Billy Lawless

Billy Lawless (born 4 July 1951) is an Irish former Independent politician and businessman who served as a Senator from May 2016 to March 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.[1][2]

Billy Lawless
Senator
In office
11 May 2016 – 27 March 2020
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born
William Gordon Lawless

(1951-07-04) 4 July 1951
Galway, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyIndependent
Spouse(s)Kate Lawless (m. 1980)
Children4
Alma mater

Lawless is a native of 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.[3][4]

He emigrated to Chicago in 1998, having always harboured plans to open a business in the U.S. he made the decision after his daughter received a rowing scholarship to Boston University.[5]

He owns four restaurants in the Chicago area, employing 260 people.[6]

He is a board member and co-founder of the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition (IBIC) and Chair of Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform.[6]

Lawless has been credited with helping the cause of Irish immigrants and undocumented Irish in America, and was made Freeman of Galway in 2015 for these efforts.[6] He was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by NUI Galway in June 2015.[7]

On 11 May 2016, Taoiseach Enda Kenny appointed Lawless to the 25th Seanad, making him the first overseas Irish Senator.[8]

Lawless had close ties to the Obama administration and was chosen to introduce the President when he announced his plans for immigration reform.[9]

References
  1. "Billy Lawless". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  2. "Pieta House founder among Kenny's Seanad nominees". RTÉ News. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  3. "Billy Lawless". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  4. Devine, Catherine (30 May 2016). "New Senator: Giving Enda's daughter a J1 job in Chicago 'not cronyism'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  5. Clarke, Vivienne (30 May 2016). "Billy Lawless: Giving Kenny's daughter J1 job 'not cronyism'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  6. O'Shea, Jamie (28 May 2016). "Billy Lawless named as first ever emigrant senator by Irish leader". Irish Central. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  7. "Honorary Conferrings". Cois Coiribe. Winter 2015. p. 49.
  8. "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.
  9. O'Shea, James (29 May 2016). "New Irish emigrant senator under fire for Fine Gael, Kenny links". Irish Central. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
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