Would you correct the crèche on missing DSs fada?

[pontipinemum]

There is a fada in my sons name. I have it included on any form they have ever sent me.

But they always put it in the wrong place - most recently his mothers day card.

Do you think I should correct them? I haven't and I don't think I will but am I doing him a disservice? When it gets to school and he needs to know how to spell his own name I'd mention it to the teacher

It elongates the letter it is attached to. This gives it more emphasis in the prononciation. Fada means long.

Example: Seán is Shawn, Sean is shan.

Sean = shan = Old

Seán = Shawn

Séan = Shane

So it's pretty important.

When they put it in the i in OP's son's name, they turn it into an "ee" sound.

Thank you.
Something new learnt!

Séan = Shane

Doesn't exist as a name.

Pretty sure I've met the odd one! Which is a terrible choice given the popularity of Seán.

But that is the sound it makes with a fada on the e rather than the a. As a name, it is usually spelled with the anglicised spelling, agreed.

Yes, I'd correct them. Nicely. Especially as I know you're in Ireland!

My 3 DC have Irish names, 22 with fadas. (The one without has a name that seemed perfectly normal to me but is just not really known in Dublin (where I live) & pronounced horrendously).

The two with fadas always had it spelt correctly by the crèche. The odd occasion it was missed at school, they pointed it out themselves & it was changed, no bother.

But that is the sound it makes with a fada on the e rather than the a.

Oh yes, of course. I get you.

But just as a name, maybe the odd person invented it (I haven't seen it) but it's not actually an Irish name.

Though the accent changes pronunciation I reckon the vast majority of Irish people will pronounce Sean with or without accents in exactly the same way (Shawn). Not saying that's right or wrong.

That doesn't make it correct. It also doesn't change the fact the op spells her ds' name correctly with a fada and would like others to respect that.

Perfect opportunity came up. They sent around an email to say they will be sending home a 'progress book' for us to see how much he has changed since being there.

I just asked can they please put the fada in the correct place on the book, that a lot of cards sent home have the fada on the i, it should be Pádraig.

I am not able to speak Irish, I only did it until 6th class, same as my DH. But we both want it to be correct for him.

Well done! Perfect chance like you say, and a very reasonable opportunity to correct it.

@ColleenDonaghy it's funny I wouldn't say I am a timid person at all, or shy and I am confident. But when it comes to things like this I buckle since I don't want to be seen as causing a fuss, being an arse. Also because I am dyslexic I try really hard but I prob spell loads of things wrong so I might even look like a Hypocrite! Names though at work I copy and paste them from peoples email signatures, we have a lot of work with people on the continent who have many different fadas/ dots. A lot of googling happens though before I write cards

I 100% get that and nothing wrong with that at all. It was just an observation I was making when people were pointing out different correct pronunciations depending on where the fada is. I don't think there's any chance in Ireland of her child's name being mispronounced even when/if it is miswritten.

Well done for correcting them OP! My daughter's middle name is Irish and has a fada on the second letter, but on her British passport they refuse to put any accents (due to IT considerations 👀) - it really pisses me off because the name is incorrect without the fada!!! Honestly... if other countries can manage it I don't see why this country can't.

If you live in Ireland, yes. If you live in a country that does not typically use fada or accents in its language, I would not correct.

I would say it to them. Probably wouldn't if they were just leaving it out but putting it in the wrong place is somehow worse.
It'll be better at school as the teachers should have more Irish.

Well done you.
I have a first name with several different possible spellings and an unusual surname so I'm used to having my name spelt wrong. However I get really really frustrated with people who spell it wrong in e-mails when they are replying to an e-mail I sent with my name at the bottom! As you say- copy and paste if needed.

Sorry I should have said I am Irish and live in Ireland.

They sent home his daily sheet with tipp ex over the top of his name where the fada must have been and put two fada's one on each a so Pádráig at least they tried. Even though in the email I said it is spelt Pádraig

@Gooseysgirl in fairness I don't think they are on passports all that long in Ireland and we should have them. I don't think they were on birth certs either, they aren't on the name part of the CSO website anyway

They sent home his daily sheet with tipp ex over the top of his name where the fada must have been and put two fada's one on each a so Pádráig at least they tried. Even though in the email I said it is spelt Pádraig.

I mean, yes, they tried.
But it was in the email!
Also, it would take 30 secs to google.
I do realise it's an extremely busy job...but maybe when the kids go home? (Fingers crossed they'll get it right tomorrow.)
Otherwise I'd have to say they didn't try that hard really, did they?😅

@Whatnonsenseisthisnow I am hoping they get it right on this little book they have said they've made for him. There are loads of children in there with Irish names, they have them all written correctly on their name peg.

I feel like this, in terms of my ignorance. I'd learn how to pronounce it based on parent telling me, and I'd learn to spell it because that's what you should do. Spelling someone's name correctly is a fairly basic thing.

A dropped fada is slightly better than am incorrectly placed one to me, but I would correct both. Especially on a school setting when it risks confusion for the child. We are in the UK, both my children have fadas and everyone manages to use them.

https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/opinion-my-name-is-integral-to-my-identity-and-i-want-the-irish-state-to-give-me-back-my-fadas-4588701-Apr2019/

As you live in Ireland, I think it should be used correctly.

I totally agree. By spelling it Pádráig, they are now calling him Pawdrawg!

I'd send a follow up email correcting them.

I also have an Irish name - with a fada - (live in Ireland) and it's exasperating the number of times I'm called by the English version of my name!