Emily Square — the story behind the name

EMILY Square named after Emily Duchess of Kildare is undergoing for the second time in recent years a major redevelopment.

There is uncertainty as to how it will turn out, if the comments regarding the recent tree planted in the front of the square is anything to go by.

Athy’s main streets all bear the names of an earlier Duke of Leinster’s family members. I am uncertain when the street names were changed, a process which was carried out by Athy’s Borough Council sometime before it was abolished in 1830.

I am fairly confident that Augustus Bridge over the Canal built in 1790/91 was named after Augustus Fitzgerald, the first child of William, 2nd Duke of Leinster who officially opened the bridge.

The 2nd Duke was to have his name forever remembered when the main streets running through Athy were renamed William Street, Duke Street and Leinster Street.

When that was done, I can only speculate. Perhaps soon after his death in October 1804 when his earlier mentioned first son became Duke of Leinster.

Duke Street was previously known as St John’s Street while Leinster Street was called High Street.

Interestingly, St John’s Lane which was linked with St. John’s Street still retains its pre medieval name.

Preston’s Gate was renamed Offaly Street as within the Fitzgerald extended family, the name Lord Offaly was a common feature since Gerald Fitzmaurice was succeeded in that title by Maurice Fitzgerald in the 13th Century.

James, the 1st Duke of Leinster, was known as Lord Offaly before he was raised to the Dukedom.

On the opposite side of the main street lies Stanhope Street, possibly named after the family name of the wife of the 2nd Duke.

Athy’s Plaza is known as Emily Square in memory of Emily, Duchess of Kildare who married James, the 1st Duke of Leinster in 1747 when she was aged 15 years and 4 months.

Emily was the goddaughter of George II. She was the second of seven surviving children of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond an illegitimate descendant of King Charles II.

Her mother was Sarah, daughter of Earl Cadogan. James the 1st Duke of Leinster contracted to build Carton House before he married and when the work was incomplete as he brought his young English bride to Ireland, the couple lived for a few weeks at Leinster Lodge, Athy. During her married life, Emily also lived in Carton House, Frescati House in Blackrock and in Leinster House where the 1st Duke died in 1773.

During their married life, Emily gave birth to 19 children including Edward Fitzgerald, the Irish Patriot. Emily’s last child of the 19 was generally believed to have been fathered by her lover, the children’s tutor William Ogilvie. When her husband died, Emily married Ogilvie the following year and had three more children with him. She died in London in March 1814.

I am speculating when I put forward the 3rd Duke of Leinster as the person who with the cooperation of Athy Borough Council prompted the renaming of Athy’s main street and the town’s plaza.

Emily was the 3rd Duke’s grandmother and there may have been a conscious effort to delete Lord Edward Fitzgerald from popular memory by highlighting the names of those who were faithful to the crown.

I do not have documentary evidence to hand to back up my speculative claim as unfortunately I cannot presently access my archival records.

However, I cannot recall any reference to street name changes in the Athy Borough minute books which I examined many years ago.

Our local history was for centuries bound up with that of the Earls of Kildare and the Dukes of Leinster and as they were proprietors of our town, it was inevitable that the people’s allegiances followed those of the occupiers of the great castles of Kildare.

Times have changed and Athy people are now more intensely aware of their history and appreciative of those local men and women who played their part in helping to secure some measure of freedom for our country.

Should they be remembered by a further renaming of Athy’s streets?

As I ask that question, I am reminded of an attempt some years ago by a member of Athy Urban District Council to have Emily Square renamed Mandela Square following Nelson Mandella’s release from a South African prison.

Congratulations to David Daly on his election as chairman of Athy Photographic Society. David, a dedicated and skilful photographer, is wished well as he heads up one of Athy’s important cultural societies.