Tributes have poured in this week to Joe Hanley, the businessman and former chairman of Galway United, who died at his home in Salthill last Friday surrounded by his family.

The Carnmore native was one of Galway’s best-known business people, opening the men’s clothing store, Hanley & Co, in the heart of the city in the late 1960s, which continues to be a family-run business today, and one which has dressed thousands of people over the years, providing employment to so many.

Among his many other business interests over the years, he owned a shoeshop over his business headquarters on Abbeygate Street, a clothing shop in Galway Shopping Centre and the Tommy Hilfiger franchise store on Shop Street, as well as a share of Superbowl restaurant, where Electric Nightclub is now located.

An incredibly generous and warm man – both in his personal and business life – he was perhaps just as well known through his involvement with Galway United, taking over the club around Christmas 1983 along with fellow Carnmore man, Mattie Greaney, and the two men are credited with rescuing United at that time, when doubts surrounded the club as to its viability and continued membership of the League of Ireland.

Not only did their takeover rescue the club, it sparked a seven-season spell which to this time remains the club’s golden period, winning the club’s first-ever trophy with the League Cup success of January 1986; finishing second in the Premier Division the same season, a feat that has not been matched since; qualifying for Europe in three seasons; and of course, reaching two FAI Cup finals, including winning the 1991 final, the club’s greatest day to date.

In its tribute this week, Galway United said in a statement that Joe was the club’s “greatest servant”, a point which long-time friend and fellow United man Bernie O’Connell said was more than fitting.

Caption: The then-Mayor of Galway, Michael D Higgins, welcomes home the 1991 FAI Cup winning Galway United squad with goalscoring hero Johnny Glynn and club chairman Joe Hanley. Beside Joe is Paddy King – and behind him is the then-Bishop of Galway Dr Eamon Casey.

Read the full tribute in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.