I have an English surname, my family name has been in Ireland since the Elizabethan plantation. The vast majority of my forebears were of Irish stock but, as is normal, I have the surname of my patrilineal ancestors. I'm proud of my name, like everyone else's it is part of my identity and my heritage.

Hillmanhunter1 Jnr came home from primary school yesterday with an attendance certificate in a name that is a gaelicised version of our surname. There is no Irish version of my surname (unlike perhaps names that were previously anglicised e.g. Murphy/Ó Murchú etc.). The name was made up by someone who, I guess, thought this was appropriate. I don't know if this treatment is reserved for those with an English surname or if the person concerned is also wrestling with the challenges of gaelicising the names of his Polish and Nigerian classmates!

My view is that this is extremely high-handed, and I'm going to let go with both barrels in a letter to the Principal. I'm interested in hearing if others have had this experience and/or if you agree/disagree with me.

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“The menus change, the presidents change. What never changes is the dinner guests” - retorted the chef, referring to the cadre of businessmen who frequented the residence.

So a teacher has attempted to gaelicise your surname and your complaining. Now you have a legitimate right to criticise it but i fail to see why, unless of course she has re-registered your son's birth certificate and altered his surname to the 'gaelic' version?

edit: Your own views/opinions aside, what does your son think of the name?

edit2: Just looking at your post history.. seeing as you would like us to abondon Irish i'm not surprised you take offence to a teacher coming up with an Irish translation.

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"Ní neart go cur le chéile."

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I don't think anyone has a right to fiddle with another's surname. It hasn't happened to me as my surname has an accepted translation.

In your case, I would also be very annoyed I think. Your name is a major part of your heritage and identity, regardless of origin, and for someone to tamper with it because of their opinion on language is crossing the line imo.

Both barrels. Good luck ..

Just as well your name isn't Rimsky-Korsakov - because there are a few teachers still running free who would try to gaelicise that! Hope your aim is true

Nothing new, lots of foreign surnames have been Gaelicised in the past. Nothing new here.

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You know if this happened to me, I'd be angry but I don't think my thought would be.

"I'm going to start a thread about it on a political discussion board."

Hometime is probably gone by now, but why not call the school in the morning and deal with them about it?

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Maybe they thought it was an anglicised Irish name. Some teachers don't have a clue. I only found out my proper name in Irish a couple of years back, different to what I was told in national school. Tell them what you think.

I wouldnt be too concerned. They used to do that with a lot of names in national schools in the (distant) past. Murphys become O'Murchus', etc. makes all the kids feel equal. Nothing at all to do with your particular name I would guess. The attendance cert is probably not going to go too far...

It is. Nail on the head dear boy. If your surname was non-British, like "De Valera", the teacher wouldn't bother.

Not cool. Your name is your name, and tbh the teacher should know better than to be doing that. It wasn't good enough when my father was referred to as Patrick rather than Padraig in his UK college, it's certainly not good enough in 2010. If it's a once off mistake or something then that's no issue, otherwise needs to stop.