A plaque in Nenagh commemorating the "unparalleled benevolence of the English nation to the poor of Ireland" has outraged Sinn Féin councillor Seamus Morris. However, others disagree.
The plaque was taken down in 1905, following objections to the inscription, and remained in storage until recently when a local committee was formed to restore the old water spout on the Dublin Road in the town.
Cllr Morris said that the plaque was akin to asking the Jewish people to erect a plaque celebrating the Holocaust.
"I am disappointed that my fellow councillors cannot see the great offence that this plaque will cause to true republicans. This plaque was erected at a time when Ireland had lost half its population through starvation and emigration," he stated.
The plaque is set to form the centrepiece of a proposed restoration project to be undertaken by the spout committee.
The spout was constructed to provide famine relief work for the local community in 1822, when a localised famine hit the region, and was part of a broader scheme for the town of Nenagh that involved the construction of other buildings for public utility.
The spout is a small neo-classical well structure of local limestone, originally with an engaged pediment resting on stylised Doric columns to the front, with steps to the open front and concave structure to the rear to house the water supply.
One of the larger subscribers to the scheme was the London Tavern Society, and it was partly due to it that a plaque with the following inscription was erected: "Erected by local contribution to commemorate the unparalleled benevolence of the English nation to the poor of Ireland at a season of extreme distress AD 1822."
Cllr Morris said he had asked the spout committee to consider changing the wording. "I find it very offensive and another thing, it was donated by the London Tavern Society. I have a serious problem and I see this as rubbing our noses in it. The sign wouldn't last a week if it goes up," he said.
Mayor of Nenagh Tony Sheary disagreed with Cllr Morris and said he would not like to see the inscription changed. "I think it would be a pity to change the historic element. We can laugh at this because we don't need the unparalleled benevolence of the English or any other nation. I would be disappointed if anyone took offence to this."