Wexford Placenames Committee

The Wexford Placenames Committee was set up in 2006 to assess and monitor the naming of new developments.  Placename proposals referred to the Committee are normally those which require the agreement of the planning authority in order to comply with a condition of planning permission. In general this applies to residential developments over five houses, large commercial developments and mixed use developments.

The Committee is made up of members from various sections of the Council along with members of the local community who have a specific interest in local heritage and history. There are eight members as follows:

• Deirdre Kearns, Senior Executive Planner, WCC
• Fiona Fenlon, Assistant Planner, WCC
• Carmel Brislane, Assistant Planner, WCC
• Eugene Campbell, Arts Dept, WCC
• Siobhán Ó’Treasaigh, Irish Officer, WBC
• Cllr. Seán Doyle, Enniscorthy U.D.C.
• Canon Seamus De Val, Bunclody
• Nicholas Furlong, Wexford

Process

The applicant submits a placename application form which is issued with the final grant of permission or alternatively can be downloaded below. The application form must give the proposed English and/or Irish name and the reason for the proposed name. Upon receipt of the application the committee members will consider the name and a decision will be issued within two weeks. The Committee endeavors to issue timely decisions to avoid unnecessary delays for developers (e.g. with ESB connections, marketing campaigns).

Criteria for Assessment

The Wexford Placenames Committee has produced an information leaflet which is issued with final grants of permission (over 5 houses) or alternatively can be downloaded below. The leaflet gives guidance and helpful advice for choosing placenames. Also available from the planning section is a booklet published by Club na Sionna of Conradh na Gaeilge called “Name Your Place” which provides a basic aid to the Gaelic naming of housing estates and other developments.

In assessing applications the Committee will have regard to the following:

• The proposal should reflect local townslands, landscape, history, culture or historical persons associated with the area.
• Placenames should be easily pronounced and the use of Irish language including bilingual placenames is encouraged, where possible.
• Correct spelling is vital. Spelling and translations of proposed names are checked with our Irish Officer, or alternatively with the Placenames Branch in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs or on the Placename Database of Ireland http://www.logainm.ie/
• Multiple names within housing estates should be avoided as this generally leads to confusion (for postman and visitors!). The Committee will discourage multiple names within housing estates and the use of names such as mews, avenue, court, etc.
• Duplication of names is not permitted. The Committee has set up an internal database of existing estate names. Where there is an identical or similar name in the same electoral district the proposed name will be rejected by the Committee and an alternative name will be requested.

Examples of Names Approved

• McMurrough Court/ Cúirt Mhic Mhurchú
• Taobh na Coille/ Woodside
• Páirc na Bearna
• Radharc an Chaisleáin/ Castle View
• Céide Dhún Bróithe/ Dunbrody Drive
• Whitehouse Cove/ Cuas an Tí Bháin
• Slí Teamplóir

Placenames Information Leaflet (PDF Document, 112 KB)

Placenames Application Form (PDF Document, 26 KB)