Limerick councillors propose naming Opera Square tower after Donogh O’Malley

Councillors at Limerick City and County Council voted to support a motion to name the new 14‑storey building in Opera Square the Donogh O’Malley Tower, honouring the former Minister for Education.

Proposal and background

Fine Gael councillor Peter Doyle put forward the proposal at the recent Metropolitan District meeting, noting that O’Malley announced free secondary education on 10 September 1966, a reform that lifted the proportion of children leaving school after primary from 35 % to a much lower figure and increased Leaving Cert completion rates.

Doyle highlighted that O’Malley also introduced free school transport and had previously served as Minister for Health, as well as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Finance, overseeing the Office of Public Works.

The motion was seconded by Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan, who affirmed her belief that education should be free for all, and received praise from Fianna Fáil councillor Catherine Slattery, who described O’Malley’s reforms as a pivotal moment in the State’s history.

Examples of the reform’s impact were cited, including Michael Guinee, former managing director of EI Electronics, whose career was enabled by free education.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Zak Mir / Pexels.