Cork's Anglesea Street could be renamed MacSwiney Street next year if legislation is changed

Plans by Cork City Council to change the street's name to honour lord mayor Terence MacSwiney has run into issues around national legislation

City councillors voted in 2021 to move forward with the name change to honour the family of Cork’s most famous lord mayor, Terence MacSwiney.

Legislation which would pave the way for Anglesea Street in Cork to be renamed MacSwiney Street could be progressed next year.

City councillors voted in 2021 to move forward with the name change to honour the family of Cork’s most famous lord mayor, Terence MacSwiney.

The street, on which a Garda station, Cork City Fire Brigade’s HQ, the Cork courthouse and the main entrance to Cork City Hall are all located, had been planned to be renamed after the MacSwiney family the following year, but ran into issues around national legislation.

Housing minister James Browne has given Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould an update on the matter.

The minister said it was expected a resolution to the "legislative complexities that exist between the Local Government Acts and Official Languages Act" may require primary legislation to resolve. He said the matter was being examined by both his department and officials from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

He said his department had recently established a local democracy taskforce, which is due to report on its deliberations within the next six to nine months.

"It could be expected that there may be legislative change to the Local Government Acts arising from its work, which will be progressed in 2026. Work will continue with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht on the resolution of the placenames issue, with a view to agreeing revised policy and identification of any required legislative change," Mr Browne's response said.

Mr Gould said while a timeline was welcome, the slow pace of progress was frustrating.

“This has dragged on for far too long. I have raised it directly with the previous housing minister, both through PQs and in the Housing Committee. It shouldn’t take this much pressure to enact a simple change to legislation, but we are not surprised given the clear disrespect shown by this Government to our history and heritage, with plans to turn the GPO into shopping and office space.

“It is positive that we now have a timeline. We know when this will happen and the legacy of the MacSwiney family, who sacrificed so much for our city and island. I look forward to the day we see the name revealed."