The first First Minister of Northern Ireland (under the modern, post–Good Friday Agreement devolved system) was David Trimble of the Ulster Unionist Party.

Quick Scoop

  • David Trimble became the inaugural First Minister after the new Northern Ireland Assembly was set up under the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
  • He was elected First Minister (designate) on 1 July 1998 and formally took office when powers were devolved to the Executive on 2 December 1999.
  • Trimble served alongside Seamus Mallon of the SDLP, who was the first deputy First Minister, with both roles designed to share power between unionist and nationalist communities.

In short: when people ask “who was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland?” in today’s political setup at Stormont, the answer is David Trimble.

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