Val Hanley, 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...

.

A well-known publican and member of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (to which he was elected President in 2008), Hanley began work with his brothers and uncle in Claregalway

Claregalway

Claregalway is a village situated about 10 km from the city of Galway in County Galway, Ireland. Claregalway was founded on the banks of the River Clare, hence the derivation of its name: Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe meaning "town on the Clare, in Galway"...

 in his early twenties. Following this he lived and worked in England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 for eight years, moving back to Galway

Galway

Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...

 in the early 1990s. "There's always something on in Galway. We have the Arts Festival, the Oyster Festival and The Races; we're like a city of festivals."

A member of Údaras na Gaeltachta

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Údarás na Gaeltachta , abbreviated ÚnaG, is a regional state agency which is responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of nominally Irish-speaking regions of the Republic of Ireland...

 and a former Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...

 councillor, he states his election to Mayor of Galway in 2002 is his proudest. "I think one of the biggest honours for anyone would be to be Mayor of their city because you're the Mayor for everyone ... [the] role involves representing the views of our members and forging links with bodies such as Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and The Oireachtas is a big one."

Hanley failed in his bid to be re-elected to Galway City Council in 2004. In 2009, he was eventually put on the ticket again, but failed to take a seat once more, although his transfers helped to put running mate Peter Keane over the line.

Hanley is currently the proprietor of the Hanley Oaks Hotel and Murty Rabbitt's pub, along with his son Ciaran.

External links

• http://www.galwaycity.ie/AllServices/YourCouncil/HistoryofTheCityCouncil/PreviousMayors/
• http://www.galwayindependent.com/profiles/profiles/val-hanley-%11-president-of-the-vintners%27-federation-of-ireland-%28vfi%29/
• http://anghaeltacht.net/val/