The road from the Cork Airport roundabout to the airport, and the roundabout itself, should be named after Drinagh man Sean Hurley who died during the 1916 Easter Rising, a councilor has suggested.
THE road from the Cork Airport roundabout to the airport, and the roundabout itself, should be named after Drinagh man Sean Hurley who died during the 1916 Easter Rising, a councilor has suggested.
At a recent meeting of Bandon Kinsale Municipal District, Cllr Alan Coleman (Ind) proposed the motion to honour the only Cork man who died during the 1916 Easter Rising.
‘Back in 1966 consideration was being given to the naming of the railway station after Sean Hurley or Thomas Kent, and they went with Kent so I think it would be a nice gesture to name this two-lane road after him,’ said Cllr Coleman.
Cllr Gillian Coughlan (FF) said she was reticent about the motion as she said it could devalue the name a bit.
‘We have the War of Independence commemorations coming up in three years and there are so many in this locality that it could start a bit of a fad, but I do think something should be named after Sean Hurley,’ said Cllr Coughlan.
Cllr Aidan Lombard (FG) said he could see both sides of the argument for naming or not naming the road after the Drinagh man, while his colleague Cllr James O’Donovan said he had no reservations about it.
Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG) said the airport roundabout would always be known by that name and he said he’s not too sure if it is wise to name it after a person.
Cllr Coleman said that no one seems to know what the roundabout is currently called and this proposal has generated debate and that Sean Hurley should be recognised.
Cllr Coleman also said he would propose a motion this September to name the bridge in Carrigaline after Denis Lynch from Tracton, who played a key role in the 1916 Easter Rising and avoided being sentenced to death after being arrested.
Sean Hurley grew up in Drinagh and was just 29 when he died on April 29th 1916 while fighting with the Four Courts garrison.
He was later buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, along with several other volunteers.
A commemoration weekend celebrating Sean’s life took place in Drinagh earlier this year.
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