The death has occurred of former Mayor of Galway and well known businessman John Mulholland, aged 76.
He was elected to Galway City Council as a Fine Gael councillor in 1985, and served as mayor from 1986 to 1987 and again from 1996 to 1997.
His work as a city councillor spanned 24 years, before he narrowly lost his seat to now Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton in 2009.
The businessman also ran Mulholland Bookmakers, started by his grandfather in the 1930s. He expanded the business across the city before selling the chain in 2019.
In an interview with the Connacht Tribune he said he was never happier than when working his bookmaker's pitch at Ballybrit.
"Standing on my pitch is like being on the stage. I get such a buzz from the crowd. I love the smell of the horses and seeing the jockeys and trainers."
Mayor of Galway Clodagh Higgins described Mr Mulholland as a true gentleman and said he would be a huge loss to the city, having been an active supporter of many organisations and charities.
Mr Mulholland is survived by his wife Margaret and their children Alan, Lisa, Eddie and Aoife.
