There are 21 bridges spanning the River Liffey between the East and West Links. 12 of them are named after individuals, ranging in interest from politics to the arts. All of them are men, none of them represent the rich sporting heritage that Dublin is a part of.
In September Dublin City Council will name the 22nd bridge, between Marlborough Street and Hawkins Street and among the five possible names is that of one of the most successful sporting women the city has produced.
Kay Mills began her Camogie career with Dublin at the age of 14. Before her retirement she won no fewer than 15 All Ireland medals for the county, a record unmatched in any other single sport in Ireland.
Her achievements in sport were matched by a love of her city and a business career that ranged with her family from Leather to the Vintners profession. She created jobs for the people of her city, and inspiration for young girls growing up in the austere times of the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Kay Mills showed that sport was a way to live life and express yourself as an individual and as part of a team. She showed that sport was available to everyone and it would be appropriate that this latest addition to the street and river architecture of Dublin were to bear her name.
Dublin City Councillors will meet in September to decide the name. There are 52 councillors in total, 16 of whom are women. We would urge that if you know your local councillor, or believe that this is a reasonable campaign, that you make representation on behalf of sport, and on behalf of women, that the new bridge should bear the name of Kay Mills. You can find details of your local councillors here.
The other four candidates all have valid claim but only one other is a woman and none are from sport. We believe that both those gaps should be bridged in name as well as physical manifestation across the river.
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Dublin City Council and the Camogie Association are both full members of the Sport for Business Community Discover the benefits of joining them today.
Sports Tourism Seminar at Croke Park (September 19th)
Sport for Business 20/20 at Ulster Bank HQ (October 8th)
The Business of Youth Sport Seminar (November 28th)
