Ballymoney was a local government district with borough status in Northern Ireland. It was headquartered in Ballymoney. Other towns in the borough included Dervock, Dunloy, Cloughmills and Rasharkin. The borough had a population of 31,224 according to the 2011 census.
In May 2015 it was merged with the boroughs of Coleraine and Limavady and the District of Moyle to form the Causeway Coast and Glens district.
Creation Ballymoney was one of twenty-six districts created on 1 October 1973. It took over the areas Ballymoney Urban District Council and most of the surrounding Ballymoney Rural District in County Antrim.Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971
Borough council The borough was divided into three electoral areas which between them returned 16 members. These were Ballymoney Town (5), Bann Valley (6) and Bushvale (5). Elections were conducted under the proportional representation single transferable vote system, and elections of the whole council were normally held every four years. The election due to take place in May 2009 was postponed in anticipation of the creation of eleven new councils in 2011.Northern Ireland elections are postponed, BBC News, April 25, 2008, accessed April 27, 2008 The proposed reforms were abandoned in 2010, and the most recent district council elections took place in 2011
As of February 2012 the political composition of the last council was: 8 Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), 3 Sinn Féin, 2 Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), 1 Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), 1 Traditional Unionist Voice and 1 independent.
In 1977 Ballymoney District Council successfully petitioned for a grant of a charter of incorporation, constituting the district a borough.Letters Patent bearing date the 18th day of February 1977, have passed the Great Seal of Northern Ireland, granting a Charter of Incorporation to the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Ballymoney."
Mayor of Ballymoney The charter also created the office of mayor, who was chosen for a one-year term at the council's annual meeting. YearNamePolitical affiliationDeputyDeputy's affiliation1977–81Mary J. HolmesRobert McComb 1981–84Charles Steele 1985–86Charles Steele Joe Gaston 1986–87Joe GastonJames Patterson Robert Halliday 1988–89Cecil Cousley William Logan 1990–93Joe GastonSamuel McConaghie Cecil Cousley Malachy McCamphill 1994–95Cecil Cousley Robert Wilson 1996–97Joe Gaston Samuel McConaghie 1997–98Frank CampbellWilliam Logan Samuel McConaghie 1999–00William Logan Bill Kennedy 2000–01Bill KennedySamuel McConaghie John Finlay 2002–03Frank Campbell Cecil Cousley 2004–05Cecil Cousley Ian Stevenson 2006–07John Finlay Cecil Cousley 2007–08 John Finlay Harry Connolly 2008–09 John Finlay Cecil Cousley 2009–10Frank Campbell Cecil Cousley 2010–11Bill Kennedy Cecil Cousley 2011–12Ian Stevenson Thomas McKeown 2012–13Evelyne L Robinson Cecil Cousley 2013 -John Finlay Ian Stevenson
Source: Freedom of Information request to Ballymoney Borough Council
Freedom of the Borough On 22 February 1997 The Ballymoney Branch of the Royal British Legion was awarded the Freedom of the Borough. In 2012 the Royal Irish Regiment and 152 (Ulster) Transport Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps (Volunteers) were awarded the freedom of Ballymoney by the council. On both occasions the regiments held special marches through the town to celebrate the awards. Previous recipients include the Royal Ulster Constabulary (Both Regular and Reserve Forces), Northern Ireland Fire Brigade, Joey Dunlop, his brother Robert and the former MP for the area Ian Paisley."RIR given freedom of Ballymoney" BBC News 12 May 2012"152 Tpt Regt RLC(V) given freedom of Ballymoney" Ballymoney Times 5 September 2012
Town twinning In 2000, Ballymoney Borough Council twinned with the French town of Vanves. Since 2001, the council has been a sister city of Benbrook in Texas and building on its motorcycling history, is also linked to the borough of Douglas, Isle of Man.
Parliamentary and assembly representation Together with the neighbouring districts of Ballymena and Moyle, it forms the North Antrim constituency for elections to the Westminster Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly.
Former Councillors that went on to become MLAs included Philip McGuigan Mervyn Storey and Daithi McKay.
Demographics The borough has the highest life expectancy of any area in Northern Ireland, with the average male life expectancy at birth being 79.0 years and 82.6 years for females.Life Expectency
See also Local government in Northern Ireland
References
External links Ballymoney Borough Council