Newry and Mourne

Newry And Mourne

Coordinates: 54°10′34″N 6°15′22″W / 54.176°N 6.256°W / 54.176; -6.256

Newry and Mourne District Council (Irish: Comhairle an Iúir agus Mhúrn) 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 population of 28,850. Other towns in the council area include Crossmaglen and Bessbrook in County Armagh and Warrenpoint, Rostrevor, Hilltown, Annalong and Kilkeel (an important fishing port) in County Down.

From 1973 to 1985, the council area consisted of six electoral areas. In 1985, this was reduced to the current five electoral areas: Crotlieve, Fews, Newry Town, Slieve Gullion and The Mournes. One of its 30 wards, Rathfriland, was transferred to Banbridge council in 1993. At the elections of 2005, 30 members were elected from the following political parties: 14 Sinn Féin, 9 Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), 3 Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), 1 Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), 2 Independents and 1 United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). For 2010–2011 the Mayor is Councillor Mick Murphy (SF) and the Deputy Mayor is Councillor Karen McKevitt (SDLP).

In elections for the Westminster Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly it is split between the Newry & Armagh constituency and the South Down constituency.