Sir, - Daithi Mac Carthaigh (March 26th) raises a valid point about the anglicising of Irish place-names. Perhaps some of the excess money in the economy could be spent on the country's signposts. A translation of the original Irish name could be included, so a signpost could read, for example, "Clonmel, Cluan Meala (Meadow of Honey)", thereby retaining meaningful Irish and providing extra information. Sadly, in Killarney we have a signpost giving the Irish of Mallow as "Mala", contracting the original "Mag Ealla" (level plain) of Dineen's Focloir (revised and enlarged edition). "Mala" is an "eyebrow" or "brow", according to Dineen.
As for Mr Mac Carthaigh's contention that "non-Irish speakers are denied a major component of their country's heritage and culture", I disagree. An English-speaking Irishman will never be other than Irish. Certainly the ideal would be that he be fluent in both languages. But Mr Mac Carthaigh should reflect on the enormous benefits to the country in the ability to speak and communicate in English. Access to worldwide publications, poetry, literature, etc., can only enrich rather than impoverish. Every extra language mastered allows glimpses into another culture.
I can vouch for this having acquired, late in life, a working knowledge of German. - Yours, etc.,
Peggy Reichert, Killarney Road, Killorglin, Co Kerry.