Mary Byrne

Mary Byrne (1917 – 2004) was the Mayor of Galway from 1975–1976 and again from 1984–1985.One of two children of Michael Byrne of Newry, County Down, and Brigid Kelly of Ballymacward, County Galway, Byrne served as a nurse in the city's old Central Hospital and later as staff-nurse at Galway Regional Hospital. She eventually became a Sister and worked in the Casualty Department for twenty-two years. She was a member of the Western Health Board and Chairperson of the Galway branch of the Irish Nurses Organisation.Politically active due to her father's influence, Byrne was an active member of Fianna Fáil from the 1940's, and successfully ran for election to Galway Corporation in 1967, serving seventeen years as a councillor. Her first term of office coincided with International Women's Year. He brother, Michael, died during her term, in May 1975.She was re-elected for the term 1984-85, the Quincentennial year of the Mayorality. In commemoration of this, Galway's Quincentennial Bridge, spanning the Corrib from Terryland to Newcastle, was begun. The foundation stone was laid by An Tánaiste, Dick Spring, on 15 December 1984. The following May, she herself laid the foundation stone of the new City Hall at College Road, which was in use by 1991.She died in 2004.