Eoin O’Malley: My solution to the ‘colonial’ street sign row — if you build it, you get to name it

Political scientist Eoin O’Malley has proposed a new framework for addressing controversies surrounding the naming of streets in Ireland. The suggestion follows ongoing public debate regarding the presence of street names perceived as colonial, which critics argue commemorate figures or institutions associated with British rule.

O’Malley’s proposal centers on the principle that the authority to name infrastructure should be tied to the entity responsible for its construction. Under this model, developers or organizations that fund and build new streets would retain the right to determine their names, rather than relying on local authorities to assign them.

The proposal is intended to navigate the tension between historical sensitivity and modern urban development. By shifting the naming process to those who finance the projects, the approach aims to depoliticize the selection process and provide a clear, consistent standard for how new public spaces are designated in the future.