Getting Lost Is a Good Way to Find Ireland

Re “A Twist for an Ancient Tongue Trying to Survive,” April 24: I read with some amusement your front-page article on the English language being removed from Irish road signs. My wife and I drove across Ireland, from Galway Bay to Cork and back, some four years ago. Between us, we saw about a dozen road signs, total.

This profound lack of directional aid caused us to navigate by the scientific method. For example, “I hypothesize that this road here is the R590. As a test of this hypothesis, I propose that we turn left. I predict that within 10 miles we’ll come upon a village, Crookstown.” The results of most of our experiments were, to use a technical term, “Not!” The upside was a wonderful trip through beautiful countryside and many meetings with friendly people, and what more could one ask from a vacation?

As for the change in signage, I wouldn’t worry. Before they can change the signs, they’ll have to find them. And what are the odds of that?

Bill Courtney

Long Beach