The First Council Meeting

The first meeting of Laois County Council took place on Saturday the 22nd April, 1899. There were no computers, mobile phones, projectors or printers. Yet many of the issues faced by that particular Council were the same as those that face the Council today. The meeting took place in the Grand Jury Room of Maryborough Courthouse in Portlaoise. Proceedings began about half an hour after the appointed starting time of 11.30am. The meeting was conducted in an efficient and workmanlike fashion. The historic meeting set an exemplary tone for Local Government administration in the County for the years ahead.

Politics and matters of the Government were strictly a male domain at the time. These were the days before women's suffrage and much longer still before a mention of women's liberation. All thirty-one Members present at the first meeting were men. The pendulum has swung over the years in favour of women -albeit slowly it must be admitted. Mary Wheatley, in 1985, became the first woman to be elected to Laois County Council. In the Local Government elections in 2004 of the twenty-five  Members elected only two were women.

On April 22nd 1899 there was a full attendance as Returning Officer and Sub-Sheriff for the Queens County, Mr. Richard Bull, got proceedings underway. Despite his name the convenor allowed "no bull" whatsoever to diminish the importance of the occasion.

Both the Leinster Express and the Nationalist & Leinster Times of the 29th April 1899 recorded the proceedings of that first meeting of the Council.

The report in The Nationalist read as follows. "The first meeting of Queens County Council on Saturday last was a very respected and model business - like gathering and its proceedings bore very favourable contrast with the proceedings of the predecessors, the Grand Jury.The troublesome question of co-option and the Chairmanship were disposed of without any of that friction which was prophesied for us by the Unionist cranks, and although the contest for the Chair was a very close one it was concluded with the best temper."

The report in the Leinster Express read as follows. "The proceedings were conducted in an expeditious and business-like manner, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Meehan who proved his efficiency for the position assigned to him by the Council by the able manner in which he discharged his duties." 

Minutes of the First Meeting

The Minutes of the first meeting record the name of those present as read out by Capt. Henry Despard, Secretary.

 Electoral Division  Name
 Abbeyleix  William Phelan
 Arles  John Byrne
 Ballinakill  Patrick Brennan
 Ballybrittas  Denis Boland
 Borris-in-Ossory  Laurence Thomas Kelly
 Castletown  Arthur McMahon
 Clonaslee  John Treacy
 Coolrain  Michael Fitzpatrick
 Cullenagh  James MacMahon
 Donaghore  Bernard Edward Barnaby
 Durrow  Patrick O'Flanagan
 Emo  John Williams
 Luggancurren  Thomas Breen
 Maryborough  Patrick A. Meehan
 Mountmellick  William McEvoy
 Mountrath  John Dowling
 Newtown  Patrick Brennan
 O'Moore's Forest  Patrick Doran
 Portarlington South  Charles Bannon
 Rathdowney  Daniel Quigley
 Stradbally  Denis Shaughnessey
 Tinnahinch  William Dunne

Present also were the Chairmen of the five Rural District Councils:

 Electoral Division  Name
 Abbeyleix  Arthur McMahon
 Athy No. 2  Thomas Timmins
 Carlow No. 2  Matthias McWey
 Mountmellick  James Dunne
 Roscrea No.3  Thomas Lowry