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Balmoral
Belfast City Council DEA Constituency
Balmoral Post 2014.png
Balmoral DEA marked on a map of Belfast City Council and its wards
Current constituency
Created 1985
Seats 5 (1985-1993)
6 (1993–2014)
5 (2014–)
Councillors
  •      Tara Brooks (APNI)
  •      Sarah Louise Bunting (DUP)
  •      Donal Lyons (SDLP)
  •      Geraldine McAteer (SF)
  •      Micky Murray (APNI)
Belfast 1993 Balmoral highlight
Balmoral DEA (1993-2014) within Belfast

Balmoral (from the Irish: Baile Mhoireil) is the most southern of ten district electoral areas (DEA) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Belvoir; Finaghy; Malone; Musgrave; Windsor; and Upper Malone. Balmoral, along with neighbouring Botanic, forms the greater part of the Belfast South constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.

The district is bounded to the west and south west by the M1 Motorway, to east and south east by the River Lagan, to the east and north east by the Malone Road and to the north by Belfast City Hospital, Queen's University Belfast and Royal Victoria Hospital.

The Lisburn Road is the main arterial route through the centre of the district, which also contains a number of public facilities including: the King's Hall conference and exhibition centre, the Musgrave Park Hospital, Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park and Windsor Park, the home ground of the Northern Ireland national football team. It is served by the Adelaide, Balmoral and Finaghy railway stations.

History

The DEA was created for the 1985 local elections, where it contained five wards. Four of the wards came from the abolished Belfast Area C, which it effectively replaced, with the final ward, Blackstaff, coming from Belfast Area F. From the 1993 local elections to the 2011 elections, the area contained six wards, following the creation of the Musgrave ward. For the 2014 local elections, it lost the wards of Blackstaff and Windsor and gained the Belvoir ward, which had previously been part of the abolished Castlereagh Borough Council. This was as a result of the 2014 Local Government Reform.

Wards (1985–2011)

Map Ward Population
(2011 Census)		 Catholic Protestant Other No Religion Area Density NI Assembly UK Parliament Ref
1 Blackstaff 3,998 15% 71.5% 1.8% 11.7% 1.92 km2 2,082/km2 Belfast South Belfast South
2 Finaghy 4,555 49.2% 42.6% 2.6% 5.6% 2.59 km2 1,759/km2 Belfast South Belfast South
3 Malone 5,555 61.2% 30.3% 2.3% 6.3% 2.18 km2 2,548/km2 Belfast South Belfast South
4 Musgrave 4,927 60.6% 32.9% 1.7% 4.8% 1.78 km2 2,768/km2 Belfast South Belfast South
5 Upper Malone 4,841 29.4% 60.1% 2.5% 8.1% 4.32 km2 1,121/km2 Belfast South Belfast South
6 Windsor 8,141 41.6% 40.7% 5.8% 11.8% 0.92 km2 8,849/km2 Belfast South Belfast South
Balmoral 32,017 43.8% 44.8% 3.1% 8.3% 13.71 km2 2,335/km2

Councillors

Kings Hall Belfast
The King's Hall is a multi-purpose venue located in Balmoral.
Election Councillor
(Party)		 Councillor
(Party)		 Councillor
(Party)		 Councillor
(Party)		 Councillor
(Party)		 Councillor
(Party)
2023 Sarah Bunting
(DUP)		 Tara Brooks
(Alliance)		 Micky Murray
(Alliance)		 Geraldine McAteer
(Sinn Féin)		 Dónal Lyons
(SDLP)		 5 seats
2014-present
May 2022 Co-Option Gareth Spratt
(DUP)
May 2020 Co-Option Kate Nicholl
(Alliance)
2019 David Graham
(DUP)
May/June 2016 Co-Options Lee Reynolds
(DUP)		 Jeff Dudgeon
(UUP)
July 2015 Co-Option Christopher Stalford
(DUP)		 Paula Bradshaw
(Alliance)
October 2014 Co-Option Claire Hanna
(SDLP)
2014 Máirtín Ó Muilleoir
(Sinn Féin)
2011 Ruth Patterson
(DUP)		 Bob Stoker
(UUP)		 Tom Ekin
(Alliance)		 Bernie Kelly
(SDLP)
2005 Jim Kirkpatrick
(DUP)		 Carmel Hanna
(SDLP)
2001 Mary Crooks
(UUP)		 Catherine Molloy
(SDLP)
1997 Harry Smith
(DUP)
1993 Jim Kirkpatrick
(UUP)		 Philip McGarry
(Alliance)		 Dorita Field
(SDLP)		 John Parkes
(DUP)
1989 5 seats
2014-present		 Mark Long
(Alliance)
1985 John Montgomery
(Alliance)		 William Dickson
(DUP)

In May 2011, Councillors Tom Ekin, Ruth Patterson and Bob Stoker were appointed as Aldermen by Belfast City Council. Alderman Ruth Patterson also served as Deputy Lord Mayor, 2011–12, while Mairtin O'Muilleoir is serving as Lord Mayor for 2013–14.

2023 Election

2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Fein

2023: 2 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin

2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from DUP

Balmoral - 5 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7
Sinn Féin Geraldine McAteer* 19.91% 2,037            
Social Democratic and Labour Donal Lyons* 15.80% 1,616 1,641.28 1,894.28        
Alliance Tara Brooks 14.88% 1,522 1,530.64 1,555.28 1,729.28      
Democratic Unionist Sarah Bunting* 14.79% 1,513 1,513.32 1,514.32 1,523.32 1,524.98 1,722.98  
Alliance Micky Murray* 10.66% 1,090 1,096.72 1,121.16 1,197.16 1,324.15 1,501.12 1,788.12
Democratic Unionist Gareth Spratt* 7.99% 817 817 818 825 825 940 941
Sinn Féin Seán Napier 4.17% 427 699.80 716.72 755 806.46 809.46  
Ulster Unionist Joshua Lowry 5.39% 551 551.16 554.16 567.16 574.63    
Green Party Lauren Kendall 3.26% 333 334.60 340.08        
Social Democratic and Labour Sarah Mulgrew 3.16% 323 332.12          
Electorate: 18,691   Valid: 10,229 (54.73%)   Spoilt: 147   Quota: 1,705   Turnout: 10,376 (55.51%)

2019 Election

2014: 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Fein, 1 x UUP

2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Fein

2014-2019 Change: DUP gain from UUP

Balmoral - 5 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6
Alliance Kate Nicholl* 20.00% 1,842          
Democratic Unionist David Graham 15.62% 1,442 1,447.44 1,494.44 1,705.44    
Social Democratic and Labour Dónal Lyons* 14.18% 1,306 1,374.51 1,396.55 1,461.75 1,469.94 1,608.94
Democratic Unionist Sarah Bunting 11.12% 1,025 1,029.08 1,056.25 1,285.35 1,432.77 1,478.69
Sinn Féin Geraldine McAteer* 13.93% 1,283 1,291.16 1,311.16 1,313.33 1,313.33 1,421.98
Social Democratic and Labour Michael Mulhern 8.82% 813 863.15 896.55 930.31 934.86 1,233.18
Green Party Caoimhe O'Connell 5.47% 504 616.37 752.02 862.6 870.79  
Ulster Unionist Jeffrey Dudgeon* 7.16% 660 696.71 745.74      
People Before Profit Alliance Pádraigín Mervyn 2.19% 202 215.94        
UKIP William Traynor 1.44% 133 134.53        
Electorate: 17,864   Valid: 9,210 (51.56%)   Spoilt: 116   Quota: 1,536   Turnout: 9,326 (52.21%)

2014 Election

This election was carried out under new ward boundaries, as a result of local government reform.

2011: 2 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin

2014: 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP

2011-2014 Change: SDLP loss due to the reduction of one seat

Balmoral - 5 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7 Count 8 Count 9 Count 10
Sinn Féin Máirtín Ó Muilleoir* 17.13% 1,525                  
Social Democratic and Labour Claire Hanna* 17.12% 1,524                  
Alliance Paula Bradshaw 9.06% 806 809.66 812.42 830.6 896.05 986.43 989.46 1,435.23 1,748.23  
Democratic Unionist Christopher Stalford* 10.88% 968 968.36 968.52 981.54 986.54 1,000.54 1,233.58 1,234.58 1,247.47 1,256.5
Ulster Unionist Jeffrey Dudgeon 9.86% 878 878 878.2 908.2 917.2 955.22 1,129.22 1,141.26 1,170.51 1,191.5
Democratic Unionist Sarah Clarke 10.67% 950 950.09 950.23 956.23 957.23 966.23 1,063.23 1,069.25 1,083.16 1,090.2
Social Democratic and Labour Justin Cartwright 6.62% 589 613.93 635.39 648.8 690.62 740.48 746.5 810.83    
Alliance Jamie Doyle 4.83% 430 434.71 437.47 454.65 515.39 594.08 601.13      
Progressive Unionist Simon Rice 5.99% 533 533.03 533.11 544.11 546.11 553.14        
NI21 Tina McKenzie 2.88% 256 257.38 258.32 325.81 349.12          
Green Party Elli Kontorravdis 2.52% 224 226.73 227.47 251.63            
NI21 Barbara Neeson 0.83% 74 74.6 74.8              
Northern Ireland Conservatives David Timson 0.83% 74 74.18 74.22              
Independent Gerard Collins 0.79% 70 70.57 70.81              
Electorate: 17,107   Valid: 8,901 (52.03%)   Spoilt: 131   Quota: 1,484   Turnout: 9,032 (52.80%)

2011 Election

2005: 2 x SDLP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP

2011: 2 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin

2005-2011 Change: Sinn Féin gain from DUP

Balmoral - 6 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7 Count 8 Count 9
Alliance Tom Ekin* 17.70% 1,762                
Democratic Unionist Ruth Patterson* 15.60% 1,553                
Sinn Féin Máirtín Ó Muilleoir 14.71% 1,465                
Social Democratic and Labour Claire Hanna 14.49% 1,443                
Ulster Unionist Bob Stoker* 9.26% 922 961.27 961.69 972.57 997.17 1,296.56 1,296.74 1,789.74  
Social Democratic and Labour Bernie Kelly* 7.09% 706 793.78 816.51 817.63 916.95 927.52 945.04 1,005.25 1,099.65
Social Democratic and Labour Niall Kelly 7.46% 743 767.15 782.57 783.13 831.22 836.25 852.18 874.21 903.21
Ulster Unionist Jim Kirkpatrick* 5.80% 578 655.91 660.75 665.71 693.72 817.05 817.14    
Democratic Unionist Sharon Simpson 3.98% 396 412.38 415.8 516.92 541.93        
Green Party Northern Ireland Mark Simpson 2.83% 282 349.41 400.34 403.3          
People Before Profit Alliance Andrew King 1.07% 107 120.86              
Electorate: 18,752   Valid: 9,957 (53.10%)   Spoilt: 139   Quota: 1,423   Turnout: 10,096 (53.84%)

2005 Election

2001: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP

2005: 2 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance

2001-2005 Change: DUP gain from UUP

Balmoral - 6 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7 Count 8 Count 9
Social Democratic and Labour Carmel Hanna* 17.34% 2,030                
Social Democratic and Labour Bernie Kelly 7.09% 906 908 1,137.84 1,949.84          
Alliance Tom Ekin* 12.88% 1,508 1,524 1,559.19 1,613.31 1,755.9        
Ulster Unionist Bob Stoker* 10.08% 1,180 1,288 1,291.93 1,296.74 1,300.17 1,312.42 2,163.42    
Democratic Unionist Jim Kirkpatrick 12.58% 1,473 1,484 1,485.19 1,485.19 1,487.15 1,488.13 1,642.79 1,934.39  
Democratic Unionist Ruth Patterson* 9.65% 1,130 1,180 1,180.17 1,183.51 1,183.51 1,184 1,261.66 1,452.46 1,706.11
Sinn Féin Stiofán Long 10.26% 1,202 1,204 1,220.15 1,305.88 1,423.48 1,458.27 1,470.98 1,474.58 1,479.92
Ulster Unionist Esmond Birnie 9.61% 1,125 1,137 1,142.95 1,153.16 1,160.51 1,183.05      
Social Democratic and Labour Mary Kennedy 8.05% 943 943 991.96            
Independent Thomas Wilson 1.82% 213                
Electorate: 18,382   Valid: 11,710 (63.70%)   Spoilt: 192   Quota: 1,673   Turnout: 11,902 (64.75%)

2001 Election

1997: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP

2001: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP

1997-2001 Change: No change

Balmoral - 6 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4
Social Democratic and Labour Carmel Hanna* 22.60% 3,077      
Ulster Unionist Mary Crooks* 16.72% 2,276      
Ulster Unionist Bob Stoker* 14.93% 2,032      
Social Democratic and Labour Catherine Molloy* 7.25% 987 1,919.77 1,945.77  
Alliance Tom Ekin* 12.37% 1,684 1,780.57 1,935.49 2,047.4
Democratic Unionist Ruth Patterson 10.11% 1,377 1,377.74 1,779.11 1,982.6
Sinn Féin Stephen Long 9.91% 1,349 1,435.21 1,445.58 1,446.53
Democratic Unionist Thomas Morrow 3.09% 421 425.07    
Ulster Unionist John Hiddleston 3.02% 411 415.44    
Electorate: 20,958   Valid: 13,614 (64.96%)   Spoilt: 259   Quota: 1,945   Turnout: 13,873 (66.19%)

1997 Election

1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

1997: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP

1993-1997 Change: SDLP gain from DUP

Balmoral - 6 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7 Count 8 Count 9 Count 10
Ulster Unionist Mary Crooks* 20.49% 2,329                  
Social Democratic and Labour Carmel Hanna 16.85% 1,916                  
Democratic Unionist Harry Smith* 8.13% 924 969.9 969.9 979.3 983.3 1,034.5 1,129.5 1,690.5    
Ulster Unionist Bob Stoker 8.35% 949 1,070.5 1,070.5 1,083.9 1,088.2 1,169.2 1,448.9 1,550.8 1,936.8  
Social Democratic and Labour Catherine Molloy 9.21% 1,047 1,048.2 1,310.55 1,328.55 1,415.2 1,422.5 1,423.65 1,424.25 1,426.65 1,430.65
Alliance Tom Ekin 8.54% 971 986.3 994.4 1,017 1,086.05 1,099.35 1,119.95 1,127.15 1,227.55 1,305.55
Alliance Philip McGarry* 8.43% 958 974.2 984.55 1,004.15 1,052.35 1,074.25 1,080.85 1,087.35 1,166.25 1,203.25
Ulster Unionist Gordon Lucy 2.67% 304 688.6 688.6 719.3 723.2 763.2 848.5 908.9    
Democratic Unionist Joan Parkes 5.75% 654 712.5 712.5 719 721 779.9 804.5      
Ulster Democratic Party Heather Calvert 4.57% 520 534.1 534.25 535.55 549.15 662.05        
Progressive Unionist Gordon McCrea 3.49% 397 415 415 422 433          
style="background-color: Template:Northern Ireland Women's Coalition/meta/color" | Northern Ireland Women's Coalition Nuala Bradley 2.08% 236 238.4 241.7 267.75            
Green Party Mary Ringland 0.81% 92 95.3 95.75              
Northern Ireland Conservatives Hubert Mullan 0.62% 71 80 80.15              
Electorate: 22,826   Valid: 11,368 (49.80%)   Spoilt: 245   Quota: 1,625   Turnout: 11,613 (50.88%)

1993 Election

1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

1989-1993 Change: DUP gain due to the addition of one seat

Balmoral - 6 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7 Count 8 Count 9 Count 10 Count 11 Count 12
Social Democratic and Labour Dorita Field* 19.12% 2,262                      
Democratic Unionist John Parkes* 17.55% 2,076                      
Alliance Philip McGarry 10.76% 1,273 1,545.43 1,547.41 1,550.68 1,572.94 1,596.07 1,633.33 1,695.77        
Ulster Unionist Mary Crooks* 13.66% 1,616 1,617.89 1,638.59 1,639.22 1,640.22 1,644.4 1,644.58 1,649.85 1,790.85      
Ulster Unionist Jim Kirkpatrick* 11.80% 1,396 1,397.35 1,411.57 1,411.75 1,412.75 1,413.75 1,417.75 1,425.2 1,553.36 1,906.36    
Democratic Unionist Harry Smith 5.89% 697 697.81 993.37 995.55 995.73 996.73 1,002.18 1,011.54 1,070.86 1,242.48 1,363.48 1,396.48
Alliance Mark Long* 7.80% 923 1,065.02 1,066.46 1,068.46 1,078.69 1,101.01 1,149.61 1,222.54 1,298.24 1,310.14 1,325.14 1,357.14
Ulster Unionist Bob Stoker 5.17% 611 611 627.74 628.74 630.1 631.1 635.1 637.37 707.88      
Northern Ireland Conservatives Esmond Birnie 2.36% 279 279.54 280.26 304.26 304.26 307.98 311.25 318.79        
Northern Ireland Conservatives William Dickson 2.23% 264 264.81 276.33 276.51 276.51 279.51 292.78 296.05        
Green Party Roderick McAlister 1.05% 124 168.28 168.82 172.82 189.38 213.13 273.59          
Independent Labour Niall Cusack 0.96% 113 153.5 154.04 166.04 178.25 207.45            
style="background-color: Template:Democratic Left (Ireland)/meta/color" | Democratic Left (Ireland) Jean Craig 0.82% 97 117.52 118.06 118.06 133.81              
style="background-color: Template:Workers' Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | Workers' Party (Ireland) Shaun McKeown 0.40% 48 85.53 86.25 86.25                
Northern Ireland Conservatives Hubert Mullan 0.42% 50 50.54 51.98                  
Electorate: 23,497   Valid: 11,829 (50.34%)   Spoilt: 331   Quota: 1,690   Turnout: 12,160 (51.75%)

1989 Election

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
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7
Ulster Unionist Mary Crooks* 18.97% 2,163            
Ulster Unionist Jim Kirkpatrick* 15.94% 1,818 1,968.72          
Democratic Unionist 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  
Social Democratic and Labour Dorita Field 14.35% 1,636 1,637.08 1,708.32 1,708.73 1,708.85 1,778.63 1,888.89
Independent 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    
Democratic Unionist Caroline Bingham 5.25% 599 626          
style="background-color: Template:Workers' Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | Workers' Party (Ireland) 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%)

1985 Election

1985: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance

Balmoral - 6 seats
Party Candidate  % 1st Pref Count 1 Count 2 Count 3 Count 4 Count 5 Count 6 Count 7 Count 8
Ulster Unionist Mary Crooks* 19.07% 2,438              
Ulster Unionist Jim Kirkpatrick 14.23% 1,820 2,014.16 2,061.12 2,137.12        
Democratic Unionist William Dickson* 12.81% 1,638 1,660.56 1,676.68 1,931.32 2,321.32      
Alliance John Montgomery 10.37% 1,326 1,329.12 1,426.48 1,430.6 1,488.68 1,497.39 2,449.39  
Democratic Unionist John Parkes 7.80% 998 1,009.28 1,032.64 1,281.76 1,536 1,691.44 1,780.22 1,908.19
Social Democratic and Labour Dorita Field 10.42% 1,332 1,332.24 1,446.24 1,448.24 1,457.24 1,457.24 1,587.04 1,772.63
Alliance David Cook* 8.15% 1,042 1,054 1,180.48 1,191.08 1,345.04 1,367.82    
Ulster Unionist James Stewart* 8.38% 1,071 1,102.08 1,127.68 1,166.44        
Democratic Unionist Clarke Gibson 7.80% 620 633.68 646.8          
Labour (NI) Stanley Graham 1.45% 186 187.08            
style="background-color: Template:Workers' Party (Ireland)/meta/color" | Workers' Party (Ireland) Shaun McKeown 1.04% 133 133.12            
Independent Unionist Victor Brennan 0.99% 127 127.6            
Independent Unionist William Stevenson* 0.44% 56 57.44            
Electorate: 23,220   Valid: 12,787 (55.07%)   Spoilt: 315   Quota: 2,132   Turnout: 13,102 (56.43%)
Windsor Park football stadium - Empty
Windsor Park is the home of the Northern Ireland football team.
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