ALTHOUGH IT is 4½ years since it was removed from official status, the name Dingle is still unofficial painted on road signs in Co Kerry. Dingle area councillor Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald (Fine Gael), a member of the committee to reinstate the name Dingle along with an Irish version Daingean Uí Chúis, said yesterday their requests to send a deputation to Minister for the Environment John Gormley had not been responded to.
Dingle was removed from official existence in 2005 under the Placenames Order of the Official Languages Act introduced by Minister for Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív allowed for Irish only placenames for Gaeltacht places.
The new name for Dingle was to be An Daingean, it was decided, under the placenames order.
However the matter was greeted with disbelief and then a wave of sustained outrage and protest by townspeople in Dingle. Whenever the name was removed from official road signs, someone would paint it back on. This continues to be the case.