Desmond Gillespie

Desmond Gillespie (February 1912 – 22 May 1986) was an Irish nationalist politician.

Born in Kilnaleck, County Cavan, Gillespie worked as a publican in Belfast before joining the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). He stood for Belfast City Council at the 1973 local elections, but was not elected.[1] However, he fared better at the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election, where he was elected to represent Belfast West.[2] For the February 1974 UK general election, he moved to stand in Belfast East, but he took only 2.6% of the votes cast, and the SDLP decided not to stand any candidate in the seat at the October general election.[3]

At the elections for the 1975 Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention, Gillespie stood in Belfast West again, but narrowly lost his seat to independent unionist Hugh Smyth.[2] He did not contest any further elections.

References

1. Ted Nealon, Ireland: a parliamentary directory, 1973–1974, p.197
2. West Belfast 1973–82, Northern Ireland Elections
3. East Belfast 1973–82, Northern Ireland Elections