Kilkenny's new council: FF/FG partnership most likely arrangement, with 13 the magic number for majority

Here’s how things have finished up, at the end of Kilkenny’s Local Elections 2024, with all 24 seats filled: The make-up of Kilkenny County Council is: Fianna Fail (11), Fine Gael (7), Labour (2), Sinn Fein (1), Green Party (1), Independent/Non-Party (2).

We won’t know for sure for another few days or so, but the newly-elected councillors and the party decision makers are currently in negotiations, carving things up for how everything is going to work for the next five years.

Given the similar make-up to the last council, it’s very likely the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail crews will reach an agreement on an agenda. Talks with that aim are ongoing at the moment, and it may be the end of the week before we know more.

With 24 seats, 13 is the magic number for a majority. A combination of Fianna Fail (11) and Fine Gael (7) would give them a sizeable majority to progress whatever policies and issues they want. It went fairly smoothly in 2019-2024.

That also means you are going to see plenty of familiar faces taking on the nice prominent roles, such as council cathaoirleach, Mayor of Kilkenny, and the various municipal district and committee chairs. Several of the councillors re-elected have already served multiple terms in these roles, which come with an additional chairman’s allowance as well as a prominent plaftform for the year, chairing meetings and attending events.

The first meeting of the new council will take place later this month, where the new faces will be welcomed, and more will become clear.