Belfast West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Encyclopedia
Belfast West, was a former potential Dáil Éireann
parliamentary constituency. It was a Dáil constituency 1921-1922.
(known in English as Deputies) in 1921 to serve in the Irish Republic
's Second Dáil
. None of the four took their seat in the Dáil.
The First Dáil
, passed a motion at its last meeting on 10 May 1921, the first three parts of which make explicit the republican view.
Sinn Féin
used the elections
in 1921 to elect the Dáil. The Second Dáil
first met on 16 August 1921. It last met on 8 June 1922.
From the Third Dáil
onwards the Dáil represented only the twenty-six counties which formed the Irish Free State
.
Belfast West is also a United Kingdom
Parliament constituency. It has been represented by one member from 1922. The constituency sent four MPs to the Northern Ireland House of Commons 1921-1929.
of Belfast
. It included Court, Falls, St. Anne's, St. George's, Smithfield and Woodvale wards.
Between 1918-1921 the area was divided into three single-member constituencies, Belfast Falls, Belfast St Anne's and Belfast Woodvale.
s won the remaining seat (the only non Unionist one in Belfast). Sinn Féin
's combined vote did not amount to a quota of more than one-fifth of the ballots.
Thomas Burn was a member of the Ulster Unionist Labour Association
. He sat in the United Kingdom House of Commons as a Labour Unionist.
Joe Devlin, the Nationalist leader, was also elected for Antrim. Although he was more associated with Belfast and preferred to represent this seat, as he did not take either seat in the Northern Ireland House of Commons, he could not formally disclaim one.
William Twaddell was assassinated in 1922. The by-election to fill the vacancy in the Parliament of Northern Ireland
did not take place until after the election of the Third Dáil, so it is not relevant for this article.
, SF Sinn Féin
, U Ulster Unionist.
method of proportional representation
.
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
parliamentary constituency. It was a Dáil constituency 1921-1922.
Representation
The constituency was entitled to return four Teachtaí DálaTeachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(known in English as Deputies) in 1921 to serve in the Irish Republic
Irish Republic
The Irish Republic was a revolutionary state that declared its independence from Great Britain in January 1919. It established a legislature , a government , a court system and a police force...
's Second Dáil
Second Dáil
The Second Dáil was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 16 August 1921 until 8 June 1922. From 1919–1922 Dáil Éireann was the revolutionary parliament of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic. The Second Dáil consisted of members elected in 1921...
. None of the four took their seat in the Dáil.
The First Dáil
First Dáil
The First Dáil was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 1919–1921. In 1919 candidates who had been elected in the Westminster elections of 1918 refused to recognise the Parliament of the United Kingdom and instead assembled as a unicameral, revolutionary parliament called "Dáil Éireann"...
, passed a motion at its last meeting on 10 May 1921, the first three parts of which make explicit the republican view.
- 1. That the Parliamentary elections which are to take place during the present month be regarded as elections to Dáil Éireann.
- 2. That all deputies duly returned at these elections be regarded as members of Dáil Éireann and allowed to take their seats on subscribing to the proposed Oath of Allegiance.
- 3. That the present Dáil dissolve automatically as soon as the new body has been summoned by the President and called to order.
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn 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...
used the elections
Irish elections, 1921
Two elections in Ireland took place in 1921, as a result of the Government of Ireland Act 1920 to establish the House of Commons of Northern Ireland and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. The election was used by Irish Republicans as the basis of membership of the Second Dáil...
in 1921 to elect the Dáil. The Second Dáil
Second Dáil
The Second Dáil was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 16 August 1921 until 8 June 1922. From 1919–1922 Dáil Éireann was the revolutionary parliament of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic. The Second Dáil consisted of members elected in 1921...
first met on 16 August 1921. It last met on 8 June 1922.
From the Third Dáil
Third Dáil
The Third Dáil, also known as the Provisional Parliament or the Constituent Assembly, was:*the "provisional parliament" or "constituent assembly" of Southern Ireland from 9 August 1922 until 6 December 1922; and...
onwards the Dáil represented only the twenty-six counties which formed the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
.
Belfast West is also a United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Parliament constituency. It has been represented by one member from 1922. The constituency sent four MPs to the Northern Ireland House of Commons 1921-1929.
Boundaries and Boundary Changes
Belfast West was a borough constituency comprising part of the county boroughCounty borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. It included Court, Falls, St. Anne's, St. George's, Smithfield and Woodvale wards.
Between 1918-1921 the area was divided into three single-member constituencies, Belfast Falls, Belfast St Anne's and Belfast Woodvale.
Politics of the constituency
In 1921 the area was predominantly Unionist, with the party winning three seats. The NationalistNationalist Party (Ireland)
The Nationalist Party was a term commonly used to describe a number of parliamentary political parties and constituency organisations supportive of Home Rule for Ireland from 1874 to 1922...
s won the remaining seat (the only non Unionist one in Belfast). Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn 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...
's combined vote did not amount to a quota of more than one-fifth of the ballots.
Thomas Burn was a member of the Ulster Unionist Labour Association
Ulster Unionist Labour Association
The Ulster Unionist Labour Association was an association of trade unionists founded by Edward Carson in June 1918, aligned with the Ulster Unionists in Northern Ireland. Members were known as Labour Unionists. 1918 and 1919 were the years of intense class conflict throughout Britain. This period...
. He sat in the United Kingdom House of Commons as a Labour Unionist.
Joe Devlin, the Nationalist leader, was also elected for Antrim. Although he was more associated with Belfast and preferred to represent this seat, as he did not take either seat in the Northern Ireland House of Commons, he could not formally disclaim one.
William Twaddell was assassinated in 1922. The by-election to fill the vacancy in the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
did not take place until after the election of the Third Dáil, so it is not relevant for this article.
MPs
Key to parties: Ind Lab Independent Labour, N NationalistNationalist Party (Ireland)
The Nationalist Party was a term commonly used to describe a number of parliamentary political parties and constituency organisations supportive of Home Rule for Ireland from 1874 to 1922...
, SF Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn 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...
, U Ulster Unionist.
| From | To | Name (Party) | Born | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 1922 | Thomas Henry Burn Thomas Henry Burn Thomas Henry Burn was an Ulster Unionist member of the UK Parliament and the Parliament of Northern Ireland. He represented Belfast St Anne's in the former from 1918–1922, and Belfast West in the latter from 1921-1929.... (U) |
19 January 1875 | |
| 1921 | 1922 | Joseph Devlin Joseph Devlin Joseph Devlin, also known as Joe Devlin, was an Irish journalist and influential nationalist politician... (N) |
1872 | 18 January 1934 |
| 1921 | 1922 | Robert John Lynn (U) | 1873 | 5 August 1945 |
| 1921 | 1922 | William Twaddell William Twaddell William John Twaddell was a Unionist politician from Belfast.Twaddell was a draper from Belfast who was educated at a Belfast primary school.... (U) |
1884 | 22 May 1922 |
Elections
In 1921 parliamentary representatives of the constituency were elected using the single transferable voteSingle transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
method of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
.
- 1921 (24 May) general election (4 seats)
- 57,914 electors; 53,452 voted; turnout 92.3%; quota 10,691
- First count
- T.H. Burn (U) 13,298 (elected)
- J. Devlin (N) 10,621
- W.J. Twaddell (U) 10,316
- R.J. Lynn (U) 9,315
- D. McCullough (SF) 6,270
- S.F. McEntee (SF) 2,954
- J.A. Hanna (Ind Lab) 367
- R. Byrne (N) 311
- Second count (distribution of Burn's surplus)
- T.H. Burn (U) (-2,607) 10,691 (elected)
- J. Devlin (N) (+7) 10,628
- W.J. Twaddell (U) (+242) 10,558
- R.J. Lynn (U) (+2,331) 11,646 (elected)
- D. McCullough (SF) (+2) 6,272
- S.F. McEntee (SF) (..) 2,954
- J.A. Hanna (Ind Lab) (+13) 380
- R. Byrne (N) (+12) 323
- Third count (distribution of Lynn's surplus)
- T.H. Burn (U) (..) 10,691 (elected)
- J. Devlin (N) (+1) 10,629
- W.J. Twaddell (U) (+951) 11,509 (elected)
- R.J. Lynn (U) (-955) 10,691 (elected)
- D. McCullough (SF) (+2) 6,274
- S.F. McEntee (SF) (+1) 2,955
- J.A. Hanna (Ind Lab) (..) 380
- R. Byrne (N) (..) 323
- Fourth count (distribution of Twaddell's surplus)
- T.H. Burn (U) (..) 10,691 (elected)
- J. Devlin (N) (+3) 10,632 (elected)
- W.J. Twaddell (U) (-818) 10,691 (elected)
- R.J. Lynn (U) (..) 10,691 (elected)
- D. McCullough (SF) (..) 6,274
- S.F. McEntee (SF) (..) 2,955
- J.A. Hanna (Ind Lab) (+3) 383
- R. Byrne (N) (..) 323
- Non-transferable (+812) 812
- Seat vacant, before the last sitting of the Second Dáil, due to the killing of Twaddell
External links
- http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0
- http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/en.toc.dail.html
- http://www.election.demon.co.uk/stormont/stormont.html
See also
- Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast West is a parliamentary constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:The seat was restored in 1922 when as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
- Belfast (Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies)Belfast (Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies)Belfast is the largest city and capital of Northern Ireland. It is partly located in County Antrim and partly in County Down.Belfast was represented in the Northern Ireland House of Commons 1921-1973. This article deals with the Belfast borough constituencies...
- List of Dáil Éireann constituencies in Ireland (historic)
- Dáil Éireann (1919-1922)Dáil Éireann (1919-1922)Dáil Éireann was the revolutionary, unicameral parliament of the unilaterally declared Irish Republic from 1919–1922. The Dáil was first formed by 73 Sinn Féin MPs elected in the 1918 United Kingdom general election. Their manifesto refused to recognise the British parliament at Westminster and...