Featured themes

Date: 15/07/2024

Given that we are now in the last month of summer, as understood in the traditional Irish calendar, it is probably high time to mention some townland names that contain the word trá “strand, beach” in their underlying Irish name, as many of us will be hoping to spend some time at the seaside over the next while. In townland names where we have the structure na trá “ of the strand, beach” the generic element baile “town(land)” is most common, such as Baile na Trá “the town(land) of (at) the strand” which is the underlying Irish form of the two anglicized names of Ballynatra in County Cork (logainm.ie #8610; #9396). We also have Ballintra East and West/Baile na Trá Thoir/Thiar in County Cork (logainm.ie #12402; #12403), Ballynatray Demesne/Baile na Trá in County Waterford (logainm.ie #50671), and Ballytra/Baile na Trá in County Wexford (logainm.ie #54187. All of the townland names mentioned are situated on the Atlantic coast, except for Ballynatray Demesne in Waterford which is located shore-side near the mouth of the Blackwater River. In any case, should one wish to have a swim in the slightly warmer waters of the Irish sea, we have Ballinatray Lower and Upper/Baile na Trá Íochtarach/Uachtarach near Gorey in County Wexford (logainm.ie #52979; #52752). Due to the vagaries of historical townland subdivision, Ballinatray Upper isn’t actually on the coast, but its sister denomination, Ballinatray Lower, refers to the strand that is now commonly called Courtown Beach. (The village of Courtown is largely in the townland of Ballynatray Lower, while the townland of Courtown is situated slightly to the north).
Furzeditch, just north of well-known destination Brittas Bay in County Wicklow, sounds like a thorny place to lay your beach blanket, but the evidence for that English name demonstrates that the townland was earlier called ‘Ballynetra’ or ‘Ballintra’, forms which reflect derivation from Baile na Trá “town(land)” of the strand” (logainm.ie #55358). (A strand is clearly depicted in Furzeditch East on the Ordnance Survey Discovery Series map.) The English townland name Strandtown in southeast Belfast (County Down) has been translated as Baile na Trá, but it is notable that, like Ballynatray Upper in Wexford, it is no longer contiguous with the coast (logainm.ie #1413299; see also placenamesni.org s.n. Strandtown). Strandfield just outside Wexford Town is also of English origin, and has been translated as Gort na Trá “the field of the strand” (logainm.ie #54519), which is the Irish name from which derives anglicized Gortnatraw North (logainm.ie #15822) in County Donegal. Finally, should you have need for shade from the sun after a hot day on the beach, it certainly would have once been available at Derreenatra/ Doirín na Trá “the (oak-)grove, wood of (at) the strand” east of Skull/An Scoil “the school” in County Cork.

Date: 08/07/2024

Continuing of last week’s theme of reference to the trom “elder-tree”, it is notable that we also have the very occasional reference to the dwarf-elder (tromán) in Irish townland names. The most transparent of these is Ballytramon/Baile an Tromáin “town(land) of (at) the dwarf-elder” at Castlebridge in County Wexford (logainm.ie #53644). Even though bad luck is often associated with the elder-tree, as already mentioned, at least its flower and fruit are edible — this is not the case with the dwarf-elder.
But the word tromán can have another derivation, namely from trom “elder-tree” plus the locative suffix -án, giving tromán “place abounding in elder-trees”.
Research has not been completed on Tromman in Meath (logainm.ie #39161) and Tromaun in Roscommon (logainm.ie #44252), but the current evidence reflects derivation of both from An Tromán which could possibly be translated as “dwarf-elder”. However, John O’Donovan, toponymist with the original Ordnance Survey, may have been correct in explaining ‘Tromán’ in Meath as “a place abounding in elder trees”, and in Roscommon as “a place where the elder or bore tree grows”, which is possibly correct, in which case these refer not to the dwarf-elder but to the elder-tree.
Curiously, hidden in the English name Alderborough in Offaly, we also have a reference to the elder-tree, as the standardized version of that name appears to be a corruption for earlier-attested Elderborough (logainm.ie #42045). It was therefore translated as Baile an Troim “town of the elder-tree” which is now its official Irish name (logainm.ie #42045). (The Irish word baile is used to translate Eng. -borough in fancy names such as these.).
At first sight, the name Edgeworthstown in Longford would seem to have little to do with elder-trees, as it derives from a family name. In 1622 Daniel Gookin was granted appropriated lands just north of present-day Edgeworthstown (Calendar of Patent Rolls, p. 511). (Most of the lands in this area were originally owned by the Ó Fearaíl/O’Farrell sept until their gradual dispossession in the area.) However, it was Francis Edgeworth who was recorded as the proprietor of these lands granted on his death in 1627, when his son John was named heir (Inq.CI 4; see Inquisitions Leinster). As Capt. John Edgeworth, John subsequently features as the ‘Titulado’ of surrounding lands in the so-called ‘Census’ of 1659. However, it seems that Edward Nugent had still been the proprietor of the site of Edgeworthstown until 1650s (logainm.ie #1412094; #32971), when Mostrim, the anglicized name of the site of Edgeworthstown, among lands seized during the Cromwellian period and granted to ‘Sir James Shaen knt., Major Rob. Edgwoorth, and Wm. Hoey esq.' (Acts of Settlement and Explanation, p. 179). It is unclear whether 'Major Rob. Edgwoorth' was any relation to Capt. John Edgeworth, but in any case soon after, in 1682, we have our first example of ‘Edgeworth Town’ as the English name of the town. Interestingly, the earlier anglicized name of this area, Mostrim, was made the official name of the town in the early 20th century; despite the old name Edgeworthstown being officially brought back in 1974 (S.I. 166/1974), Mostrim is still used in certain contexts to this day, such as in the name of the local GAA club. The Irish forerunner of anglicized Mostrim, namely Meathas Troim, once again brings us back the elder-tree. (Note that the official ‘English’ name of the electoral division here is still ‘Meathas Truim’ (#1373858)!) The initial element meathas is quite rare and poorly understood: according to the Dictionary of the Irish Language ‘it is a legal term of doubtful meaning; a frontier, march, ‘space of unappropriated ground between two territories’ (eDIL s.v. methas). Meathas Troim can perhaps be translated as “frontier of/at the elder-tree”.
However, the generic element tromán found in a number of minor placenames in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains refers neither to the elder nor dwarf elder-trees, but to streams in the blanket bog that covers those granite mountains. Further interdisciplinary research is needed to confirm the exact meaning of tromán in these instances, as noted in the latest account of minor placenames in this area (Mionlogainmneacha de bhunús Gaeilge i ngleannta Chontae Bhaile Átha Cliath (2024)).

Date: 01/07/2024

As we enter into the month of July we will have largely bid farewell to the wonderful early summer flowers of the sceach/hawthorn as mentioned in a previous note, but we can still enjoy the common sight of the elder-tree’s creamy-white flower in the hedgerows and thickets of the countryside. Indeed, even after the gradual disappearance of the elder-flower during the course of the July we will still be reminded of that tree’s presence in the countryside by a number of Irish townland names such as Ballintrim/Baile an Troim “the town(land) of the elder-tree” (logainm.ie #12421) and Cloontreem/Cluain Troim “pasture of (at) the elder-tree” (logainm.ie #8790) in Co. Cork. However, it is noteworthy that trom “elder-tree” is not nearly as common as sceach “hawthorn” in townland names, although the distribution of townland names which contain a reference to the elder-tree (trom) at least indicates that it was also widespread in the countryside.

Possibly the best-known placename referring to the elder-tree is Trim/Baile Átha Troim in County Meath (logainm.ie #1416699). This place was originally called Áth Troim “ford of (at) the elder-tree”, and only much more recently was the element baile “town” added to the name in reference to the town which emerged around the Anglo-Norman castle there. Some other townland names that contain a reference to trom “elder-tree” bring us from Macantrim/Machaire an Troim “the plain of the elder-tree” in County Armagh (logainm.ie #56304) to Listrim/Lios Troim “ring-fort of the elder-tree” in County Kerry (logainm.ie #243633), to the two distinct townlands called Caheratrim/Cathair an Troim “the circular stone fort of the elder-tree” in County Galway (logainm.ie #19558; #19587) and then to Boolnadrum/Buaile na dTrom “the boley of the elder-trees” in County Wexford. Other counties give us Cooltrim/Cluain Troim “pasture of (at) the elder-tree” in County Monaghan (logainm.ie #39792); Tintrim/Tigh an Troim “the house of (at) the elder-tree” (logainm.ie #7682) in County Clare; Gortvunatrime/Gort Mhóin an Troim “the field of the bog of the elder-tree” (logainm.ie #48793) in County Tipperary; Anatrim/Eanach Troim “marsh of the alder-tree” (logainm.ie #28438) in County Laois; and Illanatrim/Oileán an troim “island of the elder-tree” (logainm.ie #35157) in County Mayo.
The economic value of the elder-tree seems to have been quite low in the pre-Norman era.. Trom “elder-tree” was categorized among the ‘Fodla Fedo’ [Mod. Ir. fodhla feá], literally “subclass of the woods” (see dil.ie s.v. fodail), which was the third of four categories outlined in the early law-text called Bretha Comaithchesa (see Fergus Kelly, Early Irish Farming, p. 380; see Early Irish Farming). Indeed, the elder-tree also had a certain infamy: one of the old Irish Triads states ‘Trí comartha láthraig mallachtan: tromm, tradna, nenaid’ [Mod.Ir. Trí chomhartha láthair mhallachta: trom, traonach, neantóg] “three signs of a cursed site: an elder-tree, a corncrake, a nettle” (see Nicholas Williams, Díolaim Luibheanna (1993) lch. 171). (The original triad is printed in Kuno Meyer, The triads of Ireland (1906) p. 18 §129, where it appears in opposition to the three signs of a blessed site: ‘clocc, salm, senad’ [Mod.Ir. clog, salm, seanadh] “a bell, a salm, a synod, assembly” ibid. §128.) It is notable that bagpipe reeds were formerly made from elder, and some pipers still use that material, although most now employ imported cane — and indeed, it is because of its suitability as a material for making tubes that the elder-tree received the English name bore-tree, i.e., ‘tube/pipe-tree’. On a culinary front, the elder-flower is quite edible, and can be deep-fried in batter, or it makes the most delicious lemonade and cordial (see Pamela Foley & Cecilia Fitzsimons,Biaphlandaí, p. 83).

Date: 22/06/2024

Continuing on last week’s theme of fuinseog “ash-tree” in Irish placenames, it must be said that we have only seen the half of it so far. In fact, the various versions of fuinseog in townland names can actually become quite bamboozling to those not acquainted with some of the finer points of developments in the Irish language.
To start with, the standard Modern Irish (Mod. Ir.) form fuinseog "ash-tree" is not actually the earliest form of the word, but rather a derivative of Old Irish (OIr.) uinnius (eDIL s.v. uinnius). The f- which developed at the beginning of the word is usually described in linguistic terms as 'prosthetic', i.e., non-original. It arose in the same way that the word oscail “open” (Middle Irish osclaid) occurs as foscail in more northern dialects of Irish, and aill “cliff (Mid. Ir. all)” is also found as faill in some southern dialects.essentially due to the fact that the two variants often produce phonetically identical morphology, e.g. d’oscail/d’fhoscail, an aill/an fhaill. The addition of the diminutive suffix -óg (-eog after a slender consonant) at the end of the word can be compared to dair “oak” → daróg “oak-tree”. These regular developments explain the potentially confusing relationship between OIr. uinnius and standard Mod. Ir. fuinseog “ash-tree”.
Of course, there were many other intermediate forms in various dialects of Irish such as uinse, uinseog, fuinse, etc., treated variously as feminine or masculine, as the evidence from townland names demonstrates. Indeed it is likely that there are more townland names that contain one or other of these variants than contain the standard Modern Irish form fuinseog! Thus we have the likes of Aghnahunshin/Achadh na hUinseann “the field of the ash” (logainm.ie #30379) in County Monaghan where uinse “ash” has been treated as a feminine noun, while in Aghanunshin/Achadh an Uinsinn “the field of the ash” (logainm.ie #771) in County Donegal it has been treated as a masculine noun. Uinse has also been treated as a masculine noun in Askunshin/Easca an Fhuinsinn “the gully of the ash” (logainm.ie #52606) in County Wexford - note in that case that there is clear evidence for a prosthetic f- in a number of 17th century references. We also have the prosthetic f- in Doire na Fuinseann “the (oak-)grove, wood of the ash”, which is the forerunner to Derrynafinchin in County Cork (logainm.ie #8323) aswell as Derrynafunshion in County Laois (logainm.ie #28483). Note that fuinse has again been treated as a feminine noun (gen. sg. na fuinseann) in these names.
The variations continue with the likes of Derrynafunsha/Doire na Fuinse “the (oak-)grove, wood of the ash” (logainm.ie #23119) in County Kerry, and Coolafancy/Cúil na Fuinse (logainm.ie #55869) in County Wicklow where the feminine gen. sg. na fuinseann has been replaced by na fuinse. We also have the occurrence in placenames of adjectival forms of uinse and fuinseog such as uinseogach and fuinseogach “abounding in ash” in Counties Armagh, Cavan, Fermanagh and Monaghan, e.g. Corrinshigo/An Chorr Uinseogach “the round hill abounding in ash” (logainm.ie #3752), (logainm.ie #39697) and Unshogagh/Fuinseogach (logainm.ie #5562). Yet another adjectival variant is seen in the name Arunsaghan/Ard Uinseachán “height of the place abounding in ash” (logainm.ie #28967) in County Leitrim, which is based a diminutive of the adjective uinseach “abounding in ash”.
There may well be even more variants of OIr. uinnius “ash-tree” in townland names than those highlighted above. There are certainly more than 80 townland names containing fuinseog “ash-tree” or another Modern Irish variant, and a perusal of a distribution map of these elements on logainm.ie (uinnius) demonstrates the widespread nature of the ash-tree during the native Irish Gaelic period. (Note that data on which the map in question is based is intermediate. More names will certainly be added as our systematic research continues on the incomplete counties.) Moreover, not only was the O.Ir. uinnius “ash-tree” quite widespread in the early Irish countryside, it also belonged to the most important category of tree in native culture, known in Old Irish as Airig Fedo “nobles of the wood”, or in Modern Irish Aireacha Feá (see Fergus Kelly Early Irish Farming, p.380).
Needless to say, due to the large-scale loss of indigenous culture and the destruction of most native forests, there is no longer any general understanding of Aireacha Feá "nobles of the woods" in Irish society. Nevertheless, at least the common perception of the importance of the ash-tree has been retained due to its use in the making of hurls. The unfortunate arrival of the ash dieback disease in the country in recent years has left much of Ireland’s ash stocks in a precarious position, however, and - much like in the case of the elm-tree - we may be solely reliant on townland names such as Aghnahunshin/Achadh na hUinseann “the field of the ash-tree” in County Monaghan to remind us of the erstwhile ubiquity of this species in the Irish landscape.

Date: 15/06/2024

Hurling was the theme of the previous two articles, and it seems that we can’t get away from that wonderful game this week. Art Ó Maolfabhail observed in his essay ‘Teorainneacha, Áthanna agus Iomáin’ [“Boundaries, Fords and Hurling”] (Tipperary Historical Journal, 2008, pp 164–174) that Ashhill/Cnoc na Fuinseoige “the hill of the ash(-tree)” (logainm.ie #47206) is situated next to Aughnagomaun/Áth na gCamán “the ford of the hurls” (logainm.ie #47499). Those with knowledge of the game will know that even in today’s world of composite materials and glass-fibre wonders, ash remains the preferred material for the making of hurls. So is the occurrence of Ashhill/Cnoc na Fuinseoige “the hill of the ash” next to Aughnagomaun/Áth na gCamán “the ford of the hurls” just a coincidence? It is hard to be certain, as the word fuinseog “ash(-tree)” and variants thereof are actually quite common in the townland names of Ireland. There is a Ballynafineshoge in County Waterford (logainm.ie #50166), and a Ballinafunshoge at Glenmalure in County Wicklow (logainm.ie #55583), both from Baile na Fuinseoige “the town(land) of the ash(-tree)” - note that the anglicized spelling -fine- in Waterford example attempts to preserve the characteristic diphthong in the local Irish pronounciation of fuinseog. Constablehill in County Carlow (logainm.ie #3034) was also orginally called Baile na Fuinseoige and interestingly the Irish name is actually attested in 16th century Irish poetry.
Tomnafunshoge/Tuaim na Fuinseoige “tumulus of the ash(-tree)” (logainm.ie #52479) in County Wexford and Ashglen or Glennafunshoge/Gleann na Fuinseoige “the valley of the ash(-tree)” (logainm.ie #27387) in County Kilkenny also contain references to this species. Genitive plural forms of fuinseog are found in Funshoge/Baile na bhFuinseog “ the town(land) of the ash-trees” (logainm.ie #53264) in County Wexford (originally anglicized ‘Ballinefunshoge’, et var., the shorter form ‘Funshoge’ emerging in the mid-17th century) and Coolafunshoge/Cúil na bhFuinseog “the recess, corner of the ash-trees” (logainm.ie #55930) in County Wicklow. And it doesn’t stop there. Fuinseog is also found in simplex form in the name Funshoge/Fuinseog “(the) ash-tree” (logainm.ie #53547) in County Wexford as well as Funshog/An Fhuinseog “the ash-tree” (logainm.ie #33533) in County Louth.
Some apparently English coinages are in fact translations, such as Ashhill, mentioned above, which represents Irish Cnoc na Fuinseoige “the hill of the ash(-tree)”. Similarly, Ashtown translates original Irish Baile na Fuinseoige “the town(land) of the ash(-tree)” in Counties Kilkenny (logainm.ie #26435), Waterford (logainm.ie #49728) and Wicklow (logainm.ie #55719). (The last-mentioned townland, near Roundwood, has the full official English name Ashtown or Ballinafunshoge). Ashfield in Offaly is a partial translation — or even a mistranslation — of Gleann na bhFuinseog “the valley of the ash-trees” (logainm.ie #42268).
Townland names which do in fact seem to be of genuine English-language origin include Ashford (official Irish form Áth na Fuinseoige) (logainm.ie #55475) in County Wickow, and Ashgrove which is the name of two townlands in County Cork (logainm.ie #9389; #11919) (official Irish version Garrán na Fuinseoige in both cases), and one in County Kildare (logainm.ie #24922). The same is true for Ashfield (official Irish form Gort na Fuinseoige) in County Dublin, which appears to be a very old English-language placename whose original ending in -town/-ton (see ‘Asseton’’, ‘Ashton’’, ‘Ashetowne’, etc.), only later developing to -field (see logainm.ie #17352).
Notably, however, probably the best known location called Ashtown, which is the suburb of that name in Dublin, has no direct connection to the ash-tree at all, but actually derives from the surname of an Anglo-Norman colonist, whence the official Irish version Baile an Ásaigh “the town(land) of An tÁsach (i.e., the person surnamed Ashe)” (logainm.ie #17263). Exactly the same placename, Baile an Ásaigh “the town(land) of An tÁsach (i.e., the person surnamed Ashe)” occurs as a townland name in the Kerry Gaeltacht (logainm.ie #22600) the official anglicized version of which was Ballinasig (See Section 33(2) of the Official Languages Act 2003, Placenames (Ceantair Ghaeltachta) Order 2004.) The same surname is also found in Farranasa/Fearann an Ásaigh “the land of An tÁsach” (logainm.ie #48791) in County Tipperary as well as Garrananassig/Garrán an Ásaigh “the grove of An tÁsach” (logainm.ie #12358) in County Cork.
Placenames such as these three last-mentioned provide wonderful evidence of Anglo-Norman settlement followed by later (re-)gaelicization of the areas in question. Indeed, in that regard, to return to the theme with which we began, it is curious to note that with the exception of County Clare, the native Irish game of hurling happens to be strongest nowadays in counties where there was once substantial Anglo-Norman settlement. .

Date: 08/06/2024

Continuing on the theme of hurling from the previous article, it is important to note that iomáint “hurling” and camán “hurl, hurley” and not the only words found in the names of townlands and other places that can refer to the national game. The word báire has a number of meanings such as “match”, “contest”, “goal” [in any sport] or even “shoal (of fish)”, but it can also specifically signify a “hurling match” (see FGB s.v. báire; cf. the famous account given in An tOileánach of the comórtas báire "hurling contest" held on Christmas Day on the beach of An Blascaod Mór). Thus, the placename Buckwaria/Boc Bháire (logainm.ie #37593) in County Mayo may well refer to a hurling match. While on fieldwork in Buckwaria in 1838, John O’Donovan suggested the name meant ‘a hurling green; a place for playing at Commáns’ which may have been the understanding locally. The initial element boc in the placename is quite problematic. It would seem to be a variant of buac, itself a variant of buaic “highest point, ridge” (see FGB s.v. buac), in which case the placename may be translated as “ridge of the hurling contest”. The late Dr Fiachra Mac Gabhann discussed this name in some depth in Logainmneacha Mhaigh Eo 2 (Barúntacht Mhuraisce) pp 78–81.
Another placename featuring the element báire in a county not well known for hurling nowadays is Mullanwary/Mullach an Bháire (logainm.ie #4340) in County Cavan. This was recorded locally as ‘Mullaigh an bháire’ during the Ordnance Survey, which John O’Donovan explained as meaning ‘summit of the goal’. That may be so, but of course, it is also possible that it referred to a specific contest of local fame or notoriety, and therefore could be translated as “the summit of the (significant) hurling match”. In County Antrim, still a stronghold of the sport to this day, we find Lagavara, for which logainm.ie recommends the Irish form Lag an Bháire “hollow of the (hurling) match” (logainm.ie #61792), although derivation from ‘Lag an Bheara’ has also been suggested by the Northern Ireland Place Name Project (placenamesni.org s.n. Lagavara).
Camán is not the only word in Irish for the implement itself. (As mentioned last week it is variously known in English as a ‘hurl’, a ‘hurley’ and in the 19th century, a ‘hurlet’.) Ó Dónaill’s Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla explains camóg as a “camogie stick”, which of course is exactly the same as a hurl. However, being a derivative of the word cam “crooked, etc.”, just like the word camán, it too has a number of other meanings including “crook", "hooked stick"; "gaff-hook”, "comma ( , )" and even a “wisp” as in camóg dheataigh “wisp of smoke” (FBG s.v. camóg). It can also be found in general reference to “anything curved … a turn, a winding” (Dinneen. s.v. camóg). It is reasonable to suggest that more often than not camóg, when found in placenames, generally refers to a crooked or winding feature rather than to a hurl.
For example there is a well-known Cammock River/An Chamóg (logainm.ie #116701) in County Dublin. The same river-name is found elsewhere, such as the Camoge River/An Chamóg (logainm.ie #1165620) in County Limerick. Another river called An Chamóg in County Tipperary (recorded as 'Camoge'. 'the River called Cumog' (1654)) gave its name to the townland on the high ground which runs along its north bank, Dromcomoge/Drom Camóige “ridge of, at (the river) Comóg” (logainm.ie #48788). After the language shift to English, however, the townland renamed the river as the Dromcomoge River (logainm.ie #67197).
Finally, although O'Donovan stated in a note on the townland Commoge/An Chamóg at Kinsale, County Cork, that the name '‘is applied generally to winding rivers’ (logainm.ie #11059), in fact that topographical feature does not appear to be relevant in that case, nor indeed in the case of townlands anglized Cammoge in County Clare (logainm.ie #7290) and Commoge in County Kilkenny (logainm.ie #26154). (Note of course that O’Donovan did not carry out fieldwork in County Cork.) In all of those cases the name seems to refer to some other feature, but evidently not a hurl or a camogie stick.

Date: 01/06/2024

As we enter June - the second month of summer as understood in the traditional Irish calendar - the GAA’s hurling championship has come into full swing, and with it the joys, wonders, sadness and frustration that it brings for so many of us who rarely get to Croke Park on All-Ireland Final day. Given the ancient nature of the game in Ireland it is unsurprising to find many examples of townland names referring to the sport, but the evidence for many of these placenames is ambiguous and other meanings were possibly sometimes originally intended.
In any case, probably the most obvious townland name to refer to hurling is Reanahumana/Ré na hIomána “the level ground of the hurling (the hurling ground)” (logainm.ie #7884) in County Clare. Although there are many English names referring to the game such as Hurlers Cross (logainm.ie #104144), also in County Clare, a crossroads which apparently derives its name from a public house called the Hurlers Inn, at that crossroad, similar placenames of Irish-language origin are by their very nature usually of greater antiquity. As recently as 2008 Art Ó Maolfabhail wrote a short teasing essay with the title 'Teorainneacha, Áthanna agus Iomáin' [“Boundaries, Fords and Hurling”] in the Tipperary Historical Journal (pp 164–174) in which he discusses various placenames in Counties Limerick, Tipperary and Kilkenny that may refer to the game of hurling. Some of the suggested associations with the sport in that article are tentative, but his example of Aughnagomaun/Áth na gComán (logainm.ie #47499) in County Tipperary, for example translated as “ford of the hurlets [sic]” by John O’Donovan in the Ordnance Survey Parish Namebook in 1840, is quite unproblematic. It is possibly fortuitous that O’Donovan - himself a Kilkenny man - chose the old-fashioned word ‘hurlet’ here, thereby avoiding the often heated modern debate as to whether the Irish camán should be called a ‘hurley’ or a ‘hurl’ in English. (One of the current writers who is from Wexford would most certainly call it a ‘hurl’!)
However, a more significant problem which needs to be considered when translating placenames containing camán is that, etymologically, the Irish word can refer to any bent or crooked object or feature, being a derivative of cam (FGB s.v. camán cam). Thus, although by the 1830s Aghacommon/Achadh Camán (#56421) in County Armagh was understood by local Irish speakers to mean ‘field of the hurls’, Dr Pat McKay notes in A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names that the name probably actually referred ‘to windings in the Closet river, which forms its northern boundary’ (see placenamesni.org s.n. Aghacommon). Similary, John O’Donovan, having stated in the Ordnance Survey Parish Namebook that the name of the Hurley River in County Meath was a translation of 'Camán' [An Camán] (logainm.ie #1166957), pointed out that the original Irish name probably meant “crooked river”. The name possibly refers to the many bends and twists on that river east of the bridge at Rathfeigh.
It is clear that another location named An Camán/Hurley Point (logainm.ie #104145) at Deenish Island on the Shannon in County Clare, refers not to a “crooked river” nor to a real hurl(ey), but to the hurl-like appearace of Deenish itself. This similarity, which has since been obscured by changes in the landscape, is utterly obvious in the outline of the island on the Ordnance Survey 6ʺ map (first edition) - even though the shape is more reminiscent of the larger bossed hurls of the modern era. However, there is no doubt that it is the hurl itself which is referenced in the wonderful minor placename Lios Fear Beag na gCamán/Lisfarbegnagommaun (logainm.ie #1410538) near Corofin in the same county of Clare, albeit in an evocative supernatural context. The name means “the ring-fort of the little hurley-wielding men”, and one local explanation of its origin, recorded in 1939, can be found in the Schools’ Folklore Collection on dúchas.ie

Date: 22/05/2024

An enthralling sight of the Irish countryside in May is the ubiquitous hawthorn in bloom, sometimes called in Irish bláth bán na Bealtaine “the white flower of May” (not to be confused with lus buí Bealtaine “yellow herb of May”, i.e., the marsh-marigold). Just as the blossom of the hawthorn proliferates across the country at this time of year, the Irish name of the tree itself, an sceach (gheal), features in quite an incredible number of townland names — some 200 in total. Aghnaskea/Achadh na Sceach (#33241) in County Longford and Gortnaskeagh/Gort na Sceach in Counties Kerry (#22982) and Leitrim (#29856) both mean “the field of the hawthorns”. The loose translations of Thornhill in County Cork, from Cnoc na Sceach “the hill of the hawthorns” (#8762) and Bushfield in County Laois, from Machaire na Sceach “the plain, field of the hawthorns” (#28712) are interesting given the secondary meaning of sceach “thorn-bush”. Bushypark in County Galway, too, appears to be a translation of Páirc na Sceach “the park of the hawthorns” (#18670), while on the other hand, Bushypark in County Kildare (#25159) seems to be of English origin. Yet another Bushypark, in County Cork, may represent a partial translation of Scairt an Arbha “the thicket of the grain” (#10400), which has nothing to do with the sceach “hawthorn; thorn-bush”.
Two instances of sceach (gen. sg. sceiche) in County Wexford deserve special attention, namely Scaughmolin/Sceach Moling “the hawthorn of Saint Moling” (#54320) and Knockskemolin/Cnoc Sceiche Moling “the hill of the hawthorn of Saint Moling” (#53289), as they belong to a peculiar group The hawthorn in bloom Knockskemolin/Cnoc Sceiche Moling “the hill of the hawthorn of St. Moling” (see logainm.ie #53289) of townland names in that county that specifically link the Irish saint Moling to trees. The other placename in this group is Monamolin/Muine Moling “the thicket of Moling”, which is found as the name of two completely distinct townlands — one near Rathnure north of New Ross (#53556), and the other near Ballycanew south of Gorey (#1411737) (also the name of a civil parish). See the following extract from Logainmneacha na hÉireann IV: Townland Names in Co. Wexford (2016) pp. 1209–1210 (published by An Brainse Logainmneacha/Placenames Branch of [what is now] the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media):
Moling, bishop of Ferns diocese in the seventh century, is the eponym of the parish names ST. MULLIN'S (par.) and MONAMOLIN (par.), as well as the townlands of MONAMOLIN (par. Templeludigan) and SCAUGHMOLIN (par. Rathaspick). The generic elements sceach “hawthorn” (see de Vál, 1987 p.56) and muine “thicket, brushwood” in these names may originate in the saint’s association with Suibhne Geilt “Suibhne the madman” in Irish literary tradition. Suibhne, driven mad by the terror of battle, resorted to roaming and living wild in trees and hedges. After an encounter with Saint Moling he began to visit his monastery for food each evening after his travels (see ITS xii). This legend seems to have generated the notion of a particular sceach “hawthorn” or muine “thicket”, where Suibhne could sleep, in the environs of Moling’s foundations. Note that Kilnamanagh, the parish in which this townland [Knockskemolin] is located, was also dedicated to Moling (see Culleton, 1999 p.211; cf. RATHASPICK, par.).

Date: 13/05/2024

To continue with the theme of summer in the month of May, it is interesting to note that the word grian “sun” is a relatively common element in townland names, although, as usual, some placenames containing this element can be interpreted in more than one way. The presence of the article na in Ballynagrenia/Buaile na Gréine “boley, cattle-fold of the sun” (#50797) in Westmeath confirms that it without doubt refers to the sun. So too Auburn/Achadh na Gréine “the field of the sun” (#50761) also in Westmeath, along with Ballynagrany in Carlow (#3175) and Ballynagrena in Louth (#33997), both from Baile na Gréine “the town(land) of the sun”; In County Cork, we find Sunfort/Lios na Gréine “the ring-fort of the sun” (#10707), Rossnagrena/Ros na Gréine “the wooded height of the sun” (#8543) and Ardnagrena/Ard na Gréine “the height of the sun” (#12993). Other similar examples can be found elsewhere in the country too, and in this regard mention must be made of Monagreany/Móin na Gréine “the bogland of the sun” (#53213) in Wexford, the county which nowadays sells itself as part of the Sunny Southeast.
Where the article na is absent, things can become far more problematic. For instance, as Grian (genitive G(h)réine) is also the name of a female character in Irish mythology, Athgreany/Áth Gréine (#54756) in Wicklow might be interpreted as “the ford of Grian”. However, in this instance there is a stone circle in the townland, of which the ‘outlier and the entrance stones are in a direct line with the setting sun at the Midwinter Solstice’ (R. Marsh; Tales of the Wicklow Hills, p. 67). This information sways the balance of probability back in favour of grian “sun”. In the case of Knockgrean/Cnoc Gréine (#32401) in County Limerick, things get even more complicated. That placename refers neither to the heavenly body nor to the personal name, but to the ancient district called Grian which gave its name to the modern civil parish of Grean (#1547) (seeLogainmneacha na hÉireann I: Contae Luimnigh). As always, it is evident that each name must be analysed individually in order to determine its original meaning. Note Tomgraney/Tuaim Ghréine “mound of (the) sun” or “the mound of Grian” (#7778) in County Clare; Ballygreany/Bealach Gréine “pass of the sun” or “the pass of Grian” (#40528) in County Monaghan; the two townlands called Kilgraney/Cill Ghréine “church of (the) sun” or “the church of Grian” (#3513), (#3120) in County Carlow and Coolgreany/Cúil Ghréine “recess of (the) sun” or “the recess of Grian” (#52954) in County Wexford. In many cases it will be exceedingly difficult to disentangle the evidence. Indeed, the very fact that Grian was a figure of Irish mythology means that the likes of Bealach Gréine “pass of (the) sun” (#40528) could always be reinterpreted as containing the name Grian, particularly given the propensity in native Irish culture to create origin tales based on such mythology.

Date: 06/05/2024

As the month of May continues we can proceed with references in townland names (genuine or otherwise) to summer and related matters. Summerstown (#54220) and Summertown (#54238) in County Wexford are unlikely to refer to the season, rather to the surnames Somery or Somer, the first of which is well-attested among the Anglo-Norman colonists in Wexford (see Logainmneacha na hÉireann IV: Townland names in Co. Wexford p. 1613). There is also a Summerstown in Meath (#39126) which seems to be of Anglo-Norman origin, the surname Somer being recorded among the colonists in that county. However, to make matters more confusing there are at least two surnames of native Irish origin that were also anglicized as Somers, namely Ó Samhraidh (based on a mistranslation of the personal name Samhradh as Summer) and Ó Somacháin. (Note that a third surname Mac Shamhráin/McGovern “son/descendant of Samhrán” (< Samhradháin, a diminutive of Samhradh)” can also be behind anglicized Somers on occasion.) The first of these names, Ó Samhraidh, is well-attested in north Wexford and in neighbouring counties, e.g. ‘Fergenamyme O’Sawrae [Fearganainm Ó Samhraidh], Duffrie [The Duffry, in Wexford]’, recorded in 1601 in Fiant §6517, and ‘Laghlin o Sorry [Lochlainn Ó Samhraidh]’ recorded in 1643 in the Wicklow Depositions (MS 811 fol.173r). The family of Ó Samhraidh does not appear to have belonged to the professional classes of native society and their surname does not occur in any surviving townland name — as mentioned in a previous note, recent research has indicated great correlation on this point. By contrast, as the Ó Somacháin family in Sligo most certainly did enjoy professional status, it is unsurprising to find the townland and parish name Ballysumaghan < Baile Uí Shomacháin “the town(land) of Ó Somacháin” in that county. As happened with many other Irish surnames during the language shift to English, Ó Somacháin was originally directly anglicized — as Sumaghan — but then underwent a further development which totally masked its Irish roots, to Somers. In Griffith’s Valuation of Killerry parish adjoining Ballysumaghan, compiled in 1858, both of these forms Sumahan and Somers existed side by side; in the same area (the district electoral division of Ballintogher East) the Census of 1901 lists only Somers.

Featured themes

Strands, furze, and translations.
Ballytra/Baile na Trá “town(land) of (at) the strand”
(see logainm.ie #53644)

Dwarf-elders, translations and Edgeworthstown.
Ballytramon/Baile an Tromáin “town(land) of (at) the dwarf-elder”
(see logainm.ie #53644)

Townland of the elder-tree, elder flowers, piping and lemonade.
Trim/Baile Átha Troim “town of (at) the ford of the elder-tree”
(see logainm.ie #1416699)

More ash-trees, prostetic f-, and ash-dieback.
Aghnahunshin/Achadh na hUinseann “the field of the ash-tree”
(see logainm.ie #30379)

Ash-trees, translations, rivers and surnames.
Ashhill/Cnoc na Fuinseoige “the hill of the ash”
(see logainm.ie #47206)

Hurling contests, camogie sticks, and more crooked rivers
Buckwaria/Boc Bháire “ridge(?) of (the) hurling contest”
(see logainm.ie #37593)

The hurling championship, hurls/hurleys, and crooked rivers.
Reanahumana/Ré na hIomána “the level ground of the hurling (the hurling ground)”
(see logainm.ie #7884)

The hawthorn in bloom
Knockskemolin/Cnoc Sceiche Moling “the hill of the hawthorn of St.Moling”
(see logainm.ie #53289)

The sun
Ballygreany/Bealach Gréine “pass of (the) sun” (see logainm.ie #40528)

The Anglo-Norman surname Somers/Summers and Irish Ó Samhraidh, Ó Somacháin
Ballysumaghan/Baile Uí Shomacháin “the town(land) of Ó Somacháin” (see logainm.ie #45061)

Featured themes

Strands, furze, and translations. Ballytra/Baile na Trá “town(land) of (at) the strand” (see logainm.ie #53644)

Dwarf-elders, translations and Edgeworthstown. Ballytramon/Baile an Tromáin “town(land) of (at) the dwarf-elder” (see logainm.ie #53644)

Townland of the elder-tree, elder flowers, piping and lemonade. Trim/Baile Átha Troim “town of (at) the ford of the elder-tree” (see logainm.ie #1416699)

More ash-trees, prostetic f-, and ash-dieback. Aghnahunshin/Achadh na hUinseann “the field of the ash-tree” (see logainm.ie #30379)

Ash-trees, translations, rivers and surnames. Ashhill/Cnoc na Fuinseoige “the hill of the ash” (see logainm.ie #47206)

Hurling contests, camogie sticks, and more crooked rivers Buckwaria/Boc Bháire “ridge(?) of (the) hurling contest” (see logainm.ie #37593)

The hurling championship, hurls/hurleys, and crooked rivers. Reanahumana/Ré na hIomána “the level ground of the hurling (the hurling ground)” (see logainm.ie #7884)

The hawthorn in bloom Knockskemolin/Cnoc Sceiche Moling “the hill of the hawthorn of St.Moling” (see logainm.ie #53289)

The sun Ballygreany/Bealach Gréine “pass of (the) sun” (see logainm.ie #40528)

The Anglo-Norman surname Somers/Summers and Irish Ó Samhraidh, Ó Somacháin Ballysumaghan/Baile Uí Shomacháin “the town(land) of Ó Somacháin” (see logainm.ie #45061)

Strands, furze, and translations.
Ballytra/Baile na Trá “town(land) of (at) the strand”
(see logainm.ie #53644)

Dwarf-elders, translations and Edgeworthstown.
Ballytramon/Baile an Tromáin “town(land) of (at) the dwarf-elder”
(see logainm.ie #53644)

Townland of the elder-tree, elder flowers, piping and lemonade.
Trim/Baile Átha Troim “town of (at) the ford of the elder-tree”
(see logainm.ie #1416699)

More ash-trees, prostetic f-, and ash-dieback.
Aghnahunshin/Achadh na hUinseann “the field of the ash-tree”
(see logainm.ie #30379)

Ash-trees, translations, rivers and surnames.
Ashhill/Cnoc na Fuinseoige “the hill of the ash”
(see logainm.ie #47206)

Hurling contests, camogie sticks, and more crooked rivers
Buckwaria/Boc Bháire “ridge(?) of (the) hurling contest”
(see logainm.ie #37593)

The hurling championship, hurls/hurleys, and crooked rivers.
Reanahumana/Ré na hIomána “the level ground of the hurling (the hurling ground)”
(see logainm.ie #7884)

The hawthorn in bloom
Knockskemolin/Cnoc Sceiche Moling “the hill of the hawthorn of St.Moling”
(see logainm.ie #53289)

The sun
Ballygreany/Bealach Gréine “pass of (the) sun” (see logainm.ie #40528)

The Anglo-Norman surname Somers/Summers and Irish Ó Samhraidh, Ó Somacháin
Ballysumaghan/Baile Uí Shomacháin “the town(land) of Ó Somacháin” (see logainm.ie #45061)