Council has no plans for Cumann na mBan memorial in Louth

Louth County Council has no plans to name a piece of infrastructure to commemorate the contribution of Cumann na mBan to the independence of the state, in part due to lack of funding, councillors were told at the Louth County Council October meeting.

Cllr Conor Keelan's motion at the October meeting called on the local authority to reaffirm "its commitment to honour and commemorate the unheralded contribution of Cumann na mBan to the independence of this state.

"In doing so we pledge to name a piece of infrastructure after Cumann na mBan in County Louth as previously adopted in motions 907/15 and again in July 2016."

Replying to Cllr Keelan's motion, Director of Services, Organisational Development, Joe McGuinness, said that "whilst noting the previous motions, the Council have no plans to name any piece of infrastructure and are unclear on the naming convention that would be used."

Speaking at the October meeting on the matter, Cllr Keelan said that two separate motions had been passed at previous meetings on the matter and that on the last occasion, it was agreed that a piece of sculpture would be installed in the public garden at Coláiste Chú Chulainn, but added that this did not go ahead.

Cllr Keelan said that the contribution of women to the struggle for independence of the state was diminished until scholarship in the late 20th century and at the start of this century, and called for the Council to act on a commemoration.

Cllr Edel Corrigan gave her support to the motion at the meeting, suggesting that the Council look at other avenues as well.

Cllr Corrigan mentioned Dorothy McArdle, a woman born in Dundalk in 1889, who was a novelist, playwright, and a journalist, and was recognised for her association with Irish republicanism, suggesting that a stained glass design of her could be installed on one of the windows of Dundalk Library.

Chief Executive Joan Martin told the meeting that the Council was not ignoring the motions but said that it was a matter of the opportunity not arising where a piece of infrastructure could be named as per the councillors wishes.

Ms Martin said that the opportunity rarely arises to name things as Cllr Keelan wanted, giving the example of, when they build a housing estate, they would have to name it in accordance with their placenames policy.

She added that there is no funding in place for such a piece of infrastructure, but if the Dundalk Municipal District councillors decided that they want to give some of their district allocation for a commemorative piece, she would implement it.