*Photograph: Joe Buckley
SHANNON’s history can be complimented by the addition of a permanent flagpole in the centre of the town, a local representative has argued.
An appeal for the installation of a permanent flagpole at the monument outside the Seán Lemass Public Library was voiced by Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) at the May meeting of the Shannon Municipal District. “This will mean we have somewhere official to fly our flag,” she stated.
Senior executive officer in the Shannon MD, Jason Murphy reminded the county councillor that a flagpole is already in place at Shannon Town Hall, “Clare County Council has a long tradition of flying our national flag at our main county buildings, Áras Contae an Chláir in Ennis” which he said was carried out “in accordance with Departmental guidelines”.
He continued, “having regard to the practices in place and the importance of consistency at all our public buildings, at this point I do not believe there is a need to install another flagpole in Shannon Town”.
Cllr McGettigan admitted she wasn’t happy with the official response and pointed out that a monument already exists outside the library. “Shannon doesn’t have a central area for this kind of thing, it doesn’t have a history as a new town besides Hasting’s Cottage, it would be nice to do something”.
“I’m not into flag raising myself, Donna and her group might be into it flag waving, that is their prerogative but I support the motion,” Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) commented in seconding the proposal.
Support was also provided by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) who referenced the statues linked to the 1916 Easter Rising and the 2016 commemoration in the locality. “I think if it’s financial maybe we should be able to find a bit of money in our GMA to erect a flagpole, it would be very nice to have a flagpole there, the library is of importance”.
Ryan added, “I wouldn’t be as Republican minded as Cllr McGettigan but I think all members would claim to have a bit of Republicanism in them”. This prompted Cllr Flynn to encourage the Mayor of Clare to give a verse of ‘A Nation Once Again’, a request which was swiftly rejected.
