COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, June 10, 2013
HEADED ITEM NO. 3c)
HEADED ITEM: C. Services Department
STANDING COMMITTEES - ORGANISATION, PROCEDURE & FINANCE COMMITTEE, 23rd MAY 2013
c) Naming of Rathfarnham Castle Garden
REPLY:
The following report was presented to the Members at the Organisation, Procedure and Finance Committee Meeting held on 23rd May 2013:
"The following Motion was passed at the Rathfarnham Area Committee Meeting held on 14th May 2013 and it was agreed that this motion be brought before this meeting of the OP&F committee for full consideration :-
"That the Manager prepare a report to go forward to this months Organisation Procedure and Finance Committee Meeting regarding the naming of the Ornamental Garden at Rathfarnham Castle. That this Committee propose that the Garden should be named the Sean Keating Ornamental Garden as part of this County Village initiative. The Ornamental Garden is due to be opened this summer. If it was agreed at the OP&F meeting it could be then ratified at the June Council meeting."
Since the Area Committee meeting further detailed consideration has been given to this proposal. The County Librarian has reported that:
Seán Keating (1889-1977) is one of Ireland's iconic artists. He was a member and former President of the Royal Hibernian Academy of Art, and his professional life spanned seventy years during which time he was renowned at home and abroad for his ability to paint forceful images that were at once emblematic of his own cultural and political nationalism and analogous to that of the nation at large. He lived for many years in Rathfarnham and is buried in Cruagh cemetery. A mural by the artist can be seen in the Church of the Holy Spirit Ballyroan. A new book 'Art, Politics and Building the Nation' by Dr Eimear O'Connor offers a new perspective on his life and work and Dr O'Connor has agreed to deliver a talk on Keating in Ballyroan Library in the autumn. It is also hoped to hold an exhibition of works by the artist in the library later this year.
The proposal has also been considered by Council's Parks Department and by the Heritage Officer and they have no objection in principle to the proposal.
Their recommendation is that the area in question should be called 'Sean Keating Garden'.
The garden is expected to be ready for opening in Autumn 2013 and a naming ceremony could be held then. There is a location within the garden for a nameplate which will be in Irish and English. Consideration will also be given to the installation of an information plaque in relation to Sean Keating and his work.
The matter is now before this Committee for recommendation and if agreed the recommendation will be listed on the agenda of the June Council Meeting for final approval. End of Report to OP&F.
It was proposed by Councillor P. Cosgrave, seconded by Councillor M. Devine and AGREED:
'That the ornamental garden in Rathfarnham Castle should be named the Seán Keating Garden as part of the County Village Initiative.'
This matter is now before the Council for approval.