Wall of Fame for Dungannon’s legends unveiled
HEATED debate has been stirred and a few eyebrows raised after a Wall of Fame honouring famous Dungannon people was unveiled at the new Ranfurly Arts Centre.
A total of 18 names have been installed on the mural which was designed to commemorate the achievements of people with Dungannon connections in the fields of sport, education, politics, military leadership and the arts.
The roll of honour includes Uchter Knox, Robert Morrow V.C., General James Shields, Major Robert Stevenson, John King, Darren Clarke, Margaret Noble, Denis Taylor, Ryan Farquhar, Archbishop John Joseph Hughes, William Carleton, James Dilworth, Philomena Begley, Bernadette Devlin, Ulysses S Grant, Charlie Donnelly, John Finlay and Thomas Clarke.
However, a number of blank spaces have been left on the wall of fame, representing what some might feel are glaring omissions. Among the missing names that have raised local eyebrows are those of Peter Canavan, Mickey Harte, W.F.Marshall (poet), Paul Muldoon (poet), Birdie Sweeney (actor), Austin Currie (politician), Lord Ken Maginnis, Lady Sylvia Hermon, Lord Maurice Morrow, Father Eustace Kennedy (founder of Tyrone Crystal), Fr Denis Faul, Cardinal Joseph MacRory, and Blessed Father Patrick O’Loughran (martyr).
UUP Councillor Walter Cuddy welcomed suggestions from the public to help fill the empty spaces, and said the wall of fame was a ‘rolling project’.
“The list was picked on a very subjective basis by a small group of individuals form different backgrounds, and it is bound to stir up heated debate.
“A shortlist of about 14 people was drawn up and presented to the council. However, we felt that there were a lot of people who weren’t on the list, but deserved recognition. Under time pressure, the final list of 18 was devised with the provision of a second shortlist to be drawn up next year.
“We want to keep the wall of fame fresh, and we welcome the inclusion of more names from readers and residents in the Dungannon District.
“My personal view is that we should be avoiding people who influenced history by picking up a gun, and who might prove to be divisive. History is dominated by figures like that, and I believe we’ve had enough fights and battles commemorated. There is more to our shared history than destruction, and we should be celebrating people who had an impact in the fields of industry, architecture, education, and the arts, or in their local community.
“I would like to see more unsung heroes honoured on this wall.”
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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