Down is one of the six counties comprising 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...

.

County Down

County Down

-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...

 was represented in the Northern Ireland House of Commons 1921-1973. This article deals with the Down County constituencies. For the County Down Borough constituencies in the City 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...

, see 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...

. See also the List of Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies 1921-1973.

Boundaries

1921-1929: The part of County Down not included in the Belfast seats was an eight member constituency, electing MPs using the single transferable vote

Single 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...

. There was a two member UK Parliament constituency of Down

Down (UK Parliament constituency)

Down was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It was a two member constituency and existed in two periods, 1801-1885 and 1922-1950.-Boundaries:1801-1885: The whole of County Down, excluding the Boroughs of Downpatrick and Newry....

, 1922-1950, with the same boundaries.

1929-1969: The area was divided into eight single member divisions, electing MPs using the first past the post electoral system. From north to south the divisions were:-

• North.
• Ards.
• Mid.
• Iveagh.
• East.
• West.
• Mourne.
• South.

1969-1973: Under the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1968, the four member Queen's University of Belfast constituency was abolished in 1969. Two of its seats were re-allocated to Down. The new divisions of Bangor and Lagan Valley affected the boundaries of the existing Mid and North seats.

Summary of Representation of Constituencies

Key to Parties: N Nationalist, Rep Republican, 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

• 1921-1925 U 6, N 1, SF 1 (1st Parliament)
• 1925-1929 U 6, N 1, Rep 1 (2nd Parliament)

Notes:-

Members of Parliament

In this list the multi member constituency (1921-29) is referred to as DOWN.

Dáil Éireann

In 1921 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...

 decided to use the UK authorised elections for the Northern Ireland House of Commons and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland as a poll for 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...

. This area, in republican theory, was the eight-member Dáil constituency of Down.

Sources

• Northern Ireland Parliamentary Election Results 1921-1972, compiled and edited by Sydney Elliott (Political Reference Publications 1973)
• For the exact definition of constituency boundaries see http://www.election.demon.co.uk/stormont/boundaries.html