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ONE OF DUBLIN’S most well-known fire stations will not be renamed after firefighter and charity founder Willie Birmingham, despite a vote by the city’s councillors in favour of the change.
Dublin City Councillors voted by an overwhelming majority for a motion in January to rename Tara Street station after Bermingham, who founded the charity ALONE to look after old people in the city.
However, the council’s own rules prohibit the renaming of any emergency services buildings after an individual.
“The policy of the council is that emergency services infrastructure shouldn’t have its name changed, because people will ring up looking for Tara Street Station or Donnybrook Fire Station, for example, rather than a different name,” said Labour councillor Dermot Lacey, who is the chair of the council’s Commemorative Naming Committee.
The committee, which considers proposals for renaming objects in Dublin, did not reject the vote to rename Tara Street station but ratified its existing rules, meaning that the name change could not go ahead. The emergency services are also believed to have been against the naming of a station after an individual.
However Lacey confirmed that something ‘appropriate’ in the city will be named after Willie Bermingham.
“The most appropriate thing could be something like a senior citizens’ housing initiative or something for homeless people, but we’re on the look out,” said Lacey.
Lacey said that Fine Gael councillor Bill Tormey had caused ‘an unnecessary degree of angst’ in bringing forward the motion to change the name, even after it had been explained that it could never be enacted.
Willie’s son, also called Willie and who also serves as a fireman, had said he was very proud of his father after the vote by the Council.
Willie Bermingham Senior died in 1990 at the age of just 47.
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Changing the name doesn’t bother me, taking away the DFB ambulances does.
Are the bulk of Dublin council votes about naming stuff?
Jeremy, it’s safer that way.
There really should be something in Dublin to commemorate Willie Birmingham.
I knew Willie from Bluebell and he worked tirelessly for the elderly community .
He used to organize housing,outings,meals etc and a lot of the expenses were out of his own pocket.
When he founded ALONE he was over the moon with the assistance he got from others and the people they could help.
Crazy decision to stop renaming…I’m sure the command centre will find the right station when call comes in…We all can find landsdowne road even when it was renamed aviva…
Poor willie bermingham didn’t get the recognition he deserved just like ifesa .
Perhaps the council can commission a statue or memorial outside the station in honour of Willie. I, for one would be happy to donate to such a tribute. As well as honouring this great man, it would also serve to keep his charity in mind, which can’t be a bad thing.
Disappointing for all concerned on 2 counts! 1. It would have been appropriate for the family in particular to have been informed prior to media publishing. 2. That the democratic process is clearly pointless where bureaucracy thrives. Willie already turned the first sod in a development 7 days prior to his death which is called Willie Bermingham Place, Kilmainham
What’s the difference difference with when I want to ring blanchardstown hospital? Oh no there’s no blanchardstown hospital but there’s a connelly hospital in blanchardstown. I want to call tara street fire station but it’s called Willie Birmingham Station on Tara Street
Just ask Owen Keegan what he wants…. He will over rule any decision made in democracy, as he said he will do what he wants no matter what council or councilor’s vote for…….
Appalling behaviour. ridiculous situation. Very upset for the Bermingham family to hear this news. Willie and my dad knew only too well about people who followed rules which had no meaning. The decision should be overturned. ” Willie Bermingham Fire Station Tara Street” could have solved the issue would it not.
Disgraceful, and typical of the bureaucracy Willie, and my father Liam encountered regularly through ALONE. As my father was heard to say in such instances “a camel is a horse designed by a committee”…
If it was for Bono there would be no problem, but whilst Willie Bermingham was a wonderful kind saviour in both his working life and his voluntary life he’s just a plain man. This Country only honours big heads. I am very sorry for the Bermingham family. It’s another sign of dithering clowns
They could at least name a fire appliance after him………and others named in remembrance of those that lost their lives in the line of duty.
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