`People power' restores plaque to outside of market house

There was a "rising" of a different kind this Easter in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, where a row over a plaque at the market house…

There was a "rising" of a different kind this Easter in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, where a row over a plaque at the market house in the centre of the town has just been resolved.

During renovation work at the house, the plaque, which was erected in 1966 to honour local men who had taken part in the 1916 Rising, was taken down from over the main door of the building.

It was not replaced when the building was recently reopened to the public. However, the local town commission planned to place it inside the building.

Its officials had argued that the plaque was being damaged by the weather and it would be better to put it up again inside the building.

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However, there was outrage and the letters pages of the local papers ran many complaints about the changes being proposed.

A petition was opened in the town and local politicians, mindful that this is local election year, began to apply pressure to have the plaque returned to its original place.

Mr Michael Dollard, a Mullingar town commissioner, hailed the return of the plaque to its former position as a victory for "people power".

"It was a victory for people power and the local authorities took careful note of what has happened. There was cross-party support for its reinstallation," he told Midland Radio last week.

He said the meeting to make the decision had been attended by a number of local people, indicating how the local townspeople felt about the issue.

"It is very important. It's part of our history and we should display our local history in its proper place beside the local tourism office."

A commissioner, Mr Ken Glynn, who had raised the issue originally, said he believed the plaque would survive the Mullingar weather despite the advice from officials.

"The plaque is well able to take the weather conditions for another 33 years. It should be there for at least another 33 years, if not longer.

"We, the people of Mullingar, can be proud of our market house and our plaque which is now back in its rightful place again."