For a while it looked as though Unionists might gain a majority due to an elected independent nationalist John Joe McCusker being ineligible, however in the end he held his seat.

The deadlock raised the prospect of the British government having to intervene as both opposing blocs could not agree on the election of chairmen.

This left the field clear for the United Ulster Unionist Party who counted this as their best area with three seats in 1977.

The area had been a major growth area for Sinn Féin in the four years proceeding the council elections of 1985 with the victories in Westminster by-elections of Bobby Sands and Owen Carron (although they were technically elected as Anti H-Block candidates with Sinn Féin backing).

The Cenotaph bomb of 1987 had a significant and negative impact on the Sinn Féin vote as it took it 16 years to return to 1985 levels.

Nationalists were expected to regain control of the council in 1997 but ultimately could only gain one seat from Unionists.

This left the council deadlocked with 11 Unionists and 11 Nationalists with an Independent Socialist (formerly Workers' Party) councillor, Davy Kettyles, holding the balance of power.

[2] The area covered by Fermanagh District Council had a population of 61,805 residents according to the 2011 Northern Ireland census.