Battery Heights could have been called something entirely different

An extract from the Westmeath Independent 50 years ago, from the edition of Saturday, November 19, 1971

There were echoes of the Civil War at Athlone Urban Council on Monday night when it came to the naming of the new housing scheme at the Batteries.

This old Napoleonic War gunnery site has now been transformed into the largest housing estate ever undertaken by the Urban Council and in order to preserve its associations with the town, the Chairman, Mr. Tommy Kilroy, had a motion before the Council that they name the new housing scheme as 'Battery Heights

Mr. T. Fahy, P.C. had a counter motion that they name it as "Tom Hughes Park" in memory of an Athlone born Old I.R.A. man, who was executed in 1922. Mr. Frank Waters struck a pacific note, when in order to get away from the old sores of the Civil War and to do honour to Athlone's most famous son, he proposed as a compromise that they call the scheme 'Count McCormack' Heights.

At the outset Mr. Sean Fallon enquired if the Council had any existing policy with regard to the naming of housing schemes. He asked that because if the Council had no such policy, he would prefer if the naming of the scheme was left over until the people moved in and had a say in the mattter. The Chairman told him it was the policy in the past that the Council should name the housing schemes. Mr. Waters remarked that they were nearly run out of saints at the moment.

Mr. J. Crehan thought that the people who were going, to be the tenants should have a say in this. The Chairman told him they could change the name if they liked after they went into the houses.

Mr. Crehan said he would not like to impose any name, which the people might not want.

Mr. T. Darcy declared that the Council should have enough courage to carry out the business they were, elected to do without consulting every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Mr. Waters asked that the vote be taken by name, and his amendment that the scheme be called Count McCormack Heights was voted on first.

For the amendment — Messrs. Waters and Russell.

Against — Messrs. Kilroy, Darcy, Fahy, Allen, Keenehan, Crehan and Fallon. The amendment was accordingly defeated by 7 to 2 votes.

Mr Fahy's amendment to call the scheme Tom Hughes Park was next voted on. For — Messrs. Darcy, Fahy, Russell and Fallon. Against — Messrs. Kilroy, Allen, Keenehan and Crehan. Mr. Waters did not vote and the result was a 4-4 tie.

The Chairman gave his casting vote against the amendment, which was lost accordingly by 5 votes to 4.

The Chairman's motion to call the scheme Battery Heights was then voted on. For — Messrs. Kilroy, Allen, Keenehan, Crehan and Russell. Against — Messrs. Darcy, Fahy and Fallon. Mr. Waters did not vote and the motion was carried by 5 votes to 3.