A Chara, - I live in a city whose council proposes to change over 500 streetnames. There will be no plebiscite and no public consultation. Streetnames of historic and cultural importance will be swept away and wherever possible the minority language, Gaelic, will be obliterated. This process started last October with the publication of a book by the City Council which was launched by the Irish Language Commissioner and endorsed by Irish language organisations.
The Placenames Commission, the Ordinance Survey and the Heritage Officer and Irish Language Officer of the City Council also contributed to this attack on the culture and history of the city. I refer to Sráidainmneacha Bhaile Átha Cliath/Dublin Streetnames, which is now the official reference for the Irish, and presumably the English, version of streetnames. It has an error rate of over 20 per cent and even contains a number of streetnames which do not exist in the city.
If you are visiting the city centre on St Patrick's Day, take a look at the Nassau Street sign. The Irish name, Sráid Thobar Phádraig (St Patrick's Well Street), will soon cease to exist and will be replaced with Sráid Nassau.
This is just one example of the hundreds of changes adapted by the City Council which could spell the end of local history in the city. - Is mise,
PATRICK GARRY, Wainsfort Manor Drive, Tír an Iúir, Baile Átha Cliath 6W.