South Fermanagh (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)

South Fermanagh was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

South Fermanagh
Former County Constituency for the Parliament of Northern Ireland
South Fermanagh shown within Northern Ireland
Former constituency
Created	1929
Abolished	1972
Election method	First past the post

Boundaries

Fermanagh South was a county constituency comprising the southern part of County Fermanagh. 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. Fermanagh South was created by the division of Fermanagh and Tyrone into eight new constituencies, of which three were in County Fermanagh. The constituency 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

Unlike the other seats in County Fermanagh, South Fermanagh was a strongly nationalist area. The seat was consistently won by the Nationalist Party candidate, who, for most of its existence, was the party leader, Cahir Healy.[1] It was only contested on two occasions: in 1949 by an Ulster Unionist Party candidate, and in 1969 by a People's Democracy candidate.[2]

Members of Parliament

Elected	Party		Name[2]
1929		Nationalist	Cahir Healy
1965		Nationalist	John Carron

Election results

At the 1929, 1933, 1938 and 1945 general elections, Cahir Healy was elected unopposed.[2]

General Election 10 February 1949: Fermanagh South[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Nationalist	Cahir Healy	6,680	72.0	N/A
	UUP	F. G. Patterson	2,596	28.0	N/A
Majority			9,276	44.0	N/A
Turnout			6,208	86.6	N/A
	Nationalist hold		Swing	N/A

At the 1953, 1958 and 1962 general elections, Cahir Healy was elected unopposed.[2]

At the 1965 Northern Ireland general election, John Carron was elected unopposed.[2]

General Election 24 February 1969: Fermanagh South[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Nationalist	John Carron	4,108	66.2	N/A
	People's Democracy	P. J. Cosgrove	2,100	33.8	N/A
Majority			2,008	32.4	N/A
Turnout			6,208	74.6	N/A
	Nationalist hold		Swing	N/A

• Parliament prorogued 30 March 1972 and abolished 18 July 1973

References

1. The Northern Ireland House of Commons, 1921-1972, Northern Ireland Elections
2. Northern Ireland Parliamentary Elections Results: Counties: Fermanagh