AT Milwaukee City Hall in Wisconsin during the trip made last year by the local authorities were Councillor Mary Hoade, then Leas Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Cavalier Johnson, the Mayor of Milwaukee, Cllr Mike Cubbard, then Mayor of Galway city, and Geraldine Byrne Nason, Irish Ambassador to the United States.

Value of annual Milwaukee visit questioned by councillors

Patrick Flaherty

Published: Fri 14 Aug 2026, 2:15 PM

GALWAY County Council’s annual trip to Milwaukee in the United States has been scrutinised by some councillors.

A delegation from Galway has been invited to visit Washington County, the council’s sister city, along with representatives from Galway City Council. They will attend the Milwaukee Irish Fest which takes place between August 13 and 16.

Cathaoirleach Andrew Reddington, accompanied by Director of Services Liam Hanrahan, Tourism Officer John Neary and Councillors Michael Maher, Laurie Harney and Tomás Grealish will travel to the event later this month.

The trip came under scrutiny from various councillors such as Ballinasloe MD’s Dermot Connolly, Leas Cathaoirleach Michael Regan and Loughrea MD’s Jimmy McClearn during last month's plenary meeting.

Cllr McClearn suggested that after 20 years of visiting the area on tourism and trade missions, it was time for the local authority to choose alternative locations for these trips.

“There are so many other locations that are worthwhile visiting. Places across the USA and the UK, who have huge Irish populations, be they first or second generation,” commented the Fine Gael Councillor during the meeting.

“We have been doing this trip to Milwaukee for 20 years, is it still worthwhile? Would it be possible to get a report on the latest Milwaukee trip? I want to see the benefits it has brought for Galway.”

Caherlistrane Councillor Mary Hoade is among those to have attended the most recent trip to Milwaukee. While interested in exploring other destinations that could be twinned with Galway, she felt the trips to Milwaukee, in the state of Wisconson, have always been highly beneficial.

“I think twinning is very important and it is always worth evaluating the arrangements we have in place. But our report on last year’s trip was very detailed and it will show how effective the trip was in helping to promote Galway,” she concluded.