Letters to the Editor, ‘New local council should be named Donard’

Dear Editor,

It is very encouraging to see that the short list of five names selected for the new Newry Mourne and Down council.

The list includes names that are already known nationally and internationally and would achieve the objective of bringing the two parts that were the old councils in to one new fresh entity.

My recommendation would be the simple name “Donard”, for the following reasons.

1. It is simple and easy to remember.
2. It has both a spiritual and a very solid physical meaning.
3. It is immediately known within the new council area, within Ireland and further afield.
4. As the highest point in the new council area it represents a peak, a summit – something to look up to and to strive to achieve.

St Donard was a disciple of St Patrick (around the world, the second most well-known name or brand from Ireland). According to legend, St Patrick chose seven of his disciples to be “perpetual guardians” for different parts of Ireland.

He appointed St Donard as the perpetual guardian for this area. Being a perpetual guardian for the interests of all the residents of the area would be a good aspiration for the new council.

Finally, if the name Donard were chosen, perhaps in a Celtic script, it could be the same in Irish and English. Wouldn’t that send a unique message to the wider world that the new council was trying to find common ground?

Wouldn’t it also be attractive to visitors and inward investors, both of which will be essential for the future economic development of the area?

Yours,

Martyn Todd – South Down Alliance Association

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=47675

Posted by Newry Times News on Dec 15 2014. Filed under Community, Letters to the Editor, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry