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State to replace missing plaque of UVF founder

Brian Hutton

THE Government is dipping into state coffers to pay for a plaque commemorating one of the founding fathers of Ulster unionism.

The unusual move follows the mysterious disappearance of a memorial to Edward Carson at his birthplace in central Dublin.

The founder of the original Ulster Volunteer Force and renowned barrister, immortalised in the statue that defiantly jabs his finger over Belfast from Stormont, was fiercely opposed to Home Rule in Ireland.

He was also notorious in both the legal and literary worlds for his devastating skills as the lawyer who destroyed the reputation of fellow Dubliner Oscar Wilde during an infamous libel trial.

But after a bronze plaque marking the house on Harcourt St where he was born a century and a half ago was noticed to be missing earlier this year, the Government got involved.

The Department of Environment confirmed it does not normally pay for the costly memorials - the equivalent of the blue Ulster History Circle plaques in the North - adorning many of the capital city's Georgian houses. "We asked Dublin Tourism to replace the plaque but they said they have no money for this so we stepped in and offered to pay for it," said a department spokesman.

Aides of former environment minister Dick Roche first brought the removal of the plaque to the attention of the city's tourist authorities in February.

But when Dublin Tourism said it had no cash in its budget for a replacement, the minister agreed to stump up the expected €1,500 of public money for a new plate as a gesture to unionists.

Permission for the sign was previously sought and granted by the owners of the building that now houses the Pie Dish restaurant, as part of Stephen's Green Hotel.

Funding

"Obviously there was an existing sign and if there was the funding there, we would be happy to replace it," said Catherine Elliott, of Dublin Tourism.

The issue dropped off the radar shortly after it surfaced because of the Republic's general election in May and the change of environment minister and personnel within his department.

But Environment Minister John Gormley has now agreed to pay out the cash, although a date has yet to be set for plaque's unveiling. "The decision was made by the previous minister because of the North/South dimension and that obviously carries on," said a department spokesman.

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