Call for memorial plaques to be reinstalled at this Kildare site

Kildare County Council has been asked to reinstall memorial plaques at a prominent location within the Athy Municipal District.

Fianna Fáil councilllor Veralouise Behan motioned for Kildare County Council to reinstall the plaques, which were previously displayed on the Heritage Centre in Athy.

Her motion was submitted at the latest Municipal District meeting on Monday, September 15 last and was seconded by Labour Party Cllr Aoife Breslin.

Elaborating on her view of the situation, Cllr Behan told Kildare County Council that the plaques "form part of the heritage and story of Athy".

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She further said: "If we put our heads together, we could conceptualise where they could go.

"There are living relatives [of those who have passed away and are commemorated via the memorial plaques] who would like to see them reinstalled too."

Cllr Breslin reiterated similar sentiments to Cllr Behan.

Photograph credit: Kildare County Council

Kildare County Council offered the following reply to Cllr Behan’s motion via the report it presented at the meeting.

It read as follows: "The now almost complete Shackleton Museum was previously home to the Heritage Centre and six plaques that were installed on the building.

"Arrangements were made to have the plaques removed to allow the renovation works commence.

"Given that the building is now dedicated to Shackleton, the plaques will not be reinstated on this building."

However, Kildare County Council subsequently said that an alternative location will need to be identified.

The council added: "If Cllr Behan has any suggestions in mind, this can be investigated by the Strategic Projects and Public Realm team."

Cllr Veralouise Behan (Fianna Fáil). Photograph credit: Kildarecoco.ie

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