# Ballymoney (District Electoral Area)

Ballymoney is one of the seven district electoral areas (DEA) in Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland. The district elects seven members to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and contains the wards of Ballymoney East, Ballymoney North, Ballymoney South, Clogh Mills, Dunloy, Rasharkin and Route. Ballymoney forms part of the North Antrim constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.
It was created for the 1985 local elections, replacing Ballymoney Area C which had existed since 1973. It was called Ballymoney Town until 2014, and contained five wards (Carnany, Fairhill, Glebe, Newhill and Route). For the 2014 local elections it gained most of the abolished Bann Valley DEA and parts of the abolished Bushvale DEA.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) | Councillor (Party) |
| May 2024 Defection | Lee Kane (Alliance) | Darryl Wilson (UUP) | Mervyn Storey (DUP) | Ivor Wallace (Independent)/ (DUP) | Jonathan McAuley (TUV) | | Leanne Peacock (Sinn Féin) | | Ciarán McQuillan (Sinn Féin) |
| 2023 | Lee Kane (Alliance) | Darryl Wilson (UUP) | Mervyn Storey (DUP) | Ivor Wallace (Independent)/ (DUP) | Jonathan McAuley (TUV) | | Leanne Peacock (Sinn Féin) | | Ciarán McQuillan (Sinn Féin) |
| August 2022 Co-Options | Tom McKeown (UUP) | Darryl Wilson (UUP) | Mervyn Storey (DUP) | Ivor Wallace (Independent)/ (DUP) | Alan McLean (DUP) | | Leanne Peacock (Sinn Féin) | | Ciarán McQuillan (Sinn Féin) |
| 2019 | Tom McKeown (UUP) | Darryl Wilson (UUP) | John Finlay (DUP) | Ivor Wallace (Independent)/ (DUP) | Alan McLean (DUP) | | Leanne Peacock (Sinn Féin) | | Cathal McLaughlin (Sinn Féin) |
| September 2016 Co-Option | Tom McKeown (UUP) | Darryl Wilson (UUP) | John Finlay (DUP) | Ian Stevenson (DUP) | Alan McLean (DUP) | | William Blair (TUV) | | Cathal McLaughlin (Sinn Féin) |
| 2014 | Tom McKeown (UUP) | Darryl Wilson (UUP) | John Finlay (DUP) | Ian Stevenson (DUP) | Alan McLean (DUP) | | William Blair (TUV) | | Philip McGuigan (Sinn Féin) |
| 2011 | Tom McKeown (UUP) | Iain McAfee (Independent) | Mervyn Storey (DUP) | Ian Stevenson (DUP) | Cecil Cousley (DUP) | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 |
| 2005 | Tom McKeown (UUP) | James Simpson (UUP) | Mervyn Storey (DUP) | Ian Stevenson (DUP) | Cecil Cousley (DUP) | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 |
| 2001 | Tom McKeown (UUP) | James Simpson (UUP) | Mervyn Storey (DUP) | Ian Stevenson (DUP) | Cecil Cousley (DUP) | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 |
| 1997 | Tom McKeown (UUP) | Bill Williamson (Independent) | Robert McComb (Independent) | Samuel McConaghie (DUP) | Cecil Cousley (DUP) | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 |
| 1993 | Tom McKeown (UUP) | James Simpson (UUP) | Robert McComb (Independent) | Samuel McConaghie (DUP) | Cecil Cousley (DUP) | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 |
| 1989 | James McKeown (UUP) | James Simpson (UUP) | Robert McComb (Independent) | Samuel McConaghie (DUP) | Cecil Cousley (DUP) | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 |
| 1985 | Adam McNeilly (UUP) | James Simpson (UUP) | Robert McComb (Independent) | Kenneth Blair (DUP) | Cecil Cousley (DUP) | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 | 5 seats 1985–2014 |

## 2023 Election

2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x UUP
2023: 2 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x TUV, 1 x Alliance
2019–2023 Change: Alliance and TUV gain from DUP and UUP
Ballymoney - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | DUP | Mervyn Storey* | 17.84% | 1,779 | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Ciarán McQuillan* | 13.24% | 1,320 | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Darryl Wilson* | 12.59% | 1,255 | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Leanne Peacock* | 11.97% | 1,194 | 1,195.50 | 1,259.50 | | | | |
| | DUP | Ivor Wallace* ‡ | 8.10% | 808 | 1,123.60 | 1,126.60 | 1,248.60 | | | |
| | Alliance | Lee Kane | 8.83% | 880 | 881.50 | 903.80 | 1,233.20 | 1,300.30 | | |
| | TUV | Jonathan McAuley | 9.98% | 995 | 1,025.30 | 1,030.30 | 1,134.40 | 1,134.70 | 1,139.20 | 1,139.20 |
| | DUP | Alan McLean* | 8.64% | 861 | 1,020.30 | 1,022.60 | 1,115.30 | 1,115.60 | 1,118.30 | 1,121.30 |
| | UUP | Tom McKeown* | 4.39% | 438 | 459.00 | 463.00 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Caitlin Bond | 2.87% | 286 | 286.30 | 314.30 | | | | |
| | Independent | Cathal McLaughlin | 1.55% | 155 | 155.60 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 18,117 Valid: 9,971 (55.04%) Spoilt: 119 Quota: 1,247 Turnout: 10,090 (55.69%) |||||||||||

## 2019 Election

2014: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x TUV
2019: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 2 x Sinn Féin
2014-2019 Change: Sinn Féin gain from TUV
Ballymoney - 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | UUP | Darryl Wilson* | 16.23% | 1,420 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | John Finlay* † | 15.11% | 1,322 | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Leanne Peacock | 13.18% | 1,153 | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Tom McKeown* | 5.85% | 512 | 702.67 | 716.1 | 735.27 | 802.23 | 802.38 | 1,143.38 |
| | DUP | Alan McLean* | 9.45% | 827 | 859.89 | 955.26 | 968.03 | 1,020.17 | 1,020.17 | 1,131.17 |
| | DUP | Ivor Wallace | 9.44% | 826 | 860.04 | 944.87 | 952.78 | 1,024.6 | 1,024.6 | 1,094 |
| | Sinn Féin | Cathal McLaughlin* † | 10.35% | 906 | 907.61 | 908.12 | 913.29 | 918.75 | 973.7 | 975.7 |
| | Alliance | Peter McCully | 8.34% | 734 | 744.81 | 745.49 | 762.95 | 798.04 | 799.59 | 827.49 |
| | TUV | William Blair* | 5.68% | 497 | 523.91 | 539.21 | 568.59 | 794.7 | 794.75 | |
| | Independent | Ian Stevenson* | 2.51% | 220 | 226.9 | 229.79 | 239.79 | | | |
| | TUV | John Wilson | 2.48% | 217 | 228.5 | 233.6 | 243.94 | | | |
| | UKIP | David Hanna | 1.34% | 117 | 121.83 | 125.57 | | | | |
| Electorate: 17,213 Valid: 8,751 (50.83%) Spoilt: 134 Quota: 1,094 Turnout: 8,885 (51.61%) |||||||||||

## 2014 Election

2011: 3 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent
2014: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x TUV
2011-2014 Change: UUP, Sinn Féin and TUV gain due to the addition of two seats
Ballymoney - 7 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 |
| | DUP | John Finlay* | 13.04% | 1,075 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Philip McGuigan* † | 11.41% | 941 | 941 | 942 | 958 | 1,011 | 1,023 | 1,023 | 1,183 | | | | |
| | TUV | William Blair* | 10.26% | 846 | 848.6 | 860.64 | 860.64 | 860.64 | 867.68 | 883.96 | 886.96 | 887.96 | 1,394.96 | | |
| | DUP | Ian Stevenson* | 7.19% | 593 | 600.84 | 613.96 | 616.96 | 618.96 | 630.96 | 972.96 | 983 | 983 | 1,020.64 | 1,107.76 | |
| | UUP | Darryl Wilson* | 9.14% | 754 | 755.4 | 776.48 | 777.48 | 777.48 | 813.48 | 837.8 | 853.8 | 853.8 | 870.92 | 952.76 | 965.96 |
| | UUP | Tom McKeown* | 7.53% | 621 | 623.92 | 654.92 | 655.92 | 657.96 | 724 | 745.2 | 765.2 | 767.2 | 801.64 | 905.48 | 913.40 |
| | DUP | Alan McLean* | 6.40% | 528 | 540.32 | 552.36 | 555.36 | 556.36 | 572.36 | 685.44 | 690.44 | 691.44 | 733.04 | 821.92 | 869.44 |
| | Sinn Féin | Leanne Peacock | 7.46% | 615 | 615 | 615 | 621 | 653 | 662 | 662 | 767 | 859 | 860.04 | 860.04 | 860.04 |
| | TUV | Jamise McIlhagga | 7.66% | 632 | 634.12 | 635.12 | 636.12 | 637.12 | 644.12 | 664.28 | 666.28 | | | | |
| | SDLP | Harry Boyle | 4.05% | 334 | 334.08 | 337.08 | 428.08 | 500.08 | 569.08 | 569.12 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Jonathan Wallace | 6.43% | 530 | 542.16 | 542.2 | 542.2 | 542.2 | 550.24 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Stephen McFarland | 3.69% | 304 | 304.24 | 326.24 | 340.24 | 348.24 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Charley O'Kane | 2.38% | 196 | 196.04 | 199.04 | 207.04 | | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Angela Mulholland | 1.81% | 149 | 149 | 150 | | | | | | | | | |
| | NI Conservatives | James Simpson | 1.56% | 129 | 129.36 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 16,836 Valid: 8,247 (48.98%) Spoilt: 115 Quota: 1,031 Turnout: 8,362 (49.67%) ||||||||||||||||

## 2011 Election

2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP
2011: 3 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent
2005-2011 Change: Independent gain from UUP
Ballymoney Town - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | Mervyn Storey* | 35.28% | 1,090 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Ian Stevenson* | 7.70% | 238 | 547.42 | | | | |
| | DUP | Cecil Cousley* | 8.77% | 271 | 360.1 | 370.7 | 382.46 | 558.64 | |
| | UUP | Tom McKeown* | 8.93% | 276 | 310.02 | 312.12 | 471.69 | 488.48 | 577.48 |
| | Independent | Iain McAfee | 11.23% | 347 | 366.98 | 368.58 | 384.73 | 397.3 | 448.47 |
| | SDLP | Daniel Hendrie | 9.90% | 306 | 313.02 | 313.22 | 316.22 | 317.81 | 323.91 |
| | TUV | Billy Kerr | 7.38% | 228 | 235.02 | 235.72 | 242.36 | 249.29 | |
| | DUP | Brian Kelly | 4.79% | 148 | 223.06 | 233.51 | 240.46 | | |
| | UUP | James Simpson* | 6.02% | 186 | 213 | 215.2 | | | |
| Electorate: 6,575 Valid: 3,090 (47.00%) Spoilt: 59 Quota: 516 Turnout: 3,149 (47.89%) ||||||||||

## 2005 Election

2001: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP
2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP
2001-2005 Change: No change
Ballymoney Town - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | DUP | Mervyn Storey* | 25.36% | 888 | | |
| | DUP | Cecil Cousley* | 23.54% | 824 | | |
| | DUP | Ian Stevenson* | 18.91% | 662 | | |
| | UUP | Tom McKeown* | 11.74% | 411 | 600.2 | |
| | UUP | James Simpson* | 7.43% | 260 | 367.25 | 594.65 |
| | SDLP | Justin McCamphill | 13.02% | 456 | 459.85 | 470.65 |
| Electorate: 6,551 Valid: 3,501 (53.44%) Spoilt: 77 Quota: 584 Turnout: 3,578 (54.62%) |||||||

## 2001 Election

1997: 2 x Independent, 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP
2001: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP
1997-2001 Change: DUP and UUP gain from Independent (two seats)
Ballymoney Town - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | Cecil Cousley* | 21.11% | 788 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Tom McKeown* | 10.61% | 396 | 408.6 | 454.28 | 631.28 | | |
| | DUP | Mervyn Storey | 11.49% | 429 | 485.49 | 493.12 | 497.33 | 661.33 | |
| | DUP | Ian Stevenson | 11.60% | 433 | 500.62 | 513.09 | 531.61 | 639.61 | |
| | UUP | James Simpson | 9.40% | 351 | 356.04 | 407.3 | 483.82 | 536.5 | 570.5 |
| | SDLP | Justin McCamphill | 12.30% | 459 | 459.84 | 485.05 | 497.05 | 507.05 | 509.05 |
| | Independent | Jim Wright | 10.07% | 376 | 379.57 | 420.2 | 424.83 | | |
| | UUP | William Johnston | 6.88% | 257 | 263.51 | 306.98 | | | |
| | Independent | Jeffrey Balmer | 3.35% | 125 | 128.78 | | | | |
| | Independent | Anne Logan | 3.19% | 119 | 123.41 | | | | |
| Electorate: 6,187 Valid: 3,733 (60.34%) Spoilt: 70 Quota: 623 Turnout: 3,803 (61.47%) ||||||||||

## 1997 Election

1993: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Independent
1997: 2 x Independent, 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP
1993-1997 Change: Independent gain from UUP
Ballymoney Town - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | DUP | Cecil Cousley* | 17.90% | 493 | | | | |
| | Independent | Robert McComb* | 15.72% | 433 | 435 | 469 | | |
| | UUP | Tom McKeown* | 12.09% | 333 | 334 | 370 | 422 | 438 |
| | Independent | Bill Williamson | 9.48% | 261 | 265 | 274 | 340 | 413 |
| | DUP | Samuel McConaghie* | 10.64% | 293 | 293 | 326 | 344 | 346 |
| | UUP | James Simpson* | 8.79% | 242 | 242 | 263 | 326 | 336 |
| | SDLP | Joan McCaffrey | 9.26% | 255 | 269 | 272 | 294 | |
| | Independent | Colin McVicker | 8.46% | 233 | 239 | 260 | | |
| | PUP | Jeffrey Balmer | 6.54% | 180 | 181 | | | |
| | NI Women's Coalition | Mary McCusker | 1.13% | 31 | | | | |
| Electorate: 5,905 Valid: 2,754 (46.64%) Spoilt: 53 Quota: 460 Turnout: 2,807 (47.54%) |||||||||

## 1993 Election

1989: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Independent
1993: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Independent
1989-1993 Change: No change
Ballymoney Town - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | DUP | Cecil Cousley* | 24.05% | 636 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Robert McComb* | 20.46% | 541 | | | | | |
| | DUP | Samuel McConaghie* | 12.59% | 333 | 475.29 | | | | |
| | UUP | Tom McKeown | 10.17% | 269 | 291.32 | 321.56 | 336.3 | 348.66 | 494.39 |
| | UUP | James Simpson* | 11.20% | 296 | 305.92 | 320.83 | 327.1 | 341.52 | 409.64 |
| | Independent | Colin McVicker | 6.58% | 174 | 180.2 | 199.1 | 202.4 | 309.49 | 342.53 |
| | UUP | Helen McKeown | 8.09% | 214 | 222.06 | 241.8 | 249.83 | 271.83 | |
| | Alliance | Hugh McFarland | 6.85% | 181 | 181.93 | 194.53 | 195.08 | | |
| Electorate: 5,804 Valid: 2,644 (45.55%) Spoilt: 56 Quota: 441 Turnout: 2,700 (46.52%) ||||||||||

## 1989 Election

1985: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Independent
1989: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Independent
1985-1989 Change: No change
Ballymoney Town - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 |
| | DUP | Cecil Cousley* | N/A | N/A |
| | UUP | James McKeown | N/A | N/A |
| | Independent | Robert McComb* | N/A | N/A |
| | DUP | Sam McConaghie | N/A | N/A |
| | UUP | James Simpson* | N/A | N/A |
| Electorate: N/A Valid: N/A Spoilt: N/A Quota: N/A Turnout: N/A |||||
* As only five candidates had been nominated for five seats, there was no vote in Ballymoney Town and all five candidates were deemed elected.

## 1985 Election

1985: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Independent
Ballymoney Town - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | Independent | Robert McComb* | 25.07% | 687 | | | | |
| | UUP | James Simpson | 16.53% | 453 | 502.45 | | | |
| | DUP | Cecil Cousley* | 15.47% | 424 | 457.97 | | | |
| | DUP | Kenneth Blair | 13.87% | 380 | 395.91 | 396.77 | 613.77 | |
| | UUP | Adam McNeilly | 10.00% | 274 | 326.03 | 347.53 | 381.12 | 430.12 |
| | UUP | James McKeown | 8.50% | 233 | 293.63 | 311.69 | 345.99 | 412.99 |
| | DUP | Ralph Stronge* | 10.55% | 289 | 304.05 | 307.06 | | |
| Electorate: 5,278 Valid: 2,740 (51.91%) Spoilt: 63 Quota: 457 Turnout: 2,803 (53.11%) |||||||||