Longford County Council (Irish: Comhairle Chontae an Longfoirt) is the local authority in County Longford, 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 18 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, Paddy Mahon. The county town is Longford.
Longford County Council Comhairle Chontae an Longfoirt | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | of `County Longford |
| Leadership | |
Colm Murray, FG | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 18 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 24 May 2019 |
| Motto | |
| Daingean agus Dílis (Irish) "Strong and Loyal" | |
| Meeting place | |
| Áras an Chontae, Longford | |
| Website | |
Official website  | |
History
Originally meetings of Longford County Council were held at Longford Courthouse in the Main Street[1] and the county secretary's office was subsequently established in Dublin Road.[2] The county council meetings and county administration moved to modern facilities at the new County Hall in Great Water Street in 1992.[3]
Regional Assembly
Longford County Council has two representatives on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly who are part of the Midland Strategic Planning Area Committee.[4]
Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts
County Longford is divided into the following local electoral areas and municipal districts, defined by electoral divisions.[5]
| Municipal District and LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Ballymahon | Agharra, Ardagh East, Ardagh West, Ballymahon, Ballymuigh, Cashel East, Cashel West, Doory, Forgney, Foxhall, Kilcommock, Kilglass, Killashee, Ledwithstown, Meathas Truim (Edgeworthstown), Mountdavis, Moydow and Rathcline | 6 |
| Granard | Abbeylara, Aghaboy, Ballinalee, Ballinamuck East, Ballinamuck West, Bunlahy, Columbkille, Coolamber, Creevy, Crosagstown, Currygrane, Dalystown, Drumgort, Drumlish, Drummeel, Firry, Gelshagh, Granard Rural, Granard Urban, Killoe, Knockanbaun, Lislea, Milltown, Moatfarrell, Moyne, Mullanalaghta, Newgrove and Sonnagh | 5 |
| Longford | Breanrisk, Caldragh, Cloondara, Cloonee, Corboy, Longford No. 1 Urban, Longford No. 2 Urban, Longford Rural and Newtown Forbes | 7 |
Councillors
2019 seats summary
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Gael | 9 | |
| Fianna Fáil | 6 | |
| Independent | 3 | |
Councillors by electoral area
This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 24 May 2019 at the 2019 Longford County Council election.[6]
| Council members from 2019 election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Local electoral area | Name | Party | |
| Ballymahon | Paul Ross | Fine Gael | |
| Mark Casey | Independent | ||
| Mick Cahill | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Pat O'Toole | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Colm Murray | Fine Gael | ||
| Gerard Farrell | Fine Gael | ||
| Granard | Turlough McGovern | Independent | |
| Micheál Carrigy[a] | Fine Gael | ||
| Paraic Brady | Fine Gael | ||
| Garry Murtagh | Fine Gael | ||
| P.J. Reilly | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Longford | Joe Flaherty[a] | Fianna Fáil | |
| Peggy Nolan | Fine Gael | ||
| Gerry Hagan | Fine Gael | ||
| John Browne | Fine Gael | ||
| Gerry Warnock | Independent | ||
| Séamus Butler | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Martin Monaghan | Fianna Fáil | ||
- Notes
Co-options
| Party | Outgoing | Electoral area | Reason | Date | Co-optee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | Joe Flaherty | Longford | Elected to the 33rd Dáil at the 2020 general election | February 2020 | Uruemu Adejinmi | |
| Fine Gael | Micheál Carrigy | Granard | Elected to 26th Seanad at the 2020 Seanad election | March 2020 | Colin Dalton | |