Dingle bilingual signs to end row

A LONG-running row over Dingle’s name change may finally have been resolved following a decision by the National Roads Authority to erect new, bilingual, directional signage to the Kerry tourist town.

The signs will now read Dingle-Daingean Ui Chuis.

The decision arises from legislation which officially gives the Gaeltacht town a bilingual name.

Dingle publican Fergus O’Flaherty, chairman of a lobby group that conducted an extensive campaign for a bilingual name, welcomed the decision.

“It’s a massive step in the right direction,” he said. “At this stage, most of what we had been seeking in relation to signage and maps has been granted, which is also in line with the outcome of a local plebiscite (October 2006) which resulted in a 90% vote in favour of a bilingual name.”

The NRA will be replacing old signs bearing the now defunct name, An Daingean, on national primary roads, such as those leading from Cork and Limerick.

The signs are due to be replaced in the NRA’s 2012 road programme.

Mr O’Flaherty said the next step was for Kerry County Council to move on replacing signage on roads for which they were responsible.

He also said the town would be seeking the support of tourism bodies.

A council spokesman, meanwhile, said funding was still awaited from the Department of Transport to replace signs on national secondary and local roads.

Kerry South Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin said it was crucially important for the NRA to proceed with the new signs without delay, given the importance of tourism to the Dingle Peninsula.

Tourism interests in the peninsula had claimed the Irish-only signs were undermining the industry and confusing potential visitors.

In recent years, road signs in Kerry have been defaced on a regular basis, with the name, Dingle being placed over the Irish version.