East Down (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
East Down was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland
.
, Ballynahinch
, Crossgar
, Downpatrick
, Dunmore
, Killinchy, Killyleagh
, Kilmore
, Saintfield
and Strangford
, all in the current Down District Council
. It was created in 1929 as one of the eight seats replacing the former Down
constituency 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. 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.
members. On occasions, however, it was contested by members of the Ulster Liberal Party
, and various nationalist candidates who usually received over 40% of the votes cast.
, Alexander Gordon was elected unopposed.
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1945, Alexander Gordon was elected unopposed.
At the elections of 1953
, 1958
and 1962 Northern Ireland general elections
, Brian Faulkner 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
East Down was a county constituency comprising the towns of ArdglassArdglass
Ardglass is a coastal village in County Down, Northern Ireland and still a relatively important fishing harbour. It is situated on the B1 Ardglass to Downpatrick road, about 11 kilometres to the south east of Downpatrick, in the Lecale peninsula on the Irish Sea. It had a population of 1,668...
, Ballynahinch
Ballynahinch
Ballynahinch is the name of a number of towns in Ireland:*Ballynahinch, County Down, a town in Northern Ireland*Ballynahinch, County Armagh, a townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland*Ballynahinch, County Galway in the Republic of Ireland...
, Crossgar
Crossgar
Crossgar is a village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is about 15 miles south of Belfast – between Saintfield and Downpatrick. Crossgar had a population of 1,539 people in the 2001 Census.- History :...
, Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
, Dunmore
Dunmore
Dunmore is a village in County Galway, Ireland. It is located on the N83 national secondary road at its junction with the R328 and R360 regional roads.Until the early 1980s, the N83 through Dunmore was on the main road from Sligo to Galway City...
, Killinchy, Killyleagh
Killyleagh
Killyleagh is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is on the A22 road from Downpatrick, on the western side of Strangford Lough. It had a population of 2,483 people in the 2001 Census. It is best known for its 12th century Killyleagh Castle...
, Kilmore
Kilmore
-Places:Australia*Kilmore, VictoriaNorthern Ireland*Kilmore, County Armagh, a village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland*Kilmore, County Down, a village, parish and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland*Kilmore, County Tyrone...
, Saintfield
Saintfield
Saintfield is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland, situated roughly halfway between Belfast and Downpatrick on the A7 road. It had a population of 2,959 people in the 2001 Census. The village proper is considered predominantly a middle or upper-middle class town and of both Catholic and...
and Strangford
Strangford
Strangford is a small village at the mouth of Strangford Lough in County Down, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 475 people at the 2001 Census.On the other side of the lough is Portaferry and there is a ferry service between the two villages...
, all in the current Down District Council
Down District Council
Down District Council is a Local Council in County Down in Northern Ireland. The Council is headquartered in Downpatrick. Other towns in the Council area are Ardglass, Ballynahinch, Castlewellan, Clough, Crossgar, Dundrum, Killough, Killyleagh, Newcastle, Saintfield, Seaforde and Strangford...
. It was created in 1929 as one of the eight seats replacing the former Down
Down (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Down was a county constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1921 - 1929. It returned eight MPs, using the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.-Boundaries:...
constituency 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 elections throughout Northern Ireland. The constituency survived unchanged, returning one member of Parliament until 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...
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.
Politics
East Down had a unionist majority, and consistently elected 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...
members. On occasions, however, it was contested by members of the Ulster Liberal Party
Ulster Liberal Party
The Ulster Liberal Party was a liberal political party in Northern Ireland, supporting a unionist position and linked to the British Liberal Party....
, and various nationalist candidates who usually received over 40% of the votes cast.
Members of Parliament
| Elected | Party | Name |
|---|---|
| 1929 Northern Ireland general election, 1929 -References:*... |
Sir Alexander Robert Gisborne Gordon Alexander Gordon (politician) Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Alexander Robert Gisborne Gordon GBE DSO PC was a Unionist Member and Senator in the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Family background:... |
| 1949 Northern Ireland general election, 1949 -References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1949... |
Brian Faulkner Brian Faulkner Arthur Brian Deane Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC was the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from March 1971 until his resignation in March 1972... |
Elections
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1933Northern Ireland general election, 1933
-References:*...
, Alexander Gordon was elected unopposed.
At the Northern Ireland general election, 1945, Alexander Gordon was elected unopposed.
At the elections of 1953
Northern Ireland general election, 1953
-References:*...
, 1958
Northern Ireland general election, 1958
-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1958...
and 1962 Northern Ireland general elections
Northern Ireland general election, 1962
-Seats summary:-References:*...
, Brian Faulkner was elected unopposed.
- Parliament prorogued 30 March 1972 and abolished 18 July 1973