Michael Leahy (1932–2007) was an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christian- ...

politician. He was the

Mayor of Galway The office of Mayor of Galway is an honorific title used by the 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 ...

from 1983–1984, 1991–1992, and 1997–1998. Born in Ballylanders,

County Limerick "Remember Limerick" , image_map = Island_of_Ireland_location_map_Limerick.svg , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Ireland , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Munster , subdivision ...

, Leahy began working for

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in 1952, been transferred to Galway two years later. He contested in the election of 1974 but only became a councillor in

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

, representing the North and East Ward. He first became Mayor in 1983, and so oversaw the

Quincentennial An anniversary is the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded in a previous year, and may also refer to the commemoration or celebration of that event. The word was first used for Catholic feasts to commemorate saint ...

celebrations of the city's Mayoral status. With

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Patrick Hillery Patrick John Hillery ( ga, Pádraig J. Ó hIrghile; 2 May 1923 – 12 April 2008) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as the sixth president of Ireland from December 1976 to December 1990. He also served as vice-president of the Euro ...

, he formally opened the celebrations with the raising of the

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The Tribes of Galway The Tribes of Galway ( ga, Treibheanna na Gaillimhe) were 14 merchant families who dominated the political, commercial and social life of the city of Galway in western Ireland between the mid-13th and late 19th centuries. They were the families ...

Eyre Square Eyre Square (; ga, An Fhaiche Mhór, also known as John F. Kennedy Memorial Park) is a city public park in Galway, Ireland. The park is within the city centre, adjoining the nearby shopping area of William Street and Shop Street. Galway rail ...

. Eighteen Mayors from Ireland and abroad arrived in February, he conferred the Freedom of Galway twice, and welcome President

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

to the city on 2 June 1984. One of his first acts for his second term was to welcome Councillor Tony O'Donohue, who had served for twenty years on the City Council of

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; both men had shared accommodation in Galway in the 1950s, after which O'Donohue emigrated following his graduation from

University College Galway The University of Galway ( ga, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe) is a public research university located in the city of Galway, Ireland. A tertiary education and research institution, the university was awarded the full five QS stars for excellence in 201 ...

. Another was a visit to

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, in June 1992 at the request of Galway University. During his third term, on 5 May 1998, Leahy signed a six million contract for the construction of a causeway to Mutton Island, signally the start of the long-overdue construction of the sewage treatment plant. He also hosted receptions for the

Druid Theatre Company The Druid Theatre Company, referred to as Druid, is an Irish theatre company, based in Galway, Ireland. As well as touring extensively across Ireland, the company's productions have played internationally to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the ...

, Rita Ryan Gilligan, MBE and formally opened the pedestrianised streets of Galway on 3 March 1998.

References

* ''Role of Honour:The Mayors of Galway City 1485-2001'', William Henry, Galway 2001.

External links

Listing of previous Mayors of GalwayNotice of Michael Leahy's deathArticle indicating that Leahy's death came in early 2007/late 2006
Mayors of Galway 1932 births 2007 deaths Local councillors in Galway (city) Politicians from County Galway Fianna Fáil politicians {{Ireland-mayor-stub