Billy Lawless

In the article we present below, we will explore Billy Lawless in detail, addressing different aspects that will allow us to understand its importance and relevance today. From its origins to its impact on society, through its applications and possible future implications, we will exhaustively analyze this topic. Through different perspectives and approaches, we will try to shed light on Billy Lawless, with the aim of providing a complete and in-depth vision that allows the reader to acquire solid knowledge about it.

Billy Lawless
Lawless in 2016
Senator
In office
8 June 2016 – 29 June 2020
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born
William Noel Lawless

(1950-12-24)24 December 1950
Menlo, County Galway, Ireland
Died8 November 2024(2024-11-08) (aged 73)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyIndependent
Spouse
Anne Lawless
​
(m. 1980)​
Children4

William Noel Lawless Sr. (24 December 1950 – 8 November 2024)[1] was an Irish independent politician and businessman who served as a Senator from 2016 to 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.[2][3] Lawless was from Rahoon, County Galway.

In the 1980s, he was chair of Fine Gael in the Galway West constituency and stood unsuccessfully for Galway City Council in 1991.[4][5] He emigrated to Chicago in 1998, having always had plans to open a business in the United States. He made the decision after his daughter received a rowing scholarship to Boston University.[6]

Lawless owned five restaurants in the Chicago area, employing 460 people,[7] and was a board member and co-founder of the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition (IBIC) and chair of Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform.[7]

Lawless was credited with helping the cause of Irish immigrants and undocumented Irish in America, and was made Freeman of Galway in 2015 for these efforts.[7] He was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by NUI Galway in June 2015.[8] On 11 May 2016, Taoiseach Enda Kenny appointed Lawless to the 25th Seanad, making him the first overseas Irish senator.[9]

Lawless had close ties to the Obama administration and was chosen to introduce the President when he announced his plans for immigration reform.[10] He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2021 Seanad by-elections. In 2021, Lawless was awarded the Irish Presidential Distinguished Service Award for Irish Community Support.[11]

Lawless died in Chicago on 8 November 2024, at the age of 73 after suffering from kidney failure.[12][13][14][15]

References

  1. ^ "William "Billy" Noel Lawless obituary". Michalik Funeral Home. 8 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Billy Lawless". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Pieta House founder among Kenny's Seanad nominees". RTÉ News. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Billy Lawless". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  5. ^ Devine, Catherine (30 May 2016). "New Senator: Giving Enda's daughter a J1 job in Chicago 'not cronyism'". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  6. ^ Clarke, Vivienne (30 May 2016). "Billy Lawless: Giving Kenny's daughter J1 job 'not cronyism'". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  7. ^ a b c O'Shea, Jamie (28 May 2016). "Billy Lawless named as first ever emigrant senator by Irish leader". Irish Central. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Honorary Conferrings". Cois Coiribe. Winter 2015. p. 49.
  9. ^ "Chicagoan Billy Lawless Appointed to Irish Seanad by Taoiseach Enda Kenny". Irish American News. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  10. ^ O'Shea, James (29 May 2016). "New Irish emigrant senator under fire for Fine Gael, Kenny links". Irish Central. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Press Release". Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Death announced of former senator Billy Lawless who built successful pub business in Chicago". The Irish Times. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Former senator Billy Lawless has died aged 73". BreakingNews.ie. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Billy Lawless funeral hears about great champion of undocumented Irish". The Irish Times. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Chicago restauranteur and former Irish Senator Billy Lawless dies at 73". WLS-TV. 11 November 2024.
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