Galway County Council Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 April 1899 |
| Leadership | |
Martina Kinane, FF | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 39 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
Last election | 7 June 2024 |
| Motto | |
| Irish:Ceart agus Cóir "Righteousness and Justice" | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Áras an Chontae,Galway | |
| Website | |
Official website | |
Galway County Council (Irish:Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe) is thelocal authority ofCounty Galway,Ireland. As acounty council, it is governed by theLocal Government Act 2001. The council is responsible forhousing and community, roads andtransportation,urban planning and development, amenity andculture,environment, andlocal fire services. The council has 39 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are bysingle transferable vote. The head of the council has the title ofCathaoirleach (chairperson). The county administration is headed by achief executive, Liam Conneally. Thecounty seat is atÁras an Chontae (County Hall) inGalway city.
Galway County Council was established on 1 April 1899 under theLocal Government (Ireland) Act 1898 for theadministrative county ofCounty Galway.[1][2][3] This area was that of the former judicial county of Galway, except thedistrict electoral divisions of Ballinchalla, Drummaan, Inishcaltra North, Mountshannon, Owenbrin, and Rosmoylan (which became part ofCounty Clare); the part of the judicial county ofRoscommon which was in the town ofBallinasloe; and theurban district ofGalway.[4]
It took over the local administration which had been carried out by countygrand juries and county-at-large presentment sessions, which included the maintenance of highways and bridges, the upkeep of lunatic asylums, and the appointment ofcoroners. The new council also took over some duties from thepoor lawboards of guardians in relation to diseases of cattle and from thejustices of the peace to regulate explosives.[5]
From 1986,Galway City Council has governed the city of Galway as a separate local government area from the rest of the county.[6][7]
The County Council initially met inTuam.[8] It subsequently acquired the old Galway Infirmary[9] and converted it into a new county headquarters.[10] A modern facility, known asCounty Hall, was built on the same site and completed in 1999.[11]
Galway County Council has three representatives on theNorthern and Western Regional Assembly who are part of theWest Strategic Planning Area Committee.[12][13]
TheLocal Government (Ireland) Act 1919 introduced theelectoral system ofproportional representation by means of thesingle transferable vote (PR-STV) for the1920 Irish local elections.[14] This electoral system has been retained, with members of Galway County Council elected for a five-year term of office from multi-memberlocal electoral areas (LEAs).
| Year | FF | FG | II | SF | GP | RSF | Lab | PDs | Ind | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 39 | |||||||||
| 2019 | 15 | 11 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 39 | |||||||||
| 2014 | 12 | 12 | — | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 11 | 39 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 7 | 13 | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 7 | 30 | |||||||||
| 2004 | 10 | 10 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 30 | |||||||||
| 1999 | 16 | 9 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 30 | |||||||||
| 1991 | 14 | 10 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 30 | |||||||||
| 1985 | 17 | 9 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | — | 3 | 30 | |||||||||
County Galway is divided into the following LEAs and municipal districts, defined byelectoral divisions.[15]
| 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 | |
The following were elected at the2024 Galway County Council election.
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Gael | 13 | |
| Fianna Fáil | 11 | |
| Independent Ireland | 6 | |
| Sinn Féin | 2 | |
| Independent[a] | 7 | |
This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.[16]
| Party | Outgoing | LEA | Reason | Date | Co-optee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinn Féin | Louis O'Hara | Athenry–Oranmore | Elected to34th Dáil at the2024 general election | 11 December 2024 | Martin McNamara[17] | |
| Fianna Fáil | Albert Dolan | Athenry–Oranmore | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 16 December 2024 | Seán Broderick[18] | |
| Fine Gael | Peter Roche | Tuam | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 12 December 2024 | Siobhan McHugh[19] | |
| Fianna Fáil | Shane Curley | Loughrea | Elected to27th Seanad at the2025 Seanad election | 24 March 2025 | Michael Regan[20] | |
| Fine Gael | P. J. Murphy | Gort–Kinvara | Elected to 27th Seanad at the 2025 Seanad election | January 2025 | Laurie Harney | |