Former Lord Mayor calls for City Library to be renamed after historic Cork figure

A FORMER Cork lord mayor wants Cork City Library to be renamed as the Terence MacSwiney Library as centenary celebrations get underway.

This year marks the start of commemorations of the Irish fight for Independence, which included the death of two lords mayor, as well as the burning of Cork by British forces.

Independent councillor Mick Finn has asked that Cork City Council fulfill the wishes of a previous council, which decided decades ago to name the library after Terence MacSwiney, who died on hunger strike.

He is also asking that promotion and branding be done immediately.

“It would be an easy win in a year that we’re looking to mark the 100 years of MacSwiney and MacCurtain, and the burning of Cork, and there’s a lot of projects being spoken about, but this could be an easy win because that decision was already taken,” Mr Finn told The Echo.

Calls have also been made to rename Union Quay as O’Hegarty Quay to commemorate revolutionary brothers Seán O’Hegarty and Patrick Sarsfield O’Hegarty. 

Seán succeeded Terence MacSwiney as Officer in Command of the Cork No 1 Brigade, while Patrick was a member of the Supreme Council of the IRB, the editor of Irish Freedom, and an historian.

The centenary commemoration steering committee discussed the proposals from Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan, and councillors will vote on the proposal during a city council meeting in February or March.

Should it be passed, the proposal goes to a plebiscite of residents in the area, meaning they vote on the plan before it goes back to council for final approval.