Proposal to name another road after Joe Dolan

The late singer Joe Dolan looks set to have another stretch of road in Mullingar named after him.

The road in question is the one that runs behind the county council offices, from Gaol Hill to Blackhall, and the proposal that it be named after ‘the Mullingar Mojo’ was made at the February meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad by Cllr Mick Dollard.

Cllr Dollard stated that the road had been 10 or 12 years in development but has not yet been named.

"I’m always of the view that when roads are being developed, they should be named after people who have made some form of contribution to the area, whether that be economic, social or cultural, and certainly, Joe Dolan over the years proved he was a true Mullingar person, and I think it’s only fitting that we would call that particular road after him," Cllr Dollard said.

He went on to point out that Mr Dolan had links with that area, having had a recording studio in Blackhall, in the same building that is currently home to Joli beauty salon.

"I’m happy to second the motion. I think it’s a good motion," said Cllr Ken Glynn, going on to state that it was appropriate that this was the road suggested as it was near Áras an Mhuilinn and Mullingar Arts Centre, located in what was the County Hall, where Joe had played often.

Also in support of the proposal was Cllr Denis Leonard, who said evidence of the ongoing interest in the singer was to be seen in the numbers who come to stand at his statue, to view the Joe Dolan Bridge and to walk the streets Joe walked.

"This town is so associated with Joe Dolan and also on a larger scale with the Comhaltas and everything else going on. It’s building such an image as a musical capital in the middle of Ireland," he said.

From the executive, the official response was that a non-statutory consultation process to name the road could be undertaken.

Responding, an official stated that an advert could be placed in the local papers seeking submissions from the public and the matter could then be brought back before the members within four to six weeks.

Cllr Dollard welcomed the statement, going on to add that Joe Dolan had another link to the arts centre in that his brother, the late Paddy Dolan, had been a caretaker there for many years.