Campaigners hope to name city park in late singer’s honour

Restrictions around the naming of parks after individuals should be changed to allow Dubliners like Stephen Gately to be honoured, it has been claimed.

Under current Dublin City Council (DCC) rules, parks cannot be named in honour of people until they’ve been dead 20 years, or 100 years after their birth.

Boyzone star Gately died in Mallorca, Spain at the age of 33 on October 10, 2009, and wouldn’t be considered for naming honours until 2030.

According to councillor Damian O’Farrell, who represents Clontarf, said the restrictions were introduced following revelations made about Jimmy Savile in the UK.

“After Jimmy Savile died, they [DCC] brought in a ruling that you had to be dead for 20 years before you had anything named after you, like a park or anything like that,” he said.

“People will remember Stephen Gately after 20 years, but there’s people that won’t be remembered after that time, they shouldn’t be left out.

“In England, there were thousands of things named after Jimmy Savile and they had to rename them,” he added.

Labour Councillor Dermot Lacey, chairperson of the committee when the new rule came in, believes it is reasonable, but is open to halving the waiting time.

“We looked at the whole issue of naming buildings and signs around the time of the revelations about Jimmy Savile,” he said.

“It was felt at the time that we should give some space between the outpouring of emotion on the death of somebody and the naming of a piece of infrastructure.

“We felt a 20-year gap was reasonable. There’d still be people alive who remember the person, who know the person, it’d give that little bit of space.

“It’s 20 years since they died or 100 years since their birth. When it hits the 100-year mark, it’s highly unlikely that there’d be any badness, it would’ve emerged.

“I think it’s worked, and it’s avoided emotional naming, the immediate outcry when someone dies. But I’d be happy to engage in a discussion to move it to 10 years.

“We thought it was in the best interest of the city and the best interest of the families who are bereaved, can you imagine naming something after someone and something negative came out? That would double the hurt for the family and friends,” he added.

Councillor Christy Burke, who represents the north inner city, said he will keep working to get a park named after the late Boyzone singer.

“Stephen’s name and his music will never be forgotten; it would be a boost to the area and his family. His mother is the most dignified woman you could meet in your life. She’s proud of Stephen,” he said.

“Luke Kelly has an area named after him because it came under the Docklands Authority not the City Council. It’s a ridiculous policy.

“I’ll put in a motion to reverse the policy and name parks after ambassadors, people who served the country. In Stephen’s case, he served this area well. He never forgot his roots; his mother still lives there.”

In response, a spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: “The 20-year rule was first adopted by the council, as part of the policy on commemorative naming, on December 3, 2012.

“It was adopted again as part of the revised policy on June 12, 2017.”