Kildare County Council

Local authority of County Kildare in Ireland

Kildare County Council

Comhairle Contae Chill Dara

Type
Type|

County council

of County Kildare

History
Founded| 1 April 1899
Leadership

Cathaoirleach

Carmel Kelly, FF

Structure
Seats| 40

Political groups

Fianna Fáil (12)
Fine Gael (11)
Social Democrats (6)
Labour (5)
Sinn Féin (1)
Independent Ireland (1)
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
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.

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.

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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).

Year  |  | FF |  | FG |  | Lab |  | SD |  | GP |  | SF |  | II |  | PDs |  | WP |  | Ind | Total

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2024 | 12  | 11  | 5  | 7  | 0  | 1  | 1  | —  | 0  | 3  | 40
2019 | 12  | 11  | 5  | 4  | 3  | 1  | —  | —  | 0  | 4  | 40
2014 | 12  | 9  | 5  | —  | 0  | 5  | —  | —  | 0  | 9  | 40
2009 | 6  | 9  | 6  | —  | 0  | 0  | —  | —  | 0  | 4  | 25
2004 | 10  | 7  | 4  | —  | 1  | 0  | —  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 25
1999 | 9  | 5  | 5  | —  | 0  | 0  | —  | 2  | 0  | 4  | 25
1991 | 8  | 7  | 3  | —  | 1  | 1  | —  | 2  | 1  | 2  | 25
1985 | 10  | 7  | 5  | —  | 0  | 1  | —  | —  | 1  | 1  | 25

## Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts

[edit]

County Kildare is divided into municipal districts and LEAs, defined by electoral divisions.[9]

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

## Councillors

[edit]

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

Party  | Seats

|

| Fianna Fáil | 12
| Fine Gael | 11
| Social Democrats | 7
| Labour | 5
| Independent Ireland | 1
| Sinn Féin | 1
| Independent | 3

### Councillors by electoral area

[edit]

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.[10]

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 |  |  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 |  |  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

Notes

1. ^ a b c d Replaced during term, see table below for details.
2. ^ Changed party, see table below for details.

#### Co-options

[edit]

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[11]
|  Fine Gael | Joe Neville | Leixlip  | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election  | 19 December 2024  | Paul Brooks[12]
|  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[14]

#### Changes in affiliation

[edit]

Name  | LEA  | Elected as  | New affiliation  | Date

|
|
|
|

Bill Clear  | Naas  |  |  Social Democrats |  |  Independent | September 2024[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 Donegael". 27th Report of the Local Government Board for Ireland (Cmd. 9480). Dublin: Local Government Board for Ireland. 1900. pp. 272–275.
4. ^ "Maternity care featured in debate on future of Kildare hospitals". Leinster Leader. 27 November 2008. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
5. ^ a b "Council's new civic offices go full tilt in Naas". Irish Times. 26 January 2006. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 2 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 26 April 2023.
7. ^ "Members List". Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly.
8. ^ "Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919 (c. 19)". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives.
9. ^ County of Kildare Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 620 of 2018). Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 24 May 2019.
10. ^ "Kildare County Council – Elected Candidates". RTÉ News. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
11. ^ Beatty, Eoin (13 December 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: Who Will Be Co-Opted Onto Kildare County Council Following The General Election Results?". KFM Radio. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
12. ^ Beatty, Eoin (13 December 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: Who Will Be Co-Opted Onto Kildare County Council Following The General Election Results?". KFM Radio. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
13. ^ Beatty, Eoin (13 December 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: Who Will Be Co-Opted Onto Kildare County Council Following The General Election Results?". KFM Radio. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
14. ^ Beatty, Eoin (13 December 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: Who Will Be Co-Opted Onto Kildare County Council Following The General Election Results?". KFM Radio. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
15. ^ Beatty, Eoin (5 September 2024). "BREAKING: Cllr. Bill Clear resigns from the Social Democrats". KFM Radio. Retrieved 6 September 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Elections to Kildare County Council

* 1899
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* 1914
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Local government in the Republic of Ireland

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City councils|

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City and County councils|

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Regional Assemblies|

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Abolished structures|

* Town councils
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* Urban and rural districts

Acts|

* Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840
* Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
* Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919
* Local Government Act 1925
* Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930
* Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993
* Local Government Act 2001
* Local Government Reform Act 2014
* Local Government Act 2019

See also|

* Chief executive
* Local electoral areas
* Local government in Dublin

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