THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR PARKS AND STREETS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY BY NUALA NOLAN, GALWAY

Dear Editor,
On a recent trip to Dublin I was mulling over the obsession some politicians nowadays have over changing the names of roads and parks which according to them are not reflective of the Irish Republic. Then I came across the statue of William Smith O’Brien on O’Connell St. In the arms of this statue looked like a bowl on shamrock. But on closer examination I could see it was lump of grass.
That says it all. We discuss changing the names of roads etc to reflect our Republican history and neglect to look after the statues, streets etc which we called after heroes of  the past. Just walk down Parnell St. or Cathal Brugha St., Dublin and tell me seriously that these streets reflect a prosperous Capital City.
Go into the Pro Cathedral, this is a Cathedral on Marlborough Place and see how badly it has been neglected, it needs a re-paint etc. Now, while there may be a big fall off in the practice of Catholicism, one would have to say this is an iconic building, built after Catholic Emancipation.
We don’t even teach the history of men like William Smith O’Brien, MP for County Clare who was banished to Tasmania after being reprieved from being hung, drawn and quartered in 1849.
Dublin needs a massive cleanup especially in streets off O’Connell Street. When that is done Dublin City Council need to start seriously dealing with water leaks, drainage etc. Names of streets and parks are the least of Dublin’s worries or any of our prominent cities like Galway, Cork or Limerick.
Yours Sincerely,
Nuala Nolan

Written by admin