Madam, - Recently, after a decision reminiscent of the lunatic nationalism of Quebec, the good people of Dingle were alarmed to hear that they must henceforth refrain from using the English version of their town's name. As a community heavily dependent upon tourism, one can understand their concern.
But what is going on in Carlow? If you bypass that town on the N80, you will observe that all the signs directing you to the town say "Ceatharlach town centre". No mention of Carlow.
Now, far be it from me to deny Carlovians the right to call their town what they want. But why, if they insist on the Irish version, do they not also translate "town centre" into Irish? Is this nationalism tempered with pragmatism?
Are the city fathers determined that, for want of the cúpla focal, nobody should miss the opportunity to spend a few hard-earned euro in their shops?
Whatever the reason, I fear that, even as we speak, some hapless American tourist in a hired car, or even some equally hapless Hiace driver from Sallynoggin, is going round and round Carlow town, doomed, like the Flying Dutchman, never to get there. - Yours, etc,
PAUL GRIFFIN, Tufton, Pembrokeshire, Wales.