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The results of Thursday's Local Government Election in the Newry District Electoral Area mean that for just the third time in over 50 years there is no independent voice representing Newry city! Potentially you could argue that that it's the first time in over 50 years, as one candidate started Independent and then was elected a couple of times to a fledgling 'Irish Independence Party' but technically that meant they weren't 'independent'. There was an independent candidate on the ballot paper this time but Mariya Krupska just wasn't well enough known currently to be in the running proper, receiving just 209 first preference votes.
Newry has a long history of powerful and charismatic independent Councillors serving the area with the last one being Gavin Malone in 2019. Who living in Newry doesn't recall Arthur Lockhart, Eugene Markey and Jackie Patterson. with Markey doing 5 terms, Patterson 4 and Lockhart 1.
Over the years household names have worked for the people without the support of a party. As above in 2019 it was Gavin Malone. In 2014, the first election for Newry, Mourne and Down Council it was Davy Hyland and Kevin McAteer (elected SDLP and changed to Independent). In Newry and Mourne District Council 2011 saw Jackie Patterson and Davy Hyland as independent voices. In 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2005 Jackie Patterson was also elected while 'Independent Nationalist' Eugene Markey also served in 1977, 1981 +1985 (Irish Independence Party), 1989, 1997. In 1981 Francis McCamley was also elected to the IIP.
Independent Unionists Clarence Morrow and Arthur Lockhart were elected to represent Newry in the 1973 election, the first year of the then new Newry and Mourne District Council. We don't have records before this date but no doubt our readers remember former independent voices.
