What is this mock-Gaelic limerick I am thinking of?

July 24, 2012 5:36 AM

There's a famous limerick I'm after which I suspect was the work of a major or minor Irish poet. It mocks the Gaelicisation of Irish place names and has a last line which goes (Anglicised) something like "which makes driving in Ireland so dreary".

All of the lines I remember are mock-Irish and have words which look like they're Irish words but are really just English words made to look Irish.

What is this poem? Put me out of my frustration, and then, if you found it through Google, tell me how you did it!

posted by Fiasco da Gama to Writing & Language (3 answers total)

Best answer: Said a Sassenach back in Dun Laoghaire,
“I pay homage to nationalist theory,
“But whenever I drive
“I find signposts that strive
“To make touring in Ireland so dreary.”
- Anon

Even if this is not it, it might be a useful lead.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:39 AM on July 24, 2012

Response by poster: THAT'S THE ONE
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:39 AM on July 24, 2012

Best answer: Oh!

This one is attributed to Flann O Brien

Said a Sassenach back in Dun Laoghaire
"I pay homage to nationalist thaoghaire,
But wherever I drobh
I found signposts that strobh
To make touring in Ireland so draoghaire."
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:40 AM on July 24, 2012 [13 favorites]