Galway - Geography and Local Government

Geography and Local Government

See also: Galway City Council and Mayor of Galway

With a population of 57106, Galway is the fourth most populous city in the State and the 23rd most populous area of local government. It is located on the River Corrib.

Services such as waste collection, recycling, traffic control, parks and housing are controlled by a fifteen member city council elected to five year terms by proportional representation through means of the Single Trandferable Vote PR-STV. The City Council is chaired by a mayor who is elected to a one year term by their fellow councillors. Their role is mainly ceremonial, although they do have the casting vote. The first mayor was Peirce Lynch fitzJohn, elected in 1485. The current mayor is Cllr. Terry O'Flaherty, who was elected Mayor in June 2012.

The symbols of the office of the Mayor and the emblems of the dignity of the City Council are the Civic Sword (1620's) and the Great Mace (1710) which are carried in procession before the Mayor and Council on solemn civic occasions. When not in ceremonial use they can be seen at the Galway City Museum.

Galway City is part of the Galway West constituency of Dáil Éireann. Its TDs (parliametary representatives) are:

  • Noel Grealish (Independent). A Native of Cearn Mór.
  • Derek Nolan (Labour). Galway City based. He is a new TD for Galway West.
  • Éamon Ó Cuív (Fianna Fáil). Corr na Móna in Conamara based. He is the former Minister for Social Protection.
  • Brian Walsh (Fine Gael). Galway City based. A native of Mervue.
  • Seán Kyne (Fine Gael). Based in Moycullen.

The current President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, was TD for the Galway West parliamentary constituency, of which Galway City is a part, from 1981 to 1982 and from 1987 to 2011.

The highest honour the city can bestow is the Freedom of the City. Among the names on the Roll of Honour are: Douglas Hyde, President of Ireland, 1939; Eamonn de Valera, Taoiseach, 1946; Sean T O'Kelly, President of Ireland, 1950; Robert F Wagner, Mayor of New York, 1961; John F Kennedy, President of the USA, 1963; Pope John Paul II, 1979; Ronald Reagan, President of the USA, 1984; Hilary Rodham Clinton, 1999 and Aung San Suu Kyi, 2005.

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