Mayor of Galway

Honorific title of the chairperson of Galway City Council

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Mayor of Galway

Méara Chathair na Gaillimhe

Incumbent
Peter Keane (FF)

since June 2024

Appointer| Galway City Council
Term length| 1 year
Inaugural holder| Peirce Lynch
Formation| 1485
Salary| €20,000[1]
Website| galwaycity.ie

The office of Mayor of Galway is an honorific title used by the Cathaoirleach of Galway City Council. The council has jurisdiction throughout its administrative area of the city of Galway which is the largest city in the province of Connacht, in Ireland. The current mayor is Peter Keane, (FF).

## Election to the office

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The Mayor is elected to office annually by Councillors of Galway City Council from amongst its members. There is no popular vote. Up to 1841, Mayors were elected in August and took office in September. There was a strong tradition of festivities to mark this start of a new municipal year. Current practice is for the term of office to begin in June with the former Mayor presenting the Chain of Office to the incoming Mayor, thus formally inaugurating a new term. The process is repeated the following June, unless the same person is given a second consecutive term.

## History of the office

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Patrick D. Ryan in the ceremonial robes of the Mayor of Galway alongside US President John F. Kennedy in June 1963

The office was originally established by a charter issued by King Richard III of England in December 1484 and had significant powers. The office has existed, with a break of ninety-seven years, since it was inaugurated in 1485. The Mayor led Galway Corporation from 1485 to 1841 and again from 1937 to 2001.

Prior to the creation of the mayoralty, the town of Galway was ruled by a Provost or Sovereign, who was appointed by the Earl of Ulster. After the murder of the 3rd Earl in June 1333, the town was under the control of successive members of the Clanricarde line of the House of Burke family. This situation lasted until well into the 15th century. However, charters from Richard II (in 1396) and Edward IV (in 1464) gave the citizens of the town semi-independence from the Clanricardes.

The office of Mayor of Galway was created by a charter issued by King Richard III of England in December 1484 at the solicitation of merchants from the city's leading families, known as the Tribes of Galway. This made Galway a virtual city-state. Although it survived the turbulent 17th century, the massive corruption of the office led to its disestablishment in 1841, when Galway Corporation was relegated to the status of an urban district council, headed by a chairman.[clarification needed] In 1937 the city regained its corporation status and the office of Mayor was re-installed.

The office was all but abolished under the Local Government Act 2001. All that remains of the office, per section 11 of the Act is a symbolic role: "Subject to this Act, royal charters and letters patent relating to local authorities shall continue to apply for ceremonial and related purposes in accordance with local civic tradition but shall otherwise cease to have effect.". The Act goes on to state the chairman of the Council must be styled the Cathaoirleach and that "Any reference in any other enactment to the lord mayor, mayor, chairman, deputy lord mayor, deputy mayor or vice-chairman or cognate words shall, where the context so requires, be read as a reference to the Cathaoirleach or Leas-Chathaoirleach or other title standing for the time being." (section 31 (3)).

## List of mayors

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* List of mayors of Galway (from 1485)

## See also

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* List of rulers and officers of Galway 1230–1485

## References

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1. ^ "Galway Independent | What do councillors do?". Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2015.

## External links

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* Galway City Council Page

* v
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* e

Galway

* People

Districts|

* Ballybrit
* Bohermore
* Claddagh
* Cnoc Meadha
* Dangan
* Doughiska
* Knocknacarra
* Lough Atalia
* Mervue
* Newcastle
* Nun's Island
* Rahoon
* Renmore
* Salthill
* Shantalla
* Terryland
* Westside

History|

* Tribes
* Siege
* Rulers of Galway 1230–1485
* High Sheriff
* Hardiman's History of Galway
* Claddagh Palace
* Former Dáil constituency
* Parliament of Ireland constituency
* UK Parliament constituency

Politics|

* City Council
* Mayor
* Current Dáil constituency

Landmarks|

* Cathedral
* City Museum
* Eyrecourt Castle
* Eyre Square
* Shop Street
* Spanish Arch
* St. Nicholas Collegiate Church

Culture|

* 126 Artist-run Gallery
* African Film Festival
* Galway International Arts Festival
* Charlie Byrne's Bookshop
* Cúirt International Festival of Literature
* International Oyster Festival
* Druid Theatre Company
* Macnas
* Róisín Dubh
* Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe
* Town Hall Theatre
* Public art

Education|

* University of Galway
* Atlantic TU (Galway campus)
* Calasanctius College
* Coláiste Iognáid
* St Mary's College
* The Bish
* Yeats College

Media|

* Classic Hits
* Flirt FM
* Galway Bay FM
* RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
* Connacht Tribune
* Galway Advertiser
* Galway Vindicator
* Sin

Sport|

* Galway Races
* Connacht Rugby
* Corinthians RFC
* Galwegians RFC
* Galway United F.C.
* Galway W.F.C.
* Mervue United A.F.C.
* Salthill Devon F.C.
* Galway GAA
* Dexcom Stadium
* Pearse Stadium
* Eamonn Deacy Park

Transport|

* Ceannt Station
* Suburban Rail
* Light rail proposals

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