West Tyrone


Map and graph by Conal Kelly

This constituency includes Strabane end of Derry and Strabane District Council and the Omagh end of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. The MP has been Barry McElduff (SF) since the 2017 election; he took over from Pat Doherty (SF) who defeated William Thompson (UUP) in 2001. Thompson had won the seat when it was created for the 1997 election. SF hold three Assembly seats here, and the SDLP and DUP one each.

The new boundaries see West Tyrone take in adjacent chunks from Mid Ulster and Foyle. These are small territories, sparsely populated, and don't make a lot of difference. The SF notional majority increases from almost 7500 to almost 8100. No impact on the Assembly result.

2024 Westminster election

Orfhlaith Begley (SF) 22,711 (52.0%, +11.9%)
Tom Buchanan (DUP) 6,794 (15.6%, -6.2%)
Daniel McCrossan (SDLP) 5,821 (13.3%, -5.1%)
Matthew Bell (UUP) 2,683 (6.1%, -0.4%)
Stevan Patterson (TUV) 2,530 (5.8%)
Stephen Donnelly (Alliance) 2,287 (5.2%, -4.3%)
Leza Houston (Aontú) 778 (1.8%)
Stephen Lynch (Con) 91 (0.2%)

Electorate 74,269; total vote 43,935 (59.2%); valid vote 43,695; invalid 240 (0.5%)

As usual in this election, a consolidation for SF in a strong area for them.

In a five-seat election, these votes would get SF three seats and the SDLP and DUP one each, which was also the result of the 2022 election.

2019 Westminster notional result on new boundaries:

SF 17,604 (40.1%)
DUP 9,530 (21.7%)
SDLP 8,108 (18.5%)
Alliance 4,206 (9.6%)
UUP 3,882 (6.6%)
Aontu 1,010 (2.3%)
Green 521 (1.2%)
PBP 30 (0.1%)

See spreadsheets from the 2011 Assembly election, the 2010 Westminster election, the 2007 Assembly election, the 2005 Westminster election, the 2003 Assembly election, the 2001 Westminster election, the 1998 Assembly election, the 1997 Westminster election and the 1996 Forum/talks election. See also the detailed guide from 2007 by "Sammy Morse".

		DUP	UUP	Alliance	Green	PBP	SDLP	SF	Aontu
2019 actual		9,066	2,774	3,979	521		7,330	16,544	972
		22.0%	6.7%	9.7%	1.3%		17.8%	40.2%	2.4%
From West Tyrone	To West Tyrone	9,066	2,774	3,979	521		7,330	16,544	972
From Mid Ulster	To West Tyrone	234	56	198			273	877
From Foyle	To West Tyrone	230	53	29		30	505	184	38
2019 notional		9,530	3,882	4,206	521	30	8,108	17,604	1,010
		21.7%	6.6%	9.6%	1.2%	0.1%	18.5%	40.1%	2.3%
		-0.3%	-0.2%	-0.1%	-0.1%	+0.1%	+0.7%	-0.1%	-0.1%

Results of recent elections

	DUP	UUP	Oth U	Alliance	Oth	SDLP	SF
2024w	15.6%	6.1%	6.0%	5.2%	1.8%	13.3%	52.0%
2022a	14.4%	4.1%	9.1%	6.5%	7.0%	11.9%	47.0%
2019w	22.0%	6.7%		9.7%	3.6%	17.8%	40.2%
2019lg	18.6%	11.6%	0.3%	4.8%	15.1%	11.8%	38.5%
2017w	26.9%	5.2%		2.3%	1.9%	13.0%	50.7%
2017a	20.4%	8.2%	2.0%	2.8%	4.2%	14.2%	48.1%
2016a	22.0%	11.4%	0.1%	1.3%	12.0%	11.0%	42.0%
2015w	17.5%	15.9%	0.4%	2.2%	3.8%	16.7%	43.5%
2014lg	18.7%	14.1%	1.5%	1.9%	4.9%	14.3%	44.7%
2011a	23.1%	10.4%		2.2%	5.7%	8.5%	50.1%
2011lg	19.4%	14.0%		0.8%	10.7%	11.5%	43.5%
2010w	19.8%	14.2%		2.3%	1.4%	14.0%	48.4%
2007a	21.4%	8.9%	0.5%		10.2%	14.5%	44.5%
2005w	17.8%	6.9%			27.4%	9.1%	38.9%
2005lg	19.1%	13.5%	0.1%		6.0%	17.9%	43.4%

NB that the figures for elections before 2010 are projections.

2022 Assembly election (five seats)

@Nicola Brogan (SF) 8,626 (18.8%)
@Maoliosa McHugh (SF) 6,658 (14.5%)
@Thomas Buchanan (DUP) 6,640 (14.4%)
@Declan McAleer (SF) 6,343 (13.8%)
@Daniel McCrossan (SDLP) 5,483 (11.9%)
Trevor Clarke (TUV) 4,166 (9.1%)
Stephen Donnelly (Alliance) 2,967 (6.5%)
Ian Marshall (UUP) 1,876 (4.1%)
Paul Gallagher (Ind) 1,682 (3.7%)
James Hope (Aontú) 657 (1.4%)
Carol Gallagher (PBP) 354 (0.8%)
Susan Glass (Green) 252 (0.5%)
Amy Ferguson (SP) 171 (0.4%)
Barry Brown (Ind) 119 (0.3%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

SF 21,627 (47.0%, -1.1%) 3 seats
DUP 6,640 (14.4%, -6.0%) 1 seat
SDLP 5,483 (11.9%, -2.3%) 1 seat
TUV 4,166 (9.1%, +7.2%)
Alliance 2,967 (6.5%, +3.7%)
UUP 1,876 (4.1%, -4.1%)
Ind 1,801 (3.9%)
Aontú 657 (1.4%)
PBP 354 (0.8%)
Green 252 (0.5%, -0.4%)
SP 171 (0.4%)

Electorate: 69,702
Votes cast: 46,629 (66.9%, -3.0%), spoilt votes 635 (1.4%)
Valid votes: 45,994, quota 7,666

All five out-going MLAs were returned in West Tyrone. SF got the last seat 2,707.36 votes ahead of TUV, with undistributed surpluses of 687 from SF and 132 from the DUP which would collectively have widened the gap.

2019 Westminster election

*Órfhlaith Begley (SF) 16,544 (40.2%, -10.6%)
@Thomas Buchanan (DUP) 9,066 (22.%, -4.9%)
@Daniel McCrossan (SDLP) 7,330 (17.8%, +4.8%)
Stephen Donnelly (Alliance) 3,979 (9.7%, +7.4%)
Andy McKane (UUP) 2,774 (6.7%, +1.6%)
James Hope (Aontú) 972 (2.4%, +2.4%)
Susan Glass (Green) 521 (1.3%, +0.3%)

* outgoing MP.
@ member of the Assembly.

Electorate: 66,259; Total Poll: 41,375 (62.4%); Invalid Votes: 189 (0.5%); Valid Votes: 41,186

Begley successfully defended the seat she won in 2018. The drop in SF support seems to have gone roughly half to SDLP and a quarter to each of Alliance and Aontu, with Alliance also picking up from the DUP. In a five-seat Assembly election, these votes would give SF two seats and the DUP and SDLP one each. The last seat could go to the DUP or possibly Alliance.

2019 local government election

From the 2011 census, West Tyrone includes:

The entire Fermanagh and Omagh DEA of Mid Tyrone
The entire Fermanagh and Omagh DEA of Omagh
The entire Fermanagh and Omagh DEA of West Tyrone
and
The entire Derry and Strabane DEA of Derg
85% of the Derry and Strabane DEA of Sperrin
5% of the Derry and Strabane DEA of Faughan.

With some adjustment for voter community background, I project the 2019 results as:

SF 15.010 (38.5%)
DUP 7,244 (18.6%)
SDLP 4,604 (11.8%)
UUP 4,519 (11.6%)
Independents 4,474 (11.5%)
Alliance 1,872 (4.8%)
Aontú 888 (2.3%)
Green 141 (0.4%)
TUV 115 (0.3%)
CISTA 101 (0.3%)

If cast in a five-seat Assembly election, these votes would have given SF two seats, and one each to the DUP and SDLP. The destiny of the fifth seat would depend on transfers from the independents and Alliance; the UUP start in the best position, but a third SF candidate might be better placed to attract transfers.

2018 Westminster by-election

Órfhlaith Begley (SF) 16,346 (46.7%, -4.0%)
Thomas Buchanan (DUP) 8,390 (23.9%, -3.0%)
Daniel McCrossan (SDLP) 6,254 (17.9%, +4.9%)
Chris Smyth (UUP) 2,909 (8.3%, +3.2%)
Stephen Donnelly (Alliance) 1,130 (3.2%, +0.9)

Electorate: 64,101; Total Poll: 35,337 (55.1%); Invalid votes 308 (0.9%); Valid Votes 35,029

Barry McElduff resigned after a bizarre incident involving a Twitter video and a loaf of bread. Sinn Féin easily held the seat.

2017 Westminster election

@Barry McElduff (SF) 22,060 (50.7%, +7.2%)
@Thomas Buchanan (DUP) 11,718 (26.9%, +9.4%)
@Daniel McCrossan (SDLP) 5,635 (13.0%, -3.7%)
Alicia Clarke (UUP) 2,253 (5.2%, -10.7%)
Stephen Donnelly (Alliance) 1,000 (2.3%, +0.1%)
Ciaran McClean (Green) 427 (1.0%, -1.0%)
Barry Brown (CISTA) 393 (0.9%, -0.5%)

* outgoing MP.
@ member of the Assembly

Electorate: 64,009; Total Poll: 43,675 (68.2%); Invalid Votes: 189 (0.4%); Valid Votes: 43,486

McElduff successfully inherited the seat from Pat Doherty. If cast in a five-seat Assembly election, these votes would elect three SF MLAs and one DUP, with the last slightly more likely to go to the second DUP candidate than to the SDLP.

2017 Assembly election (five seats)

@Thomas Buchanan (DUP) 9,064 (20.4%)
@Michaela Boyle (SF) 7,714 (17.4%)
@Barry McElduff (SF) 7,573 (17.1%)
@Daniel McCrossan (SDLP) 6,283 (14.2%)
@Declan McAleer (SF) 6,034 (13.6%)
Alicia Clarke (UUP) 3,654 (8.2%)
Stephen Donnelly (Alliance) 1,252 (2.8%)
Sorcha McAnespy (Ind) 864 (1.9%)
Charlie Chittick (TUV) 851 (1.9%)
Ciaran McClean (Green) 412 (0.9%)
Barry Brown (CISTA) 373 (0.8%)
Corey French (Ind) 98 (0.2%)
Roisin McMackin (Ind) 85 (0.2%)
Susan-Anne White (Ind) 41 (0.1%)
Roger Lomas (Con) 27 (0.1%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

SF 21,321 (48.1%, +6.1%) 3 seats
DUP 9,064 (20.4%, -1.6%) 1 seat
SDLP 6,283 (14.2%, +3.2%) 1 seat
UUP 3,654 (8.2%, -3.2%) 0 seats (-1)
Alliance 1,252 (2.8%, +1.5%)
Ind 1,088 (2.5%)
TUV 851 (1.9%)
Green 412 (0.9%, -0.3%)
CISTA 373 (0.8%, -0.6%)
Con 27 (0.1%, 0.0%)

Electorate: 64,258
Votes cast: 44,907 (69.9%, +10.0%), spoilt votes 582 (1.3%)
Valid votes: 44,325, quota 7,388

Unionists started closer to two quotas than Nationalists were to four, but the elimination of the minor candidates on the final round left Clarke of the UUP 760.45 behind SF's McAleer, with an undistributed SDLP surplus of 293.60 which would be more likely to widen the gap here than elsewhere.

2016 Brexit referendum

Total electorate: 64,941
Turnout: 40,061 (61.7%), 13/18.
Invalid votes: 22 (0.05%)
Votes to REMAIN: 26,765 (66.8%);
Votes to LEAVE: 13,274 (33.2%).
Fifth highest REMAIN vote share in Northern Ireland.

2016 Assembly election (six seats)

@Thomas Buchanan (DUP) 4,650 (12.0%)
@Barry McElduff (Sinn Féin) 4,568 (11.8%)
@Michaela Boyle (Sinn Féin) 4,460 (11.5%)
@Ross Hussey (UUP) 4,441 (11.4%)
@Daniel McCrossan (SDLP) 4,287 (11.0%)
Allan Bresland (DUP) 3,884 (10.0%)
Grace McDermott (Sinn Féin) 3,711 (9.6%)
@Declan McAleer (Sinn Féin) 3,565 (9.2%)
Josephine Deehan (Independent) 1,778 (4.6%)
Sorcha McAnespy (Independent) 828 (2.1%)
Patsy Kelly (Independent) 661 (1.7%)
Barry Brown (CISTA) 547 (1.4%)
Stephen Donnelly (Alliance) 494 (1.3%)
Ciaran McClean (Green) 458 (1.2%)
Laura McAnea (Animal Welfare) 224 (0.6%)
Corey French (Independent) 124 (0.3%)
Susan-Anne White (Independent) 85 (0.2%)
Roger Lomas (Conservative) 44 (0.1%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

Sinn Féin 16,304 (42.0%, -7.9%) 3 seats
DUP 8,534 (22.0%, -1.1%) 1 seat
UUP 4,441 (11.4%, +1.0%) 1 seat
SDLP 4,287 (11.0%, +2.5%) 1 seat
Independents 3,476 (9.0%)
CISTA 547 (1.4%)
Alliance 494 (1.3%, -0.9%)
Green 458 (1.2%)
Animal Welfare 224 (0.6%)
Conservative 44 (0.1%)

Electorate: 65,694
Votes cast: 39,325 (59.9%); spoilt votes 516 (1.3%)
Valid votes 38,809; quota: 5,545

A seat that has provided surprising results in the past did not do so this time, with all six sitting MLAs re-elected. Sinn Fein's Declan McAleer started 136 votes behind his running-mate Grace McDermott, but transfers from independent candidates and the Greens pulled him ahead and he finished with a lead of 24.92 votes, the narrowest of the election.

2015 Westminster election

*Pat Doherty (SF) 16,807 (43.5%, -4.9%)
Tom Buchanan (DUP) 6,747 (17.5%, -2.3%)
Daniel McCrossan (SDLP) 6,444 (16.7%, +2.7%)
Ross Hussey (UUP) 6,144 (15.9%, +1.7%)
Stephen Donnelly (Alliance) 869 (2.2%, -0.1%)
Ciaran McClean (Green) 780 (2.0%)
Barry Brown (Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol) 528 (1.4%)
Claire-Louise Leyland (Conservative) 169 (0.4%)
Susan-Anne White (Ind) 166 (0.4%)
Electorate: 63,856; Total Poll: 39,014 (61.1%); Invalid Votes: 353 (0.9%); Valid Votes: 38,654

A solid defence from Doherty, though here as elsewhere the vote slipped.

If cast in a six-seat Assembly election, these votes would have given SF three seats, and one each to the DUP, SDLP and UUP.

2014 local government election

From the 2011 census, West Tyrone includes:

The entire Fermanagh and Omagh DEA of Mid Tyrone
The entire Fermanagh and Omagh DEA of Omagh
The entire Fermanagh and Omagh DEA of West Tyrone
and
The entire Derry and Strabane DEA of Derg
85% of the Derry and Strabane DEA of Sperrin
5% of the Derry and Strabane DEA of Faughan.

With some adjustment for voter community background, I project the 2014 results as:

SF 16509 (45%)
DUP 6904 (19%)
SDLP 5284 (14%)
UUP 5203 (14%)
Inds 1607 (4%)
Alliance 687 (2%)
TUV 521 (1%)
Green 198 (1%)
UKIP 19 (0.1%)

If cast in a six-seat Assembly election, these votes would have given SF three seats, and one each to the DUP, SDLP and UUP.

2011 Assembly election (six seats)

@Barry McElduff (SF) 6,008 (15.3%)
@Pat Doherty MP (SF) 5,630 (14.3%)
Michaela Boyle (SF) 5,053 (12.9%)
@Thomas Buchanan (DUP) 5,027 (12.8%)
Ross Hussey (UUP) 4,072 (10.4%)
@Allan Bresland (DUP) 4,059 (10.3%)
Joe Byrne (SDLP) 3,353 (8.5%)
Declan McAleer (SF) 3,008 (7.7%)
Paddy McGowan (Independent) 1,145 (2.9%)
Eugene McMenamin (Independent) 1,096 (2.8%)
Eric Bullick (Alliance) 852 (2.2%)

@ member of the Assembly when it was dissolved.

SF 19,699 (50.1%, +7.6%) 3 seats
DUP 9,086 (23.1%, +1.7%) 1 seat (-1)
UUP 4,072 (10.4%, +2.5%) 1 seat (+1)
SDLP 3,353 (8.5%, -6.0%) 1 seat (+1)
Independents 2,241 (5.7%) (-1)
Alliance 852 (2.2%)

Electorate: 62,970
Votes cast: 40,323 (64.0%); spoilt votes 1020 (2.5%)
Valid votes 39,282; quota: 5,615

Two changes here, the only constituency where this was true. The SDLP managed to regain the seat they should never have lost to independent MLA Kieran Deeny in 2007, despite the interventions of two former SDLP members running as independents. And the UUP regained the seat they should not really have lost to the DUP in 2007, one which the DUP had (I understand) written off before the election, but which they still came fairly close to hanging on to, Bresland losing to Hussey by 274 votes on the last count.

2011 local government elections

First preference votes cast in the whole of the Omagh and Strabane council areas were as follows:

SF 17,187 (43.5%)
DUP 7,663 (19.4%)
UUP 5,521 (14.0%)
SDLP 4,548 (11.5%)
IRSP 666 (1.7%)
Alliance 324 (0.8%)
Independents 3,562 (9%)

In a six-seat STV election, this pattern of votes would probably have returned three SF seats, and one each for the DUP, UUP and SDLP.

2010 Westminster Election (one seat)

*@Pat Doherty (Sinn Féin) 18,050 (48.4%, +9.5%)
@Thomas Buchanan (DUP) 7,365 (19.8%, +2.0%)
Ross Hussey (UCUNF) 5,281 (14.2%, +7.3%)
Joe Byrne (SDLP) 5,212 (14.0%, +4.9%)
Michael Bower (Alliance) 859 (2.3%)
Ciaran McClean (Independent) 508 (1.4%)
Electorate: 61,148; Total Poll: 37,632 (61.5%); Invalid Votes: 357 (9.5%); Valid Votes: 37,275

* incumbent
@ elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly from this constituency

A solid performance from SF in one of their stronger constituencies. If these votes were cast in a six-seat Assembly election, the SDLP would win the seat currently held by Kieran Deeny, SF would retain their three, and the UUP/UCUNF would gain a seat from the DUP.

2007 Assembly Election (7 March; six seats)

Full details of each count are available here.

*Barry McElduff (SF) 6971 (16.8%)
*Pat Doherty MP (SF) 6709 (16.2%)
Claire McGill (SF) 4757 (11.5%)
*Thomas Buchanan (DUP) 4625 (11.2%)
Allan Bresland (DUP) 4244 (10.2%)
*Kieran Deeny (Independent) 3776 (9.1%)
*Derek Hussey (UUP) 3686 (8.9%)
Josephine Deehan (SDLP) 2689 (6.5%)
*Eugene McMenamin (SDLP) 2272 (5.5%)
Seamus Shields (SDLP) 1057 (2.5%)
Joseph O'Neill (RSF) 448 (1.1%)
^Robert McCartney (UKUP) 220 (0.5%)

*Elected in 2003 from West Tyrone
^Elected in 2003 from North Down

SF 18,437 (44.5%, +5.9%) 3 seats (+1)
DUP 8,869 (21.4%, +3.9%) 2 seats (+1)
SDLP 6,018 (14.5%, -0.1%) (-1)
Ind 3,776 (9.1%, -5.6%) 1 seat
UUP 3,686 (8.9%, -4.7%) (-1)
RSF 448 (1.1%)
UKUP 220 (0.5%)

Electorate 58,367
Votes cast 41,839 (71.7%); spoilt votes 385 (0.9%)
Valid votes 41,454; quota 5,923

This was the least expected result of the election in 2007 (as it had been in 2003). For the UUP to be eclipsed by the DUP was not a total surprise, but for the SDLP to fail to win a seat, despite having over a quota of first preferences, was pretty incredible. Their internal transfers dribbled away, and Kieran Deeny picked up from all over the place to keep his seat. The last count saw Bresland (DUP) 358 votes ahead of Meehan (SDLP) though with 285 undistributed DUP votes from Buchanan's surplus which would have widened the gap.

2005 Westminster election (5 May, one seat)

*@Pat Doherty (Sinn Fein) 16,910 (38.9% -1.9%)
@Kieran Deeny (Independent) 11,905 (27.4%)
@Thomas Buchanan (DUP) 7,742 (17.8%)
@Eugene McMenamin (SDLP) 3,949 (9.1% -19.6%)
@Derek Hussey (UUP) 2,981 (6.9% -23.5%)

* outgoing MP
@ Member of the Assembly

If these votes were cast in a six-seat STV election, SF would have won three seats, Kieran Deeny two and the DUP one.

2005 Local Government Election (5 May)

First preference votes cast in the whole of the Omagh and Strabane council areas were as follows:

Sinn Fein 18,703 (43.4%)
DUP 8,246 (19.1%)
SDLP 7,698 (17.9%)
UUP 5,814 (13.5%)
PUP 64 (0.1%)
Independents 2,588 (6.0%)

If these votes were cast in a six-seat STV election, SF would win three and the DUP, SDLP and UUP one each.

2003 Assembly election (26 November; six seats)

Also available: details of each count with analysis of surplus transfers.

Kieran Deeney (Ind) 6158 (14.8%)
*Pat Doherty (SF) 6019 (14.4%)
*Barry McElduff (SF) 5642 (13.5%)
Thomas Buchanan (DUP) 4739 (11.4%)
Brian McMahon (SF) 4450 (10.7%)
*Derek Hussey (UUP) 3733 (8.9%)
*Eugene McMenamin (SDLP) 3465 (8.3%)
*Joe Byrne (SDLP) 2645 (6.3%)
Derek Reaney (DUP) 2547 (6.1%)
Bert Wilson (UUP) 1934 (4.6%)
Roy Reid (PUP) 233 (0.6%)
Steven Alexander (Alliance) 164 (0.4%)

SF 16,111 (38.6%, +4.5%) 2 seats
DUP 7,286 (17.5%, +0.1%) 1 seat
Ind 6,158 (14.8%) 1 seat (+1)
SDLP 6,110 (14.6%, -11.1%) 1 seat (-1)
UUP 5,667 (13.6%, -2.1%) 1 seat
PUP 233 (0.6%)
Alliance 164 (0.4%, -1.8%)

Electorate 57,795
Votes cast 42,328 (73.2%); spoilt votes 599 (1.4%)
Valid votes 41,729; quota 5,962

Reaction: Every election produces some surprise results and this was the biggest of 2003 - independent candidate Kieran Deeny, campaigning for the retention of the hospital in Omagh, topped the poll. Most people had forecast that one of the two SDLP seats was vulnerable to Sinn Fein; in fact it fell to Deeny.

West Tyrone had lost 8.92% of its electorate in the great electoral register shake-out, varying from 16.42% in the Lisanelly ward of Omagh to 4.29% in the Glenderg ward of Strabane. 3 constituencies lost fewer voters, 14 lost more.

2001 Westminster Election (7 June; one seat)

@Pat Doherty (Sinn Fein) 19,814 (40.8%)
*Willie Thompson (UUP) 14,774 (30.4%)
@Brid Rodgers (SDLP) 13,942 (28.7%)

Electorate: 60,739; votes cast: 48,964 (80.6%); spoilt votes: 434 (0.8%)
Valid votes: 48,530; SF majority 5,040

* outgoing MP
@ Member of the Assembly

A particularly dramatic SF gain; the SDLP had foolishly been talking up their chances here, but in the event came third. A six-seat Assembly election on these figures would give two seats each to SF, the UUP and the SDLP, though only a very small increase in the SF vote would give them three seats and the SDLP one.

2001 Local Government Election (7 June)

First preference votes cast in the whole of the Omagh and Strabane council areas were as follows:

SF 19,398 (40%)
SDLP 10,009 (21%)
UUP 7,733 (16%)
DUP 7,657 (16%)
WP 211 (0.4%)
Inds 3,088 (6%)
Total valid votes 48,096 (79.1% of electorate)

It is easy enough to extrapolate from the local council elections because the West Tyrone constituency includes two whole district councils. The votes cast would have given the two Unionist parties a seat each, and probably one to the SDLP and three to Sinn F�in.

1998 Assembly Election (25 June; six seats)

Also available: details of each count with analysis of surplus transfers.

*Oliver Gibson (DUP) 8,015
#Pat Doherty (SF) 7,027
*Joe Byrne (SDLP) 6,495
*Barry McElduff (SF) 4,963
*Derek Hussey (UUP) 4,622
Seamus Devine (SF) 3,676
Eugene McMenamin (SDLP) 3,548
Alastair Patterson (UUP) 2,615
Pat McDonnell (SDLP) 1,772
*Paddy McGowan (Ind Community) 1,269
Ann Gormley (Alliance) 1,011
Johnny McLaughlin (Pro-Agreement Socialist) 570
Laurence O'Kane (Community and Environmental Conservation Campaign) 171
Tommy Owens (WP) 157
Robert Johnstone (NLP) 40

SF 15,666 (34.09%) 2 seats
SDLP 11,815 (25.71%) 2 seats
DUP 8,015 (17.44%) 1 seat
UUP 7,237 (15.75%) 1 seat
Ind Comm 1,269 (2.76%)
Alliance 1,011 (2.20%)
Soc 570 (1.24%)
CECC 171 (0.37%)
WP 157 (0.34%)
NLP 40 (0.09%)

Electorate 59,081
Votes cast: 46,913 (79.4%); spoilt votes 962 (2.1%)
Valid votes: 45,951; quota 6,565

The most predictable result in Northern Ireland. Barry McElduff finished with 5,997 votes, far ahead of his running mate Seamus Devine's 4,088.

* elected in 1996 Forum/talks election from West Tyrone
# elected in 1996 Forum/talks election as a 'top-up' candidate.

1997 Local Government Election

First preference votes cast in the whole of the Omagh and Strabane council areas were as follows:

Sinn Féin 13,388 votes (32%)
Social Democratic and Labour Party 9,588 votes (23%)
Ulster Unionist Party 8,770 votes (21%)
Democratic Unionist Party 6,080 votes (15%)
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland 926 votes (2%)
Labour 711 votes (2%)
Workers Party 457 votes (1%)
Democratic Left 148 votes (0.48%)
Ulster Independence Movement 42 votes (0.10%)
Others 1469 votes (4%)
Total valid votes 41,580 (71.08% of electorate)

1997 Westminster Election (one seat)

William Thompson (Ulster Unionist Party) 16,003 (35%)
ƒ Joe Byrne (Social Democratic and Labour Party) 14,842 (32%)
Pat Doherty (Sinn Féin) 14,280 (31%)
Ann Gormley (Alliance Party of Northern Ireland) 829 (2%)
Tommy Owens (Workers' Party) 230 (0.50%)
Robert Johnstone (Natural Law Party) 91 (0.20%)
Turnout 46,275 (79.55%)

ƒ member of the Forum

1996 Forum Election (five seats)

Also available: full list of 1996 candidates

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) 11,622 (28%); Joe Byrne, Paddy McGowan elected
Sinn Féin (SF) 11,516 (28%); Barry McElduff elected
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) 7,327 (18%); Derek Hussey elected
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) 6,727 (16%); Oliver Gibson elected
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) 1,081 (3%)
Labour (Lab) 792 (2%)
Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) 397 (1%)
United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP) 292 (1%)
Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) 238 (1%)
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (NIWC) 185 (0.45%)
Green Party 158 (0.39%)
Workers Party (WP) 169 (0.41%)
Democratic Left (DL) 130 (0.32%)
Conservative Party (Con) 119 (0.29%)
Ulster Independence Movement (UIM) 107 (0.26%)
Natural Law Party (NLP) 45 (0.11%)
Independent Chambers 30 (0.07%)

Electorate: 57,348; votes cast: 41,146 (71.7%); spoilt votes: 211 (0.5%); valid votes: 40,935

Results table 1996-2007

	DUP	UUP	Oth U	Alliance	Oth	SDLP	SF
2007a	21%	9%	1%		10%	15%	44%
2005w	18%	7%			27%	9%	39%
2005lg	19%	13%	0%		6%	18%	43%
2003a	17%	14%	1%	0%	15%	15%	39%
2001w		30%				29%	41%
2001lg	16%	16%			7%	21%	40%
1998a	17%	16%		2%	5%	26%	34%
1997lg	15%	21%		2%	7%	23%	32%
1997w		35%		2%	1%	32%	31%
1996f	16%	18%	3%	3%	4%	28%	28%

Other sites based at ARK: ORB (Online Research Bank) | CAIN (Conflict Archive on the INternet) | Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey

Your comments, please! Send an email to me at nicholas.whyte@gmail.com.

This page has been developed with the support of a project grant from the New Initiatives Fund of the Electoral Commission. However, any views expressed on this page or, in particular, other pages of this website are those of the author and not necessarily shared by The Electoral Commission.

Nicholas Whyte, 3 June 1998; last updated 7 May 2022 by Conal Kelly.

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