Mayo County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo) is the local authority of County Mayo, 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 30 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, Kevin Kelly. The county town is Castlebar.
Mayo County Council Comhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
John O'Hara, FG | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 30 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 7 June 2024 |
| Motto | |
| Irish: Dia is Muire Linn "God and Mary be with us" | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| County Hall, Castlebar | |
| Website | |
Official website  | |
History
editOriginally meetings of Mayo County Council took place in Castlebar Courthouse.[1] The county council moved to modern facilities at County Hall further west on The Mall in Castlebar in 1989.[2]
In the early 1930s, the County Council was dissolved for a time and replaced with a Commissioner because of the Mayo librarian controversy.
Regional Assembly
editMayo County Council has two representatives on the Northern and Western Regional Assembly who are part of the West Strategic Planning Area Committee.[3]
Elections
editMembers of Mayo 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 | FG | FF | SF | Aon | II | Lab | Ind | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 30 | |||||||
| 2019 | 12 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 6 | 30 | |||||||
| 2014 | 10 | 10 | 3 | — | — | 0 | 7 | 30 | |||||||
| 2009 | 17 | 7 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 5 | 31 | |||||||
| 2004 | 15 | 12 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 31 | |||||||
| 1999 | 13 | 16 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 31 | |||||||
| 1991 | 13 | 15 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 31 | |||||||
| 1985 | 14 | 15 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 2 | 31 | |||||||
Local electoral areas and municipal districts
editCounty Mayo is divided into LEAs and municipal districts, defined by electoral divisions.[4]
| Municipal District | LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballina | Ardagh, Ardnaree North, Ardnaree South Rural, Ardnaree South Urban, Attymass East, Attymass West, Ballina Rural, Ballina Urban, Ballycastle, Ballysakeery, Carrowmore, Crossmolina North, Crossmolina South, Deel, Derry, Fortland, Kilfian East, Kilfian South, Kilfian West, Kilgarvan, Killala, Lackan North, Lackan South, Mount Falcon, Rathoma, and Sallymount | 6 | |
| Castlebar | Abhainn Bhrain, Addergoole, An Cheapaigh Dhuibh, Baile an Chalaidh, Baile Óbha, Balla, Ballinafad, Ballyhean, Ballynagoraher, Bellavary, Breaghwy, Burren, Burriscarra, Castlebar Rural (part), Castlebar Urban, Clogher (in the former Rural District of Castlebar), Cloonkeen, Croaghmoyle, Islandeady, Killavally, Letterbrick, Manulla, Partraí, Pontoon, Roslee, Strade, Tamhnaigh na Graí, and Turlough | 7 | |
| Claremorris | Claremorris | Ballindine, Ballinrobe, Ballyhaunis, Ballyhowly, Bekan, Caraun, Claremorris, Cloghermore, Cong, Coonard, Course, Crossboyne, Culnacleha, Dalgan, Garrymore, Hollymount, Houndswood, Kilcolman, Kilcommon, Kilmaine, Kilvine, Knock North, Knock South, Mayo, Murneen, Neale, Newbrook, Shrule and Tagheen | 6 |
| Swinford | Aghamore, Ballinamore, Bohola, Brackloon, Callow, Cloonmore, Coolnaha, Cuildoo, Doocastle, Kilbeagh, Kilkelly, Killedan, Kilmovee, Kiltamagh, Loughanboy, Meelick, Sonnagh, Sraheen, Swineford, Toocananagh, Toomore, Tumgesh and Urlaur | 4 | |
| Westport–Belmullet | Westport | Aghagower North, Aghagower South, Aillemore, Bundorragha, Clare Island, Clogher (in the former Rural District of Westport), Croaghpatrick, Derryloughan, Drummin, Emlagh, Erriff, Glenhest, Kilgeever, Kilmaclasser, Kilmeena, Kilsallagh, Knappagh, Louisburgh, Newport East, Owennadornaun, Slievemahanagh, Westport Rural and Westport Urban | 4 |
| Belmullet | Acaill, An Corrán, An Geata Mór Theas, An Geata Mór Thuaidh, Ballycroy North, Ballycroy South, Bangor, Barr Rúscaí, Béal an Mhuirthead, Béal Deirg Mór, Bunaveela, Cnoc an Daimh, Cnoc na Lobhar, Cnoc na Ráithe, Dumha Éige, Gleann Chaisil, Gleann na Muaidhe, Glenco, Guala Mhór, Moing na Bó, Na Monga, Newport West, Sheskin, Slievemore and Srahmore | 3 | |
Councillors
editThe following were elected at the 2024 Mayo County Council election.
2024 seats summary
edit| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | 10 | |
| Fine Gael | 10 | |
| Aontú | 1 | |
| Independent Ireland | 1 | |
| Sinn Féin | 1 | |
| Independent | 7 | |
Councillors by electoral area
editThis list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.[5]
| Council members from 2024 election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| LEA | Name | Party | |
| Ballina | John O'Hara | Fine Gael | |
| Mark Duffy | Independent | ||
| Annie May Reape | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Michael Loftus | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Joe Faughan | Independent | ||
| Jarlath Munnelly | Fine Gael | ||
| Belmullet | Paul McNamara | Fianna Fáil | |
| Gerry Coyle | Fine Gael | ||
| Seán Carey | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Castlebar | Michael Kilcoyne | Independent | |
| Ger Deere | Fine Gael | ||
| Blackie Gavin | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Al McDonnell | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Cyril Burke | Fine Gael | ||
| Donna Sheridan | Fine Gael | ||
| Harry Barrett | Independent | ||
| Claremorris | Patsy O'Brien | Independent | |
| Richard Finn | Independent | ||
| Damien Ryan | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Alma Gallagher | Fine Gael | ||
| Michael Burke | Fine Gael | ||
| Paul Lawless | Aontú | ||
| Swinford | Gerry Murray | Sinn Féin | |
| Adrian Forkan | Fianna Fáil | ||
| John Caulfield | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Neil Cruise | Fine Gael | ||
| Westport | Chris Maxwell | Independent Ireland | |
| Peter Flynn | Fine Gael | ||
| John O'Malley | Independent | ||
| Brendan Mulroy | Fianna Fáil | ||
Assessment
editMayo County Council was identified in 2011 by An Taisce, the national trust, as among the worst county councils in Ireland's planning system during the 2000–2011 period.
County councils in Ireland were assessed by the organisation in relation to overzoning; decisions reversed by An Bord Pleanála after being passed by a local authority; percentage of vacant housing stock; and percentage of one-off houses permitted. An Taisce's report of its findings described the results as "stark and troubling".
In Mayo, many council planning decisions were overturned because the council violated its own County Development Plan. Overdevelopment in Mayo was another problem identified, with too many vacant houses in the county (not inclusive of holiday homes). A spokesman for An Taisce commented, "Mayo didn't do well on one-off houses either. What a lot of local authorities don't seem to appreciate is that it is more expensive to provide infrastructure to one-off houses in the countryside than it is to do so to estates."[6]
References
edit- ^ "Local Authorities". Oireachtas. 26 May 1982. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ "Castlebar". Mayo Online. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ 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 18 April 2023.
- ^ County of Mayo Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 627 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.
- ^ "Mayo County Council – Elected Candidates". RTÉ News. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Mayo planning among worst in country". The Mayo News. 17 April 2011. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2012.