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The Daltaí Boards » Archive: 1999-2004 » 2002 (January-June) » Petition to keep Irish-language names « Previous Next »

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Seosamh Mac Bhloscaidh
Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 01:58 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Tá an achainí seo tábhachtach. Tá daoine ann atá ag iarraidh obair Ghaeltaca agus a leithéid chun an timpeallacht a choimeád gaelach, táid ag iarraidh an obair sin a scriosadh. Tá feidhm agus tairbhe faoi leith bainte as an obair seo i bhfobhailte nua Chathair na Gaillimhe.

This petition is important. There are people who are trying to destroy the work of Gaeltaca and the like to keep the Irish environment Irish. This work has been used to great effect and benefit in the new suburbs of Galway City.

Is fiú dul ann agus d'ainm a chur leis na 1,200+ ainm eile atá ann cheana. It's worth the trouble to go there and add your name to the those already there.

* * * * *

To: People of Galway

Currently there is a Policy in Galway City Council which declares that the names of all estates which are newly built must be given a name in the Irish language. At a City Council Meeting, on Monday April 22nd, it was proposed by Cllr. Terry O'Flaherty , and Cllr. John Mulholland that this policy be changed as:

"Any element of compulsion in terms of the use of the Irish lanuage only for new estates could end up being counter- productive" - Cllr. O'Flaherty.(Galway Sentinel April 23rd)

"Some people can't even pronounce some of the new names, while others are having great difficulty in finding places in the city because of the names" - Cllr. Mulholland. (Galway Sentinel April 23rd)

It is my belief* that estate names in the Irish language add to the culture and the position of the Irish language in Galway. Should this policy be removed, we may be in the position to live in a town which emulates the English Countryside, with estate names such as "Tudor Close", "Monalee Manor", "Manor Court". Currently estates have been given meaningful names such as "Cnoc An Óir" and "Dún na Carraige".

Other countries use their national language in the naming of their estates and roads, why should this privelige be taken from Galway?

If you believe that the estate name policy should remain in place, that is that Estates should be named in the national language of Irish, please sign this petition, and pass on the word.

http://www.petitiononline.com/estates/

Mise Éire.... Mór mo náire....

Go raibh céad maith agat.

* Someone else wrote this but I agree -- Seosamh

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Paul
Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 03:06 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

A chairde,
Is fadhb é cinnte...
I remember a couple of years ago when a developer in Galway attempted to name an estate 'Victorian Acres' or something with 'Victoria'! Oy vey!
Paul

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Seosamh
Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 12:01 am:   Edit Post Print Post

Placenames have always been a particular point of conflict. The Irish used to name even small areas and features. When the English assigned official names to places -- always in English, even if Irish was the language of the locality or the entire region -- they naturally followed English ways. So a district would be left with a handful of English names when the language would finally be routed from the place. There aren't even palid English replacements for most of the local names. Much of the place renaming was a forced, systematic process carried out in the early nineteenth century, when it awakened stronger feelings than the English or their Anglicized supporters expected.

The problem is worse in the case of new urban and suburban development. If any proof is needed that "West Britism" is alive and well, just look at the British (even royal) names that builders and promoters think will sell their product. Some of it is American influence too -- names of American trees, for example. One person on one of the Gaelic lists was telling about a builder he met who had learned his trade in Chicago. He was naming housing estates after Chicago suburbs. Fine for the towns around an Chathair Ghaofar but why wipe out 2,500 years of local culture and tradition? Oy ve! Ay, ay, ay! Ou la la la la! Kelian xixi-de! Mo léan géar! Deargnáire atá ann!

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james
Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 01:36 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Very interesting, this "West Britism." One of the many reasons I go, and will continue to go, to Ireland is the very ABSCENCE of the Brit culture. I restrict myself to the Gaeltacht regions almost exclusively and what endears them to me is the full Irish-ness of the region. If I wanted English names and English cuisine and English whatever--I'd go to-----you guessed it---England!!!!

I don't want that crap. Ireland is and should always remain IRISH. (Seems there have been a few "disagreements" in the course of history that centered on this very subject but I won't go down that road). It is the culture of any country that keeps tourists and ex-pats returningto/living in the respective countries. I don't go to Venezuela to eat a MacDonald's, I go to experience Venezuela. Likewise, I don't travel to Ireland to ..........what exactly is it that the English ARE famous for??? Anyway, you get my point. This trend,as mentioned above, is atrocious. Hopefully, the good people of Galway and the surrounding areas will voice their position loudly and fervently.

As an American, I probably have no right/place signing the petition but would be more than willing to write whomever needs to be written. Perhaps the Bord Failte?? Input and suggestions from the Irish on this forum would be welcome.

Le meas,

James

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Seosamh
Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 01:54 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Ceist achrannach í sin. A question that could provoke argument. I signed it adding the word for American on the comments line, so it would be clear who I was. If you're reasonably informed about the issue, why not? In fact, since you travel there, your opinion will carry weight in some of the same quarters that oppose using the language --they can't see the great intrinsic value of their culture but be sure that they understand the importance of every pingin rua that tourists and visitors spend there. If the latter want to see signs in Irish, then their opinion counts.

Cultures can't be kept pure either. But sensible planning is better than wholesale surrender to outside influence.

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