Frances Black (Independent)

I, too, welcome all our visitors, including Billy’s wife, Anne, his family, Ian and Tracy, and, of course, Councillor Anna Grainger.

I am really glad to be honouring Billy Lawless today. He was an out-and-out gentleman. I have never come across anybody so good, kind and decent as Billy Lawless. He was a man whose life was a bridge between Galway and Chicago, between the old world and the new, between aspiration and action. Billy Lawless was more than just a restaurateur, public servant, beloved friend and family member; he was really and truly a beacon for the immigrant family, a champion of the undocumented and a steadfast advocate of the dignity and opportunity every immigrant deserves.

Billy’s life, as others have said, began in Galway. He grew from a young man who loved oarsmanship into a leader who really understood the power of community. That is what Billy really stood for. He carried with him the values of hard work, loyalty and a fierce belief in the possibilities that unfold when people come together to support one another. In Galway, as others have said, he was awarded a freeman’s honour, in recognition not only of his success in business but also of his service to emigrants and the ties that bind Ireland to its diaspora. Billy made a deliberate choice to plant roots in Chicago, a city that would become a second home and the stage for a remarkable, decades-long public life. He did not go to America merely to chase opportunity for himself; he went to build opportunity for others. He built restaurants that became community hubs. Think of how wonderful that was. He built gathering places where people could celebrate, reflect and rally around shared values. Through it all, he had business acumen and an eye for outstanding hospitality. His relentless work ethic helped many families to find steadiness and dignity in a challenging world. However, Billy’s work actually went far beyond all that. He knew that a city’s strength lies in its most vulnerable members and he dedicated himself to immigration reform and the rights of Irish emigrants. He co-founded Voting Rights to advocate for Irish emigrant voting rights in US elections. I was involved with this when Billy was here and was very proud to be.

Billy helped to forge strong links between Chicago and Galway, serving as co-chair of the Galway–Chicago Sister Cities committee since 1998. He believed in practical human-scale policy and clear, compassionate messaging. He explained the issues and inspired action.

Billy’s family, namely Anne, his wife of more than four decades, and his four children, Amy, Billy Jnr., Clodagh and John Paul, must be so proud of him. He left a legacy that ensures every day in households and the businesses that continue to run. To his friends, Tracy, and his colleagues in the Independent Group, I say we must remember how close all of you were to Ian Marshall. Billy gave the gift of friendship in abundance, and also warm hospitality, a ready story and a steadfast willingness to roll up his sleeves to get things done.

Billy was very good to my daughter when she was over in Chicago. She had a gig in Chicago and he rallied the troops to make sure there would be bums on seats for it. I will never forget him for that. He was also very good to me when I was in Washington running a charity event. He turned up at it, supported it and sponsored it. He was incredible.

In public life, Billy was the first Irish-American Senator for the diaspora, representing voices that often go unheard. He served with a sense of duty and curiosity, contributing to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence and representing the diaspora with diligence and pride.

If we measure a life by the impact it leaves on others, we will note that Billy’s life was a long, bright imprint. He championed the undocumented Irish with courage and clarity. He worked to strengthen the bond between Ireland and the United States and to build structures, institutions, organisations and, most of all, friendships that continue to support newcomers who dream of contributing to their new homeland as fully as he did.

We remember Billy as a gentleman to his core. As the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris has said, while we mourn his passing we also celebrate the enduring spirit he embodied – a spirit that shows that a community thrives when its members lift one another up, when business is about more than profits and when public service is a labour of love.

As Senator Boyhan said, let us commit to carrying forward Billy’s work in concrete ways. Let us support pathways for immigrant families to participate fully in civic life, including voting rights and fair access to opportunity. Let us strengthen ties between Ireland and our global diaspora through sister-city initiatives, cultural exchanges and economic partnerships that lift both sides. Let us provide mentorship, hospitality and opportunity for new arrivals who bring energy, talent and hope to our cities. Let us uphold the values of dignity, generosity and resilience that Billy embodied every single day.

Billy Lawless understood a simple truth: when we invest in people, we invest in communities that endure. He showed us that leadership is about steady, compassionate action, and about turning a vision into a doorway through which others can walk. Billy Lawless will always be in our hearts. I really want people to know that. He made a huge impression on so many people here in the Oireachtas. His legacy will continue to inspire us to build, with clarity and kindness, a world where every immigrant can contribute, belong and thrive.