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Galway County Council

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Galway County Council

Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe
Coat of arms or logo
Logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Liam Carroll, FG
Structure
Seats39
Political groups
  •   Fianna Fáil (15)
  •   Fine Gael (12)
  •   Sinn Féin (1)
  •   Green Party (1)
  •   Independent (10)[a]
Elections
Last election
24 May 2019
Motto
Irish: Ceart agus Cóir
"Righteousness and Justice"
Meeting place
Áras an Chontae, Galway
Website
Official website Edit this at Wikidata
The area governed by the council

Galway County Council (Irish: Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe) is the local authority in 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.

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]

Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts

Galway County Council is divided into the following local electoral areas and municipal districts, defined by electoral 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 GortKinvara 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

The following were elected at the 2019 Galway County Council election, under the boundaries which existed at the time.

2019 seats summary

Party Seats
Fianna Fáil 15
Fine Gael 11
Sinn Féin 1
Green 1
Independent[a] 11

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.

Council members from 2019 election
Local electoral area Name Party
AthenryOranmore James Charity Independent
Albert Dolan Fianna Fáil
Jim Cuddy Independent
Gabe Cronnelly Independent
David Collins Fine Gael
Liam Carroll Fine Gael
Shelly Herterich-Quinn Fianna Fáil
Ballinasloe Tim Broderick Independent
Michael Connolly Fianna Fáil
Dermot Connolly Sinn Féin
Peter Keaveney Fine Gael
Declan Geraghty Independent
Aisling Dolan[b][c] Independent
Conamara North Thomas Welby Independent
Eileen Mannion Fine Gael
Gerry King Fianna Fáil
Séamus Walsh Fianna Fáil
Conamara South Pádraig Mac an Iomaire Fine Gael
Noel Thomas Fianna Fáil
Dáithí Ó Cualáin Fianna Fáil
Alastair McKinstry Green
Tomás Ó Curraoin[a] Independent
Gort–Kinvara Joe Byrne Fine Gael
P.J. Murphy Fine Gael
Martina Kinane Fianna Fáil
Gerry Finnerty Fianna Fáil
Geraldine Donoghue Independent
Loughrea Michael 'Moegie' Maher Fine Gael
Jimmy McClearn Fine Gael
Shane Curley Fianna Fáil
Ivan Canning Fianna Fáil
Pat Hynes[c] Independent
Tuam Pete Roche Fine Gael
Donagh Mark Killilea Fianna Fáil
Joe Sheridan Fianna Fáil
Mary Hoade Fianna Fáil
Andrew Reddington Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney Fianna Fáil
Karey McHugh Independent
Notes
  1. ^ a b c 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 2019 ballot paper.
  2. ^ Changed party, see table below for details.
  3. ^ a b Replaced during term, see table below for details.

Co-options

Party Outgoing LEA Reason Date Co-optee
Fine Gael Aisling Dolan Ballinasloe Nominated by the Taoiseach to Seanad Éireann June 2020 Evelyn Francis Parsons
Independent Pat Hynes Loughrea Retirement November 2021 Declan Kelly

Changes in affiliation

Name LEA Elected as New affiliation Date
Aisling Dolan Ballinasloe Independent Fine Gael November 2019

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.