Man with strong South Mayo connections elected Mayor of Galway

A man with strong ties to South Mayo has been elected as the Mayor of Galway city.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Peter Keane was elected as Galway’s first citizen after being elected to City West ward in Galway City Council for a fourth term.

Several relatives travelled up from Mayo to see him take the chain of office for the first time since being elected to the council in 2009.

Labour Councillor Níall McNelis was elected Deputy Mayor as part of an agreement between Labour, Fianna Fáil and to share the mayor’s office over the next five-year term.

Though a lifelong Galway resident, throughout his youth Cllr Keane was a regular visitor to Cornfield, Hollymount, where his father, Brendan, grew up.

Cllr Keane is a solicitor and runs EP Keane and Company Solicitors in Galway with his brother, Eamonn.

His father is a retired garda sergeant while his late mother, Dr Marie Kilgarriff, practised as a doctor.

_{Cllr Peter Keane (left) with relatives following his election as Mayor of Galway}

Cllr Keane is a cousin of Frank Keane, who is currently Chairman of Ballinrobe Community Development Council.

Speaking following his election as Mayor of Galway, he promised to prioritise the delivery of the proposed Galway city Ring Road

He told the Irish Independent that he intended to lead the council to the best of his ability. “Obviously the role of Mayor in Galway City is very much a ceremonial role, however, you do lead the Council, you do chair the Council meetings, you chair the Corporate Policy Group and you set the agenda for the city,” he said.