Kilkenny County Council (Irish: Comhairle Chontae Chill Chainnigh) is the local authority of County Kilkenny, 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, and environment. The council has 24 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, Lar Power. The county town is Kilkenny city.
Kilkenny County Council Comhairle Chontae Chill Chainnigh | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Michael Doyle, FG | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 24 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 24 May 2019 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| County Hall, Kilkenny | |
| Website | |
Official website  | |
History
The county council originally met at Kilkenny Courthouse.[1] By the second half of the 20th century it had moved to new offices at John's Green House.[2] The county council moved to its current home, County Hall, in 1994.[3]
In 2000, as part of a government initiative called "Better Local Government – A Programme for Change", a new structure was introduced to Kilkenny County Council which included five Strategic Policy Committees.[4]
Regional Assembly
Kilkenny County Council has two representatives on the Southern Regional Assembly who are part of the South-East Strategic Planning Area Committee.[5]
Local electoral areas and municipal districts
Kilkenny County Council is divided into the following municipal districts and local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions.[6]
| Municipal District and LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Callan–Thomastown | Aghaviller, Ballyhale, Ballyvool, Bennettsbridge, Boolyglass, Bramblestown, Brownsford, Burnchurch, Callan Rural, Callan Urban, Castlebanny, Coolaghmore, Coolhill, Danesfort, Dunbell, Dunnamaggan, Dysartmoon, Earlstown, Ennisnag, Famma, Freaghana, Graiguenamanagh, Grange, Inistioge, Jerpoint Church, Kells, Kilfane, Killamery, Kilmaganny, Kiltorcan, Knocktopher, Mallardstown, Outrath, Pleberstown, Powerstown, Rosbercon Rural, Scotsborough, Stonyford, The Rower, Thomastown, Tullaghanbrogue, Tullaherin, Tullahought, Ullard and Woolengrange. | 6 |
| Castlecomer | Attanagh, Balleen, Ballinamara, Ballybeagh, Ballycallan, Ballyconra, Ballyragget, Baunmore, Castlecomer, Clara, Clogh, Clogharinka, Clomantagh, Coolcraheen, Freshford, Galmoy, Glashare, Goresbridge, Gowran, Johnstown, Kilkieran, Kilmacar, Kilmanagh, Lisdowney, Moneenroe, Mothell, Muckalee (in the former Rural District of Castlecomer), Odagh, Paulstown, Rathbeagh, Rathcoole, Rathealy, Shankill, Tiscoffin, Tubbridbrittain, Tullaroan and Urlingford. | 6 |
| Kilkenny City | Dunmore, Kilkenny No. 1 Urban, Kilkenny No. 2 Urban, Kilkenny Rural and St. Canice. | 7 |
| Piltown | Aglish, Ballincrea, Castlegannon, Dunkitt, Farnoge, Fiddown, Jerpoint West, Kilbeacon, Kilbride, Kilcolumb, Kilculliheen (part), Kilkeasy, Killahy, Kilmakevoge, Listerlin, Muckalee (in the former Rural District of Carrick-on-Suir No. 3), Pilltown, Pollrone, Portnascully, Rathpatrick, Rossinan, Shanbogh, Templeorum, Tubbrid, Ullid and Whitechurch. | 5 |
Councillors
The following were elected at the 2019 Kilkenny County Council election, under the boundaries which existed at the time.[7]
2019 seats summary
| Party | Seats[8] | |
|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | 11 | |
| Fine Gael | 9 | |
| Labour | 2 | |
| Green | 1 | |
| Independent | 1 | |
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 | |
| Callan-Thomastown | Peter Cleere | Fianna Fáil | |
| Matt Doran | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Michael Doyle | Fine Gael | ||
| Patrick O'Neill | Fine Gael | ||
| Deirdre Cullen | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Joe Lyons | Fine Gael | ||
| Castlecomer | Pat Fitzpatrick | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary Hilda Cavanagh | Fine Gael | ||
| Michael McCarthy | Fianna Fáil | ||
| John Brennan | Fine Gael | ||
| Michael Delaney | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Denis Hynes[a] | Labour | ||
| Kilkenny | Andrew McGuinness | Fianna Fáil | |
| Malcolm Noonan[b] | Green | ||
| Joe Malone | Fianna Fáil | ||
| David Fitzgerald | Fine Gael | ||
| Eugene McGuinness | Independent | ||
| John Coonan | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Martin Brett[a] | Fine Gael | ||
| Piltown | Pat Dunphy | Fine Gael | |
| Tomás Breathnach | Labour | ||
| Fidelis Doherty | Fine Gael | ||
| Eamon Aylward | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Ger Frisby | Fianna Fáil | ||
- Notes
Co-options
| Party | Outgoing | Electoral area | Reason | Date | Co-optee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Malcolm Noonan | Kilkenny | Elected to the 33rd Dáil for Carlow–Kilkenny at the 2020 general election | February 2020 | Maria Dollard | |
Changes in affiliation
| Name | Electoral area | Elected as | New affiliation | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Brett | Kilkenny | Fine Gael | Independent | August 2020 | ||
| Denis Hynes | Castlecomer | Labour | Sinn Féin | November 2021[9] | ||
References
Sources
- Boyle, Tom; O'Dwyer, Michael (1999). Kilkenny County Council: A Century of Local Government. Kilkenny: Kilkenny County Council.