Thomas Welby (Irish politician)
Thomas J. Welby is a politician from Oughterard, County Galway. His father, Tom Welby, had served as a Fianna Fáil county councillor for seventeen years, rising to the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach/Vice-Chairperson of the council, and died in June 2003.
Prior to 2003, Welby was a member of Fianna Fáil. He joined the Progressive Democrats in 2003. He was first elected at the 2004 Galway County Council election. Welby resigned from the Progressive Democrats in October 2008 in protest at the removal of automatic medical-card entitlement for over-70s. He informed party leader Ciarán Cannon of his decision alongside Galway City Councillor Terry O'Flaherty. Welby also called for the immediate resignation of former party leader Mary Harney as Minister for Health. His resignation occurred shortly before a planned announcement by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Harney regarding changes to the over-70s medical-card policy. Welby ran as an independent in the 2009 local elections, topping the poll in the Connemara electoral area.
In July 2008, Welby was fined €300 plus €1,750 in expenses for failing to display prices on grocery products in his Gala store in Oughterard. The fine was part of a wider publication by the National Consumer Agency highlighting traders who breached consumer legislation. The NCA stated that enforcement actions would be taken against those failing to comply with consumer law.
Welby served as cathaoirleach of Galway County Council from 2012 to 2013. He topped the poll again in the 2014 local elections.
Welby is a candidate for the 2026 Galway West by-election.