A motorist in the US has been banned from having the word IRISH on her number plates.
A judge ruled the word could be used as a racial slur and may be offensive to others.
Irish American Ms Carol Martin, from Wallingford, Vermont, says she will appeal against the decision.
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She said: "I'm pretty upset about it. I'm not upset about it being denied. I thought there might be a chance they'd deny it. But this offends me. It almost brought me to tears."
Washington Superior Judge Matthew Katz ruled the personalised plate could not be used, reports The Barre Montpelier Times Argus.
He said: "While IRISH may not necessarily be offensive on its face, the department could open the door to other more offensive variations if it allowed this.
"Even in the context of IRISH, evocative as it may be of leprechauns, shamrocks and Galway Bay, the need to avoid viewpoint discrimination can be quickly apparent.
"If IRISH is permitted, because most Vermonters would not find it offensive, is NOIRISH? Folks would probably find it evocative of No Irish Need Apply, an employment notice actually and reasonably offensive to many."
Ms Martin said: "I didn't apply for NOIRISH. Would they deny it because someone else might apply for S-H-I-T?"
Ms Martin was blocked by Vermont State driving authorities but had appealed against the decision to Washington's Superior Court. She is now planning to launch a further appeal to a higher court.