1989 Belfast City Council election
17 May 1989 (1989-05-17)
All 51 seats to Belfast City Council
26 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Ulster Unionist Sinn Féin SDLP
Seats won 14 8 8
Seat change Steady 0 Increase 1 Increase 2
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party DUP Alliance Ind. Unionist
Seats won 8 6 4
Seat change Decrease 3 Decrease 2 Increase 2
  Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party
 
Party Workers' Party PUP Protestant Unionist
Seats won 1 1 1
Seat change Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0
Lord Mayor before election

Nigel Dodds
DUP

 Lord Mayor

Reg Empey
Ulster Unionist

Elections to Belfast City Council were held on 17 May 1989 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used nine district electoral areas to elect a total of 51 councillors, most representing the more heavily populated north and west.

The UUP remained the largest party, and Reg Empey became the Lord Mayor.

Election results

Belfast Local Election Result 1989[1]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Ulster Unionist 14 1 1 Steady0 27.5 21.7 22,846 Decrease2.7
  Sinn Féin 8 1 0 Increase1 15.7 18.7 19,688 Increase3.1
  SDLP 8 2 0 Increase2 15.7 16.1 16,937 Increase1.9
  DUP 8 0 3 Decrease3 15.7 14.8 15,618 Decrease5.1
  Alliance 6 0 2 Decrease2 11.8 10.9 11,479 Decrease0.6
  Ind. Unionist 4 2 0 Increase2 7.8 6.7 7,013 Increase3.2
  Workers' Party 1 0 0 Steady0 2.0 5.3 5,571 Increase1.5
  PUP 1 0 0 Steady0 2.0 2.5 2,533 Increase0.3
  Protestant Unionist 1 0 0 Steady0 2.0 1.3 1,408 Decrease1.3
  Ulster Democratic 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.9 908 Increase0.4
  Independent 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.7 717 Increase0.7
  Labour Party NI 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.2 212 New
  Communist 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.2 175 Steady0.0
  Green (NI) 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.08 95 New
  National Front 0 0 0 Steady0 0.0 0.02 27 New

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

Districts summary

[1]

Results of the Belfast City Council election, 1989
by district
Ward  %
Cllrs
  %
Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
 Total
Cllrs
UUP Sinn Féin SDLP DUP Alliance Workers' Party PUP Others
Balmoral 34.9 2 0.0 0 14.3 1 19.3 1 19.0 1 2.1 0 0.0 0 10.4 0 5
Castle 24.6 1 3.8 0 19.2 1 16.6 1 8.8 1 4.1 0 0.0 0 22.9 2 6
Court 19.8 1 2.3 0 0.0 0 15.8 1 0.0 0 3.5 0 24.2 1 34.4 2 6
Laganbank 31.6 2 7.7 0 20.8 1 12.0 1 19.0 1 4.9 0 0.0 0 4.0 0 5
Lower Falls 0.0 0 61.0 3 28.5 2 0.0 0 1.2 0 9.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 5
Oldpark 22.8 2 37.8 3 8.9 0 15.8 1 3.3 0 11.4 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 6
Pottinger 25.7 2 5.8 0 0.0 0 40.1 2 12.1 1 5.0 0 0.0 0 11.3 1 6
Upper Falls 0.0 0 49.5 2 41.9 2 2.2 0 2.6 0 3.1 0 0.0 0 0.7 0 5
Victoria 39.5 3 0.0 0 0.0 0 23.7 2 31.0 2 2.5 0 0.0 0 3.3 0 7
Total 21.7 14 18.7 8 16.1 8 14.8 8 10.9 6 5.3 1 2.5 1 10.0 5 51

District results

Balmoral

1985: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance
1989: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP
1985-1989 Change: SDLP gain from DUP

Balmoral - 6 seats[2]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Ulster Unionist Mary Crooks* 18.97% 2,163            
Ulster Unionist Jim Kirkpatrick* 15.94% 1,818 1,968.72          
DUP John Parkes* 14.05% 1,602 1,631.76 1,997.76        
Alliance Mark Long 9.69% 1,105 1,111 1,178.68 1,182.37 1,188.37 2,118.37  
SDLP Dorita Field 14.35% 1,636 1,637.08 1,708.32 1,708.73 1,708.85 1,778.63 1,888.89
Ind. Unionist William Dickson* 10.32% 1,177 1,207.84 1,418.56 1,505.89 1,558.09 1,639.9 1,743.87
Alliance John Montgomery* 9.30% 1,061 1,067.24 1,152.32 1,157.65 1,162.09    
DUP Caroline Bingham 5.25% 599 626          
Workers' Party Shaun McKeown 2.14% 243 243.72          
Electorate: 23,343   Valid: 11,404 (48.85%)   Spoilt: 314   Quota: 1,901   Turnout: 11,718 (50.20%)  

    Castle

    1985: 2 x UUP, 1 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist
    1989: 2 x Independent Unionist, 1 x UUP, 1 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance
    1985-1989 Change: Independent Unionist gain from UUP

    Castle - 6 seats[2]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345678
    SDLP Alban Maginness* 19.17% 2,301              
    Ulster Unionist John Carson* 18.26% 2,192              
    DUP Nigel Dodds* 14.82% 1,779              
    Alliance Tom Campbell* 8.77% 1,053 1,384.02 1,405.36 1,405.63 1,488.77 1,493.04 1,591.75 1,855.75
    Ind. Unionist Frank Millar* 11.54% 1,385 1,386.62 1,455.7 1,460.44 1,475.44 1,559.34 1,561.16 1,618.15
    Ind. Unionist Nelson McCausland 9.69% 1,163 1,163 1,270.36 1,276.3 1,280.1 1,390.64 1,392.76 1,433.56
    Ulster Unionist Alfred Redpath* 6.39% 767 771.05 993.25 996.76 1,003.74 1,053.35 1,061.95 1,118.56
    Workers' Party Anthony Kerr 4.13% 496 612.37 619.85 620.24 714.69 724.37 864.13  
    Sinn Féin Bobby Lavery* 3.77% 453 510.78 511.22 511.43 527.37 527.37    
    DUP Samuel Lowry 1.80% 216 216.27 254.11 291.13 294.13      
    Green (NI) Maria O'Sullivan 0.79% 95 139.28 140.16 140.19        
    Labour '87 Thomas Galloway 0.86% 103 124.87 127.95 128.04        
    Electorate: 24,488   Valid: 12,003 (49.02%)   Spoilt: 323   Quota: 1,715   Turnout: 12,326 (50.33%)  

      Court

      1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Protestant Unionist, 1 x Independent Unionist
      1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Protestant Unionist, 1 x Independent Unionist
      1985-1989 Change: No change

      Court - 5 seats[2]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567
      PUP Hugh Smyth* 24.25% 2,533            
      Protestant Unionist Elizabeth Seawright 13.48% 1,408 1,768.36          
      Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain* 11.20% 1,170 1,253.16 1,289.54 1,294.54 1,334.82 1,468.84 1,669.84
      DUP Eric Smyth 9.63% 1,006 1,158.04 1,197.48 1,199.48 1,220.08 1,276.5 1,559.5
      Ind. Unionist Joseph Coggle* 9.12% 953 1,134.02 1,212.9 1,217.9 1,253.74 1,349.08 1,439.04
      Ulster Unionist Herbert Ditty* 8.59% 897 962.52 1,002.98 1,005.32 1,030.92 1,208.88 1,309.8
      Independent William Smith 6.87% 717 809.4 847.82 849.82 932.84 979.16 1,008.36
      DUP Frederick Ashby* 6.17% 644 673.82 688.1 688.1 703.78 762.72  
      Ind. Unionist Alfie Ferguson 4.87% 509 562.34 583.08 583.08 625.5    
      Workers' Party Peter Cullen 3.51% 367 374.98 379.06 467.06      
      Sinn Féin Joe Austin 2.30% 240 240.42 240.76        
      Electorate: 21,173   Valid: 10,444 (49.33%)   Spoilt: 381   Quota: 1,493   Turnout: 10,825 (51.13%)  

        Laganbank

        1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP
        1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP
        1985-1989 Change: No change

        Laganbank - 5 seats[2]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        123456789
        SDLP Alasdair McDonnell* 14.43% 1,415 1,424 1,440 1,558 2,134        
        Ulster Unionist Dixie Gilmore* 15.25% 1,496 1,497 1,567 1,579 1,579 1,580 2,080    
        Alliance Steve McBride 11.29% 1,107 1,110 1,147 1,243 1,282 1,490 1,497 1,500.84 1,602.84
        Ulster Unionist Jim Clarke 8.71% 854 859 901 903 903 903 1,128 1,445.76 1,448.76
        DUP Rhonda Paisley* 10.56% 1,036 1,037 1,171 1,179 1,180 1,180 1,278 1,346.16 1,349.16
        Alliance Mary Thomas 7.70% 755 757 780 898 937 1,126 1,130 1,131.92 1,209.92
        Sinn Féin James Clinton 7.68% 753 775 776 799 811 836 837 837.96  
        Ulster Unionist Harry Fletcher 7.68% 753 753 813 816 816 816      
        SDLP Gerard McKettrick 6.41% 629 635 638 700          
        Workers' Party Kevin Smyth 4.88% 479 503 553            
        Ind. Unionist Margaret Dickson 2.02% 198 198              
        DUP Benjamin Horan 1.35% 132 133              
        Labour '87 Paul Hainsworth 1.11% 109 123              
        Communist Barry Bruton 0.93% 91                
        Electorate: 20,689   Valid: 9,807 (47.40%)   Spoilt: 372   Quota: 1,635   Turnout: 10,179 (49.20%)  

          Lower Falls

          1985: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
          1989: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP
          1985-1989 Change: SDLP gain from Alliance

          Lower Falls - 5 seats[2]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          12345
          SDLP Joe Hendron* 23.51% 2,748        
          Sinn Féin Fra McCann 19.73% 2,307        
          Sinn Féin Elizabeth Fitzsimons* 15.10% 1,765 1,786.7 1,816.25 1,849.69 1,885.5
          Sinn Féin Sean McKnight* 12.22% 1,428 1,461.48 1,466.72 1,750.56 1,774.62
          SDLP Mary Muldoon 5.03% 588 1,196.84 1,257.51 1,261.19 1,738.98
          Sinn Féin Richard May 13.91% 1,626 1,634.68 1,637.68 1,651.92 1,679.45
          Workers' Party Mary McMahon 9.35% 1,093 1,186 1,218.75 1,224.19  
          Alliance Derrick Crothers 1.15% 135 164.45      
          Electorate: 20,095   Valid: 11,690 (58.17%)   Spoilt: 570   Quota: 1,949   Turnout: 12,260 (61.01%)  

            Oldpark

            1985: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Workers' Party
            1989: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Workers' Party
            1985-1989 Change: UUP gain from DUP

            Oldpark - 6 seats[2]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            123456
            SDLP Brian Feeney* 18.38% 2,426          
            Workers' Party Seamus Lynch* 12.42% 1,639 1,912.6        
            Ulster Unionist Fred Proctor* 14.02% 1,850 1,850.96 1,976.96      
            Ulster Unionist William Gault 9.05% 780 782.64 886.56 951.36 1,491.96 2,050.96
            Sinn Féin Gerard McGuigan* 12.75% 1,682 1,706.96 1,723.84 1,723.84 1,723.84 1,725.84
            Sinn Féin Paddy McManus 11.73% 1,548 1,572.24 1,585.2 1,586.1 1,588.1 1,592.82
            Sinn Féin William McGarry 8.45% 1,115 1,153.16 1,187.2 1,187.2 1,188.44 1,206
            Ulster Democratic Patrick Bird 6.34% 837 837.72 883.36 896.86 1,117.84  
            DUP Stanley Mulholland 6.10% 805 805.24 839.4 851.1    
            Alliance George Jones 3.36% 443 610.52        
            Ulster Democratic William Clark 0.54% 71 71.24        
            Electorate: 25,895   Valid: 13,196 (50.96%)   Spoilt: 548   Quota: 1,886   Turnout: 13,744 (53.08%)  

              Pottinger

              1985: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance
              1989: 2 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 Independent Unionist
              1985-1989 Change: Independent Unionist gain from DUP

              Pottinger - 6 seats[2]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              123456
              DUP Sammy Wilson* 25.88% 2,780          
              Ulster Unionist Margaret Clarke* 13.78% 1,480 1,524.55 1,537.55      
              Alliance Mervyn Jones* 12.07% 1,296 1,309.05 1,314.3 1,326.75 1,599.75  
              DUP Jim Walker* 4.59% 493 1,268.35 1,479.35 1,531.7 1,546.7  
              Ind. Unionist Dorothy Dunlop 10.98% 1,179 1,225.8 1,245.75 1,313.9 1,344.35 1,357.35
              Ulster Unionist Reg Empey* 8.04% 864 921.15 942.1 1,210.2 1,220.2 1,226.2
              DUP Frank Leslie* 7.15% 768 900.3 1,015 1,044.05 1,056.5 1,064.4
              Sinn Féin Joseph O'Donnell 5.86% 629 629.45 631.9 631.9 677.9  
              Workers' Party Sean Flanagan 5.04% 541 543.7 546.7 548.7    
              Ulster Unionist David McNutt 3.91% 420 447 457.15      
              DUP John Norris 2.45% 263 381.8        
              National Front Stuart McCullough 0.25% 27 29.7        
              Electorate: 24,265   Valid: 10,740 (44.26%)   Spoilt: 508   Quota: 1,535   Turnout: 11,248 (46.35%)  

                Upper Falls

                1985: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance
                1989: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP
                1985-1989 Change: Sinn Féin gain from Alliance

                Upper Falls - 5 seats[2]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                1234567
                SDLP Alex Attwood* 26.53% 3,292            
                Sinn Féin Alex Maskey* 19.26% 2,378            
                Sinn Féin Teresa Holland* 18.77% 2,329            
                SDLP Cormac Boomer* 9.58% 1,189 2,202.46          
                Sinn Féin Mairtin O'Muilleoir 15.74% 1,435 1,462.74 1,739.64 1,976.47 2,000.75 2,004.3 2,004.67
                SDLP Peter Prendiville 5.75% 713 815.98 819.1 820.97 834.35 935.6 962.75
                Alliance Dan McGuinness 2.63% 326 363.24 365.71 368.35 374.73 384.88 505.88
                Workers' Party Jean Craig 3.06% 380 409.64 411.72 413.48 432.48 443.83 488.83
                DUP Robert Morrow 2.28% 283 283 283.39 283.72 283.72 283.97  
                Communist Kevin O'Donnell 0.68% 84 87.04 89.77 90.54      
                Electorate: 22,975   Valid: 12,409 (54.01%)   Spoilt: 426   Quota: 2,069   Turnout: 12,835 (55.87%)  

                  Victoria

                  1985: 3 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 2 x DUP
                  1989: 3 x UUP, 2 x Alliance, 2 x DUP
                  1985-1989 Change: No change

                  Victoria - 7 seats[2]
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  123456
                  Alliance John Alderdice 21.67% 2,933          
                  Ulster Unionist Thomas Patton* 21.02% 2,845          
                  Ulster Unionist Ian Adamson 12.78% 1,730          
                  DUP Wallace Browne* 10.15% 1,374 1,407.97 1,512.97 1,523.34 1,585.51 1,890.51
                  DUP Robin Newton* 8.65% 1,171 1,177.88 1,274.06 1,287.33 1,346.33 1,644.33
                  Alliance Danny Dow 5.41% 732 1,405.38 1,475.94 1,617.36 1,685.17 1,696.17
                  Ulster Unionist Alan Montgomery 5.67% 767 821.61 1,496.55 1,521.91 1,641.98 1,692.98
                  Alliance George Thompson* 3.94% 533 937.2 963.66 1,041.39 1,110.23 1,117.23
                  DUP Irene Lewis 4.93% 667 685.49 776.63 786.05 846.22  
                  Ind. Unionist Samuel Walker 3.32% 449 469.64 520.46 555.74    
                  Workers' Party Hugh Jordan 2.46% 333 359.23 378.97      
                  Electorate: 30,508   Valid: 13,534 (44.36%)   Spoilt: 367   Quota: 1,692   Turnout: 13,901 (45.57%)  

                    References

                    1. 1 2 "Belfast Council results". 27 July 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
                    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Local Government Results 1989". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
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