Laois County Council
Laois County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Laoise) is the authority responsible for local government in County Laois, 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 19 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, John Mulholland. The county town is Port Laoise.
Laois County Council Comhairle Contae Laoise | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 19 |
 | |
Political groups |
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| Elections | |
Last election | 24 May 2019 |
| Motto | |
| I bpáirt leis an bpobal (Irish) "In partnership with the community" | |
| Meeting place | |
| Áras an Chontae, Port Laoise | |
| Website | |
| laois | |
History
Originally meetings of Laois County Council were held in Port Laoise Courthouse.[1] After the courthouse became inadequate, a purpose-built facility, known as County Hall (Irish: Áras an Chontae) was built in May 1982.[2][3][4]
Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts
Laois County Council is divided into the following municipal districts and local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions.[5]
| Municipal District and LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Borris-in-Ossory–Mountmellick | Aghmacart, Arderin, Ballybrophy, Ballyfin, Borris-in-Ossory, Brisha, Caher, Capard, Cappalough, Cardtown, Castlecuffe, Castletown, Clash, Clonaslee, Clonin, Clonmore, Coolrain, Cuffsborough, Cullahill, Dangans, Donaghmore, Donore, Dunmore, Durrow, Errill, Garrymore, Graigue, Grantstown, Kilcoke, Kildellig, Killermogh, Kilnaseer, Kyle, Kyle South, Lacka, Marymount, Meelick, Moneenalassa, Moneymore, Mountmellick Rural, Mountmellick Urban, Mountrath, Nealstown, OMoresforest, Rathdowney, Rathsaran, Rearymore, Rosenallis, Tinnahinch and Trumra. | 6 |
| Graiguecullen–Portarlington | Ardough, Arless, Ballickmoyler, Ballyadams, Ballybrittas, Ballycarroll, Ballylehane, Ballylynan, Barrowhouse, Curraclone, Doonane, Emo, Farnans, Fossy, Graigue Rural, Jamestown, Killabban, Kilmullen, Kilmurry, Luggacurren, Moyanna, Newtown, Portarlington South, Rathaspick, Rossmore, Sallyford, Shrule, Stradbally, Tankardstown, Timahoe, Timogue, Turra and Vicarstown. | 6 |
| Port Laoise | Abbeyleix, Ballinakill, Ballyroan, Blandsfort, Borris, Clondarrig, Clonkeen, Colt, Cullenagh, Dysartgallen, Kilcolmanbane, Portlaoighise Rural, Portlaoighise Urban, Raheen and Shaen. | 7 |
Councillors
2019 seats summary
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Gael | 7 | |
| Fianna Fáil | 6 | |
| Sinn Féin | 2 | |
| Labour | 1 | |
| Independent | 3 | |
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 | |
| Borris-in-Ossory–Mountmellick | Paddy Bracken | Fianna Fáil | |
| James Kelly | Independent | ||
| Séamus McDonald | Fianna Fáil | ||
| John King | Fine Gael | ||
| Ollie Clooney | Independent | ||
| Conor Bergin | Fine Gael | ||
| Graiguecullen–Portarlington | Pádraig Fleming | Fianna Fáil | |
| Aidan Mullins | Sinn Féin | ||
| Tom Mulhall | Fine Gael | ||
| Paschal McEvoy | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Ben Brennan | Independent | ||
| Aisling Moran | Fine Gael | ||
| Port Laoise | William Aird | Fine Gael | |
| John Joe Fennelly | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Caroline Dwane Stanley | Sinn Féin | ||
| Catherine Fitzgerald | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Noel Tuohy | Labour | ||
| Mary Sweeney | Fine Gael | ||
| Thomasina Connell | Fine Gael | ||
References
- "About Us". Kilkenny County Council. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- "Our town c. 1850 - 2000". Portlaoise Pictures. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- "Survey of Architectural Heritage of Port Laoise" (PDF). Laois County Council. 1 December 2008. p. 17. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- "1979 Election Memories: The men in suits, the dealing in Donoghues, and Charlie McDonald loses out to Paddy Lalor for Europe". Laoise Today. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- "County of Laois Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018". Irish Statute Book. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- "Local Elections 2019: Results, Transfer of Votes and Statistics" (PDF). Prepared by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Retrieved 24 April 2020.