Sir, – Further to Frank McNally’s Irishman’s Diary on Irishtowns (March 17th), in Downpatrick, Co Down, the burial place of St Patrick, the original town settlements are reflected in the street names: Irish Street, Scotch Street and English Street meet in the town centre. – Yours, etc,
SHARON O’CONNOR,
Fahan,
Co Donegal.
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Sir, – Frank McNally comments on the frequency of “Irishtown” and “Irish Street” as placenames throughout Ireland. There is also an Irish Town (two words) in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Notwithstanding the name, it is actually a street, thus matching both his categories in one go. Unlike the native Irishtowns, it is situated well within the city and its walls. The name may derive from an Irish regiment being stationed there in the 18th century; alternative accounts claim that it reflects the predominant nationality of female companionship brought in for the garrison and grouped in that vicinity.
Nowadays Irish Town is one of the upmarket areas of Gibraltar city, a pedestrianised street with a mix of restaurants and commercial offices – altogether more refined than the adjacent Main Street lined with shops and outlets catering for passengers from cruise ship and day trippers from Spain. A Tuckey’s Lane links the two streets. There’s a Tuckey Street in Cork. But I don’t suppose there is any nominal connection. – Yours, etc,
PETER DENMAN,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.