Council defers plans to rename Limerick bridge after Kennedy

A controversial decision to rename Shannon Bridge in Limerick city centre after president John F Kennedy has been put on hold.

A meeting of the council’s protocol committee last month voted seven votes to six in favour of the new name.

However, the decision sparked public fury and a Facebook campaign was started to name the bridge after JP McManus.

Leaders of the main parties on the city council met with mayor Cllr Kathleen Leddin yesterday, at which the matter was discussed.

Following the meeting the mayor issued a statement that the renaming of Shannon Bridge would be put before a new monuments subcommittee of the new Limerick authority which will be elected at the upcoming local elections.

The mayor said: “I feel a time for reflection is now needed.”

She was aware of the concern voiced by the public in Limerick at the decision taken to rename the bridge.

Cllr Leddin supported the naming of the bridge after president Kennedy.

Shannon Bridge was opened in 1988.

Cllr Leddin’s late husband, Cllr Tim Leddin, who was then mayor of Limerick, came in for criticism after he invited then taoiseach Charles Haughey to perform the official opening.

The issue will now fall for resolution to the new 40-member council which will replace the current city council with 17 members and the county council which has 28 members.

The primary mover in having the name changed to JFK bridge was Cllr Pat Kennedy, the longest serving member on Limerick City Council.

Cllr Jim Long has been an outspoken critic, saying Limerick had paid president Kennedy due honour by naming one of the city’s biggest schools and a council housing estate after him.