The prospect of renaming Kerry Airport after the iconic 19th Century Irish statesman and politician Daniel O’Connell has been raised locally, with Kerry County Council having been approached with the suggestion.
O’Connell – also known as ‘The Liberator’ – was born in Cahirsiveen, in 1775 and became Ireland’s main voice in Westminster in the 1800s, bringing about Catholic Emancipation and widespread liberal reforms, while he was also a vocal supporter of abolishing international slavery.
In bringing the suggestion to a meeting of Kerry County Council, earlier this week, Councillor John O’Donoghue said: “Daniel O’Connell is the most significant Kerry and Irish person of all time. I feel that visitors arriving to our county, and having an airport called after O’Connell, would be a wonderful way to welcome them in a way that is significant.”
The motion garnered some support. It is envisaged that such a move would see Kerry Airport renamed in a way similar to Belfast City Airport and Liverpool Airport, which carry the names of George Best and John Lennon respectively.
