North Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
North Armagh was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.
.
In 1885–1918 to the north-east was South Antrim
, to the north-west was East Tyrone, to the west was South Tyrone, to the south was Mid Armagh and to the east was West Down. In 1918–1922 the adjoining constituencies were the same, except that North-East Tyrone replaced East Tyrone.
It returned one Member of Parliament
1885–1922.
Prior to the United Kingdom general election, 1885
and from the dissolution of Parliament in 1922 the area was part of the Armagh
constituency.
then Unionist area. There were few contested elections.
In 1918 the Unionists defeated Sinn Féin
by about 3 to 1. This was the first contested election for the seat since a 1906 by-election.
contested the general election of 1918
on the platform that instead of taking up any seats they won in the United Kingdom Parliament, they would establish a revolutionary assembly in Dublin. In republican theory every MP elected in Ireland was a potential Deputy to this assembly. In practice only the Sinn Féin members accepted the offer.
The revolutionary First Dáil
assembled on 21 January 1919 and last met on 10 May 1921. The First Dáil, according to a resolution passed on 10 May 1921, was formally dissolved on the assembling of the Second Dáil
. This took place on 16 August 1921.
In 1921 Sinn Féin 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
's Second Dáil
. Armagh North, in republican theory, was incorporated in a four-member Dáil constituency of Armagh
.
, U Irish Unionist (1886 – April 1921) and Ulster Unionist (May 1921–1922).
Note: Saunderson became (U) in July 1886. The Unionists were affiliated with the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom Parliament
Boundaries and boundary changes
This constituency comprised the northern 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...
.
In 1885–1918 to the north-east was South Antrim
South Antrim
South Antrim can refer to:*The southern part of County Antrim*South Antrim *South Antrim *South Antrim...
, to the north-west was East Tyrone, to the west was South Tyrone, to the south was Mid Armagh and to the east was West Down. In 1918–1922 the adjoining constituencies were the same, except that North-East Tyrone replaced East Tyrone.
It returned one Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
1885–1922.
Prior to the United Kingdom general election, 1885
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
and from the dissolution of Parliament in 1922 the area was part of the Armagh
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...
constituency.
Politics
The constituency was a predominantly ConservativeConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
then Unionist area. There were few contested elections.
In 1918 the Unionists defeated 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...
by about 3 to 1. This was the first contested election for the seat since a 1906 by-election.
The First Dáil
Sinn FéinSinn 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...
contested the general election of 1918
Irish (UK) general election, 1918
The Irish general election of 1918 was that part of the 1918 United Kingdom general election that took place in Ireland. It is seen as a key moment in modern Irish history...
on the platform that instead of taking up any seats they won in the United Kingdom Parliament, they would establish a revolutionary assembly in Dublin. In republican theory every MP elected in Ireland was a potential Deputy to this assembly. In practice only the Sinn Féin members accepted the offer.
The revolutionary 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"...
assembled on 21 January 1919 and last met on 10 May 1921. The First Dáil, according to a resolution passed on 10 May 1921, was formally dissolved on the assembling of 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...
. This took place on 16 August 1921.
In 1921 Sinn Féin 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...
. Armagh North, in republican theory, was incorporated in a four-member Dáil constituency of Armagh
Armagh (Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies)
Armagh was a county constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1921 - 1929. It returned four MPs, using the single transferable vote method of proportional representation.-Boundaries:Armagh consisted of the entirety of County Armagh...
.
Members of Parliament
Key to parties: C ConservativeConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, U Irish Unionist (1886 – April 1921) and Ulster Unionist (May 1921–1922).
| From | To | Name (Party) | Born | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | 1906 | Right Hon. Edward James Saunderson Edward James Saunderson Edward James Saunderson PC, JP, DL was an Irish unionist politician.He was born at Castle Saunderson, County Cavan. He was the son of Colonel Alexander Saunderson, Member of Parliament for Cavan , his mother being a daughter of the 6th Baron Farnham... (C) |
1837 | 21 October 1906 |
| 1906 | 1917 | William Moore Sir William Moore, 1st Baronet Sir William Moore, 1st Baronet PC was a Unionist member of the British House of Commons from Ireland and a Judge of Ireland, then of Northern Ireland. He was created a Baronet in 1932.Sir William was the eldest son of Queen Victoria's honourary physician in Ireland, Dr... (U) |
1864 | 28 November 1944 |
| 1917 | 1922 | William James Allen (U) | 15 October 1866 | 20 December 1947 |
Note: Saunderson became (U) in July 1886. The Unionists were affiliated with the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom Parliament
Elections
The elections in this constituency took place using the first past the post electoral system.External links
- http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0
- http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/en.toc.dail.html
See also
- List of UK Parliament Constituencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland
- Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918The Redistribution of Seats Act 1918 was an Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom which redistributed the parliamentary constituencies in Ireland for the House of Commons...
- MPs elected in the UK general election, 1918
- List of Dáil Éireann constituencies in Ireland (historic)
- Members of the 1st DáilMembers of the 1st DáilThis is a list of the 105 MPs who were elected for Irish seats at the 1918 United Kingdom general election. Sinn Féin emerged as the largest party, but refused to attend the British House of Commons in Westminster...