| Galway County Council | |
| Native Name: | Irish: Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe |
| Coa Pic: | Logogalwayco.png |
| Coa Res: | 100px |
| Logo Pic: | Galway County Council.svg |
| Logo Res: | 200px |
| House Type: | County council |
| Jurisdiction: | County Galway |
| Motto: | Irish: Ceart agus Cóir "Righteousness and Justice" |
| Leader1 Type: | Cathaoirleach |
| Leader1: | Albert Dolan |
| Party1: | FF |
| Members: | 39 |
| Structure1: | Galway County Council composition.svg |
| Structure1 Res: | 260px |
| Political Groups1: | (13) (11) (6) (2) (7) |
| Last Election1: | 7 June 2024 |
| Session Room: | Galway County Council, 2022-05-15.jpg |
| Meeting Place: | Áras an Chontae, Galway |
Galway County Council (Irish: Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe) is the local authority of County Galway, 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, environment, and local fire services. The council has 39 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, Liam Conneally. The county seat is at Irish: Áras an Chontae (County Hall) in Galway city.
Galway County Council dates from 1899, created by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, which introduced county councils to Ireland. It took over the local administration until then carried out by county grand juries and county at large presentment sessions, which included the maintenance of highways and bridges, the upkeep of lunatic asylums, and the appointment of coroners. The new council also took over some duties from the poor law boards of guardians in relation to diseases of cattle and from the justices of the peace to regulate explosives.[1]
The County Council initially met in Tuam.[2] It subsequently acquired the old Galway Infirmary[3] and converted it into a new county headquarters.[4] A modern facility, known as County Hall, was built on the same site and completed in 1999.[5]
Galway County Council has three representatives on the Northern and Western Regional Assembly who are part of the West Strategic Planning Area Committee.[6]
Members of Galway 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 | 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 by electoral divisions.[7]
| 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 the 2024 Galway County Council election.
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 6 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 7 | ||
This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.[8]