Michael Leahy (politician)

Michael Leahy (1932 2007) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was the Mayor of Galway from 19831984, 19911992, and 19971998.

Born in Ballylanders, County Limerick, Leahy began working for CIÉ in 1952, been transferred to Galway two years later. He contested in the election of 1974 but only became a councillor in 1979, representing the North and East Ward. He first became Mayor in 1983, and so oversaw the Quincentennial celebrations of the city's Mayoral status. With President of Ireland, Patrick Hillery, he formally opened the celebrations with the raising of the coats of arms of The Tribes of Galway at Eyre Square. Eighteen Mayors from Ireland and abroad arrived in February, he conferred the Freedom of Galway twice, and welcome President Ronald Reagan 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 Toronto; both men had shared accommodation in Galway in the 1950s, after which O'Donohue emigrated following his graduation from University College Galway. Another was a visit to Veronezh, Russia, 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, Rita Ryan Gilligan, MBE and formally opened the pedestrianised streets of Galway on 3 March 1998.

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Civic offices
Preceded by
Pat McNamara
Mayor of Galway
1983–1984
Succeeded by
Mary Byrne
Preceded by
Michael D. Higgins
Mayor of Galway
1991–1992
Succeeded by
Pádraic McCormack
Preceded by
John Mulholland
Mayor of Galway
1997–1998
Succeeded by
Angela Lynch-Lupton
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