Deputy Mayor Níall McNelis welcomed members and family of the 1984 Quincentenary Committee to a 40th anniversary commemoration ceremony in their honour in City Hall on Monday 9 December 2024.
In 1984, a committee comprising of local authority staff and members of Galway’s civic, cultural, and business community, organised a year-long commemoration of Galway’s Quincentenary of Local Government – with a new civic pride permeating the city as a result.
Welcoming the committee and their family members, Deputy Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Níall McNelis commented, “Galway received its Charter of Incorporation from Richard III in 1484, which granted the merchants of Galway a large level of control in the management of the town. In the same year, the Vicarage of St Nicholas were granted a wardenship, which allowed the local English Church and merchants independence from the both the Diocese of Annaghdown and the Archbishop of Tuam. This granted the Church of St Nicholas the right to elect its own wardens and manage the town’s religious affairs independently. The 1984 committee was formed against a backdrop of emigration and a decade-long recession, and the year-long event both foregrounded Galway’s unique history and gave the city a much needed economic and cultural boost amid a challenging economic backdrop.”
Leonard Cleary, Chief Executive of Galway City Council acknowledged the work of the committee, commenting, “Galway was a very different place forty years ago, and the City faced the chronic problems of emigration, long-term unemployment, and city centre dereliction. The Quincentenary committee saw the coming together of Galway’s wider political, civic, business and cultural community with a common shared purpose. In working together, the committee organised a year long event that celebrated the founding of Galway’s corporation in 1484. Such an event fostered a large amount of civic pride and gave a much needed boost to the local economy… it is wonderful to be here today to view the fruits of that work”.
Former City Manager Seamus Keating also spoke, and recognised the contribution put in by the committee, speaking to the committee, and the family of deceased members.
Deputy Mayor Niall McNelis presented scrolls to all attending and thanked everyone for their contribution.
Pictured:
Front Row: Seamus Keating, former City Manager; Leonard Cleary, Chief Executive Galway City Council; Cllr Níall McNelis, Deputy Mayor of the City of Galway; Cllr Terry O Flaherty, Cllr Donal Lyons;
Second row: Tom Browne, Frank Keating, Avril Forrest, Imelda Byrne, Marion McNamara, Eileen Maloney, Della Beaty, Bernard O Hara, Gerry O Neill, Gerard Leyden
Third row: Very Reverend Leslie Forrest, Joseph Ryan, Alex Ryan, Anthony Ryan, Tom O’Connor