# Donegal County Council

Donegal County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall) 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.

## 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).
| Year | | FF | | SF | | 100%R | | FG | | Lab | | IFF | | WP | | DPP | | Ind | Total |
| 2024 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 9 | 37 |
| 2019 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 8 | 37 |
| 2014 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 10 | 37 |
| 2009 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 4 | — | — | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 5 | 29 |
| 2004 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 4 | — | — | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 |
| 1999 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 29 |
| 1991 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 29 |
| 1985 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29 |

## Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts

County Donegal is divided into local electoral areas and municipal districts, defined by electoral divisions.
| Municipal District | LEA | Definition | Seats |
| Donegal | Donegal | An 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. | 6 |
| Glenties | Glenties | An 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. | 6 |
| Inishowen | Buncrana | Birdstown, Buncrana Rural, Buncrana Urban, Burt, Castleforward, Desertegny, Fahan, Illies, Inch Island, Kilderry, Killea, Mintiaghs, Newtown Cunningham, Three Trees and Whitecastle. | 5 |
| Inishowen | Carndonagh | Ardmalin, Ballyliffin, Carndonagh, Carthage, Castlecary, Culdaff, Dunaff, Gleneely (in the former Rural District of Inishowen), Gleneganon, Glentogher, Greencastle, Malin, Moville, Redcastle, Straid, and Turmone | 4 |
| Letterkenny–Milford | Letterkenny | Ballymacool, Castlewray, Corravaddy, Edenacarnan, Gortnavern, Killymasny, Kincraigy, Letterkenny Rural, Letterkenny Urban, Magheraboy, Manorcunningham, Mín an Lábáin, Suí Corr and Templedouglas. | 7 |
| Letterkenny–Milford | Milford | An 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. | 3 |
| Lifford–Stranorlar | Lifford–Stranorlar | Allt 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 |

## Current councillors

The following were elected at the 2024 Donegal County Council election.
| Party | Seats |
| Fianna Fáil | 10 |
| Sinn Féin | 10 |
| 100% Redress | 4 |
| Fine Gael | 3 |
| Labour | 1 |
| Independent | 9 |

### Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.
Council members from 2024 election :
| Local electoral area | Name | Party |
| Buncrana | Jack Murray | Sinn Féin |
| Buncrana | Joy Beard | 100% Redress |
| Buncrana | Paul Canning | Fianna Fáil |
| Buncrana | Terry Crossan | Sinn Féin |
| Buncrana | Fionán Bradley | Fianna Fáil |
| Carndonagh | Ali Farren | 100% Redress |
| Carndonagh | Martin McDermott | Fianna Fáil |
| Carndonagh | Albert Doherty | Sinn Féin |
| Carndonagh | Martin Farren | Labour |
| Donegal | Micheál Naughton | Fianna Fáil |
| Donegal | Noel Jordan | Sinn Féin |
| Donegal | Michael McMahon | Sinn Féin |
| Donegal | Jimmy Brogan | Independent |
| Donegal | Manus Boyle | Fine Gael |
| Donegal | Niamh Kennedy | Independent |
| Glenties | Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig | Independent |
| Glenties | Michael McClafferty | Independent |
| Glenties | Anthony Molloy | Fianna Fáil |
| Glenties | Brian Carr | Sinn Féin |
| Glenties | John Shéamais Ó Fearraigh | Sinn Féin |
| Glenties | Denis McGee | 100% Redress |
| Letterkenny | Donal 'Mandy' Kelly | Fianna Fáil |
| Letterkenny | Tomás Seán Devine | 100% Redress |
| Letterkenny | Gerry McMonagle | Sinn Féin |
| Letterkenny | Ciaran Brogan | Fianna Fáil |
| Letterkenny | Jimmy Kavanagh | Fine Gael |
| Letterkenny | Michael McBride | Independent |
| Letterkenny | Dónal Coyle | Fianna Fáil |
| Lifford–Stranorlar | Martin Scanlon | Independent |
| Lifford–Stranorlar | Gary Doherty | Sinn Féin |
| Lifford–Stranorlar | Martin Harley | Fine Gael |
| Lifford–Stranorlar | Frank McBrearty Jnr | Independent |
| Lifford–Stranorlar | Patrick McGowan | Fianna Fáil |
| Lifford–Stranorlar | Dakota Nic Mheanman | Sinn Féin |
| Milford | Declan Meehan | Independent |
| Milford | Liam Blaney | Fianna Fáil |
| Milford | Pauric McGarvey | Independent |