Donegal County Council () is the authority responsible for local government in County Donegal, 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. It has 37 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 McLaughlin. The county town is Lifford.
History Donegal County Council was established on 1 April 1899 under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 for the administrative county of County Donegal, succeeding the former judicial county of Donegal.
Donegal County Council, which had previously held its meetings in Lifford Courthouse, acquired County House in Lifford for use as its meeting place and administrative headquarters in 1930.
The d'Hondt method has been deployed by Donegal County Council since 2009 and has worked on all but budget day. This led Martin Harley (running mate of Joe McHugh at the 2020 general election) to suggest it be used to help form a government.
Following the 2015 RTÉ programme Standards in Public Office, Milford councillor John O'Donnell was found by the Standards in Public Office Commission in March 2019 to have contravened the Local Government Act in three different instances, including failure to maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest.
Attempted name change to Tirconaill County Council On 25 June 1920, in its first meeting after the election of a Sinn Féin majority, Donegal County Council voted to rename itself to Tirconaill County Council. The name Tirconaill () was used in reference to the or Gaelic kingdom of (on which Donegal county was based) and the earldom that succeeded it. Tirconaill was seen as a more Irish name by the council, in line with the renaming of King's County Council to Offaly County Council six days prior and Queen's County Council to Leix County Council later that year. There was considerable backlash to this change in Inishowen, which was not within the historic territory of Tirconaill, with some proposing for it to be recognised as a separate county.
The renaming of the county itself received limited recognition, with the Dáil constituency and Army Command retaining the name Donegal and both names appearing in Irish Free State legal documents. This confusing state of affairs was brought to attention at Lifford Equity Sessions in April 1924, resulting in debates regarding both the name change and its legality. In October 1927, a County Council discussion regarding the usage of the name Donegal in the county's official tourist guide resulted in the council unanimously deciding to retain the name Donegal, with the council's secretary declaring that the county had never been legally renamed to Tirconaill. The reasons for this included the perceived exclusion of Inishowen, Gaelic scholars claiming that the name Donegal was at least as Gaelic as Tirconaill and the potential of confusion for foreign tourists. Subsequently, the county boards were renamed from Tirconaill to Donegal.
Regional Assembly Donegal County Council has three representatives on the Northern and Western Regional Assembly where they are part of the Border Strategic Planning Area Committee.
Elections Members of Donegal 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).
Total seats 1960 1 613 8 28 1967 1 11511 28 1974 1 2 1 41010 28 1979 1 1 1 41110 28 1985 1 2 1 511 9 29 1991 1 1 1 1 1 411 9 29 1999 1 2 414 8 29 2004 4 1 214 8 29 2009 4 2 510 8 29 2014 9 11011 6 37 201910 1 812 6 37 202410 1 4 910 3 37
Local electoral areas and municipal districts County Donegal is divided into local electoral areas and municipal districts, defined by electoral divisions.
Municipal DistrictLEADefinitionSeatsDonegalAn Bhinn Bhán, An Leargaidh Mhór, Ballintra (in the former Rural District of Ballyshannon), Ballintra (in the former Rural District of Donegal), Ballyshannon Rural, Ballyshannon Urban, Bonnyglen, Bundoran Rural, Bundoran Urban, Carrickboy, Cavangarden, Cill Charthaigh, Cill Ghabhlaigh, Cliff, Clogher, Corkermore, Cró Chaorach, Crownarad, Donegal, Dunkineely, Eanymore, Gleann Cholm Cille, Grousehall, Haugh, Inver, Killybegs, Laghy, Loch Iascaigh, Málainn Bhig, Pettigoe, Tantallon, Tawnawully, Templecarn, Tieveskeelta and Tullynaught.6GlentiesAn Clochán Liath, An Craoslach, An Dúchoraidh, An Ghrafaidh, An Machaire, Anagaire, Árainn Mhór, Ard an Rátha, Ards, Baile na Finne, Caisleán na dTuath, Críoch na Sméar, Cró Bheithe, Dawros, Dún Fionnachaidh, Dún Lúiche, Gleann Gheis, Gleann Léithín, Gort an Choirce, Inis Caoil, Inis Mhic an Doirn, Leitir Mhic an Bhaird, Maas, Machaire Chlochair, Maol Mosóg, Mín an Chladaigh, Na Croisbhealaí and Na Gleannta.6InishowenBuncranaBirdstown, Buncrana Rural, Buncrana Urban, Burt, Castleforward, Desertegny, Fahan, Illies, Inch Island, Kilderry, Killea, Mintiaghs, Newtown Cunningham, Three Trees and Whitecastle.5CarndonaghArdmalin, Ballyliffin, Carndonagh, Carthage, Castlecary, Culdaff, Dunaff, Gleneely (in the former Rural District of Inishowen), Gleneganon, Glentogher, Greencastle, Malin, Moville, Redcastle, Straid, and Turmone4Letterkenny–MilfordLetterkennyBallymacool, Castlewray, Corravaddy, Edenacarnan, Gortnavern, Killymasny, Kincraigy, Letterkenny Rural, Letterkenny Urban, Magheraboy, Manorcunningham, Mín an Lábáin, Suí Corr and Templedouglas.7MilfordAn Cheathrú Chaol, An Tearmann, Ballyarr, Carraig Airt, Cnoc Colbha, Creamhghort, Fánaid Thiar, Fánaid Thuaidh, Gartán, Glen, Glenalla, Grianfort, Killygarvan, Kilmacrenan, Loch Caol, Millford, Rathmelton, Rathmullan, Ros Goill and Rosnakill.3Lifford–StranorlarAllt na Péiste, An Clochán, Castlefinn, Cloghard, Clonleigh North, Clonleigh South, Convoy, Dooish, Feddyglass, Figart, Gleneely (in the former Rural District of Stranorlar), Goland, Killygordon, Knock, Lettermore, Mín Charraigeach, Raphoe, St. Johnstown, Stranorlar, Treantaghmucklagh and Urney West.6
Councillors The following were elected at the 2024 Donegal County Council election. PartySeats 10 10 4 3 1 9
Councillors by electoral area This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.
Notes
Co-options
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