Renaming proposal is rejected

LOCAL councillors have voted against a proposal to name a bridge in west Sligo after an IRA volunteer.

Another lengthy debate ensued at the Sligo County Council chamber on Monday morning about the naming of Enniscrone’s Bellawady bridge in memory of Thomas Howley – an 18-year-old native of the town who died as a result of injuries sustained after being shot and captured by the Black and Tans in May 1921.

The naming of this bridge was one of four recommendations put forward by the Placenames Committee – these also included the Western Distributor Road and two local roads.

The recommendations for the latter three roads were agreed based on an amended motion in which they would vote on the Bellawady bridge separately.

Councillors voted by a margin of 12 to four – with two abstensions – in favour of rejecting the recommendation to name the bridge after Thomas Howley.

The proposal had been deferred from an earlier meeting this month to allow members of the Thomas Howley Commemorative Committee and the Enniscrone and District Community Council to meet and discuss the issue. Cllr Joe Queenan, a local representative from Ennisocrone, said consultation took place but there remained no agreement on the naming of the bridge.

He said that he held consultation throughout the community and the general feeling was that the bridge should be “left as it is” before suggesting that “there are other ways to honour Thomas Howley”.

Cllr Gerard Mullaney supported Cllr Queenan’s stance and said that they “all accept Thomas Howley’s heroics” but stated that the locals have spoken and that other councillors should listen to the representatives local to that area.

Cllr Arthur Gibbons said he was “listening with dismay” and felt “personally disgusted” that there was arguments against honouring Thomas Howley.

Cllr Gibbons said there should no debate and that he “defends Thomas Howley the same as he would defend Eamon De Valera.”

He went on to say that it was typical that “anything to do with our proud history” is met with “someone anti”. Cllr Martin Baker said he is “as Republican as anyone” but said it is worth noting that they do not know somebody’s full history and that there may be personal and family reasons behind objections to honouring someone.

Cllr Thomas Healy asked if any correspondence was received in relation to the meeting between the Thomas Howley Commemorative Committee and Enniscrone and District Community Council for which this decision was deferred.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Dara Mulvey confirmed correspondence was received stating that the meeting

“went well” and that two individuals raised concerns about “setting a precedent” in a town with no bridges, roads or public buildings named after individuals.

Cllr Healy said that a divide in the community in Enniscrone is not apparent, to which Cllr Queenan replied that there is “a silent majority” who do not want the bridge named after volunteer Howley and wish for it to remain non-political.

Cllr Declan Bree said he “listened intently” to Cllr Queenan and remarked on his comment that naming the bridge would “upset tourism in Enniscrone.”

Cllr Bree said: “If ever slave mentality was alive, it is alive and well today in Enniscrone. It’s sad. It confirms why the government was anxious in the past to commemorate the RIC and the Black and Tans. That element is alive and well and it is alive and well in Cllr Queenan’s area.” The role was then called for a vote on the proposal.

Cllrs Baker, Casserly, Clarke, Fox, MacSharry, Maguire, Mullaney, Mulvey, Queenan, Taylor and Walsh voted not to approve the recommendation to name the bridge. Cllrs Bree, Gibbons, Healy and O’Boyle voted in favour of the naming of the bridge. Cllrs Gilroy and O’Grady abstained, resulting in a 12-4 vote in favour of rejecting the naming of the bridge. Following the vote, Cllr Arthur Gibbons said he “does not believe” what happened as “that lad [Thomas Howley] deserves respect”.

He added that he was “ashamed” of the council’s decision and that those who chose to reject the naming of the bridge “should be ashamed of your lives”.