Thomas Kirwan (Mayor)
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Thomas Kirwan, Mayor of Galway
1534-35 and 1547-48.
Kirwan was the second member of his family to serve as Mayor; a further nine would hold the office. He was a descendant of William Ó Ciardhubháin
, who had settled in the town of Galway in the 1480's.
During his second term, Kirwan responded to a threat of attack by Scots gallowglass
and Gaelic forces by raising eight hundred men to defend the town within twenty-one days. While confidant of holding out on land, Kirwan expressed to the Lord Deputy in Dublin that Galway was in need of reinforcement from the sea. He pointed out in a second letter that, unlike other towns, Galway had always provided for its own defences.
One son, Thomas Óge, who died in 1542 while an alderman
. His second son, Stephen, was ancestor to the Kirwans of Castlehackett House, Tuam
.
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...
1534-35 and 1547-48.
Kirwan was the second member of his family to serve as Mayor; a further nine would hold the office. He was a descendant of William Ó Ciardhubháin
William Ó Ciardhubháin
William Ó Ciardhubháin, fl. 1488, was an Irish merchant and the founder of one of The Tribes of Galway.Ó Ciardhubháin is said to have been a native of Dunbally castle, near Dunmore, County Galway...
, who had settled in the town of Galway in the 1480's.
During his second term, Kirwan responded to a threat of attack by Scots gallowglass
Gallowglass
The gallowglass or galloglass – from , gallóglach – were an elite class of mercenary warrior who came from Norse-Gaelic clans in the Hebrides and Highlands of Scotland between the mid 13th century and late 16th century...
and Gaelic forces by raising eight hundred men to defend the town within twenty-one days. While confidant of holding out on land, Kirwan expressed to the Lord Deputy in Dublin that Galway was in need of reinforcement from the sea. He pointed out in a second letter that, unlike other towns, Galway had always provided for its own defences.
One son, Thomas Óge, who died in 1542 while an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
. His second son, Stephen, was ancestor to the Kirwans of Castlehackett House, Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
.