Sir, - A letter from M. T. Collins (November 20th), complaining about a sign in Galway "Na Docanna" for "docks", must strike a chord with many who wince at the many pidgin Irish signs around the country. Two I saw lately were "mor obair" for "major road works" in Galway and (incredibly) "Fein Portraid" on a self portrait of Leech at the exhibition in the National Gallery.
Are foreigners being employed to produce these signs and labels? It seems impossible that anyone who went to school in the country could write them. There are many people in this country capable of supplying good translations of simple notices. Why are these services not sought?
One almost feels that there is a case to be made for a new misdemeanour on the statute books: "that it is an offence to hold the first national language up to ridicule and contempt in public notices." Ignorance on the part of those in authority should not be accepted as a defence. The minimum mandatory sentence might be a year spent in study of the language, after which an examination in the ability to write simple Irish must be passed.
Desmond Branigan (November 20th) stated that "Ireland's national culture can only be saved by jealously guarding and protecting the remnants we retain." How true - but some people in authority are not playing their part. - Yours, etc.,
Priory Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co. Dublin.