Name motorway after Clinton, say Louth councillors

A new stretch of motorway between Belfast and Dublin should be called the Bill Clinton Highway to honour of the outgoing US president…

A new stretch of motorway between Belfast and Dublin should be called the Bill Clinton Highway to honour of the outgoing US president's contribution to peace in Northern Ireland, according to Co Louth councillors.

Mr Clinton was the first to use the new 17km stretch of road connecting Dunleer and Dundalk as he was driven for a key speech in the border town during his three-day visit to Ireland and the UK last month.

Councillors Mr Terry Brennan and Mr Frank Godfrey called on members of Louth County Council to back their plan to locally commemorate the man who put the Troubles at the top of the White House agenda.

The £107 million section of road officially opens on January 26th.

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Cllr Godfrey, Mayor of Drogheda, also suggested changing the name of Dundalk's Market Square - scene of Mr Clinton's address to 50,000 townspeople - to President Clinton Square.

Cllr Godfrey said: "Bill Clinton is a peace-maker and has done much for Ireland. The president was the first to actually go along that stretch of road and I think it is an excellent idea to name it after him."

"His speech in Dundalk was very moving and the people will remember forever the day the president came to the town.

PA