A Limerick woman led the battle to have her home village of Effin recognized by social network site Facebook.



Ann Marie Kennedy took on the giant corporation which has deemed the village name of Effin to be "offensive."



The 47-year-old University of Limerick worker was annoyed at the site’s refusal to accept Effin as her homeplace on her Facebook profile.



She also failed in an attempt to launch a Facebook campaign based on a "Please get my hometown Effin recognised" page on the website.



“It came back with an error message saying ‘offensive,'” Kennedy told the Irish Independent.

“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.



“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.”



Kennedy vowed to carry on her battle until Effin gains official status on Facebook.



She added: “It’s just a pet peeve. 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.



“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.”



Although now resident in a nearby Limerick suburb, Kennedy was born in Effin and can trace her ancestors in the area back to 1857. The village has a population of around 1,000 and is situated 40km south of Limerick city near Charleville.

*Originally published in November 2011.