Any attempts to rename the Mervue United grounds after they undergo significant renovations, would dishonour the memory of Jimmy O’Sullivan and his work for soccer in the city.
This is the view of Fianna Fáil councillor Michael J Crowe, who said he cannot support proposals to call the grounds after the late former Mervue councillor and Galway city mayor Bridie O’Flaherty.
At a recent meeting of the Galway City Council, councillors granted approval for Mervue United’s grounds and training facilities to undergo a series of improvements and important additions, such as the development of two sand grass pitches, a training area, and a four lane running track.
Subsequent to that meeting, proposals came forward from a number of councillors and TDs that the renovated grounds should be named after Bridie O’Flaherty. However Cllr Crowe said such a name change would not be acceptable to many locals and to “the soccer fraternity in the city”.
“The grounds are already called and known locally as O’Sullivan Park,” he told the Galway Advertiser. “They were given that name about 12 or 13 years ago and named after Jimmy O’Sullivan who did enormous work for soccer both in Mervue and on the east side of the city. I don’t think, regardless of who was proposed to name it after, that the current name should be changed.”
