‘HAVE A PUBLIC VOTE ON NAME OF BRIDGE’
Call for a referendum in Ross
CONTROVERSY has erupted in New Ross over the decision to name the new bridge over the River Barrow the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge.
After this newspaper printed the story last week that New Ross Municipal District councillors voted unanimously in favour of supporting district director Eamonn Hore’s proposal for the bridge to be named after the Kennedy family, a petition was organised through Facebook entitled ‘Don’t name the bridge after Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy’, which has been signed by around 300 people. Cllr Michael Sheehan called for a plebiscite on the matter.
A CAMPAIGN has been launched for a public vote on the naming of the new 887 metre bridge which will be built outside New Ross as part of the New Ross Bypass.
Around 300 people have signed a petition initiaited by local activist Seamus O’Brien to not use the Fitzgerald Kennedy name for Ireland’s longest bridge.
New Ross Municipal District councillors voted unanimously in favour of supporting District Director Eamonn Hore’s proposal for the birdge to be named after the Kennedy family earlier this month after Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy’s daughter Jean Kennedy Smith asked for it to be named after her late mother. The idea was initially mooted at the first New Ross Municipal District meeting in July 2014. After this newspaper published the story last week a petition was organised and it sparked a strong response from people who offered their own suggestions which included the Croppy Bridge, O’Hanrahan Bridge, the Pink Bridge and the William Marshall bridge, among others. Mr Hore had argued that the Kennedy name has lead to huge benefits for New Ross, including massive investment in the quay area and in local tourist attractions. Cllr Michael Sheehan, pictured left, called for a plebiscite on the matter and for a public consultation process to be started. Cllr Sheehan said: ‘It can’t be a fait accompli. We need to have a mechanism for people to bring forward their ideas. I was concerned at the council meeting about the way this came out of the blue. As the chairman for the previous year I was never informed about the Kennedy name and it was never discussed in my presence. I can only assume that some group somewhere had been discussing it. I should have been informed. I was disappointed at the level of abuse hurled at me at the meeting.’
He has raised his concerns about the naming process with Wexford County Council Chief Executive Officer Tom Enright. ‘ He has agreed that there has to be a public consultation process,’ Cllr Sheehan said.
Sean Crowley said: ‘ Surely a bit more imagination could be applied! She never set foot in Ross. Surely a plebiscite or vote should have been taken for all Rossonians both at home and away. Let the locals decide. The name for me, for what it’s worth should be more encompassing than the Kennedy name.’