‘Lehinch’, ‘Ennistimon’ and ‘Corrofin’ vote on ‘misspelt’ signs

Three Clare towns are set to hold local plebiscites in an effort to correct “misspelling” on all official signs for the towns since 2011.

Local groups have formed in Lahinch, Ennistymon and Corofin, with each group set to write to Clare County Council to officially begin the legal process of changing the towns' names.

The local authority has confirmed that a local vote – similar to that held in Dingle in 2006 – may be required

More than five years ago, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, formerly the NRA and contracted by Clare County Council, updated all signage on the N67 tourism route.

The official legal spelling of the towns, derived from documentation written before the formation of the State, was used to replace the traditional local spellings which had appeared on all signage for the past 100 years.

This transformed major tourist towns such as Lahinch, Ennistymon and Corofin to Lehinch, Ennistimon and Corrofin.

Locals in Lahinch took matters into their own hands earlier this year, correcting the spelling on a number of signs; a move later reversed by the council.