Fermanagh and Omagh District Council could have to fork out £1,800 or more in order to change Irish language signage relating to the newly-renovated Enniskillen Workhouse.

At the Council’s Regeneration and Community meeting on February 14, councillors discussed the Irish translation for ‘workhouse’.

During the completion of the Public Realm Scheme and the renovation of the workhouse, the Council sought advice from an independent Irish language translator as to the appropriate translation of the term, ‘workhouse’.

Both the term ‘Teach Oibre’ (House of the Work) and ‘Teach na mBocht’ (House of the Poor) were discussed with the translator, and it was decided to use the former.

There is one sign outside Enniskillen Workhouse, five information panels in the building, and two ‘fingerposts’ in Enniskillen town (erected as part of the Public Realm Scheme) which include the term ‘Workhouse’ as ‘Teach Oibre’.

At the January 2023 Environmental Services Committee, it was agreed that officers would review the wording of the Irish translation on the signage at Enniskillen Workhouse.

It was subsequently recommended by the Council’s Director of Community and Wellbeing, John Boyle, at the February meeting that councillors approve the retention of the term ‘Teach Oibre’ for the workhouse.

However, Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh, CCLA, who is a Gaeilgeoir (fluent Irish speaker), had a proposal passed which went against this recommendation, as the term used for workhouse among Irish speakers is ‘Teach na mBocht’.

Councillor Tommy Maguire, Sinn Féin, began discussions by pointing this out and said a lot of “Gaelic-speaking traditionalists” would be looking for an adjustment to the signage, now that the workhouse was due to open to the public.

Councillor O’Cofaigh said it was “absolutely disgraceful” that it was translated as ‘Teach Oibre’ instead of ‘Teach na mBocht’.

“First of all, where is the accountability? That is a P1 mistake,” said Councillor O’Cofaigh, whose father was born in the workhouse in 1941.

“Yes, it is technically correct [but] trans-literal translation is the most elementary error in translation.

“I don’t know who would think that would be correct, or we would go to anyone and give them any amount of money to do such an incorrect translation of any language.”

Describing it as shocking, Councillor O’Cofaigh continued: “I think this is a disgrace. I would like to hear some form of accountability of how such an elementary, rudimentary error was made, and is now apparently being defended.

“I propose that we don’t accept this, and there is accountability. It is a mistranslation.”

His proposal was seconded by Councillor Emmet McAleer, Independent, who said you “can go up and down the country and you will see that [Teach na mBocht] is the translation and the recognised translation for workhouses”.

He added: “I can’t approve something that isn’t accurate and isn’t correct, and I do think there is an element of accountability that has to be looked at here.”

Councillor Barry McElduff, Sinn Féin, said that ‘Teach na mBocht’ was the “better, more accurate, more dignified description in history as to what purpose that building served”.

Mr. Boyle had advised councillors of the cost of changing the signage, which would be approximately £1,800.

However, Councillor O’Cofaigh’s proposal saw no opposition, and the recommendation to accept ‘Teach Oibre’ was rejected.

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