Limerick City and County Council (Irish: Comhairle Cathrach agus Contae Luimnigh) is the local authority of Limerick City and County in Ireland. It came into operation on 1 June 2014 after the 2014 local elections.[1] It was formed by the merger of Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council under the provisions of the Local Government Reform Act 2014. As a city and 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 40 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of Mayor. The city and county administration is headed by a Chief Executive, Pat Daly. The administrative centre is City Hall, Limerick, with other civic offices at Dooradoyle. Following a plebiscite in 2019, Limerick is due to become the first local authority in Ireland with a directly elected mayor.
Limerick City and County Council Comhairle Cathrach agus Contae Luimnigh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | City and County council |
| Leadership | |
Gerald Mitchell, FG | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 40 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 24 May 2019 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| City Hall, Limerick | |
| Website | |
Official website  | |
Directly elected mayor
At the 2019 local election, a plebiscite was held under Part 6 of the Local Government Act 2019 on the establishment of a directly elected mayor for Limerick City and County.[2] Voters in Limerick approved the proposal by a vote of 52.4%.[3] In January 2021, the government approved the publication of the report on a directly elected mayor for Limerick.[4]
In August 2023, the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 was published.[5] Kieran O'Donnell, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, stated that it was the intention of the government that the election for a directly elected Mayor for Limerick would be held on the same date as the 2024 local elections, which will be held between 6 June and 9 June 2024.[6]
The Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 was signed on 6 March 2024.[7]
Regional Assembly
Limerick City and County Council has three representatives on the Southern Regional Assembly who are part of the Mid-West Strategic Planning Area Committee.[8]
Elections
Members of Limerick City and County Council are elected for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) from multi-member local electoral areas.
| Election | FG | FF | Lab | SF | GP | SD | AAA | Ind | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 14 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 6 | 40 | ||||||||
| 2014 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | 3 | 3 | 40 | ||||||||
Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts
Limerick City and County is divided into the following metropolitan and municipal districts and local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions.[9] The municipal district which contains the administrative area of the former Limerick City Council is referred to as a Metropolitan District.[10]
| Municipal District | LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan District of Limerick City | Limerick City East | Ballysimon, Ballyvarra, Castleconnell, Limerick South Rural, Roxborough; and the electoral divisions of Galvone A, Galvone B, Glentworth A, Glentworth B, Glentworth C, Rathbane, Singland B and St. Laurence as specified in the County Borough of Limerick (Wards) Regulations 1970[11] | 7 |
| Limerick City North | Limerick North Rural; and the electoral divisions of Abbey A, Abbey B, Abbey C, Abbey D, Ballynanty, Castle A, Castle B, Castle C, Castle D, Coolraine, Farranshone, Johns A, Johns B, Johns C, Killeely A, Killeely B, Market, and Singland A as specified in the County Borough of Limerick (Wards) Regulations 1970 | 7 | |
| Limerick City West | Ballycummin, Carrig, Clarina, Patrickswell; and the electoral divisions of Ballinacurra A, Ballinacurra B, Custom House, Dock A, Dock B, Dock C, Dock D, Prospect A, Prospect B, Shannon A and Shannon B as specified in the County Borough of Limerick (Wards) Regulations 1970 | 7 | |
| Adare–Rathkeale | Abbeyville, Adare North, Adare South, Askeaton East, Askeaton West, Aughinish, Ballingarry, Ballyallinan, Ballybricken, Ballygrennan, Ballynabanoge, Ballynacarriga, Castletown (in the former Rural District of Rathkeale), Coolrus, Craggs, Crecora, Croagh, Croom, Dromard, Dunmoylan East, Dunmoylan West, Dunnaman, Fedamore, Fleanmore, Garrane, Iveruss, Kilcornan, Kildimo, Kilfinny, Kilpeacon, Kilscannell, Lismakeery, Loghill, Mohernagh, Nantinan, Pallaskenry, Rathkeale Rural, Rathkeale Urban, Rathmore, Riddlestown, Shanagolden and Shanid | 6 | |
| Cappamore–Kilmallock | Abington, Anglesborough, Ardpatrick, Athlacca, Ballylanders, Ballymacshaneboy, Bilboa, Bruff, Bruree, Bulgaden, Caherconlish East, Caherconlish West, Cahercorney, Caherelly, Cappamore, Clonkeen, Colmanswell, Crean, Cullane, Darragh, Doon South, Doon West, Dromin, Duntryleague, Emlygrennan, Galbally, Glenbrohane, Glenstal, Grange, Grean, Griston, Hospital, Kilbeheny, Kilfinnane, Kilflyn, Kilglass, Kilmallock, Kilmurry, Kilteely, Knockainy, Knocklong, Knocknascrow, Oola, Particles, Riversdale, Rockhill, Templebredon, Tobernea and Uregare | 7 | |
| Newcastle West | Abbeyfeale, Ardagh, Ballintober, Ballyagran, Ballynoe, Ballynoe West, Boola, Broadford, Caher, Castletown (in the former Rural District of Croom), Cleanglass, Cloncagh, Danganbeg, Dromcolliher, Dromtrasna, Feenagh, Garryduff, Glenagower, Glengort, Glensharrold, Glin, Kilfergus, Kilmeedy, Kilmoylan, Knockaderry, Mahoonagh, Monagay, Mountcollins, Mountplummer, Newcastle Rural, Newcastle Urban, Port, Rathronan, Rooskagh and Templeglentan | 6 | |
Councillors
The council has 40 seats.
Seats summary
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 election | ||
| Fine Gael | 14 | |
| Fianna Fáil | 12 | |
| Labour | 3 | |
| Green | 2 | |
| Sinn Féin | 2 | |
| Social Democrats | 1 | |
| Independent | 6 | |
Councillors by electoral area
This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.[12]
| Council members from 2019 election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Local electoral area | Name | Party | |
| Adare–Rathkeale | Adam Teskey | Fine Gael | |
| Stephen Keary | Fine Gael | ||
| Richard O'Donoghue[a] | Independent | ||
| Emmett O'Brien | Independent | ||
| Kevin Sheahan | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Bridie Collins | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Cappamore–Kilmallock | Brigid Teefy | Independent | |
| Martin Ryan | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Eddie Ryan[b] | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Gerald Mitchell | Fine Gael | ||
| John Egan | Fine Gael | ||
| Michael Donegan | Fianna Fáil | ||
| P.J. Carey[b] | Independent | ||
| Newcastle West | Jerome Scanlan[b] | Fine Gael | |
| Michael Collins | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Liam Galvin | Fine Gael | ||
| John Sheahan | Fine Gael | ||
| Tom Ruddle | Fine Gael | ||
| Francis Foley | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Limerick City East | Seán Hartigan | Green | |
| Elena Secas | Labour | ||
| Catherine Slattery | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Michael Murphy | Fine Gael | ||
| Michael Sheahan | Fine Gael | ||
| Jerry O'Dea[a] | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Sarah Kiely | Fine Gael | ||
| Limerick City North | Frankie Daly | Independent | |
| Brian Leddin[a] | Green | ||
| Kieran O'Hanlon | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Olivia O'Sullivan | Fine Gael | ||
| John Costelloe | Sinn Féin | ||
| Conor Sheehan | Labour | ||
| Sharon Benson | Sinn Féin | ||
| Limerick City West | James Collins | Fianna Fáil | |
| Daniel Butler | Fine Gael | ||
| Joe Leddin | Labour | ||
| Fergus Kilcoyne[b] | Independent | ||
| Abul Kalam Azad Talukder | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Dan McSweeney | Fine Gael | ||
| Elisa O'Donovan[b] | Social Democrats | ||
Co-options
| Party | Outgoing | Electoral area | Reason | Date | Co-optee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Brian Leddin | Limerick City North | Elected to the 33rd Dáil for Limerick City at the 2020 general election | February 2020 | Saša Novak Uí Chonchúir | |
| Independent | Richard O'Donoghue | Adare–Rathkeale | Elected to the 33rd Dáil for Limerick County at the 2020 general election | February 2020 | John O'Donoghue[b] | |
| Fianna Fáil | Jerry O'Dea | Limerick City East | Death of councillor | July 2022 | Joe Pond | |
Changes in affiliation
| Name | Electoral area | Elected as | New affiliation | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerome Scanlan | Newcastle West | Fine Gael | Independent | November 2019 | ||
| Eddie Ryan | Cappamore–Kilmallock | Fianna Fáil | Independent | June 2020 | ||
| Elisa O'Donovan | Limerick City West | Social Democrats | Independent | June 2020 | ||
| Elisa O'Donovan | Limerick City West | Independent | Social Democrats | December 2021 | ||
| P.J. Carey | Cappamore–Kilmallock | Independent | Sinn Féin | January 2022 | ||
| Fergus Kilcoyne | Limerick City West | Independent | Fianna Fáil | January 2024 | ||
| John O'Donoghue | Adare–Rathkeale | Independent | Independent Ireland | March 2024 | ||
- Notes