FOYLESIDE - 5 seats up for grabs

The Local Elections will see a total of 462 councillors elected to 11 local councils across the North of Ireland.

40 of those will be elected onto Derry City and Strabane District Council.

You can keep up-to-date with all the Local Government Election 2023 developments in Derry News and online at Derry Now on our dedicated Election Page.

#Election23 #DerryStrabane
FOYLESIDE: 5 seats - Verification at 8.15pm.
Where might Sean Carr's 822 FPVs go?@DerrySinnFein gain a seat?@SDLPlive gain a seat?@pb4p hold its seat?@AontuDhoire gain a seat?@allianceparty?#Derry #DerryNews #DerryNow pic.twitter.com/tRQk01VhTM

— Derry Now (@DerryNow) May 19, 2023

Derry City and Strabane District Council comprises seven wards: Ballyarnett, Derg, Faughan, Foyleside, Sperrin, The Moor, and Waterside.

The overall turnout in Derry City and Strabane District Council electoral area for 2019 Local Government Election was 56.21% with a total of 60,695 valid votes cast. A total of 1,103 ballots were rejected.

Foyleside

Foyleside comprises four district electoral areas: Springtown, Foyle Springs, Northland, and Madam’s Bank. It has 5 seats.

In 2014, it returned 2 SDLP, 2 Sinn Féín and 1 Independent candidate.

In 2019, it returned 2 SDLP, 1 Sinn Féin, 1 People Before Profit and 1 independent candidate. People Before Profit gained a seat from Sinn Féin.

There are eight candidates standing in Foyleside. They are: Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr (SDLP); Councillor Shauna Cusack (SDLP); Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit); Cllr Conor Heaney (Sinn Féin); Seán Mac Cearáin (Aontú); Stephen McCallion (SDLP); Danny McCloskey (Alliance); and Grace Ui Niallais (Sinn Féin).

In 2019, the total number of the Foyleside electorate was 13,233. There were 7,358 (55.60%) valid votes cast. There were 162 spoilt votes and the quota was set at 1,227 votes.

The first preference tallies were: Mary Durkan (SDLP) 1,231 votes (elected); Shauna Cusack (SDLP) 1,129 votes (elected); Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) 977 votes (elected); Michael Cooper (Sinn Féin) 888 votes (elected); Sean Carr (Independent) 822 votes (elected); Eric McGinley (Sinn Féin) 653 votes; Lilian Seenoi-Barr (SDLP) 721 votes; Hayleigh Flemming (Sinn Féin) 632 votes; and John Doherty (Alliance) 305 votes.

In the Foyleside Ward there were two changes during the Council term. On April 8, 2021, Cllr Michael Cooper (Sinn Féin) resigned and Conor Heaney (Sinn Féin) was co-opted as his replacement. On June 9, 2021, Cllr Mary Durkan (SDLP) resigned and Lilian Seenoi Barr (SDLP) was co-opted as her replacement.