"I'm A Proud Effin Woman, And I'll Always Be An Effin Woman"

A local woman who wants to list the tiny village as her hometown on the social networking site has been told, it's too offensive.

"I would like to be able to put Effin on my profile page and so would many other Effin people around the world to proudly say that they are from Effin, Co. Limerick, but it won't recognize that," said Anne Marie Kennedy, 47.

"It keeps coming up as Effingham, Illinois; Effingham, New Hampshire; and it gives suggestions of other places.

"It will recognize Limerick but I'm not from Limerick city, I'm from Effin. I'm a proud Effin woman. And I always will be an Effin woman.

"It's not fair really. It will let you put it in but when you go to save it - nothing. It's like as if it's blocked."

Ms Kennedy says she tried to set up a Facebook page entitled "Please get my hometown Effin recognized", but it was blocked by the site.

It came back with an error message claiming the name was "offensive".

"I've tried contacting Facebook but it's very hard to. You can't pick up the phone.

There is a forum on Facebook about home towns as other people are having problems as well," she explained.

Ms Kennedy was born in Effin, a tiny village about 40km south of Limerick city, near Charleville.

Her ancestors have lived in the area since 1857.

Facebook allows the word "effin" in numerous other groups and profile names, including the community "Shut up! Stop the effin noise already! Shut up".

But as a location, it refuses to recognize it.

Anne Marie is not giving up however, and she is rallying people to support her on the internet.

Facebook says it is looking into the issue - which may have more to do with how small a place Effin is rather than the sound of the name.