List of members of the Senate of Northern Ireland facts for kids

This page helps you learn about the people who were members of the Senate of Northern Ireland. The Senate was like an upper house of parliament, similar to the House of Lords in the UK. It worked alongside the House of Commons of Northern Ireland to make laws for Northern Ireland from 1921 until 1972.

What Was the Senate of Northern Ireland?

The Parliament of Northern Ireland had two main parts: the House of Commons and the Senate. The House of Commons was where people were elected by the public to represent their areas. The Senate, on the other hand, was a smaller group. It had 26 members.

How Senators Were Chosen

Most senators were chosen by the members of the House of Commons. These were called elected senators. They usually served for eight years. This meant they had a longer term than members of the House of Commons, which helped provide some stability.

Some senators were also members because of the job they held. These were called ex officio senators. "Ex officio" means "by virtue of office." For the Senate of Northern Ireland, the Lord Mayor of Belfast and the Mayor of Londonderry were automatically senators while they held those important city roles.

Why Was the Senate Important?

The Senate played a key role in checking and approving new laws. It was meant to be a place where experienced people could review laws carefully before they became official. It also provided a platform for different voices, though most members were from the Unionist Party, which was the main political party in Northern Ireland at the time.

Who Served in the Senate?

Many different people served as senators over the years, from 1921 to 1972. They came from various backgrounds, including business, farming, and other professions. Most of them were members of the Unionist Party, but there were also some Nationalist and Labour Party members, as well as a few Independents.

Elected Senators: A Quick Look

The elected senators were chosen by the members of the House of Commons. They served for eight-year terms, though some might have left earlier due to resignation or death. For example, some well-known names included:

• Henry Armstrong (Unionist), who served for many years from 1921 to 1937.
• Joseph Cunningham (Unionist), a long-serving member from 1921 to 1965.
• Thomas Sinclair (Unionist), another early senator from 1921 to 1940.
• Later, people like Marion Greeves (Unionist) served from 1950 to 1969, showing that women also became part of the Senate.
• Nationalist members, like Thomas Stanislaus McAllister, also served, representing different viewpoints.

Senators Ex Officio: City Leaders

The two special senators who served "ex officio" were the Lord Mayor of Belfast and the Mayor of Londonderry. These were important civic leaders who automatically got a seat in the Senate.

Lord Mayor of Belfast

The Lord Mayor of Belfast was always a Unionist during this period. They served as senators for as long as they held the mayoral office. Some notable Lord Mayors who were also senators included:

• Sir William Frederick Coates, who served multiple times.
• Sir Crawford McCullagh, another who held the position more than once.

Mayor of Londonderry

The Mayor of Londonderry also served as a senator. Like Belfast, most of these mayors were Unionists. However, the first Mayor of Londonderry to be a senator, Hugh O'Doherty, was a Nationalist. He did not take his seat, showing some of the political differences of the time. The role of Mayor of Londonderry as a senator ended in 1969.

The End of the Senate

The Senate of Northern Ireland, along with the entire Parliament of Northern Ireland, stopped operating in 1972. This was due to major political changes in Northern Ireland, leading to what is known as Direct Rule from London.