THE NEW double-barrel name for the west Kerry town of Dingle, finally passed into law this summer, is proving too long to incorporate into existing road signage and will cost tens of thousands of euro, according to a council report.
The new name Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis was chosen in a 2006 plebiscite of townspeople, many of whom had criticised the loss of the 700-year-old name of their town under the Placenames order of the Official Languages Act introduced by then minister for the Gaeltacht Éamon Ó Cuív.
Mr Ó Cuív’s order meant Dingle was removed from road signs and replaced by “An Daingean”, which townspeople argued never represented the town in Irish.
Controversy raged and protesters painted “Dingle” over “Daingean” on most of the signs outside of west Kerry.
The double-barrel name was finally approved by way of amendment to the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 introduced by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan in July.
However, it has not yet been placed on signposts as it is too long and money will also have to be found, the council has said.
Asked by Dingle Councillor Séamus Cosai Fitzgerald about the delay in “restoring the official names in both Irish and English of Daingean Uí Chúis/Dingle on the road signposts”, Kerry County Council said it was evaluating signage requirements with a view to having the matter costed and included in the 2012 roads programme.
“Already it is clear that a substantial number of signs will have to be replaced due to the lack of space to incorporate the new wording,” the council’s officials have replied.
In addition, funding will have to be sought, “a signage package will have to be designed and a contractor/supplier procured”, the council said.
At least €10,000 will have to be spent locally by the council with further costs incurred by the National Roads Authority, council officials have said.