Look ahead to Local Government Election 2023 - Sperrin Ward

The Local Elections on May 18 will see a total of 462 councillors elected to 11 local councils across the North of Ireland.

Forty 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.

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

Today we take a closer look at each of the wards.

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.

Sperrin

Sperrin comprises the district electoral areas of North Strabane, West Strabane, Ballycolman, Gleneely Valley, Artigarvan, Donemana and Park. It has 7 seats.

In 2014, Sperrin returned 3 Sinn Féin, 2 DUP, 1 SDLP and 1 Independent candidate.

In 2019, it returned 2 Sinn Féin, 2 DUP, 2 Independent and 1 SDLP candidate. Independent gained a seat from Sinn Féin.

There are fourteen candidates standing in Sperrin. They are: Jason Barr (SDLP); Raymond Barr (Independent); Paul Boggs (Sinn Féin); Mel Boyle (Alliance); Allan Bresland (DUP); Maurice Devenney (DUP); Tommy Forbes (SDLP); Carol Gallagher (People Before Profit); Paul Gallagher (Independent); Brian Harte (Sinn Féin); Patsy Kelly (Independent); Fergal Leonard (Sinn Féin); Darán Mac Meanman (Aontú); Glen Miller (UUP).

In 2019, the total number of the Sperrin electorate was 18,048. There were 10,911 valid votes cast. There were 176 spoilt votes and the quota was set at 1,364 votes.

The first preference tallies were: Allan Bresland (DUP) 1,156 votes (elected); Michaela Boyle (Sinn Féin) 1,153 votes (elected); Dan Kelly (Sinn Féin) 756 votes (elected); Paul Gallagher (Independent) 1,106 votes (elected); Raymond Barr (Independent) 920 (elected); Maurice Devenney (DUP) 899 votes (elected); Jason Barr (SDLP) 832 votes (elected); Steven Edwards (SDLP) 794 votes; Brian McMahon (Sinn Féin) 731 votes; Cathal Ó hOisín (Sinn Féin) 740 votes; Patsy Kelly (Independent) 595 votes; Andy McKane (UUP) 530 votes; Scott Moore (Alliance) 437 votes; Pauline McHenry (Independent) 128 votes; Corey French (Independent) 104 votes.