Ex-President says yes to renaming of Boyne Bridge

Moves to rename the Boyne Bridge after former President Mary McAleese gathered pace this week when she formally allowed her name to go forward on a proposal made by Meath County Council. Mrs McAleese said she was "very privileged and honoured" by the council's recent proposal, according to Helen Carney, private secretary to the former President. The original proposal came late last year from Fianna Fail Cllr Tommy Reilly and Louth Fine Gael TD Jim Darcy, reflecting the fact that the bridge spans both Louth and Meath. Cllr Darcy had said that the naming of the bridge after the former President would be a fitting tribute to her 14-year term as a bridge-builder between different communties and traditions. A formal motion was put to Meath County Council late last year by Fine Gael Cllr Sirena Campbell. The council's letter proposing the naming was sent to the former President on 7th December last and, in her reply to the council on 13th December, Ms Carney, writing on behalf of the former President, said she felt "very privileged and honoured" that the coumcil would pass a motion that the River Boyne bridge on the M1 motorway at Drogheda would be formally named the 'Mary McAleese Bridge'. "Mrs McAleese is happy for her name to go forward as part of the proposal," the letter added. At this week's meeting of the county council, Cllr Campbell welcomed the former President's letter to the council but suggested that the council might think about naming the bridge 'The Mary McAleese Boyne Bridge', so that the location would be kept foremost in people's minds. Cllr Tommy Reily said the decision on naming the bridge had already been made by the National Roads Authority (NRA). However, a spokesman for the NRA said this week that any decision on renaming the bridge would ultimately rest with the government and the Department of Transport. A Labour councillor in Drogheda, Paul Bell had urged "a period of reflection" on the proposed renaming. He voiced his concerns about the naming to Deputy Darcy while also recognising the work and contribution of the former President. He said he felt the bridge was in such an historic location close to the Battle of the Boyne site that some people might view it as insensitive to rename the bridge after one national leader when so many other leaders, both North and South of the border, had dedicated their lives to bringing a lasting peace to the island of Ireland.