Simply not true that we have no bridge called after a woman

During the past week or so, I listened to the councillor from Co Louth on Lifeline discussing the controversy regarding the change in name of a bridge in his area.

During his statements he declared that Ireland had no bridge called after a woman and that it is time to change the situation.

May I, through your newspaper, invite the said councillor to visit Cork, where he will find that in linking Grand Parade with Sullivan’s Quay we have the Nano Nagle Bridge.

This bridge remembers one of Cork and Ireland’s most dedicated women in the education and well-being of the less fortunate children of the world, represented through her establishing of the Presentation Sisters and who is laid to rest at the convent grounds in Douglas Street in Cork city.

It is interesting to note that during her presidency, Mary McAleese spoke in Cork of the greatness of Nano Nagle and how she had been a lantern to the many who subsequently followed Nano in her ministry to the unfortunate of the world.

The President was at the time declaring open the Nano Nagle Walk which formed part of the development of housing units by the Nano Nagle Housing Association on the site of the former secondary school.

The dedication took place on Jan 24 2002.

It would be my humble opinion that former President McAleese would shun the concept of her name being attached to a bridge which is already recognised as the Boyne Valley Bridge, and thus taking from the fact that Nano Nagle holds the place of honour.

Joseph P Murphy

Ballincollig

Co Cork