Madam, – Congratulations to Karl Whitney on his excellent Irishman’s Diary on St Patrick’s Well (June 15th). He mentioned that the Irish form of Nassau Street is Sráid Thobar Phádraig, but alas the process of changing this historic name has already begun. Bus Átha Cliath is now using Sráid Nassau on the bus stops on the street and Dublin City Council confirmed that the name will be changed to Sráid Nassau in the near future based on advice from the Place names Branch of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Other names mentioned in the article, Poddle and Kimmage, are also undergoing changes. The Poddle has gone from an Salach to an Photail to an Phocail to the current an Phoitéil.
Kimmage must rank as one of the most named places anywhere in the world. The old name Cinnmhuighe, has, over a seventy year period, evolved into Cammuighe, Cinnmhaí, Cammuigh, Camaigh, Cammaí, and for the next 10 years is expected to remain as Chamaí. Though Bus Átha Cliath has Chamaí on the bus stops the destination on the number 83 bus itself reads Camaigh. Such is the popularity of the Kimmage name that Kilmacud Road has also has a nameplate which reads Bóthar Chammaí. All of the above names are still in place on the walls of Kimmage as I write this letter.
The above is just a small sample of the sloppiness which occurs when using the Irish form of place names. If the same lack of consideration was displayed to the English version of public signage there would be a public outcry not to mention constant confusion. Can I ask that the newly elected City Council establish a committee to help standardise the city street names and look into the possibility of producing a map in the Irish language. – Is mise,