Herald Opinion: Naming is not a trivial matter - it is a form of public memory

Naming places has always been a surprisingly emotional business. A suggestion appears, a rumour spreads, a politician muses on the radio—and suddenly we are arguing about the identity of a nation. 

The latest example is the growing chatter about renaming Dublin Airport after a former Taoiseach. Not long ago, the Dublin Airport Authority even jokingly flirted with rechristening it “Troy Parrott Airport” after the striker’s blistering performances in two World Cup qualifiers. It was all in good humour, of course, but it highlighted a deeper truth - names matter.

We already live with one of the country’s most conspicuous renaming’s. Lansdowne Road, once synonymous with Irish rugby, now bears the decidedly commercial title “Aviva Stadium”. That change—love it or loathe it—was driven by practicality, not sentiment. Sponsorship money built a world-class facility. But it also showed how even our most cherished landmarks can be reshaped by economic reality.

There is nothing inherently wrong with attaching a name to a major piece of national infrastructure. But there is something wrong with doing it haphazardly. If we are to rename Dublin Airport, it should be done according to clear, meaningful criteria not whim, not politics, not the news cycle.

The United States offers an instructive contrast. There, airports regularly honour national figures. New York’s main airport memorialises John F. Kennedy. Washington National Airport was officially renamed for Ronald Reagan in 1998. These decisions are not made lightly; they are enacted by Congress and reflect a broad political and cultural consensus.

Ireland, on the other hand, has traditionally favoured geography over individuals. Dublin, Cork, and Shannon Airport are named simply for the places they serve. The striking exception is Ireland West Airport Knock. Originally “Horan International Airport,” it acknowledged the extraordinary vision of Monsignor James Horan, who drove the airport’s creation against the odds. That naming made sense. It honoured the man who created it, but then it was changed to the region.

So what about Dublin Airport? Should we even be contemplating a new name? And if so, who precisely deserves such a distinction?

First, we must accept that Dublin Airport is more than a regional transport hub. It is our main gateway to the world, a national symbol as much as a national utility. If we were to rename it, the honouree should reflect that scale of significance.

Here in Ireland, political commemoration is uneven at best. Michael Collins’s name adorns barracks, avenues, and drives across the country. Éamon de Valera, despite being one of the dominant figures of the 20th century, is seldom acknowledged in the built environment—Cork’s de Valera Bridge being one of the exceptions. In our own county of Roscommon, we commemorate people more selectively still. The GAA leads the way: Dr Hyde Park honours Ireland’s first President, the future Centre of Excellence will bear Dermot Earley’s name, and Dan O’Rourke is remembered in Castlerea. Ballinlough’s streets recall Kane, Glavey, and Glynn, three young men killed during the War of Independence. Gardaí John Morley and Henry Byrne, murdered at Shannon’s Cross in 1980, are honoured in Castlerea’s street names.

These examples show that naming is not a trivial matter. It is a form of public memory—one that reveals who we value, and who we forget.

So before we rush to crown Dublin Airport with a new identity, we should ask the question that too often goes unspoken: what exactly are we trying to commemorate? A national achievement? A cultural icon? A legacy of service? Or just a political moment?

If Dublin Airport is ever renamed, it should not be because of fashion, personal loyalty, or PR opportunities. It should be because we, as a country, have agreed—calmly and collectively—that a particular individual or ideal embodies something essential about Ireland.

Until such a figure emerges, the name “Dublin Airport” may be perfectly adequate. Sometimes the most honest name is the one that simply tells the truth about where you are.