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46-594: Castle is one of the ten district electoral areas in Belfast , Northern Ireland. Located in the north of the city, the district elects six members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Bellevue, Cavehill, Chichester Park, Duncairn, Fortwilliam and Innisfayle. Castle, along with Oldpark district and parts of the Court district and Newtownabbey Borough Council , forms the Belfast North constituency for

92-528: A new Belfast City Council was elected and acted as a shadow authority until coming into its powers on 1 April 2015. The local government district of Belfast was expanded on 1 April 2015 to the south to include areas formerly part of the Castlereagh, Lisburn and North Down districts. The new electoral areas are Balmoral, Black Mountain, Botanic, Castle, Collin, Court, Lisnasharragh, Oldpark, Ormiston and Titanic. Belfast has four coterminous constituencies for

138-2396: A number of peace lines in the district, for example along the Whitewell Road . Castle was created for the 1985 local elections. All six wards came from the former Area H , with only the Cliftonville ward and northern section of the Waterworks ward omitted from the new district. One of the district's six wards, Castleview, was renamed Innisfayle in 2014. Sport Education 2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Green 2023: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP 2019–2023 Change: Sinn Féin gain from Green 2014: 2 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP 2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Green 2014-2019 Change: Green gain from UUP 2011: 2 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP 2014: 2 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance 2014-2019 Change: Alliance gain from Sinn Féin 2005: 2 x DUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP 2011: 2 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP 2005-2011 Change: Sinn Féin gain from SDLP 2001: 2 x DUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP 2005: 2 x DUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP 2001-2005 Change: No change 1997: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Féin, 2001: 2 x DUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP 1997-2001 Change: DUP and SDLP gain from UUP and Alliance 1993: 2 x UUP, 2 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Independent Unionist 1997: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Féin 1993-1997 Change: Alliance and Sinn Féin gain from UUP and SDLP, Independent Unionist joins UUP 1989: 2 x Independent Unionist, 1 x UUP, 1 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance 1993: 2 x UUP, 2 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Independent Unionist 1989-1993 Change: UUP and SDLP gain from Independent Unionist and Alliance 1985: 2 x UUP, 1 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist 1989: 2 x Independent Unionist, 1 x UUP, 1 SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance 1985-1989 Change: Independent Unionist gain from UUP 1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist Electoral wards of Belfast Wards are used to create constituencies for local government authorities ,

184-435: A point-down triangle ( a pile ) with a repeating blue-and-white pattern that represents fur ( vair ). There is also a red square in the top corner ( a canton gules ) on which there is a silver bell. It is likely that the bell is an example here of "canting" (or punning) heraldry, representing the first syllable of Belfast. In the lower part of the shield ( in base ) there is a silver sailing ship shown sailing on waves coloured in

230-602: A population of 333,871 residents according to the 2011 Northern Ireland census. The area covered by the old Belfast City Council before the 2015 local government reorganisation in Northern Ireland had a population of 280,962 residents according to the same census. In the 2011 census the distributions of population, religion, national identity and proportion of immigrants within the Belfast City Council area were as follows. On Census Day (27 March 2011)

276-600: A total population of 579,276. The council is made up of 60 councillors , elected from ten district electoral areas. It holds its meetings in the historic Belfast City Hall . The current Lord Mayor is Micky Murray of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland . As part of the 2014/2015 reform of local government in Northern Ireland the city council area expanded, and now covers an area that includes 53,000 additional residents in 21,000 households. The number of councillors increased from 51 to 60. The first elections to

322-652: Is a largely ceremonial position currently held by Sammy Douglas who took office on 1 January 2024. The High Sheriff is theoretically the King's judicial representative in the city, while the Lord Lieutenant is the Sovereign's personal representative, however the office is now largely symbolic with few formal duties other than deputising for the Lord Mayor at official events. The position was created in 1900 under

368-576: Is distinct from the term of office for the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor who take up office in May or June each year. The Lord Lieutenant of Belfast is the official representative of the King for the 'County Borough of Belfast'. The Lord Lieutenant is Dame Finnouala Jay-O'Boyle, DBE who was appointed in July 2014. The position was first created in 1900 and was held by the Marquess of Londonderry . The role

414-475: Is largely honorary with the few formal duties relating to liaising with the King's Private Office in the lead up to visits to the City regarding issues of local concern and the presentation of awards on behalf of the King. The district councils of Northern Ireland were reformed in 2015 . The councillors elected on 5 May 2011 served on Belfast City Council until 31 March 2015. At the local elections on 22 May 2014

460-523: Is the local authority with responsibility for part of Belfast , the largest city of Northern Ireland . The council serves an estimated population of 348,005 (2022), the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while being the smallest by area. Belfast City Council is the primary council of the Belfast Metropolitan Area , a grouping of six former district councils with commuter towns and overspill from Belfast, containing

506-503: Is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council and is elected annually by the council to serve a one-year term. A Deputy Lord Mayor is normally elected at the same council meeting as the Lord Mayor . The Lord Mayor's role is largely ceremonial, but does include the following powers and duties: The position that is now the Lord Mayor originated in 1613 in the town's Royal Charter as the 'Sovereign of Belfast'. In 1842, this position

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552-502: The City Hall displays the arms, where an explanation suggests that the seahorse and the ship refer to Belfast's significant maritime history. The wolf may be a tribute to the city's founder, Sir Arthur Chichester , and refer to his own coat of arms. The latest election to Belfast City Council took place on 18 May 2023, with the city's voters electing sixty councillors. Parties' election performances have changed substantially since

598-695: The Latin motto " Pro tanto quid retribuamus ." This is taken from Psalm 116 Verse 12 in the Latin Vulgate Bible and is literally "For ( Pro ) so much ( tanto ) what ( quid ) we shall repay ( retribuamus )" The verse has been translated in bibles differently – for example as "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?". It is also translated as "In return for so much, what shall we give back?" The Queen's University Students' Union Rag Week publication PTQ derives its name from

644-604: The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 , with Sir James Henderson the first holder. Appointments are made on annual basis by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , who asks the outgoing High Sheriff and the council to suggest the names of three people who are deemed suitable to hold the position. In recent years the council has suggested only one candidate, who is normally a member of the council. The High Sheriff's term of office runs from January to December, which

690-611: The Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament . The district is bounded to the east by the Victoria Channel, to the north by Newtownabbey Borough Council and Belfast Lough , to the south by North Street and to the west by the Cavehill Road. The district takes its name from the current Belfast Castle , which is located on Cave Hill in the north of the district, while the southern section of

736-692: The Northern Ireland Assembly and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom . In elections to Belfast City Council , the 60 wards are split into ten District Electoral Areas, each of which contains between five and seven wards, with the number of councillors it elects equal to the number of wards it contains. The constituencies for elections to the House of Commons and the Assembly are coterminous and are created by amalgamating wards into larger areas, with

782-572: The UK Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly , which extend somewhat beyond the city boundaries into parts of Castlereagh , Lisburn and Newtownabbey districts. At the 2019 UK general election , Belfast returned four MPs for the following constituencies: Belfast North ( John Finucane , Sinn Féin ), Belfast East ( Gavin Robinson , DUP ), Belfast South ( Claire Hanna , SDLP ) and Belfast West ( Paul Maskey , Sinn Féin ). In

828-505: The partition of Ireland in 1921 was David Cook from the Alliance Party , who was elected in 1978. The first Irish nationalist Lord Mayor was not appointed until the election of Alban Maginness from the SDLP in 1997, while a Sinn Féin Lord Mayor was first elected in 2002. The end of the unionist majority on the council in 1997 has resulted in a greater rotation of the position amongst the parties, which, like other elected positions within

874-475: The single transferable vote method of election meant that a different system was required. The 51 wards were therefore grouped into 8 electoral areas, distinguished by letters, with each electoral area returning either 6 or 7 councillors. By the early 1980s, population shifts, demolition of some the older housing estates and residential flight caused by the Troubles had again led to substantial disparities in

920-428: The 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election , Belfast returned a total of 20 MLAs (five per constituency) for the constituencies of Belfast North , Belfast East , Belfast South and Belfast West . Prior to the 2017 election, each constituency elected six MLAs or a total of 24 MLAs for Belfast. The results for both elections are summarised below: The council has eight committees, the members of which are appointed at

966-558: The 582 wards across Northern Ireland. Each ward contains several Super Output Area, which in turn are made up of a number of Census Output Areas. The wards were redrawn for the 2014 elections. The table below shows the divisions from 2014 to present. From 1928 until May 1973, Belfast was divided into 15 wards, each represented by a total of four aldermen or councillors . The 15 wards were Duncairn, Dock, Clifton, Shankill, Court, Woodvale, Smithfield, Falls, Saint Anne's, Saint George's, Windsor, Cromac, Ormeau, Pottinger and Victoria. By

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1012-472: The Council such as Committee chairs, is now filled using the D'Hondt system . This system awards positions to parties based on their number of councillors. The Local Government (Modification of Borough Charters) Order (Northern Ireland) 1973 entitles the council to appoint up to twelve of its members to the honorary position of alderman . The role of alderman is appointed at the first annual meeting following

1058-442: The actual colours of the sea ( proper ). The supporter on the "dexter" side (that is, the viewer's left) is a chained wolf, while on the "sinister" side the supporter is a sea-horse. The crest above the shield is also a sea-horse. These arms date back to 1613, when King James I granted Belfast town status. The seal was used by Belfast merchants throughout the 17th century on their signs and trade-coins. A large stained glass window in

1104-407: The annual meeting of the council. Each of the committees consists of 20 councillors with the quorum (the minimum number of councillors that are required to be present to transact business legally) of each committee being five members. Committees sit at least monthly with the exception of July. All committees are constituted to reflect, as far as practicable, the different political groups into which

1150-550: The balance of power with six members. The 2011 census findings confirmed this significant change in demographics. In the Belfast City Council area, the proportion of people who were Catholic or brought up Catholic (48.58%) is larger than those who were Protestant or brought up Protestant (42.30%) for the first time. In terms of national identity 43.16% of the population considered themselves to be British, 34.77% considered themselves to be Irish, and 26.82% considered themselves to be of Northern Irish nationality. The city of Belfast has

1196-489: The city's wards split between the four 'Belfast' constituencies, although these also contain wards from bordering local authorities. The use of wards for statistical purposes by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has changed since the creation of 'Census Output Areas' (5022 in total) and 'Super Output Areas' (890 in total), which were created to address the variance in size of

1242-628: The council election in 1973 . The Ulster Unionist Party made a strong initial showing and remained the largest unionist party until 2005, when the Democratic Unionist Party became the dominant unionist party, while Sinn Féin has become the largest party overall. Nationalist representation showed a steady increase until recently, however still managed to become the largest grouping in the 2011 election. The number of unionist councillors has fallen almost every election. Cross-community representation has increased somewhat rapidly over

1288-633: The district is part of the city centre and forms one of Belfast's main cultural areas, known as the Cathedral Quarter . The east of the area also contains the Port of Belfast . Castle is served by the M2 and M5 motorways and the Yorkgate railway station . Castle is one of the most mixed areas in the city, with just over half of the district's population being Protestant at the 2001 Census. There are

1334-415: The early 1970s, population shifts had resulted in significant differences in the electorates of the wards. Although the wards continued to have four representatives on Belfast City Council, electorates varied from less than 5,000 in the smallest ward, Smithfield, to almost 40,000 in the largest ward, Victoria. The review of local government which took place in the early 1970s expanded Belfast to take in some of

1380-398: The election of the council and does not carry any extra responsibilities other than the right to be referred to as an alderman rather than councillor. Following the local elections in 1997 and 2005 the Council voted not to appoint any of its members to the positions, however all twelve places were filled after the May 2011 election. The present Alderman are: The High Sheriff of Belfast

1426-426: The electorates of the wards. Some wards in inner city Belfast such as Crumlin had lost over 70% of their population. The review of local government which took place from 1982 to 1984 created 51 wards, many new or substantially different from their namesakes. The initial proposals, published in 1983, survived unchanged with a few exceptions. The proposed Peter's Hill ward was renamed Saint Anne's. The Donegall ward, one of

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1472-533: The existing Finaghy ward was renamed Musgrave, while a new Finaghy ward was created from the southern parts of the older Finaghy ward and the Upper Malone ward, which compensated by gaining territory from Malone and Stranmillis wards. The table below shows the divisions from 1993 to 2013. religious community background (%) religious community background (%) Belfast City Council Belfast City Council ( Irish : Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste )

1518-465: The expanded city council took place on 22 May 2014. Belfast's modern history can be dated back to the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century which brought significant numbers of Protestant Scottish and English settlers to Ulster . The town gradually developed to become a major industrial centre, in particular in the areas of linen and ship building. In recognition of this growth Belfast

1564-625: The few unchanged wards, was renamed Blackstaff. In inner south Belfast, the Saint George's, university and Cromac wards were to have been replaced with an eastern ward, to be called Linenhall, and a western ward, to be called College. Following public inquiries, the wards were replaced with a southern ward, Botanic, and a northern ward, Shaftesbury, which merged the former Cromac and Saint George's wards. As in 1973, these wards were grouped into electoral areas electing between 5 and 7 councillors. A further review took place in 1991–1992 and compared to

1610-428: The first three words of the motto. The coat of arms of the city (pictured, above right) are blazoned as Party per fesse argent and azure, in chief a pile vair and on a canton gules a bell argent, in base a ship with sails set argent on waves of the sea proper . This heraldic language describes a shield that is divided in two horizontally ( party per fesse ). The top ( chief ) of the shield is silver ( argent ), and has

1656-570: The last few elections, almost overtaking the unionist representation in the 2019 election. For further details see 2023 Belfast City Council election . The council area is subdivided into 60 electoral wards , nominally one for each elected councillor. However, as the PR-STV voting system requires multi-seat constituencies , the 60 wards are grouped into ten district electoral areas (DEA) which elect between five and seven councillors each: The current members are: The Lord Mayor of Belfast

1702-443: The late 18th century onwards, the city's Roman Catholic population gradually increased, although the city was still dominated by its mostly Ulster Protestant majority. The council was dominated by unionists from its inception until 1997, when they lost overall control for the first time in its history, with the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland gaining the balance of power between Irish nationalists and unionists. This position

1748-424: The members of the council are divided. The posts of chairman and deputy chairman of committees are allocated on the basis of the d'Hondt system of proportionality: Minutes of meetings of council committees and subcommittees are available at Belfast City Council (searchable) and at Belfast NI Gov Wiki (unofficial site). The council has seven departments. The area covered by the current Belfast City Council has

1794-492: The newer housing estates on the fringes of the city and attempted to equalise electorates. Initially, Belfast was to have been divided into 52 wards. Following a public review, one ward, Tullycarnet, was excluded from Belfast and became instead the Castlereagh wards of Tullycarnet and Gilnahirk. The remaining 51 wards were intended to elect one member each using the first past the post electoral system. The reintroduction of

1840-552: The proposed Tullycarnet ward became instead the Castlereagh Borough Council wards of Tullycarnet and Gilnahirk, leaving Belfast with 51. Although the county borough of Belfast was created when it was granted city status by Queen Victoria in 1888, the city continues to be viewed as straddling County Antrim and County Down with the River Lagan generally being seen as the line of demarcation. From

1886-571: The review of the 1980s, saw minor changes. In the Court electoral area, the existing Shankill ward was split between three other wards. One of these three wards which gained territory, Saint Anne's, having lost its eponymous area to the Duncairn ward, assumed the Shankill name. Initially, the number of wards was to have been cut to 50, however after a public inquiry, a new 51st ward was created. Most of

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1932-576: The usually resident population of Belfast Local Government District was 333,871 accounting for 18.44% of the NI total. This represents a 1.60% increase since the 2001 Census. On Census Day 27 March 2011, in Belfast Local Government District (2014), considering the resident population: Respondents could indicate more than one national identity On Census Day 27 March 2011, in Belfast Local Government District (2014), considering

1978-532: Was confirmed in the three subsequent council elections, with mayors from the Irish nationalist Sinn Féin and Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and the cross-community Alliance Party regularly elected since 1997. The election in 2011 saw Irish nationalist councillors outnumber unionist councillors for the first time, 24–21, with Sinn Féin becoming the largest party, and the Alliance Party maintaining

2024-514: Was granted city status in 1888 and by 1901, it was the largest city in Ireland. The city's importance was evidenced by the construction of the lavish City Hall , completed in 1906. The body now known as Belfast City Council has its origins in the defunct Belfast Corporation, and was created in its current form following the local council elections of May 1973. Originally it was intended that there would be 52 wards. However, local enquiries meant that

2070-555: Was reduced to its current term of one year. From its formation in 1921 until its abolition in 1972, the Lord Mayor was automatically entitled to a seat in the Senate of Northern Ireland . For most of the city's modern history, the position has been held by unionists , with members of the Ulster Unionist Party holding the post for a total of 61 of the 67 years between 1921 and 1997. The first non-unionist Lord Mayor since

2116-487: Was restyled the 'Mayor of Belfast'. When Belfast was granted city status in 1892, the position was given Lord Mayor status, making it one of only three cities on the island of Ireland having a Lord Mayor, the other two being Cork and Dublin . In 1929, it became one of only six cities in the United Kingdom to have a Lord Mayor styled "the Right Honourable". Until 1973 the position was held for three years, when it

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