1920 Londonderry Borough Council election

An election to Londonderry Borough Council took place on Thursday 15 January 1920 as part of that year's Irish local elections.

1920 Londonderry Borough Council election

Thursday 15 January 1920

All 40 seats to Londonderry Borough Council
21 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party UUP Sinn Féin Nationalist
Seats won 19 10 10


Mayor before election

Robert Newton Anderson
Irish Unionist

Mayor after election

Hugh O'Doherty
Independent Nationalist

As a result, Unionists lost control over Londonderry borough council, which for the first time passed into the control of the city's Catholic majority. The various Nationalist parties in the city contested the election on a pan-nationalist front, emphasizing the national question of Irish self-government, as well as issues over housing.[1]

The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919 had seen the introduction of a PR electoral system for local government elections in Ireland. Turnout was high, at 93.5%. Despite the new electoral system only 2.8% of ballots were spoiled.[2] Whilst Unionists won nearly 60% of the popular vote, this was connected to the Nationalist dominated West Ward going uncontested.

Nationalist control of the council wouldn't last however, and following the partition of Ireland the Northern Irish Government restored the older, and less representative ward based system.[2]

Results by party

Party Seats ± First Pref. votes FPv% ±%
Sinn Féin-Nationalist front 21
(10 SF, 10 N, 1 Ind N)
4,066 41.78
UUP 19 5,666 58.22
Totals 40 9,732 100%

North Ward

The Unionists put forward 7 candidates, and Nationalists 5. The Unionists gave instructions that their candidates should be voted for in alphabetical order. In the first round Unionist candidates 1,923 votes (59.72%), and Nationalists 1,297 (40.28%).[3][4]

North Ward - 11 seats[3]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567891011
UUP James Ballantine 52.04 1,687
Nationalist Richard Doherty 499
Independent Nationalist Hugh C. O'Doherty 461
UUP R. A. Deane 20 1407
Nationalist Edward McCafferty 216 217
UUP Sir John McFarland 85 87
Nationalist Daniel O'Donnell 81 81
UUP H. N. Greenway 78 36
UUP S. W. Kennedy 67 75
UUP H. S. Robinson 60 63 63 63 64 64 64 65 65 69 312
Nationalist William Joseph O'Donnell 40 40 58 81 81 205 218 218 218 218 218
UUP B. K. Gilliland 21 35
Electorate: 3,586   Valid: 3,220   Spoilt: 22   Quota: 269   Turnout: 3,242

    Waterside Ward

    In Waterside ward 6 Unionists and 3 Nationalists were returned. Anderson and Bradley, topping the poll, were appointed as Aldermen. Unionists were advised to vote and allocate their preferences for Unionist candidates alphabetically.[5]

    Waterside Ward - 9 seats[5]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456789
    UUP Alexander Anderson 37.85 974
    Sinn Féin Cathal Bradley 15.51 399
    UUP William H. Elliot 10.61 273
    UUP James Blair 7.15 184 880
    Nationalist F. O'Sullivan 9.83 252 252 260
    UUP Thomas McCully 3.89 100 113 113 121 721
    UUP J. H. Pollock 0.54 14 17 17 21 32 32 487
    UUP D. P. Thompson 2.64 68 70 70 73 77 77 84 313
    Nationalist Margaret Morris 7.54 194 196 226 226 227 228 228 228 228
    Nationalist Robert J. Donaghey 4.47 115 115 218 218 224 225 226 226 226
    Electorate: ~   Valid: 2573   Spoilt: 28   Quota: 258   Turnout: 2601

      South-East Ward

      South-East Ward - 12 seats[6]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567891011
      UUP H. Babington 50.44 1939
      Irish Nationalist James Bonner 24.56 944
      Irish Nationalist W. J. Barclay 5.98 230 232 830
      Irish Nationalist Robert McAnaney 5.54 213 214 217 217 225 226 230 231 235 235 348
      Irish Nationalist Michael Cosgrove 4.29 165 166 196 198 696
      Sinn Féin James Gallagher 3.67 141 141 146 148 152 158 172 172 409
      Irish Nationalist Cou Doherty 3.02 116 117 128 129 153 156 537
      UUP John Burns 1.01 39 45 46 1358
      UUP John G. Magee 0.42 16 17 17 19 19 21 22 29 29 514
      UUP T.G. Blair 0.36 14 1631
      UUP David Mitchell 0.31 12 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 22
      UUP James Hamilton 0.21 8 14 14 28 28 1071
      UUP Henry G. McCay 0.18 7 13 13 14 14 20 20 786
      Electorate: -   Valid: 3844 (98.94%)   Spoilt: 41 (1.06%)   Quota: 296 (7.70%)   Turnout: 3885

        West Ward

        The combined Sinn-Fein/Nationalist ticket put up 8 candidates for the 8 seats in the West Ward. The Unionist grouping in the city did not put up any candidates, resulting in there being no contest and the Sinn-Fein/Nationalist candidates being all successful.[7]

        West Ward - 8 seats[7][8]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1
        Irish Nationalist Con Bradley No contest
        Irish Nationalist Anthony Carlin No contest
        Irish Nationalist P. Hogarty No contest
        Irish Nationalist W. Logue No contest
        Irish Nationalist Patrick Meenan No contest
        Irish Nationalist James McLean No contest
        Irish Nationalist Joseph McKernan No contest
        Irish Nationalist D. J. Shiel No contest
        Electorate: -   Valid:   Quota:   Turnout:

          References

          Preceded by
          1914 Londonderry County Borough Council election
          Londonderry elections Succeeded by
          1925 Londonderry County Borough Council election
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