Westmeath County Council (Irish: Comhairle Chontae na hIarmhí) is the local authority of County Westmeath, 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 20 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, Pat Gallagher. The county town is Mullingar.
Westmeath County Council Comhairle Chontae na hIarmhí | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Liam McDaniel, FF | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 20 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 24 May 2019 |
| Motto | |
| Irish: Triath ós Triathaibh "Noble above nobility" | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| County Buildings, Mullingar | |
| Website | |
Official website  | |
History
Originally Westmeath County Council held its meetings in Mullingar Courthouse.[1] The council commissioned a purpose-built facility, known as County Hall, in Mount Street in Mullingar in the early 20th century.[2] In the early part of the 21st century it occupied a historic building on the same site associated with the old county gaol.[3] It then moved to more modern facilities at the new County Buildings, to the south of the previous facility, in 2009.[4]
Regional Assembly
Westmeath County Council has two representatives on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly who are part of the Midland Strategic Planning Area Committee.[5]
Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts
County Westmeath is divided into local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions, for the purposes of local elections, and into municipal districts for the purposes of local exercising of the powers of the local authority.[6]
| Municipal District | LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athlone | Athlone | Athlone East Rural, Athlone East Urban, Athlone West Urban, Auburn, Carn, Castledaly, Doonis, Glassan, Killinure, Moydrum, Muckanagh and Tubbrit. | 5 |
| Moate | Ardnaglew, Ardnagragh, Ballinalack, Ballybroder, Ballykilmore, Ballymore, Ballymorin, Ballynagore, Bellanalack, Carrick, Castletown, Churchtown, Clonfad, Drumraney, Dysart, Emper, Glenlough, Greenpark, Jamestown, Kilbeggan, Kilbixy, Kilcumreragh, Killare, Lauree, Middleton, Moate, Mount Temple, Newtown, Noughaval, Piercetown, Portloman, Rahugh, Rathconrath, Rathowen, Skeagh, Sonna, Streamstown, Templepatrick, Umma and Winetown. | 4 | |
| Mullingar | Mullingar | Belvidere, Castle, Cloghan, Heathstown, Hopestown, Knockdrin, Mullingar North Urban, Mullingar Rural, Mullingar South Urban, Owel, Russellstown and Tullaghan. | 6 |
| Kinnegad | Ballinlough, Ballyhealy, Ballynaskeagh, Boherquill, Bracklin, Castlelost, Clonarney, Clonlost, Collinstown, Coole, Coolure, Copperalley, Delvin, Derrymore, Enniscoffey, Faughalstown, Finnea, Fore East, Fore West, Gaybrook, Glore, Griffinstown, Hilltown, Huntingdon, Kilcumny, Killua, Killucan, Killulagh, Kilpatrick, Kinnegad, Kinturk, Knockarrow, Lackan, Milltown, Multyfarnham, Raharney, Riverdale, Rosmead, Stonehall, Street, Taghmon and Woodland. | 5 |
Councillors
2019 seats summary
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | 9 | |
| Fine Gael | 5 | |
| Green | 2 | |
| Labour | 2 | |
| Independent | 2 | |
Councillors by electoral area
This list reflects the order in which Councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.[7]
| Council members from 2019 election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Local electoral area | Name | Party | |
| Athlone | Frankie Keena | Fianna Fáil | |
| Aengus O'Rourke | Fianna Fáil | ||
| John Dolan | Fine Gael | ||
| Jamie Moran[a] | Independent | ||
| Louise Heavin | Green | ||
| Kinnegad | Frank McDermott | Fine Gael | |
| John Shaw | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Paddy Hill | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Denis Leonard | Labour | ||
| Emily Wallace | Fine Gael | ||
| Moate | Thomas Farrell | Fine Gael | |
| Liam McDaniel | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Vinny McCormack | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Johnnie Penrose | Labour | ||
| Mullingar | Mick Dollard | Independent | |
| Ken Glynn | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Aoife Davitt | Fianna Fáil | ||
| William Collentine | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Andrew Duncan | Fine Gael | ||
| Hazel Smyth | Green | ||
- Notes
Co-options
| Party | Outgoing | Electoral area | Reason | Date | Co-optee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Jamie Moran | Athlone | Resignation | January 2022 | Paul Hogan[8][a] | |
Changes in affiliation
| Name | Electoral area | Elected as | New affiliation | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Hogan | Athlone | Independent | Independent Ireland | April 2024 | ||