Statement by President Higgins on the death of Billy Lawless

Statement by President Higgins on the death of Billy Lawless

Date: Fri 8th Nov, 2024 | 19:03

"I have learned with great sadness of the passing of former Senator Billy Lawless, a neighbour of many years in Galway. Sabina joins me in offering our profound sympathy to Billy's wife Anne on her great loss and to all the family.

At this time, we recall also Billy's deep commitment to his community in Galway and later in his adopted home of Chicago where he has left a real and lasting legacy. Billy was a stalwart of the Irish community there, and his tireless efforts on behalf of the undocumented Irish were widely acknowledged.

Billy's role in fostering the sister city relationship between Galway and Chicago was rightly recognised by Galway City Council in his being made a Freeman of Galway in 2015.

Sabina and I recall also the generous and warm welcome that Billy extended to us when we visited Chicago in 2014.

In 2021 he was among those to whom I presented a Presidential Distinguished Service Award for Irish Community Support, which was so richly deserved.

Billy Lawless will be greatly missed. I hope that the deep affection in which he was held by the Irish community in the Chicago area, and across the US as well as in Galway, will be some consolation to his family and to all who knew him.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam."