1920 Donegal County Council election

An election to Donegal County Council took place on Wednesday 26 May 1920 as part of that year's Irish local elections. 45 councillors were elected from 10 electoral divisions by PR-STV voting for a five-year term of office.[1]

1920 Donegal County Council election
26 May 1920
All 20 seats to Donegal County Council
11 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Sinn Féin Irish Nationalist Irish Unionist
Seats won 14 4 2
Map showing the area of Donegal County Council
Council control after election

Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin won a majority of the seats,[1] and won majorities in 6 of the 10 voting areas.[2]

The vote was largely characterised by poor turnout, with less than 50% of the electorate voting. Buncrana, Letterkenny, and Milford saw particularly poor turnout. At one station in Rathmullan only 3 of the areas 140 voters turned out. Donegal Town saw better turnout.[1]

The total number of invalid votes for the county stood at 9,193.[1]

At the first sitting of the new council, on Friday 18 June, the council voted to recognise the First Dáil.[1]

Following the election Peter J. Ward (Sinn Fein) was elected Chairman. Thomas McFadden (Unionist) was elected Vice-Chairman.[3]

Results by party
Party Seats ± First Pref. votes FPv% ±%
Sinn Féin 14
Irish Nationalist 4
Irish Unionist 2
Independent 0
Totals 20 100% —

[1]

Results by Electoral Area

Buncrana
Buncrana/Inishowen - 4 seats[1][4]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
Sinn Féin P. H. Doherty
Sinn Féin Frank J. Langan
Sinn Féin Michael Bonner
Sinn Féin James McNally
Irish Unionist Joseph MacArthur J.P. (incumbent) Defeated
Irish Nationalist Bernard Browne Defeated
Independent Nationalist James P. McIvor J.P. Defeated

    Donegal
    Donegal - 5 seats[4][5]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
    Sinn Féin Peter J. Ward MP
    Irish Unionist James Sproule Myles
    Sinn Féin Patrick Berry
    Sinn Féin Henry Joseph Kelly
    Sinn Féin Thomas McShane
    Irish Nationalist Hugh O'Donnell Defeated
    Electorate: -   Valid: ~8,893   Spoilt: ~300   Quota: -   Turnout: 9,193

      Glenties

      Letterkenny
      Letterkenny - 4 seats[1][4][6]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
      Sinn Féin John O'Flaherty
      Sinn Féin James McCool
      Sinn Féin James McFadden
      Irish Unionist James Clarke
      Independent Nationalist Francis Callahan J.P. (incumbent) Defeated
      Irish Unionist Major John Rikv, J.P. Defeated

        Milford
        Milford - 7 seats[1]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
        Sinn Féin Thomas McElhinney
        Sinn Féin Neil Murray
        Irish Nationalist M. A. McCreadie
        Irish Nationalist J. B. O'Donnell
        Sinn Féin William McGarvey
        Irish Nationalist E. Friel
        Irish Nationalist Christy Lavey

          District results

          Donegal Town
          Donegal Town - 5 seats[1]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
          Sinn Féin James McGahern
          Sinn Féin John McDermott
          Irish Unionist John Stevenson
          Irish Nationalist Edward Melly
          Irish Nationalist Michael Dunnion

            Dunfanaghy
            Dunfanaghy - 4 seats[1]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
            Sinn Féin Hugh Duffy
            Sinn Féin C. McLaughlin
            Sinn Féin Shane McNulty
            Irish Nationalist John McNulty

              Dunkineely
              Dunkineely - 4 seats[1]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
              Sinn Féin Patrick Barry
              Sinn Féin A. F. Gallagher
              Sinn Féin Charlie Keeny
              Irish Nationalist Thomas McShane

                Laghey
                Laghey - 5 seats[1]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
                Sinn Féin Hugh Gallagher
                Sinn Féin Daniel Gallagher
                Irish Unionist James Harron
                Irish Nationalist Jacob Gorman
                Irish Unionist William John Shaw

                  Letterkenny Rural
                  Letterkenny Rural - 5 seats[1]
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
                  Sinn Féin N. Kelly
                  Irish Unionist Robert Roulstone
                  Irish Nationalist J. E. Sweeney
                  Sinn Féin John Mullan
                  Sinn Féin Patrick McGrenra

                    Mountcharles
                    Mountcharles - 4 seats[1]
                    PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
                    Sinn Féin Bernard Friel
                    Sinn Féin Charles McDaid
                    Sinn Féin Paddy Gallagher
                    Sinn Féin James Boyle

                      Rathmullan
                      Rathmullan - 3 seats[1]
                      PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
                      Irish Nationalist Edward Deeney
                      Irish Nationalist James Green
                      Irish Nationalist Patrick Loughrey
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                        References
                        1. Ó Duibhir, Liam (2009). The Donegal Awakening: Donegal & the War of Independence. Mercier Press Ltd. pp. 137–138.
                        2. Donegal & the Civil War: The Untold Story. p. 23.
                        3. Belfast News-Letter - Saturday 19 June 1920: Donegal County Council, Released Hunger Striker Elected Chairman
                        4. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001480/19200529/049/0005 Londonderry Sentinel, 29 May 1920, page 5
                        5. Derry Journal - Friday 28 May 1920 pg.5, THE DONEGAL ELECTIONS, EXTRAORDINARY APATHY OF VOTERS
                        6. Derry Journal - Friday 16 April 1920 (list of candidates)
                        Preceded by
                        1914 Donegal County Council election                        		 Donegal County Council elections Succeeded by
                        1925 Donegal County Council election
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