Banbridge District Council: Chairmen 1973-2015

Banbridge District Council: Chairmen 1973-2015

Banbridge District Council was formed in 1973 and was in existence until the reform of local government in 2015.

Each year, at the Council’s Annual Meeting, Councillors elected a Chairman to serve a one-year term.

On 1 April 2025 the Council merged with Armagh City and District Council and Craigavon Borough Council to form one of 11 new local Councils - Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

The following individuals served as Chairmen of Banbridge District Council from 1973 to 2015.

1973-1977

Councillor Wilson H Davidson JP

Ulster Unionist Party

1977-1978

Councillor Matthew S Bailey JP

Ulster Unionist Party

1978-1979

Ulster Unionist Party

Councillor Samuel J Cowan OBE

1979-1980

Councillor Raymond McCullough

Ulster Unionist Party

1980-1981

Councillor Herbert J Heslip JP

Ulster Unionist Party

1981-1982

Councillor Wilson H Davidson JP

Ulster Unionist Party

1982-1983

Councillor Robert S Hill

Ulster Unionist Party

1983-1984

Councillor Raymond McCullough

Ulster Unionist Party

Councillor Samuel J Cowan OBE

Ulster Unionist Party

1989-1990

Councillor Joan Baird

Ulster Unionist Party

1990-1991

Councillor William John Martin

Ulster Unionist Party

1991-1992

Councillor Archie McKelvey

Ulster Unionist Party

1992-1993

Councillor Drew Nelson

Ulster Unionist Party

1993-1994

Councillor John Dobson

Ulster Unionist Party

1994-1995

Councillor James Walsh

Social Democratic & Labour Party

1995-1996

Councillor Wilfred McFadden

Democratic Unionist Party

Councillor William McCracken

Ulster Unionist Party

1997-1998

Councillor Joan Baird

Ulster Unionist Party

1998-1999

Councillor Seamus Doyle

Social Democratic & Labour Party

1999-2000

Councillor Wilfred McFadden

Democratic Unionist Party

Councillor John Ingram Ulster Unionist Party

Councillor William John Martin

Ulster Unionist Party

2002-2003

Councillor David Herron Democratic Unionist Party

2003-2004

Social Democratic & Labour Party

Councillor Cassie McDermott

Councillor Ian Burns Ulster Unionist Party

2005-2006

Councillor Jim McElroy Democratic Unionist Party

2006-2007

Councillor Patrick McAleenan

Social Democratic & Labour Party

2007-2008

Councillor John Hanna

Ulster Unionist Party

2008-2009

Councillor Norah Beare Democratic Unionist Party

2009-2010

Councillor Elizabeth Ingram

Ulster Unionist Party

2010-2011

Councillor Jim McElroy Democratic Unionist Party

2011-2012

Councillor Joan Baird MBE

Ulster Unionist Party

2012-2013

Councillor Junior McCrum Democratic Unionist Party

2013-2014

Councillor Olive Mercer

Ulster Unionist Party

2014-2015

Social Democratic & Labour Party

Councillor Marie Hamilton