Citizens of Dublin have until 1pm today to propose a new name for Archbishop Ryan Park, also known as Merrion Square Park
WHAT’S IN a name? Probably not much to the teeming crowds who regularly pass through Merrion Square Park in Dublin. Most visitors are unaware that the green oasis is officially called Archbishop Ryan Park. At least it is at the moment. In January, Dublin City Council tabled a motion to rename the park, after Ryan was heavily criticised in the Murphy Report for his handling of clerical sexual abuse. The public were invited to submit their ideas. But what to call it?
Given the well-known sculpture of Oscar Wilde is lounging on a rock in one corner, many think the literary wit is a perfect choice. Gerry Barry, Dublin City Parks superintendent explains that most naming decisions are made by county councillors, the sitting Lord Mayor (occasionally) and via suggestions received by the council’s Heritage Department.
Renaming a place doesn't necessarily mean the public will embrace the change. Barry says that everyone in Ballyfermot refers to Le Fanu Park (after Sheridan, the Gothic writer) as "the Lawns". Cabra's John Paul II Park is referred to locally as "the Bogies", after the railway lines. Currently, Dublin has 116 designated green spaces and parks. Many are named after geographical places, but on that list only three parks – St Anne's, St Catherine's and Markievicz park – are named after women. Look around the city and this titular imbalance is everywhere. The Liffey has more than 20 bridges, none of which is named after a woman – unless you count Anna Livia, Joyce's personification of the river in Finnegans Wake. Island Bridge was once named after Sarah, Countess of Westmoreland, and Mellows Bridge used to be called Queen Maeve's bridge. The argument that most of these titles were decided at a time when women were socially and politically under-represented doesn't hold up – three bridges over the Liffey have opened in the last decade, all named after male writers.
Dr Mary Condren, of Trinity’s Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies, is not surprised by the disproportion. “We live in a heroic culture, a culture of the warrior, the militarist. There’s no room to represent the nurturing, nourishing life of women.” Condren has been one of the most vocal in suggesting that Archbishop Ryan Park be named after Brigid, who has both pagan and Christian connections. “In mythological traditions, she was always a bridge-builder, concerned with reconciliation and healing, which would be very fitting.” Barry says the public are always welcome to make suggestions for places they’d like to see renamed, if there’s a legitimate reason. “Equality seems as a good a reason as any.” Does he feel that Oscar Wilde will triumph as the new name? “He may, but there’s a large groundswell of support for Brigid too.”
Submissions for renaming Archbishop Ryan Park can be made up until 1pm today by e-mailing parks@dublincity.ie
