Ciarán Hayes
2021 ALI Fellow
Ciarán Hayes brings to ALI leadership in local government innovation and problem solving. As chief executive of the Sligo County Council, the administrative authority advancing all county development planning, he inherited Ireland’s largest county-level revenue deficit, stabilized county finances, won €250M in public development contracts, and secured European Investment Bank backing for Sligo to pilot a Smart City investment program. Ciarán also chairs Sligo’s tourism authority, is a board member for the local international airport, maritime board, and county enterprise fund, and leads national climate change adaptation and mitigation planning for local government agencies across Ireland. Previously, he held local leadership roles in Galway and management roles in Kilkenny and Dublin.