Boston Mayor Marty lives up to his word to city schoolboy

Mayor of Boston Marty Walsh pictured at St Patrick's Primary School with 10 years old Sean Faherty, a relative and a pupil of the school, who was with Mayor Walsh in Boston during his election campaign. Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy.

placeholder image — Mayor of Boston Marty Walsh pictured at St Patrick's Primary School with 10 years old Sean Faherty, a relative and a pupil of the school, who was with Mayor Walsh in Boston during his election campaign. Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy.

A promise made to a ten year old boy was fulfilled when the Mayor of Boston, Marty J Walsh visited his Galway City school on Friday.

Seán Faherty from Knocknacarra was the hero of the day when Mayor Walsh not only arrived to the school with a mini entourage but addressed the whole school in the main hall.

Séan, who turns eleven in a few weeks’ time, met the Mayor on the election campaign in Boston last year during a family visit to the US. There is a family connection and Seán took part in some campaign events. Mr Walsh promised Seán on the campaign trail that if he was ever elected, he would pay a visit to his school.

On Friday, Mayor Walsh certainly captured the hearts of a few hundred primary school boys as well as school staff.

For weeks beforehand the pupils were busy colouring USA flags and bunting and the hall was decorated like it was a congress hall!

Mayor Walsh – who was accompanied by his mother, Mary, a Connemara woman and his partner, Lorrie Higgins, as well as a bodyguard – spoke about the importance of education and advised them to keep up their schoolwork if they wanted to fulfil their hearts’ desire.

There was also a question and answer session during which the boys asked many animated questions, which he answered graciously and enthusiastically.

The St Patrick’s Boys Brass Band greeted him and serenaded him again as he left and by all accounts he really enjoyed the musical gesture.

“We were the only school he visited in the city and he certainly made an impression on pupils and staff. We presented his mother and partner with bouquets of flowers and him with a framed photograph of The Long Walk.

“He certainly got the right message across about the importance of education and he was very in tune with the boys. And of course, Seán was the hero that he had brought the Boston Mayor to our school,” said Principal, Danny Whelan.

Yesterday, the Mayor paid a courtesy call on Galway City Council and he addressed Galway County Council at its monthly meeting.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.