Fermanagh District Council
Encyclopedia
Fermanagh District Council is a local council in Northern Ireland
. The borders of the district are very similar to those of the traditional County Fermanagh
, containing all of that county plus a small section of County Tyrone
in the Dromore Road (Irvinestown
ward) and Kilskeery Road areas. Council headquarters are in Enniskillen
. Fermanagh District Council is a unique local authority in that it covers at least one entire county in Northern Ireland. County Fermanagh makes up one eighth of Northern Ireland’s land mass, and the district council represents the largest local government district in geographical terms in Northern Ireland. One fifth of the area is covered by water, largely Lough Erne
. The County has a growing population of 57,600, (2001 census) of which 70% live in rural areas. It is estimated that the population is growing at a rate of 2.5% pa , so the 2001 figures, when translated to 2007, are already over 10% too low. Enniskillen is the main centre of population with 13,000 people. Smaller towns in the area include Lisnaskea
, Irvinestown
, Belleek
, Belcoo
and Derrylin
.
Nationalists gained control of the council in 1977 with an 11-9 advantage. However this came to an end with a Unionist gain in 1981 which restored the previous 10-10 balance.
The elections of this period saw many smaller parties winning seats. On the Nationalist side Unity
equalled the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP) with four seats in 1973 although this had declined to two seats in 1977. Their successors, the Irish Independence Party
became the largest Nationalist party in terms of votes in 1981 and won four seats.
On the Unionist side, after a poor showing in 1973 when they failed to win any seats, the Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP) failed to put up any candidates in 1977. This left the field clear for the United Ulster Unionist Party
who counted this as their best area with three seats in 1977. The area was the political base of their leader Ernest Baird. However the UUUP had declined by 1981 and did not contest the elections of that year. (One of their former councillors had defected to the DUP and was re-elected as a DUP candidate.)
and Owen Carron (although they were technically elected as Anti H-Block
candidates with Sinn Féin backing). Carron was one of five assembly members elected for Sinn Féin in October 1982. The party was further boosted by the defection of sitting independent councillor JJ McCusker in 1984. A former SDLP councillor Tom Murray who had lost his seat as an independent in 1981 was also an SF candidate in 1985. Consequently Sinn Féin made a major breakthrough winning eight seats in 1985, almost wiping out the Irish Independence party who lost three of their four seats. These gains gave Nationalists a 13-10 advantage over Unionists.
(UUP) giving Unionists a one seat majority on the council, which they retained in 1993.
) councillor, Davy Kettyles, holding the balance of power.
At the last election in 2005 the members elected were from the following political parties: nine Sinn Féin
, five Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP), five Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP) and four Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP). The Chairman of the Council is Councillor Stephen Huggett from Sinn Féin and the Vice-Chairman of the Council is Councillor Cyril Brownlee from the DUP.
In elections for the Westminster Parliament it is part the Fermanagh & South Tyrone constituency
.
in 2011 to form a single council for the enlarged area totalling 2829 km² and a population of 105,479. The next election was due to take place in May 2009, but on April 25, 2008, Shaun Woodward
, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
announced that the scheduled 2009 district council elections were to be postponed until the introduction of the eleven new councils in 2011.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. The borders of the district are very similar to those of the traditional County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, containing all of that county plus a small section of County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
in the Dromore Road (Irvinestown
Irvinestown
Irvinestown is a village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The 2001 Census recorded a population of 1,801 people. The most notable building is the ruined 18th century church.-History:...
ward) and Kilskeery Road areas. Council headquarters are in Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
. Fermanagh District Council is a unique local authority in that it covers at least one entire county in Northern Ireland. County Fermanagh makes up one eighth of Northern Ireland’s land mass, and the district council represents the largest local government district in geographical terms in Northern Ireland. One fifth of the area is covered by water, largely Lough Erne
Lough Erne
Lough Erne, sometimes Loch Erne , is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper...
. The County has a growing population of 57,600, (2001 census) of which 70% live in rural areas. It is estimated that the population is growing at a rate of 2.5% pa , so the 2001 figures, when translated to 2007, are already over 10% too low. Enniskillen is the main centre of population with 13,000 people. Smaller towns in the area include Lisnaskea
Lisnaskea
Lisnaskea is the second-biggest settlement in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 2,739 people in the 2001 Census. The town is built around the long main street, which bends at almost 90 degrees along its course.- History :...
, Irvinestown
Irvinestown
Irvinestown is a village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The 2001 Census recorded a population of 1,801 people. The most notable building is the ruined 18th century church.-History:...
, Belleek
Belleek, County Fermanagh
Belleek is a village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. While the greater part of the village lies within County Fermanagh, part of it crosses the border into County Donegal, a part of Ulster that lies in the Republic of Ireland. This makes Belleek the western-most village in the United Kingdom...
, Belcoo
Belcoo
Belcoo is a small village and townland in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, 10 miles from Enniskillen. It is on the County Fermanagh/County Cavan border beside the village of Blacklion in the Republic of Ireland...
and Derrylin
Derrylin
Derrylin is a small village and townland in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is on the A509 road between Enniskillen and the border with County Cavan . It had a population of 423 in the 2001 Census.-History:...
.
1973 to 1981
The elections of 1973 produced a dead heat with 10 Unionists and 10 Nationalists elected. For a while it looked as though Unionists might gain a majority due to an elected independent nationalist John Joe McCusker being ineligible, however in the end he held his seat. The deadlock raised the prospect of the British government having to intervene as both opposing blocs could not agree on the election of chairmen. Eventually however a compromise was reached for the next four years.Nationalists gained control of the council in 1977 with an 11-9 advantage. However this came to an end with a Unionist gain in 1981 which restored the previous 10-10 balance.
The elections of this period saw many smaller parties winning seats. On the Nationalist side Unity
Unity (Northern Ireland)
"Unity" was the political label for a series of electoral pacts by Irish nationalist and Irish Republican candidates in Northern Ireland elections in the late 1960s and early 1970s...
equalled the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
(SDLP) with four seats in 1973 although this had declined to two seats in 1977. Their successors, the Irish Independence Party
Irish Independence Party
The Irish Independence Party was an nationalist political party in Northern Ireland, founded in October 1977 by Frank McManus and Fergus McAteer...
became the largest Nationalist party in terms of votes in 1981 and won four seats.
On the Unionist side, after a poor showing in 1973 when they failed to win any seats, the Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
(DUP) failed to put up any candidates in 1977. This left the field clear for the United Ulster Unionist Party
United Ulster Unionist Party
The United Ulster Unionist Party was a unionist political party which existed in Northern Ireland between 1975 and 1984.It emerged from a division in the Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party in the late 1970s...
who counted this as their best area with three seats in 1977. The area was the political base of their leader Ernest Baird. However the UUUP had declined by 1981 and did not contest the elections of that year. (One of their former councillors had defected to the DUP and was re-elected as a DUP candidate.)
1984 boundary changes
Boundary changes came into effect for 1985. Previously the council had five electoral areas each of which elected four councillors. A change in legislation meant that it was no longer permitted to have four member electoral areas and thus despite an increase in the number of wards to 23 the number of electoral areas was reduced by one. Since then, Fermanagh District Council area has consisted of four electoral areas: Enniskillen and Erne East, West and North. The Council is therefore made up of 23 Councillors elected every four years.1985 election
The area had been a major growth area for Sinn Féin in the four years proceeding the council elections of 1985 with the victories in Westminster by-elections of Bobby SandsBobby Sands
Robert Gerard "Bobby" Sands was an Irish volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and member of the United Kingdom Parliament who died on hunger strike while imprisoned in HM Prison Maze....
and Owen Carron (although they were technically elected as Anti H-Block
Anti H-Block
Anti H-Block was the political label used in 1981 by supporters of the Irish republican hunger strike who were standing for election in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland...
candidates with Sinn Féin backing). Carron was one of five assembly members elected for Sinn Féin in October 1982. The party was further boosted by the defection of sitting independent councillor JJ McCusker in 1984. A former SDLP councillor Tom Murray who had lost his seat as an independent in 1981 was also an SF candidate in 1985. Consequently Sinn Féin made a major breakthrough winning eight seats in 1985, almost wiping out the Irish Independence party who lost three of their four seats. These gains gave Nationalists a 13-10 advantage over Unionists.
Enniskillen and the 1989-1993 elections
The Cenotaph bomb of 1987 had a significant and negative impact on the Sinn Féin vote as it took it 16 years to return to 1985 levels. In the 1989 elections their representation was halved to four seats. Crucially they lost two seats to the Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
(UUP) giving Unionists a one seat majority on the council, which they retained in 1993.
The 1997 election
Nationalists were expected to regain control of the council in 1997 but ultimately could only gain one seat from Unionists. This left the council deadlocked with 11 Unionists and 11 Nationalists with an Independent Socialist (formerly Workers' PartyWorkers' Party of Ireland
The Workers' Party is a left-wing republican political party in Ireland. Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970 after a split within the party, adopting its current name in 1982....
) councillor, Davy Kettyles, holding the balance of power.
The 2001 and 2005 elections
Nationalists finally regained control in 2001 with 13 seats against nine Unionists and one Independent. They consolidated this lead in 2005 when the SDLP gained the seat vacated by the independent who did not stand again.At the last election in 2005 the members elected were from the following political parties: nine Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, five Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
(UUP), five Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
(SDLP) and four Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
(DUP). The Chairman of the Council is Councillor Stephen Huggett from Sinn Féin and the Vice-Chairman of the Council is Councillor Cyril Brownlee from the DUP.
Local government structure
The local government structure here actually pre-dates the setting up of the other 25 Local Councils in Northern Ireland in 1973 - Fermanagh County Council had merged with the district or borough councils in its area before 1973 and had created a model County Council which was seen as a good example of local pragmatic government.In elections for the Westminster Parliament it is part the Fermanagh & South Tyrone constituency
Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)
Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a Parliamentary constituency in the British House of Commons. The current MP for the constituency is Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Féin....
.
Review of Public Administration
Under the Review of Public Administration (RPA) the Council is due to merge with Omagh District CouncilOmagh District Council
Omagh District Council is a local council in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Its headquarters is in the town of Omagh, which is the traditional county town of Tyrone. The council area is about , making it the second largest local council area in Northern Ireland with a population of just over...
in 2011 to form a single council for the enlarged area totalling 2829 km² and a population of 105,479. The next election was due to take place in May 2009, but on April 25, 2008, Shaun Woodward
Shaun Woodward
Shaun Anthony Woodward is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for St Helens South since 2001. He served in the Cabinet from 28 June 2007 to 11 May 2010 as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland...
, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
announced that the scheduled 2009 district council elections were to be postponed until the introduction of the eleven new councils in 2011.