DONAL FLYNN,
Madam, - Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, wanting place-names in Irish, writes (February 7th): "Most place names in their non-Irish form do not convey the true meaning of the place named and are nonsense in all languages". Galway, Castlebar and Tralee are mentioned among his examples. Maybe I can help.
One dictionary defines a name as "the particular combination of vocal sounds employed as the individual designation of a single person, animal, place, or thing". It defines a place as "a particular part of space, of definite situation". So, given these definitions, I think I can say from the practical experience of having sought out and arrived in these three places, that as a combination of vocal sounds, the words Galway, Castlebar, and Tralee serve their intended purpose excellently.
Mr Ó Cuinneagáin also lists Tonlegee and Dungloe, but I cannot vouch for the success of those names from personal experience.
To believe that these combinations of sounds, or some different combination of sounds can or cannot effect any supposed lack of confidence in the Irish people (as he claims), or that they can make a connection between the living population and generations now dead (as he also claims), seems to me to be overloading the relevant scientific possibilities. In this context I would point to the definition of the word superstition as "an irrational or unfounded belief in general; an unreasonable or groundless notion".
Maybe Mr Ó Cuinneagáin could elaborate on his thinking? Can he tell us anything more about where he is coming from? - Yours, etc.,
DONAL FLYNN,
Breffni Terrace,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.