Surname gaelicised by teacher

[Riadach]

Perhaps that would be Seams?

Why do you invoke our Über enlightened friend anyway?

Because there isn't one facet of Irish life or debate he hasn't satirised already.

Personally, I do like the fact that children know the origins of their surnames in their original Irish forms. Indeed, I would also like them to be aware of the Irish cognates of their names, when available. That said, it's a tad kitsch to be Hibernicising names willy-nilly, without heed to actual origin, and promoting no breadth of understanding, especially since it is frequently done by teachers with only a few more words than the child himself. Though, I hardly think it's something to lose sleep over.

[katy brock]

Maybe the child's name is Jams O'Donnell.

Or "Terry(sic) Henry"

[The Caped Cod]

They'd only do that if they thought he was English (understandably so), once they knew he was Irish he could call himself Peggy Sue and they wouldn't bat an eyelid.

Let's see them contend with Ruaraidh, Aodhan, Beircheart and Caoimhe.

It's true though, there is a distinct difference in the attitudes of people once you insist that you are Irish not English. Sad, but there you go. Who'd have thought we'd live to see the day when the English would be discriminated against. Funny aul world.

[imokyrok]

Let's see them contend with Ruaraidh, Aodhan, Beircheart and Caoimhe.

It's true though, there is a distinct difference in the attitudes of people once you insist that you are Irish not English. Sad, but there you go. Who'd have thought we'd live to see the day when the English would be discriminated against. Funny aul world.

My sister who lives in Oz causes great confusion with her sons Ruairi and Eoin. Two of my children also have Irish names that have to be spelled for everyone as do my three nieces. They'll probably whinge about the inconvenience when they are older but I love their names.

[tonic]

Let's see them contend with Ruaraidh, Aodhan, Beircheart and Caoimhe.

It's true though, there is a distinct difference in the attitudes of people once you insist that you are Irish not English. Sad, but there you go. Who'd have thought we'd live to see the day when the English would be discriminated against. Funny aul world.

IMO any nation that gave us delights such as custard & the deep fried mars bar cannot be discriminated against enough.

allez les bleus & ditto les verts!!

[redhead101]

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.

High-handed certainly. I have had a cause to tackle teachers over various issues and I was always well served by getting over the initial red mist before I tackled them. Give it 24 hours and then have a word, perhaps without doing long term damage to your relationship with the school.

Good luck.

[uriah]

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.

I agree. The only name that should ever be used is the name registered on the birth certificate. What the teacher did is ridiculous and should never happen.
This practice caused untold confusion over the years.

Why should someone called Jerry Waters also answer to Diarmuid Ó Tuairisc? Or why should a little girl whose name is Jane Fitzgerald answer to Sinéad Nic Gearailt?

It's a complete nonsense.

[brigg]

It's standard practice for national schools in Ireland to call children by the Irish version of their surnames in roll calls (assuming there is an Irish version).

Clearly the teacher in this case followed that standard practice and did manage to come up with an Irish version of the surname.

It has not been "standard practice" for several decades, if it ever was.
Certain schools, and certain teachers love doing this sort of thing, but I suspect it is now very much the exception rather than the rule.
When I was in primary school, about 15-20 years ago, we did have some teachers who encouraged us to spell our names in Irish, but the Irish versions were certainly never used for official school business.

[White Horse]

I don't think so. It could be part of an effort to, in some small way, reverse the almost complete anglicization of the country and intentional destruction of it's identity. It's symbolic.

I remember being in Croke Park 10-15 years ago and Kildare has a player called "Ramsbottom".

The GAA match programme translated his name into Gaelic litterally.

Reverse anglicization my (rams)bottom.

[Fraxinus_]

You obviously don't drink wine (or at least not the good stuff).

I used to indulge in an expensive tipple called El Bucfasto, Chilean I think, but alas can no longer handle the craetur.