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Gately statue to be erected at train station

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

SHERIFF Street’s singing star Stephen Gately will be forever remembered with a sculpture, which is due to be erected at the Docklands railway station next year. Northside People can exclusively reveal that a commemorative statue is due to be erected at the station on foot of requests from the Stephen’s former Boyzone bandmates - Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch. Born and bred in Sheriff Street close to the Docklands station, Stephen’s death while on holiday in Majorca on October 10, 2009, came as a major blow to the area that had watched his rise to stardom after he first auditioned for the boy band in 1993. Stephen’s fellow band members will commission the statue, which will celebrate the life of the Northside singer and it’s thought that the statue will be erected and unveiled on March 17 to mark what would have been the star’s 35th birthday. Iarnród Éireann has agreed to facilitate the request, which was made by a politician on behalf of the Boyzone members. Coincidentally, the request was lodged at almost the same time as members of the city council issued a request for the Docklands station to be renamed the ‘Stephen Gately Station’. North inner city councillor Christy Burke (Ind) tabled the motion at the April meeting of the central area committee which his city council colleagues supported. However, the renaming request was denied on the basis that Iarnród Éireann now restricts the naming of stations to their geographical location, a policy which was developed on the back of repeated requests to rename stations after celebrities and other well-known figures. A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann confirmed that they had received correspondence from the Boyzone members through a political representative. “We have said that we are willing to facilitate this request but ultimately it is a matter for the parties who have requested permission to commission the statue,” he told Northside People. “We will work with the parties involved to identify the best possible site for the statue within the station.” Cllr Burke welcomed Iarnród Éireann’s agreement to facilitate a memorial of “any shape” in the station in memory of Stephen Gately. “I respect the fact that they cannot call the station after Stephen,” he told Northside People. “But I’m very glad that they are allowing a sculpture to be put there. “It’s will come as great news for Stephen’s parents and his local community. “I think the plan is to have a small ceremony on St Patrick’s Day next year which would have been his birthday.”