Sussex Street Faces a Change of Name

A proposal to change the name of Sussex Street in Dun Laoghaire to Sheridan Street is being supported by the Dun Laoghaire Community Association (DLCA)

Michael Merrigan of the Irish Genealogical Society asked the last DLCA meeting to consider the change so that some memorial might be provided to Father Bartholomew Sheridan, PP of St Michael's (1829 to 1864), founder of many Catholic institutions in the town - including orphanages, schools and hospitals.

Sussex Street, leading from Lr George's Street to Eblana Avenue, has few residents and contains the Parochial Hall (named after the late Monsignor Boylan) and the headquarters of the Glasthule Dun Laoghaire Credit Union.

A change of name to 'Sheridan Street' under Section 192 of the Local Government Act, 2001, can only take place after residents (on the electoral list) are balloted.

The proposal has been backed by the current Parish Priest, Father Patrick Mangan who, along with DLCA Chairman Christopher Wood, has written to the County Council asking it to conduct a ballot of residents.

The niece of Canon Sheridan lived in Dun Laoghaire until recently when she died at the age of 103 years.

"No memorial exists to the man who was the father of Catholic education in south County Dublin," says Michael Merrigan. "But if you look at the history of the institutions in the area - the Dominican Convent, St Michael's Hospital, St Joseph's Orphanage - his name keeps cropping up. It would be fitting to remember his work by naming a street after him.

If the name change goes through Sheridan Street will be only the second street in the town to be named after an Irish person - Wellington Street was the first.

To avoid confusion in the future it is suggested that signs read "Sheridan Street (formerly Sussex Street)."

Father Bartholomew Sheridan was born in County Cavan in 1787 and entered Maynooth in 1809. He was ordained in 1814 and, in 1822, was appointed curate to Rev. Mr Doyle in Kingstown. On his death Fr Sheridan became the first parish priest of the newly-created Kingstown parish - a mini-diocese which ran from Kingstown to Little Bray.

He built St Michael's Church in Dun Laoghaire, the Church of the Assumption, Dalkey, St Alphonsus, Killiney, St Brigid, Cabinteely, and the Church of St Peter, Bray.

He had a keen interest in education and brought in various teaching orders.

He died on May 12 1862 and is buried in St Michael's.