Government Response
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has called on Dublin City Council to withdraw a motion seeking to rename Herzog Park in Rathgar, describing the proposal as “overtly divisive and wrong.” In a statement on Sunday, Martin warned that removing the name would erase the Jewish community’s “distinctive and rich contribution to Irish life” and would “without any doubt be seen as antisemitic” BreakingNews.ie RTÉ Ireland TheJournal.ie.
Historical Context
Herzog Park was renamed in 1995 in honour of Chaim Herzog, the Belfast-born and Dublin-raised sixth president of Israel (1983–1993). Herzog was the son of Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, Ireland’s first Chief Rabbi, and spent much of his childhood in Dublin before serving in Israel’s military and political leadership RTÉ Ireland TheJournal.ie.
International Reaction
The proposal has drawn criticism beyond Ireland. The Office of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Chaim Herzog’s son, expressed concern, calling the move “shameful and disgraceful.” Senior officials in the United States also voiced opposition, warning that renaming the park would send a damaging signal about Ireland’s recognition of Jewish heritage RTÉ Ireland RTÉ Ireland.
Dublin City Council Debate
The motion, scheduled for debate on Monday, December 1, 2025, follows a recommendation by the council’s Commemorations and Naming Committee last July to remove the Herzog name, with only one objection recorded. The committee suggested a consultation process to determine a new name for the park RTÉ Ireland TheJournal.ie.
Outlook
As councillors prepare to vote, the controversy has ignited a wider debate on heritage, inclusivity, and historical memory in Ireland. The Taoiseach’s intervention underscores the government’s stance that renaming Herzog Park would not only deny history but risk deepening divisions at home and abroad.
