Tipperary County Councillor Mary Hanna Hourigan is the current President of the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG), the national representative and training body for the 950 City and County Councillors across Ireland.

The Tipperary Cahir Cashel Municipal District member, who resides in Cappawhite, was elected at the Associations Annual General Meeting in Mullingar on the 24^th of July 2025 and is the first elected member from Tipperary to hold the prestigious position of AILG President.

Expressing her gratitude and enthusiasm for the role, Cllr. Hanna Hourigan stated, “It is both an honour and a privilege to take on the role of President of the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) for 2025/2026. I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me and look forward to serving with dedication, energy, and integrity in the year ahead.

With 16 years’ experience as a councillor on Tipperary County Council and over a decade of active involvement with AILG, I have had the privilege of contributing to our organisation through key roles, including Vice President, member of the Executive, and delegate to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CLRAE). These roles have strengthened my belief in the vital role that councillors play in their communities and in the importance of strong, well-resourced local government.

Looking forward, I will continue to advocate for meaningful reforms through the work of the Local Democracy Taskforce and ensure that AILG remains a strong and influential voice for local government. I am committed to building on the achievements of my predecessor, Cllr. Kieran O’Hanlon, and to working collaboratively with the Vice President, Cllr. Paddy O’ Rourke, the incoming Executive and you, our members to shape a bold and ambitious future for local government in Ireland.”