# Benbradagh (District Electoral Area)

Benbradagh is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and contains the wards of Altahullion, Ballykelly, Dungiven, Feeny and Greysteel. Benbradagh forms part of the East Londonderry constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1985 local elections, replacing Limavady Area B which had existed since 1973, where it contained five wards (Dungiven, Feeny, Forest, The Highlands and Upper Glenshane). For the 2014 local elections it gained part of the abolished Bellarena DEA around Ballykelly.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| 2023 | Seán McGlinchey (Sinn Féin) | Dermot Nicholl (Sinn Féin) | Kathleen McGurk (Sinn Féin) | Michael Coyle (SDLP) | Edgar Scott (DUP) |
| 2019 | Seán McGlinchey (Sinn Féin) | Dermot Nicholl (Sinn Féin) | Kathleen McGurk (Sinn Féin) | Orla Beattie (SDLP) | Edgar Scott (DUP) |
| May 2018 Co-Option | Seán McGlinchey (Sinn Féin) | Dermot Nicholl (Sinn Féin) | Kathleen McGurk (Sinn Féin) | Orla Beattie (SDLP) | Boyd Douglas (TUV)/ (UUC)/ (UUP) |
| 2014 | Seán McGlinchey (Sinn Féin) | Dermot Nicholl (Sinn Féin) | Tony McCaul (Sinn Féin) | Orla Beattie (SDLP) | Boyd Douglas (TUV)/ (UUC)/ (UUP) |
| 2011 | Seán McGlinchey (Sinn Féin) | Brenda Chivers (Sinn Féin) | Tony McCaul (Sinn Féin) | Michael Coyle (SDLP) | Boyd Douglas (TUV)/ (UUC)/ (UUP) |
| 2005 | Marion Donaghy (Sinn Féin) | Brenda Chivers (Sinn Féin) | Cathal Hasson (Sinn Féin) | Michael Coyle (SDLP) | Boyd Douglas (TUV)/ (UUC)/ (UUP) |
| 2001 | Marion Donaghy (Sinn Féin) | Anne Brolly (Sinn Féin) | Francis Brolly (Sinn Féin) | Michael Coyle (SDLP) | Boyd Douglas (TUV)/ (UUC)/ (UUP) |
| 1997 | Malachy O'Kane (Sinn Féin) | Max Gault (UUP) | Gerard Lynch (SDLP) | Michael Coyle (SDLP) | Boyd Douglas (TUV)/ (UUC)/ (UUP) |
| 1993 | Thomas Donaghy (Sinn Féin) | Max Gault (UUP) | Gerard Lynch (SDLP) | Michael Coyle (SDLP) | David Robinson (UUP) |
| 1989 | Thomas Donaghy (Sinn Féin) | Max Gault (UUP) | Gerard Lynch (SDLP) | Lawrence Hegarty (SDLP) | David Robinson (UUP) |
| 1985 | Michael McGonigle (Sinn Féin) | Max Gault (UUP) | Michael Hasson (Sinn Féin) | Lawrence Hegarty (SDLP) | David Robinson (UUP) |

## 2023 Election

2019: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP
2023: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
2019–2023 Change: No change
Benbradagh - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Sinn Féin | Sean McGlinchey* | 24.04% | 1,888 | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Dermot Nicholl* | 19.84% | 1,558 | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Kathleen McGurk* | 14.92% | 1,172 | 1,640.00 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Edgar Scott* | 15.68% | 1,231 | 1,231.00 | 1,231.30 | 1,231.57 | 1,256.38 | 1,755.38 | |
| | SDLP | Michael Coyle | 5.62% | 441 | 461.70 | 549.60 | 710.52 | 991.86 | 1,067.60 | 1,187.60 |
| | Aontú | Liam McElhinney | 6.29% | 494 | 546.20 | 645.80 | 690.08 | 805.25 | 812.25 | 825.25 |
| | UUP | Robert Carmichael | 7.64% | 600 | 600.00 | 601.20 | 601.47 | 659.94 | | |
| | Alliance | Christine Turner | 4.49% | 353 | 360.20 | 389.00 | 420.86 | | | |
| | Independent | Niall Murphy | 1.48% | 116 | 131.60 | 169.40 | 180.20 | | | |
| Electorate: 13,317 Valid: 7,853 (58.97%) Spoilt: 50 Quota: 1,309 Turnout: 7,903 (59.34%) |||||||||||

## 2019 Election

2014: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x TUV
2019: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP
2014-2019 Change: DUP gain from TUV
Benbradagh - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Sinn Féin | Seán McGlinchey* | 22.33% | 1,574 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Orla Beattie* | 13.08% | 922 | 944.5 | 1,136.75 | 1,177.75 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Kathleen McGurk* | 9.60% | 677 | 974.25 | 986 | 986 | 1,224 |
| | Sinn Féin | Dermot Nicholl* | 14.21% | 1,002 | 1,029 | 1,048.25 | 1,048.25 | 1,154.25 |
| | DUP | Edgar Scott | 12.71% | 896 | 896 | 909 | 1,088 | 1,107 |
| | TUV | Boyd Douglas* | 8.24% | 581 | 581.25 | 594.25 | 797.25 | 814.5 |
| | Aontú | Proinnsias Brolly | 9.29% | 655 | 692.75 | 717.75 | 718.75 | |
| | UUP | Robert Carmichael | 5.82% | 410 | 410 | 438 | | |
| | Alliance | Christine Turner | 4.71% | 332 | 335.5 | | | |
| Electorate: 12,560 Valid: 7,049 (56.12%) Spoilt: 72 Quota: 1,175 Turnout: 7,121 (56.69%) |||||||||

## 2014 Election

2011: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x TUV, 1 x SDLP
2014: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x TUV, 1 x SDLP
2011-2014 Change: No change
Benbradagh - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Sinn Féin | Seán McGlinchey* | 24.31% | 1,460 | | | | |
| | TUV | Boyd Douglas* | 19.62% | 1,160 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Tony McCaul* | 10.69% | 632 | 982.13 | 1,038.13 | | |
| | SDLP | Orla Beattie* | 11.60% | 686 | 696.89 | 991.89 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Dermot Nicholl* | 14.09% | 833 | 904.61 | 930.79 | 932.29 | 959.29 |
| | DUP | Edgar Scott* | 12.68% | 750 | 750.99 | 751.99 | 915.79 | 915.79 |
| | SDLP | Michael Coyle* | 6.63% | 392 | 428.96 | | | |
| Electorate: 11,904 Valid: 5,913 (49.67%) Spoilt: 92 Quota: 986 Turnout: 6,005 (50.45%) |||||||||

## 2011 Election

2005: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x United Unionist, 1 x SDLP
2011: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x TUV, 1 x SDLP
2005-2011 Change: United Unionist joins TUV
Benbradagh - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Sinn Féin | Sean McGlinchey | 19.80% | 862 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Brenda Chivers* | 17.83% | 776 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Tony McCaul | 9.65% | 420 | 425 | 491.72 | 514.16 | 819.16 |
| | SDLP | Michael Coyle* | 13.03% | 567 | 624 | 633.92 | 641.42 | 696.36 |
| | TUV | Boyd Douglas* | 15.37% | 669 | 679 | 679.16 | 679.4 | 683.94 |
| | DUP | Edgar Scott | 12.77% | 556 | 568 | 568.48 | 568.66 | 568.66 |
| | Sinn Féin | Rory Donaghy | 9.10% | 396 | 401 | 453.16 | 467.68 | |
| | Alliance | Siobhan Carr | 2.46% | 107 | | | | |
| Electorate: 7,418 Valid: 4,353 (58.68%) Spoilt: 89 Quota: 726 Turnout: 4,442 (59.88%) |||||||||

## 2005 Election

2001: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x United Unionist, 1 x SDLP
2005: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x United Unionist, 1 x SDLP
2001-2005 Change: No change
Benbradagh - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | United Unionist | Boyd Douglas* | 20.85% | 922 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Michael Coyle* | 14.36% | 635 | 635.6 | 833.6 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Cathal Hasson | 15.06% | 666 | 666 | 676 | 699.14 | 1,038.14 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Brenda Chivers | 13.82% | 611 | 611.2 | 631.2 | 657.9 | 682.79 | 851.15 |
| | Sinn Féin | Marion Donaghy* | 10.95% | 484 | 484.2 | 502.2 | 530.68 | 606.02 | 737.58 |
| | United Unionist | Samuel Oliver | 9.18% | 406 | 585 | 585.6 | 593.61 | 593.61 | 593.61 |
| | Sinn Féin | Martin McGuigan | 10.00% | 442 | 442.2 | 442.2 | 451.1 | | |
| | SDLP | Evelyn Donaghy | 5.79% | 256 | 256.6 | | | | |
| Electorate: 6,956 Valid: 4,422 (63.57%) Spoilt: 97 Quota: 738 Turnout: 4,519 (64.97%) ||||||||||

## 2001 Election

1997: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin
2001: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x United Unionist, 1 x SDLP
1997-2001 Change: Sinn Féin (two seats) gain from UUP and SDLP, United Unionist leaves UUP
Benbradagh - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Sinn Féin | Anne Brolly | 20.96% | 1,056 | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Francis Brolly | 18.21% | 917 | | | | | |
| | United Unionist | Boyd Douglas* | 14.85% | 748 | 748.42 | 918.42 | | | |
| | SDLP | Michael Coyle* | 11.10% | 559 | 584.41 | 587.41 | 587.41 | 600.46 | 978.46 |
| | Sinn Féin | Marion Donaghy | 11.10% | 559 | 732.67 | 732.67 | 732.67 | 793.42 | 841.2 |
| | United Unionist | Mark Gibson | 8.78% | 442 | 442 | 508 | 585.28 | 585.28 | 588.28 |
| | SDLP | Gerard Lynch* | 9.87% | 497 | 509.39 | 512.39 | 512.85 | 515.73 | |
| | DUP | John Murray | 5.14% | 259 | 259 | | | | |
| Electorate: 6,750 Valid: 5,037 (74.62%) Spoilt: 112 Quota: 840 Turnout: 5,149 (76.28%) ||||||||||

## 1997 Election

1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin
1997: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin
1993-1997 Change: No change
Benbradagh - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | UUP | Boyd Douglas | 25.65% | 1,072 | | |
| | SDLP | Michael Coyle* | 24.23% | 1,013 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Malachy O'Kane | 20.96% | 876 | | |
| | UUP | Max Gault* | 9.78% | 409 | 777.55 | |
| | SDLP | Gerard Lynch* | 10.57% | 442 | 443.05 | 739.06 |
| | Sinn Féin | Eddie-Jo Lynn | 8.80% | 368 | 368 | 384.5 |
| Electorate: 6,447 Valid: 4,180 (64.84%) Spoilt: 76 Quota: 697 Turnout: 4,256 (66.02%) |||||||

## 1993 Election

1989: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin
1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin
1989–1993 Change: No change
Benbradagh - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | UUP | David Robinson* | 26.86% | 1,042 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Michael Coyle | 25.75% | 999 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Thomas Donaghy* | 20.68% | 802 | | | | |
| | UUP | Max Gault* | 10.70% | 415 | 800.32 | | | |
| | SDLP | Gerard Lynch* | 7.58% | 294 | 295.14 | 610.34 | 614.34 | 636.38 |
| | Sinn Féin | Kevin Kelly | 8.43% | 327 | 327.76 | 364.16 | 509.16 | 509.54 |
| Electorate: 6,155 Valid: 3,879 (63.02%) Spoilt: 97 Quota: 647 Turnout: 3,976 (64.60%) |||||||||

## 1989 Election

1985: 2 x UUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP
1989: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin
1985–1989 Change: SDLP gain from Sinn Féin
Benbradagh - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | SDLP | Lawrence Hegarty* | 26.75% | 987 | | | | |
| | UUP | David Robinson* | 25.45% | 939 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Thomas Donaghy | 21.49% | 793 | | | | |
| | UUP | Max Gault* | 12.09% | 446 | 446.84 | 768.84 | | |
| | SDLP | Gerard Lynch | 4.93% | 182 | 523.04 | 523.74 | 528.8 | 542.1 |
| | Sinn Féin | Michael Hasson* | 9.30% | 343 | 368.62 | 368.62 | 533.3 | 533.65 |
| Electorate: 5,745 Valid: 3,690 (64.23%) Spoilt: 104 Quota: 616 Turnout: 3,794 (66.04%) |||||||||

## 1985 Election

1985: 2 x UUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP
Benbradagh - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Sinn Féin | Michael McGonigle | 22.58% | 880 | | | | | |
| | UUP | David Robinson* | 21.17% | 825 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Max Gault* | 8.62% | 336 | 336 | 480.48 | | | |
| | SDLP | Lawrence Hegarty* | 15.01% | 585 | 598 | 598 | 599 | 811 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Michael Hasson | 9.42% | 367 | 564.6 | 564.6 | 565.6 | 598.42 | 624.42 |
| | Independent | Denis Farren* | 10.37% | 404 | 412.06 | 413.32 | 413.74 | 464.78 | 549.78 |
| | SDLP | James Brolly | 8.11% | 316 | 320.94 | 321.15 | 321.15 | | |
| | DUP | John McKay | 4.72% | 184 | 184 | 208.99 | | | |
| Electorate: 5,653 Valid: 3,897 (68.94%) Spoilt: 92 Quota: 650 Turnout: 3,989 (70.56%) ||||||||||