Irish Pronunciation

A chara, - Now that the elections and their attendant broadcasts are over, I wish to plead with Government members, other politicians…

A chara, - Now that the elections and their attendant broadcasts are over, I wish to plead with Government members, other politicians and all others on our airwaves to learn to pronounce properly the names of our political parties and, of course, our place-names, be they in English or in Irish.

The founders of our two largest political parties never spoke of Feena Fawl or Fine (as in twine) Gale - nor did our professional broadcasters, as long as RTE employed a controller of speech, who also ensured that place-names such as Port Laoise were not regularly massacred by persons who, today, seem not to realise that they are being offensive to residents in such places, as well as being downright unprofessional.

And I am not criticising solely our English-language broadcasters: even on TnaG some seem not to know that, for instance, Limerick City in Irish is Cathair Luimnigh and not Cathair Luimni. - Is mise,

Donall O Morain, An Charraig Dhubh, Co Bhaile Atha Cliath.