Newbridge Town Council

Landlords and their representatives had, traditionally, been responsible for local government in Ireland. The Town Improvement Act 1854 gave powers to town management and allowed elected town commissioners to provide basic services such as lighting, cleaning, and paving. At that time Newbridge had a very small electorate and the number of people eligible for election to the Town Commissioners was even more limited.

Newbridge Town Commissioners was approved on 13 th February 1865. Their first responsibilities were lighting and cleaning of streets, supervising the town market, overseeing the licensing of cars and drivers and managing the Town Hall.

Each year in October, elections took place to the Town Commissioners.

The following is a breakdown of the first Newbridge Town Commissioners:

Under the Local Government Act 2001 Newbridge Town Commissioners became a Town Council, effective from 1st January 2002.

The Council is run with a budget provided by Kildare County Council, which is raised by means of a grant from the Dept. of the Environment & Local Government and town charges levied on commercial activities in the town.