Appointment of new Chief Executive to lead Clare Council Council formally approved

Elected members of Clare County Council have formally approved the appointment of Gordon Daly as the local authority’s next Chief Executive.

The Clare native, with almost three decades of experience working in local government, including county Clare, is expected to take up the position late next month.

Mr Daly, who currently works for Limerick City and County Council, was recommended for the post by the Public Appointments Service in March, with the recommendation then going before Clare County Council’s Corporate Policy Group for consideration.

His appointment to Clare County Council received final approval from all members of the council at a meeting on Monday afternoon.

Congratulating the newly-appointed chief executive, Cllr Alan O'Callaghan, Cathaoirleach of Clare County, said: “I look forward to welcoming Gordon back to Clare County Council in his new role as chief executive, an important role that carries a lot of responsibility. I am confident that Gordon will do his best for the further economic and social development of the county."

Cllr O'Callaghan added that the members of Clare County Council look forward to working with Mr Daly in the years ahead to deliver on the key objectives of the council.

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Speaking following Monday's meeting, Mr Daly said he was looking forward to taking up the role. “I am delighted and honoured to join Clare County Council as Chief Executive and I wish to thank the Cathaoirleach and the elected members for approving my appointment.  I also wish to acknowledge the very significant contribution to Clare County Council and County Clare by my predecessor, Pat Dowling." 

Mr Daly says he looks forward to working in partnership with staff, management, public representatives and all our various partners and stakeholders in further delivering on the potential and ambition of County Clare.

Gordon Daly brings with him 28 years of experience working in local government across five different local authorities, including Clare.

For the past decade he has worked with Limerick City and County Council as a Director of Service and more recently as its Deputy Director General where he was responsible for key areas such as Corporate Services, Human Resources and Organisational Development.

He has led teams in the development of a range of strategic tourism and recreational initiatives in Limerick including the award-winning 40km Limerick Greenway and the Limerick Regional Athletics Hub, an international-standard public facility in Newcastle West. 

In addition, he has overseen the successful transfer of King John’s Castle, Limerick’s largest visitor attraction, to the local authority-owned Discover Limerick DAC from the Shannon Airport Group in 2022. 

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Mr Daly, who is originally from Tumegraney, has also played a key role in preparations to-date for the hosting of the centenary Ryder Cup in 2027 at Adare Manor, Limerick.

Gordon also brings to the role extensive experience in economic development and town and rural regeneration, including spear heading the establishment of a Dereliction and Vacancy Unit in Limerick - a nationally recognised initiative has brought hundreds of derelict and vacant houses and commercial properties back into productive use across Limerick’s towns and villages.

The newly-appointed chief executive previously worked as the Senior Planner for Clare County Council from 2009-2015 where he led the development of various strategies including the Strategic Integrated Framework Plan for the Shannon Estuary and the first Clare Renewable Energy Strategy. 

He is a past president of the Irish Planning Institute and a graduate of the Dublin Institute of Technology, the University of Gloucestershire and the Queen’s University of Belfast.