Dingle’s lengthy new road signs point to massive bill

THE new double-barrel name for Dingle is proving too long to incorporate into existing road signage and will result in costs of tens of thousands of euro.

The new name, Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis, was chosen in a 2006 plebiscite of the west Kerry townspeople, shocked at the loss of the town’s name under the place names order introduced by then minister Éamon Ó Cuív. Mr Ó Cuív’s order meant ‘Dingle’ was removed from road signs and legislation and replaced by An Daingean, which townspeople argued never represented the town in Irish.

The double-barrel name was finally approved by minister Phil Hogan in July but has not yet been put on signposts because, according to Kerry County Council, it is too long. The council said it is carrying out an evaluation of signage requirements with a view to having the matter costed and included in the 2012 roads programme.