Kerry County Council

Kerry County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Chiarraí) is the authority responsible for local government in County Kerry, 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 33 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).[1] The county administration is headed by a Chief Executive, Moira Murrell. The county town is Tralee.[2]

Kerry County Council

Comhairle Contae Chiarraí
Type
Type
Leadership
Patrick Connor-Scarteen, FG
Structure
Seats33
Political groups
Elections
Last election
24 May 2019
Motto
Comhar, Cabhair, Cairdeas  (Irish)
"Co-operation, Help, Friendship"
Meeting place
Áras an Chontae, Rathass, Tralee
(The image shows the new building accommodating Housing Department staff on the south east corner of the County Hall site)
Website
kerrycoco.ie

History

1898 to 1922
Ashe Memorial Hall

Following the independence of the Irish Free State, responsibility for local government was taken by the new government.

The area governed by the council

Kerry County Council was created by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, legislation passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, of which Ireland formed a part at that time. The 1898 act introduced elected county councils to Ireland, following their establishment in England and Wales in 1889 and Scotland in 1890.[3] The first election was held on 6 April 1899, and the council first met on 22 April. The first council had 30 members. Of these, 22 were directly elected for single-member county electoral divisions. The remainder of the council consisted of the chairmen of the 6 rural district councils, who were ex officio members and an additional 2 members who were chosen by co-option.[3] The council initially met in the former Grand Jury room of the Tralee Courthouse in Nelson Street (now Ashe Street), and elections of the entire council were held every three years.[3]

In January 1910 the council moved its headquarters to a purpose-built county hall on Godfrey Place. The method of election was changed to proportional representation under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919, with the first elections under the new system held on 2 June 1920. The election took place during the Irish War of Independence, and control of the council was won by Sinn Féin.[4] The building was set on fire by British Black and Tans during the Siege of Tralee of November 1920.[5]

Post-independence

During the Irish Civil War, the government used its powers to dissolve the council in May 1923, with a commissioner appointed to conduct the business of the council. A new council was elected in May 1926.[3] The council moved to new premises, the Ashe Memorial Hall, Denny Street, Tralee in March 1928.[3] In September 1930 the council was again dissolved and a commissioner appointed. Following the election of a Fianna Fáil government, the Councillors displaced in 1930 were restored to office in May 1932.[3]

In 1942 the number of Councillors was reduced from 30 to 26. At the same time the county management system was introduced.[3] The council was again dissolved in May 1945, with elections resuming in October 1948. In 1953 the term of office for Councillors was increased from 3 to 5 years, and in 1985 the number of Councillors was increased to the present number of 27.[3] In January 1989 the council moved to Áras an Chontae, Rathass.[3]

The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment.[6]

Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts

Kerry County Council is divided into the following municipal districts and local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions.[7]

Municipal District LEA Definition Seats
An Daingean—Castleisland An Daingean An Baile Dubh (in the former Rural District of Dingle), An Clochán, An Daingean, An Mhin Aird, An Sráidbhaile, Ballinvoher, Ballynacourty, Boolteens, Castlegregory, Cé Bhréanainn, Ceann Trá, Cill Chuáin, Cill Maoilchéadair, Cinn Aird, Deelis, Dún Chaoin, Dún Urlann, Inch, Kilgarrylander, Kilgobban, Kiltallagh, Knockglass, Lack, Márthain, Milltown and Na Gleannta. 3
Castleisland Arabela, Ballyegan (in the former Rural District of Tralee), Brosna, Carker, Castleisland, Coom, Cordal, Crinny, Currans, Derreen, Gneeves, Kilfelim, Killeentierna, Kilmurry, Kilnanare, Kilshenane, Knocknagashel, Lackabaun, Millbrook, Molahiffe, Mount Eagle, Nohaval, OBrennan and Scartaglin. 4
Kenmare An Baile Breac, An tImleach, Ardea, Baile an Sceilg, Banawn, Caher, Cappagh, Caragh, Castlecove, Castlequin, Cathair Dónall, Ceannúigh, Churchtown, Cloon, Curraghbeg, Curraghmore, Dawros, Doire Fhíonáin, Doire Ianna, Dromin, Dromore, Dunloe, Glanbehy, Glanlee, Glanlough, Glanmore, Greenane, Kenmare, Kilgarvan, Kilgobnet, Killinane, Killorglin, Lickeen, Loch Luíoch, Loughbrin, Máistir Gaoithe, Maum, Na Beathacha, Portmagee, Reen, Sneem, Tahilla, Toghroinn Fhíonáin, Trian Iarthach and Valencia. 6
Killarney Aghadoe, Aglish, Ballyhar, Brewsterfield, Clydagh, Coolies, Doocarrig, Flesk, Headfort, Kilbonane, Kilcummin, Killarney Rural, Killarney Urban, Knocknahoe, Lahard, Muckross, Rathmore and Rockfield. 7
Listowel Abbeydorney, Ardagh, Astee, Ballincloher, Ballyconry, Ballyduff (in the former Rural District of Listowel), Ballyegan (in the former Rural District of Listowel), Ballyheige, Ballyhorgan, Ballynorig, Beal, Carrig, Causeway, Cloontubbrid, Drommartin, Duagh, Ennismore, Gullane, Gunsborough, Kerryhead, Kilfeighny, Kilflyn, Killahan, Killehenny, Killury, Kilmeany, Kiltomy, Leitrim, Lislaughtin, Lisselton, Listowel Rural, Listowel Urban, Lixnaw, Moynsha, Newtownsandes, Rathea, Shronowen, Tarbert, Tarmon, Trienearagh and Urlee. 6
Tralee Ardfert, Ballynahaglish, Ballyseedy, Banna, Baurtregaum, Blennerville, Clogherbrien, Doon, Ratass, Tralee Rural, Tralee Urban and Tubrid. 7

Councillors

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

Party Seats
Fianna Fáil 10
Fine Gael 7
Sinn Féin 4
Labour Party 2
Kerry Independent Alliance 1
Independent 9

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which Councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.[8]

Council members from 2019 election
Local electoral area Name Party
Castleisland Jackie Healy-Rae Independent
Charlie Farrelly Independent
Bobby O'Connell Fine Gael
Fionnán Fitzgerald Fianna Fáil
Corca Dhuibhne Michael D. O'Shea Fianna Fáil
Breandán Fitzgerald Fianna Fáil
Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald Fine Gael
Kenmare Johnny Healy-Rae Independent
Michael Cahill Fianna Fáil
Norma Moriarty Fianna Fáil
John Francis Flynn Fianna Fáil
Patrick Connor-Scarteen Fine Gael
Dan McCarthy Independent
Killarney Maura Healy-Rae Independent
Michael Gleeson Kerry Independent Alliance
Brendan Cronin Independent
Niall Kelleher Fianna Fáil
Dónal Grady Independent
Niall O'Callaghan Independent
Marie Moloney Labour Party
Listowel Aoife Thornton Fine Gael
Mike Kennelly Fine Gael
Robert Beasley Sinn Féin
Tom Barry Sinn Féin
Jimmy Moloney Fianna Fáil
Michael Foley Fine Gael
Tralee Norma Foley† Fianna Fáil
Toiréasa Ferris† Sinn Féin
Terry O'Brien Labour Party
Jim Finucane Fine Gael
Mikey Sheehy Fianna Fáil
Pa Daly† Sinn Féin
Sam Locke Independent

†Replaced during term, see table below for details.

Co-options
Party Outgoing Electoral area Reason Date Co-optee
Sinn Féin Toiréasa Ferris Tralee Resignation of Councillor August 2019 Cathal Foley
Fianna Fáil Norma Foley Tralee Elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2020 general election February 2020 Johnnie Wall
Sinn Féin Pa Daly Tralee Elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2020 general election February 2020 Deirdre Ferris
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References
  1. "Brassil elected as Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council". Radio Kerry News. Radio Kerry. 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on 8 June 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  2. "Contact Us". Kerry County Council. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  3. Quirke, Michael P (1999). "Centenary of Local Government - Kerry County Council". The Kerry Magazine. Tralee: Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society (10): 4–6. ISSN 0085-2503.
  4. Lucey, Seán (19 May 2010). "The Poor Law and Local Government in county Kerry, 1850-1921". Economic and Social Research Council. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  5. Barrington, T J (1999) [1976]. Discovering Kerry. Its History, Heritage and Topgraphy (2 ed.). Cork: The Collins Press. p. 127. ISBN 1-898256-71-3.
  6. "All Services". Kerry County Council. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  7. "S.I. No. 619/2018 - County of Kerry Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018". Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  8. "2014 Local elections: Kerry County Council". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
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