A campaign group in Cork has called for street names named after imperial figures to be changed, arguing such a move would be “nothing new”. 

After independence, some of Ireland’s streets were renamed to better reflect the nationalist ethos of the new Free State. 

Perhaps the most well known example is Dublin’s O’Connell Street, which was previously known as Sackville Street. 

However, many were left untouched and a long walk through the leafier parts of Dublin, in particular, means a person will pass through a number of distinctly Britannic sounding streets. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Misneach Corcaigh spokesperson Lar Ó Tuama said it is not appropriate for Irish streets to honour imperial figures. 

“The ones we have problems with are the ones that are named in honour of Empire,” he explained. 

“The names that are imposed, I suppose, to subjugate Irish people under the rule of Empire.

“Place names like Union Quay, Victoria Road, Albert Quay; these are place names that are named in honour of the Famine Queen and her husband.

“These are place names that probably should have been changed a hundred years ago - but look, better late than never I suppose.” 

Mr Ó Tuama added that renaming streets is “not something new”, noting that Cork’s King Street was renamed MacCurtain Street, in honour of the city’s Lord Mayor, who was killed by the Royal Irish Constabulary.  

“It's not something extremely radical,” he said. 

“It may be an idea that people maybe, who live in the area or live on certain streets, have memories of certain streets and it might be uncomfortable for them,” he said. 

“But like any rebranding process, it just takes time to accept change.”

However, Mr Ó Tuama also conceded that street names are likely to be low priority for many members of the public. 

“I think it would be remiss of me not to mention the real legacy of colonialism here, which is the occupation of six counties,” he said. 

“Street names are very minuscule in comparison to that.”

Main image: Albert Quay in Cork, which was named after Prince Albert. Picture by: Alamy.com.