Republic of Ireland
In the Republic of Ireland, both Irish and English names have equal status and are displayed on roadsigns. However, in the Gaeltacht, the English/anglicized names have no official status and do not appear on roadsigns.
During and after the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922, some English names were reverted to their Irish or anglicized forms:
- Bagenalstown became Muine Bheag (1932)
- Charleville became Ráth Luirc (1920s)
- Edgeworthstown became Mostrim (1935)
- Newbridge became Droichead Nua (1930s)
- Newtownbarry became Bunclody (1950)
- Kingwilliamstown became Ballydesmond (1951)
- Kingstown became Dún Laoghaire (1921)
- King's County became County Offaly (1922)
- Philipstown became Daingean (1921)
- Queenstown became Cobh (1922)
- Queen's County became County Laois (1922)
- Maryborough became Port Laoise (1929)
Pursuant to the Official Languages Act, 2003 and the advice of the Coimisiún Logainmneacha (Place-Names Commission), the Placenames (Centres of Population and Districts) Order 2005 was issued, listing the equivalent in the Irish language of place-names specified in the Order with its English form. The Irish words then had the same meaning and same force and effect as the place-name. This order lists a little fewer than 2,000 place-names, many of which were changed from the Irish form used since independence, e.g. Bray went from Brí Chualann to Bré and Naas changed from Nás na Rí to An Nás.
Read more about this topic: Place Names In Ireland
Famous quotes containing the words republic and/or ireland:
“Paper is cheap, and authors need not now erase one book before they write another. Instead of cultivating the earth for wheat and potatoes, they cultivate literature, and fill a place in the Republic of Letters. Or they would fain write for fame merely, as others actually raise crops of grain to be distilled into brandy.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“No people can more exactly interpret the inmost meaning of the present situation in Ireland than the American Negro. The scheme is simple. You knock a man down and then have him arrested for assault. You kill a man and then hang the corpse.”
—W.E.B. (William Edward Burghardt)