Louth County Council

Louth County Council Comhairle Contae Lú
Type
Type	County council of County Louth
Leadership
Cathaoirleach	Kevin Callan, Ind
Structure
Seats	29
Political groups	Sinn Féin (7)   Fianna Fáil (6)   Fine Gael (6)   Labour (2)   Green (1)   Independent (7)
Elections
Last election	7 June 2024
Motto
Irish: Lugh sáimh-ioldánach "Lugh equally skilled in many arts"
Meeting place
County Hall, Dundalk
Website
Official website

Louth County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Lú) is the local authority of County Louth, 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.^[1] The council has 29 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 current Cathaoirleach is Kevin Callan. The county administration is headed by a chief executive, Joan Martin. Under a provision of the Local Government Act the elected members must vote confidence in a new chief executive and also have the power to remove one from office.

The county town is Dundalk, not just because of it traditionally being the largest town but also because of heraldry. Both the crests of Dundalk and Louth reference An Táin. Louth in Irish Lú traces her name from the Sun God, Lú. According to one interpretation of An Táin Cúchulainn, who was born in Dundalk, is a son of Lú, hence the fates of Dundalk and Louth are always linked together as the fertile soil also referenced on the Louth crest stretches across the Plain of Muirtheivne on which ancient large plain Cúchulainn fell.