNally | 4.30% | 329 | 329 | 329.56 |
| | Independent | Eugene Turley | 1.31% | 100 | 109.61 | 113.81 |
| Electorate: 9,988 Valid: 7,660 (76.69%) Spoilt: 151 Quota: 1,095 Turnout: 7,811 (78.20%) |||||||

## 1985 Election

1985: 4 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP
Cusher - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | UUP | Eric Speers | 17.92% | 1,267 | | |
| | SDLP | Seamus Mallon* | 17.82% | 1,260 | | |
| | UUP | Thomas Johnston | 16.25% | 1,149 | | |
| | DUP | Thomas Black* | 14.27% | 1,009 | | |
| | UUP | Robert Turner* | 12.74% | 901 | 1,042.4 | |
| | UUP | James Clayton | 13.28% | 939 | 993.4 | 1,059.4 |
| | DUP | Mervyn Spratt | 7.72% | 546 | 570 | 615 |
| Electorate: 9,467 Valid: 7,071 (74.69%) Spoilt: 63 Quota: 1,011 Turnout: 7,134 (75.36%) |||||||