City seeks to annex Oranmore, Claregalway, Moycullen and Barna in boundary extension

An alteration of local authority boundaries that would result in Barna, Oranmore, Claregalway – and potentially Moycullen – forming part of the City Council administrative area must take place sooner rather than later.

That’s according to a city councillor who secured widespread support at City Council this week to debate the topic at next month’s meeting of the local authority.

More than half of the 18 city councillors put their name to a motion from Cllr John Connolly (FF) which comes on the back of a recommendation from Council Chief Executive, Brendan McGrath, to seek a rethink of the boundary.

Speaking to the Connacht Tribune, Cllr Connolly said it was apparent that the amalgamation of the two local authorities, proposed 2015 but abandoned in 2018, was no longer on the cards.

“In 2015, an expert group reviewed the options. One was to do nothing; one was to look at shared services; and another was to extend the city boundary. They ultimately recommended an amalgamation but it has failed to get political support. With that off the table, we need to look at those other options,” he said.

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