- Mayor of Galway
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Mayor of Galway 
Appointer Galway City Council Term length 1 year Inaugural holder Peirce Lynch Formation 1485 Deputy Colette Connolly (Lab) Website www.galwaycity.ie The office of Mayor of Galway is an honorific title used by the Irish: Cathaoirleach of Galway City Council. The Council has jurisdiction throughout its administrative area which is the city of Galway – the largest city in the province of Connacht, in the Republic of Ireland. The office was originally established by a charter issued by King Richard III of England in December 1484 and had significant powers. 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)).
Election to the office
The Cathaoirleach 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 practise 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
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.
Previous to the creation of the mayoralty, the town of Galway was ruled by a Provost or Sovereign, who were 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 Burke family. This situation lasted until well into the 15th century. However, charters from Richard III (in 1396) and Edward IV (in 1364) 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. In 1937 the city regained its corporation status and the office of Mayor was re-installed.
Mayors of the Tribes 1485–1654
- 1485–86: Peirce Lynch fitz John
- 1486–87: Dominick Dubh Lynch fitz John
- 1487–88: John Blake fitz William
- 1488–89: Geoffrey Lynch
- 1489–90: John Lynch fitz John
- 1490–91: Robuck Lynch
- 1491–92: John Skerrett
- 1492–93: Thomas Lynch fitz Edmond
- 1493–94: James Lynch fitz Stephen
- 1494–95: John Lynch fitz Edmond
- 1495–96: Thomas Blake
- 1496–97: Walter Lynch fitz Robert
- 1497–98: Dominick Dubh Lynch fitz John
- 1498–99: Andrew Lynch
- 1499-00: James Lynch fitz Martin
- 1500–01: Geoffrey Lynch
- 1501–02: Robuck Lynch
- 1502–04: Edmond Deane
- 1504–05: Stephen Lynch fitz Dominick Dubh
- 1505–06: Walter Lynch fitz Thomas
- 1506–07: Thomas Bodkin
- 1507–08: Arthur Lynch
- 1508–09: Stephen Lynch fitz Dominick Dubh
- 1509–10: Stephen Lynch fitz James
- 1510–11: James Lynch fitz Stephen
- 1511–12: James Lynch fitz Geoffrey
- 1512–13: James Lynch fitz Martin
- 1513–14: Walter Lynch fitz Thomas
- 1514–15: Stephen Lynch fitz Walter
- 1515–16: James Lynch fitz Stephen
- 1516–17: Stephen Lynch fitz James
- 1517–18: Stephen Lynch fitz Dominick Dubh
- 1518–19: John Bodkin fitz Richard
- 1519–20: Wylliam Martin
- 1520–22: Martin Font
- 1522–23: Stephen Lynch fitz Dominick Dubh
- 1523–24: Stephen Lynch fitz James
- 1524–25: Adam Font
- 1525–26: Wylliam Martin
- 1526–27: Rychard Martin
- 1527–28: William Morris
- 1528–29: John Lynch fitz Andrew
- 1529–30: Richard Gare Lynch
- 1530–31: John Óge Kirwan
- 1531–33: James Skerrett
- 1533–34: Richard Blake
- 1534–35: Thomas Kirwan (Mayor)
- 1535–37: Rychard Martin
- 1537–38: Martin Lynch fitz James
- 1538–39: Seán an tSalainn French
- 1539–40: Arthur Lynch fitz Andrew and Arthur French fitz Geoffrey
- 1540–41: Thomas Lynch
- 1541–42: Dominick Lynch
- 1542–43: Henry Joyce
- 1543–44: Jonathan Lynch
- 1544–45: Edmund Lynch
- 1545–46: Thomas Blake
- 1546–47: Stephen Lynch fitz Arthur
- 1547–48: Thomas Kirwan (Mayor)
- 1548–49: Dominick Lynch fitz John
- 1549–50: Thomas Óge Martyn
- 1550–51: Richard Kirwan (Mayor)
- 1551–52: John Óge Lynch
- 1552–53: John Óge Lynch fitz Stephen
- 1553–54: Patrick Lynch
- 1554–55: Nicholas Lynch fitz Stephen
- 1555–56: Nicholas Blake
- 1556–57: William Skerrett
- 1557–58: James Óge Lynch
- 1558–59: Ambrose Lynch fitz Martin
- 1559–60: Thomas Blake
- 1560–61: Stephen Lynch fitz Arthur
- 1561–62: Nicholas Lynch fitz Stephen
- 1562–63: Thomas Blake
- 1563–64: Thomas Óge Martyn
- 1564–65: Nicholas Blake
- 1565–66: Peter French fitz Valentine
- 1566–67: James Kirwan
- 1567–68: Edmond Kirwan
- 1568–69: Dominick French
- 1569–70: Givane Font
- 1570–71: Denis Kirwan
- 1571–72: Robuck Lynch
- 1572–73: John Lynch
- 1573–74: Pierce Lynch fitz Oliver
- 1574–75: Andrew Browne and James Kirwan
- 1575–76: Dominick Browne
- 1576–77: Peter French fitz John
- 1577–78: Pierce Lynch
- 1578–79: John Blake fitz Richard
- 1579–80: Martin French
- 1580–81: Dominick Lynch
- 1581–82: Peter Lynch fitz Marcus
- 1582–83: Robuck French fitz John
- 1583–84: Nicholas French
- 1584–85: Nicholas Lynch
- 1585–86: James Lynch fitz Arthur
- 1586–87: William Óge Martyn
- 1587–88: John Blake
- 1588–89: Andrew Morris
- 1589–90: Richard Browne
- 1590–91: James Lynch
- 1591–92: Ulick Lynch fitz Edmond
- 1592–93: Valentine French
- 1593–94: John Martin
- 1594–95: Rolande Skerrett
- 1595–96: Marcus Lynch fitz Nicholas
- 1596–97: Oliver Óge French
- 1597–98: Anthony Lynch fitz Marcus
- 1598–99: Nicholas Kirwan fitz Denis
- 1599-00: Michael Lynch
- 1600–01: Francis Martin fitz Thomas
- 1601–02: Christopher Lynch fitz George
- 1602–03: James Riabhach Darcy and Christopher Lynch fitz George
- 1603–04: Marcus Lynch fitz Stephen
- 1604–05: Marcus French fitz John
- 1605–06: John Skerrett fitz William
- 1606–07: Edmond French fitz Robuck
- 1607–08: Richard Martin fitz William
- 1608–09: Stephen Kirwan
- 1609–10: Oliver Browne and Ullick Lynch
- 1610–11: Richard Bodkin
- 1611–12: Sir Valentine Blake and Richard Martin fitz William
- 1612–13: Sir Thomas Rotheram
- 1613–14: Walter Martyn
- 1614–15: Nicholas Darcy
- 1615–17: Pierce Lynch fitz John Óge
- 1617–18: Francis French fitz Peter
- 1618–19: Nicholas Lynch fitz George
- 1619–20: James Darcy fitz James
- 1620–21: Andrew Lynch fitz John
- 1621–22: Robert Martin and Richard Martin fitz William
- 1622–23: Patrick Martin fitz Walter
- 1623–24: Marcus Óge French fitz Marcus
- 1624–25: Robert Blake fitz Walter
- 1625–26: Thomas Lynch fitz Nicholas
- 1626–27: James Lynch fitz Martin
- 1627–28: Sir Richard Blake fitz Richard
- 1628–29: John Lynch fitz Richard
- 1629–30: Nicholas Lynch fitz Jonathan
- 1630–31: Sir Valentine Blake fitz Thomas
- 1631–32: George Martin fitz Walter
- 1632–33: Geoffrey Martin
- 1633–34: Patrick French
- 1634–35: Sir Dominick Browne
- 1635–36: Nicholas Mór Lynch fitz Marcus
- 1636–37: Anthony Lynch fitz James
- 1637–38: Sir Thomas Blake
- 1638–39: Sir Robuck Lynch
- 1639–40: John Bodkin fitz Dominick
- 1640–41: Francis Blake
- 1641–42: Walter Lynch fitz James
- 1642–43: Richard Óge Martyn
- 1643–44: Sir Valentine Blake
- 1644–45: James Darcy fitz Nicholas
- 1645–46: Edmond Kirwan fitz Patrick
- 1646–47: John Blake fitz Nicholas
- 1647–48: Walter Browne
- 1648–49: Sir Walter Blake
- 1649–50: Thomas Lynch fitz Marcus
- 1650–51: Sir Oliver Óge French
- 1651–52: Richard Kirwan fitz Thomas
- 1652–53: Michael Lynch fitz Stephen
- 1653–54: Martine Lynch fitz Anthony
- 1654-54: Tomás Lynch fitz Ambrose
Mayors of the Commonwealth and Restoration
- 1654: Peter Stubbers
- 1655: Humphrey Hurd
- 1656: Paul Dodd
- 1657: Gabriel King (Mayor)
- 1658: Sir Charles Coote
- 1659: John Mathews (Galway)
- 1660: John Morgan (Galway)
- 1661: John Eyre (settler)
- 1662: Henry Greneway
- 1663: Edward Eyre (Mayor)
- 1664: John Morgan (Mayor)
- 1665: John Spencer (Mayor) (till 1668)
- 1669: John Peters (Mayor)
- 1670: John May (Mayor)
- 1671: Richard Ormsby
- 1672: Gregory Constable (till 1673)
- 1674: Theodore Russell (till 1685)
- 1686: John Kirwan (fitz Stephen) (till 1687)
- 1688: Dominick Browne (till 1689)
- 1690: Alexandar McDonnell
- 1691: Sir Henry Bellasyse
Mayors of the Penal Era 1691–1762
- 1692-93: Thomas Revett
- 1694-95: Thomas Simcokes
- 1696: Thomas Cartwright
- 1697-98: John Gerry
- 1699: Thomas Andrews
- 1700: Richard Browne
- 1701-02: Thomas Staunton
- 1703: James Ribett Vigie
- 1704-05: John Eyre
- 1707: Richard Wall
- 1708: John Gibbs
- 1709 Jarvis Hinds
- 1710-11: Edward Eyre
- 1712-13: Samuel Eyre
- 1714-14: Robert Blakeney
- 1716: Robert Coates
- 1717-18: Mark Wall
- 1719-20: Samuel Simcockes
- 1721-22: William Hinde
- 1723: James Ribett Vigie
- 1724: George Gerry
- 1725: George Staunton (Galway)
- 1726: Charles Gerry
- 1727: Charles Revett
- 1728: Richard Revett
- 1729: John Gibbs
- 1730: John Staunton
- 1731: Walter Taylor (Mayor)
- 1732: Charles Morgan
- 1733: Geoffrey Cooke
- 1734: John Bird
- 1735: Dominick Burke
- 1736: John Staunton
- 1737: Dominick Burke
- 1738: Richard FitzPatrick (mayor)
- 1739: Henry Ellis
- 1740: Thomas Holland (Galway)
- 1741: Robert Cooke
- 1742: John Disney
- 1743: Thomas Shaw
- 1744: George Purdon
- 1745: John Mills
- 1746: Croasdile Shaw
- 1747: James O'Hara (mayor)
- 1748: James Disney
- 1749: John Eyre
- 1750: Francis Annesley
- 1751: James Staunton
- 1752: John Hamlin
- 1753: Ambrose Poole
- 1754: George Simcockes
- 1755: John Shaw
- 1756: Patrick Blake (Galway)
- 1757: Robert Cooke
- 1758: Edward Sheild
- 1759: Croasdaile Shaw
- 1760: Thomas French
- 1761: Charles Revett
- 1762: Charles Daly (Galway)
Mayors of the Daly Regime 1762–1840
- 1762–63: Charles Daly
- 1763–64: Henry Ellis
- 1764–65: John Eyre
- 1765–66: James Daly
- 1766–67: Henry White
- 1767–68: John Gibson
- 1768–69: Thomas Taylor
- 1769–70: Denis Daly
- 1770–71: Colonel Anthony Daly
- 1772–73: Denis Daly
- 17
- 17
- 1799: Colonel Peter Daly
- 1800: Hyacinth Daly
- 1801: Colonel Peter Daly
- 1802: Hyacinth Daly
- 1803: Denis Bowes Daly
- 1804: James Daly
- 1805: Hyacinth Daly
- 1806–07: Denis Bowes Daly
- 1808: Hyacinth Daly
- 1809: Denis Bowes Daly
- 1810: James Daly
- 1811: Hyacinth Daly
- 1812: Denis Bowes Daly
- 1813–16: Hyacinth Daly
- 1817: Parnell Gale
- 1818–19: James Daly
- 1820–22: James Hardiman Burke
- 1823–24: James Daly
- 1825–29: James Hardiman Burke
- 1830–36: Colonel John Blake
- 1836–40: Edmond Blake (last of the "old" mayors)
Galway Urban District Council 1840–1937
Galway Corporation was abolished in 1841, not to be restored until 1937.
The Mayoralty restored: mayors since 1937
External links
Categories:- Mayors of Galway
- Lists of mayors
- Lists of political office-holders in the Republic of Ireland
- Local councillors in County Galway
- Politics of Galway (city)
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