Local election in Belfast
An election to Belfast Corporation took place on Thursday 25 November 1897 as part of that year's local elections.
This was the first election for Belfast Corporation since 1887. Since that election the Belfast Corporation Act 1896 had increased the borough from 6,800 to 16,500 acres, and the electorate from 39,603 to 47,294.[1] The need to delineate new ward boundaries meant that elections could not be completed in 1896, resulting in them being delayed until 1897.[2]
Results by party
Belfast Corporation election, 1897[3] Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Belfast Conservative Association | 33 | | | | | | | |
| Catholic Association | 8 | | | | | | | |
| Independent | 8 | | | | | | | |
| Belfast LRC | 6 | | | | | | | |
| Liberal Unionist | 5 | | | | | | | |
| Joint Committee of the INL & INF | 0 | | | | | | | |
Ward Results
Court
Court Ward[4][5]
Electorate: 2,882 Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Belfast LRC | Alex Taylor | 1,028 | |
| | Tougher | 977 | |
| | Young* | 666 | |
| | Dr Stewart | 644 | |
Turnout | 1,986 | 68.91 |
| Belfast LRC gain from |
Duncairn
Duncairn Ward - 3 seats[4][6][5]
Electorate: 3,527 Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Belfast LRC | Alexander Bowman | 1,249 | |
| Irish Conservative | Dr Timothy White | 1,196 | |
| Independent | Robert Wilson (incumbent) | 1,010 | |
| Irish Conservative | John Thompson | 839 | |
| Irish Conservative | James McCammond | 767 | |
Turnout | | |
| Belfast LRC gain from |
Falls
Alderman
Falls Ward (1)[7] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | McCormick | 1,280 | 60.15 |
| | James McCann | 848 | 39.85 |
Turnout | 2,128 | |
Councillors
Falls Ward (3)[4][8] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Catholic Association | McDonnell | 1,300 | |
| Catholic Association | P. J. McGee | 1,272 | |
| Catholic Association | Cook | 1,236 | |
| INL & INF | Fegan | 764 | |
| INL & INF | Rooney | 744 | |
| INL & INF | Connolly | 702 | |
Turnout | | |
Pottinger
Shankhill
Smithfield
Smithfield Ward (3)[4][8] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Catholic Association | O'Connell | 1184 | | {{{change}}} |
| Catholic Association | McEntee | 1158 | | {{{change}}} |
| Catholic Association | McLorinan | 1080 | | {{{change}}} |
| INL & INF | Aicken | 823 | | {{{change}}} |
| INL & INF | McGuigan | 795 | | {{{change}}} |
| INL & INF | Riordan | 731 | | {{{change}}} |
Turnout | | |
St. George's & Dock
Victoria
References
- ^ Budge, Ian; O'Leary, Cornelius. Belfast: Approach to Crisis, A Study of Belfast Politics 1613–1970. p. 103.
- ^ Budge, Ian; O'Leary, Cornelius. Belfast: Approach to Crisis, A Study of Belfast Politics 1613–1970. p. 104.
- ^ Budge, Ian; O'Leary, Cornelius. Belfast: Approach to Crisis, A Study of Belfast Politics 1613–1970. p. 105.
- ^ a b c d e f g h p.124
- ^ a b c Belfast News-Letter - Friday 26 November 1897 p.5-6
- ^ p.126
- ^ Belfast News-Letter - Saturday 27 November 1897 p.5
- ^ a b Derry Journal - Monday 29 November 1897 p.7
Preceded by 1887 Belfast Corporation election | Belfast Corporation elections | Succeeded by 1899 Belfast Corporation election |