# Magherafelt (District Electoral Area)

Magherafelt is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Mid Ulster, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Mid Ulster District Council and contains the wards of Coolshinny, Glebe, Lissan, The Loup and Town Parks East. Magherafelt forms part of the Mid Ulster constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1985 local elections, replacing Magherafelt Area C which had existed since 1973. It was called Magherafelt Town until 2014, and originally contained five wards (Ballymaguigan, Knockclogrim, Lecumpter, Town Parks East and Town Parks West). For the 1993 local elections it gained an additional ward, Glebe. For the 2014 local elections it was reduced to five wards.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| 2023 | Darren Totten (Sinn Féin) | Sean Clarke (Sinn Féin) | | Christine McFlynn (SDLP) | Wesley Brown (DUP) | | Paul McLean (DUP) | 5 seats 2014–present | 5 seats 2014–present |
| 2019 | Darren Totten (Sinn Féin) | Sean Clarke (Sinn Féin) | | Christine McFlynn (SDLP) | Wesley Brown (DUP) | | Paul McLean (DUP) | 5 seats 2014–present | 5 seats 2014–present |
| 2014 | Darren Totten (Sinn Féin) | Sean Clarke (Sinn Féin) | | Christine McFlynn (SDLP) | George Shiels (UUP) | | Paul McLean (DUP) | 5 seats 2014–present | 5 seats 2014–present |
| 2011 | Peter Bateson (Sinn Féin) | Catherine Elattar (Sinn Féin) | | Jim Campbell (SDLP) | George Shiels (UUP) | | Paul McLean (DUP) | | Deborah Ní Shiadhail (Sinn Féin) |
| 2005 | Peter Bateson (Sinn Féin) | Sean McPeake (Sinn Féin) | | Jim Campbell (SDLP) | George Shiels (UUP) | | Paul McLean (DUP) | | William McCrea (DUP) |
| 2001 | Seamus O'Brien (Sinn Féin) | John Kelly (Sinn Féin) | | Joseph McBride (SDLP) | George Shiels (UUP) | | Paul McLean (DUP) | | William McCrea (DUP) |
| 1997 | Seamus O'Brien (Sinn Féin) | Patrick Kilpatrick (SDLP) | | Joseph McBride (SDLP) | George Shiels (UUP) | | Paul McLean (DUP) | | William McCrea (DUP) |
| 1993 | John Hurl (Sinn Féin) | Patrick Kilpatrick (SDLP) | | Joseph McBride (SDLP) | Ernest Caldwell (UUP) | | Paul McLean (DUP) | | William McCrea (DUP) |
| 1989 | John Hurl (Sinn Féin) | Patrick Kilpatrick (SDLP) | 5 seats 1985–1993 | 5 seats 1985–1993 | | Ernest Caldwell (UUP) | | Paul McLean (DUP) | | William McCrea (DUP) |
| 1985 | Bhrighde Mac Giolla (Sinn Féin) | Patrick Kilpatrick (SDLP) | 5 seats 1985–1993 | 5 seats 1985–1993 | Ernest Caldwell (UUP) | | Barclay Morrow (DUP) | | William McCrea (DUP) |

## 2023 Election

2019: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
2023: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
2019–2023 Change: No change
Magherafelt - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Sinn Féin | Darren Totten* | 25.15% | 2,077 | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Sean Clarke* | 18.53% | 1,530 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Christine McFlynn* | 9.74% | 804 | 1,336.40 | 1,457.24 | | | |
| | DUP | Paul McLean* | 13.84% | 1,143 | 1,146.96 | 1,147.68 | 1,147.92 | 1,283.92 | 1,616.92 |
| | DUP | Wesley Brown* | 11.71% | 967 | 967.88 | 967.88 | 967.88 | 1,230.32 | 1,526.32 |
| | Alliance | Padraic Farrell | 5.79% | 478 | 628.04 | 650.36 | 706.64 | 779.92 | 786.92 |
| | TUV | Raymond Love | 8.13% | 671 | 673.64 | 673.88 | 674.24 | 767.80 | |
| | UUP | Ian Brown | 7.11% | 587 | 589.64 | 589.88 | 591.20 | | |
| Electorate: 13,741 Valid: 8,257 (60.09%) Spoilt: 58 Quota: 1,377 Turnout: 8.315 (60.51%) ||||||||||

## 2019 Election

2014: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP
2019: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP
2014–2019 Change: DUP gain from UUP
Magherafelt – 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | Sinn Féin | Darren Totten* | 22.02% | 1,665 | | | |
| | SDLP | Christine McFlynn* | 15.95% | 1,206 | 1,320 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Sean Clarke* | 13.99% | 1,058 | 1,107 | 1,500.75 | |
| | DUP | Wesley Brown | 16.11% | 1,218 | 1,220 | 1,221 | 1,224 |
| | DUP | Paul McLean* | 15.91% | 1,203 | 1,208 | 1,209.25 | 1,214.75 |
| | UUP | George Shiels* | 13.17% | 996 | 1,001 | 1,001.75 | 1,022.25 |
| | Aontú | Kevin Donnelly | 2.83% | 214 | | | |
| Electorate: 13,112 Valid: 7,560 (57.66%) Spoilt: 86 Quota: 1,261 Turnout: 7,646 (58.31%) ||||||||

## 2014 Election

2011: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP
2014: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP
2011-2014 Change: Sinn Féin loss due to the reduction of one seat
Magherafelt - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | Paul McLean* | 15.84% | 1,106 | 1,135 | 1,144 | 1,163 | 1,167 | |
| | UUP | George Shiels* | 11.24% | 785 | 803 | 809 | 834 | 841 | 1,225 |
| | Sinn Féin | Seán Clarke* | 15.68% | 1,095 | 1,095 | 1,101 | 1,132 | 1,147 | 1,147 |
| | SDLP | Christine McFlynn* | 10.30% | 719 | 724 | 756 | 822 | 1,116 | 1,119 |
| | Sinn Féin | Darren Totten* | 13.96% | 975 | 976 | 1,008 | 1,041 | 1,110 | 1,110 |
| | TUV | Gareth Ferguson | 10.74% | 750 | 786 | 791 | 806 | 808 | 1,001 |
| | DUP | Ross Mitchell | 8.98% | 627 | 635 | 635 | 641 | 642 | |
| | SDLP | Ben Niblock | 5.18% | 362 | 364 | 391 | 436 | | |
| | Independent | Hugh McCloy | 3.31% | 231 | 240 | 310 | | | |
| | Independent | Michael Kelly | 3.08% | 215 | 220 | | | | |
| | Independent | Robert Kelly* | 1.69% | 118 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 12,483 Valid: 6,983 (55.94%) Spoilt: 119 Quota: 1,164 Turnout: 7,102 (56.89%) ||||||||||

## 2011 Election

2005: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP
2011: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP
2005-2011 Change: Sinn Féin gain from DUP
Magherafelt Town - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Sinn Féin | Peter Bateson* | 23.66% | 1,616 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Paul McLean* | 15.72% | 1,074 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Jim Campbell* | 12.43% | 849 | 900.6 | 901.32 | 1,191.32 | | |
| | UUP | George Shiels* | 10.16% | 694 | 694 | 712.27 | 718.67 | 733.67 | 990.07 |
| | Sinn Féin | Deborah Ní Shiadhail | 11.77% | 804 | 894.4 | 894.4 | 925.8 | 969.8 | 970.8 |
| | Sinn Féin | Catherine Elattar | 5.99% | 409 | 871 | 871 | 890.8 | 946.8 | 949.8 |
| | TUV | Alan Dickson | 8.45% | 577 | 577 | 583.57 | 584.97 | 585.97 | 704.97 |
| | DUP | Wesley Brown | 6.59% | 450 | 451.2 | 519.24 | 520.42 | 526.42 | |
| | SDLP | Denise Johnston | 5.24% | 358 | 382.8 | 383.07 | | | |
| Electorate: 11,154 Valid: 6,831 (61.24%) Spoilt: 137 Quota: 976 Turnout: 6,968 (62.47%) ||||||||||

## 2005 Election

2001: 2 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP
2005: 3 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP
2001-2005 Change: No change
Magherafelt Town - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | William McCrea* | 31.69% | 2,286 | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Peter Bateson | 17.61% | 1,270 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Paul McLean* | 3.47% | 250 | 1,395.76 | | | | |
| | UUP | George Shiels* | 9.58% | 691 | 773.88 | 1,124.12 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Sean McPeake | 11.73% | 846 | 846.56 | 846.78 | 927.15 | 927.15 | 1,300.15 |
| | SDLP | Jim Campbell | 12.99% | 937 | 941.48 | 949.84 | 959.34 | 1,009.5 | 1,034.37 |
| | SDLP | Brendan Scott | 7.26% | 524 | 525.12 | 528.42 | 532.79 | 574.97 | 604.03 |
| | Sinn Féin | Seamus O'Brien* | 5.67% | 409 | 409 | 409.44 | 553.84 | 554.03 | |
| Electorate: 10,439 Valid: 7,213 (69.10%) Spoilt: 129 Quota: 1,031 Turnout: 7,342 (70.33%) ||||||||||

## 2001 Election

1997: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP
2001: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP
1997-2001 Change: No change
Magherafelt Town - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | DUP | William McCrea* | 28.10% | 2,255 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | John Kelly* | 21.18% | 1,700 | | | |
| | UUP | George Shiels* | 13.74% | 1,103 | 1,213.5 | | |
| | DUP | Paul McLean* | 2.45% | 197 | 1,190.5 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Seamus O'Brien* | 13.52% | 1,085 | 1,085.5 | 1,538.59 | |
| | SDLP | Joseph McBride* | 12.33% | 990 | 992 | 1,061.96 | 1,258.64 |
| | SDLP | Frances Symington | 8.67% | 696 | 697.5 | 716.97 | 815.64 |
| Electorate: 10,509 Valid: 8,026 (76.37%) Spoilt: 127 Quota: 1,147 Turnout: 8,153 (77.58%) ||||||||

## 1997 Election

1993: 2 x DUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP
1997: 2 x DUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP
1993-1997 Change: No change
Magherafelt Town - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | DUP | William McCrea* | 37.50% | 2,675 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Seamus O'Brien | 24.91% | 1,777 | | | |
| | SDLP | Patrick Kilpatrick* | 16.11% | 1,149 | | | |
| | DUP | Paul McLean* | 1.50% | 107 | 1,551.6 | | |
| | SDLP | Joseph McBride* | 7.00% | 499 | 499.62 | 1,184.76 | |
| | UUP | George Shiels | 11.44% | 816 | 1,007.58 | 1,008.15 | 1,514.25 |
| | Independent Labour | Harry Hutchinson | 1.02% | 73 | 78.58 | 101.95 | 114.25 |
| | Workers' Party | Marian Donnelly | 0.52% | 37 | 38.24 | 80.42 | 81.92 |
| Electorate: 10,104 Valid: 7,133 (70.60%) Spoilt: 89 Quota: 1,019 Turnout: 7,222 (71.48%) ||||||||

## 1993 Election

1989: 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin
1993: 2 x DUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin
1989-1993 Change: SDLP gain due to the addition of one seat
Magherafelt Town - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | DUP | William McCrea* | 31.73% | 2,142 | | |
| | SDLP | Patrick Kilpatrick* | 21.11% | 1,425 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | John Hurl* | 16.50% | 1,114 | | |
| | UUP | Ernest Caldwell* | 13.79% | 931 | 1,088.3 | |
| | SDLP | Joseph McBride | 10.65% | 719 | 720.65 | 1,173.53 |
| | DUP | Paul McLean* | 1.30% | 88 | 950.75 | 960.09 |
| | UUP | George Shiels | 4.44% | 300 | 380.85 | 382.21 |
| | DUP | Daniel McAllister | 0.47% | 32 | 85.35 | 88.41 |
| Electorate: 9,376 Valid: 6,751 (72.00%) Spoilt: 131 Quota: 965 Turnout: 6,882 (73.40%) |||||||

## 1989 Election

1985: 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin
1989: 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin
1985-1989 Change: No change
Magherafelt Town - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | DUP | William McCrea* | 34.33% | 2,162 | | | |
| | SDLP | Patrick Kilpatrick* | 20.17% | 1,270 | | | |
| | UUP | Ernest Caldwell* | 18.55% | 1,168 | | | |
| | DUP | Paul McLean | 2.38% | 150 | 1,248.24 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | John Hurl | 15.93% | 1,003 | 1,003 | 1,021 | 1,034.26 |
| | SDLP | Margaret O'Hagan | 7.27% | 458 | 459.04 | 648.76 | 713.06 |
| | Workers' Party | Marian Donnelly | 1.38% | 87 | 90.12 | 101.1 | |
| Electorate: 8,585 Valid: 6,298 (73.36%) Spoilt: 123 Quota: 1,050 Turnout: 6,421 (74.79%) ||||||||

## 1985 Election

1985: 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin
Magherafelt Town - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | DUP | William McCrea* | 32.24% | 2,050 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Bhrighde Mac Giolla | 20.40% | 1,297 | | | |
| | SDLP | Patrick Kilpatrick | 16.80% | 1,068 | | | |
| | UUP | Ernest Caldwell | 13.38% | 851 | 975.32 | 976.34 | 1,367.34 |
| | DUP | Barclay Morrow | 2.28% | 145 | 956.68 | 957.02 | 1,031.74 |
| | SDLP | Joseph McGlone | 6.35% | 404 | 406.4 | 616.86 | 687.1 |
| | UUP | James Artt | 5.21% | 331 | 367.48 | 367.82 | |
| | Alliance | Harold Hutchinson | 3.35% | 213 | 218.28 | 238 | |
| Electorate: 8,009 Valid: 6,359 (79.40%) Spoilt: 81 Quota: 1,060 Turnout: 6,440 (80.41%) ||||||||