Adrian Kavanagh, 6th July 2016 (with subsequent updates)
The 2014 Local Elections resulted in the election of 949 City and County Councillors. Since that election, I have estimated that 129 of the successful candidates in these elections, or candidates who were had been co-opted to replace some of the candidates at an earlier date, have either stood down – in most cases, due to being elected to Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann at the 2016 elections – or have sadly passed away. 88 of the former Councillors in this group are male (68.2%) and 41 are female (31.8%).
As Table 1 shows, 84 (66.7%) of the co-options/new Councillors are male, while 42 are female (33.3%). As a result of recent co-options (which have tended to favour males), the number of female members of City and County Councils, which had been increasing following co-options in the early years of these Councils, now stands at 198, just one more than the number of female Councillors elected at the 2014 elections (197).
A notable proportion of these co-options have been accounted for by family members of the Councillors, who have stood down or who have passed away. I estimate that 17 of the co-opted Councillors would fall into this group, amounting to 14.0% of the total number of co-options at present.
Table 1 shows that some local authority areas have seen a large number of co-options, as of this point in time – most notably Cork County Council (12), Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown (10 – with 4 co-options for the Stillorgan EA alone), South Dublin (9) and Dublin City Council (8), as well as Louth (6), Fingal (6), Kildare (5), Limerick (5), Tipperary (5), Monaghan (5) and Westmeath (5).
An earlier post dealing with this topic was published on the Cedar House Revolution website on 16th March 2016.
Electoral Area | Standing Down/Deceased | Co-option/ Replacement |
Carlow | ||
Carlow | Jennifer Murnane O’Connor FF, Anne Ahern FF | Ken Murnane FF, Andrea Dalton FF |
Muinebeag | ||
Cavan | ||
Bailieborough-Cootehill | Niamh Smyth FF | Sarah O’Reilly FF (then Aontú) |
Ballyjamesduff | ||
Cavan-Belturbert | Eugene Greenan SF | Daniel Downey |
Clare | ||
Ennis | ||
Killaloe | ||
Shannon | ||
West Clare | ||
Cork County | ||
Ballincollig-Carrigaline | Donnchadh O Laoghaire SF | Eoghan Jeffers |
Bandon-Kinsale | Tim Lombard FG | Aidan Lombard |
Blarney-Macroom | Aindrias Moynihan FF, Des O’Grady SF | Gobnait Moynihan FF, Ronnie Morley SF |
Cobh | Claire Cullinane IND | Diarmuid Ó Cadhla PC |
East Cork | Pat Buckley SF, Aaron O’Sullivan FF | Danielle Twomey SF, Michael Ahern FF |
Fermoy | Kevin O’Keeffe FF | Deirdre O’Brien |
Kanturk-Mallow | Dan Joe Fitzgerald FF, Daniel Fitzgerald FF* | Daniel Fitzgerald, Gearóid Murphy |
West Cork | Michael Collins IND, Margaret Murphy-O’Mahony FF, Noel O’Donovan FG | Danny Collins IND, Gillian Coughlan FF, John O’Sullivan FG |
Cork City | ||
Cork City North Central | Mick Barry AAA | Fiona Ryan |
Cork City North East | ||
Cork City North West | ||
Cork City South Central | ||
Cork City South East | ||
Cork City South West | ||
Donegal | ||
Donegal | Sean McEniff FF, John Campbell IN | Micheál Naughton FF, Seamus Maguire IND |
Glenties | ||
Letterkenny | Mick Quinn SF | Adrian Glackin |
Inishowen | John Ryan FG | Mickey Doherty |
Stranorlar | ||
Dublin City | ||
Ballyfermot-Drimnagh | Brid Smith PBP | Hazel de Nortuin |
Ballymun | Noel Rock FG | Norma Sammon |
Beaumont-Donaghmede | Denise Mitchell SF | Edel Moran |
Cabra-Finglas | ||
Clontarf | Sean Haughey FF | Sean Paul Mahon |
Crumlin-Kimmage | Catherine Ardagh FF | Michael Mullooly |
North Inner City | Jonathan Dowdall SF | Gaye Fagan |
Pembroke-South Dock | ||
Rathgar-Rathmines | Kate O’Connell FG, Jim O’Callaghan FF | Anne Feeney FG, Claire O’Connor FF |
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown | ||
Blackrock | Victor Boyhan IND | Anne Colgan |
Dun Laoghaire | Karl Gill PBPA | Dave O’Keeffe |
Dundrum | Catherine Martin GP, Karen Furlong GP* | Karen Furlong GP, Daniel Dunne GP |
Glencullen-Sandyford | Neale Richmond FG | Emma Blain |
Killiney-Shankill | Maria Bailey FG | Jim Gildea |
Stillorgan | Josepha Madigan FG, Gerry Horkan FF, Richard Humphreys LAB, Carron McKinney LAB* | John Kennedy FG, Donal Smith FF, Carron McKinney LAB, Alex White LAB |
Fingal County | ||
Balbriggan | JP Browne FG, Ken Farrell LAB, David O’Connor IND | Tom O’Leary FG, Robert O’Donoghue LAB, Cathal Boland IND |
Castleknock | Jack Chambers FF | Howard Mahony |
Howth-Malahide | ||
Mulhuddart | Ruth Coppinger AAA, Annette Hughes AAA | Matthew Waine, Tania Doyle |
Swords | Philip Lynam SF | Ann Graves SF |
South Dublin County | ||
Clondalkin | Eoin O Broin SF, Gino Kenny PBPA | Mark Ward SF, Madeleine Johansson PBP |
Lucan | ||
Tallaght Central | Maire Devine SF | Cora McCann |
Tallaght South | Nicky Coules PBPA | Emma Hendrick |
Templeogue Terenure | Colm Brophy FG, Fintan Warfield SF, Enda Fanning SF* | Brian Lawlor FG, Enda Fanning SF, Robert Russell SF |
Rathfarnham | John Lahart FF, Anne-Marie Dermody FG | Emma Murphy FF, Conor McMahon FG |
Galway City | ||
Galway City Central | Anna Marley SF | Mark Lohan |
Galway City East | ||
Galway City West | Catherine Connolly IND | Colette Connolly |
Galway County | ||
Athenry-Oranmore | ||
Ballinasloe | ||
Conamara | ||
Loughrea | Anne Rabbitte FF, Michael Fahy FF (formerly IND) | Ivan Canning |
Tuam | Michael Fitzmaurice IND, Sean Canney IND | Des Joyce IND, Billy Connelly IND |
Kerry | ||
Killarney | Danny Healy-Rae IND | Maura Healy-Rae |
Listowel | John Brassil FF, Dianne Nolan SF | John Lucid FF, Tom Barry SF |
South and West Kerry | ||
Tralee | ||
Kildare | ||
Athy | Mark Dalton IND (formerly FF) | Brian Dooley FF |
Celbridge-Leixlip | Frank O’Rourke FF | Michael Coleman |
Maynooth | ||
Kildare-Newbridge | Willie Crowley IND, Fiona O’Loughlin FF | Morgan McCabe IND, Murty Aspell FF |
Naas | Willie Callaghan FF, James Lawless FF | Deborah Callaghan, Carmel Kelly |
Kilkenny | ||
Castlecomer | ||
Kilkenny City-East | ||
Kilkenny City-West | Kathleen Funchion SF | Sean Tyrell |
Piltown | ||
Laois | ||
Borris in Ossory-Mountmellick | ||
Graiguecullen-Portarlington | ||
Portlaoise | Jerry Lodge FF | Pauline Madigan |
Leitrim | ||
Ballinamore | Martin Kenny SF | Caroline Gildea |
Carrick-on-Shannon | ||
Manorhamilton | ||
Limerick | ||
Limerick City East | Shane Clifford FF | Joe Pond |
Limerick City North | Joe Crowley FF, Maurice Quinlivan SF, Cian Prendiville SOL | Vivienne Crowley FF, John Costelloe SF, Mary Cahillane SOL |
Limerick City West | Maria Byrne FG | Elenora Hogan FG |
Adare-Rathkeale | Tom Neville FG | Adam Teskey |
Cappamore-Kilmallock | ||
Newcastle West | ||
Longford | ||
Ballymahon | ||
Granard | John Duffy FG | Gerry Hagan |
Longford | Padraig Loughrey FF | Joe Flaherty |
Louth | ||
Ardee | ||
Drogheda | Imelda Munster SF, Alan Cassidy SF | Joanna Byrne, David Saurin |
Dundalk-Carlingford | Jim Loughran SF | Antoin Watters |
Dundalk-South | Declan Breathnach FF, Kevin Meenan SF, Jennifer Green SF | Emma Coffey FF, Ruairi O Murchu SF, Anne Campbell SF |
Mayo | ||
Ballina | ||
Castlebar | Lisa Chambers FF, Therese Ruane SF | Martin McLoughlin FF, Joe McHale SF |
Claremorris | ||
West Mayo | Rose Conway Walsh SF | Teresa Whelan SF |
Meath | ||
Ashbourne | Sean Smith FF | |
Kells | ||
Laytown-Bettystown | ||
Navan | Shane Cassells FF, Joe Reilly SF | Padraig Fitzsimons FF, Edward Fennessy SF |
Ratoath | ||
Trim | ||
Monaghan | ||
Ballybay-Clones | Eugene Bannigan FG, Ciara McPhillips FG, Eva Humphreys FG | Sean Gilliland FG, Eva Humphreys FG, Richard Truell FG |
Carrickmacross-Castleblaney | Matt Carthy SF | Colm Carthy |
Monaghan | Robbie Gallagher FF | Raymond Aughey |
Offaly | ||
Birr | Carol Nolan SF | Sean Maher SF |
Edenderry | Martin O’Reilly SF | Alan Davy SF |
Tullamore | Sinead Dooley FF | Tony McCormack FF |
Roscommon | ||
Athlone (Roscommon) | ||
Boyle | Eugene Murphy FF, Maura Hopkins FG | Joe Murphy FF, Liam Callaghan FG |
Roscommon | ||
Sligo | ||
Ballymote-Tubbercurry | Eamon Scanlon FF, Margaret Gormley IND | Keith Henry FF |
Sligo | Seamus O’Boyle PBPA, Sean McManus SF | Gino O’Boyle PBPA, Chris MacManus SF |
Tipperary | ||
Carrick-on-Suir | Eddie O’Meara IND, John Fahy FG | Michael O’Meara IND, Mark Fitzgerald FG |
Cashel-Tipperary | ||
Clonmel | ||
Nenagh | ||
Templemore-Thurles | Willie Kennedy IND (Lowry IND), Jackie Cahill FF | Eddie Moran IND, Sean Ryan FF |
Waterford | ||
Waterford City East | John Carey FG, Mary Roche IND | Sharon Carey FG, Matt Shanahan IND |
Waterford City South | ||
Tramore-Waterford City West | ||
Comeragh | Mary Butler FF | Ray Murphy FF |
Dungarvan-Lismore | ||
Westmeath | ||
Athlone (Westmeath) | Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran IND | Ailish McManus IND |
Mullingar-Coole | Peter Burke FG, Aidan Davitt FF | Emily Wallace FG, Bill Collentine FF |
Mullingar-Kilbeggan | Paul Daly FF, Avril Whitney FF | Liam McDaniel FF, Brian Crum FF |
Wexford | ||
Gorey | ||
Enniscorthy | James Browne FG | Willie Kavanagh |
New Ross | Oisín O’Connell SF | Marie Doyle |
Wexford | Fergie Kehoe FF, Deirdre Wadding PBPA, Anthony Kelly SF | Lisa McDonald FF, Tony Walsh PBPA, Thomas Forde SF |
Wicklow | ||
Arklow | ||
Baltinglass | ||
Bray | John Brady SF, Michael O’Connor SF | Michael O’Connor SF, Dermot O’Brien SF |
Greystones | ||
Wicklow | Pat Kavanagh IND, Pat Casey FF | Mary Kavanagh IND, Gail Dunne FF |
Table 1: Successful 2014 Local Election candidates, who have stood down from City/County Councils or who have passed away, and the new Councillors who have been co-opted to replace them (Updated: 25th June 2018)
* Was co-opted to replace a Councillor, but then stood down/was replaced themselves some time later
In addition to the series of co-options, as outlined/discussed above, there has also been some changes in political party/grouping affiliations involving Councillors who were elected in June 2014. I estimate that, at present, at least 62 Councillors (6.5% of the total) would fall into this category. 18 female Councillors fall into this category; a number that accounts for 29.0% of the total number of Councillors in this particular grouping and which is equivalent to 9.1%of the number of female Councillors who were elected in 2014. (By contrast, 5.9% of the number of the male Councillors who were elected in 2014 (or subsequently co-opted) have changed their political party/political grouping since June 2014.) At least four other Councillors left a certain political party/grouping, but later on returned to that same party/grouping, including Gerry Warnock, Patrick McKee, and James Charity.
A number of Councillors in this grouping could be classed as “selection defections” – Councillors who left their political parties after failing to win a nomination to contest the 2016 General Election for that party. A number of changes of political affiliation also occurred in the wake of the founding of the new Social Democrat and Renua Ireland political parties in 2015. More recently (November/December 2018), a number of Councillors have joined the ranks of Deputy Peadar Tóibín’s emerging new political grouping/new political party. A number of the Councillors who defected to Renua in 2015 subsequently left the party in the run up to, or in the wake of, the 2016 election, as in the cases of Galway councillor, James Charity, Patrick McKee (Kilkenny), Ronan McMahon (Templeogue-Terenure) and Keith Redmond (Fingal).
One of the main impacts of these changes of Councillor political affiliations has been to change the number of City or County Council members associated with different political parties or groupings. As of now, I estimate that the number of City or County Council seats held by different political parties or groupings stands are as follows:
- Fianna Fail: 265
- Fine Gael: 234
- Independents/Non Party: 213 (Including at least 2 Independents4Change)
- Sinn Fein: 141
- Labour Party: 46
- Anti Austerity Alliance (Solidarity)-People Before Profit: 22 (Anti Austerity Alliance (Solidarity) 12, People Before Profit 10)
- Green Party: 12
- Aontú: 7
- Social Democrats: 7
- Workers Party: 2
- Renua Ireland: 1
In the fluctuating political climate leading up to the next local elections in 2019 (and possibly another general election before this), further changes of political allegiance are likely – and some of these I may well not be aware of yet! – but I will update these figures, as and when I become aware of further changes.
Lisa McDonald was coopted to Fergie Kehoes seat in Wexford, also Maura Hopkins left a vacancy in Roscommon, not sure who filled that though. On 6 Jul 2016 19:25, “Irish Elections: Geography, Facts and Analyses” wrote:
> Adrian Kavanagh posted: “Adrian Kavanagh, 6th July 2016 The 2014 Local > Elections resulted in the election of 949 City and County Councillors. > Since that election, I have estimated that 76 of the successful candidates > in these elections have either stood down – in most cases, due” >
Thanks. For some reason I’d forgotten to include Sen. Maura Hopkins on the list. Liam Callaghan replaced her on Roscommon County Council.
I knew Lisa McDonald was one of the candidates contesting the Fianna Fail Wexford co-option but had not realised that had been decided yet…
Thanks. I had not realised that a decision had been made on the Wexford Fianna Fail co-option yet. I see that this took place on 30th June
For some reason, I left Sen Maura Hopkins off the list, but her co-option on Roscommon County Council was Liam Callaghan
Any updates on these numbers Adrian? Lynam swords replaced by Graves
To be quite honest, I can only update these figures when I become aware of changes (and once I do, then I try to do so asap…) but if I don’t know/haven’t heard, then I…can’t!
In this case, I hadn’t realised that someone had been appointed to replace Philip Lynam, until now.
https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/ann-ready-to-take-her-seat-37690923.html
(Maybe I should have double checked this earlier, but I do have a very busy full time job to keep me going, in addition to trying to keep other pages on this site updated…)
Thank you, I will update figures when I get a chance
Hi Adrian, wasn’t having a go at all. You have a great website here keep it up. I want to use it as a reference to co option figures as it is something I want to get of.