Healy-Rae grandson disagrees with road naming

A Kerry town’s new bypass road has been named in honour of a political rival of the late Jackie Healy-Rae.

The Kenmare route is expected to be dedicated to the memory of ex-Fine Gael TD Pat O’Connor (Scarteen), whose son Patrick is a Kerry county councillor.

However, councillor Johnny Healy-Rae tabled a counterproposal at a recent municipal meeting to have the road named after his grandfather, a former Independent TD.

A row followed as councillors disagreed over which of the late politicians in south Kerry should be honoured.

In the meantime, Kerry County Council’s corporate policy committee adjourned ratification of the decision until the new year.

However, it also led to one councillor suggesting roads and other public amenities should be named after artists and sportspeople, rather than politicians.

South Kerry Independent Alliance councillor Michael Gleeson said he would be happier if roads were named after people who had achieved great distinction in artistic, social, and sporting pursuits.

“Politicians are of their time whilst people who distinguish themselves notably in, say, literature and sport span generations,” he said.

Mr Gleeson, a long-serving councillor and former mayor of Killarney, said he hoped future policy in dedicating roads and public places would be focused on honouring people not associated with politics.

Roads and roundabouts have already been named after deceased Kerry politicians, including Labour Party pair Dan Spring and Michael Moynihan and writers such as John B Keane and footballers such as John Joe Sheehy.