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{{Short description|Constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland}}
{{Northern Ireland Parliament constituency infobox|
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
| Name = Belfast Falls
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
| Map2 = [[Image:Belfast Falls (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency).svg|150px]]
{{coord|54.592|-5.963|display=title|region:GB_scale:20000}}
| Map =[[Image:Belfast (Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies).svg|200px]]
{{Infobox constituency
| Belfast=yes
| Type = Borough
| name = Belfast Falls
| type = [[Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies|Borough]]
| Start = 1929
| parl_name = [[Parliament of Northern Ireland]]
| End = 1973
| image = [[File:Belfast Falls 1929-1969.svg|Belfast Falls 1929-1969|300px]]
| EM = First past the post
| caption = Belfast Falls shown within [[Belfast]] and Belfast shown within [[Northern Ireland]]
| year = 1929
| abolished = 1973
| blank1_name = Election method
| blank1_info = [[First past the post]]
}}
}}
'''Belfast Falls''' was a [[borough constituencies|borough]] [[constituency]] of the [[Parliament of Northern Ireland]] [[House of Commons of Northern Ireland|House of Commons]] from [[1929]]-[[1973]]. It returned one member through a process of [[First past the post|plurality (first past the post)]] voting.


'''Belfast Falls''' was a constituency of the [[Parliament of Northern Ireland]].


== Boundaries ==
==Boundaries==
Belfast Falls was a [[borough constituency]] comprising part of western [[Belfast]]. It was created in 1929, when the [[House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929]] introduced [[first-past-the-post]] elections throughout Northern Ireland.


Belfast Falls was created by the division of [[Belfast West (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)|Belfast West]] into four new constituencies. It was formed from the Falls ward and included the [[Falls Road (Belfast)|Falls Road]]. It survived unchanged, returning one member of Parliament, until the [[Parliament of Northern Ireland]] was [[Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972|temporarily suspended]] in 1972, and then [[Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973|formally abolished]] in 1973.<ref name="commons">[http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/hnihoc.htm The Northern Ireland House of Commons, 1921-1972], Northern Ireland Elections</ref>
The constituency was created from the Falls Ward which included [[Falls Road (Belfast)|Falls Road]].

==Politics==
The constituency was the most staunchly [[nationalist (Ireland)|nationalist]] in Belfast. It was initially held by [[Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)|Nationalist Party]] members, then later by a variety of labour movement activists and members of smaller nationalist parties.<ref name="commons" />


== Members of Parliament ==
== Members of Parliament ==
Line 21: Line 30:
!colspan="2"| Election !! Member !! Party
!colspan="2"| Election !! Member !! Party
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" style="background-color: {{Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)/meta/color}}" |
| rowspan="3" style="background-color: {{party color|Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)}}" |
| [[Northern Ireland general election, 1929|1929]]
| [[1929 Northern Ireland general election|1929]]
| rowspan="3"|[[Richard Byrne]]
| rowspan="3"|[[Richard Byrne (politician)|Richard Byrne]]
| rowspan="3"|[[Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)|Nationalist Party]]
| rowspan="3"|[[Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)|Nationalist Party]]
|-
|-
| [[Northern Ireland general election, 1933|1933]]
| [[1933 Northern Ireland general election|1933]]
|-
|-
|[[Northern Ireland general election, 1938|1938]]
|[[1938 Northern Ireland general election|1938]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="1" style="background-color: {{Independent Republican (Ireland)/meta/color}}" |
| rowspan="1" style="background-color: {{party color|Independent Republican (Ireland)}}" |
| [[Northern Ireland Parliament by-elections|1942]]
| [[Northern Ireland Parliament by-elections|1942]]
|[[Eamon Donnelly]]
|[[Eamon Donnelly]]
|[[Independent Republican (Ireland)|Independent Republican]]
|[[Independent Republican (Ireland)|Independent Republican]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" style="background-color: {{Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)/meta/color}}" |
| rowspan="3" style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)}}" |
| [[Northern Ireland general election, 1945|1945]]
| [[1945 Northern Ireland general election|1945]]
| rowspan="6"|[[Harry Diamond]]
| rowspan="6"|[[Harry Diamond (politician)|Harry Diamond]]
| rowspan="3"|[[Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)|Socialist Republican Party]]
| rowspan="3"|[[Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)|Socialist Republican Party]]
|-
|-
| [[Northern Ireland general election, 1949|1949]]
| [[1949 Northern Ireland general election|1949]]
|-
|-
| [[Northern Ireland general election, 1953|1953]]
| [[1953 Northern Ireland general election|1953]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" style="background-color: {{Republican Labour Party/meta/color}}" |
| rowspan="3" style="background-color: {{party color|Republican Labour Party}}" |
| [[Northern Ireland general election, 1958|1958]]
| [[1958 Northern Ireland general election|1958]]
| rowspan="3"|[[Republican Labour Party]]
| rowspan="3"|[[Republican Labour Party]]
|-
|-
|[[Northern Ireland general election, 1962|1962]]
|[[1962 Northern Ireland general election|1962]]
|-
|[[1965 Northern Ireland general election|1965]]
|-
|-
|[[Northern Ireland general election, 1965|1965]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Northern Ireland Labour Party}}" |
|[[1969 Northern Ireland general election|1969]]
| rowspan=2|[[Paddy Devlin]]
| [[Northern Ireland Labour Party]]
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Social Democratic and Labour Party/meta/color}}" |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democratic and Labour Party}}" |
|''1970''
|[[Northern Ireland general election, 1969|1969]]
|[[Social Democratic and Labour Party]]
|[[Paddy Devlin]]
| [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]]
|-
|-
|
|
Line 64: Line 77:
== Election results ==
== Election results ==
{{Politics of Northern Ireland 1921-72}}
{{Politics of Northern Ireland 1921-72}}

{{Template:Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Northern Ireland general election, 1929|General Election 22 May 1929]]: Belfast Falls}}
|title=[[1929 Northern Ireland general election|General Election 22 May 1929]]: Belfast Falls<ref name="demon">[http://www.election.demon.co.uk/stormont/belfast.html Northern Ireland Parliamentary Elections Results: Boroughs: Belfast]</ref>}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|party = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|candidate = [[Richard Byrne]]
|candidate = [[Richard Byrne (politician)|Richard Byrne]]
|votes = 6,941
|votes = 6,941
|percentage = 55.8
|percentage = 55.8
|change = ''N/A''
|change =
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party
|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party
|candidate = [[Billy McMullen (politician)|Billy McMullen]]
|candidate = [[William McMullen (politician)|Billy McMullen]]
|votes = 5,509
|votes = 5,509
|percentage = 44.2
|percentage = 44.2
|change = ''N/A''
|change =
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,432
|votes = 1,432
|percentage = 11.6
|percentage = 11.6
|change = ''N/A''
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 12,450
|percentage =
|change =
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box gain from new with party link|
{{Election box new seat win|
|winner = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|winner = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|swing =
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Template:Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Northern Ireland general election, 1933|General Election 30 November 1933]]: Belfast Falls}}
|title=[[1933 Northern Ireland general election|General Election 30 November 1933]]: Belfast Falls<ref name="demon" />}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|party = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|candidate = [[Richard Byrne]]
|candidate = [[Richard Byrne (politician)|Richard Byrne]]
|votes = Unopposed
|votes = Unopposed
|percentage = ''N/A''
|percentage = ''N/A''
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|winner = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|swing = ''N/A''
|swing = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Template:Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Northern Ireland general election, 1938|General Election 9 February 1938]]: Belfast Falls}}
|title=[[1938 Northern Ireland general election|General Election 9 February 1938]]: Belfast Falls<ref name="demon" />}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|party = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|candidate = [[Richard Byrne]]
|candidate = [[Richard Byrne (politician)|Richard Byrne]]
|votes = 5,334
|votes = 5,334
|percentage = 53.3
|percentage = 53.3
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party
|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party
|candidate = John Glass
|candidate = John Glass
|votes = 4,667
|votes = 4,667
|percentage = 46.7
|percentage = 46.7
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 667
|votes = 667
|percentage = 6.6
|percentage = 6.6
|change =
|change = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 10,001
|percentage =
|change =
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|winner = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|swing = ''N/A''
|swing = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


* ''Death of Byrne''
* ''Death of Byrne''


{{Template:Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Belfast Falls by-election, 1942|By-election 02 April 1942]]: Belfast Falls}}
|title=[[1942 Belfast Falls by-election|By-election 2 April 1942]]: Belfast Falls<ref name="demon" />}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Independent Republican (Ireland)
|party = Independent Republican (Ireland)
|candidate = [[Eamon Donnelly]]
|candidate = [[Eamon Donnelly]]
|votes = 4,595
|votes = 4,595
|percentage = 54.8
|percentage = 54.8
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|party = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|candidate = George McGouran
|candidate = George McGouran
|votes = 1,971
|votes = 1,971
|percentage = 23.5
|percentage = 23.5
|change = ''N/A''
|change = -29.8
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party
|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party
|candidate = John Glass
|candidate = John Glass
|votes = 1,821
|votes = 1,821
|percentage = 21.7
|percentage = 21.7
|change = - 25.0
|change = -25.0
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 2,623
|votes = 2,623
|percentage =
|percentage = 31.3
|change =
|change = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 8,387
|percentage =
|change =
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|winner = Independent Republican (Ireland)
|loser = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|swing =
|swing =
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Template:Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Northern Ireland general election, 1945|General Election 14 June 1945]]: Belfast Falls}}
|title=[[1945 Northern Ireland general election|General Election 14 June 1945]]: Belfast Falls<ref name="demon" />}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)
|party = Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond]]
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond (politician)|Harry Diamond]]
|votes = 5,016
|votes = 5,016
|percentage = 42.9
|percentage = 42.9
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Federation of Labour (Ireland)
|party = Federation of Labour (Ireland)
|candidate = J. H. Collins
|candidate = John Collins
|votes = 3,912
|votes = 3,912
|percentage = 33.5
|percentage = 33.5
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|party = Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
|candidate = J. McGlade
|candidate = James McGlade
|votes = 2,766
|votes = 2,766
|percentage = 23.6
|percentage = 23.6
|change = ''N/A''
|change = +0.1
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,104
|votes = 1,104
|percentage = 9.4
|percentage = 9.4
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box gain with party link|
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 11,694
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner = Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)
|winner = Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)
|loser = Fianna Fáil
|loser = Independent Republican (Ireland)
|swing =
|swing =
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Template:Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Northern Ireland general election, 1949|General Election 10 February 1949]]: Belfast Falls}}
|title=[[1949 Northern Ireland general election|General Election 10 February 1949]]: Belfast Falls<ref name="demon" />}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party =Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)
|party = Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond]]
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond (politician)|Harry Diamond]]
|votes = unopposed
|votes = Unopposed
|percentage = ''N/A''
|percentage = ''N/A''
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box majority|
{{Election box hold with party link|
|votes = ''N/A''
|percentage = ''N/A''
|change =
}}
{{Template:Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)
|winner = Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)
|swing =
|swing = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Template:Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Northern Ireland general election, 1953|General Election 22 October 1953]]: Belfast Falls}}
|title=[[1953 Northern Ireland general election|General Election 22 October 1953]]: Belfast Falls<ref name="demon" />}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Labour Party
|party = Republican Labour Party
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond]]
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond (politician)|Harry Diamond]]
|votes = 7,510
|votes = 7,510
|percentage = 73.1
|percentage = 73.1
|change =
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent Irish Labour
|party = Independent Irish Labour
|candidate = J. G. MacKearney
|candidate = Seamus MacKearney
|votes = 2,761
|votes = 2,761
|percentage = 26.9
|percentage = 26.9
|change =
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Irish Labour Party
|party = Irish Labour Party
|candidate = J. Macgougan
|candidate = [[Jack MacGougan]]
|votes = 1,361
|votes = 1,361
|percentage = 11.8
|percentage = 11.8
|change =
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 4,749
|votes = 4,749
|percentage =46.2
|percentage = 46.2
|change =
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box gain with party link|
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 11,632
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner = Republican Labour Party
|winner = Republican Labour Party
|loser = Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)
|loser = Socialist Republican Party (Ireland)
|swing=
|swing = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Template:Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Northern Ireland general election, 1958|General Election 20 March 1958]]: Belfast Falls}}
|title=[[1958 Northern Ireland general election|General Election 20 March 1958]]: Belfast Falls<ref name="demon" />}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Labour Party
|party = Republican Labour Party
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond]]
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond (politician)|Harry Diamond]]
|votes = 7,510
|votes = 7,510
|percentage = 73.1
|percentage = 73.1
|change =
|change = 0.0
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent Irish Labour
|party = Independent Irish Labour
|candidate = J. G. MacKearney
|candidate = Seamus MacKearney
|votes = 2,761
|votes = 2,761
|percentage = 26.9
|percentage = 26.9
|change =
|change = 0.0
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes =4,749
|votes = 4,749
|percentage =46.2
|percentage = 46.2
|change =
|change = 0.0
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 10,271
|percentage =
|change =
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Republican Labour Party
|winner = Republican Labour Party
|swing =
|swing =
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Template:Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Northern Ireland general election, 1962|General Election 31 May 1962]]: Belfast Falls}}
|title=[[1962 Northern Ireland general election|General Election 31 May 1962]]: Belfast Falls<ref name="demon" />}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Labour Party
|party = Republican Labour Party
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond]]
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond (politician)|Harry Diamond]]
|votes = 7,662
|votes = 7,662
|percentage = 76.6
|percentage = 76.6
|change =
|change = +3.5
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent Labour Group
|party = Independent Labour Group
|candidate = [[John Joseph Brennan]]
|candidate = [[John Joseph Brennan]]
|votes = 2,343
|votes = 2,343
|percentage = 23.4
|percentage = 23.4
|change =
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 5,319
|votes = 5,319
|percentage = 53.2
|percentage = 53.2
|change =
|change = +7.0
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 10,005
|percentage =
|change =
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Republican Labour Party
|winner = Republican Labour Party
|swing =
|swing =
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Template:Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Northern Ireland general election, 1965|General Election 25 November 1965]]: Belfast Falls}}
|title=[[1965 Northern Ireland general election|General Election 25 November 1965]]: Belfast Falls<ref name="demon" />}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Labour Party
|party = Republican Labour Party
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond]]
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond (politician)|Harry Diamond]]
|votes = unopposed
|votes = Unopposed
|percentage = ''N/A''
|percentage = ''N/A''
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box majority|
{{Election box hold with party link|
|votes = ''N/A''
|percentage = ''N/A''
|change = ''N/A''
}}
{{Template:Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Republican Labour Party
|winner = Republican Labour Party
|swing =
|swing = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Template:Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=[[Northern Ireland general election, 1969|General Election 24 February 1969]]: Belfast Falls}}
|title=[[1969 Northern Ireland general election|General Election 24 February 1969]]: Belfast Falls<ref name="demon" />}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Social Democratic and Labour Party
|party = Northern Ireland Labour Party
|candidate = [[Paddy Devlin]]
|candidate = [[Paddy Devlin]]
|votes = 6,275
|votes = 6,275
|percentage = 53.1
|percentage = 53.1
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Labour Party
|party = Republican Labour Party
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond]]
|candidate = [[Harry Diamond (politician)|Harry Diamond]]
|votes = 5,549
|votes = 5,549
|percentage = 46.9
|percentage = 46.9
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 726
|votes = 726
|percentage = 6.2
|percentage = 6.2
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box gain with party link|
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 11,824
|winner = Social Democratic and Labour Party
|percentage =
|loser = Republican Labour Party
|swing=
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Template:Election box end}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner = Northern Ireland Labour Party
|loser = Republican Labour Party
|swing = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election box end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{Parliament of Northern Ireland}}
{{Parliament of Northern Ireland}}
{{County Antrim constituencies}}
[[Category:Constituencies of the Northern Ireland Parliament]]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Constituencies of the Northern Ireland Parliament in Belfast|Falls]]
[[Category:Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies established in 1929]]
[[Category:Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies disestablished in 1973]]

Latest revision as of 03:11, 12 October 2024

54°35′31″N 5°57′47″W / 54.592°N 5.963°W / 54.592; -5.963

Belfast Falls
Former Borough constituency
for the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Belfast Falls 1929-1969
Belfast Falls shown within Belfast and Belfast shown within Northern Ireland
Former constituency
Created1929
Abolished1973
Election methodFirst past the post

Belfast Falls was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

Boundaries

[edit]

Belfast Falls was a borough constituency comprising part of western Belfast. It was created in 1929, when the House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929 introduced first-past-the-post elections throughout Northern Ireland.

Belfast Falls was created by the division of Belfast West into four new constituencies. It was formed from the Falls ward and included the Falls Road. It survived unchanged, returning one member of Parliament, until the Parliament of Northern Ireland was temporarily suspended in 1972, and then formally abolished in 1973.[1]

Politics

[edit]

The constituency was the most staunchly nationalist in Belfast. It was initially held by Nationalist Party members, then later by a variety of labour movement activists and members of smaller nationalist parties.[1]

Members of Parliament

[edit]
Election Member Party
1929 Richard Byrne Nationalist Party
1933
1938
1942 Eamon Donnelly Independent Republican
1945 Harry Diamond Socialist Republican Party
1949
1953
1958 Republican Labour Party
1962
1965
1969 Paddy Devlin Northern Ireland Labour Party
1970 Social Democratic and Labour Party
1973 Constituency abolished

Election results

[edit]
(1921–72)
Politics of Northern Ireland
Government
Parliament
1921, 1925, 1929, 1933
1938, 1945, 1949, 1953
1958, 1962, 1965, 1969
Senate
Elections
1921, 1925, 1929, 1933
1938, 1945, 1949, 1953
1958, 1962, 1965, 1969
By-elections
See also
General Election 22 May 1929: Belfast Falls[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nationalist Richard Byrne 6,941 55.8
NI Labour Billy McMullen 5,509 44.2
Majority 1,432 11.6
Turnout 12,450
Nationalist win (new seat)
General Election 30 November 1933: Belfast Falls[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nationalist Richard Byrne Unopposed N/A N/A
Nationalist hold Swing N/A
General Election 9 February 1938: Belfast Falls[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nationalist Richard Byrne 5,334 53.3 N/A
NI Labour John Glass 4,667 46.7 New
Majority 667 6.6 N/A
Turnout 10,001
Nationalist hold Swing N/A
  • Death of Byrne
By-election 2 April 1942: Belfast Falls[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Republican Eamon Donnelly 4,595 54.8 New
Nationalist George McGouran 1,971 23.5 −29.8
NI Labour John Glass 1,821 21.7 −25.0
Majority 2,623 31.3 N/A
Turnout 8,387
Ind. Republican gain from Nationalist Swing
General Election 14 June 1945: Belfast Falls[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Socialist Republican Harry Diamond 5,016 42.9 New
Federation of Labour John Collins 3,912 33.5 New
Nationalist James McGlade 2,766 23.6 +0.1
Majority 1,104 9.4 N/A
Turnout 11,694
Socialist Republican gain from Ind. Republican Swing
General Election 10 February 1949: Belfast Falls[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Socialist Republican Harry Diamond Unopposed N/A N/A
Socialist Republican hold Swing N/A
General Election 22 October 1953: Belfast Falls[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Labour Harry Diamond 7,510 73.1 N/A
Independent Irish Labour Seamus MacKearney 2,761 26.9 New
Irish Labour Jack MacGougan 1,361 11.8 New
Majority 4,749 46.2 N/A
Turnout 11,632
Republican Labour gain from Socialist Republican Swing N/A
General Election 20 March 1958: Belfast Falls[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Labour Harry Diamond 7,510 73.1 0.0
Independent Irish Labour Seamus MacKearney 2,761 26.9 0.0
Majority 4,749 46.2 0.0
Turnout 10,271
Republican Labour hold Swing
General Election 31 May 1962: Belfast Falls[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Labour Harry Diamond 7,662 76.6 +3.5
Ind. Labour Group John Joseph Brennan 2,343 23.4 New
Majority 5,319 53.2 +7.0
Turnout 10,005
Republican Labour hold Swing
General Election 25 November 1965: Belfast Falls[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Labour Harry Diamond Unopposed N/A N/A
Republican Labour hold Swing N/A
General Election 24 February 1969: Belfast Falls[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
NI Labour Paddy Devlin 6,275 53.1 New
Republican Labour Harry Diamond 5,549 46.9 N/A
Majority 726 6.2 N/A
Turnout 11,824 N/A
NI Labour gain from Republican Labour Swing N/A

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b The Northern Ireland House of Commons, 1921-1972, Northern Ireland Elections
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Northern Ireland Parliamentary Elections Results: Boroughs: Belfast
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