Galway County Council
Local authority for County Galway, Ireland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Galway County Council Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 April 1899 |
| Leadership | |
Martina Kinane, FF | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 39 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
Last election | 7 June 2024 |
| Motto | |
| Irish: Ceart agus Cóir "Righteousness and Justice" | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Áras an Chontae, Galway | |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
History
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Perspective
Galway County Council was established on 1 April 1899 under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 for the administrative county of County Galway.[1][2][3] This area was that of the former judicial county of Galway, except the district electoral divisions of Ballinchalla, Drummaan, Inishcaltra North, Mountshannon, Owenbrin, and Rosmoylan (which became part of County Clare); the part of the judicial county of Roscommon which was in the town of Ballinasloe; and the urban district of Galway.[4]
It took over the local administration which had been 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.[5]
From 1986, Galway City Council has governed the city of Galway as a separate local government area from the rest of the county.[6][7]
The County Council initially met in Tuam.[8] It subsequently acquired the old Galway Infirmary[9] and converted it into a new county headquarters.[10] A modern facility, known as County Hall, was built on the same site and completed in 1999.[11]
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.[12][13]
Elections
The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919 introduced the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) for the 1920 Irish local elections.[14] This electoral system has been retained, with members of Galway County Council elected for a five-year term of office from multi-member local electoral areas (LEAs).
Local electoral areas and municipal districts
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County Galway is divided into the following LEAs and municipal districts, defined by electoral divisions.[15]
| 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
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The following were elected at the 2024 Galway County Council election.
2024 seats summary
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| 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.[16]
| Council members from 2024 election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Local electoral area | Name | Party | |
| 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 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[b] | Fine Gael | ||
| Paul Killilea | Fine Gael | ||
| Gerry Finnerty | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Loughrea | Shane Curley[b] | 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
- 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.
- Replaced during term, see table below for details.
Co-options
| Party | Outgoing | LEA | Reason | Date | Co-optee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinn Féin | Louis O'Hara | Athenry–Oranmore | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 11 December 2024 | Martin McNamara[17] | |
| Fianna Fáil | Albert Dolan | Athenry–Oranmore | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 16 December 2024 | Seán Broderick[18] | |
| Fine Gael | Peter Roche | Tuam | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 12 December 2024 | Siobhan McHugh[19] | |
| Fianna Fáil | Shane Curley | Loughrea | Elected to 27th Seanad at the 2025 Seanad election | 24 March 2025 | Michael Regan[20] | |
| Fine Gael | P. J. Murphy | Gort–Kinvara | Elected to 27th Seanad at the 2025 Seanad election | January 2025 | TBA | |
References
External links
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