Newry and Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)

Newry and Armagh (UK Parliament constituency) is a Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, specifically in Northern Ireland, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. The constituency was created in 1983 and has been represented by Mickey Brady of Sinn Féin since 2015, following the departure of Conor Murphy to focus on his role as Minister for Regional Development in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The constituency is located near the Newry Canal, which connects Lough Neagh to the Irish Sea via the River Bann and River Newry.

● History

The constituency has a rich history, with the area being part of the Kingdom of Ulster and later the Province of Ulster under the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The Treaty of Limerick in 1691 and the Act of Union 1800 significantly impacted the region, leading to the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The constituency is also close to the Mourne Mountains, which were a key location during the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and the Williamite War in Ireland. Notable figures from the area include Patrick Brontë, father of the famous Brontë sisters, who was born in Loughbrickland and attended St John's College, Cambridge. The constituency is also near the Slieve Gullion mountain, which was an important location during the Irish War of Independence and the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

● Boundaries

The constituency boundaries include the city of Newry and the town of Armagh, as well as surrounding areas such as Craigavon, Lurgan, and Portadown. The constituency is bordered by the Upper Bann constituency to the north, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency to the west, and the South Down constituency to the south. The constituency is also close to the Border Campaign area, which was a key location during the Irish War of Independence and the Troubles. Notable landmarks in the constituency include the Armagh Observatory and the Newry Cathedral, which is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh.

● Members of Parliament

The constituency has been represented by several notable Members of Parliament (MPs), including Seamus Mallon of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy. Other notable MPs from the area include David Trimble of the Ulster Unionist Party and Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin, who both played key roles in the Good Friday Agreement and the Northern Ireland peace process. The constituency is also close to the Stormont Estate, which is the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive. Notable politicians from the area include Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, and Ian Paisley, who all played significant roles in the Northern Ireland peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.

● Elections

The constituency has been the site of several notable elections, including the 2015 United Kingdom general election and the 2017 United Kingdom general election. In the 2019 United Kingdom general election, the constituency was won by Mickey Brady of Sinn Féin with a majority of over 9,000 votes. The constituency is also close to the Dáil Éireann, the parliament of the Republic of Ireland, and has been impacted by events such as the Irish general election, 2016 and the Irish general election, 2020. Notable election candidates from the area include Carál Ní Chuilín of Sinn Féin and Dolores Kelly of the Social Democratic and Labour Party.

● Demographics

The constituency has a diverse population, with a mix of Catholic and Protestant communities. The area is also home to a significant number of Irish speakers and has a strong cultural heritage, with many notable landmarks such as the Armagh Cathedral and the Newry and Mourne Museum. The constituency is close to the University of Ulster and the Queen's University Belfast, which are both major universities in Northern Ireland. Notable people from the area include Seamus Heaney, the famous Nobel laureate and poet, who was born in Mossbawn and attended St Columb's College in Derry. The constituency is also near the Mourne Mountains, which are a popular destination for hiking and tourism. Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland