Death of former Mayor of Galway Henry O’Connor

 The death has taken place of a former Mayor of Galway who was also a successful city businessman and a driving force behind three of the city’s most prominent sporting organisations through the 1970s and 1980s.

 Henry O’Connor (67), whose body was found at his Canal Road home yesterday, served two terms on Galway City Council and was elected Mayor of the city in 1993.

The former Fianna Fáil representative was co-opted onto Galway Corporation (now the City Council) in 1979, but resigned from the party over a “matter of principle” in January 1981 and lost his seat in the 1985 local elections.

A native of St Bridget’s Terrace, Prospect Hill, he regained his local authority seat as a Fianna Fáil candidate in 1991, before being elected Mayor of Galway for a 12 month term in 1993. He subsequently lost his seat in the North and East Ward in 1999.

“Henry was always a great Fianna Fáil supporter and worked very hard for the party,” said his former City Council colleague Micheál Ó hUiginn yesterday.

“If anything, he sometimes held a very independent view of things, which led to him resigning from the party for four years. He was hugely supportive of the Council staff and making sure they were able to do their job properly.”

Mr O’Connor was hugely involved with Fr Griffin’s GAA club, Corinithians Rugby Football Club, and was a founding member of Pearse Athletic Club.

He played senior club football for Fr Griffin’s and later served four years as club Chairman in the mid-1970s.

“He did fantastic work, especially with young teams,” said Mr O hUiginn. “He always had a big Mercedes and used to drive young players all over the country.”

Mr O’Connor graduated from University College Galway (now NUI Galway) with a Bachelor of Arts and Higher Diploma in Education.

He established a successful firm based in Prospect Hill called Essential Cleaning Services and was involved in some major property developments across the city, including the cinema complex on the Headford Road.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel