Cllr wants ashbourne bank to retain sign as gaeilge

Ashbourne councillor Darren O’Rourke has called on Bank of Ireland to reverse its plan to change the main sign of its Ashbourne branch from Irish to English. The sign on the Frederick Street premises currently reads Banc na hÉireann but a planning application submitted to Meath County Council aims to change that to Bank of Ireland in line with the bank’s branch reconfiguration programme.

The Sinn Fein representative said: 'It is very disappointing to see the bank seeking to make this change. I think the proposal is not only unnecessary and ill-timed, in the run in to the 100th anniversary of 1916, but out of touch with the wishes of the local community.

'There is a thriving Irish language community in Ashbourne and in surrounding areas. Our two Gaelscoileanna are incredibly popular, we have a commitment to a meánscoil stream in the new secondary school, and the Gaeltacht sa Bhaile in Ashbourne Community School is growing every summer.

He stated: 'I think this proposal is a step backwards. I’m calling on Bank of Ireland, at a senior management level, to reverse the decision and I would encourage all Irish language enthusiasts, supporters and advocates to do likewise, by direct email or letter to the local branch or to Bank of Ireland, Customer Service, 4th Floor, Arena Building, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24.'