First Parliament
State opening of the Northern Ireland Parliament in 1921 by William Conor
William Conor, a distinguished artist was appointed to paint the Opening of the First Northern Ireland Parliament by King George V.
The painting now hangs in the Senate Chamber in Parliament Buildings.
Julia McMordie
Along with Dehra Parker, Julia McMordie was one of the first women to be elected to the Parliament of Northern Ireland, in 1921. She stood for the Ulster Unionist Party and was elected to one of the four seats in the Queen's University of Belfast constituency.
Born in Hartlepool, County Durham, Julia McMordie was the first female member of Belfast City Council in 1917, an Alderman in 1920, the first woman High Sheriff in 1929 and Vice President of the Ulster Women's Unionist Council 1919–1940.
She was involved in various health charities and had been President of the St. John Voluntary Aid Detachments in Belfast during the First World War.
The gender balance after the 1921 election was 4% women (2 of 52) and 96% men (50 of 52)
