Galway City Council (Irish: Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe) is the local authority in the city of Galway, Ireland. As a city 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 18 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of mayor. The city administration is headed by a Chief Executive, Patricia Philbin. The council meets at City Hall, College Road, Galway.
In 1853, 24 town commissioners were appointed under the Galway Town Improvement Act 1853.[3] In 1899, under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, the county of the town became an urban district of County Galway, with an urban district council succeeding the town commissioners.[4] In 1937, the Urban District of Galway became the Borough of Galway, remaining part of County Galway.[5] The borough council had 12 members.[6] It increased to 15 members at the 1985 election, in anticipation of its conversion to a city council.[7]
In 1986, the Borough of Galway became the County Borough of Galway and ceased to part of County Galway.[8][9] The council was known as "The Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the (County) Borough of Galway" from 1937 until the enactment of the Local Government Act 2001, under which it was renamed Galway City Council.[10][11] In 2013, a Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee reviewed the allocation of seats and the local electoral areas across local authorities. In the case of Galway Council, it recommended an increase from 15 to 18 seats.[12] This was implemented by the Local Government Reform Act 2014.[13]
On 6 June 2018, the government announced that Galway City Council and Galway County Council were to be merged into a single local authority by 2021.[14] As of late 2021, this proposal was reportedly "off the agenda".[15]
^Commissioners appointed to inquire into the municipal corporations in Ireland (1835). "Town and County of the Town of Galway". Appendix to the First Report, Part I: Southern, midland, western and south-eastern circuits, and part of the north-eastern circuit. Command papers. Vol. 27. HMSO. p. 317. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
^Local Government (Galway) Act 1937, s. 4: Formation of the Borough of Galway (No. 3P of 1937, s. 4). Enacted on 10 June 1937. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 24 June 2021.
^Local Government (Galway) Act 1937, s. 15: Composition of Borough Council (No. 3P of 1937, s. 15). Enacted on 10 June 1937. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 29 October 2023.
^Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985, s. 6: Membership of Council of Borough of Galway and establishment of City Council (No. 7 of 1985, s. 6). Enacted on 3 April 1985. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 29 October 2023.
^Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985, s. 5: Establishment of Borough of Galway as County Borough (No. 7 of 1985, s. 5). Enacted on 3 April 1985. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 24 June 2021.
^Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985 (County Borough of Galway) (Appointed Day) Order 1985 (S.I. No. 425 of 1985). Signed on 18 December 1985. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 24 June 2021.
^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 19 April 2023.
