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(Seo alt ónár bhfoireann Gaeltachta. Is féidir an bunleagan as Gaeilge a léamh anseo)

THE OFFICE OF the Language Commissioner has confirmed that an investigation is underway into an incorrect version of an Irish proverb that forms part of the design of a bicycle shelter at University Hospital Kerry in Tralee – a shelter that cost €127,385, according to information brought to light this week.

It is notable that an incorrect version of the Irish proverb ‘Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte’ (Health is better than wealth) forms part of the design on glass panels surrounding the area where the bicycles are kept.

The version displayed on this new shelter reads ‘Is fearr an tsláinte ná an táinte.’ As ‘táinte’ is a plural version of ‘táin’, it makes no sense with ‘an’ and is only comprehensible if you understand the error that has been made. 

In response to an inquiry from The Journal today, a spokesperson from the Office of the Language Commissioner said that every public body has an obligation to ensure that any signage they erect, or that is erected on their behalf, is in Irish or in Irish and English, and that guidelines reinforcing that advice regarding the prioritisation of Irish – and much else besides – are to be found in a statutory instrument from 2008.

“The matter has been referred to the Complaints section and the issue will be investigated with the public body in question,” said the spokesperson.

A response was also received from the Health Service Executive confirming that no professional translator had been contracted to provide the Irish language versions.

“UHK (University Hospital Kerry) are aware of the regrettable error, which was simply caused by a typo,” it was stated in the response.

Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly, who is based in Tralee, said the biggest issue surrounding the bicycle shelter was the cost involved. “That said, when so much money is being spent on it, the Irish should be correct,” he said.

He recalled the recent controversy surrounding the new signage at Kerry Airport, where only English-language signage had been erected with no Irish language signage whatsoever.

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Not only does it appear that no portion of the €127,385 was spent on seeking advice to ensure that correct versions of the proverbs were being used, but University Hospital Kerry is situated in one of the most Irish-speaking towns in Ireland outside the Gaeltacht and there are plenty of avenues which could have been explored to get expert and free advice as to the correct form of the proverb.

Tralee is a Gaeltacht service town and an Irish Language Development Officer has been working in the town for almost two years. Michelle Nic Gabhann told The Journal that she had not been consulted about the Irish on the bicycle shelter.

Kerry County Council, which has its headquarters in Tralee, also has an Irish Language Officer. Aodán Mac Gearailt said today that he had not been consulted about the design of the shelter and described as “an insult” that this incorrect version of the proverb was being displayed as decoration on the shelter alongside other Irish proverbs.

Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí is located in the town, as is one of the oldest established all-Irish primary schools in the country, Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn. There would be few pupils from the combined rolls of those two schools who would not have been able to give the designers of the bicycle shed advice about the correct form of the proverb.

The Journal’s Gaeltacht initiative is supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme