Galway County Council 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 Áras an Chontae (County Hall) in Galway city.

History

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. The County Council initially met in Tuam. It subsequently acquired the old Galway Infirmary and converted it into a new county headquarters. A modern facility, known as County Hall, was built on the same site and completed in 1999.

Regional Assembly

Galway County Council has three representatives on the Northern and Western Regional Assembly who are part of the West Strategic Planning Area Committee.

Elections

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).

Local electoral areas and municipal districts

County Galway is divided into the following LEAs and municipal districts, defined by electoral divisions.

Councillors

The following were elected at the 2024 Galway County Council election.

2024 seats summary

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.