Waterford County Council was one of those created by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, an Act of the Westminster parliament. It took over the administrative business until then dealt with by the county grand jury, such as the maintenance of highways and bridges, the upkeep and inspection of lunatic asylums, and the appointment of coroners. The new county council also took over some duties of the poor lawboards of guardians and of the justices of the peace to regulate explosives.[1]
The county was divided by the Local Government Board for Ireland into district electoral divisions, each returning one councillor for a three-year term. The urban district of Waterford also elected county councillors, and "additional members" included the chairman of each rural district in the county, unless already elected or disqualified, when the RDC was to appoint another member. The council could also co-opt one or two additional members for a three-year term.
The first county council elections were held on 6 April 1899, and the first business was to appoint additional members.[2] Waterford County Council held its first meeting in Waterford Courthouse, but agreed that later meetings would be held at Dungarvan Courthouse. [3]
The county council established a County Secretary's Office at Arus Brugha at Davitt's Quay in the early-20th century[4][5] before moving into the modern Civic Offices, Dungarvan, at Davitt's Quay in 1999.[6]
The triennial elections were postponed in 1914, on the outbreak of the First World War.