Irish legislators debate naming street after Michael Gaffney
"The residents of Granard are probably more up on things than our residents are."
By JOE L. HUGHES II Ledger Staff Writer joe@gaffneyledger.com

The street sign at Granard and Jefferies streets stands as a memorial to the founder of the city, Michael Gaffney and the place of his birth, Granard, Ireland.

When a young man from the small town of Granard, Ireland, decided to establish a small store where two Indian trails crossed in 1803, never in his wildest dreams did he think that a city would spring up around it.

But more than 200 years later, the legend of Michael Gaffney can be seen at many places in Cherokee County - from the memorial at Granard and Buford streets to the log cabin he lived in downtown.

But Gaffney's name also continues to live on across the seas in his hometown, where legislators are currently debating whether to name a street after him.

"I received word from town councilman and director of the Granard Chamber of Commerce John Maguire that the town is proposing names for new roads," Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Director Gene Moorhead said. "I was quite happy when the name Gaffney was put in the mix. Especially when we have a major street, schools and neighborhoods named after their town."

Currently, Maguire is seeking approval from the council, which is in recess due to the death in the family of one of the board members. However, Moorhead said Maguire is confident that once the council resumes activity that it will pass a motion naming a street after Gaffney.

"The death has really pushed things back for them, but he believes everything will go through without much opposition," Moorhead said. "It really seems that they are behind this."

Moorhead and Maguire contact each other on a regular basis, with each telling the other of upcoming events in their particular areas. Within the past few months, Moorhead has sent several news releases and flyers telling of events, one of which was the Michael Gaffney Day festivities held in October.

"(Maguire) actually showed his fellow board members the flyer," Moorhead said.

According to Moorhead, residents of Granard still hold Gaffney as a pillar of the town's history with many of them continuing to recognize his influence to this day.

However, though recognized as the founder of this city, Moorhead said a lot of Michael Gaffney's accomplishments are sometimes forgotten by those living here.

"The residents of Granard are probably more up on things than our residents are," Moorhead said. "A lot of newcomers, kids and in some cases longtime residents do not know Michael Gaffney from Adam. But it continues to be our mission to educate them of our city and its heritage."