Researchers at Trinity College Dublin are calling on Dubliners to help them track down the capital’s old street signs so that they can be documented before they disappear.
The bilingual green and white signs, which feature the old Irish font Cló Gaelach, date back to the turn of the 20th century and are believed to have been introduced to Dublin as a subtle form of protest against British rule at the time. However, as the signs are not on the list of protected structures, they are not preserved, unless they are in architectural areas of conservation.
The team at Trinity College Dublin are hoping to create a digital archive of the remaining signs and establish a timeline for when they were erected and eventually phased out. Dr Nicole Volmering, Research Assistant Professor at TCD’s Department of History, said the signs tell a story of a key part of Irish history.
“Every time we lose a sign, we lose a little bit of the history of Dublin and the history of Irishness,” she said. “They’re only conserved in architectural conservation areas at the moment and any signs that are outside of these areas, when they break or fall down, are simply lost,” she added.
The team at TCD wants those who spot the signs to send them a picture, which will be added to its digital archive. Photos of the streets signs can be submitted online at nicolevolmering.ie/closcape
