Hello, I'm drawing a map of Ireland in the style of J.R.R.Tolkien's map of middle earth, which doesn't contain borders at all, rather emphasises physical geography, and uses labels to denote different countries, regions and political areas. Here are a few maps I've already made in that style.

  • Naturally, I want to keep the same borderless style, but I've wondered whether or not that would be appropriate, and whether Irish people would like to see the border marked or not?
  • I'm keen to make a version of my map in Gaelic/Gaeilge, and wondered what Gaelic typeface would be best to write in.
  • I've only just started looking at labels, but there seem to be different spellings of counties just looking at the first 6 maps, which naturally differs between the latin alphabet and Irish Gaelic alphabet (which I want to use) though for example, which Gaelic version of County Down – do I use Dún or Dúin? Is there even a correct spelling or is it historical or local differences?

Would appreciate some opinions and some advice, Ta!

by NACHODYNAMYTE

5 comments

  1. Looks cool. Do whatever works for yourself. I’d be more offended if you changed your style

  2. > Gaelic

    ‘Gaelic’ is a family of languages; we call it Irish. ‘Gaelic’ is derogatory.

    > typeface

    Your linked article may have you on the right track. Uncial and more modern _cló Gaelach_ are roughly equivalent to blackletter/’gothic’ in German and English. You have choices within that. Ultimately, though, it’s a language written with the Roman alphabet and you can do what you like.

    > spelling

    Your problem is almost certainly genitives. Irish words mutate to express an of-relationship; two nouns together, the second word changes.

    Down -> An Dún

    County Down (the county OF Down) -> Contae an Dúin

    [Use a dictionary.](https://www.focloir.ie/en/dictionary/ei/Down) Irish placenames will be covered… at least, counties will be. And you’ll hardly want to be repeating ‘County’ every time.

    Ultimately, though, you’re trying to write a document in a language you don’t know. If you want to be right, you’ll need to get someone who knows that language to check it in its entirety. There’s just no telling what mistakes you will make, even in today’s world of machine translation (which often just isn’t as good as people who don’t speak the language might think it is). You should respect and accept that.

    > border

    Fuck the border.

  4. Anyone who wants to see the border on the map won’t be buying a map of Ireland.

  5. * Anyone who would be interested in this map, certainly one in the Irish language, will not want to see the border.
    * Use what typeface you like, but be aware that modern Irish does not use the *ponc séimhithe* anymore, preferring instead to convey a lenited letter [using the ‘h’ letter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_orthography#Alphabet). How you spell the county names (or any Irish name) will depend on the context. ‘Galway’ is just *Gaillimh*, but ‘County Galway’ is *Contae na Gaillimhe*. Similarly for town names, etc.: Dublin = *Baile Átha Cliath*, in Dublin = *i mBaile Átha Cliath*, County Dublin = *Contae Bhaile Átha Cliath*. Essentially, the preceeding vowel will mutate the start of the word with either an *urú* prefix (‘m’, in this example) or a *séimhiú* ‘h’. You’ll want to have someone check your spelling, is what I’m saying.
    * Note that traditionally there are but 32 counties, although administratively there are now 35 due to subdividing of Co. Dublin. Map readers will not expect those last three to be included, but whether you do or not is up to you.

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