Brian Walsh (Galway)
Encyclopedia
Brian Walsh is an Irish Fine Gael
politician who elected as a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Galway West constituency at the 2011 general election.
He was elected to Galway City Council
in 2004 and re-elected in 2009. He was the Mayor of Galway
from 2005 to 2006 and was the city's youngest ever mayor.
was officially presented to the city in 1710 by Mayor Edward Eyre, from whom it took its name. The square had been neglected for many years and badly needed to be renovated. Redevelopment work on the square began in 2004. There was controversy when it was reported that the building contractors, Samuel Kingston Construction, had left the site and were not returning. City centre businesses were badly affected by the abandoned building site which had become an embarrassment to the city.
On becoming Mayor of Galway City, Walsh set up a task force to take charge of the project. He led the effort and the works were completed. The square re-opened on 13 April 2006. Subsequently, the finished square received an Irish Landscape Institute Design Award in 2007.
to contest the 2011 general election for Galway West. The outgoing Fine Gael representative Pádraic McCormack
subsequently announced his retirement after not being selected at the party convention. Senator Fidelma Healy Eames
was also selected by the party to contest the election. Councillors Seán Kyne
and Hildegarde Naughton
were subsequently added to the ticket as the party adopted an offensive electoral strategy in the constituency.
On 30 November 2011, Walsh's contituency office in Bohermore, Galway, was occupied by several students inquiring about the matter of third-level fees. They unfurled a banner on the roof with the message, "FREE EDUCATION NOTHING LESS".
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...
politician who elected as a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Galway West constituency at the 2011 general election.
He was elected to Galway City Council
Galway City Council
Galway City Council is the local authority for the city of Galway, Ireland. Previously Galway Corporation, it was founded in 1485 by The Tribes of Galway via a Charter of Mayoralty granted to the town in December 1484 by King Richard III. The first Mayor of Galway was Peirce Lynch...
in 2004 and re-elected in 2009. He was the 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 2005 to 2006 and was the city's youngest ever mayor.
Eyre Square redevelopment
The plot of land in the centre of Galway City known today as Eyre SquareEyre Square
John F. Kennedy Memorial Park is an inner-city public park in Galway, Ireland, formerly officially named Eyre Square and still widely known by that name...
was officially presented to the city in 1710 by Mayor Edward Eyre, from whom it took its name. The square had been neglected for many years and badly needed to be renovated. Redevelopment work on the square began in 2004. There was controversy when it was reported that the building contractors, Samuel Kingston Construction, had left the site and were not returning. City centre businesses were badly affected by the abandoned building site which had become an embarrassment to the city.
On becoming Mayor of Galway City, Walsh set up a task force to take charge of the project. He led the effort and the works were completed. The square re-opened on 13 April 2006. Subsequently, the finished square received an Irish Landscape Institute Design Award in 2007.
2011 general election
In December 2010, Walsh was selected by Fine GaelFine 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...
to contest the 2011 general election for Galway West. The outgoing Fine Gael representative Pádraic McCormack
Pádraic McCormack
Pádraic McCormack is a former Irish Fine Gael politician, who served as a Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency from 1989 to 2011, and as a Senator from 1987 to 1989....
subsequently announced his retirement after not being selected at the party convention. Senator Fidelma Healy Eames
Fidelma Healy Eames
Fidelma Healy Eames is an Irish Fine Gael politician and member of Seanad Éireann. She was first elected in 2007 by the Labour Panel. Formerly, Healy Eames was a primary school teacher and college lecturer in Teacher education....
was also selected by the party to contest the election. Councillors Seán Kyne
Seán Kyne
Seán Kyne is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency at the 2011 general election.He is from Moycullen, County Galway...
and Hildegarde Naughton
Hildegarde Naughton
Hildegarde Naughton is a Fine Gael councillor and current Mayor of Galway for 2011–12 in Ireland. First elected to Galway City Council in June 2009, Naughton is the only daughter of Marguerite and P.J. Naughton of Oranmore. She is by profession a primary school teacher, working at St...
were subsequently added to the ticket as the party adopted an offensive electoral strategy in the constituency.
On 30 November 2011, Walsh's contituency office in Bohermore, Galway, was occupied by several students inquiring about the matter of third-level fees. They unfurled a banner on the roof with the message, "FREE EDUCATION NOTHING LESS".