Madam, - As someone from the town without a vote in the name-change plebiscite, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the people of Dingle/Daingean Uí Chúis on the resounding yes vote in favour of putting Dingle/Daingean Uí Chúis back on the map ("An Daingean votes for bilingual name", The Irish Times, October 21st).
Through their votes they have demonstrated that the best way to deal with a bully is to stand up to him.
While some of us may believe Dingle should be at the centre of the universe, all we are asking of the dictatorial, flat-earth-society Minister Ó Cuív and his placename commission is to put the town back at the heart of Corca Dhuibhne, where it has always been. It is still not too late to for Mr Ó Cuív to demonstrate that he has some common sense. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL MOORE, Morehampton Road, Dublin 4.
Madam, - After weeks of misinformation and synthetic anger, it is time for the people of Dingle to actually consider the consequences of their actions.
As a frequent business traveller to Ireland, I'm offended that campaigners in Dingle have regularly claimed that a "yes" in the plebiscite was necessary to prevent "confusion" for tourists. The average traveller to Dingle is not so stupid, and I for one resent being co-opted into a local dispute.
I also resent the assumption that foreign visitors know and care little about Ireland's beautiful native language. Indeed, Dingle's Gaeltacht status is the town's only unique selling point.
I have cancelled my two-week trip to Dingle next Easter. I will be holidaying in Scotland instead: the mountains are higher, the food better and the prices cheaper. In Scotland, "bungalow blight" and fly-tipping are much rarer, but dolphins and whales are more common. Furthermore, the Scots are proud of their Gaeltacht and actively promote it to their foreign visitors. - Yours, etc,
CHRIS EVANS, Shenfield, Essex, England.