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Unionists hold sway in ABC, where veteran Seamus Doyle in shock return for SDLP

Constituency Notebook

Banbridge town centre. Picture: Mal McCann
Banbridge town centre. Picture: Mal McCann Banbridge town centre. Picture: Mal McCann

UNIONISTS have always held the dominant hand in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council, which comprises the whole of the old Armagh City, Craigavon Borough, and Banbridge District Councils.

Indeed unionism in its various hues commands more than half of the 41 seats, with 11 from the DUP, 10 from the UUP and a single independent in Paul Berry, once of the DUP.

In the 2019 election, the DUP actually increased its share of the vote and remained the largest party, yet lost two seats given the vagaries of transfers.

Alliance were the main beneficiaries back then, gaining a seat apiece from the DUP and the UUP.

This time round Alliance will hope not just to consolidate, but to make advances not just in vote share, but to add to its existing three seats.

But they're not the only ones harbouring lofty ambitions, because both the UUP and Sinn Fein have the appetite to eat into the DUP's 27.9 per cent slice of the pie from four years ago.

Despite it being their best performance anywhere in the north in terms of vote share in 2019, the UUP also lost two seats, reducing its total to 10, but believe they can regain at least one more, if not both.

Sinn Fein also added two new seats last time, gaining from the DUP in Armagh and another from the SDLP in Cusher (where, incidentally, in the closest result of the whole election, Quincy Dougan from the DUP was pipped for the final seat by a mere 1.84 votes by the UUP's Gordon Kennedy).

That brought Sinn Fein's tally to 10, and it won't rest on its laurels on May 18, eyeing at least one more seat (a possible second success in Banbridge perhaps?).

One of the big stories for the SDLP is the return to the ballot paper of veteran Seamus Doyle.

A former Banbridge Council chairman with more than 30 years' service, he was pipped to the last seat in 2019 by newcomer Brian Pope (by just 17 votes in the end) and it appeared his political career was over.

But in a surprise move, the septuagenarian is coming back for another crack at it, and he can't be ruled out if he gets anywhere near his 1,309 first preferences from last time.

It's not always sweetness and light in the chamber when Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council holds its monthly meetings.

But unlike other local authorities, this appears on the face of it to be one where their is less uproar and more harmony.

Indeed one of the candidates seeking re-election had one of his posters defaced (no name, no pack drill, but he's a sitting member).

He didn't kick up a major stink, but instead took a selfie with the poster (where someone had drawn on some glasses and a moustache) and asked his followers who looked best - and even some of his political opponents saw the humorous side!

The focus on ABC Council is more often on economic growth as opposed to petty sectarianism.

Outside Belfast, it remains a vital economic hub, boasting close to 9,500 VAT and/or PAYE registered businesses, accounting for about 12 per cent of all such businesses in Northern Ireland. Close to 100,000 people in the borough are currently in employment.

2019 vote share

DUP (27.9 per cent) 11 councillors

SF (22.0 per cent) 10 councillors

UUP (21.6 per cent) 10 councillors

SDLP (13.5 per cent) 6 councillors

Alliance (7.8 per cent) 3 councillors

Ind (3.5 per cent) 1 councillor

TUV (2.0 per cent)

Aontu(1.3 per cent)

UKIP (0.4 per cent)

Candidates running on May 18 are:

ARMAGH (6 seats)

Scott Armstrong (DUP)

Daniel Connolly (Aontú)

Fergal Donnelly (Sinn Féin)

Sarah Duffy (Sinn Féin)

Ashley Mallon (Sinn Féin)

Sam Nicholson (UUP)

Thomas O'Hanlon (SDLP)

John Óg O'Kane (Sinn Féin)

Gráinne O'Neill (SDLP)

Hanagh Winter (Alliance)

BANBRIDGE (7 seats)

Glenn Barr (UUP)

Ian Burns (UUP)

Seamus Doyle (SDLP)

Joy Ferguson (Alliance)

Paul Greenfield (DUP)

Jill Macauley (UUP)

Chris McCartan (Sinn Féin)

Brian Moorhead (TUV)

Kevin Savage (Sinn Féin)

Ian Wilson (DUP)

CRAIGAVON (5 seats)

Robbie Alexander (Alliance)

Jackie Coade (SDLP)

Kate Evans (UUP)

Jude Mallon (Sinn Féin)

Declan McAlinden (SDLP)

Catherine Nelson (Sinn Féin)

Ian Patterson (DUP)

Margaret Tinsley (DUP)

CUSHER (5 seats)

Paul Berry (Independent)

Bróna Haughey (Sinn Féin)

Gordon Kennedy (UUP)

Emma McKernan (SDLP)

Ewan McNeill (UUP)

Mark Skillen (Alliance)

Keith Ratcliffe (TUV)

Philip Weir (DUP)

Gareth Wilson (DUP)

LAGAN RIVER (5 seats)

Mark Baxter (DUP)

Oisín Edwards (SDLP)

Jessica Johnston (Alliance)

Vincent McAleenan (Sinn Féin)

Tim McClelland (DUP)

Sammy Morrison (TUV)

Sammy Ogle (UUP)

Paul Rankin (DUP)

Kyle Savage (UUP)

LURGAN (7 seats)

Peter Haire (DUP)

Keith Haughian (Sinn Féin)

Peter Lavery (Alliance)

Liam Mackle (Sinn Féin)

Sorchá McGeown (Sinn Féin)

Louise McKinstry (UUP)

Stephen Moutray (DUP)

Mary O'Dowd (Sinn Féin)

Ciaran Toman (SDLP)

PORTADOWN (6 seats)

Paul Duffy (Sinn Féin)

Julie Flaherty (UUP)

Emma Hutchinson (Alliance)

Claire McConville-Walker (Sinn Féin)

Zoe Claire McCullough (UUP)

Lavelle McIlwrath (DUP)

Eamon McNeill (SDLP)

Kyle Moutray (DUP)

Alan Mulholland (DUP)

Robert Oliver (TUV)