Clifden Rural District Council

Context

Creator(s): Clifden Rural District Council

• Administrative History ↴

  Rural District Councils were set up under the Local Government (Ireland) Act of 1898. Their powers were conferred upon them by Section 27 to 39 of the Act. The Council assumed responsibility for the road and public works functions of the Grand Juries where the cost had been borne by the district, and the housing and public health functions of the Boards of Guardians. In the early years of County Councils much of the routine business was transacted through these Councils. The Councils were dissolved in October 1925 under Section 8, Sub-section (2), (3), and (4) of the Local Government Act of that year. Their functions were transferred, under the Local Government Act of 1925, to the County Councils. The Clifden Rural District Council meetings, initially held in the Courthouse and later in the board-room of the Workhouse Clifden, were generally held monthly and then only if the required quorum of Councillors attended. There were usually 41 elected and/or co-opted members of Council, from about 1920 this number was reduced to 22. The Council’s geographical area of responsibility included the electoral divisions of Ballyinakill, Bencorr, Bunowen, Cleggan, Clifden, Cushkillery, Derrycunlagh, Derrylea, Doonloughan, Errislannon, Illion, Inishbofin, Killcummin, Knockboy, Moyrus, Oughterard, Owengowla, Renvyle, Roundstone, Silerna, and Skannive. The Council’s main priorities in its first ten years of business was the provision of water supply to Clifden town and other areas in the district, such as Carna, Roundstone and Letterfrack. From about 1907 it became involved in the provision of housing under the Labourers Cottages Acts.

• Archival History ↴

  Official Transfer from Galway County Council

• Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

  Official Transfer