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Galway County Council

Local authority for County Galway, Ireland

Galway County Council

Summary

Local authority for County Galway, Ireland

FieldValue
nameGalway County Council
native_nameComhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe
coa_picLogogalwayco.png
coa_res100px
logo_picGalway County Council.svg
logo_res200px
house_typeCounty council
jurisdictionCounty Galway
motto
"Righteousness and Justice"
leader1_typeCathaoirleach
leader1David Collins
party1FG
foundation1 April 1899
members39
term_length5 years
structure1Galway County Council composition.svg
structure1_res260px
:{{Party index linkFine Gaelborderdarkgray}} (14)
:{{Party index linkFianna Fáilborderdarkgray}} (11)
:{{Party index linkIndependent Irelandborderdarkgray}} (6)
:{{Party index linkSinn Féinborderdarkgray}} (2)
:{{Party index linkIndependent politician (Ireland)borderdarkgray}} (6)
last_election17 June 2024
session_roomGalway County Council, 2022-05-15.jpg
meeting_placeÁras an Chontae, Galway
website

"Righteousness and Justice" : (14) : (11) : (6) : (2) : (6)

The area governed by the council

Galway County Council () 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.

History

Galway County Council was established on 1 April 1899 under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 for the administrative county of County Galway. This area was that of the former judicial county of Galway, except the district electoral divisions of Drummaan, Inishcaltra North, Mountshannon, and Rosmoylan (which became part of County Clare) and the district electoral divisions of Ballinchalla and Owenbrin (which became part of County Mayo); the part of the judicial county of Roscommon which was in the town of Ballinasloe; and the judicial county of the town of Galway.

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.

From 1986, Galway City Council has governed the city of Galway as a separate local government area from the rest of the county.

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

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.

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. 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).

YearTotal
202411
201915
201412
20097
200410
199916
199114
198517

Local electoral areas and municipal districts

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

Municipal DistrictLEADefinitionSeats
AthenryAthenry–OranmoreAbbey 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
BallinasloeAhascragh, 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
ConamaraConamara 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
LoughreaGort–KinvaraArdamullivan, 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
13
11
6
2
7

Councillors by electoral area

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

;Notes

Co-options

Changes in affiliation

References

References

  1. "Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 (61 & 62 Vict., c. 37)". [[The National Archives (United Kingdom).
  2. (12 August 1898). "[[Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898]]".
  3. (12 August 1898). "Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898".
  4. (1900). "27th Report of the Local Government Board for Ireland (Cmd. 9480)". [[Local Government Board for Ireland]].
  5. (12 August 1898). "[[Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898]]".
  6. {{cite Irish legislation. (1985). (3 April 1985)
  7. {{cite Irish legislation. (1985). (18 December 1985)
  8. (29 April 2019). "Archive exhibition celebrates 120th anniversary of the first meeting of Galway County Council". Galway Daily.
  9. "Galway Infirmary, 1802-1892". Galway County Council.
  10. (26 May 1982). "Local Authorities – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Oireachtas.
  11. "Galway County Council". Wejchert Associates.
  12. (16 December 2014). "Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014".
  13. "NWRA Members".
  14. "Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919 (c. 19)". [[The National Archives (United Kingdom).
  15. (19 December 2018). "County of Galway Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018".
  16. "Galway County Council – Elected Candidates". [[RTÉ News]].
  17. (11 December 2024). "Sinn Féin's Martin McNamara to be co-opted to Louis O'Hara's seat on County Council".
  18. (16 December 2024). "Fianna Fáil selects Seán Broderick for co-option to council seat left vacant by Albert Dolan".
  19. (13 December 2024). "Fine Gael's Siobhan McHugh to be co-opted to vacant seat on County Council".
  20. (24 March 2025). "Fianna Fáil selects former councillor Michael Regan for co-option to council seat left vacant by Shane Curley".
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