BBC is reporting that there is a row in Limavady Council over bilingual uniforms – Irish/English – for staff. Apparently, some employees are unhappy with Irish being on the uniform. UUP are saying that council should drop its Irish-language policy while SF are saying it is a matter of equality.
It goes without saying that the Irish-language debate is one of the most poisonous that there is – trust me on this one. However, Limavady is, syllable for syllable, Irish. Rendering it as Léim an Mhadaidh on uniforms simply recognises the original spelling. I can understand why some staff might be reluctant to identify with the Irish language but surely a small logo will do no harm to anyone?
Perhaps, those on the council who support Irish could go an extra inch and have a logo that says: Limavady/Léim an Mhadaidh/Leap of the Dog. According to Patrick McKay’s A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names, the origin of the name lie “in a legend about a dog belonging to a chieftain of the O’Kanes (O’Cahans) which jumped a steep gorge of the river Roe carrying a message of danger to the O’Cahan castle…” Would there be enough in that to show that there is no hostile content in the Irish?
Anyway, I wish I could offer some valuable insight but am just totally and utterly depressed by the whole thing.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Léim an Mhadaidh
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Let the staff choose what logo they want to wear - surely that would be true equality - SF just want to shove Irish down the throats of those who don't want it - and if asked I am sure that many SF supporters could not even translate the logo - point scoring is not on especailly when workplaces are so stressed as it is - time to grow up politicians!
Tá an rogha acu cheanna, sin an rud atá na haontachtóirí ag gearáin faoi.
Caidé an fhadhb, má tá rogha ann?
Ar chóir an Ghaedhilg a choinneáilt faoi cheilt i dtólamh de bhrí nach dtaitníonn sí leo?
Ní shilím é.
Post a Comment