Councillors had been due to vote on a motion to rename the park on Monday evening, with the proposal raising concerns from the Jewish community and drawing sharp criticism from politicians in Ireland and Israel.
A previous agreement by members of the council's Commemorations and Naming Committee – which considers proposals to commemorate individuals, organisations, and events – recommended to the council the removal of the Herzog name from the park, with just one objection.
Objecting to the move, the Taoiseach, who serves in a role equivalent to a prime minister, said in a strongly worded statement: “The proposal to rename Herzog Park should be withdrawn in its entirety and not proceeded with.
"The proposal would erase the distinctive and rich contribution to Irish life of the Jewish community over many decades, including actual participation in the Irish War of Independence and the emerging State.”
He continued: "The proposal is a denial of our history and will without any doubt be seen as antisemitic.
"It is overtly divisive and wrong. Our Irish Jewish community's contribution to our country’s evolution in its many forms should always be cherished and generously acknowledged.”
Martin concluded: "This motion must be withdrawn and I will ask Dublin City Council to seriously reflect on the implications of this move."
Chaim Herzog, former president of Israel (Image: Getty Images)Getty Images
Maurice Cohen, chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland (JRC Ireland), said: “Herzog Park sits in the heart of the neighbourhood where much of Ireland’s small Jewish community has lived for generations. It stands beside the only Jewish school in the country. The name of the park is not an abstract tribute. It reflects a real and meaningful Irish story.”
Cohen continued: "To remove the name of Herzog Park is not a neutral administrative decision. It would single out a Jewish figure for erasure in a city where parks and public places honour people whose words, actions or political beliefs some may not share.”
He added: "It sends a hurtful and isolating message to a small minority community that has contributed to Ireland for centuries. It risks turning a shared space into a symbol of exclusion at a time when Jewish communities throughout Europe are feeling increased anxiety.
“Those who support such a move will be seen by the community, and far beyond it, as acting in a manner that is openly hostile to Jews."
JRC Ireland also called on the council to reject the motion.
Ireland’s Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder echoed Cohen, noting: "Herzog Park is more than a name on a sign. For those who live nearby, and especially for the neighbouring Jewish families and schools, it’s a place filled with memory, and an important reminder that our community has deep roots in Dublin.”
He added: "Chaim Herzog was shaped by this city, and he loved it in return. Dubliners loved him too – not only his childhood friend President Cearbhall O’Dálaigh [who held office from 1974 to 1976], but all who saw in him a local boy who rose to become a head of state and yet never lost his connection to Ireland.
Martin’s condemnation of the proposal follows criticism from his deputy, Tánaiste Simon Harris, who has said of the plan: "It is wrong. We are an inclusive Republic. This proposal is offensive to that principle. I urge all party leaders to join me in opposition to this."
Ireland's Foreign Affairs minister, Helen McEntee said: "The Government has been openly critical of the policies and actions of the government of Israel in Gaza and the West Bank, and rightly so. Renaming a Dublin park in this way – to remove the name of an Irish Jewish man – has nothing to do with this and has no place in our inclusive republic. In my view this name change should not proceed and I urge Dublin City Councillors to vote against it.”
Meanwhile, the office of Israel’s current president, Isaac Herzog – who is Chaim’s son – highlighted the role Chaim and Yitzhak played in Ireland and Europe.
"We are following with concern the reports from Ireland regarding the intention to harm the legacy of the sixth President of the State of Israel, the late Chaim Herzog, as well as harming the unique expression of the historical connection between the Irish and Jewish peoples." the president’s office wrote on X.
“Beyond being an Israeli leader, Chaim Herzog was also a hero of the campaign to liberate Europe from the Nazis and a figure who dedicated his life to establishing the values of freedom, tolerance, the pursuit of peace, and the fight against antisemitism.
"His father, Rabbi Isaac HaLevi Herzog, served as the first Chief Rabbi of the Irish Free State and left a significant mark on the life of the Irish nation in those days. Naming the park after his son some three decades ago expressed appreciation for his legacy and the deep friendship between the Irish and Jewish peoples. Unfortunately, this relationship has deteriorated in recent years, yet we still hope for the recovery of these important ties.”
Herzog’s office continued: “Removing the Herzog name, if it happens, would be a shameful and disgraceful move. We hope that the legacy of a figure at the forefront of establishing the relations between Israel and Ireland, and the fight against antisemitism and tyranny, will still get the respect it deserves today.
In a statement, Dublin City Council Chief Executive Richard Shakespeare announced he was “proposing to withdraw the report from the Agenda,” though he cited procedural concerns rather than the widespread objections to the motion.
The proposal has now been referred back to a council committee.
