Gay was born on April 26, 1943, in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland.
[3] The couple later married and in 1968 they immigrated to the United States because their child needed a surgery that was only available at Boston Children's Hospital.
Gay lost in the Democratic primary to State Senator Warren Tolman 270,791 (54%) votes to 232,250 (46%).
[2] In 2003, Gay finished third in the preliminary election behind Alderman Joseph Curtatone and businessman Tony Lafuente.
Gay's loss was blamed on increasing gang violence, declining economic growth, and cuts in state aid that forced her to cut public services and fire 200 municipal workers.