Central Armagh (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
Central Armagh was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland
.
. It was created when the House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929
introduced first-past-the-post
elections throughout Northern Ireland
. Central Armagh was created by the division of Armagh into four new constituencies. The constituency survived unchanged, returning one member of Parliament, until the Parliament of Northern Ireland was temporarily suspended
in 1972, and then formally abolished
in 1973.
The seat was centred on the towns of Portadown
and Tandragee and included parts of the rural districts of Armagh
, Lurgan
and Tandragee.
candidates. It was twice contested by labour movement candidates, who took around one third of the votes cast.
, 1933
and 1938 Northern Ireland general elections
, David Shillington was elected unopposed.
At the 1941 by-election, George Dougan
was elected unopposed.
At the 1949
, and 1953 Northern Ireland general elections
, George Dougan
was elected unopposed.
At the 1955 by-election and the Northern Ireland general election, 1958
, Isaac Hawthorne was elected unopposed.
At Northern Ireland general election, 1965
, Isaac Hawthorne was elected unopposed.
At Northern Ireland general election, 1969
, Herbert Whitten
was elected unopposed.
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...
.
Boundaries
Central Armagh was a county constituency comprising the north central part of County ArmaghCounty Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
. It was created when the House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929
House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929
The House of Commons Act 1929 was an Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland; its major provision was to abolish proportional representation for all future elections in Northern Ireland....
introduced first-past-the-post
First-past-the-post
First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...
elections throughout 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...
. Central Armagh was created by the division of Armagh into four new constituencies. The constituency survived unchanged, returning one member of Parliament, until the Parliament of Northern Ireland was temporarily suspended
Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972
The Northern Ireland Act 1972 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that introduced direct rule in Northern Ireland with effect from 30 March 1972....
in 1972, and then formally abolished
Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973
The Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which received the Royal Assent on 18 July 1973...
in 1973.
The seat was centred on the towns of Portadown
Portadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
and Tandragee and included parts of the rural districts of Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, Lurgan
Lurgan
Lurgan is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town is near the southern shore of Lough Neagh and in the north-eastern corner of the county. Part of the Craigavon Borough Council area, Lurgan is about 18 miles south-west of Belfast and is linked to the city by both the M1 motorway...
and Tandragee.
Politics
The seat was always won by Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist Party
The 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...
candidates. It was twice contested by labour movement candidates, who took around one third of the votes cast.
Members of Parliament
Elected | Party | Name |
---|---|
1929 Northern Ireland general election, 1929 -References:*... |
David Shillington |
1941 |
George Dougan George Dougan George Dougan was a dispensary doctor and MP for Central Armagh in the Parliament of Northern Ireland. Dougan was elected to Stormont on 15 March 1941, replacing David Shillington.... |
1955 |
Isaac Hawthorne |
1969 Northern Ireland general election, 1969 -References:*... |
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... |
Election results
At the 1929Northern Ireland general election, 1929
-References:*...
, 1933
Northern Ireland general election, 1933
-References:*...
and 1938 Northern Ireland general elections
Northern Ireland general election, 1938
-References:*...
, David Shillington was elected unopposed.
At the 1941 by-election, George Dougan
George Dougan
George Dougan was a dispensary doctor and MP for Central Armagh in the Parliament of Northern Ireland. Dougan was elected to Stormont on 15 March 1941, replacing David Shillington....
was elected unopposed.
At the 1949
Northern Ireland general election, 1949
-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1949...
, and 1953 Northern Ireland general elections
Northern Ireland general election, 1953
-References:*...
, George Dougan
George Dougan
George Dougan was a dispensary doctor and MP for Central Armagh in the Parliament of Northern Ireland. Dougan was elected to Stormont on 15 March 1941, replacing David Shillington....
was elected unopposed.
At the 1955 by-election and the Northern Ireland general election, 1958
Northern Ireland general election, 1958
-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1958...
, Isaac Hawthorne was elected unopposed.
At Northern Ireland general election, 1965
Northern Ireland general election, 1965
-Seats summary:-References:*...
, Isaac Hawthorne was elected unopposed.
At Northern Ireland general election, 1969
Northern Ireland general election, 1969
-References:*...
, 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...
was elected unopposed.