Boston’s Mayor of Connemara descent Marty Walsh could be granted the freedom of County Galway if a motion to this effect is supported.
Within hours of winning re-election two weeks ago, he vowed to visit Galway next summer – so it was not surprising that the matter came before Galway County Council this week at which there were votes of congratulations on his success.
But Cllr Sean O Tuairisg from Indreabhán took it a step further when he suggested that Mayor Walsh be afforded the Freedom of County Galway on his visit in 2018.
Mayor Walsh, whose father comes from Carna and mother from Rosmuc, was comfortably re-elected winning more than 65 per cent of the vote (70,125), holding majorities in 20 of the 22 electoral areas.
He defeated Tito Jackson who was looking to become Boston’s first African-American mayor.
The mayor’s mother, Mary Walsh, was with him on stage at a Boston hotel when victory was declared.
But Cllr O Tuairisg wants his achievements to be recognised in Galway by affording him the freedom on the county. “This is a huge boost for the whole of Connemara and the county in general. He is even being mentioned as a future President of the United States”, he said.
The proposal was seconded by Cllr Seamus Walsh of Oughterard who said that the Mayor should be made a free man of County Galway.
Back in 2014 Mayor Walsh received a massive ‘welcome home’ to Connemara when he visited the region bringing out crowds that any politician in Galway could only aspire to.
Following his victory in Boston a couple of weeks ago Mayor Walsh said he will be coming to Ireland in 2018 with the opening of the Emigrants Commemorative Centre in Carna while there is a possible Papal visit to Ireland being linked to his visit.
The 50 year old was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to John Walsh originally from Callowfeenish, a townland near Carna, and Mary (nee O’Malley) from Rosmuc. The couple emigrated to the United States in the 1950s.
Mayor Walsh’s victory had been anticipated for some time as his approval ratings in Boston went over the 70% mark. Opinion polls put him at over 30% ahead of his rival.
See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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