Balmoral (District Electoral Area)

Balmoral (from the Irish: Baile Mhoireil) is the most southern of ten district electoral areas (DEA) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The district elects five members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Belvoir; Finaghy; Malone; Musgrave; Windsor; and Upper Malone. Balmoral, along with neighbouring Botanic, forms the greater part of the Belfast South constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.

Balmoral
Belfast City Council DEA constituency
Balmoral DEA marked on a map of Belfast City Council and its wards
Current constituency
Created1985
Seats5 (1985-1993)
6 (1993–2014)
5 (2014–)
Councillors
  •   Natasha Brennan (SF)
  •   Tara Brooks (APNI)
  •   Sarah Louise Bunting (DUP)
  •   Donal Lyons (SDLP)
  •   Micky Murray (APNI)
Balmoral DEA (1993-2014) within Belfast

The district is bounded to the west and south west by the M1 Motorway, to east and south east by the River Lagan, to the east and north east by the Malone Road and to the north by Belfast City Hospital, Queen's University Belfast and Royal Victoria Hospital.

The Lisburn Road is the main arterial route through the centre of the district, which also contains a number of public facilities including: the King's Hall conference and exhibition centre, the Musgrave Park Hospital, Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park and Windsor Park, the home ground of the Northern Ireland national football team. It is served by the Adelaide, Balmoral and Finaghy railway stations.

History

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The DEA was created for the 1985 local elections, where it contained five wards. Four of the wards came from the abolished Belfast Area C, which it effectively replaced, with the final ward, Blackstaff, coming from Belfast Area F. From the 1993 local elections to the 2011 elections, the area contained six wards, following the creation of the Musgrave ward. For the 2014 local elections, it lost the wards of Blackstaff and Windsor and gained the Belvoir ward, which had previously been part of the abolished Castlereagh Borough Council. This was as a result of the 2014 Local Government Reform.

Wards (1985–2011)

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Map Ward Population
(2011 Census)
Catholic Protestant Other No Religion Area Density NI Assembly UK Parliament Ref
1 Blackstaff 3,998 15% 71.5% 1.8% 11.7% 1.92 km2 2,082/km2 Belfast South Belfast South [1]
2 Finaghy 4,555 49.2% 42.6% 2.6% 5.6% 2.59 km2 1,759/km2 Belfast South Belfast South [2]
3 Malone 5,555 61.2% 30.3% 2.3% 6.3% 2.18 km2 2,548/km2 Belfast South Belfast South [3]
4 Musgrave 4,927 60.6% 32.9% 1.7% 4.8% 1.78 km2 2,768/km2 Belfast South Belfast South [4]
5 Upper Malone 4,841 29.4% 60.1% 2.5% 8.1% 4.32 km2 1,121/km2 Belfast South Belfast South [5]
6 Windsor 8,141 41.6% 40.7% 5.8% 11.8% 0.92 km2 8,849/km2 Belfast South Belfast South [6]
Balmoral 32,017 43.8% 44.8% 3.1% 8.3% 13.71 km2 2,335/km2

Councillors

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The King's Hall is a multi-purpose venue located in Balmoral.
Election Councillor
(Party)
Councillor
(Party)
Councillor
(Party)
Councillor
(Party)
Councillor
(Party)
Councillor
(Party)
August 2024 Co-Option Sarah Bunting
(DUP)
Tara Brooks
(Alliance)
Micky Murray
(Alliance)
Natasha Brennan
(Sinn Féin)
Dónal Lyons
(SDLP)
5 seats
2014-present
2023 Geraldine McAteer
(Sinn Féin)
May 2022 Co-Option Gareth Spratt
(DUP)
May 2020 Co-Option Kate Nicholl
(Alliance)
2019 David Graham
(DUP)
May/June 2016 Co-Options Lee Reynolds
(DUP)
Jeff Dudgeon
(UUP)
July 2015 Co-Option Christopher Stalford
(DUP)
Paula Bradshaw
(Alliance)
October 2014 Co-Option Claire Hanna
(SDLP)
2014 Máirtín Ó Muilleoir
(Sinn Féin)
2011 Ruth Patterson
(DUP)
Bob Stoker
(UUP)
Tom Ekin
(Alliance)
Bernie Kelly
(SDLP)
2005 Jim Kirkpatrick
(DUP)
Carmel Hanna
(SDLP)
2001 Mary Crooks
(UUP)
Catherine Molloy
(SDLP)
1997 Harry Smith
(DUP)
1993 Jim Kirkpatrick
(UUP)
Philip McGarry
(Alliance)
Dorita Field
(SDLP)
John Parkes
(DUP)
1989 5 seats
2014-present
Mark Long
(Alliance)
1985 John Montgomery
(Alliance)
William Dickson
(DUP)

In May 2011, Councillors Tom Ekin, Ruth Patterson and Bob Stoker were appointed as Aldermen by Belfast City Council. Alderman Ruth Patterson also served as Deputy Lord Mayor, 2011–12, while Mairtin O'Muilleoir is serving as Lord Mayor for 2013–14.

2023 Election

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2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Fein

2023: 2 x Alliance, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin

2019–2023 Change: Alliance gain from DUP

Balmoral - 5 seats[7][8]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Sinn Féin Geraldine McAteer* † 19.91% 2,037            
SDLP Donal Lyons* 15.80% 1,616 1,641.28 1,894.28        
Alliance Tara Brooks 14.88% 1,522 1,530.64 1,555.28 1,729.28      
DUP Sarah Bunting* 14.79% 1,513 1,513.32 1,514.32 1,523.32 1,524.98 1,722.98  
Alliance Micky Murray* 10.66% 1,090 1,096.72 1,121.16 1,197.16 1,324.15 1,501.12 1,788.12
DUP Gareth Spratt* 7.99% 817 817 818 825 825 940 941
Sinn Féin Seán Napier 4.17% 427 699.80 716.72 755 806.46 809.46  
UUP Joshua Lowry 5.39% 551 551.16 554.16 567.16 574.63    
Green (NI) Lauren Kendall 3.26% 333 334.60 340.08        
SDLP Sarah Mulgrew 3.16% 323 332.12          
Electorate: 18,691   Valid: 10,229 (54.73%)   Spoilt: 147   Quota: 1,705   Turnout: 10,376 (55.51%)  

2019 Election

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2014: 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Fein, 1 x UUP

2019: 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Fein

2014-2019 Change: DUP gain from UUP

Balmoral - 5 seats[9]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Alliance Kate Nicholl* † 20.00% 1,842          
DUP David Graham 15.62% 1,442 1,447.44 1,494.44 1,705.44    
SDLP Dónal Lyons* 14.18% 1,306 1,374.51 1,396.55 1,461.75 1,469.94 1,608.94
DUP Sarah Bunting 11.12% 1,025 1,029.08 1,056.25 1,285.35 1,432.77 1,478.69
Sinn Féin Geraldine McAteer* 13.93% 1,283 1,291.16 1,311.16 1,313.33 1,313.33 1,421.98
SDLP Michael Mulhern 8.82% 813 863.15 896.55 930.31 934.86 1,233.18
Green (NI) Caoimhe O'Connell 5.47% 504 616.37 752.02 862.6 870.79  
UUP Jeffrey Dudgeon* 7.16% 660 696.71 745.74      
People Before Profit Pádraigín Mervyn 2.19% 202 215.94        
UKIP William Traynor 1.44% 133 134.53        
Electorate: 17,864   Valid: 9,210 (51.56%)   Spoilt: 116   Quota: 1,536   Turnout: 9,326 (52.21%)  

2014 Election

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This election was carried out under new ward boundaries, as a result of local government reform.

2011: 2 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin

2014: 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP

2011-2014 Change: SDLP loss due to the reduction of one seat

Balmoral - 5 seats[10]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Sinn Féin Máirtín Ó Muilleoir* † 17.13% 1,525                  
SDLP Claire Hanna* † 17.12% 1,524                  
Alliance Paula Bradshaw 9.06% 806 809.66 812.42 830.6 896.05 986.43 989.46 1,435.23 1,748.23  
DUP Christopher Stalford* † 10.88% 968 968.36 968.52 981.54 986.54 1,000.54 1,233.58 1,234.58 1,247.47 1,256.5
UUP Jeffrey Dudgeon 9.86% 878 878 878.2 908.2 917.2 955.22 1,129.22 1,141.26 1,170.51 1,191.5
DUP Sarah Clarke 10.67% 950 950.09 950.23 956.23 957.23 966.23 1,063.23 1,069.25 1,083.16 1,090.2
SDLP Justin Cartwright 6.62% 589 613.93 635.39 648.8 690.62 740.48 746.5 810.83    
Alliance Jamie Doyle 4.83% 430 434.71 437.47 454.65 515.39 594.08 601.13      
PUP Simon Rice 5.99% 533 533.03 533.11 544.11 546.11 553.14        
NI21 Tina McKenzie 2.88% 256 257.38 258.32 325.81 349.12          
Green (NI) Elli Kontorravdis 2.52% 224 226.73 227.47 251.63            
NI21 Barbara Neeson 0.83% 74 74.6 74.8              
NI Conservatives David Timson 0.83% 74 74.18 74.22              
Independent Gerard Collins 0.79% 70 70.57 70.81              
Electorate: 17,107   Valid: 8,901 (52.03%)   Spoilt: 131   Quota: 1,484   Turnout: 9,032 (52.80%)  

2011 Election

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2005: 2 x SDLP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP

2011: 2 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin

2005-2011 Change: Sinn Féin gain from DUP

Balmoral - 6 seats[11]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Alliance Tom Ekin* 17.70% 1,762                
DUP Ruth Patterson* 15.60% 1,553                
Sinn Féin Máirtín Ó Muilleoir 14.71% 1,465                
SDLP Claire Hanna 14.49% 1,443                
UUP Bob Stoker* 9.26% 922 961.27 961.69 972.57 997.17 1,296.56 1,296.74 1,789.74  
SDLP Bernie Kelly* 7.09% 706 793.78 816.51 817.63 916.95 927.52 945.04 1,005.25 1,099.65
SDLP Niall Kelly 7.46% 743 767.15 782.57 783.13 831.22 836.25 852.18 874.21 903.21
UUP Jim Kirkpatrick* 5.80% 578 655.91 660.75 665.71 693.72 817.05 817.14    
DUP Sharon Simpson 3.98% 396 412.38 415.8 516.92 541.93        
Green (NI) Mark Simpson 2.83% 282 349.41 400.34 403.3          
People Before Profit Andrew King 1.07% 107 120.86              
Electorate: 18,752   Valid: 9,957 (53.10%)   Spoilt: 139   Quota: 1,423   Turnout: 10,096 (53.84%)  

2005 Election

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2001: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP

2005: 2 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance

2001-2005 Change: DUP gain from UUP

Balmoral - 6 seats[12]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
SDLP Carmel Hanna* 17.34% 2,030                
SDLP Bernie Kelly 7.09% 906 908 1,137.84 1,949.84          
Alliance Tom Ekin* 12.88% 1,508 1,524 1,559.19 1,613.31 1,755.9        
UUP Bob Stoker* 10.08% 1,180 1,288 1,291.93 1,296.74 1,300.17 1,312.42 2,163.42    
DUP Jim Kirkpatrick 12.58% 1,473 1,484 1,485.19 1,485.19 1,487.15 1,488.13 1,642.79 1,934.39  
DUP Ruth Patterson* 9.65% 1,130 1,180 1,180.17 1,183.51 1,183.51 1,184 1,261.66 1,452.46 1,706.11
Sinn Féin Stiofán Long 10.26% 1,202 1,204 1,220.15 1,305.88 1,423.48 1,458.27 1,470.98 1,474.58 1,479.92
UUP Esmond Birnie 9.61% 1,125 1,137 1,142.95 1,153.16 1,160.51 1,183.05      
SDLP Mary Kennedy 8.05% 943 943 991.96            
Independent Thomas Wilson 1.82% 213                
Electorate: 18,382   Valid: 11,710 (63.70%)   Spoilt: 192   Quota: 1,673   Turnout: 11,902 (64.75%)  

2001 Election

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1997: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP

2001: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP

1997-2001 Change: No change

Balmoral - 6 seats[13]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
SDLP Carmel Hanna* 22.60% 3,077      
UUP Mary Crooks* 16.72% 2,276      
UUP Bob Stoker* 14.93% 2,032      
SDLP Catherine Molloy* 7.25% 987 1,919.77 1,945.77  
Alliance Tom Ekin* 12.37% 1,684 1,780.57 1,935.49 2,047.4
DUP Ruth Patterson 10.11% 1,377 1,377.74 1,779.11 1,982.6
Sinn Féin Stephen Long 9.91% 1,349 1,435.21 1,445.58 1,446.53
DUP Thomas Morrow 3.09% 421 425.07    
UUP John Hiddleston 3.02% 411 415.44    
Electorate: 20,958   Valid: 13,614 (64.96%)   Spoilt: 259   Quota: 1,945   Turnout: 13,873 (66.19%)  

1997 Election

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1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

1997: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x DUP

1993-1997 Change: SDLP gain from DUP

Balmoral - 6 seats[14]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
UUP Mary Crooks* 20.49% 2,329                  
SDLP Carmel Hanna 16.85% 1,916                  
DUP Harry Smith* 8.13% 924 969.9 969.9 979.3 983.3 1,034.5 1,129.5 1,690.5    
UUP Bob Stoker 8.35% 949 1,070.5 1,070.5 1,083.9 1,088.2 1,169.2 1,448.9 1,550.8 1,936.8  
SDLP Catherine Molloy 9.21% 1,047 1,048.2 1,310.55 1,328.55 1,415.2 1,422.5 1,423.65 1,424.25 1,426.65 1,430.65
Alliance Tom Ekin 8.54% 971 986.3 994.4 1,017 1,086.05 1,099.35 1,119.95 1,127.15 1,227.55 1,305.55
Alliance Philip McGarry* 8.43% 958 974.2 984.55 1,004.15 1,052.35 1,074.25 1,080.85 1,087.35 1,166.25 1,203.25
UUP Gordon Lucy 2.67% 304 688.6 688.6 719.3 723.2 763.2 848.5 908.9    
DUP Joan Parkes 5.75% 654 712.5 712.5 719 721 779.9 804.5      
Ulster Democratic Heather Calvert 4.57% 520 534.1 534.25 535.55 549.15 662.05        
PUP Gordon McCrea 3.49% 397 415 415 422 433          
NI Women's Coalition Nuala Bradley 2.08% 236 238.4 241.7 267.75            
Green (NI) Mary Ringland 0.81% 92 95.3 95.75              
NI Conservatives Hubert Mullan 0.62% 71 80 80.15              
Electorate: 22,826   Valid: 11,368 (49.80%)   Spoilt: 245   Quota: 1,625   Turnout: 11,613 (50.88%)  

1993 Election

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1989: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

1989-1993 Change: DUP gain due to the addition of one seat

Balmoral - 6 seats[15]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
SDLP Dorita Field* 19.12% 2,262                      
DUP John Parkes* 17.55% 2,076                      
Alliance Philip McGarry 10.76% 1,273 1,545.43 1,547.41 1,550.68 1,572.94 1,596.07 1,633.33 1,695.77        
UUP Mary Crooks* 13.66% 1,616 1,617.89 1,638.59 1,639.22 1,640.22 1,644.4 1,644.58 1,649.85 1,790.85      
UUP Jim Kirkpatrick* 11.80% 1,396 1,397.35 1,411.57 1,411.75 1,412.75 1,413.75 1,417.75 1,425.2 1,553.36 1,906.36    
DUP Harry Smith 5.89% 697 697.81 993.37 995.55 995.73 996.73 1,002.18 1,011.54 1,070.86 1,242.48 1,363.48 1,396.48
Alliance Mark Long* 7.80% 923 1,065.02 1,066.46 1,068.46 1,078.69 1,101.01 1,149.61 1,222.54 1,298.24 1,310.14 1,325.14 1,357.14
UUP Bob Stoker 5.17% 611 611 627.74 628.74 630.1 631.1 635.1 637.37 707.88      
NI Conservatives Esmond Birnie 2.36% 279 279.54 280.26 304.26 304.26 307.98 311.25 318.79        
NI Conservatives William Dickson 2.23% 264 264.81 276.33 276.51 276.51 279.51 292.78 296.05        
Green (NI) Roderick McAlister 1.05% 124 168.28 168.82 172.82 189.38 213.13 273.59          
Independent Labour Niall Cusack 0.96% 113 153.5 154.04 166.04 178.25 207.45            
Democratic Left Jean Craig 0.82% 97 117.52 118.06 118.06 133.81              
Workers' Party Shaun McKeown 0.40% 48 85.53 86.25 86.25                
NI Conservatives Hubert Mullan 0.42% 50 50.54 51.98                  
Electorate: 23,497   Valid: 11,829 (50.34%)   Spoilt: 331   Quota: 1,690   Turnout: 12,160 (51.75%)  

1989 Election

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1985: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance

1989: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP

1985-1989 Change: SDLP gain from DUP

Balmoral - 6 seats[16]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
UUP Mary Crooks* 18.97% 2,163            
UUP Jim Kirkpatrick* 15.94% 1,818 1,968.72          
DUP John Parkes* 14.05% 1,602 1,631.76 1,997.76        
Alliance Mark Long 9.69% 1,105 1,111 1,178.68 1,182.37 1,188.37 2,118.37  
SDLP Dorita Field 14.35% 1,636 1,637.08 1,708.32 1,708.73 1,708.85 1,778.63 1,888.89
Ind. Unionist William Dickson* 10.32% 1,177 1,207.84 1,418.56 1,505.89 1,558.09 1,639.9 1,743.87
Alliance John Montgomery* 9.30% 1,061 1,067.24 1,152.32 1,157.65 1,162.09    
DUP Caroline Bingham 5.25% 599 626          
Workers' Party Shaun McKeown 2.14% 243 243.72          
Electorate: 23,343   Valid: 11,404 (48.85%)   Spoilt: 314   Quota: 1,901   Turnout: 11,718 (50.20%)  

1985 Election

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1985: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance

Balmoral - 6 seats[17]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
UUP Mary Crooks* 19.07% 2,438              
UUP Jim Kirkpatrick 14.23% 1,820 2,014.16 2,061.12 2,137.12        
DUP William Dickson* 12.81% 1,638 1,660.56 1,676.68 1,931.32 2,321.32      
Alliance John Montgomery 10.37% 1,326 1,329.12 1,426.48 1,430.6 1,488.68 1,497.39 2,449.39  
DUP John Parkes 7.80% 998 1,009.28 1,032.64 1,281.76 1,536 1,691.44 1,780.22 1,908.19
SDLP Dorita Field 10.42% 1,332 1,332.24 1,446.24 1,448.24 1,457.24 1,457.24 1,587.04 1,772.63
Alliance David Cook* 8.15% 1,042 1,054 1,180.48 1,191.08 1,345.04 1,367.82    
UUP James Stewart* 8.38% 1,071 1,102.08 1,127.68 1,166.44        
DUP Clarke Gibson 7.80% 620 633.68 646.8          
Labour Party NI Stanley Graham 1.45% 186 187.08            
Workers' Party Shaun McKeown 1.04% 133 133.12            
Ind. Unionist Victor Brennan 0.99% 127 127.6            
Ind. Unionist William Stevenson* 0.44% 56 57.44            
Electorate: 23,220   Valid: 12,787 (55.07%)   Spoilt: 315   Quota: 2,132   Turnout: 13,102 (56.43%)  
 
Windsor Park is the home of the Northern Ireland football team.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ward Information for Blackstaff ward 95GG10". NISRA. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Ward Information for Finaghy ward 95GG23". NISRA. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Ward Information for Malone ward 95GG33". NISRA. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Ward Information for Musgrave ward 95GG34". NISRA. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  5. ^ "Ward Information for Upper Malone ward 95GG45". NISRA. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Ward Information for Windsor ward 95GG49". NISRA. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Northern Ireland council election: List of all the candidates in the May 2023 poll". Belfast Live. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Balmoral". Belfast City Council. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Balmoral - Election results 2019". Belfast City Council.
  10. ^ "Balmoral - Election results 2014". Belfast City Council. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014.
  11. ^ "Balmoral Result Sheet" (PDF). EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Local Government Results 2005". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Local Government Results 2001". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Local Government Results 1997". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Local Government Results 1993". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Local Government Results 1989". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Local Government Results 1985". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.

54°34′01″N 5°58′01″W / 54.567°N 5.967°W / 54.567; -5.967