The Dingle plebiscite

Madam, - In 1892 Douglas Hyde, later first President of Ireland (and an Anglo-Irish Protestant), gave a formal lecture entitled…

Madam, - In 1892 Douglas Hyde, later first President of Ireland (and an Anglo-Irish Protestant), gave a formal lecture entitled "The necessity for de-anglicising Ireland". One of his suggestions to achieve that aim was the de-anglicising of placenames.

The ambition seemed to have been achieved (albeit posthumously) when the town of Dingle/Daingean reverted to its original Gaelic name of An Daingean. Dr Hyde would have been pleased. It seems, however, that the native people (as opposed to "blow-ins") wish to re-anglicise the placename - and all, it seems, for the proverbial dollar and other currencies.

The people of the town seem to be selling their souls for a few pieces of silver. It may have been excusable in the depression years of this country - but in "Celtic Tiger" Ireland, it is not. - Yours, etc,

PETER PALLAS, Clarecastle, Ennis, Co Clare.