Galway County Council was established on 1 April 1899 under the
Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 for the
administrative county of
County Galway. This area was that of the former judicial county of Galway, except the
district electoral divisions of Drummaan, Inishcaltra North, Mountshannon, and Rosmoylan (which became part of
County Clare) and the district electoral divisions of Ballinchalla and Owenbrin (which became part of
County Mayo); the part of the judicial county of
Roscommon which was in the town of
Ballinasloe; and the judicial county of the town of
Galway. It took over the local administration which had been carried out by county
grand juries and county-at-large presentment sessions, which included the maintenance of highways and bridges, the upkeep of lunatic asylums, and the appointment of
coroners. The new council also took over some duties from the
poor law boards of guardians in relation to diseases of cattle and from the
justices of the peace to regulate explosives. From 1986,
Galway City Council has governed the city of Galway as a separate local government area from the rest of the county. The County Council initially met in
Tuam. It subsequently acquired the old Galway Infirmary and converted it into a new county headquarters. A modern facility, known as
County Hall, was built on the same site and completed in 1999. ==Regional Assembly==