ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a survey of the commercial linguistic landscape in the centre of Galway City. It investigates the use of the Irish language and of Irish-style, gaelicised script and the attractiveness that language and script on this signage have on tourists in the area. This survey of the linguistic landscape is complemented by a questionnaire study of visitors’ attitudes to this signage. The results show that tourist-centred businesses use Irish language signage and Irish-style fonts and that those businesses that show the highest percentage of usage of Irish language and script, public houses, are rated as particularly attractive by the visitors. The use of the Irish language in particular is evaluated as authentic whereas Irish-style script is rather appreciated for its aesthetic value.
