Taoiseach to attend official naming ceremony for Athlone's Mary O’Rourke Bridge

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin will travel to Athlone next month to attend a ceremony marking the official naming of the town's new cycleway bridge in honour of the late Mary O’Rourke.

The ceremony, after which the bridge will be formally known as the Mary O’Rourke / Máire Ní Ruairc Bridge, is set to take place on Friday, May 1, at 11am.

The Taoiseach's presence on the day is expected to draw significant local and national attention, underlining the importance of the occasion for the community.

The naming of the bridge after the former Government Minister was proposed by Athlone-area councillors in recognition of her contribution to public life and her deep ties to the town.

Mr Martin, who served with Ms O'Rourke in Fianna Fáil-led Governments, was one of the people interviewed for RTE television documentary Mary O’Rourke: The Mammy which aired in December and looked back at the Athlone politician's life.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Mary O'Rourke's son, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, said: “It is a great honour for our family and for the wider community that the Taoiseach will join us on this very special occasion.

"Naming the bridge after my mother is a deeply meaningful tribute to her lifelong dedication to public service. It will be a proud day for our family, and I know it will also resonate with many people whose lives she touched over the years.”

A large turnout is anticipated, with public representatives, community groups and members of the public expected to gather for the occasion.

Local residents are being encouraged to attend and be part of what is set to be a significant day for Athlone.

The greenway bridge opened in August 2023, and the proposal to name it after Ms O'Rourke received unanimous backing at a meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District when it was proposed by Cllr Paul Hogan earlier this year.

A public consultation process followed, which attracted fourteen submissions, and the decision to proceed with the proposed naming was then made in October.

While a number of alternative names had been put forward during the public consultation process, elected members ultimately agreed that naming the bridge in her honour was an appropriate and lasting tribute.

“Mary O'Rourke was a very unique person and she did a lot for the town of Athlone,” said Cllr John Gibbons, speaking last year.

Cllr Liam McDaniel agreed it was “a very appropriate” that the Athlone Moate Municipal District had voted to rename the greenway bridge in honour of the town's foremost political figure on the first anniversary of her passing.