Town forgets its Ps and Qs and adds ‘h’

KILLARNEY authorities have been left red-faced after tripping up on one of the most troublesome Irish grammar rules: putting an uncalled for “h” in the Irish version of the town’s name.

Large signs proclaiming Chill Áirne as the overall winner of the 2011 National Tidy Towns competition have been erected on all the main roads at the entrance to the town and are set to remain in place for a year.

But there is no “h” in Killarney as gaeilge and nothing on the sign that would require the traditional lenition signalled by the séimhiú or “h”.

Officials and members of the tidy towns group were busy yesterday trying to come up with a phrase that would require a “h” and one that they could paint on to the top of the signs.

The errant letter has led to “tonnes of calls” from the public, said an official.

Originally there was to be a phrase requiring a “h” in Cill Áirne, but it was decided to take that out and lead with the town’s name.

However, those authorising the wording forgot to take out the “h”, the official explained.

“We are changing the signs. These are temporary signs, it also has to be said. But we will rectify the mistake tomorrow,” he said.

The signs were paid for by the town council, but erected by the Tidy Towns/Kill-arney Looking Good committee.