People’s opinions sought on name
for the New Ross Area, George Walsh said the idea for the bridge arose after a ship ran into O’Hanrahan Bridge in 1997. He said NRA officials visited the town and a lengthy diversion made people realise that a newe bridge was needed. NEW ROSS STANDARD ‘SOMETIMES it’s more difficult to name a bridge than to build it.’
So said New Ross district director Eamonn Hore, adding that controversy surrounding the naming of the €90m Barrow Bridge will be over later this year after a public submissions process on the name is finalised.
Mr Hore said all eight New Ross councillors favoured the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy name, based on the Kennedy and Fitzgerald links to the New Ross and Kilkenny districts.
‘ The bridge comes out less than a mile from where Patrick Kennedy walked out to catch the ship to America and the whole history of the family that followed.’
He said public submissions will open soon. ‘ The public will be asked for their opinion of what the name should be.’
Four questions will be put to local residents: what their choice is, why it is suitable, the name’s connection to the area and how it would benefit New Ross and Kilkenny. Three New Ross councillors/officials and three from Kilkenny will sit on a panel and a shortlist for the name will be compiled, prior to the final name being selected.
People will be able to make submissions via letters and emails. At a meeting last year director of services with Kilkenny County Council Mary Mulholland said the heritage officer from that local authority could be asked to get involved, adding that bridge names should derive from names which have a long significance in an area. Mr Hore said at the time: ‘Some of the other names chosen are very deserving of recognition.’