Donegal County Council

Donegal County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall) is the authority responsible for local government in County Donegal, 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. It has 37 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, Séamus Neely. The county town is Lifford.

Donegal County Council

Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall
Type
Type
Leadership
Rena Donaghey, FF
Structure
Seats37
Political groups
  •   Fianna Fáil (12)
  •   Sinn Féin (10)
  •   Fine Gael (5)
  •   Labour Party (1)
  •   Independent (9)
Elections
Last election
24 May 2019
Motto
Mutuam habeatis caritatem  (Latin)
"Maintain among you mutual love and charity"
Meeting place
County House, Lifford
Website
donegalcoco.ie
The area governed by the council

History

Donegal County Council, which had previously held its meetings in Lifford Courthouse,[1] acquired County House in Lifford for use as its meeting place and administrative headquarters in 1930.[2]

The d'Hondt method has been deployed by Donegal County Council since 2009 and has worked on all but Budget Day, leading Martin Harley (running mate of Joe McHugh at the 2020 general election) to suggest it be used to help form a government.[3]

Following the 2015 RTÉ programme Standards in Public Office, in March 2019, John O'Donnell was found by the Standards in Public Office Commission to have contravened the Local Government Act in three different instances, including failure to maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest.[4]

Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts

Donegal County Council is divided into the following municipal districts and local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions.[5]

Municipal District LEA Definition Seats
Donegal An Bhinn Bhán, An Leargaidh Mhór, Ballintra (in the former Rural District of Ballyshannon), Ballintra (in the former Rural District of Donegal), Ballyshannon Rural, Ballyshannon Urban, Bonnyglen, Bundoran Rural, Bundoran Urban, Carrickboy, Cavangarden, Cill Charthaigh, Cill Ghabhlaigh, Cliff, Clogher, Corkermore, Cró Chaorach, Crownarad, Donegal, Dunkineely, Eanymore, Gleann Cholm Cille, Grousehall, Haugh, Inver, Killybegs, Laghy, Loch Iascaigh, Málainn Bhig, Pettigoe, Tantallon, Tawnawully, Templecarn, Tieveskeelta and Tullynaught. 6
Glenties An Clochán Liath, An Craoslach, An Dúchoraidh, An Ghrafaidh, An Machaire, Anagaire, Árainn Mhór, Ard an Rátha, Ards, Baile na Finne, Caisleán na dTuath, Críoch na Sméar, Cró Bheithe, Dawros, Dún Fionnachaidh, Dún Lúiche, Gleann Gheis, Gleann Léithín, Gort an Choirce, Inis Caoil, Inis Mhic an Doirn, Leitir Mhic an Bhaird, Maas, Machaire Chlochair, Maol Mosóg, Mín an Chladaigh, Na Croisbhealaí and Na Gleannta. 6
Inishowen Buncrana Birdstown, Buncrana Rural, Buncrana Urban, Burt, Castleforward, Desertegny, Fahan, Illies, Inch Island, Kilderry, Killea, Mintiaghs, Newtown Cunningham, Three Trees and Whitecastle. 5
Carndonagh Ardmalin, Ballyliffin, Carndonagh, Carthage, Castlecary, Culdaff, Dunaff, Gleneely (in the former Rural District of Inishowen), Gleneganon, Glentogher, Greencastle, Malin, Moville, Redcastle, Straid, and Turmone 4
Letterkenny–Milford Letterkenny Ballymacool, Castlewray, Corravaddy, Edenacarnan, Gortnavern, Killymasny, Kincraigy, Letterkenny Rural, Letterkenny Urban, Magheraboy, Manorcunningham, Mín an Lábáin, Suí Corr and Templedouglas. 7
Milford An Cheathrú Chaol, An Tearmann, Ballyarr, Carraig Airt, Cnoc Colbha, Creamhghort, Fánaid Thiar, Fánaid Thuaidh, Gartán, Glen, Glenalla, Grianfort, Killygarvan, Kilmacrenan, Loch Caol, Millford, Rathmelton, Rathmullan, Ros Goill and Rosnakill. 3
Lifford–Stranorlar Allt na Péiste, An Clochán, Castlefinn, Cloghard, Clonleigh North, Clonleigh South, Convoy, Dooish, Feddyglass, Figart, Gleneely (in the former Rural District of Stranorlar), Goland, Killygordon, Knock, Lettermore, Mín Charraigeach, Raphoe, St. Johnstown, Stranorlar, Treantaghmucklagh and Urney West. 6

Current councillors

The following were elected at the 2019 Donegal County Council election, under the boundaries which existed at the time.

Party Seats
Fianna Fáil 12
Sinn Féin 10
Fine Gael 6
Labour Party 1
Independent 8

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.[6]

Council members from 2019 election
Local electoral area Name Party
Buncrana Paul Canning Fianna Fáil
Rena Donaghey Fianna Fáil
Jack Murray Sinn Féin
Nicholas Crossan Independent
Terry Crossan Sinn Féin
Carndonagh Martin McDermott Fianna Fáil
Martin Farren Labour
Albert Doherty Sinn Féin
Bernard McGuinness Fine Gael
Donegal Niamh Kennedy Independent
Noel Jordan Sinn Féin
Micheál Naughton Fianna Fáil
Barry Sweeny Fine Gael
Tom Conaghan Independent
Michael McMahon Sinn Féin
Glenties Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig Independent
John Sheamuis Ó Fearraigh Sinn Féin
Máire Therese Gallagher Sinn Féin
Noreen McGarvey Fianna Fáil
Michael McClafferty Fine Gael
Anthony Molloy Fianna Fáil
Letterkenny Ciaran Brogan Fianna Fáil
Jimmy Kavanagh Fine Gael
Michael McBride Independent
Dónal Coyle Fianna Fáil
Kevin Bradley Independent
Manus Kelly[lower-alpha 1] Fianna Fáil
Gerry McMonagle Sinn Féin
Lifford–Stranorlar Martin Harley Fine Gael
Patrick McGowan Fianna Fáil
Gary Doherty Sinn Féin
Gerry Crawford Fianna Fáil
Frank McBrearty Jnr Fine Gael
Liam Doherty Sinn Féin
Milford John O'Donnell Independent
Liam Blaney Fianna Fáil
Ian McGarvey Independent
Notes
  1. Replaced during term, see table below for details.

Co-options
Party Outgoing Electoral area Reason Date Co-optee
Fianna Fáil Manus Kelly Letterkenny Death of councillor June 2019 Donal Kelly

References
  1. "Establishment of Donegal County Council". Donegal County Council. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  2. "Local Authorities". Oireachtas. 26 May 1982. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  3. Walsh, Harry (20 February 2020). "Harley says d'Hondt method could be used to form new government". Donegal News. p. 5.
  4. Kelly, Fiach (26 March 2019). "Sipo finds against two councillors over RTÉ undercover report". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  5. "S.I. No. 613/2018 - County of Donegal Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018". 19 December 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  6. "Local Elections 2014: Results" (PDF). Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. p. 102. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
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