Pádraig Conneely is an Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 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...

 party politician. He was Mayor of Galway

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 2008 to 2009 where he was known as "the maverick mayor".

Biography

Conneely was elected to Galway Corporation in 2002 and proved a divisive figure, frequently at the centre of contentious and personal attacks on city officials, that caused council meetings to be prolonged for hours or end in impasse. His reputation led to his been dubbed the maverick mayor upon his election in 2008.

While Mayor, he oversaw the city's successful hosting of the 2009 Volvo Ocean Race

Volvo Ocean Race

The Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three years. It is named after its current owner, Volvo...

 which boosted revenue for the city despite the economic downturn. He was succeeded as mayor by Declan McDonnell

Declan McDonnell

Declan McDonnell is an independent politician in Ireland, having previously been a member of the Progressive Democrats. He was elected in June 2009 as Mayor of Galway, He had held the office from 1999 to 2000.-Biography:...

.

External links

• Mayors of Galway