Madam, – I’m not convinced that Alex Staveley (June 18th) is fully aware of what Mr Justice Weatherup concluded in his judicial review regarding the name “Londonderry”? He actually offered no opinion on what the “correct” name is. He simply concluded that under British law, the powers vested in local authorities under the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 do not take precedence over a Royal Charter. As such, the name originally granted by Royal Charter in 1612 remains the official name under British law, unless and until it is changed by the “Royal Prerogative”.
In other words, a decision taken by the democratically elected local government in Derry is superceded by a decision taken by an English monarch almost 400 years ago. This is just one of many examples of archaic British law being incongruous with modern democracy. In any case, while it may have escaped Mr Staveley’s notice, the Irish State is no longer subject to British law. As such, British law should not dictate what terminology is used in Leaving Cert examination papers.
In addition to being the name used by the city’s own council, “Derry” is the name used by virtually all residents of the city, both nationalist and unionist, and the vast majority of people elsewhere in Ireland.
Interestingly, Derry (or “Derrie”) was the name used in the original (British) Royal Charter for the city, and even some bastions of unionist society use Derry in their official nomenclature (for example the Church of Ireland’s Diocese of Derry and Raphoe and the Apprentice Boys of Derry).
As a final observation, there are many other places that are officially known by one name in other countries but by a different name in Ireland.
A Leaving Certificate geography examination paper would undoubtedly refer to Rome, Munich or Copenhagen instead of Roma, München or København. It is standard practice to refer to the versions of placenames in common use in Ireland, rather than “official” versions used by foreign states. Why should Derry be an exception? – Yours, etc,