Call for placenames watchdog for new Clare developments

PLACE NAMES for new developments in the county are to be considered by a Council-sponsored committee.

It follows the tabling of a motion by Councillor Mary Howard calling for the previous ‘Placenames Committee’ to be reinstated. The Ennis woman told the monthly local authority meeting that she had been a member of the committee between 2009 and 2015.

“There were a number of very wise gentleman on the committee and it was a great group,” she said.

“Lots of research was done to make sure that the names would actually mean something.”

Backing the motion, Councillor Liam Grant said that he too had an interest in placenames and would like to be involved.

The issue of follow-up to make sure that developers comply with the Council’s decision on the naming of estates and other developments was raised by Councillor Michael Begley.

“I’m supportive of this motion,” he said, “and I’m wondering what happens when developers don’t act on the Council’s wishes.

“I believe there are cases where placename signage is not put up. That’s a shame when so much thought is put into it. There is a wider debate here.

“There is the issue of the Ordnance Survey (OS) spelling which is a breakdown of English pronunciations of Irish words and that’s something that should be looked at in this day and age.”

Councillor Donna McGettigan said she was fully supportive.

“It is great to see places with names that say something about history and culture,” she said.

Shannon town was described by Councillor Gerry Flynn as “blessed with a lot of very colourful names”.

“We are blessed with ‘as Gaeilge’,” he added. “Lots of people are looking for dual language names. What is being done is positive and we might have to look at placenames in various languages.”

Councillor Joe Killeen paid tribute to the work of Cumann Staire is Duchas Cora Finne for their work on local heritage. “We are fortunate to have them in Corofin and we have placenames like Laghtagoona and Pairc na hEaglise.

“It is important to keep the link to our heritage or it could be lost in the coming decades,” he said.

In a written response to Councillor Howard’s motion, Liam Conneally, Director of Service said action would be taken in a number of months.

“Clare County Council was very fortunate to have a Clare Placenames Committee established in 2002 and which operated over a number of years,” the reply said.

“The Committee gave advice on place names countywide and acted as an advisor/monitor for estate names which were given to new developments.

“The establishment of the committee was an action under the then Clare Heritage Plan.

“In the coming months I am committed to reinstating a Clare Placenames Committee and I will seek to have the representation on that Committee finalised and a clear structure and terms of
reference in place as to how that Committee would operate.”

Mr Conneally also encouraged anyone who was aware that place name signage had not been erected to come forward.

“This is a persistent issue,” he said. “We are aware and do follow up. Having a Placenames Committee will strengthen our hand in this respect.”

Councillor Howard thanked the director for his response.

“This has been a very effective and very good committee and I’m delighted it’s to be reinstated,” she said.