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 | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 39 |
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Political groups |
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| Elections | |
Last election | 24 May 2019 |
| Motto | |
| Irish: Ceart agus Cóir "Righteousness and Justice" | |
| Meeting place | |
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| Áras an Chontae, Galway | |
| Website | |
Official website  | |
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.[2]
The County Council initially met in Tuam.[3] It subsequently acquired the old Galway Infirmary[4] and converted it into a new county headquarters.[5] A modern facility, known as County Hall, was built on the same site and completed in 1999.[6]
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.[7]
Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts
Galway County Council is divided into the following local electoral areas and municipal districts, defined by electoral divisions.[8]
| 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
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 | |
| Athenry–Oranmore | 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[b] | Independent | ||
| Aisling Dolan[b][c] | Independent | ||
| Conamara North | Thomas Welby | Independent | |
| Eileen Mannion | Fine Gael | ||
| Gerry King | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Séamus Walsh[b] | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Conamara South | Pádraig Mac an Iomaire | Fine Gael | |
| Noel Thomas[b] | 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 | ||
Co-options
| Party | Outgoing | Electoral area | 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[b] | |
Changes in affiliation
| Name | Electoral area | Elected as | New affiliation | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aisling Dolan | Ballinasloe | Independent | Fine Gael | November 2019 | ||
| Declan Geraghty | Ballinasloe | Independent | Independent Ireland | February 2024 | ||
| Declan Kelly | Loughrea | Independent | Independent Ireland | March 2024 | ||
| Noel Thomas | Connemara South | Fianna Fáil | Independent | March 2024 | ||
| Séamus Walsh | Connemara North | Fianna Fáil | Independent | March 2024 | ||
| Noel Thomas | Connemara South | Independent | Independent Ireland | April 2024 | ||
| Séamus Walsh | Connemara North | Independent | Independent Ireland | April 2024 | ||
- Notes