Clare County Council

Summary

Clare County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae an Chláir) is the local authority of County Clare, 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 28 elected members who are elected for a five-year term. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach (chairperson). The county administration is headed by a Chief Executive, Pat Dowling. The county town is Ennis.

Clare County Council

Comhairle Contae an Chláir
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Joe Cooney, FG
Structure
Seats28
Political groups
  •   Fianna Fáil (13)
  •   Fine Gael (8)
  •   Sinn Féin (1)
  •   Green Party (1)
  •   Independent (5)
Elections
Last election
24 May 2019
Motto
Dílis d'ar nOidreacht (Irish)
"True to our Heritage"
Meeting place
Áras Contae an Chláir, Ennis
Website
Official website Edit this at Wikidata
The area governed by the council

History edit

Clare County Council was established on 1 April 1899 under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 for the administrative county of County Clare, succeeding in area of the former judicial county of Clare, with the addition of the district electoral divisions of Drummaan, Inishcaltra North, and Mountshannon, formerly within the judicial county of County Galway.[1][2][3]

Originally meetings of Clare County Council were held at Ennis Courthouse.[4] Áras Contae an Chláir, a new county council headquarters, was completed in May 2008.[5]

Regional Assembly edit

Clare County Council has two representatives on the Southern Regional Assembly who are part of the Mid-West Strategic Planning Area Committee.[6][7]

Elections edit

Members of Clare 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.

Election FF FG SF GP Lab PDs Ind Total
2019 13 8 1 1 0 5 28
2014 12 8 1 0 0 7 28
2009 11 12 0 1 1 7 32
2004 15 10 0 1 1 0 5 32
1999 18 9 0 0 0 1 4 32
1991 17 8 0 0 1 1 5 32
1985 17 8 0 0 2 5 32
1979 17 9 1 2 2 31

Local electoral areas and municipal districts edit

County Clare is divided into the following local electoral areas and municipal districts, defined by electoral divisions.[8]

Municipal District LEA Definition Seats
Ennis Clareabbey, Doora, Ennis No. 1 Urban, Ennis No. 2 Urban, Ennis No. 3 Urban, Ennis No. 4 Urban, Ennis Rural, Kilnamona, Kilraghtis, Spancelhill and Templemaley 7
Killaloe Ayle, Ballyblood, Ballynahinch, Boherglass, Caher, Caherhurly, Cahermurphy (in the former Rural District of Scarriff), Cappaghabaun, Carrowbaun, Castlecrine, Cloghera, Clooney (in the former Rural District of Tulla), Cloontra, Cloonusker, Coolreagh, Corlea, Crusheen, Dangan, Derrynagittagh, Drummaan, Fahymore, Feakle, Glendree, Inishcaltra North, Inishcaltra South, Kilkishen, Killaloe, Killanena, Killokennedy, Killuran, Kilseily, Kiltannon, Kyle, Lackareagh, Loughea, Mountshannon, Newgrove, OBriensbridge, Ogonnelloe, Quin, Rathclooney, Rossroe, Scarriff, Toberbreeda, Tomfinlough and Tulla 5
Shannon Ballycannan, Ballyglass, Cappavilla, Clenagh, Cratloe, Drumline, Killeely, Kiltenanlea, Mountievers, Newmarket, Sixmilebridge and Urlan 7
West Clare Ennistymon Abbey, Ballagh, Ballyea, Ballyeighter, Ballysteen, Ballyvaskin, Boston, Carran, Castletown, Cloghaun, Cloonanaha, Clooney (in the former Rural District of Ennistimon), Corrofin, Derreen, Drumcreehy, Dysert, Ennistimon, Gleninagh, Glenroe, Kilfenora, Killaspuglonane, Killilagh, Killinaboy, Kilshanny, Kiltoraght, Liscannor, Lisdoonvarna, Lurraga, Magherareagh, Milltown Malbay, Mount Elva, Moy, Muckanagh, Noughaval, Oughtmama, Rath, Rathborney, Ruan and Smithstown 4
Kilrush Annagh, Ballynacally, Cahermurphy (in the former Rural District of Kilrush), Clondagad, Cloonadrum, Clooncoorha, Coolmeen, Cooraclare, Creegh, Doonbeg, Drumellihy, Einagh, Formoyle, Furroor, Glenmore, Kilballyowen, Kilchreest, Kilcloher, Kilfearagh, Kilfiddane, Kilkee, Killadysert, Killanniv, Killard, Killimer, Killofin, Killone, Kilmihil, Kilmurry (in the former Rural District of Killadysert), Kilmurry (in the former Rural District of Kilrush), Kilrush Rural, Kilrush Urban, Kinturk, Knock, Knocknaboley, Knocknagore, Liscasey, Lisheen, Moveen, Moyarta, Mullagh, Querrin, Rahona, Rinealon, St. Martins, Tullig and Tullycreen 5

Current councillors edit

The following were elected at the 2019 Clare County Council election.

Party Seats
Fianna Fáil 13
Fine Gael 8
Sinn Féin 1
Green 1
Independent 5

Councillors by electoral area edit

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.

Council members from 2019 election
Local electoral area Name Party
Ennis Mary Howard Fine Gael
Johnny Flynn Fine Gael
Mark Nestor[a] Fianna Fáil
Clare Colleran Molloy Fianna Fáil
Paul Murphy Fine Gael
Pat Daly Fianna Fáil
Ann Norton Independent
Ennistymon Shane Talty Fianna Fáil
Joe Garrihy Fine Gael
Róisín Garvey[a] Green
Joe Killeen Fianna Fáil
Killaloe Joe Cooney Fine Gael
Pat Hayes Fianna Fáil
Tony O'Brien Fianna Fáil
Alan O'Callaghan Fianna Fáil
Pat Burke Fine Gael
Kilrush P. J. Kelly Fianna Fáil
Gabriel Keating Fine Gael
Bill Chambers Fianna Fáil
Cillian Murphy Fianna Fáil
Ian Lynch Independent
Shannon Cathal Crowe[a] Fianna Fáil
John Crowe Fine Gael
Michael Begley Independent
P. J. Ryan Independent
Mike McKee[a] Sinn Féin
Gerry Flynn Independent
Pat McMahon Fianna Fáil
Notes
  1. ^ a b c d Replaced during term, see table below for details.

Co-options edit

Party Outgoing Electoral area Reason Date Co-optee
Sinn Féin Mike McKee Shannon Death December 2019 Donna McGettigan[9]
Fianna Fáil Cathal Crowe Shannon Elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2020 general election February 2020 Pat O'Gorman[10]
Green Róisín Garvey Ennistymon Nominated by the Taoiseach to Seanad Éireann June 2020 Susan Crawford[11]
Green Susan Crawford Ennistymon Resignation[12] August 2021 Liam Grant[13]
Fianna Fáil Mark Nestor Ennis Resignation to enter the priesthood[14] 8 September 2022 Tom O'Callaghan[15]

References edit

  1. ^ Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, s. 1: Establishment of county councils (61 & 62 Vict., c. 37 of 1898, s. 1). Enacted on 12 August 1898. Act of the UK Parliament. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  2. ^ Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, s. 124: Commencement of Act (61 & 62 Vict., c. 37 of 1898, s. 124). Enacted on 12 August 1898. Act of the UK Parliament. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  3. ^ "Orders declaring the boundaries of administrative counties and defining county electoral divisions: County of Clare". 27th Report of the Local Government Board for Ireland (Cmd. 9480). Dublin: Local Government Board for Ireland. 1900. p. 246.
  4. ^ "Local Authorities – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Oireachtas. 26 May 1982. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Winning Design". World Architecture News. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  6. ^ Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014, Article 5 and Schedule 3 (S.I. No. 573 of 2014). Signed on 16 December 2014. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 20 April 2023.
  7. ^ "The Assembly: Mid-West". Southern Regional Assembly. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  8. ^ County of Clare Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 612 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 19 January 2019.
  9. ^ "McGettigan Co-Opted Onto Clare County Council". Clare FM. 17 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Clare's newest Councillor will take up his seat this afternoon". Clare FM. 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Clare's Newest Councillor To Formally Take Up Her Seat Today". Clare FM. 14 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Crawford resigns seat on Clare County Council". Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Lahinch's Liam Grant Named as New Clare Green Party Councillor". Clare FM. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Ennis Councillor To Resign Council Seat To Enter Priesthood". Clare FM. 8 September 2022. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Tom O'Callaghan selected by Fianna Fáil members as Nestor's replacement on Council". Clare Echo. 27 November 2022. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.

External links edit

  • Official website