Career
He was Mayor of Galway from 1971 to 1972. Smyth was one of six children born to Patrick Smyth and Barbara Crowley of Prospect Hill, Galway City. He was to continue working for the Cr Union for the rest of his life.
Smyth was elected to Galway Corporation in the early 1960s and was elected Mayor on 5 July 1971.
lieutenant was under his auspices that the first Mayoral Ball was held, at Seapoint, Salthill, on 29 February 1872. At his instigation, cross-border holidays were held for children from Derry, a city he visited while Mayor.
He did not seek re-election to the council in June 1974.