Councillors in the Co Meath town of Trim were set to vote tonight on a controversial proposal to name a new street after DUP leader Ian Paisley.
Trim leaders asked residents to suggest names for the first street to be built inside the ramparts since the 12th century.
Historian Noel French spearheaded a campaign to have the street named after Paisley in honour of his historic deal with Sinn Féin.
'It was meant as an over-generous gesture made to someone of the opposite political persuasion,' said Mr French. 'It was meant to create debate but unfortunately it has limited debate.'
His gesture has created quite a stir in the normally sedate market town once used as the setting for the Mel Gibson film 'Braveheart'.
'Back in 1985, Mr Paisley said there were 101 terrorists in Trim, referring to the first preference votes for Sinn Féin,' said Jimmy Peppard, a former Sinn Féin representative.
If approved at tonight's meeting of Trim's nine councillors, the new Paisley Parade would cross Emmet Street which was named after Irish nationalist rebel leader Robert Emmet.
Mr Peppard believes the likelihood of that happening would command odds in the bookmakers of '50 million to one'.
He says other suggestions include Elvis Street, Graceland Place, and Bono Street.
Mr French hinted his idea may have been more tongue-in-cheek than he was given credit for by some of his neighbours.
'It was a modest proposal,' he said in a reference to the satirical pamphlet of the same name written by former Trim native, the writer Jonathan Swift.
