World Hum | Travel | Out: Dingle. In: An Daingean.

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TRAVEL BLOG

9.6.05

Out: Dingle. In: An Daingean.

Earlier this year, the Irish government changed the name of the heavily-touristed city of Dingle to the Gaelic An Daingean on all of the country’s road signs and paperwork. It’s part of an effort to reclaim the nation’s native language in the wake of the British imposition of English, and it’s creating controversy among some Dingle/An Daingean residents, partially because they’re concerned that the name change will befuddle visitors.

"Local business owners say that they have worked for decades to build up that impression of a place that mixes quirkiness with tradition in a beautiful natural setting, efforts that will be damaged by the switch to An Daingean, which does not have quite the same ring as Dingle,” writes Brian Lavery in an excellent story in The New York Times. Some tourists also don’t like the change. Many of them told Lavery that they were disappointed to learn that they were in An Daingean rather than Dingle. According to Ireland Online, the locals are fighting back. They’ve begun a bumper-sticker campaign to reverse the decision handed down from Dublin. Cars around town have been spotted sporting the slogan, “If it ain’t broken, why fix it?” I see their point. The world is so much more interesting with a Dingle in it.

Posted by Michael Yessis • 9.6.05
Categories: Weblog • Global Village • In the News

Permalink • Comments (4)

COMMENTS

I like the name Dingle cos i just worked for many years it refining my web site dodingle.com .... so boo hooo I say.

Change is sometimes not the way to go.

By Steven Ghesquiere on 9.7.05 at 02:26 PM

Perhaps you would like the German people to change Munchen or Koln locally to their english version for your convenience too?
Dingle is merely associated with a dolphin and its simplicity hides a richer culture within

By on 10.4.05 at 02:09 PM

The rich culture that is alive and well in Dingle does not hide behind its name .... Economics, awareness and an average standard or living does unfortunately need the brand name Dingle to offer it some chance of longevity…

By Steven on 10.4.05 at 03:14 PM

Dingle’s name is not being changed. The town has been known by various names throughout the years...(Dingle, An Daingean, An Daingean M�r, Daingean U� Ch�is) The name An Daingean is now simply being made the official name. Using the Irish version of the name also makes sense seeing as the town is within one of the few official Gaeltacht areas in the country.

By on 10.31.05 at 05:07 AM