Seven new road and street names proposed in Athlone
It's proposed to give new official names to seven Athlone streets and roads.
Among the changes is a proposal by Athlone's Mayor to remember a much-loved nun who died last year by renaming the street on which she lived in her honour received the backing of other members of Athlone-Moate Municipal District on Monday.
The late Sr Bernard Lynch, who was a member of the Mercy Order passed away in October last year.
Cllr Aengus O'Rourke (FF) proposed that the area known as The Docks or The Quays on Athlone's western bank of the River Shannon be renamed 'Sr Bernard Quay' as a mark of respect and in honour of “a wonderful lady” who helped so many people in Athlone. It stretches from the archway at the castle along the water's edge.
It was one of seven name changes proposed by the Mayor at Monday's meeting.
He said a road which runs from the Ballymahon Road at the Coal Bunker junction to Plunkett Road (mini roundabout near An Post's site in Coosan) should be called Dr Jim Keane Road, he suggested, to remember the former president of the IRFU, who was also President of Athlone Rugby Club for 40 years.
Given this road’s proximity to the rugby club naming it Dr Jim Keane Road would be appropriate, the Mayor maintained, saying that Dr Keane lost the honour 25 years ago when the old rugby ground was demolished. It would be appropriate to reinstate that honour now, he said at Monday's council meeting.
Another proposal concerned what's known locally as 'The Golden Mile' being called Ranelagh Way at the suggestion of Athlone Tidy Towns.
Given its proximity to the Moydrum radio transmitter, the Mayor asked that the long stretch of road from Altown Roundabout to Cornamaddy Roundabout be called Marconi Way. The full address would then read Marconi Way, Cornamaddy, Athlone.
The road from the junction of Retreat Road/Retreat Mews/Killyon Hill (mini roundabout) to the new Garrycastle Roundabout would become known as Cartrontroy Road, should the proposal come into force following public consultation, while it's also planned to name the stretch from the new Garrycastle Roundabout to the Wash House Turn roundabout as Wash House Road.
The final change proposed by the Mayor aims to give an official moniker to the road from the new Garrycastle roundabout to Altown Roundabout (over the Greenway bridge) which would become Altown Link Road as part of the changes.
Seconding the Mayor's proposal, Cllr John Dolan (FG) commented that every one of the suggestions made sense, and it was only right that Sr Bernard and Dr Jim Keane were honoured in this way. He said Athlone Tidy Towns group, who proposed riverside walk 'The Golden Mile' be called Ranelagh Way, had big plans for that area in the future.
Jackie Finney, the Athlone-Moate Municipal District Manager, confirmed that the proposal now goes out to non-statutory public consultation seeking the public's views over four weeks, and any submissions will be brought back to members in a report at the July meeting where it comes up for full approval.