Town
(i.e.
borough,
former urban
district
or town).
Under
S.189 of
the Local
Government
Act, 2001
the
Town
Council
may by
resolution,
adopted by
at least
one-half
of the
members,
make a
proposal
to change
the name
of the
town.
This
proposal,
after been
notified
to
prescribed
persons
and
published
inviting
submissions
within two
months and
after the
submissions
have been
considered
(reserved
function),
may be
adopted or
amended by
the Town
Council
provided
at least
one-half
of the
members
again
consent.
Where
proposal
is
accepted
or amended
the Town
Council
must then
seek the
consent of
the
majority
of the
qualified
electors
(i.e.
registered
voters and
certain
occupiers
of rated
hereditaments)
in the
town. When
the
proposal
is
confirmed
by a
majority
of the
electors
the
Cathaoirleach
(Chairman)
of the
Council
shall
declare
such new
name and
the date
it comes
into
operation
being the
1st
January
next
following
the
expiration
of at
least
three
months
from the
date of
the
declaration.
Each
declaration
must be
published,
including
in Iris
Oifigiuil,
and sent
to
prescribed
persons.
A previous
provision
under an
Act of
1946 as
amended in
1955
required
the
Council to
apply to
the
Government
to change
the name
after
obtaining
consent of
four-sevenths
of the
ratepayers
of the
town and
after the
Council of
the
relevant
county
agreed. An
earlier
provisions
of 1898
did not
require
the
consent of
the
ratepayers.
Among the
place
names
changed
under the
old
provision
of 1898
was
'Queenstown'
in County
Cork to 'Cobh'
and under
the 1946
provision
were:-
'An Uaimh'
town, in
County
Meath, to
'Navan'(1971);
'Ceanannus
Mór' town,
in County
Meath, to
'Kells'
(1993).
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© MP
McConnon,
MC
Research
Service,
Seabank,
Castlebellingham,
Dundalk,
County
Louth,
Ireland.
Last
update 26 June
2004