Report Paul Murphy
A call has been made to change the name of the Kells Municipal District to Kells-Oldcastle-Athboy MD. It has come from Sinn Fein Cllr Peter Caffrey, pictured above, who raised the issue at Monday’s meeting of Kells MD. He says the new name would reflect the geographical spread of the district and enhance publica awareness that it encompasses a significant area of North Meath. It was seconded Cllr Michael Gallagher.
Cllr Caffrey said that people in Oldcastle don’t understand why they are not included and he suggested writing to the Minister for Housing to ask him to make the change Cllr Eugene Cassidy said that Nobber and Drumconrath shouldn’t be left out. Director of Services Dara McGowan said that when the MDs were being named they named them after the biggest town in the district, In Navan and Trim. In the case of Laytown and Bettystown, while they were two different towns, they were taken as one “settlement”.
Cllr Bray noted the size of the Kells MD.
Independent Cllr David Gilroy said he would make just one change to the proposed new name – that Athboy would have alphabetical prominence. There was a large geographical spread in the district and perhaps it was the case that people might not feel connected to a particular town. They might not have any allegiance to those town or have any reason to travel to those other towns.
Cllr Mike Bray said that there was a wide geographical spread in the area and it was often hard to explain to people that a certain councillor might also represent a town or village that was 45 minutes drive away. Cllr Eugene Cassidy said that calling the area Kells-Oldcastle-Athboy MD was taking things a step too far.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Sean Drew suggested that perhaps the name North Meath Municipal District might suit the occasion. Cllr Sarah Reilly said she agreed with Cllr Drew and suggested that the name North Meath was “more all-encompassing”. It was agreed to write to the Minister on the subject.
