BRANCH HISTORY
Anna Hay was the first DUP councillor in County Londonderry as well as the City itself. She was the pivotal figure in those early days, organising protests, convening rallies etc… across the North West. In 1977 John Henry joined Mrs Hay on the City Council for one of the stormiest periods in Local Government. John’s name became well known across Northern Ireland when nationalists controlled council, and voted to place a Gaelic pitch in a protestant area. Alderman John Henry with many loyalists converged on the pitch, seized the ball, and the republicans beat a hasty retreat.
By 1981 the DUP had emerged as the largest Unionist Party on council, with Anna Hay, John Henry, Gregory Campbell, William Hay and Margaret Buchanan making up the team. Mrs Hay died in office as Deputy Mayor just a few days before she would have been proposed as Mayor of Londonderry. Her daughter Annette Hamilton gave the entire Party a tremendous boost just weeks before the 1982 Assembly elections when she won her late mother’s seat in the ensuring by-election. That Assembly election saw Gregory Campbell win a seat at Stormont for the first time.
During the 1984 the notorious City Council name change row developed and the party locally led the opposition to the decision by the Environment Minster Chris Patten MP, to change the name of the council from Londonderry to Derry. The by-election saw Assembly member, and long time Official Unionist stalwart and former mayor Jack Allen up against a young DUP novice called Mervyn Lindsey entering politics for the first time at the age of 24. Mervyn won yet another famous by-election victory. The forces of republicanism realised that the DUP could not be pushed aside because the people rallied behind once again.
By 1985 the party was still consolidating its position and
Ellis Allen had joined the Council group. A decision was taken to purchase
premises, to become the permanent home for the party. In April 1988 after
intensive renovation the Dup Centre was officially opened by Dr Ian Paisley.
This centre has become the focal point for many protestant and loyalist
activities. In both 1989 and 1993 Local Government elections the DUP remained
the largest Unionist Party in the Maiden City, while Gregory Campbell contested
the Foyle constituency against John Hume as the sole Unionist standard bearer
on three occasions.
The 1993 Local Government results in Waterside was unique in that all three
Party candidates Gregory Campbell, Joe Miller and Bill Irwin were elected
before any other candidate of any party which demonstrated the strength
in depth of the DUP team.
The 1992/1993 period was an outstanding one for William Hay when, after many attempts he became the Mayor of Londonderry, the first time a DUP councillor had received such an honour.
- Rededication of the Londonderry Branch Headquarters 29 May 2009