Galway County Council
Galway County Council Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Albert Dolan,FF | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 39 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 7 June 2024 |
| Motto | |
| Irish:Ceart agus Cóir "Righteousness and Justice" | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Áras an Chontae,Galway | |
| Website | |
Official website | |
Galway County Council(Irish:Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe) is thelocal authorityofCounty Galway,Ireland.As acounty council,it is governed by theLocal Government Act 2001.The council is responsible forhousingand community, roads andtransportation,urban planningand development, amenity andculture,environment,andlocal fire services.The council has 39 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are bysingle transferable vote.The head of the council has the title ofCathaoirleach(chairperson). The county administration is headed by achief executive,Liam Conneally. Thecounty seatis atÁras an Chontae(County Hall) inGalway city.
History
[edit]Galway County Council dates from 1899, created by theLocal Government (Ireland) Act 1898,which introduced county councils to Ireland. It took over the local administration until then carried out by countygrand juriesand county at large presentment sessions, which included the maintenance of highways and bridges, the upkeep of lunatic asylums, and the appointment ofcoroners.The new council also took over some duties from thepoor lawboards of guardiansin relation to diseases of cattle and from thejustices of the peaceto regulate explosives.[1]
The County Council initially met inTuam.[2]It subsequently acquired the old Galway Infirmary[3]and converted it into a new county headquarters.[4]A modern facility, known asCounty Hall,was built on the same site and completed in 1999.[5]
Regional Assembly
[edit]Galway County Council has three representatives on theNorthern and Western Regional Assemblywho are part of theWest Strategic Planning Area Committee.[6]
Elections
[edit]Members of Galway County Council are elected for a five-year term of office on theelectoral systemofproportional representationby means of thesingle transferable vote(PR-STV) from multi-memberlocal electoral areas(LEAs).
| Year | FF | FG | II | SF | GP | RSF | Lab | PDs | Ind | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 39 | |||||||||
| 2019 | 15 | 11 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 39 | |||||||||
| 2014 | 12 | 12 | — | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 11 | 39 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7 | 13 | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 7 | 30 | |||||||||
| 2004 | 10 | 10 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 30 | |||||||||
| 1999 | 16 | 9 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 30 | |||||||||
| 1991 | 14 | 10 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 30 | |||||||||
| 1985 | 17 | 9 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | — | 3 | 30 | |||||||||
Local electoral areas and municipal districts
[edit]County Galway is divided into the following LEAs and municipal districts, defined byelectoral divisions.[7]
| Municipal District | LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 North | Abhainn 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 South | An 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 Aodháin | 5 | |
| 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 |
| Loughrea | Abbeygormacan, 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 | |
| Tuam | Abbey 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
[edit]The following were elected at the2024 Galway County Council election.
2024 seats summary
[edit]| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Gael | 13 | |
| Fianna Fáil | 11 | |
| Independent Ireland | 6 | |
| Sinn Féin | 2 | |
| Independent[a] | 7 | |
Councillors by electoral area
[edit]This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.[8]
| Council members from2024 election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Local electoral area | Name | Party | |
| Athenry–Oranmore | Albert Dolan | Fianna Fáil | |
| Tomás Grealish | Independent | ||
| David Collins | Fine Gael | ||
| James Charity | Independent | ||
| Peter Feeney | Fine Gael | ||
| Cillian Keane | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Louis O'Hara | 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 South | Noel Thomas | Independent Ireland | |
| Pádraig Mac an Iomaire | Fine Gael | ||
| Tomás Ó Curraoin[a] | Independent | ||
| Michael Leainde | Independent Ireland | ||
| Máirtín Lee | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Gort–Kinvara | Geraldine 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 | |
| Pete Roche | Fine Gael | ||
| Mary Hoade | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Shaun Cunniffe | Independent Ireland | ||
| Donagh Mark Killilea | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Karey McHugh Farag | Independent | ||
| Ollie Turner | Fine Gael | ||
- Notes
- ^abcTomás Ó Curraoin is a member of the unregisteredRepublican Sinn Féinparty and therefore sits as an independent on the council, and appeared as so on the 2024 ballot paper.
References
[edit]- ^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 theUK Parliament.Retrieved fromIrish Statute Book.Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, c.83
- ^"Archive exhibition celebrates 120th anniversary of the first meeting of Galway County Council".Galway Daily. 29 April 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 1 November 2019.Retrieved1 November2019.
- ^"Galway Infirmary, 1802-1892"(PDF).Galway County Council.Retrieved1 November2019.
- ^"Local Authorities – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)".Oireachtas. 26 May 1982.Archivedfrom the original on 26 October 2019.Retrieved26 October2019.
- ^"Galway County Council".Wejchert Associates.Archivedfrom the original on 22 August 2019.Retrieved1 November2019.
- ^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 theGovernment of Ireland.Retrieved fromIrish Statute Bookon 19 April 2023.
- ^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 theGovernment of Ireland.Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved fromIrish Statute Bookon 23 February 2019.
- ^"Galway County Council – Elected Candidates".RTÉ News.Retrieved14 June2024.