The board of Kerry Airport is to be asked to rename the county's airport after Daniel O'Connell to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Liberator's birth.
However the airport, which is strongly associated with the global company and brand name Kerry, has resisted previous attempts to have the airport called after other key Kerry men.
Born at Carhan, outside Cahersiveen in 1775, O'Connell is regarded as one of the greatest Europeans of all time, supporting Catholic Emancipation as well as the abolition of slavery.
A lawyer by profession, he practiced in the Southern Circuit and the main courthouse in Tralee contains his portrait.
However, amid concern his anniversary in August will not be properly marked, Killarney councillor John O’Donoghue has pursued two separate motions calling for proper recognition.
Seconded by Fine Gael Councillor Angie Baily the motion before Kerry County Council's March meeting includes exploring the possibility of naming Kerry Airport after O'Connell with the relevant authorities.
Mr O'Donoghue has been contacted by a lot of people about the need to honour O'Connell.
"A suggestion that has repeatedly come up is the possibility of calling Kerry Airport after him," he said.
The Kerry brand was very important in itself but calling the airport after O'Connell would not be damaging to the county's global identity among tourists, he said.
"The airport would still, most likely, be called Kerry Airport in much the same way that Liverpool Airport is rarely called John Lennon Airport.
"People also say they are flying into Belfast Airport as opposed to George Best Airport," Mr O'Donoghue added.
He said that O'Connell was the most significant Kerry and Irish person of all time.
The Department with responsibility for State Commemorations said it is already preparing for the anniversary of his birth on 6 August.
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media whose headquarters are based in Killarney, said that "following the conclusion of the Decade of Centenaries, the Department is now responsible for coordinating an appropriate cross-governmental approach to remember the significant historical events of the early years of the State, and other significant events and themes".
"In 2025, we will work with other relevant Departments and local authorities as they develop initiatives to mark significant anniversaries of key individuals and events," it said.
"The Department has engaged with Kerry County Council on the Daniel O’Connell anniversary and it is expected that further details will be available in the near future."
Kerry Airport is now an international airport with links to London, Spain, Germany and France as well as Dublin.
There have been previous calls to rename it after other Kerry figures, such as Antarctic explorer Tom Crean from Annascaul.
Anyone is free to write in with suggestions, and all suggestions are welcome, a board member said.
