And despite having spent most of his career battling for a starting berth alongside Irish international second-row pair Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell, Galwey is adamant the veteran will leave a big hole.
"Micko has always been a great bit of stuff. He was just what we needed when he came on the scene because he was a terrific lineout jumper at number four whereas I wasn't really cut out for that job," Galwey told the Irish Examiner.
"He was only 20 or so at the time and so was very young but John Langford arrived from Australia and he learned an awful lot from him, as we all did.
"Micko's contribution to Munster has been absolutely huge. With Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell also coming along, he wasn't always first choice but he was there when he was needed and never let the side down.
"He was frequently made captain when the rest of us might have been away with Ireland and always did a tremendous job. He had everyone's respect as he had been there and done it all through the good days and not so good. Needless to say, he'll be badly missed."
Guinness PRO12 Munster News
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