| Louth County Council | |
| Native Name: | Irish: Comhairle Contae Lú |
| Jurisdiction: | County Louth |
| Coa Pic: | Louth Coat of Arms.png |
| Coa Res: | 200px |
| House Type: | County council |
| Motto: | Irish: Lugh sáimh-ioldánach "Lugh equally skilled in many arts" |
| Leader1 Type: | Cathaoirleach |
| Leader1: | Kevin Callan |
| Party1: | Ind |
| Members: | 29 |
| Structure1: | Louth County Council composition.svg |
| Structure1 Res: | 260px |
| Political Groups1: | (7) (6) (6) (2) (1) (7) |
| Last Election1: | 7 June 2024 |
| Meeting Place: | County Hall, Dundalk |
Louth County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Lú) is the local authority of County Louth, 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.[1] The council has 29 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, Joan Martin. The county town is Dundalk.
Originally meetings of Louth County Council took place in Dundalk Courthouse.[2] [3] A home for the county officials was subsequently established at County Buildings in Crowe Street[4] and both the county council and its officials moved to County Hall in 2000.[5]
Louth County Council has three representatives on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly who are part of the Eastern Strategic Planning Area Committee.[6] [7]
Members of Louth 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 (LEAs).
| Year | Total | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 29 | ||||||||
| 2019 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 29 | ||||||||
| 2014 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 29 | ||||||||
| 2009 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 26 | ||||||||
| 2004 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 26 | |||||||
| 1999 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 26 | |||||||
| 1991 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 26 | |||||||
| 1985 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 26 | ||||||||
County Louth is divided into borough and municipal districts and LEAs, defined by electoral divisions.[8] [9] The municipal district which contains the administrative area of the former borough of Drogheda is referred to as a Borough District.[10]
Councillors have regular monthly meetings both as a whole council and within their municipal district. Each municipal district elects its own chair, titled a Irish: Cathaoirleach|italic=no.[11]
| Municipal District | LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardee | Ardee Rural, Ardee Urban, Castlebellingham, Clonkeen, Collon, Darver, Dromin, Drumcar, Dunleer, Dysart, Killanny, Louth, Mansfieldstown, Mullary, Stabannan and Tallanstown | 6 | |
| Borough District of Drogheda | Drogheda Rural | Clogher, Monasterboice, St. Peter's and Termonfeckin | 4 |
| Drogheda Urban | Fair Gate, St Lawrence Gate, St. Mary's (part) and West Gate | 6 | |
| Dundalk | Dundalk—Carlingford | Ballymascanlan, Carlingford, Drummullagh, Dundalk No. 1 Urban, Dundalk No. 2 Urban, Faughart, Greenore, Jenkinstown, Rathcor, Ravensdale; those parts of the electoral divisions of Castletown, Dundalk Rural, Dundalk No. 3 Urban and Dundalk No. 4 Urban not contained in the local electoral area of Dundalk South | 6 |
| Dundalk South | Barronstown, Castlering, Creggan Upper, Dromiskin, Haggardstown; those parts of the electoral divisions of Castletown and Dundalk Rural south of the R178 (Carrickmacross Road); and those parts of the electoral divisions of Dundalk No. 3 Urban and Dundalk No. 4 Urban south of a line drawn as follows: Commencing at the boundary between the electoral divisions of Dundalk No. 1 Urban and Dundalk No. 3 Urban at the Carrickmacross Road Bridge and St. Dominick's Place and then proceeding in an easterly direction to the junction of St. Dominick's Place with the roundabout at the Crescent; then proceeding in a clockwise direction around and excluding the said roundabout to its junction with Anne Street; then proceeding in a north-easterly direction along Anne Street to its junction with Park Street; then proceeding in a north easterly direction along Park Street to its junction with Francis Street; then proceeding in a north-easterly direction along Francis Street and Roden Place following the boundary between the electoral divisions of Dundalk No. 1 Urban and Dundalk No. 4 Urban; then proceeding in an easterly direction along Jocelyn Street, Seatown Place and along the road connecting Seatown Place to Barrack Street to reach the junction of said road with the Dundalk Inner Relief Road; then proceeding in a north-westerly projection along the Dundalk Inner Relief Road to its junction with the road at St. Helena; then proceeding along the north-easterly projection of the said road at St. Helena to Dundalk Harbour | 7 | |
The following were elected at the 2024 Louth County Council election.
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | ||
| 6 | ||
| 6 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 1 | ||
| 7 | ||
This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.[12]
Each council has a chief executive, previously known as city or county manager, who is the manager of the local authority.[13] On 15 July 2024 it was announced that Martin had attended her last meeting of Louth County Council as chief executive.[14] [15]
| Year | Title | Name | Next Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–present | Chief executive | Joan Martin[16] | ||
| 2013–2014 | County Manager | Philomena Poole | County manager for Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council[17] | |
| 2012–2013 | Acting County Manager | Joan Martin | ||
| 2007–2012 | County Manager | Conn Murray | City and County Manager for Limerick Council[18] |
Every year, each local authority elects a chair called the Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) for a term of one year and a deputy chair called the Leas-Cathaoirleach from among its members. The members elected for each municipal district elect a Cathaoirleach and a Leas-Chathaoirleach for their grouping. The Cathaoirleach chairs the meetings of the local authority or municipal district. Mayor and Deputy Mayor are titles used in municipal districts which were formerly borough councils.[19] [20]
| Year | Name | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–2024 | Paula Butterly | Fine Gael | ||
| 2022–2023 | Conor Keelan | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 2021–2022 | Pio Smith | Labour | ||
| 2020–2021 | Dolores Minogue | Fine Gael | ||
| 2018–2020 | Liam Reilly | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 2017–2018 | Colm Markey | Fine Gael | ||
| 2016–2017 | Paul Bell | Labour | ||
| 2015–2016 | Peter Savage (7th) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 2014–2015 | Oliver Tully (2nd) | Fine Gael | ||
| 2013–2014 | Declan Breathnach (2nd) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 2012–2013 | Finnan McCoy | Fine Gael | ||
| 2011–2012 | Oliver Tully (1st) | Fine Gael | ||
| 2010–2011 | Peter Savage (6th) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 2009–2010 | Jim D'Arcy | Fine Gael | ||
| 2008–2009 | Declan Breathnach (1st) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 2007–2008 | Jimmy Mulroy | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 2006–2007 | Jim Lennon | Fine Gael | ||
| 2005–2006 | Peter Savage (5th) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 2004–2005 | Terry Brennan | Fine Gael | ||
| 2003–2004 | Nicholas McCabe (8th) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 2002–2003 | Jacqui McConville | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 2001–2002 | Tommy Reilly | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 2000–2001 | Nicholas McCabe (7th) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1999–2000 | Peter Savage (4th) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1998–1999 | Miċéal O'Donnell (2nd) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1997–1998 | Martin Bellew | Independent | ||
| 1996–1997 | Thomas Reilly | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1995–1996 | W. Frank Godfrey | Independent | ||
| 1994–1995 | Nicholas McCabe (6th) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1993–1994 | Jim Cousins | Progressive Democrats | ||
| 1992–1993 | Peter Savage (3rd) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1991–1992 | John McConville (2nd) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1990–1991 | Miċéal O'Donnell (1st) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1989–1990 | Nicholas McCabe (5th) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1988–1989 | Peter Savage (2nd) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1986–1988 | John McConville (1st) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1985–1986 | Peter Savage (1st) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1983–1985 | Nicholas McCabe (4th) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1982–1983 | Patrick Buckley | Fine Gael | ||
| 1981–1982 | Nicholas McCabe (3rd) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1980–1981 | Tommy Elmore | Fine Gael | ||
| 1979–1980 | Nicholas McCabe (2nd) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1976–1979 | Peter J. Moore | Labour | ||
| 1975–1976 | Patrick J. O'Hare (2nd) | Fine Gael | ||
| 1974–1975 | Nicholas McCabe (1st) | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1973–1974 | Patrick J. O'Hare (1st) | Fine Gael | ||
| 1967–1973 | Paddy Donegan | Fine Gael | ||
| 1960–1967 | Bernard Rafferty | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1958–1960 | William Woods (2nd) | Independent | ||
| 1957–1958 | Laurence Walsh | Fianna Fáil | ||
| 1955–1957 | William Woods (1st) | Independent | ||
| 1925–1955 | Sinn Féin | |||
| 1920–1925 | James Murphy | Sinn Féin | ||
| 1918–1920 | Patrick McGee | Farmers' Party | ||
| 1913–1918 | William Doran | Nationalist Party | ||
| 1899–1913 | Peter Hughes | Independent | ||
The table below sets out the population of the county broken down by Local Electoral Area, total 2022 population of 139,703.[21]
| LEA | Population (2016) | Population (2022) | Seats | Population per seat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drogheda Rural | 17,876 | 19,845[22] | 4 | 4,961 | |
| Drogheda Urban | 27,656 | 28,537[23] | 6 | 4,756 | |
| Dundalk South | 30,207[24] | 38,195[25] | 7 | 5,457 | |
| Dundalk Carlingford | 25,599[26] | 26,092[27] | 6 | 4,349 | |
| Ardee | 29,026[28] | 27,034[29] | 6 | 4,506 |
The table below sets out the electorate population of the county broken down by Local Electoral Area.
| LEA | Electorate (2022) | Seats | Electorate per seat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drogheda Rural | 14,133[30] | 4 | 3,533 | |
| Drogheda Urban | 19,729[31] | 6 | 3,288 | |
| Dundalk South | 25,691[32] | 7 | 3,670 | |
| Dundalk Carlingford | 20,039[33] | 6 | 3,339 | |
| Ardee | 19,928[34] | 6 | 3,321 |
The table below sets out the population of the county broken down by Municipal District, total 2022 population of 139,703.[35]
| District | Population (2011) | Population (2016) | Population (2022) | Seats | Population per seat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53,082 | 55,806[36] | 64,287 | 13 | 4,945 | ||
| Drogheda | 41,925 | 44,052[37] | 48,382 | 10 | 4,838 | |
| Ardee | 27,890 | 29,026[38] | 27,034 | 6 | 4,506 |
The table below sets out the population of the county broken down by electoral division.[39]
| Electoral Division | Population (2006) | Population (2011) | Population (2016) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louth | 111,267 | 122,897 | 128,375 | |
| Dundalk (Town + Rural) | 51,758 | 56,761 | 59,557 | |
| Dundalk Town | 29,037 | 31,149 | 32,288 | |
| 004 Dundalk Urban No. 1 | 2,190 | 2,148 | 2,169 | |
| 005 Dundalk Urban No. 2 | 1,211 | 1,169 | 1,140 | |
| 006 Dundalk Urban No. 3 | 1,400 | 1,449 | 1,710 | |
| 007 Dundalk Urban No. 4 | 6,183 | 6,039 | 5,970 | |
| 023 Castletown (Part Urban) | 2,518 | 2,637 | 2,685 | |
| 027 Dundalk Rural (Part Urban) | 15,440 | 17,620 | 18,514 | |
| 030 Haggardstown (Part Urban) | 95 | 87 | 100 | |
| Dundalk rural area | 22,721 | 25,612 | 27,269 | |
| 019 Ballymascanlan | 2,016 | 2,213 | 2,206 | |
| 020 Barronstown | 647 | 744 | 746 | |
| 021 Carlingford | 1,384 | 1,801 | 2,201 | |
| 022 Castlering | 935 | 1,012 | 1,034 | |
| 023 Castletown (Part Rural) | 1,421 | 1,573 | 1,622 | |
| 024 Creggan Upper | 684 | 787 | 852 | |
| 025 Darver | 562 | 568 | 678 | |
| 026 Drummullagh | 1,120 | 1,257 | 1,350 | |
| 027 Dundalk Rural (Part Rural) | 535 | 540 | 686 | |
| 028 Faughart | 905 | 991 | 958 | |
| 029 Greenore | 979 | 1,169 | 1,201 | |
| 030 Haggardstown (Part Rural) | 5,769 | 6,303 | 6,819 | |
| 031 Jenkinstown | 948 | 1,173 | 1,277 | |
| 032 Killanny | 683 | 799 | 825 | |
| 033 Louth | 1,308 | 1,505 | 1,575 | |
| 034 Mansfieldstown | 640 | 807 | 855 | |
| 035 Rathcor | 1,203 | 1,352 | 1,374 | |
| 036 Ravensdale | 982 | 1,018 | 1,010 | |
| Drogheda Borough | 28,973 | 28,576 | 29,471 | |
| 001 Fair Gate | 9,783 | 9,806 | 10,317 | |
| 002 St. Laurence Gate | 3,801 | 4,004 | 4,075 | |
| 003 West Gate | 5,899 | 6,042 | 6,284 | |
| 041 St. Peter's (Part Urban) | 3,460 | 2,161 | 2,099 | |
| 047 St. Mary's (Part Urban) | 6,030 | 6,563 | 6,696 | |
| Ardee No. 1 rural area | 17,976 | 20,262 | 20,924 | |
| 008 Ardee Rural | 2,626 | 2,875 | 2,952 | |
| 009 Ardee Urban | 4,301 | 4,554 | 4,917 | |
| 010 Castlebellingham | 1,371 | 1,617 | 1,688 | |
| 011 Clonkeen | 545 | 648 | 675 | |
| 012 Collon | 1,380 | 1,770 | 1,859 | |
| 013 Dromin | 535 | 610 | 629 | |
| 014 Dromiskin | 1,935 | 2,187 | 2,226 | |
| 015 Drumcar | 1,385 | 1,526 | 1,451 | |
| 016 Dunleer | 2,340 | 2,796 | 2,868 | |
| 017 Stabannan | 590 | 620 | 619 | |
| 018 Tallanstown | 968 | 1,059 | 1,040 | |
| Louth rural area | 12,560 | 17,298 | 18,423 | |
| 037 Clogher | 2,494 | 3,031 | 3,237 | |
| 038 Dysart | 777 | 918 | 925 | |
| 039 Monasterboice | 1,164 | 1,342 | 1,365 | |
| 040 Mullary | 1,528 | 1,723 | 1,754 | |
| 041 St. Peter's (Part Rural) | 4,022 | 6,990 | 7,605 | |
| 042 Termonfeckin | 2,575 | 3,294 | 3,537 |