A chara, – Congratulations to Karl McDonald on his article “Lost in translation: We live with nonsense placenames thanks to poor adaptation from Irish to English”, Life, December 30th.
Believe it or not, I was born and reared in the Liberties of Dublin, I always had a roof over my head, but I never had a permanent address. Impossible? Not really. Dublin City Council with the assistance of the Placenames Branch of the Department of the Gaeltacht have managed to change the majority of places in which I have ever lived or worked. In Kimmage the residents have a choice of six Irish language options: Cammuigh, Camaí, Cammaí, Camaigh, Chinnmhuighe and Cinnmhaí.
While Karl is fond of Bóthar Bhóthar na gCloch, the “Road of the Road of the Stone”, the official name of Stannaway Road, in Crumlin, is Bóthar na Stáine.
It is also worth pointing out that Dublin already has Bóthar na gCloch, Stoneybatter.
Name changes in the Irish language occur without any consultation with residents, nor is there ever a plebiscite as required if an English version of a place name is to be changed. I have been in contact with Dublin City Council and the Placenames Branch over many years and their capacity for denial and selective creativity never ceases to amaze me. When Sráid Tobar Pádraig, Nassau Street, was changed to Sráid Nassau, I was informed that the well, “tobar”, mentioned in the name did not exist. It does. Likewise when I asked why Sráid Iosóilde, Exchange Street, was changed to Sráid an Mharlatáin I was informed that Iosóilde had no connection with the street even though the base of Isolde’s Tower is plainly visible on the street.
We also have the situation in conservation areas where the original green signage is removed and replaced with different Irish versions. Last November the original signage was ripped from Victoria Street. Sráid na Bhuaidhe and replaced with Sráid Victoria. I mention the above names as they were adopted by the then Dublin Corporation in the 1920s and are an important statement of nationalist aspirations in post-colonial Ireland.
In Inchicore a new apartment development is to be named Richmond Place in honour of the fourth Duke of Richmond. He was viceroy of Ireland and the Dictionary of Irish Biography describes him as “genial, though indifferent viceroy who allegedly spent most of his time drunk”. He also opposed the relaxation of the penal laws which were in force to oppress Catholics. His family also had connections with the slave trade.
Richmond has more thoroughfares named for him in Dublin than any Irish person; 15 to be precise, from cottages to villas his name adorns the city. We also have Richmond Tower, Richmond Park where St Pat’s play, and formerly we had Richmond Barracks, Hospital and Penitentiary. The hoarding on the site proclaims that the apartment development is being sponsored by Dublin City Council and the Government of Ireland.
Finally in early December the City Council renamed Sráid an Iarla Theas, Earl Street South, it is now Sráid an Larla Theas. – Is mise,
PAT GARRY,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.