In the 2001 general election, Sinn Féin cut into Mallon's majority, outpolling the SDLP in the equivalent area local elections held on the same day. In the 2003 Assembly election Sinn Féin won three seats to the SDLP's one. When Mallon retired in 2005 Sinn Féin won the seat.
Newry is overwhelmingly nationalist, and was one of two districts in Northern Ireland to return a numerical majority of people identifying themselves as "Irish" at the 2011 census at 52.1% Irish.
Armagh is more unionist, though it does have a larger proportion of people identifying as "Irish" in comparison to the Northern Ireland average at 44.4% "British" and 32.4% "Irish".[2]
Boundaries
The seat was created after boundary changes in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, from areas which had been part of the Armagh and South Down constituencies.
In 1995, the Boundary Commission originally proposed to abolish the seat with the Armagh district joining most of Dungannon in a new 'Blackwater' constituency with the rest becoming part of a new Newry and Mourne constituency. This was strongly opposed during the local enquiries and the eventual boundary review did not implement it.
in the district of Newry and Mourne, the wards of Ballybot, Belleek, Bessbrook, Camlough, Creggan, Crossmaglen, Daisy Hill, Derrymore, Drumalane, Drumgullion, Fathom, Forkhill, Newtownhamilton, St Mary's, St Patrick's, Tullyhappy, and Windsor Hill.[3]
1997–2024
The district of Armagh; and
in the district of Newry and Mourne, the wards of Ballybot, Bessbrook, Camlough, Creggan, Crossmaglen, Daisy Hill, Derrymore, Drumalane, Drumgullion, Fathom, Forkhill, Newtownhamilton, St Mary's, St Patrick's, Silver Bridge, Tullyhappy and Windsor Hill.[4][5]
2024–
In Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, the wards of Cathedral, Demesne, Hamiltonsbawn, Keady, Markethill, Navan, Richhill, Seagahan, Tandragee, and The Mall;
and in Newry, Mourne and Down, the wards of Abbey, Ballybot, Bessbrook, Camlough, Crossmaglen, Damolly, Drumalane, Fathom, Forkhill, Mullaghbane, Newtownhamilton, St. Patricks, and Whitecross.[6]