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Rich List reveals Galway’s wealthiest people
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway’s wealthiest people have been revealed in the SundayIndependent Rich List for 2018.
Glenamaddy brothers Luke and Brian Comer top the list, with a combined wealth of over 1.2 billion euro.
Luke and Brian Comer now command a combined fortune of 1.25 billion euro – an increase of 200 million euro in less than 12 months.
According to the Sunday Independent Rich List for 2018, the Glenamaddy natives are now the 15th wealthiest people in the country.
Next is Abbeyknockmoy businessman Declan Ganley, who occupies 63rd place with a fortune worth 255 million – up 5 million euro this year.
He’s followed by Galway software entrepreneur Pearse Mee at 118th position, who’s now worth an estimated 130 million euro – an increase of 5 million euro.
Supermac’s boss Pat McDonagh is number 140 on the list of Ireland’s 250 richest individuals.
His fortune is now estimated at 110 million euro, up 4 million over the past year.
Galway-based businessman James Murphy, who sold his hair supplements business Viviscal for 150 million last year, follows at 147th position.
He’s now worth 105 million – however, he’s the first person from Galway on the list to experience a drop in his personal fortune, which is down 5 million.
Galway brothers Anthony, Padraig and Thomas Smyth – who run the well known Smyths toy group – occupy 156th position, with a 10 million rise bringing their personal wealth to 102 million euro.
At 161st position is care home Developer and Galway native Bill Hughes, who commands a personal fortune of 100 million euro – up 14 million in recent months.
Next is Thomas McDonagh, chair of the well known Thomas McDonagh & Sons providers, who occupies 185th place in the list of Ireland’s richest individuals.
He’s now worth 84 million euro following growth of 6 million euro.
Also on the list of Ireland’s richest individuals is Chanelle McCoy, whose father Michael Burke established pharmaceutical firm Chanelle in Loughrea.
She commands a personal fortune of 52 million euro, up 7 million this year.
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
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