A ceremony marking the official naming of the Rosie Hackett Bridge, which spans the Liffey between Marlborough Street and Hawkins Street, took place on Tuesday, 20th May. Those addressing the event included Lord Mayor Oisín Quinn, SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, Dublin City Council’s Director of Traffic, Michael Phillips and Rosie Hackett’s nephew, John Grey. Addressing the crowd, Joe O’Flynn, congratulated the campaign organised by members of Labour Youth to have the bridge named after Rosie. “They enjoyed huge public support and I think it is a refreshing change to naming buildings and other public entities after people of privilege. Rosie Hackett represented all that is best in the labour and trade union tradition in this great city.” He added: “The huge public support is a reassertion of the values of social solidarity, the values of justice that marked not just Rosie but marked her generation.” Following its official naming a celebratory walk and cycle across the bridge took place. A vintage tram, of the type Rosie would have travelled on in her youth, was on display at the event and the Communications Workers Union Concert Band provided entertainment Rosie was a long term ITGWU member who served in the Irish Citizen Army during the 1916 Rising and went on to work for many years in the union shop. Dublin City Councilors chose her name for the new bridge following public submissions and a series of votes.
Official naming of Rosie Hackett Bridge
