John Mulholland (Galway)
Encyclopedia
John Mulholland was the Mayor of Galway
from 1986–1987 and again from 1996–1997.
Mulholland was born in Dublin, the eldest of six children of Ned Mulholland of Kinnegad
and Betty O'Donoghue of Ballingary, County Tipperary
. The family moved to Galway in 1948. In 1968 he married Margaret Flynn of Letterfrack
, and moved to London
where he worked in a betting office and as a fingerprint officer at Scotland Yard
. He returned to Galway to take charge of the family's betting shop. He and Margaret have children Alan, Lisa, Eddie and Aoife Mulholland
. Mulholland expanded the business, and by the early 21st century owned ten betting shops.
Influenced by Garret FitzGerald
, Mulholland stood for Fine Gael
and was elected with a large majority for the city's South Ward in 1985, becoming Mayor the following year. Highlights included welcming home the Galway Minor's team, who were All-Ireland Champions, and included his eldest child, Alan. On 10 October 1986 he officially opened the city's first purpose built City Hall. He was again elected Mayor in 1996, and oversaw occasions such as a civic reception for three-time Olympic God Medal winner, Michelle Smyth, leading Galway's highly successful business mission to Milwaukee and Chicago
. As part of a fundraiser for Galway Hospice, Mayor Mulholland graciously allowed himself to be kidnapped, and ransomed from, "members of the notorious Galway Youth Federation." He was host to Chief Garry White Deer of the Choctaw
Nation on his official visit to Galway; one hundred and fifty years earlier, the Choctaw Nation had sent famine relief to the people of Ireland, despite at the time been in the process of banishment from their homelands.
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 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...
from 1986–1987 and again from 1996–1997.
Mulholland was born in Dublin, the eldest of six children of Ned Mulholland of Kinnegad
Kinnegad
Kinnegad or Kinagad is a town in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is near the border with County Meath, at the junction of the N6 and the N4 - two of Ireland's main east-west roads...
and Betty O'Donoghue of Ballingary, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
. The family moved to Galway in 1948. In 1968 he married Margaret Flynn of Letterfrack
Letterfrack
Letterfrack or Letterfrac is a small village in the Connemara area of County Galway, Ireland. It was founded by the Quakers in the mid-19th century. The village is 15 km north-east of Clifden on Barnaderg Bay and lies at the head of Ballinakill harbour...
, and moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he worked in a betting office and as a fingerprint officer at Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
. He returned to Galway to take charge of the family's betting shop. He and Margaret have children Alan, Lisa, Eddie and Aoife Mulholland
Aoife Mulholland
Aoife Mulholland is an Irish actress and musical theatre performer from Salthill, Galway. Aoife is a successful leading lady in London's West End...
. Mulholland expanded the business, and by the early 21st century owned ten betting shops.
Influenced by Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
, Mulholland stood for Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
and was elected with a large majority for the city's South Ward in 1985, becoming Mayor the following year. Highlights included welcming home the Galway Minor's team, who were All-Ireland Champions, and included his eldest child, Alan. On 10 October 1986 he officially opened the city's first purpose built City Hall. He was again elected Mayor in 1996, and oversaw occasions such as a civic reception for three-time Olympic God Medal winner, Michelle Smyth, leading Galway's highly successful business mission to Milwaukee and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. As part of a fundraiser for Galway Hospice, Mayor Mulholland graciously allowed himself to be kidnapped, and ransomed from, "members of the notorious Galway Youth Federation." He was host to Chief Garry White Deer of the Choctaw
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
Nation on his official visit to Galway; one hundred and fifty years earlier, the Choctaw Nation had sent famine relief to the people of Ireland, despite at the time been in the process of banishment from their homelands.
External links
- http://www.galwaycity.ie/AllServices/YourCouncil/HistoryofTheCityCouncil/PreviousMayors/