Westmeath County Council

Comhairle Chontae na hIarmhí
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Liam McDaniel, FF
Structure
Seats20
Political groups
  •   Fianna Fáil (9)
  •   Fine Gael (5)
  •   Green Party (2)
  •   Labour Party (2)
  •   Independent (2)
Elections
Last election
24 May 2019
Motto
Irish: Triath ós Triathaibh
"Noble above nobility"
Meeting place
County Buildings, Mullingar
Website
Official website Edit this at Wikidata
The area governed by the council

Westmeath County Council (Irish: Comhairle Chontae na hIarmhí) is the authority responsible for local government in County Westmeath, 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 20 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, Pat Gallagher. The county town is Mullingar.

History

Originally Westmeath County Council held its meetings in Mullingar Courthouse.[1] The council commissioned a purpose-built facility, known as County Hall, in Mount Street in Mullingar in the early 20th century.[2] In the early part of the 21st century it occupied a historic building on the same site associated with the old county gaol.[3] It then moved to more modern facilities at the new County Buildings, to the south of the previous facility, in 2009.[4]

Regional Assembly

Westmeath County Council has two representatives on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly who are part of the Midland Strategic Planning Area Committee.[5]

Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts

Westmeath County Council is divided into local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions, for the purposes of local elections, and into municipal districts for the purposes of local exercising of the powers of the local authority.[6]

Municipal District LEA Definition Seats
Athlone Athlone Athlone East Rural, Athlone East Urban, Athlone West Urban, Auburn, Carn, Castledaly, Doonis, Glassan, Killinure, Moydrum, Muckanagh and Tubbrit. 5
Moate Ardnaglew, Ardnagragh, Ballinalack, Ballybroder, Ballykilmore, Ballymore, Ballymorin, Ballynagore, Bellanalack, Carrick, Castletown, Churchtown, Clonfad, Drumraney, Dysart, Emper, Glenlough, Greenpark, Jamestown, Kilbeggan, Kilbixy, Kilcumreragh, Killare, Lauree, Middleton, Moate, Mount Temple, Newtown, Noughaval, Piercetown, Portloman, Rahugh, Rathconrath, Rathowen, Skeagh, Sonna, Streamstown, Templepatrick, Umma and Winetown. 4
Mullingar Mullingar Belvidere, Castle, Cloghan, Heathstown, Hopestown, Knockdrin, Mullingar North Urban, Mullingar Rural, Mullingar South Urban, Owel, Russellstown and Tullaghan. 6
Kinnegad Ballinlough, Ballyhealy, Ballynaskeagh, Boherquill, Bracklin, Castlelost, Clonarney, Clonlost, Collinstown, Coole, Coolure, Copperalley, Delvin, Derrymore, Enniscoffey, Faughalstown, Finnea, Fore East, Fore West, Gaybrook, Glore, Griffinstown, Hilltown, Huntingdon, Kilcumny, Killua, Killucan, Killulagh, Kilpatrick, Kinnegad, Kinturk, Knockarrow, Lackan, Milltown, Multyfarnham, Raharney, Riverdale, Rosmead, Stonehall, Street, Taghmon and Woodland. 5

Councillors

2019 seats summary

Party Seats
Fianna Fáil 9
Fine Gael 5
Green 2
Labour 2
Independent 2

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which Councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.[7]

Council members from 2019 election
Local electoral area Name Party
Athlone Frankie Keena Fianna Fáil
Aengus O'Rourke Fianna Fáil
John Dolan Fine Gael
Jamie Moran[lower-alpha 1] Independent
Louise Heavin Green
Kinnegad Frank McDermott Fine Gael
John Shaw Fianna Fáil
Paddy Hill Fianna Fáil
Denis Leonard Labour
Emily Wallace Fine Gael
Moate Thomas Farrell Fine Gael
Liam McDaniel Fianna Fáil
Vinny McCormack Fianna Fáil
Johnnie Penrose Labour
Mullingar Mick Dollard Independent
Ken Glynn Fianna Fáil
Aoife Davitt Fianna Fáil
William Collentine Fianna Fáil
Andrew Duncan Fine Gael
Hazel Smyth Green
Notes
  1. ↑ Replaced during term, see table below for details.

Co-options

Party Outgoing Electoral area Reason Date Co-optee
Independent Jamie Moran Athlone Resignation January 2022 Paul Hogan[8]

References

  1. ↑ Illingworth, Ruth (14 December 2017). "History of Mount Street". Mullingar.ie. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  2. ↑ "County Buildings, Mullingar, County Westmeath". Buildings of Ireland. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  3. ↑ "County Buildings, Mullingar, County Westmeath". Buildings of Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  4. ↑ "New County Buildings in Mullingar win Opus 2009 architecture and construction award". The Advertiser. 13 November 2009. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ County of Westmeath Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 636 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2019. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 12 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "Local Elections 2019: Results, Transfer of Votes and Statistics" (PDF). Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. pp. 208–212. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Former OPW Minister Misses Out On Westmeath County Council Seat". Midlands 103 Radio. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
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