Letterkenny-Milford councillors have unanimously agreed to rename the forecourt outside An Grianán Theatre as ‘Dessie Larkin Plaza’, in memory of the former Councillor and Mayor.
The public space will be relaunched following an upgrade this year.
The fourth anniversary of Cllr Larkin’s death takes place this Saturday, 18th March.
Letterkenny Councillor Kevin Bradley brought a motion before the Municipal District on Tuesday, saying that the renaming of the plaza would be a credit to Dessie and his dedication to arts, culture and sports in Donegal.
Dessie Larkin, who was a serving councillor from 1999-2014, was Letterkenny’s first-ever Town Centre Manager. He was also the former director of an Grianán Theatre CLG, a long-serving board member and former Chair of the Earagail Arts Festival and one of the founders of the Donegal Marathon.
Cllr Bradley’s motion yesterday was described as very fitting, given Cllr Larkin’s work in Letterkenny.
Cllr Donal Coyle, who canvassed for the late Cllr Larkin in past elections, said the link between Dessie’s family and An Grianán Theatre goes back through the Larkin family. Cllr Coyle pointed out that Dessie’s late father James was a Senator at the time of the announcement of funding for An Grianán Theatre.
Mayor Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly said: “Dessie Larkin did a lot in his very short life, the one thing I will say, knowing Dessie, he was an absolute gentleman.”
“It will be nice to have something to remember him by in the town.”
Donegal County Council is now set to make the necessary arrangements, in conjunction with An Grianán Theatre, to rename the prominent town location.
