Relatives of 1916 leader Éamonn Ceannt have backed the campaign to have Galway’s new pedestrian bridge named after Galway woman and 1916 Cumann na mBan commander Julia Morrissey.
Like Morrissey, Ceannt was born in County Galway and was a signatory of the 1916 Proclamation, and was executed for his role in the Easter Rising.
In a statement, Ceannt’s grandnephew, also called Éamonn, said that he and his brother would like to add their names to the campaign to have the new bridge named after Julia Morrissey.
“Her work during the 1916 Rising, when she took command of a contingent of Cumann na mBan volunteers in Galway, under the overall leadership of Liam Mellows, deserves to be recognised in a real and tangible way. She paid a heavy price for her actions,” he said.
“David and I laud her commitment and her contribution to the birth of our Nation.”
Welcoming the support of Ceannt’s grandnephews, chairperson of the Julia Morrissey Bridge Campaign committee, Ian Ó Dálaigh, said that they are delighted to have the support of Éamonn Ceannt’s relatives.
“Ceannt himself has been publicly recognised in Galway City for his contribution in 1916 – and deservedly so,” said Ó Dálaigh.
“The city’s train station was named after him in 1966, during the wave of anniversary events to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising.
“However, it was almost entirely men who were honoured at that time. Even today, there is very little public commemoration of our Patriot women, with the notable exception of the Rosie Hackett Bridge.”
He said that with the naming of the city’s new bridge, there is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Galway City Council to play their part in addressing this longstanding issue.
“We implore them to do the right thing by formally honouring Julia Morrissey in the centre of her native county.
“108 years after the Rising and 50 years after the death of Julia Morrissey, it’s long past time for the contribution of Galway’s forgotten 1916 leader to be recognised.”
