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 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Alan O'Callaghan, FF | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 28 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 7 June 2024 |
| Motto | |
| Dílis d'ar nOidreacht (Irish) "True to our Heritage" | |
| Meeting place | |
| Áras Contae an Chláir, Ennis | |
| Website | |
Official website  | |
History
editClare 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
editClare County Council has two representatives on the Southern Regional Assembly who are part of the Mid-West Strategic Planning Area Committee.[6][7]
Elections
editMembers 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.
| Year | FF | FG | SF | GP | Lab | PDs | Ind | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 28 | |||||||
| 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
editCounty 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
editThe following were elected at the 2024 Clare County Council election.
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | 14 | |
| Fine Gael | 9 | |
| Sinn Féin | 2 | |
| Independent | 3 | |
Councillors by electoral area
editThis list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.[9]
| Council members from 2024 election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Local electoral area | Name | Party | |
| Ennis | Pat Daly | Fianna Fáil | |
| Mary Howard | Fine Gael | ||
| Paul Murphy | Fine Gael | ||
| Clare Colleran Molloy | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Tommy Guilfoyle | Sinn Féin | ||
| Antoinette Baker Bashua | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Tom O'Callaghan | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Ennistymon | Bill Slattery | Fine Gael | |
| Joe Garrihy | Fine Gael | ||
| Shane Talty | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Joe Killeen | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Killaloe | Joe Cooney[a] | Fine Gael | |
| Pat Hayes | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Alan O'Callaghan | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Tony O'Brien | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Pat Burke | Fine Gael | ||
| Kilrush | Dinny Gould | Independent | |
| Rita McInerney | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Ian Lynch | Independent | ||
| Michael Shannon | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Gabriel Keating | Fine Gael | ||
| Shannon | David Griffin | Fianna Fáil | |
| Donna McGettigan[a] | Sinn Féin | ||
| John Crowe | Fine Gael | ||
| Rachel Hartigan | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Pat O'Gorman | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Tony Mulcahy | Fine Gael | ||
| Michael Begley | Independent | ||
- Notes
Co-options
edit| Party | Outgoing | LEA | Reason | Date | Co-optee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinn Féin | Donna McGettigan | Shannon | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 10 December 2024 | James Ryan[10] | |
| Fine Gael | Joe Cooney | Killaloe | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 19 December 2024 | Conor Ryan[11] | |
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Local Authorities – Dáil Éireann (23rd Dáil)". Oireachtas. 26 May 1982. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ "Winning Design". World Architecture News. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The Assembly: Mid-West". Southern Regional Assembly. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Clare County Council". RTÉ News. June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ McMahon, Pádraic (10 December 2024). "Westbury based James Ryan chosen to take McGettigan's seat on Clare County Council". Clare Echo. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Hurley, David (19 December 2024). "Newly Co-Opted Councillors Formally Take Their Seats". Clare FM. Retrieved 20 December 2024.