KILLARNEY AUTHORITIES have been left red-faced after tripping on one of the most troublesome of Irish grammatical rules and putting an uncalled for “h” in the Irish version of the town’s name. It has produced an outcry from a vigilant public.
Large signs proclaiming “Chill Áirne” as winner of 2011 National Tidy Towns Competition have been erected on all the main roads at the entrance to the town. The signs proclaiming the town’s success are to remain for a year.
The only problem is there is no h in the Irish version of Killarney, and nothing on the sign that would require the traditional lenition signalled by the séimhiú or h.
Killarney officials and members of the tidy towns group were busy yesterday trying to come up with a phrase that would require a h that they could paint at top of the signs. The wrong insertion has led to what one official yesterday described as “tonnes of calls” from the public along with representations from local councillors on the matter.
Originally there was to be a phrase requiring a h in Cill Áirne – however it was decided to take that out and lead with the town’s name instead, but those authorising the wording forgot to take out the h, the official explained.
“We are changing the signs. These are temporary signs, it also has to be said. But we will rectify the mistake tomorrow, ” he said.
The uncalled-for h upset dozens and led to complaints to town council offices, members of the tidy towns/Killarney Looking Good committee and public representatives. The signs were paid for by the town council and erected by the tidy towns/ Killarney Looking Good committee.