Controversial plans to rename a bridge over the Royal Canal "Bloody Sunday Bridge" were approved by Dublin City Council on Monday night.
The city centre bridge was previously known as Clonliffe Bridge or Russell Street Bridge. The new name was first mooted by the Central Area to commemorate the killing of 14 innocent civilians in Croke Park on November 21, 1920.
The first two victims - William ‘Perry’ Robinson, 11, and Jerome O’Leary, 10 - were killed by shots fired from the bridge. It was decided the proposal would go out to public consultation.
Members of the public were invited to comment on the proposal, via the Council’s online Consultation Hub, between 8 July and 9 September 2022. A total of 969 comments were received via the online system.
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450 (46.44%) of the comments were in favour of the proposal; 513 (52.94%) of the comments were not in favour of the proposal.
Despite the majority of respondents objecting to the new name, Cllrs voted for the name of the bridge to be changed. DCC boss Owen Keegan said that "no matter what type of public consultation, the results will have to be interrupted by the members. There is no perfect form.
"Members have to take a balancing of the consultation themselves and then make a decision". The proposed renaming of the bridge was the subject of debate in the media and among councillors.
Social Democrat Councillor Mary Callaghan led the objections to the new name in the council chamber last night. She said: "I think we should remember the 14 people who perished, absolutely.
"I am just concerned about the name. There were other suggestion on the name - Remembrance Bridge, someone said call it 14 a really nice way of remembering those people rather than remembering the violence.
"I think this has been rushed through and I really don't believe it is what the people want."
"Chair of the Central Area Committee Ray McAdam backed the new name of the bridge. He said: "I have no difficulty with the name that has been recommended.
"The bridge and surrounding area was the scene of one of the worst atrocities and incidents of the War of Independence. I don't see why we should be hiding away."
The motion to rename the bridge, "Bloody Sunday Bridge" was approved by the council with the objection of two members.
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