# 1981 Londonderry City Council election

Elections to Londonderry City Council were held on 20 May 1981 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used five district electoral areas to elect a total of 27 councillors.

## Election results

Londonderry City Council Election Result 1981 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| SDLP | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 51.9 | 41.3 | 13,705 | 0.8 |
| DUP | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 18.5 | 18.6 | 6,177 | 11.9 |
| UUP | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 5,168 | 7.9 |
| Irish Independence | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 14.8 | 13.7 | 4,553 | New |
| Alliance | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 6.4 | 2,115 | 5.5 |
| Independent Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 439 | 1.3 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 396 | 1.2 |
| Irish Republican Socialist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 236 | New |
| Ind. Republican | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 235 | 0.7 |
| Republican Clubs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 139 | 1.5 |
| NI Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 39 | 0.0 |
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

## Districts summary

Results of the Londonderry City Council election, 1981 by district :
| Ward | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | % | Cllrs | Total Cllrs |
| Ward | SDLP | SDLP | DUP | DUP | UUP | UUP | IIP | IIP | Others | Others | | Total Cllrs |
| Area A | 42.4 | 3 | 27.2 | 2 | 24.2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 6.2 | 0 | 6 |
| Area B | 20.6 | 1 | 36.3 | 2 | 28.1 | 2 | 5.3 | 0 | 9.7 | 0 | 5 |
| Area C | 53.0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 26.8 | 2 | 20.2 | 0 | 5 |
| Area D | 48.2 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 15.5 | 1 | 26.5 | 1 | 9.8 | 0 | 5 |
| Area E | 49.3 | 4 | 10.5 | 1 | 6.2 | 0 | 22.3 | 1 | 11.7 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 41.3 | 14 | 18.6 | 5 | 15.6 | 4 | 13.7 | 4 | 10.8 | 0 | 27 |

## Districts results
### Area A

1977: 3 x SDLP, 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP 1981: 3 x SDLP, 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP 1977-1981 Change: DUP gain from UUP
Londonderry Area A - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | John Henry* | 16.60% | 1,412 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Robert Bond* | 11.01% | 937 | 948.34 | 1,107.62 | 1,269.62 | | |
| | SDLP | Thomas Doherty* | 9.84% | 837 | 837.14 | 921.14 | 921.14 | 1,371.14 | |
| | SDLP | George Peoples* | 11.07% | 942 | 942.14 | 984.14 | 988.14 | 1,232.14 | |
| | SDLP | John McNickle* | 11.97% | 1,018 | 1,018.14 | 1,041.14 | 1,041.28 | 1,148.28 | 1,299.21 |
| | DUP | William Hay | 10.65% | 906 | 1,071.76 | 1,100.9 | 1,159.96 | 1,161.96 | 1,162.74 |
| | UUP | Ernest Hamilton | 6.96% | 592 | 598.3 | 635.58 | 959.74 | 962.74 | 964.3 |
| | SDLP | Danny Ferguson | 9.50% | 808 | 808 | 844 | 844 | | |
| | UUP | Alan Lindsay | 6.18% | 526 | 536.78 | 558.06 | | | |
| | Alliance | John Allen | 3.74% | 318 | 318.56 | | | | |
| | Alliance | James Patterson | 2.03% | 173 | 173.42 | | | | |
| | NI Labour | Delap Stevenson | 0.46% | 39 | 39.14 | | | | |
| Electorate: 11,803 Valid: 8,508 (72.08%) Spoilt: 278 Quota: 1,216 Turnout: 8,786 (74.44%) ||||||||||

### Area B

1977: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance 1981: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP 1977-1981 Change: DUP gain from Alliance
Londonderry Area B - 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 |
| | DUP | Anna Hay* | 20.63% | 1,586 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Gregory Campbell | 15.69% | 1,206 | 1,207 | 1,459.7 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Michael Fegan* | 14.56% | 1,119 | 1,129 | 1,129.19 | 1,129.33 | 1,303.33 | | | |
| | UUP | James Guy* | 14.03% | 1,078 | 1,083 | 1,114.73 | 1,210.35 | 1,212.35 | 1,590.35 | | |
| | UUP | Robert Ferris | 7.59% | 583 | 584 | 591.6 | 636.12 | 636.26 | 748.63 | 1,037.47 | 1,044.47 |
| | Alliance | Robert McCullough | 9.20% | 707 | 711 | 714.23 | 719.97 | 725.97 | 746.75 | 764.18 | 922.18 |
| | SDLP | Colm Elliott | 6.01% | 462 | 471 | 471 | 471 | 558 | 558 | 558 | |
| | UUP | George McNally | 6.45% | 496 | 496 | 500.37 | 526.55 | 527.55 | | | |
| | Irish Independence | Thomas McGlinchey | 5.33% | 410 | 413 | 413 | 413.28 | | | | |
| | Independent Labour | Bernard McAnaney | 0.51% | 39 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 10,950 Valid: 7,686 (70.19%) Spoilt: 169 Quota: 1,282 Turnout: 7,855 (71.74%) ||||||||||||

### Area C

1977: 3 x SDLP, 2 x Nationalist 1981: 3 x SDLP, 2 x IIP 1977-1981 Change: Nationalists (two seats) join IIP
Londonderry Area C - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 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 |
| | SDLP | Patrick Devine* | 33.72% | 1,566 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Anna Gallagher | 7.60% | 353 | 733.97 | 733.97 | 744.48 | 749.48 | 768.54 | 801.54 | | | | | |
| | Irish Independence | John McChrystal* | 12.90% | 599 | 631.13 | 635.13 | 642.13 | 704.13 | 725.64 | 730.15 | 765.15 | 897.15 | | | |
| | Irish Independence | Gerard Barr* | 6.44% | 299 | 312.77 | 316.28 | 319.28 | 343.79 | 350.79 | 353.79 | 400.3 | 400.3 | 499.81 | 583.81 | 646.34 |
| | SDLP | Joseph Moran | 4.93% | 229 | 425.86 | 426.37 | 430.41 | 432.41 | 455.53 | 484.08 | 492.59 | 514.59 | 536.2 | 542.2 | 617.93 |
| | SDLP | Raymond Rogan | 6.72% | 312 | 399.21 | 399.21 | 406.76 | 408.78 | 419.31 | 461.37 | 469.39 | 472.39 | 476.41 | 478.41 | 505.47 |
| | Independent | Samuel Brown | 5.90% | 274 | 291.34 | 292.34 | 300.85 | 300.85 | 339.38 | 351.89 | 368.89 | 369.89 | 379.4 | 383.4 | |
| | Irish Independence | Eileen Doherty | 4.76% | 221 | 233.24 | 239.24 | 243.24 | 266.26 | 276.26 | 278.26 | 343.28 | 343.28 | | | |
| | Ind. Republican | Vincent Coyle | 3.75% | 174 | 177.57 | 221.57 | 223.57 | 228.57 | 240.59 | 242.1 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Gerard O'Grady | 4.59% | 213 | 219.63 | 219.63 | 228.14 | 228.14 | 236.67 | | | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Eamonn Melaugh | 3.08% | 143 | 159.83 | 159.83 | 175.34 | 177.34 | | | | | | | |
| | Irish Independence | Patrick Harkin | 2.69% | 125 | 128.06 | 129.06 | 130.06 | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent Labour | Ann Donnelly | 1.61% | 75 | 81.63 | 81.63 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ind. Republican | John Carr | 1.31% | 61 | 63.04 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 9,071 Valid: 4,644 (51.20%) Spoilt: 247 Quota: 775 Turnout: 4,891 (53.92%) ||||||||||||||||

### Area D

1977: 3 x SDLP, 1 x Nationalist, 1 x UUP 1981: 3 x SDLP, 1 x IIP, 1 x DUP 1977-1981 Change: DUP gain from UUP, Nationalist joins IIP
Londonderry Area D - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | SDLP | William Keys* | 24.08% | 788 | | | | | | |
| | Irish Independence | Liam Bradley* | 18.06% | 591 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Margaret Buchanan | 15.49% | 507 | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | William McCartney | 10.79% | 353 | 521.95 | 525.52 | 549.52 | | | |
| | SDLP | John Tierney | 13.38% | 438 | 481.4 | 483.99 | 496.92 | 504.68 | 516.1 | 564.1 |
| | Irish Independence | Roger O'Doherty | 5.56% | 182 | 187.89 | 205.95 | 218.68 | 252.94 | 355.75 | 364.58 |
| | Alliance | Snoo Sinclair | 4.31% | 141 | 145.96 | 146.24 | 155.07 | 156.38 | 160.38 | |
| | Irish Independence | Liam Wray | 2.84% | 93 | 94.55 | 104.63 | 112.84 | 144.06 | | |
| | Irish Republican Socialist | Thomas McCourt | 2.81% | 92 | 95.72 | 98.66 | 104.87 | | | |
| | Independent Labour | Colm Fox | 2.69% | 88 | 94.82 | 96.71 | | | | |
| Electorate: 5,119 Valid: 3,273 (63.94%) Spoilt: 153 Quota: 546 Turnout: 3,426 (66.93%) |||||||||||

### Area E

1977: 3 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Nationalist 1981: 4 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x IIP 1977-1981 Change: SDLP gain from Alliance, Nationalist joins IIP
Londonderry Area E - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 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 |
| | SDLP | Frank Donnelly* | 14.78% | 1,344 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Irish Independence | Fergus McAteer* | 13.23% | 1,203 | 1,203 | 1,204.77 | 1,236.77 | 1,284.77 | 1,372.77 | | | | | | |
| | UUP | David Davis | 10.51% | 956 | 956 | 956 | 956 | 956 | 956 | 957 | 958 | 958 | 1,465 | | |
| | SDLP | William O'Connell* | 12.93% | 1,176 | 1,177 | 1,182.67 | 1,199.67 | 1,202.7 | 1,212.7 | 1,234.85 | 1,245.88 | 1,247.72 | 1,247.75 | 1,247.75 | 1,307.75 |
| | SDLP | Leonard Green* | 10.82% | 984 | 989 | 1,012.88 | 1,023.88 | 1,031.88 | 1,038.91 | 1,076.39 | 1,102.48 | 1,105.24 | 1,106.24 | 1,106.89 | 1,244.69 |
| | SDLP | William McCorriston* | 10.73% | 976 | 977 | 982.31 | 994.34 | 997.34 | 998.37 | 1,020.55 | 1,030.58 | 1,031.5 | 1,035.5 | 1,035.5 | 1,094.26 |
| | Alliance | Mary Breen | 6.19% | 563 | 563 | 563.99 | 569.99 | 570.99 | 571.99 | 603.99 | 622.99 | 623.91 | 638.91 | 802.06 | 824.74 |
| | Irish Independence | James Crossan | 3.84% | 349 | 349 | 349.21 | 358.24 | 383.24 | 455.27 | 473.27 | 722.33 | 788.57 | 789.57 | 790.22 | |
| | DUP | Annette Hetherington | 6.16% | 560 | 560 | 560.03 | 560.03 | 560.03 | 560.03 | 562.03 | 563.03 | 563.03 | | | |
| | Irish Independence | Edward Bradley | 3.31% | 301 | 301 | 301.3 | 307.3 | 323.3 | 339.3 | 363.36 | | | | | |
| | Independent Labour | John Duffy | 1.80% | 164 | 215 | 216.05 | 223.05 | 231.05 | 234.05 | | | | | | |
| | Irish Independence | Denis McIntyre | 1.98% | 180 | 182 | 182.09 | 189.09 | 205.09 | | | | | | | |
| | Irish Republican Socialist | Paul Whoriskey | 1.58% | 144 | 146 | 146.03 | 155.03 | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Michael Shiels | 1.34% | 122 | 125 | 125.06 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent Labour | William Webster | 0.80% | 73 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 15,885 Valid: 9,095 (57.26%) Spoilt: 282 Quota: 1,300 Turnout: 9,377 (59.03%) ||||||||||||||||