Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Mike Cubbard welcomed Former Alderman of Milwaukee, Michael Murphy to City Hall last week (Monday 19 January), as part of a Mayoral Reception in honour of his special friendship with Galway over many years. Former Alderman Murphy has opened countless doors for Galway City in the United States over the years, with his parents having emigrated from Dublin to the United States with just fifty dollars in their pockets and a determination to build a new life. One of the greatest values they instilled in their five children was a deep obligation to give back to America, while never forgetting Ireland.
Former Alderman Murphy was joined at the reception by his wife Terry, his daughter Maggie, his brother Dave, and Cailín Branchford, from CelticMKE, organisers of Milwaukee Irish Fest.
Michael became a true friend of Galway in 1992, when a delegation from Galway including the late Clem Walsh, Gerry Rabbit, Anne Melia, and Galway City Council’s current International Relations Officer, Keith Finnegan travelled to Milwaukee to attend Irish Fest. From that moment on, Michael embraced Galway’s ambitions wholeheartedly. Legend has it that during the 1993 visit, he even persuaded the Mayor of the day to rename Lake Michigan as Galway Bay at least for the duration of the visit!
Speaking at the reception, Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Mike Cubbard said, “Michael Murphy’s public service record speaks for itself. First elected at just 27 years of age in 1989, Michael went on to become Milwaukee’s longest-serving alderman, retiring in 2024. At the time of his retirement, he was the third-longest serving council member in the city’s history a distinction that places him in rare company, not unlike Galway’s own Donal Lyons, Terry O’Flaherty, and Declan McDonnell.”
Mayor Cubbard gave special recognition to the Irish Fest in Milwaukee as part of the reception. The Irish Fest in Milwaukee is largest gathering of Irish people in the world outside the island of Ireland. Founded in 1981 by Ed Ward and the Ward family, whose roots are in County Meath, the festival has grown and grown over the decades while remaining firmly grounded in family and community. The Ward family remains deeply involved today, with Mayor Cubbard acknowledging those who continue to drive Irish Fest forward, thanking them for their leadership and for being such strong champions of Galway City.
Michael Murphy’s support for Irish Fest, the Ward family, and its four thousand volunteers has been immense. The Galway delegation has attended Irish Fest for 31 years, with only two interruptions the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001 and the Covid pandemic in 2020.
Research by Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland has shown that Galway’s consistent participation in Irish Fest has directly contributed to increasing tourism figures from North America year on year.
Mayor Cubbard thanked Michael Murphy for his continued friendship, support and service and presented him with a souvenir of the special occasion, a handmade glassware showing the Claddagh Hooker.
