GALWAY CONFERRED the freedom of the city on engineer and sailor John Killeen who secured Ireland's first Volvo ocean race stopover, writes LORNA SIGGINS.
Mayor of Galway Declan McDonnell (Ind) said that the honour was being bestowed on Mr Killeen for his role as an engineer, a sailor and a leader.
“Although he hails from Taughmaconnell, Co Roscommon, John has an enduring love of the sea,” Mr McDonnell said at the ceremony on Saturday. He noted Mr Killeen had competed successfully in Ireland, Britain and France.
However, his leadership role in securing the Volvo ocean race stopover in 2009 had “brought us to a place that four years ago would have been unimaginable in terms of Galway’s place in the maritime world,” Mr McDonnell said.