Naming Kerry Airport after Daniel O’Connell would be a “fantastic idea”, the Liberator’s family has said.
Born near Cahersiveen in County Kerry in 1775, Mr O’Connell made his name campaigning for Catholics to be the vote, against slavery and for the repeal of the Act of Union.
To honour the 250th anniversary of his birth, a number of Kerry councillors have written to the local airport, asking them to consider renaming it.
On The Hard Shoulder, Maurice O’Connell, the great-great-great-grand-nephew of Daniel, said he strongly supported the idea.
“I flew through there this morning and it’s the friendliest airport you could possibly imagine,” he said.
“They’re lovely people down there.
“It would be a great tribute to Dan on the 250th anniversary of his birth to do that.
“I’m conscious that Belfast has George Best Airport and nobody ever calls it George Best Airport but it is part of the branding of the airport.
“But Daniel O’Connell Airport would be fantastic.”
Yet another busy morning here at Kerry Airport with the Alicante, Faro, Caen and Dublin flights all arriving and departing within minutes of each other ✈️👨✈️👩✈️ pic.twitter.com/E1gFUbweXa
— Kerry Airport (@KerryAirport) August 3, 2024
Although Kerry is Mr O’Connell’s birthplace, his nephew said there are surprisingly few public memorial to him in the county.
“Kerry is the only place where there’s not something significant, a monument or street, named for Daniel O’Connell,” he said.
“Dublin’s got O’Connell Street [and] O’Connell Bridge; Limerick, Ennis, they’ve all got a lot of O’Connell about them.
“But Kerry, which is where he’s from should be included in that.”
International reputation
Mr O’Connell said an international airport is “exactly the right place” for a tribute.
“He had such an impact internationally,” he said.
“We named the Liberator Irish Whiskey in his honour and I sell that around the world.
“Wherever I go, I can make some sort of connection to Daniel and his influence.”
The board of Kerry Airport will now consider the name change.
Main image: Monument of Daniel O'Connell in Dublin. Picture by: Leonid Andronov / Alamy.com.
