Galway County Council

Last updated

Galway County Council

Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe
Logogalwayco.png
Galway County Council.svg
Type
Type
Leadership
Martina Kinane, FF
Structure
Seats39
Galway County Council composition.svg
Political groups
  Fine Gael  (13)
  Fianna Fáil  (11)
  Independent Ireland  (6)
  Sinn Féin  (2)
  Independent  (7) [a]
Elections
Last election
 7 June 2024
Motto
Irish: Ceart agus Cóir
"Righteousness and Justice"
Meeting place
Galway County Council, 2022-05-15.jpg
Áras an Chontae, Galway
Website
Official website OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
The area governed by the council Galway in Ireland.svg
The area governed by the council

Galway County Council (Irish : Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe) is the local authority of County Galway, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, environment, and local fire services. The council has 39 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach (chairperson). The county administration is headed by a chief executive, Liam Conneally. The county seat is at Áras an Chontae (County Hall) in Galway city.

Contents

History

Galway County Council dates from 1899, created by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, which introduced county councils to Ireland. It took over the local administration until then carried out by county grand juries and county at large presentment sessions, which included the maintenance of highways and bridges, the upkeep of lunatic asylums, and the appointment of coroners. The new council also took over some duties from the poor law boards of guardians in relation to diseases of cattle and from the justices of the peace to regulate explosives. [1]

The County Council initially met in Tuam. [2] It subsequently acquired the old Galway Infirmary [3] and converted it into a new county headquarters. [4] A modern facility, known as County Hall, was built on the same site and completed in 1999. [5]

Regional Assembly

Galway County Council has three representatives on the Northern and Western Regional Assembly who are part of the West Strategic Planning Area Committee. [6]

Elections

Members of Galway County Council are elected for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) from multi-member local electoral areas (LEAs).

Year FF FG II SF GP RSF Lab PDs Ind Total
2024 111362010—739
2019 1511—1110—1039
2014 1212—3010—1139
2009 713—1011—730
2004 1010—10013530
1999 169—00002330
1991 1410—00004230
1985 179—10—0—330

Local electoral areas and municipal districts

County Galway is divided into the following LEAs and municipal districts, defined by electoral divisions. [7]

Municipal DistrictLEADefinitionSeats
Athenry Athenry–Oranmore Abbey East, An Carn Mór, Athenry, Aughrim (in the former Rural District of Galway), Baile an Teampaill, Baile Chláir, Belleville, Cappalusk, Ceathrú an Bhrúnaigh, Cloonkeen (in the former Rural District of Loughrea), Deerpark, Eanach Dhúin, Graigabbey, Greethill, Killimor (in the former Rural District of Loughrea), Leacach Beag, Liscananaun, Lisín an Bhealaigh, Monivea, Oranmore, Ryehill, Stradbally and Tiaquin.7
Ballinasloe Ahascragh, Annagh, Aughrim (in the former Rural District of Ballinasloe), Ballinasloe Rural, Ballinasloe Urban, Ballinastack, Ballymacward, Ballymoe, Ballynakill (in the former Rural District of Glenamaddy), Ballynakill (in the former Rural District of Mountbellew), Boyounagh, Caltra, Castleblakeney, Castleffrench, Clonbrock, Clonfert, Clontuskert, Cloonkeen (in the former Rural District of Mountbellew), Cloonkeen (in the former Rural District of Tuam), Colmanstown, Cooloo, Creggs, Curraghmore, Derryglassaun, Glennamaddy, Island, Kellysgrove, Kilconnell, Kilcroan, Killaan, Killallaghtan, Killeroran, Killian, Killure, Kilmacshane, Kiltullagh (in the former Rural District of Glenamaddy), Kylemore, Laurencetown, Lismanny, Mount Bellew, Mounthazel, Raheen, Scregg, Shankill, Taghboy, Templetogher and Toberroe.6
Conamara Conamara NorthAbhainn Ghabhla, An Chorr, An Cnoc Buí, An Fhairche, An Ros, An Turlach, An Uillinn, Ballynakill (in the former Rural District of Clifden), Binn an Choire, Bunowen, Camas, Cill Chuimín (in the former Rural District of Oughterard), Cleggan, Clifden, Cloch na Rón, Conga, Cushkillary, Derrycunlagh, Derrylea, Doonloughan, Errislannan, Inishbofin, Leitir Breacáin, Letterfore, Maíros, Oughterard, Rinvyle, Scainimh, Sillerna and Wormhole.4
Conamara SouthAn Crompán, An Spidéal, Árainn, Bearna, Cill Aithnín, Gaillimh (Tuath) Garmna, Cill Chuimín (in the former Rural District of Galway), Leitir Móir, Maigh Cuilinn, Na Forbacha, Sailearna, Sliabh an Aonaigh and Tulaigh Mhic Aodháin5
Loughrea Gort–Kinvara Ardamullivan, Ardrahan, Ballycahalan, Ballynacourty, Beagh, Cahermore, Cappard, Castleboy, Castletaylor, Clarinbridge, Craughwell, Derrylaur, Doorus, Drumacoo, Gort, Kilbeacanty, Kilchreest, Killeely, Killeenavarra, Killinny, Killogilleen, Kiltartan, Kilthomas, Kinvarra, Rahasane and Skehanagh.5
LoughreaAbbeygormacan, Abbeyville, Aille, Ballyglass, Ballynagar, Bracklagh, Bullaun, Coos, Derrew, Drumkeary, Drummin, Eyrecourt, Grange, Kilconickny, Kilconierin, Killimor (in the former Rural District of Portumna), Killoran, Kilmalinoge, Kilmeen, Kilquain, Kilreekill, Kilteskill, Kiltormer, Kiltullagh (in the former Rural District of Loughrea), Lackalea, Leitrim, Loughatorick, Loughrea Rural, Loughrea Urban, Marblehill, Meelick, Moat, Mountain, Moyode, Oatfield, Pallas, Portumna, Raford, Tiranascragh, Tynagh and Woodford.5
TuamAbbey West, Addergoole, Annaghdown, Ballinderry, Ballinduff, Ballynapark, Beaghmore, Belclare, Carrownagur, Carrowrevagh, Claretuam, Clonbern, Cummer, Donaghpatrick, Doonbally, Dunmore North, Dunmore South, Foxhall, Headford, Hillsbrook, Kilbennan, Kilcoona, Killeany, Killeen, Killererin, Killower, Killursa, Kilmoylan, Kilshanvy, Levally, Milltown, Moyne, Toberadosh, Tuam Rural and Tuam Urban.7

Councillors

The following were elected at the 2024 Galway County Council election.

2024 seats summary

PartySeats
Fine Gael 13
Fianna Fáil 11
Independent Ireland 6
Sinn Féin 2
Independent [a] 7

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024. [8]

Council members from 2024 election
Local electoral areaNameParty
Athenry–Oranmore Albert Dolan [b] Fianna Fáil
Tomás Grealish Independent
David Collins Fine Gael
James Charity Independent
Peter Feeney Fine Gael
Cillian Keane Fianna Fáil
Louis O'Hara [b] Sinn Féin
Ballinasloe Michael Connolly Fianna Fáil
Declan Geraghty Independent Ireland
Alan Harney Fine Gael
Evelyn Parsons Independent
Dermot Connolly Sinn Féin
Peter Keaveney Fine Gael
Conamara North Thomas Welby Independent
Séamus Walsh Independent Ireland
Gerry King Fianna Fáil
Eileen Mannion Fine Gael
Conamara SouthNoel Thomas Independent Ireland
Pádraig Mac an Iomaire Fine Gael
Tomás Ó Curraoin [a] Independent
Michael Leainde Independent Ireland
Máirtín Lee Fianna Fáil
Gort–KinvaraGeraldine Donohue Independent
Martina Kinane Fianna Fáil
P. J. Murphy Fine Gael
Paul Killilea Fine Gael
Gerry Finnerty Fianna Fáil
Loughrea Shane Curley Fianna Fáil
Declan Kelly Independent Ireland
Jimmy McClearn Fine Gael
Michael 'Moegie' Maher Fine Gael
Ivan Canning Fianna Fáil
Tuam Andrew Reddington Fine Gael
Peter Roche [b] Fine Gael
Mary Hoade Fianna Fáil
Shaun Cunniffe Independent Ireland
Donagh Mark Killilea Fianna Fáil
Karey McHugh Farag Independent
Ollie Turner Fine Gael
Notes
  1. 1 2 3 Tomás Ó Curraoin is a member of the unregistered Republican Sinn Féin party and therefore sits as an independent on the council, and appeared as so on the 2024 ballot paper.
  2. 1 2 3 Replaced during term, see table below for details.

Co-options

PartyOutgoingLEAReasonDateCo-optee
Sinn Féin Louis O'Hara Athenry–OranmoreElected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election 11 December 2024Martin McNamara [9]
Fianna Fáil Albert Dolan Athenry–OranmoreElected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election16 December 2024Seán Broderick [10]
Fine Gael Peter Roche TuamElected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election12 December 2024Siobhan McHugh [11]

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References

  1. ↑ Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 , s. 6: Transfer to county council of business of boards of guardians as to poor rate, cattle diseases and explosives ( 61 & 62 Vict.,c. 37 of 1898, s. 6 ). Enacted on 12 August 1898. Act of the UK Parliament .Retrieved from Irish Statute Book . Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, c.83
  2. ↑ "Archive exhibition celebrates 120th anniversary of the first meeting of Galway County Council". Galway Daily. 29 April 2019. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  3. ↑ "Galway Infirmary, 1802-1892" (PDF). Galway County Council. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  4. ↑ "Local Authorities – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Oireachtas. 26 May 1982. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  5. ↑ "Galway County Council". Wejchert Associates. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  6. ↑ Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014, Article 5 and Schedule 3 ( S.I. No. 573 of 2014 ). Signed on 16 December 2014. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland .Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 19 April 2023.
  7. ↑ County of Galway Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 ( S.I. No. 618 of 2018 ). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland . Archived from the original on 2 February 2019.Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "Galway County Council – Elected Candidates". RTÉ News . Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  9. ↑ "Sinn Féin's Martin McNamara to be co-opted to Louis O'Hara's seat on County Council". Galway bay FM. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "Fianna Fáil selects Seán Broderick for co-option to council seat left vacant by Albert Dolan". Galway Bay FM. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  11. ↑ "Fine Gael's Siobhan McHugh to be co-opted to vacant seat on County Council". GalwayBay FM. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
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