Frank Feely
Encyclopedia
Frank Feely is a nationalist politician
in Northern Ireland
.
Feely worked as a teacher
in Newry
. At the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
, he was elected for the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP) in South Down
. He held this seat at the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
, and at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1982. In common with other SDLP members, he did not take his seat on the Constitutional Convention, and instead acted as an alternate at the New Ireland Forum
.
He was elected to Newry and Mourne District Council
in 1989 representing Newry Town, and has held his seat at each subsequent election.
In 1996, Feely was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum
, representing Newry and Armagh
, but he was not able to hold his seat at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1998
.
In the late 1990s, Feely was Vice Chairman of the District Council, and played a prominent role in Newry's successful bid for city status
. Following this, he became the first Mayor of Newry.
In November 2005, Feely and sixteen other nationalist councillors were jointly surcharged £10,000 and barred from public office for five years for refusing the victims group FAIR the use of Newtownhamilton
Community Centre. This was overturned on appeal, but left five of the councillors including Feely to share a large legal bill.
From 2007 on, Feely has worked as a field canvasser for Citizen's Campaign for the Environment in the United States.
Feely sits on the East Border Region Committee, the Carlingford / Foyle Loughs Commission and the Rural Communities Network (NI).
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Northern Ireland
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...
.
Feely worked as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
in Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
. At the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
-Seats summary:-Source:* http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa73.htm...
, he was elected for 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) in South Down
South Down (Assembly constituency)
South Down is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
. He held this seat at the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention was an elected body set up in 1975 by the UK Labour government of Harold Wilson as an attempt to deal with constitutional issues surrounding the status of Northern Ireland....
, and at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1982. In common with other SDLP members, he did not take his seat on the Constitutional Convention, and instead acted as an alternate at the New Ireland Forum
New Ireland Forum
The New Ireland Forum was a forum in 1983–84 at which Irish nationalist political parties discussed potential political developments that might alleviate the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The Forum was established by Garret FitzGerald, then Taoiseach, under the influence of John Hume. The Forum was...
.
He was elected to Newry and Mourne District Council
Newry and Mourne District Council
Newry and Mourne District Council is a local council in Northern Ireland. It includes much of the south of County Armagh and the south of County Down and has a population of approximately 93,400. Council headquarters are in Newry, the largest settlement and only city in the area; it has a...
in 1989 representing Newry Town, and has held his seat at each subsequent election.
In 1996, Feely was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum
Northern Ireland Forum
The Northern Ireland Forum was a body set up in 1996 as part of a process of negotiations that eventually led to the Belfast Agreement in 1998....
, representing Newry and Armagh
Newry and Armagh (Assembly constituency)
Newry and Armagh is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly....
, but he was not able to hold his seat at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1998
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1998
-Seats summary:-Details:Although the SDLP won the most first preference votes, the Ulster Unionists won the most seats in the Assembly. This has been attributed to several reasons, including:...
.
In the late 1990s, Feely was Vice Chairman of the District Council, and played a prominent role in Newry's successful bid for city status
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
. Following this, he became the first Mayor of Newry.
In November 2005, Feely and sixteen other nationalist councillors were jointly surcharged £10,000 and barred from public office for five years for refusing the victims group FAIR the use of Newtownhamilton
Newtownhamilton
Newtownhamilton is a small village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is within the townland of Tullyvallan and the barony of Upper Fews. It is part of the Newry and Mourne District Council area...
Community Centre. This was overturned on appeal, but left five of the councillors including Feely to share a large legal bill.
From 2007 on, Feely has worked as a field canvasser for Citizen's Campaign for the Environment in the United States.
Feely sits on the East Border Region Committee, the Carlingford / Foyle Loughs Commission and the Rural Communities Network (NI).