NAAS URBAN COUNCIL. THE NAME OF THE TOWN. NO CHANGE

Kildare Observer, 4 December 1940

NAAS URBAN COUNCIL

THE NAME OF THE TOWN

NO CHANGE

The fortnightly meeting of the Naas Urban Council was held on Tuesday evening, Mr. D. J. Purcell, Chairman, presiding. There were also present Messrs. M. Fitzsimons, Co. C., and James Dowling. Mr. Boyle, Town Clerk, and Mr. Hall, C.E., were in attendance.

THE NAME OF THE TOWN

The Secretary of the Co. Council wrote stating that at the meeting of the County Council on Monday week a resolution approving of the proposed change in the name of the town of Naas had been adopted.

The clerk said he thought they were under some misapprehension at the last meeting. Since then he had been consulting the best authorities and they agreed that any attempt to Gaelicise the name ‘Naas’ would be a painting of the lily. He found from Joyce’s “History of the Irish Name Places” that the name Naas signified a meeting place for fairs and business. He also consulted local gentlemen – Mr. Hourihane and Mr. Fahy – and they agreed that any change of the name of Naas would be a mistake, inasmuch as it would be impossible to give it a more Irish Name than its present one.

Mr. Dowling – That’s a consolation to us anyway.
Mr. Fitzsimons – I think we were more or less agreed at the last meeting that that was so. It was simply to get over the controversy that the resolution was arrived at.
Mr. Dowling – We won’t hear any more about it then, Mr. Boyle.

Re-typed by Andy Mason