Armagh (Assembly constituency)
Encyclopedia
Armagh was a constituency used for the Northern Ireland Assembly
.
The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland
-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973. Members were then elected from the constituency to the 1975 Constitutional Convention
and the 1982 Assembly
. After the Assembly dissolved in 1986, the constituency was not used again, its area being represented by parts of Newry and Armagh
and Upper Bann
.
It usually shared boundaries with the Armagh UK Parliament constituency
, however the boundaries of the two constituencies were slightly different from 1983 to 1986 as the Assembly boundaries had not caught up with Parliamentary boundary changes.
For further details of the history and boundaries of the constituency, see Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
.
to account, in the hope that this would be the first step towards restoring devolution. Armagh elected 7 members as follows:
Changes 1982-1986
In 1975 elections were held to a Constitutional Convention which sought (unsuccessfully) to generate a consensus on the future of the province. The seven members elected from Armagh were:
In 1973 elections were held to the Assembly set up under the Sunningdale Agreement
. The seven members elected from Armagh were:
source:
source:
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
.
The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973. Members were then elected from the constituency to the 1975 Constitutional Convention
Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention was an elected body set up in 1975 by the UK Labour government of Harold Wilson as an attempt to deal with constitutional issues surrounding the status of Northern Ireland....
and the 1982 Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly, 1982
The Northern Ireland Assembly established in 1982 represented an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to restore the devolution to Northern Ireland which had been suspended 10 years previously. The Assembly was abolished in 1986.-Origins:...
. After the Assembly dissolved in 1986, the constituency was not used again, its area being represented by parts of Newry and Armagh
Newry and Armagh (Assembly constituency)
Newry and Armagh is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly....
and Upper Bann
Upper Bann (Assembly constituency)
Upper Bann is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996...
.
It usually shared boundaries with the Armagh UK Parliament constituency
Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
Armagh or County Armagh was a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons. It was replaced in boundary changes in 1983.The Act of Union 1800 provided for the Parliament of Ireland to be merged with the Parliament of Great Britain, to form the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, however the boundaries of the two constituencies were slightly different from 1983 to 1986 as the Assembly boundaries had not caught up with Parliamentary boundary changes.
For further details of the history and boundaries of the constituency, see Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
Armagh or County Armagh was a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons. It was replaced in boundary changes in 1983.The Act of Union 1800 provided for the Parliament of Ireland to be merged with the Parliament of Great Britain, to form the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
.
Members
In 1982 elections were held for an Assembly for Northern Ireland to hold the Secretary of StateSecretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
to account, in the hope that this would be the first step towards restoring devolution. Armagh elected 7 members as follows:
- David CalvertDavid CalvertDavid Calvert is a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Calvert worked as a director of a family shirt manufacturing company. He was a founder member of the Democratic Unionist Party in County Armagh. He was elected to Craigavon Borough Council in 1973, and held his seat until he stood down...
Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist PartyThe Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the... - Seamus MallonSeamus MallonSeamus Frederick Mallon born 17 August 1936, in Markethill, County Armagh, is an Irish politician and former Deputy Leader of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland...
Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Jim McAllisterJim McAllister (Irish republican)James McAllister , known as Jim McAllister, is an Irish republican activist and former politician.Born in Crossmaglen, County Armagh, McAllister first became involved in the republican movement in the 1950s, at the end of the Border Campaign. He joined Sinn Féin in 1962, but moved to England later...
Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970... - Harold McCuskerHarold McCuskerJames Harold McCusker was a Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist Party politician who served as his party's deputy leader....
Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland... - Hugh NewsHugh NewsHugh News is a former Irish nationalist politician.News studied at St Colman's College, Newry before working as a pharmacist and publican in Lurgan. In 1964, he was elected to Lurgan Borough Council, serving for three years as a member of the Independent Citizens' Association...
Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Jim NicholsonJim Nicholson (UK politician)James Frederick "Jim" Nicholson is a Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist Party politician, who is currently a Member of the European Parliament .-Career:...
Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland... - Mary Simpson Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
Changes 1982-1986
- Seamus MallonSeamus MallonSeamus Frederick Mallon born 17 August 1936, in Markethill, County Armagh, is an Irish politician and former Deputy Leader of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland...
of the SDLP was disqualified from the Assembly as he was a member of the Republic of IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's Senate. The resulting by-election on April 20, 1983 was won by Jim SpeersJim SpeersJim Speers, known as Jim Speers, is a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Speers works as a businessman and part-time farmer. He was elected to Armagh City and District Council in 1977 for the Ulster Unionist Party ....
of the Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
.
In 1975 elections were held to a Constitutional Convention which sought (unsuccessfully) to generate a consensus on the future of the province. The seven members elected from Armagh were:
- Michael ArmstrongMichael Armstrong (politician)Michael Armstrong was a Northern Irish politician, barrister and soldier.Born in France, Armstrong studied law at Cambridge University and practised as a barrister before embarking on a military career...
Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland... - Alister Black Vanguard Progressive Unionist PartyVanguard Progressive Unionist PartyThe Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party , informally known as Ulster Vanguard, was a unionist political party which existed in Northern Ireland between 1973 and 1978...
- Thomas CarsonThomas CarsonThe Rt Rev Thomas CarsonLLD was a 19th century Irish Anglican Bishop . He held incumbencies at Urney, Cavan and then Cloon. Next he was Archdeacon of Ardagh , and after that Vicar general and then Dean of Kilmore in 1860 before elevation in 1870 to the Episcopate as the 5th Bishop of the United...
Vanguard Progressive Unionist PartyVanguard Progressive Unionist PartyThe Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party , informally known as Ulster Vanguard, was a unionist political party which existed in Northern Ireland between 1973 and 1978... - Douglas HutchinsonDouglas HutchinsonDouglas Hutchinson was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Richhill, County Armagh, Hutchinson worked as a fruit farmer. In 1953, he succeeded his father as an Ulster Unionist Party member of Armagh Rural District Council, holding his seat until its abolition in 1973...
Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist PartyThe Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the... - Seamus MallonSeamus MallonSeamus Frederick Mallon born 17 August 1936, in Markethill, County Armagh, is an Irish politician and former Deputy Leader of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland...
Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Hugh NewsHugh NewsHugh News is a former Irish nationalist politician.News studied at St Colman's College, Newry before working as a pharmacist and publican in Lurgan. In 1964, he was elected to Lurgan Borough Council, serving for three years as a member of the Independent Citizens' Association...
Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Herbert WhittenHerbert WhittenHerbert Whitten was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Portadown, Whitten became the managing director of T. A. Shillington, a builders' merchants...
Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
In 1973 elections were held to the Assembly set up under the Sunningdale Agreement
Sunningdale Agreement
The Sunningdale Agreement was an attempt to establish a power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive and a cross-border Council of Ireland. The Agreement was signed at the Civil Service College in Sunningdale Park located in Sunningdale, Berkshire, on 9 December 1973.Unionist opposition, violence and...
. The seven members elected from Armagh were:
- Thomas CarsonThomas CarsonThe Rt Rev Thomas CarsonLLD was a 19th century Irish Anglican Bishop . He held incumbencies at Urney, Cavan and then Cloon. Next he was Archdeacon of Ardagh , and after that Vicar general and then Dean of Kilmore in 1860 before elevation in 1870 to the Episcopate as the 5th Bishop of the United...
Vanguard Progressive Unionist PartyVanguard Progressive Unionist PartyThe Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party , informally known as Ulster Vanguard, was a unionist political party which existed in Northern Ireland between 1973 and 1978... - Paddy O'HanlonPaddy O'HanlonPatrick Michael O'Hanlon , known as Paddy O'Hanlon, was a barrister and former nationalist politician in Ireland....
Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Douglas HutchinsonDouglas HutchinsonDouglas Hutchinson was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Richhill, County Armagh, Hutchinson worked as a fruit farmer. In 1953, he succeeded his father as an Ulster Unionist Party member of Armagh Rural District Council, holding his seat until its abolition in 1973...
Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist PartyThe Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the... - Seamus MallonSeamus MallonSeamus Frederick Mallon born 17 August 1936, in Markethill, County Armagh, is an Irish politician and former Deputy Leader of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland...
Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - Hugh NewsHugh NewsHugh News is a former Irish nationalist politician.News studied at St Colman's College, Newry before working as a pharmacist and publican in Lurgan. In 1964, he was elected to Lurgan Borough Council, serving for three years as a member of the Independent Citizens' Association...
Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom... - James Stronge Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
pro Sunningdale - Herbert WhittenHerbert WhittenHerbert Whitten was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Portadown, Whitten became the managing director of T. A. Shillington, a builders' merchants...
Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
pro Sunningdale
1982
| Assembly Election – 20 October, 1982 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Count 1 | Count 2 | Count 3 | Count 4 | Count 5 | Count 6 | Count 7 | Count 8 | Count 9 | Count 10 | Count 11 | Count 12 | Count 13 | Count 14 | |
| Harold McCusker Harold McCusker James Harold McCusker was a Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist Party politician who served as his party's deputy leader.... |
19547 | |||||||||||||||
| Seamus Mallon Seamus Mallon Seamus Frederick Mallon born 17 August 1936, in Markethill, County Armagh, is an Irish politician and former Deputy Leader of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland... |
8528 | 8528 | ||||||||||||||
| Jim McAllister Jim McAllister (Irish republican) James McAllister , known as Jim McAllister, is an Irish republican activist and former politician.Born in Crossmaglen, County Armagh, McAllister first became involved in the republican movement in the 1950s, at the end of the Border Campaign. He joined Sinn Féin in 1962, but moved to England later... |
5182 | 5188 | 5230 | 5247 | 5248 | 7717 | 7720 | 7721 | 8090 | |||||||
| Paddy O'Hanlon Paddy O'Hanlon Patrick Michael O'Hanlon , known as Paddy O'Hanlon, was a barrister and former nationalist politician in Ireland.... |
4231 | 4239 | 4501 | 4688 | 4691 | 4799 | 4800 | 4801 | 5199 | 5245 | 5252 | 5254 | 5255 | 5288 | ||
| Jim O'Hagan | 3042 | 3049 | 3072 | 3088 | 3088 | |||||||||||
| Hugh News Hugh News Hugh News is a former Irish nationalist politician.News studied at St Colman's College, Newry before working as a pharmacist and publican in Lurgan. In 1964, he was elected to Lurgan Borough Council, serving for three years as a member of the Independent Citizens' Association... |
2871 | 2883 | 3256 | 3578 | 3580 | 3778 | 3781 | 3781 | 5460 | 5566 | 5570 | 5571 | 5576 | 5607 | ||
| Tom French Tom French (politician) Tom French is a former President of the Workers' Party of Ireland and former member of Craigavon Borough Council.Born in Belfast in 1934, French joined Sinn Féin as a youth and remained with the party as it evolved into the Workers' Party.... |
2826 | 2850 | 2872 | 3270 | 3272 | 3470 | 3494 | 3494 | ||||||||
| Jim Nicholson Jim Nicholson (UK politician) James Frederick "Jim" Nicholson is a Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist Party politician, who is currently a Member of the European Parliament .-Career:... |
2590 | 7155 | 7156 | 7384 | 7472 | 7472 | 8137 | |||||||||
| David Calvert David Calvert David Calvert is a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Calvert worked as a director of a family shirt manufacturing company. He was a founder member of the Democratic Unionist Party in County Armagh. He was elected to Craigavon Borough Council in 1973, and held his seat until he stood down... |
2661 | 3110 | 3110 | 3124 | 3873 | 3873 | 4845 | 4868 | 4887 | 4887 | 5135 | 5310 | 9459 | |||
| Douglas Hutchinson Douglas Hutchinson Douglas Hutchinson was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Richhill, County Armagh, Hutchinson worked as a fruit farmer. In 1953, he succeeded his father as an Ulster Unionist Party member of Armagh Rural District Council, holding his seat until its abolition in 1973... |
2333 | 2894 | 2894 | 2915 | 3630 | 3631 | 4259 | 4280 | 4297 | 4298 | 4741 | 5016 | ||||
| Alister Black | 2014 | 2873 | 2873 | 2941 | 3096 | 3096 | ||||||||||
| Jim Speers Jim Speers Jim Speers, known as Jim Speers, is a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Speers works as a businessman and part-time farmer. He was elected to Armagh City and District Council in 1977 for the Ulster Unionist Party .... |
1836 | 3438 | 3438 | 3538 | 3623 | 3625 | 3858 | 3953 | 3981 | 3982 | ||||||
| William Jeffrey | 1806 | 1942 | 1958 | |||||||||||||
| Woolsey Smith | 1716 | 2028 | 2028 | 2039 | ||||||||||||
| Mary Simpson | 721 | 3838 | 3838 | 4147 | 4360 | 4361 | 4857 | 5126 | 5220 | 5221 | 8212 | |||||
source:
1975
| Constitutional Covention Election – 1 May, 1975 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Count 1 | Count 2 | Count 3 | Count 4 | Count 5 | Count 6 | Count 7 | Count 8 | Count 9 | |
| Seamus Mallon Seamus Mallon Seamus Frederick Mallon born 17 August 1936, in Markethill, County Armagh, is an Irish politician and former Deputy Leader of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland... |
8999 | ||||||||||
| Michael Armstrong Michael Armstrong (politician) Michael Armstrong was a Northern Irish politician, barrister and soldier.Born in France, Armstrong studied law at Cambridge University and practised as a barrister before embarking on a military career... |
8802 | 8802 | |||||||||
| Douglas Hutchinson Douglas Hutchinson Douglas Hutchinson was a unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Richhill, County Armagh, Hutchinson worked as a fruit farmer. In 1953, he succeeded his father as an Ulster Unionist Party member of Armagh Rural District Council, holding his seat until its abolition in 1973... |
7746 | 7746 | 7746 | ||||||||
| Thomas Carson Thomas Carson The Rt Rev Thomas CarsonLLD was a 19th century Irish Anglican Bishop . He held incumbencies at Urney, Cavan and then Cloon. Next he was Archdeacon of Ardagh , and after that Vicar general and then Dean of Kilmore in 1860 before elevation in 1870 to the Episcopate as the 5th Bishop of the United... |
5974 | 5974 | 6225 | 6367 | 6371 | 6388 | 6439 | 6448 | 6885 | ||
| Alister Black | 5435 | 5435 | 6064 | 6180 | 6188 | 6213 | 6283 | 6287 | 6789 | ||
| Herbert Whitten Herbert Whitten Herbert Whitten was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Portadown, Whitten became the managing director of T. A. Shillington, a builders' merchants... |
4843 | 4843 | 5198 | 5240 | 5242 | 5276 | 5381 | 5383 | 7021 | ||
| Paddy O'Hanlon Paddy O'Hanlon Patrick Michael O'Hanlon , known as Paddy O'Hanlon, was a barrister and former nationalist politician in Ireland.... |
4710 | 5095 | 5095 | 5095 | 5190 | 5206 | 5678 | 6243 | 6361 | ||
| Hugh News Hugh News Hugh News is a former Irish nationalist politician.News studied at St Colman's College, Newry before working as a pharmacist and publican in Lurgan. In 1964, he was elected to Lurgan Borough Council, serving for three years as a member of the Independent Citizens' Association... |
3303 | 4261 | 4261 | 4261 | 4327 | 4375 | 5074 | 6140 | 6457 | ||
| John Maginnis | 2797 | 2798 | 2860 | 2867 | 2870 | 3002 | 3838 | 3856 | |||
| Malachy McGurran Malachy McGurran Malachy McGurran was a leading Irish republican and founding member of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, of which he was chairman.... |
2577 | 2650 | 2650 | 2650 | 3587 | 3602 | 3761 | ||||
| Michael Connolly | 1742 | 1781 | 1787 | 1788 | 1806 | 2828 | |||||
| Brian English | 1307 | 1318 | 1327 | 1328 | 1332 | ||||||
| Patrick Houlahan | 617 | 636 | 636 | 637 | |||||||
| Thomas Moore | 536 | 546 | 546 | 546 | |||||||
source: