About Thomas Kirwan
Thomas Kirwan was an alderman and businessperson.
Thomas Kirwan was a former Mayor of Galway from 1534–35 and 1547–48.
Kirwan was the second member of his family to serve as Mayor; a further nine would hold the office. He was a descendant of William Ó Ciardhubháin, who had settled in the town of Galway in the 1480s.
During his second term, Kirwan responded to a threat of attack by Scots gallowglass and Gaelic forces by raising eight hundred men to defend the town within twenty-one days. While confidant of holding out on land, Kirwan expressed to the Lord Deputy in Dublin that Galway was in need of reinforcement from the sea. He pointed out in a second letter that, unlike other towns, Galway had always provided for its own defences.
One son, Thomas Óge, who died in 1542 while an alderman. His second son, Stephen, was ancestor to the Kirwans of Castlehackett House, Tuam.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Thomas Kirwan?
Irish mayor
What was Thomas Kirwan's occupation?
Thomas Kirwan was an alderman and businessperson.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Thomas Kirwan (mayor)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Kirwan. https://biography.guide/thomas-kirwan/
MLA: "Thomas Kirwan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-kirwan/.
Chicago: "Thomas Kirwan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-kirwan/.
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