North Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)

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North Armagh
County constituency
Created: 1885
Abolished: 1922
Type: House of Commons
Members: One

North Armagh was a former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.

Contents

[edit] Boundaries and Boundary Changes

This constituency comprised the northern part of County Armagh.

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.

[edit] Politics

The constituency was a predominantly Conservative 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.

[edit] The First Dáil

Sinn Féin 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.

[edit] Members of Parliament

Key to parties: C Conservative, 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 (C) 1837 21 October 1906
1906 1917 William Moore (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

[edit] Elections

The elections in this constituency took place using the first past the post electoral system.

General Election 30 November 1885: North Armagh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward James Saunderson 4,192 63.85 N/A
Liberal Thomas Shillington 2,373 36.15 N/A
Majority 1,819 27.71 N/A
Turnout 7,947 82.61 N/A
Conservative gain from new seat Swing N/A
General Election 9 July 1886: North Armagh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist Edward James Saunderson 4,570 73.16 +73.16
Irish Parliamentary James Williamson 1,677 26.84 +26.84
Majority 2,893 46.31 N/A
Turnout 7,947 78.61 -4.00
Irish Unionist gain from Conservative Swing N/A
General Election 6 July 1892: North Armagh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist Edward James Saunderson Unopposed N/A N/A
Irish Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 16 July 1895: North Armagh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist Edward James Saunderson Unopposed N/A N/A
Irish Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 12 October 1900: North Armagh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist Rt Hon. Edward James Saunderson 3,579 59.19 N/A
Independent Unionist James Orr 2,468 40.81 N/A
Majority 1,111 18.37 N/A
Turnout 10,014 60.39 N/A
Irish Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 16 January 1906: North Armagh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist Edward James Saunderson Unopposed N/A N/A
Irish Unionist hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Saunderson
By-Election 16 November 1906: North Armagh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist William Moore 4,228 74.69 N/A
Independent Unionist Lindsay Crawford 1,433 25.31 N/A
Majority 2,795 49.37 N/A
Turnout 7,555 74.93 N/A
Irish Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 18 January 1910: North Armagh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist William Moore Unopposed N/A N/A
Irish Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 6 December 1910: North Armagh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist William Moore Unopposed N/A N/A
Irish Unionist hold Swing N/A
By-Election 22 November 1917: North Armagh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist William James Allen Unopposed N/A N/A
Irish Unionist hold Swing N/A
General Election 14 December 1918: North Armagh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Irish Unionist William James Allen 10,239 78.17 N/A
Sinn Féin Ernest Blythe 2,860 21.83 N/A
Majority 7,379 56.33 N/A
Turnout 19,529 67.07 N/A
Irish Unionist hold Swing N/A

[edit] References

  • Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, edited by B.M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)
  • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume II 1886-1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (The Harvester Press 1978)
  • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume III 1919-1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (The Harvester Press 1979)

[edit] External links

[edit] See also