| David Allen | |
| Office: | Member of Ballymena Borough Council |
| Constituency: | Ballymena Area C |
| Term Start: | 30 May 1973 |
| Term End: | 20 May 1981 |
| Predecessor: | Council established |
| Successor: | William Brownlees |
| Office1: | Member of the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention for North Antrim |
| Term Start1: | 1975 |
| Term End1: | 1976 |
| Predecessor1: | Convention established |
| Successor1: | Convention abolished |
| Birth Date: | 24 October 1937 |
| Birth Place: | Ballymena, Northern Ireland |
| Death Date: | 13 December 2011 |
| Nationality: | British |
| Party: | Independent Unionist (from 1977) Ulster Vanguard (before 1977) |
| Occupation: | TeacherTrade UnionistPolitician |
David Allen MBE (24 October 1937 – 13 December 2011)[1] was a Northern Irish teacher, trade unionist and politician.
A member of the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party, he represented the group in the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention.[2] He was elected to Ballymena Borough Council in 1973, topping the poll in the C District Electoral Area. He retained the seat in 1977, albeit as a "Ratepayers" candidate, having left the Vanguard in the interim.[3]
In November 1976 Allen proposed a motion banning Ballymena's local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) from using council facilities; the motion passed unanimously. Allen described the GAA as "bigoted, sectarian" with an "antiquated" ruleset.[4] In a television interview about the motion, Allen suggested he would be justified in calling for the GAA to be outlawed and made illegal in Northern Ireland.[5]
Allen was a pupil of Ballymena Academy.[6] A teacher by profession, he trained at Queen's University Belfast and Stranmillis College before teaching at primary level in his native Ballymena, initially at Harryville PS before moving to Ballykeel PS.[7] Known to his pupils as "Duck", he was deputy headmaster at the latter school.[6] Allen was active in the Ulster Teachers' Union and became general secretary of the body in 1978, holding the position for twenty years.[7] A prominent media figure during his time in charge, Allen's work earned him the nickname "children's champion".[7]
Allen was married twice and had one daughter.[7] Following his retirement he settled in Banbridge, while also keeping a house in Cornwall.[7] He suffered a stroke in 2011 and died soon after, aged 74. He was buried in Banbridge following a service at the town's Bannside Presbyterian Church.[7]