Cavan meteorite
A small meteorite has landed in Co. Cavan. Now in the past the landing of meteorites and space debris has been greeted by the rock, once discovered, being renamed in honour of some megalomaniac. Thus, a meteorite which landed in the vast, landlocked nation of Turkmenistan was named Turkmenbashi in honour of the long-standing president Saparmurad Niyazov. I recall how President Francia of Paraguay had a meteorite named after him when it landed in an uninhabited part of his territory.
Had it landed here in Cavan during the reign of former county manager, it would undoubtedly have been named the Brian Johnston meteorite. His successor Jack Keys, is probably as anxious to have things named in his honour, but he would have to obtain the agreement of P. Elliott and co. first.
It’s hard to see how it could be named after anyone from local politics. The minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith keeps such a low profile around Cavan these days that if it was named after him no one would be able to find it.
But this meteoric fragment belongs not just to Cavan but to the people of Ireland as a whole. It might therefore be more fitting for it to be named after the most powerful man in Ireland, whose every whim must be satisfied, Professor Colm McCarthy.
The most worrying aspect is whether the meteor will be entitled to exorbitant travel expenses, like so many Cavan County Councillors.
