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Independent TD Barry Heneghan has urged the Irish government to rename a section of Phoenix Park's main avenue in honour of former French President Charles de Gaulle to cement the historic ties between Ireland and France, citing shared heritage and past diplomatic links.
In a spirited speech at the office of the Minister for Overseas Development, Independent TD Barry Heneghan unveiled a proposal to honour the enduring friendship between Ireland and France by renaming a section of the famed avénue in Phoenix Park after the late President Charles de Gaulle.
The suggestion, which was met with enthusiastic comments from Parliament, capitalises on a shared heritage that stretches back to the era of the Wild Geese, when Irish soldiers served as an elite regiment in the French Army. Heneghan, who represents the Dublin Bay North constituency - a district that does not encompass the park itself - recounted the annual ceremony held at Paris's Arc de Triomphe where a green wreath is laid in memory of Irish veterans who served under French colours over the centuries.
Ireland and France Shared Heritage
He highlighted that the monument bears names of Irish soldiers, a fact that has never failed to impress visitors.
"France remembers Ireland and Ireland should also remember France," he declared, urging the government to take advantage of the country's current presidency of the European Union to create a permanent symbol of the special relationship that has existed for generations. Central to his argument is the fact that Charles de Gaulle's family roots can be traced back to the McCartan lineage of County Down.
"De Gaulle's ancestors served in the Berwick regiment, an Irish infantry unit that was established in 1698 as part of France's military," Heneghan explained. The 92nd Infantry Regiment still carries the Irish heritage, he added, and the names of Irish soldiers have been carved into the granite of the Arc de Triomphe. The former president's connection to Ireland runs deep.
Charles de Gaulle Irish Connections
After World War II, the Irish Red Cross set up hospitals in Normandy towns to aid soldiers, and de Gaulle's grandmother, Joséphine Marie Anne Maillot, wrote a biography of Daniel O'Connell that young de Gaulle read with great interest. When he visited Ireland, he met Éamon de Valera at Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park - a historic, tangible meeting between two national leaders.
Heneghan summed up the significance of the moment by saying, "The meeting of the two leaders and the Celtic Interconnector - the submarine cable that links the islands - are both evidence of a service relationship between our nations that runs on both tangible and intangible lines.
Chesterfield Avenue Renaming Proposal
" The proposal would give the name du‑de‑Gaulle to a part of Chesterfield Avenue - the six‑kilometre‑long main road that winds through Phoenix Park - thereby keeping alive the memory of a prominent Irish figure in French history, whilst at the same time, reaffirming the ever‑present gift of France to the Irish people. In the halls of the Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Helen McEntee expressed her willingness to act.
"The Office of Public Works is ready to engage with French authorities. We will look into alternative options and see if we can find the best way of commemorating the bond that runs through our history.
" The Minister added that the costs would be modest, but that the gesture would be priceless. "It would be a mark of our shared values, a symbol that will endure for future generations," she said. Heneghan concluded by urging all Irish leaders to recognise the importance of the French presence in Irish life and to formalise this tribute.
"We will have the opportunity to honour a man who was one of our great allies for good reasons, and by naming a section of Phoenix Park's major avenue after him, we can acknowledge the value of that bond for the generations to come," he finished. The move has already found support across a broad spectrum of delegates, as the invitation to rename part of one of Ireland's most visited park roads in the honour of Charles de Gaulle is a logical extension of the tradition of respectful commemoration that characterises the country's politics.
The initiative is poised to become a landmark event linking the history of the Wild Geese and the 20th‑century French leadership, bringing a final national pageantry to a project that conveys the sense of urgency, dignity and unity that remains a vital part of both Irish and French cultural narratives. Category:Politics
Phoenix Park Charles De Gaulle Irish-France Relations Barry Heneghan Chesterfield Avenue
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