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Louth County Council

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Louth County Council

Comhairle Contae Lú
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Kevin Callan, Ind
Structure
Seats29
Political groups
  Sinn Féin (7)
  Fianna Fáil (6)
  Fine Gael (6)
  Labour (2)
  Green (1)
  Independent (7)
Elections
Last election
7 June 2024
Motto
Irish: Lugh sáimh-ioldánach
"Lugh equally skilled in many arts"
Meeting place
County Hall, Dundalk
Website
Official website Edit this at Wikidata
The area governed by the council
Louth County Council Area

Louth County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Lú) is the local authority of County Louth, 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.[1] The council has 29 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 current Cathaoirleach is Kevin Callan. The county administration is headed by a chief executive, David Conway. The county town is Dundalk.

History

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Originally meetings of Louth County Council took place in Dundalk Courthouse.[2][3] A home for the county officials was subsequently established at County Buildings in Crowe Street[4] and both the county council and its officials moved to County Hall in 2000. Up until then administration services in Dundalk were separated into two different buildings, the former Louth Infirmary at The Crescent and in Crowe Street. This rationalisation streamlined services in one building.[5]

Both the crests of Dundalk and County Louth reference the legend of Táin Bó Cúailnge. Louth traces its name from the Celtic god Lú. According to one interpretation of The Táin, Lú's son is the warrior Cú Chulainn, who it is claimed was born in near Dundalk, hence the fates of Dundalk and Louth are always linked together.

Regional Assembly

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

Elections

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Members of Louth 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 SF FF FG Lab GP PDs Ind Total
2024 7 6 6 2 1 — 7 29
2019 7 7 5 3 1 — 6 29
2014 10 5 7 2 2 — 3 29
2009 6 5 8 2 1 — 4 26
2004 5 9 7 1 0 0 4 26
1999 1 14 7 1 0 0 3 26
1991 1 12 6 2 0 2 3 26
1985 1 11 8 2 0 — 3 26

Local electoral areas and municipal districts

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County Louth is divided into borough and municipal districts and LEAs, defined by electoral divisions.[8][9] The municipal district which contains the administrative area of the former borough of Drogheda is referred to as a Borough District.[10]

Councillors have regular monthly meetings both as a whole council and within their municipal district. Each municipal district elects its own chair, titled a Cathaoirleach.[11]

Municipal District LEA Definition Seats
Ardee Ardee Rural, Ardee Urban, Castlebellingham, Clonkeen, Collon, Darver, Dromin, Drumcar, Dunleer, Dysart, Killanny, Louth, Mansfieldstown, Mullary, Stabannan and Tallanstown 6
Borough District of Drogheda Drogheda Rural Clogher, Monasterboice, St. Peter's and Termonfeckin 4
Drogheda Urban Fair Gate, St Lawrence Gate, St. Mary's (part) and West Gate 6
Dundalk Dundalk—Carlingford Ballymascanlan, Carlingford, Drummullagh, Dundalk No. 1 Urban, Dundalk No. 2 Urban, Faughart, Greenore, Jenkinstown, Rathcor, Ravensdale; those parts of the electoral divisions of Castletown, Dundalk Rural, Dundalk No. 3 Urban and Dundalk No. 4 Urban not contained in the local electoral area of Dundalk South 6
Dundalk South Barronstown, Castlering, Creggan Upper, Dromiskin, Haggardstown; those parts of the electoral divisions of Castletown and Dundalk Rural south of the R178 (Carrickmacross Road); and those parts of the electoral divisions of Dundalk No. 3 Urban and Dundalk No. 4 Urban south of a line drawn as follows: Commencing at the boundary between the electoral divisions of Dundalk No. 1 Urban and Dundalk No. 3 Urban at the Carrickmacross Road Bridge and St. Dominick's Place and then proceeding in an easterly direction to the junction of St. Dominick's Place with the roundabout at the Crescent; then proceeding in a clockwise direction around and excluding the said roundabout to its junction with Anne Street; then proceeding in a north-easterly direction along Anne Street to its junction with Park Street; then proceeding in a north easterly direction along Park Street to its junction with Francis Street; then proceeding in a north-easterly direction along Francis Street and Roden Place following the boundary between the electoral divisions of Dundalk No. 1 Urban and Dundalk No. 4 Urban; then proceeding in an easterly direction along Jocelyn Street, Seatown Place and along the road connecting Seatown Place to Barrack Street to reach the junction of said road with the Dundalk Inner Relief Road; then proceeding in a north-westerly projection along the Dundalk Inner Relief Road to its junction with the road at St. Helena; then proceeding along the north-easterly projection of the said road at St. Helena to Dundalk Harbour 7

Councillors

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

2024 seats summary

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Party Seats
Sinn Féin 7
Fianna Fáil 6
Fine Gael 6
Labour 2
Green 1
Independent 7

Councillors by electoral area

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

Council members from 2024 election
LEA Name Party
Ardee Jim Tenanty Independent
Pearse McGeough Sinn Féin
Paula Butterly[a] Fine Gael
John Sheridan Fianna Fáil
Dolores Minogue Fine Gael
Bernie Conlon Independent
Drogheda Rural Michelle Hall Labour
Anne-Marie Ford Fine Gael
Declan Power Independent
Eric Donovan Sinn Féin
Drogheda Urban Pio Smith Labour
Joanna Byrne[a] Sinn Féin
Kevin Callan Independent
James Byrne Fianna Fáil
Paddy McQuillan Independent
Ejiro O'Hare Stratton Fine Gael
Dundalk–Carlingford Seán Kelly Fianna Fáil
Antóin Watters Sinn Féin
Fiona Mhic Conchoille Sinn Féin
John Reilly Fine Gael
Andrea McKevitt Fianna Fáil
Ciarán Fisher Independent
Dundalk South Maeve Yore Independent
Robert Nash Fine Gael
Emma Coffey Fianna Fáil
Kevin Meenan Sinn Féin
Sionainn McCann Sinn Féin
Shane McGuinness Fianna Fáil
Marianne Butler Green
Notes
  1. ^ a b Replaced during term, see table below for details.

Co-options

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Party Outgoing LEA Reason Date Co-optee
Fine Gael Paula Butterly Ardee Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election 18 December 2024 Rachel Kerley[13]
Sinn Féin Joanna Byrne Drogheda Urban Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election 18 December 2024 Debbie McCole[13]

Chief executive

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Each council has a chief executive, previously known as city or county manager, who is the manager of the local authority.[14][15][16]

Year Title Name Next position
2024–present Chief Executive David Conway[17]
2014–2024 Chief executive Joan Martin[18]
2013–2014 County Manager Philomena Poole County manager for Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council[19]
2012–2013 Acting County Manager Joan Martin
2007–2012 County Manager Conn Murray City and County Manager for Limerick Council[20]

Each Chief Executive has a Management Team made up of appointed Directors of Service who head specified Directorates. Under a provision of the Local Government Act the elected members must vote confidence in a new chief executive and also have the power to remove one from office. The Cathaoirleach chairs each monthly meeting as well as meetings of the Corporate Policy Group (CPG) some weeks in advance of the agenda being agreed. Members of the CPG Team include the elected chairpersons of each Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), the Directors of Service and the Meetings Administrator. There are five SPC chairpersons in Louth County Council and Directors of Service serve on each with an agreed workplan. There is also an Audit Committee on which two members are elected to serve together with three appointed members, one of whom will be the independent chairperson. The Audit Committee must always remain independent from the council though publishes minutes and an agreed workplan. The LCDC, made up of four elected members, the Chief Executive of the day, several Directors of Service, several staff members and appointed members from various sectoral interests is similar to a SPC in nature, in actual statute, but does not publish or agree its workplan with the elected members or be scrutinised by the Audit Committee despite having a considerable financial budget.

Cathaoirleach of the council

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Every year, the local authority elects a chair called the Cathaoirleach (chairperson) for a term of one year and a deputy chair called the Leas-Cathaoirleach from among its members. The members elected for each municipal district elect a Cathaoirleach and a Leas-Chathaoirleach for their grouping. The Cathaoirleach chairs the meetings of the local authority or municipal district. Mayor and Deputy Mayor are titles used in municipal districts which were formerly borough councils.[21][22] Based on population the Dundalk Municipal District is the largest in the state, comprising 13 elected members, but is not designated as a borough district. Following the 2014 legislation it was an option for Dundalk to be also recognised as a borough district on the equivalent standing as her sister town of Drogheda on the legislation drawn up by then Minister for Local Government John Paul Phelan. Despite requests this was not taken up.

Year Name Party
2023–2024 Paula Butterly Fine Gael
2022–2023 Conor Keelan Fianna Fáil
2021–2022 Pio Smith Labour
2020–2021 Dolores Minogue Fine Gael
2018–2020 Liam Reilly Fianna Fáil
2017–2018 Colm Markey Fine Gael
2016–2017 Paul Bell Labour
2015–2016 Peter Savage (7th) Fianna Fáil
2014–2015 Oliver Tully (2nd) Fine Gael
2013–2014 Declan Breathnach (2nd) Fianna Fáil
2012–2013 Finnan McCoy Fine Gael
2011–2012 Oliver Tully (1st) Fine Gael
2010–2011 Peter Savage (6th) Fianna Fáil
2009–2010 Jim D'Arcy Fine Gael
2008–2009 Declan Breathnach (1st) Fianna Fáil
2007–2008 Jimmy Mulroy Fianna Fáil
2006–2007 Jim Lennon Fine Gael
2005–2006 Peter Savage (5th) Fianna Fáil
2004–2005 Terry Brennan Fine Gael
2003–2004 Nicholas McCabe (8th) Fianna Fáil
2002–2003 Jacqui McConville Fianna Fáil
2001–2002 Tommy Reilly (2nd) Fianna Fáil
2000–2001 Nicholas McCabe (7th) Fianna Fáil
1999–2000 Peter Savage (4th) Fianna Fáil
1998–1999 Miċéal O'Donnell (2nd) Fianna Fáil
1997–1998 Martin Bellew Independent
1996–1997 Tommy Reilly (1st) Fianna Fáil
1995–1996 W. Frank Godfrey Fianna Fáil
1994–1995 Nicholas McCabe (6th) Fianna Fáil
1993–1994 Jim Cousins Progressive Democrats
1992–1993 Peter Savage (3rd) Fianna Fáil
1991–1992 John McConville (2nd) Fianna Fáil
1990–1991 Miċéal O'Donnell (1st) Fianna Fáil
1989–1990 Nicholas McCabe (5th) Fianna Fáil
1988–1989 Peter Savage (2nd) Fianna Fáil
1986–1988 John McConville (1st) Fianna Fáil
1985–1986 Peter Savage (1st) Fianna Fáil
1983–1985 Nicholas McCabe (4th) Fianna Fáil
1982–1983 Patrick Buckley Fine Gael
1981–1982 Nicholas McCabe (3rd) Fianna Fáil
1980–1981 Tommy Elmore Fine Gael
1979–1980 Nicholas McCabe (2nd) Fianna Fáil
1976–1979 Peter J. Moore Labour
1975–1976 Patrick J. O'Hare (2nd) Fine Gael
1974–1975 Nicholas McCabe (1st) Fianna Fáil
1973–1974 Patrick J. O'Hare (1st) Fine Gael
1967–1973 Paddy Donegan Fine Gael
1960–1967 Bernard Rafferty Fianna Fáil
1958–1960 William Woods (2nd) Fine Gael
1957–1958 Laurence Walsh Fianna Fáil
1955–1957 William Woods (1st) Fine Gael
1925–1955 James McGee Fine Gael
1920–1925 James Murphy Sinn Féin
1918–1920 Patrick McGee Sinn Féin
1913–1918 William Doran Irish Nationalist
1899–1913 Peter Hughes Independent

Population by local electoral area

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The table below sets out the population of the county broken down by Local Electoral Area, total 2022 population of 139,703.[23]

LEA Population (2016) Population (2022) Seats Population per seat
Drogheda Rural 17,876 19,845[24] 4 4,961
Drogheda Urban 27,656 28,537[25] 6 4,756
Dundalk South 30,207[26] 38,195[27] 7 5,457
Dundalk Carlingford 25,599[28] 26,092[29] 6 4,349
Ardee 29,026[30] 27,034[31] 6 4,506

The table below sets out the electorate population of the county broken down by Local Electoral Area.

LEA Electorate (2022) Seats Electorate per seat
Drogheda Rural 14,133[32] 4 3,533
Drogheda Urban 19,729[33] 6 3,288
Dundalk South 25,691[34] 7 3,670
Dundalk Carlingford 20,039[35] 6 3,339
Ardee 19,928[36] 6 3,321

Population by municipal district

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The table below sets out the population of the county broken down by Municipal District, total 2022 population of 139,703.[37]

  • Dundalk Municipal District
    Dundalk Municipal District
  • Drogheda Municipal District
    Drogheda Municipal District
  • Ardee Municipal District
    Ardee Municipal District
District Population (2011) Population (2016) Population (2022) Seats Population per seat
Dundalk 53,082 55,806[38] 64,287 13 4,945
Drogheda 41,925 44,052[39] 48,382 10 4,838
Ardee 27,890 29,026[40] 27,034 6 4,506

Population by electoral division

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The table below sets out the population of the county broken down by electoral division.[41]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Services". Louth County Council. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  2. ^ "Louth County Committee of Agriculture (and Technical Instruction) Archives, 1901 - 1985" (PDF). Louth County Council. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Details of Local Authorities in Ireland". 8 October 2003. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  4. ^ Rudd, J. (1990). Studying Your Local Area: A Guide to Information Sources. Combat Poverty Agency. ISBN 9781871643855.
  5. ^ "Louth County Hall Millennium Centre". Planning Architecture Design Database Ireland. Retrieved 9 November 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 1 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Information Note for Data Users: Revision to the Irish NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions". Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  8. ^ County of Louth Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 626 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 September 2020.
  9. ^ County Of Louth Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts (Amendment) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 6 of 2019). Signed on 17 January 2019. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 September 2020.
  10. ^ Local Government Reform Act 2014, s. 19: Municipal districts (No. 1 of 2014, s. 19). Enacted on 27 January 2014. Act of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 5 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Cathaoirligh of Dundalk Urban District Council/Municipal District of Dundalk - Louth County Council" (PDF). Louth County Council. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Louth County Council – Elected Candidates". RTÉ News. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  13. ^ a b Ross, Lauren (18 December 2024). "New faces on Louth County Council as Rachel Kerley and Debbie McCole co-opted". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Chief Executive of the council". Citizens Information. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  15. ^ Savage, John (15 July 2024). "Tributes paid to retiring Louth Chief Executive Joan Martin".
  16. ^ "Recruitment process for CEO, Louth County Council underway". Drogheda Independent. 8 July 2024 – via Independent.ie.
  17. ^ "David Conway appointed new Chief Executive of LCC". 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024 – via Independent.ie.
  18. ^ "Joan first CEO of Louth Council". 10 January 2015. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018 – via Independent.ie.
    "Joan bids farewell after almost half a century with Louth County Council". Dundalk Leader. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Poole set to leave Louth council after six months". 19 February 2014. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018 – via Independent.ie.
  20. ^ "Murray named as new 'super manager' for new Limerick local authority". Limerick Leader. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Cathaoirleach of the council". Citizens Information. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Cathaoirleach of Council - Louth County Council". www.louthcoco.ie. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  23. ^ "Louth County Council Population CSO Ireland". visual.cso.ie. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Drogheda Rural 2022 Population CSO Ireland". visual.cso.ie. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Drogheda Urban 2022 Population CSO Ireland". visual.cso.ie. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Local Electoral Area Dundalk South". Central Statistics Office. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  27. ^ "Dundalk South 2022 Population CSO Ireland". visual.cso.ie. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Local Electoral Area Dundalk Carlingford". Central Statistics Office. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  29. ^ "Dundalk North 2022 Population CSO Ireland". visual.cso.ie. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  30. ^ "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Local Electoral Area Ardee". Central Statistics Office. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Ardee 2022 Population CSO Ireland". visual.cso.ie. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  32. ^ "Drogheda Rural 2024 Local Elections Electorate | RTÉ". RTÉ.ie.
  33. ^ "Drogheda Urban 2024 Local Elections Electorate | RTÉ". RTÉ.ie.
  34. ^ "Dundalk South 2024 Local Elections Electorate | RTÉ". RTÉ.ie.
  35. ^ "Dundalk Carlingford 2024 Local Elections Electorate | RTÉ". RTÉ.ie.
  36. ^ "Ardee 2024 Local Elections Electorate | RTÉ". RTÉ.ie.
  37. ^ "LOuth County Council Population | CSO Ireland". visual.cso.ie. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  38. ^ "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Municipal District Dundalk". Central Statistics Office. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  39. ^ "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Municipal District Drogheda". Central Statistics Office. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  40. ^ "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Municipal District Ardee". Central Statistics Office. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  41. ^ "Census of population by electoral division 2016". CENSUS OF POPULATION 2016 - PRELIMINARY RESULTS / GEOGRAPHIC CHANGES CENSUS OF POPULATION 2016 - PRELIMINARY RESULTS. CSO. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
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