*Lahinch or Lehinch? Photograph: John Mangan
Changing the spelling on Clare road signs deemed to be incorrect can only be amended by a public vote.
‘Damage and confusion’ has been caused to parts of the county due to the spellings which have appeared on signage, Cllr Liam Grant (GP) stated.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, he proposed that the road signage for Lahinch, Ennistymon, Corofin and other areas revert “to the previously used and most preferred spelling”.
He acknowledged that the issue had been raised in the past and sought an update on any progress made in this regard. “These are tourist towns, and the names form a very strong part of the brand. We had thousands of visitors attending the Irish Open at Lahinch Golf Club greeted by road signs reading ‘Lehinch’. It’s confusing and damaging for the town,” the earth and ocean science graduate said. This motion was seconded by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG).
In 2012, the name of Lahinch on road signs was changed to Lehinch, the coastal spot has been known as Lahinch since the 1850s.
Funds were due to be set aside in 2018 for a plebiscite to be held, this is the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution. This local vote never took place.
Admiration for the “vigilantes who went around and changed the road signs” back to the original spelling was voiced by Cllr Grant. “As a proud Lahinch man I get very frustrated when I drive past incorrectly spelled road signs”.
Acting senior executive officer, John O’Malley recalled that the issue was brought before a Strategic Policy Committee in 2018. “There is a cost involved in doing that work, we would have to find a budget for it. We will contact our physical development section in relation to it”.
Proper spelling needs to be implemented, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) maintained. “The signs are incorrect, what is the cost to correct incorrect signs, somewhere along the line, somebody made the mistake”. O’Malley replied, “They are correct in someone’s eyes, they made a standard that someone agreed they should be spelled”.
Director of Services, Leonard Cleary told the meeting that the spelling relates to a 1914 Ordnance Survey Map. He acknowledged that a number of areas across Clare have contentious spellings on their road signs. “The last time it was discussed, it was suggested that there be a pilot. A plebiscite is a vote in specific townland, often it can happen at time of local election with an extra ballot paper, there is a very prescribed way for how it is done,” he explained.
