A sign of the times

The City Council made a hames of the Irish translation of ‘English Market’, with the assistance of ‘Google Translate’, and had to replace the ‘made-in-England’ signs.

They’ve gone one better, replacing the original English Market signs with PVC panels, displaying an ersatz design and removing the lovely, idiosyncratic expression, ‘food emporium’.

Over the ornate arches on the Grand Parade side are the same, rough-edged, ill-measured PVC panels that don’t even match the templates.

Another example from officialdom of the dumbing-down of language and tradesman’s skills.

How many sign-writers are unemployed in Cork who would have done a far better job, for much less money?

Séamus Ó Murthaile

Rue Van Campenhout

Brussels

Belgium