1901
The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 created a new type of local authority the urban district governed by an urban district council. All town commissioners that were sanitary authorities became urban district councils. In addition the Local Government Board were given the power to constitute any other local government town with a population of more than 1500 as an urban district, although the ratepayers could petition to prevent the application of this section of the act.
The effect of this was that the number of towns with commissioners was greatly reduced. By 1902 74 urban districts had been formed, leaving only 30 towns still governed under the 1854 act. These towns formed part of the surrounding rural district also created by the Local Government Act for nearly all local government purposes, comparted with the urban district councils, who enjoyed considerable powers. Over the next few years the number varied as some towns became urban districtsand other communities adopted the act of 1854.
Read more about this topic: Town Commissioners, Changes in 1899