Cork County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Chorcaí) is the local authority of County Cork, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001, as amended. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The council has 55 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 county administration is headed by a chief executive, Moira Murrell. The county seat is Cork.
Cork County Council Comhairle Contae Chorcaí | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | County council |
| Leadership | |
Mayor | Mary Linehan Foley, Ind |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 55 |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 7 June 2024 |
| Meeting place | |
| County Hall, Cork | |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
History
Cork County Council was established on 1 April 1899 under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 for the administrative county of County Cork. Originally meetings of Cork County Council were held in the back portion of the top floor of Cork Courthouse. By the 1950s these premises were becoming inadequate and County Hall opened in April 1968.
Boundary change
The area under the administration of Cork County Council was reduced on 31 May 2019, ceding territory to Cork City Council. This implemented changes under the Local Government Act 2019.
The 2015 Cork Local Government Review had recommended merging Cork City Council and Cork County Council into a single "super council"; however, a minority report opposed the merger, with a subsequent report published by an expert advisory group in 2017 recommending a city boundary extension.
Regional Assembly
Cork County Council has five representatives on the Southern Regional Assembly who are part of the South-West Strategic Planning Area Committee.
Elections
Members of Cork 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 | FG | FF | SF | Lab | GP | SD | PDs | WP | II | Ind | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | — | 0 | 4 | 8 | 55 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | — | 10 | 55 | ||||||||||
| 2014 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | — | 10 | 55 | ||||||||||
| 2009 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 0 | — | 6 | 48 | ||||||||||
| 2004 | 24 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 48 | ||||||||||
| 1999 | 21 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 48 | ||||||||||
| 1991 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 48 | ||||||||||
| 1985 | 19 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 48 | ||||||||||
Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts
County Cork is divided into the municipal districts and local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions.
| Municipal District | LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandon–Kinsale | Abbeymahon, Ballinadee, Ballinspittle, Ballyfeard, Ballymackean, Ballymartle, Ballymodan, Ballymurphy, Bandon, Baurleigh, Boulteen, Brinny, Butlerstown, Cashel, Coolmain, Courtmacsherry, Cullen (in the former Rural District of Kinsale), Inishannon, Kilbrittain, Kilbrogan, Kilmaloda East, Kilmaloda West, Kilmonoge, Kinsale Rural, Kinsale Urban, Kinure, Knockavilly, Knockroe, Laherne, Leighmoney, Murragh, Nohaval, Rathclarin, Templemartin, Templemichael, Templeomalus and Timoleague. | 6 | |
| Carrigaline | Ballyfoyle, Carrigaline (in the former rural district of Kinsale), Dunderrow, Farranbrien, Kilpatrick, Liscleary, Monkstown Urban, Templebreedy; and those parts of the electoral divisions of Ballygarvan, Carrigaline (in the former rural district of Cork), Douglas, Inishkenny, and Monkstown Rural that are not contained within the City of Cork. | 6 | |
| Cobh | Ballynaglogh, Carrignavar, Carrigtohill, Cobh Rural, Cobh Urban, Killeagh (in the former Rural District of Cork), Knockraha, Watergrasshill; and those parts of the electoral divisions of Caherlag, Rathcooney (part), Riverstown and Whitechurch that are not contained within the City of Cork. | 6 | |
| East Cork | Midleton | Ardagh, Ballintemple, Ballycottin, Ballyspillane, Castlemartyr, Clonmult, Clonpriest, Cloyne, Corkbeg, Dangan, Dungourney, Garryvoe, Ightermurragh, Inch, Kilcronat, Killeagh (in the former Rural District of Youghal No.1), Kilmacdonogh, Lisgoold, Midleton Rural, Midleton Urban, Mogeely, Rostellan, Templebodan, Templenacarriga, Youghal Rural (part) and Youghal Urban. | 7 |
| Fermoy | Aghern, Ballyarthur, Ballyhooly, Ballynoe, Carrig (in the former Rural District of Fermoy), Castle Hyde, Castlecooke, Castlelyons, Castletownroche, Clenor, Coole, Curraglass, Derryvillane, Doneraile, Farahy, Fermoy Rural, Fermoy Urban, Glanworth East, Glanworth West, Glenville, Gortnaskehy, Gortroe, Kilcor, Kilcummer, Kildinan, Kildorrery, Kilgullane, Killathy, Kilphelan, Kilworth, Knockmourne, Leitrim, Marshalstown, Mitchelstown, Monanimy, Rathcormack, Shanballymore, Skahanagh, Streamhill, Templemolaga and Wallstown. | 6 | |
| Kanturk–Mallow | Kanturk | Allow, Ardskeagh, Ballyhoolahan, Banteer, Barleyhill, Barnacurra, Bawncross, Boherboy, Castlemagner, Clonfert East, Clonfert West, Clonmeen, Coolclogh, Crinnaloo, Cullen (in the former Rural District of Millstreet), Derragh, Doonasleen, Dromina, Glenlara, Greenane, Kanturk, Keale, Kilbrin, Kilcorney, Kilmeen, Knockatooan, Knocknagree, Knocktemple, Meens, Milford, Milltown, Newmarket, Newtown, Rathcool, Rathluirc, Rosnalee, Rowls, Skagh, Springfort, Tullylease and Williamstown. | 4 |
| Mallow | Ballyclogh, Ballynamona, Blackpool, Buttevant, Caherduggan, Carrig (in the former rural District of Mallow), Castlecor, Churchtown, Dromore, Gortmore, Imphrick, Kilmaclenine, Kilshannig, Knockantota, Liscarroll, Mallow North Urban, Mallow Rural, Mallow South Urban, Nad, Rahan, Roskeen, Templemary and Tincoora. | 5 | |
| Macroom | Aghinagh, Aglish, An Sliabh Riabhach, Ballygroman, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Maigh Chromta) (in the former Rural District of Macroom), Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Dún Mánmhaí) (in the former Rural District of Dunmanway), Bealock, Caherbarnagh, Cannaway, Carrigboy, Ceann Droma, Cill na Martra, Claonráth, Clondrohid, Clonmoyle, Coomlogane, Doire Fhínín, Dripsey, Drishane, Firmount, Gort na Tiobratan, Gowlane, Greenfort, Greenville, Inchigeelagh, Kilberrihert, Kilbonane, Kilcullen, Macloneigh, Macroom Urban, Magourney, Mashanaglass, Mountrivers, Moviddy, Na hUláin, Rahalisk, Teerelton, Warrenscourt; and those parts of the electoral divisions of Ballincollig, Blarney, Carrigrohanebeg, Matehy and Ovens that are not contained within the City of Cork. | 6 | |
| West Cork | Bantry–West Cork | Adrigole, Aghadown North, Aghadown South, Ahil, Ballybane, Ballydehob, Bantry Rural, Bantry Urban, Bear, Bredagh, Caheragh, Cloghdonnell, Coolagh, Coulagh, Crookhaven, Curryglass, Douce, Dromdaleague North, Dromdaleague South, Dunbeacon, Dunmanus, Durrus East, Durrus West, Garranes, Garrown, Glanlough, Glengarriff, Goleen, Gortnascreeny, Kealkill, Kilcaskan, Kilcatherine, Kilcoe, Killaconenagh, Killeenleagh, Kilnamanagh, Lowertown, Mealagh, Milane, Scart, Seefin, Sheepshead, Skull, Toormore and Whiddy. | 4 |
| Skibbereen–West Cork | Ardfield, Argideen, Aultagh, Ballingurteen, Ballymoney, Bengour, Cahermore, Carrigbaun, Castlehaven North, Castlehaven South, Castletown, Castleventry, Cléire, Clonakilty Rural, Clonakilty Urban, Cloonkeen, Coolcraheen, Coolmountain, Derry, Drinagh (in the former Rural District of Dunmanway), Drinagh (in the former Rural District of Skibbereen), Dunmanway North, Dunmanway South, Kilfaughnabeg, Kilkerranmore, Kilmoylerane, Kilnagross, Kinneigh, Knocks, Knockskagh, Manch, Myross, Rathbarry, Rosscarbery, Rossmore, Shreelane, Skibbereen Rural, Skibbereen Urban, Teadies, Tullagh and Woodfort | 5 | |
Councillors
The following were elected at the 2024 Cork County Council election.
2024 seats summary
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | 19 | |
| Fine Gael | 18 | |
| Independent Ireland | 4 | |
| Social Democrats | 3 | |
| Labour | 2 | |
| Sinn Féin | 1 | |
| Independent | 8 | |
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 | |
| Bandon–Kinsale | Alan Coleman | Independent | |
| John Collins | Independent Ireland | ||
| John Michael Foley | Fine Gael | ||
| Ann Bambury | Social Democrats | ||
| Gillian Coughlan | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Marie O'Sullivan | Fine Gael | ||
| Bantry–West Cork | Danny Collins | Independent Ireland | |
| Finbarr Harrington | Independent | ||
| Caroline Cronin | Fine Gael | ||
| Patrick Gerard Murphy | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Carrigaline | Séamus McGrath | Fianna Fáil | |
| Ben Dalton O'Sullivan | Independent | ||
| Jack White | Fine Gael | ||
| Audrey Buckley | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Úna McCarthy | Fine Gael | ||
| Eoghan Fahy | Sinn Féin | ||
| Cobh | Sheila O'Callaghan | Fianna Fáil | |
| Anthony Barry | Fine Gael | ||
| Sinéad Sheppard | Fine Gael | ||
| Cathal Rasmussen | Labour | ||
| Ger Curley | Independent Ireland | ||
| Dominic Finn | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Fermoy | William O'Leary | Independent | |
| Noel McCarthy | Fine Gael | ||
| Frank O'Flynn | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Deirdre O'Brien | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Nelius Cotter | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Peter O'Donoghue | Independent | ||
| Kanturk | Bernard Moynihan | Fianna Fáil | |
| John Paul O'Shea | Fine Gael | ||
| Trish Murphy | Fine Gael | ||
| Ian Doyle | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Macroom | Gobnait Moynihan | Fianna Fáil | |
| Michael Creed | Fine Gael | ||
| Michael Looney | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Eileen Lynch | Fine Gael | ||
| Ted Lucey | Fine Gael | ||
| Martin Coughlan | Independent | ||
| Mallow | Tony O'Shea | Fine Gael | |
| Liam Madden | Fine Gael | ||
| Eoghan Kenny | Labour | ||
| Gearóid Murphy | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Pat Hayes | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Midleton | Mary Linehan Foley | Independent | |
| Michael Hegarty | Fine Gael | ||
| Liam Quaide | Social Democrats | ||
| Patrick Mulcahy | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Rory Cocking | Fine Gael | ||
| Ann Marie Ahern | Fianna Fáil | ||
| John Buckley | Independent | ||
| Skibbereen–West Cork | Noel O'Donovan | Fine Gael | |
| Joe Carroll | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Deirdre Kelly | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Daniel Sexton | Independent Ireland | ||
| Isobel Towse | Social Democrats | ||
- Notes
- Replaced during term, see table below for details.
Co-options
| Party | Outgoing | LEA | Reason | Date | Co-optee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Eoghan Kenny | Mallow | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 20 December 2024 | Ronan Sheehan | |
| Fianna Fáil | Séamus McGrath | Carrigaline | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 20 December 2024 | Patrick Donovan | |
| Fine Gael | Noel McCarthy | Fermoy | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 20 December 2024 | Kay Dawson | |
| Fine Gael | John Paul O'Shea | Kanturk | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 20 December 2024 | Aileen Browne | |
| Social Democrats | Liam Quaide | Midleton | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 20 December 2024 | Eamonn Horgan | |
| Fine Gael | Eileen Lynch | Macroom | Elected to the 27th Seanad at the 2025 Seanad election | 21 April 2025 | Kate Lynch | |
| Fine Gael | Noel O'Donovan | Skibbereen–West Cork | Nominated to the 27th Seanad | 21 April 2025 | Brendan McCarthy | |
| Fianna Fáil | Patrick Gerard Murphy | Bantry–West Cork | Death of councillor | 13 September 2025 | TBA | |
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