A 'walk of fame' in Waterford to commemorate famous people associated with the county has been proposed by councillors.
The idea is similar to the famous Walk of Fame along Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles and would see two name tiles added each year to the walk.
The motion (which was deferred from earlier meetings) was proposed by Cllrs. Joe Kelly, Eddie Mulligan, Jim Griffin, Joe Conway, John Hearne, Lola O’Sullivan, Thomas Phelan, Seamus Ryan, Jason Murphy and Jody Power and read:
“That Waterford City & County Council creates a ‘Walk of Fame’ in Waterford City centre in an appropriate location, like the world famous one in Hollywood. Two name
tiles / squares to be added each year to the ‘Walk’.
The names of chosen recipients (two) per year who are significantly associated with Waterford to be selected by the Metropolitan Mayor and Plenary Mayor (one each) early
in their term of office every year and these to be added to the Walk of Fame.
The motion will be submitted to the Housing, Community, Culture, Sport & Recreation SPC and the procedures committee in order to develop further, a report to issue to
council within 6 months”.
Proposing the motion, Joe Kelly said it was a nice way to recognise famous people connected to Waterford.
There was support for the motion, however, independent Cllr Donal Barry said the people should decide who gets recognised not politicians:
"It should be up to the citizens of Waterford to decide who goes on the tiles every year, through some sort of nomination process and I think having political involvement and the mayors nominating people that it could be open to persuasion by party members and influences like that."
Independent Cllr Mary Roche said she wouldn't support the motion. She said in theory it was a good idea but she had reservations about the motion itself:
"It needs to be thought out a bit more, there'd obviously be a huge backlog of people to start with... It needs a little bit of thought I'm not sure something that goes on the ground is the right answer either, but I do think the general concept of commemorating people is a good one."
The idea will now go forward to the special procedures committee for further development.
