Kildare County Council

Local authority of County Kildare in Ireland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kildare County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Chill Dara) is the local authority of County Kildare, 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 40 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, Sonya Kavanagh. The county town is Naas.

Type
Founded1 April 1899
Carmel Kelly, FF
Seats40
Quick facts Kildare County Council Comhairle Contae Chill Dara, Type ...
Kildare County Council

Comhairle Contae Chill Dara
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1899
Leadership
Carmel Kelly, FF
Structure
Seats40
Political groups
  Fianna Fáil (12)
  Fine Gael (11)
  Social Democrats (5)
  Labour (5)
  Sinn Féin (1)
  Independent Ireland (2)
  Independent (4)
Elections
Last election
7 June 2024
Motto
Meanma agus Misneach (Irish)
"Spirit and Courage"
Meeting place
Áras Chill Dara, Naas
Website
Official website Edit this at Wikidata
Close

History

Kildare County Council was established on 1 April 1899 under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 for the administrative county of County Kildare, succeeding the former judicial county of Kildare.[1][2][3] It was originally based at Naas Courthouse but, after a major fire in the courthouse, moved to the former St Mary's Fever Hospital in the late 1950s.[4] By late 1990s, the old hospital buildings were in poor condition, and the county council identified the former Devoy Barracks site as its preferred location for new facilities.[5] It moved to Áras Chill Dara on the site of the old barracks site in 2006.[5]

Regional Assembly

Kildare County Council has three representatives on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly who are part of the Eastern Strategic Planning Area Committee.[6][7]

Elections

The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919 introduced the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) for the 1920 Irish local elections.[8] This electoral system has been retained, with the 40 members of Kildare County Council elected for a five-year term of office from multi-member local electoral areas (LEAs).

More information Year, Total ...
Year FF FG Lab SD GP SF II PDs WP NCP FP Rep SF (pre-1922) U IrishNat Ind. Total
2024 12 11 5 7 0 1 1 N/a 0 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 3 40
2019 12 11 5 4 3 1 N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 4 40
2014 12 9 5 N/a 0 5 N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 9 40
2009 6 9 6 N/a 0 0 N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 4 25
2004 10 7 4 N/a 1 0 N/a 0 0 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 3 25
1999 9 5 5 N/a 0 0 N/a 2 0 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 4 25
1991 8 7 3 N/a 1 1 N/a 2 1 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 2 25
1985 10 7 5 N/a 0 1 N/a N/a 1 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 1 25
1979 9 8 4 N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 0 21
1974 10 7 3 N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 1 21
1967 8 8 3 N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 2 21
1960 9 8 4 N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a 0 21
1955 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 21
1950 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 21
1945 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 21
1942 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 21
1934 10 12 7 N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a 0 N/a 0 27
1928 6 N/a 4 N/a N/a 0 N/a N/a N/a 14 0 N/a N/a 0 N/a 0 24
1925 N/a N/a 13 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 14 1 N/a 0 N/a 1 28
1920[9] N/a N/a 5 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 15 0 N/a 1 [n 1] 21
1914[10] N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 2 19 0 21
1911[10] N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 3 18 0 21
1908[10] N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 2 18 1[n 2] 21
1905[10] N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 2 18 1[n 3] 21
1902[10] N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 3 18 0 21[n 4]
1899[10] N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 3 18 0 21[n 5]
Close
  1. [1]
    Includes Independent Nationalist.
  2. [2]
    It is unclear of Edward Farrell was Unionist or Nationalist as records do not make mention of it, in the election he was challenged by a nationalist candidate and a unionist candidate.
  3. [3]
    It is unclear of Edward Farrell was Unionist or Nationalist as records do not make mention of it, in the election he was challenged by a nationalist candidate and a unionist candidate.
  4. [4]
    21 elected but note an additional 5 members were appointed by the rural district councils and 2 co-opted by the directly elected councillors giving a total of 28 councillors.
  5. [5]
    21 elected but note an additional 5 members were appointed by the rural district councils, 3 members nominated by the Grand Jury and 2 co-opted by the directly elected councillors giving a total of 31 councillors.

Local electoral areas and municipal districts

The area governed by the council
Crest of Kildare County Council photographed alongside the Royal Canal in Maynooth. The County Motto, Meanma agus Misneach (Spirit and Courage), is seen on the crest.

County Kildare is divided into municipal districts and LEAs, defined by electoral divisions.[11]

More information Municipal District, LEA ...
Municipal District LEA Definition Seats
Athy Athy East Urban, Athy Rural, Athy West Urban, Ballaghmoon, Ballitore, Ballybrackan, Ballyshannon, Belan, Bert, Burtown, Carrigeen, Castledermot, Churchtown, Dunmanoge, Fontstown, Graney, Grangemellon, Harristown, Inchaquire, Johnstown, Kilberry, Kilkea, Kilrush, Moone, Narraghmore, Nurney, Skerries and Usk. 5
Celbridge–Leixlip Celbridge Donaghcumper; and those parts of the electoral division of Celbridge not contained in the local electoral area of Leixlip. 4
Leixlip Leixlip; and those parts of the electoral division of Celbridge to the north of a line drawn along the M4 motorway. 3
Clane–Maynooth Clane Ballynadrumny, Cadamstown, Carbury, Carrick, Clane, Donore, Downings, Drehid, Dunfierth, Kilmeage North, Kilmeage South, Kilpatrick, Kilrainy, Lullymore, Robertstown, Timahoe North, Timahoe South and Windmill Cross. 5
Maynooth Balraheen, Cloncurry (in the former Rural District of Celbridge No. 1), Donadea, Kilcock, Maynooth, and Straffan. 5
Kildare–Newbridge Kildare Ballysax East, Ballysax West, Cloncurry (in the former Rural District of Edenderry No. 2), Dunmurry, Feighcullen, Kildangan, Kildare, Killinthomas, Lackagh, Monasterevin, Pollardstown, Quinsborough, Rathangan, Rathernan and Thomastown. 5
Newbridge Carnalway, Carragh, Droichead Nua Rural, Droichead Nua Urban, Gilltown, Kilcullen, Ladytown, Morristownbiller and Oldconnell. 6
Naas Ballymore Eustace, Bodenstown, Kill, Killashee, Kilteel, Naas Rural, Naas Urban, Newtown, Oughterard and Rathmore. 7
Close

Councillors

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

More information Party, Seats ...
Party Seats
Fianna Fáil 12
Fine Gael 11
Social Democrats 7
Labour 5
Independent Ireland 1
Sinn Féin 1
Independent 3
Close

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.[12]

More information Council members from 2024 election, Local electoral area ...
Council members from 2024 election
Local electoral area Name Party
Athy Aoife Breslin Labour
Ivan Keatley Fine Gael
Brian Dooley Fianna Fáil
Veralouise Behan Fianna Fáil
Mark Leigh Labour
Celbridge David Trost Fianna Fáil
Claire O'Rourke Social Democrats
Lumi Panaite Fahey[a] Fine Gael
Rupert Heather Labour
Clane Brendan Wyse Fine Gael
Pádraig McEvoy Independent
Aidan Farrelly[a] Social Democrats
William Durkan Fine Gael
Daragh Fitzpatrick Fianna Fáil
Kildare Suzanne Doyle Fianna Fáil
Kevin Duffy Fine Gael
Brian O'Loughlin Fianna Fáil
Pat Balfe[b] Social Democrats
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh[a] Sinn Féin
Leixlip Joe Neville[a] Fine Gael
Nuala Killeen Social Democrats
Bernard Caldwell Fianna Fáil
Maynooth Naoise Ó Cearúil[a] Fianna Fáil
Tim Durkan Fine Gael
Angela Feeney Labour
Peter Melrose Social Democrats
Paul Ward Fianna Fáil
Naas Bill Clear[b] Social Democrats
Fintan Brett Fine Gael
Evie Sammon Fine Gael
Seamie Moore Independent
Anne Breen Labour
Carmel Kelly Fianna Fáil
Ger Dunne Independent Ireland
Newbridge Tracey O'Dwyer Fine Gael
Peggy O'Dwyer Fine Gael
Chris Pender Social Democrats
Noel Heavey Fianna Fáil
Robert Power Fianna Fáil
Tom McDonnell Independent
Close
Notes
  1. [a]
    Replaced during term, see table below for details.
  2. [b]
    Changed party, see table below for details.

Co-options

More information Party, Outgoing ...
Party Outgoing LEA Reason Date Co-optee
Social Democrats Aidan Farrelly Clane Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election 19 December 2024 Paula Mulroe[13]
Fine Gael Joe Neville Leixlip Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election 19 December 2024 Paul Brooks[13]
Sinn Féin Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh Kildare Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election 19 December 2024 Noel Connolly[13]
Fianna Fáil Naoise Ó Cearúil Maynooth Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election 19 December 2024 Donna Phelan[13]
Fine Gael Lumi Panaite Fahey Celbridge Resignation[14] 25 November 2025 Declan Ryan[15]
Close

Changes in affiliation

More information Name, LEA ...
Name LEA Elected as New affiliation Date
Bill Clear Naas Social Democrats Independent September 2024[16]
Bill Clear Naas Independent Independent Ireland 6 November 2025[17]
Pat Balfe Kildare Social Democrats Independent 27 February 2026[18]
Close

References

External links

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI