This article is from page 18 of the 2012-09-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
OFFICIALS from Ennis Town Council are to meet with family members to discuss the best way to honour the memory of the politician and writer Paddy Hogan.
A native of Ennis, Mr Hogan was a Labour TD and member of the Oireachtais from 1923 to 1967.
For the final 16 years of his tenure, he was appointed by Taoiseach Eamon DeValera as Ceann Comhairle.
A qualified barrister, Mr Hogan was actively involved in the trade union movement and wrote a play about Irish freedom and the ‘Galway Shawl’ ballad.
According to a letter written to Ennis Town Council, the Labour Party in Clare are planning to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the party with a memorial to Mr Hogan.
It had been proposed that the Kilmaley roundabout be renamed the ‘Paddy Hogan Roundabout’.
The Labour Party say that the family “are not enthusiastic” about renaming a roundabout in memory of Mr Hogan.
At yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, former Labour party member, Cllr Paul O’Shea proposed that the new inner relief road be renamed after Mr Hogan.
However, councillors suggested that the matter should be discussed further between the council executive, the Hogan family and the council’s place names committee.
Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said Mr Hogan was a “proud members of the community in Ard Na Greine who are very proud of him”.
He added, “I’d prefer if the family sit down with the council and come up with a suitable memorial to Paddy Hogan.”
Cllr Neylon said Mr Hogan should be commemorated. Mayor of Ennis, Peter Considine (FF) said he and council officials would be happy to meet the Hogan family.
Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said the council had moved away from the practice of naming roads and estates after individuals. He said a plaque might be a more suitable memorial.
Work on the inner relief road, which will link Station Road to the Clare Road, is expected to be complete by the end of the month.
According to the council, this relief road is intended to include the overlay of Station Road from Árd na Gréine to the school crossing in the works.