Featured themes
A selection of common themes in Irish placenames. These short, informative pieces are published on an ongoing basis.
Nollaig na mBan “women’s Christmas”: Women, nuns, hags, the O’Byrnes and inaugurations
Downs/An Dún “the fort”
Dún Chaillí Béarra “the fort of the Hag of Beara”
(see logainm.ie #55524)
Date: 01/01/2024
The period between 25th December and 6th January is known in Irish as Idir an dá Nollaig “between the two Christmases”. The latter date — the Catholic feast of the Epiphany — is sometimes called Nollaig Bheag “little Christmas”, but is probably best known as Nollaig na mBan “women’s Christmas”. While we know of no direct mention of Nollaig na mBan in townland names, references to women occur frequently. Examples are very often found in respect of land held by religious orders, as in the case of Ballynagalliagh/Baile na gCailleach “the (town)land of the nuns” (#45165) in Sligo and Kilnagalliagh/Cill na gCailleach “the church of the nuns” (#7286) in Clare. It is important to note that in placenames cailleach (gen. sg. caillí) generally has the sense “nun”, which was formerly the primary meaning of the word — the now more commonly understood sense “hag, witch”, although it was used in the old sagas, is far less common in placenames (cf. eDIL s.v. caillech). However, in some cases verifiable examples of cailleach meaning “hag” can be found hidden in the historical evidence. One such example is the name of a place which will have been encountered during the week of Nollaig na mBan “women’s Christmas” by the tens of thousands who have resumed their daily commute to Dublin, namely Downs/An Dún “the fort” (#55524). The well-known Glen of the Downs in Wicklow is called Gleann Dá Ghrua “glen of the two hill-brows” (#113096) in Irish, but its English appellation actually derives from two neighbouring townland names: Downs/An Dún “the fort” (#55524) and Downshill/Cnoc an Dúin “the hill of the fort” (#55515), just west of the glen. The dún “fort” in question, which sits on a hilltop in Downshill, is usually referred to in historical sources as ‘the Downe’ or later ‘Downs’, which both clearly reflect the underlying Irish name. However, in 1547 we find it called ‘Down calybere’ in a pardon to ‘Caloaghe M‘Edo … O’Byrne’ [Calbhach mac Aodha Ó Broin (Calbhach the son of Aodh O’Byrne)], a form which suggests an underlying Dún Chaillí Béarra “fort of the Cailleach Bhéarra”. The Cailleach Bhéarra was the mythological goddess figure of native Irish culture generally called the Hag of Beara in English. The Irish form of the placename implied by the anglicized spelling ‘Down calybere’ happens to be confirmed in an account of the traditional inauguration sites of Ireland given in Foras Feasa ar Éirinn (FFÉ) (*c.*1630) by Seathrún Céitinn (Geoffrey Keating):
Ar Dhún Caillighe Béirre do gairthí Ó Brain, agus Mac Eochadha do ghaireadh é.
“Ó Broin/O’Byrne [i.e., the Chief of the Uí Bhroin/O’Byrnes] used be declared at Dún Chaillí Béarra, and it was Mac Eochaidh/Kehoe (Keogh) who declared him”.
FFÉ iii, p. 14
Interestingly, Céitinn also record that it was the same learned family of Mac Eochaidh/Kehoe who inaugurated the Chief of the Cinnsealach/Kinsella sept of north Wexford, at a place called Leac Mhic Eochaidh “the flagstone of Mac Eochaidh/Kehoe”:
Ar Leic mic Eochadha do gairthí tighearna Cinnsiolach; agus Mac Eochadha do ghaireadh é.
“Cinnsealach/Kinsella [i.e., the Chief of the Cinnsealach/Kinsella sept] used be declared at Leac Mhic Eochaidh, and it was Mac Eochaidh who declared him”.
ibid.
The site of Leac Mhic Eochaidh lies 15km northwest of Gorey on the Wicklow border (in the townland of Loggan/An Logán (#53297). The last recorded assembly at Leac Mhic Eochaidh was in 1592, and neither this name nor Dún Chaillí Béarra are now well-known.
(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)
Ros Comáin/Roscommon "(the) wood, of Comán"
Date: 18/12/2023
With the passing of Christmas Day we move into the period called idir an dá Nollaig "between the two Christmases" in Irish, i.e. between An Nollaig "Christmas" on December 25th and Nollaig na mBan "Christmas of the women, women's Christmas" on January 6th. The first day of this period, Saint Stephen's Day, refers to Saint Stephen the martyr, but as he did not feature in the native Irish calendar of saints, he is not mentioned in any townland name of Irish origin, although he is commemorated in the parish name Saint Stephen's Within and Saint Stephen's Without in Waterford. Of the placenames connected with saints celebrated in native calendars on December 26th the best know is unquestionably Roscommon/Ros Comáin "the wood or the wooded height of Comán", who is described as 'Commán, ó Ross Comain' in the native Irish calendar Félire na Naomh nÉrennach (see logainm.ie: #100027). Among others whose feast was celebrated on December 26th is Coda, who gave his name to Kilcotty/Cill Coda "the church of Coda" in Wexford. (Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)
Buaile na Nollag/Boleynanollag "the boley, cattle fold of Christmas"
Date: 11/12/2023
Only one example of the word Nollaig "Christmas" as a placename element seems to occur among the townland names of Ireland, i.e. Buaile na Nollag/Boleynanollag, the name of a townland in south-east Co. Galway. However, there are examples in different parts of the country of placenames based on festivals or specific times of the year, such as Boolanacausk/Buaile na Cásca "the boley of Easter" in Clare; Lisbalting/Lios Bealtaine "(the) ringfort of May" in Tipperary; Carrickhawna/Carraig Shamhna "(the) rock of Halloween" in Sligo (see logainm.ie: #21027). (Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)
Machaire na Gé/Magheranagay "the plain, stretch of level ground, field of the goose".
Date: 04/12/2023
While the main Christmas dish in Ireland has doubtless been the imported turkey in relatively recent years, it was formerly goose that occupied that honoured position. In this regard, it is notable that references to birds are not uncommon in townland names, which include the odd reference to the goose. Hence in Mayo we find Magheranagay/Machaire na Gé "the plain, stretch of level ground, field of the goose" which is found as translated 'Goose Park' in the Tithe Applotment Book from 1830 (see logainm.ie: #35800). In Cork we have Lackenagea/Leacain na Gé "the hillside of the goose" and in Leitrim Lisnagea/Lios na Gé "the ringfort of the goose". It is interesting to note that livestock is often referred to in placenames containing lios, ráth and ráithín, all essentially meaning "ringfort", which suggests that these structures were often 'recycled' after their original use, e.g. Lisnagore/Lios na nGabhar "the ringfort of the goats"; Lisnamoe/Lios na mBó "the ringfort of the cows"; Lisnamuck/Lios na Muc "the ringfort of the pigs"; Lisnageeragh/Lios na gCaorach "the ringfort of the sheep"; Lisnagoneeny/Lios na gCoinníní "the ringfort of the rabbits"; Lisnagree/Lios na Graí "ringfort of the horses"; Lissaneagh/Lios an Eich "the ringfort of the horse"; Rathnabo/Ráth na Bó "the ringfort of the cow"; Rathnageeragh/Ráth na gCaorach "the ringfort of the sheep"; Rathnaconeen/Ráth na gCoinín "the ringfort of the rabbits"; Rathanally/Ráth an Eallaigh "the ringfort of the livestock, stock". (Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)
Paróiste San Nioclás/Saint Nicholas
Date: 27/11/2023
Saint Nicholas is nowadays undoubtedly the saint most commonly connected with December in Ireland, or in Irish Mí na Nollag "the month of Christmas". However, Saint Nicholas did not actually feature in the native calendar of saints, and it was only in placenames that post-date the Anglo-Norman invasion that he features. So in the case of the parish of Saint Nicholas just north of Castlebridge in Wexford we find that this parish name was transferred from 'St. Nicholas's Priory' in Exeter, a religious foundation granted carucates of land in this area by the Anglo-Norman David Roche. The name refers to the now-ruined church Temple-St Nicholas. However, the Irish structure of 'Temple-St Nicholas' \ Teampall San Nioclás, a version of the name recorded in 1618 implies regaelicisation after initial colonisation. Notably, the parish church of Carrick near Wexford Town was also dedicated to Saint Nicholas, and it is of interest to note that both churches would once have been within the sphere of influence of the Roche family (see logainm.ie: #2622; #2644). (Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)
Coill na Sián/Kilnashane “the wood of the fairy mounds”
Date: 20/11/2023
In contrast to the sióga/fairies of Clonnasheeoge/Cluain na Sióg "the pasture of the fairies"and Páirc na Sióg "the park of the fairies" in Wexford along with Ballynasheeoge/Baile na Sióg "the (town)land of the fairies" in Galway, which are rarely specifically mentioned in townland names, the related element sián (< síodhán) "(little) fairy mound" is actually quite common in townland names such as Kilnashane/Coill na Sián "the wood of the fairy mounds" in Laois (see logainm.ie: #27773). An Sián "the fairy mound" is the precursor to Shean in Waterford and Cork; Shean in Armagh an Fermanagh; Sheean in Kildare, Limerick, Westmeath, Roscommon and Carlow; Sheeaun in Clare and Galway; Sheehaun in Roscommon. It is also behind Sheeanmore/An Sián Mór "the big fairy mound"in Mayo and Sligo, a name which demonstrates that sián "(little) fairy mound" had lost its diminutive function. At the other end of the spectrum we have An Sián Beag "the little fairy mound", the forerunner to anglicised Shanbeg in Laois. On the other hand, Shean Beg/An Sián Beag "the fairy mound, little"and Shean More/An Sián Mór"the fairy mound, big", neighbouring townlandsin Waterford do not appear to refer to the size of different fairy mounds, but to subdivisions of what was originally a single townland called An Sián "the fairy mound". The anglicised name Golashane in Meath is very deceiving as it is actually made up of two separate names, Gabhla and An Sián "the fairy mound". Sián "fairy mound" is also found in many townland names such as Carrickateane/Carraig an tSiáin "the rock of the fairy mound" in Leitrim, in which sián occurs in the genitive case meaning "of the fairy mound". It is truly amazing that we can have so many townland names referring to the sián "fairy mound" and yet the native tradition of the sióga/fairies is now so poorly understood and perhaps even ridiculed in Ireland.
Cluain na Sióg/Clonnasheeoge "the pasture of the fairies"
Date: 13/11/2023
While the festival of Samhain/Halloween has probably been very much Americanised in recent years, the native Irish festival often involved one group now rarely mentioned in Halloween discourse---the sióga "fairies". In native tradition the síoga were reputedly particularly active during Samhain/Halloween, but they are only specifically mentioned in a small number of townland names. This includes Clonnasheeoge/Cluain na Sióg "the pasture of the fairies" (see logainm.ie: #52570) as well as Parknashoge/Páirc na Sióg "the park of the fairies" in County Wexford (see logainm.ie: #52864). It is notable that the sióga/fairies were also mentioned in another now-defunct townland name near Hollyfort in County Wexford, namely Raheneshioge/Ráithín na Sióg "the (little) ringfort of the fairies". It seems that there was once a particularly strong tradition surrounding the sióga/fairies in parts of County Wexford. Elsewhere, we have the townland name Ballynasheeoge/Baile na Sióg "the town(land) of the fairies" in Galway. We also have the English names Fairyhill in Clare, Fairyhall in Limerick and Fairy Island in Sligo, but the evidence is insufficient to determine whether these are English creations or translations from Irish.
Gleann na bhFuath/Glennawoo "the glen of the monsters"
Date: 06/11/2023
Our understanding of Samhain/Halloween has probably changed quite a lot over the years, and it is probably now much more concerned with features and monsters that have little to do with native Irish culture. However, monsters did indeed also feature in native tradition, and no townland name reflects this better than Glennawoo/Gleann na bhFuath "the glen of the monsters" near Lough Talt in the Ox Mountains of Sligo (see logainm.ie: #45661). One tradition about this placename is recounted in W. G. Wood-Martin's History of Sligo: Town and County iii:
The tradition is, that the valley in which the well is situated was the haunt of a monster in the shape of a great serpent that devoured or destroyed every human being or animal within reach, and hence the name of the Glenn. But a delivery arrived in the person of St. Athy or Araght [Athracht] ... bringing a blessed staff given to her by St. Patrick, with which she pursued and killed the monster on the spot where the well sprang up (p. 357; see here).
Goirtín na Samhna/Gurteennasowna “the (little) field of Halloween”
Date: 30/10/2023
With the month of November on us, Mí na Samhna "the month of Halloween" in Irish, it’s interesting to note the placename Gurteennasowna/Goirtín na Samhna "the (little) field of Halloween" in Cork (see logainm.ie: #9912). A note on this placename written by the toponymist John O’Donovan during the course of the Ordnance Survey in 1841 states ‘Some sports carried on here on Saman’s day [Halloween]’. Although O’Donovan was not actually in Cork during the survey, the note clearly reflects a tradition of sports and meetings at Samhain/Halloween. Similarly, in reference to Knocknasawna/Cnoc na Samhna "the hill of Halloween" in Leitrim, which O’Donovan had actually visited, he noted "hill of all-hollowtide -- meeting or sports here at the season".
Carraig Shamhna/Carrickhawna “(the) rock of Halloween”
Date: 23/10/2023
Moving toward the end of September we approach the Gaelic festival of Samhain "haloween" from which the Irish name for November is derived, Mí na Samhna "the month of haloween". Samhain is not particularly common in townland names, but one particularly interesting name is Carrickhawna/Carraig Shamhna "(the) rock of Halloween" in Sligo (see logainm.ie: #44706). A note in the Ordnance Survey Parish Name Book from 1838 concerning this location (a hill) observed that: "A little before November the old men (time out of mind) used to assemble here to settle their little affairs for the ensuing half year". This is reminiscent of the native Irish custom of holding assemblies on hillsides recounted in a late sixteenth or early seventeenth century Discourse on the mere Irish of Ireland (see: https://research.ucc.ie/celt/document/E600001-004) , the author of which was certainly not well-disposed to native Irish culture:
First for their consultacions those are onely done in their meetinges vpon some hill or other. And this hath beene soe much in vse amongst them, as euen at this daie all or most of the sheriffs of that kingdome in Imitacion thereof doe keepe their twoe (turne) courtes, and their County courts upon hilles and such open places, in the open feildes Theis meetinges and assemblies vpon hills doe often occasion manie euills and enormities for howsoeuer theis meetinges be pretended for some publique goodes, It is experienced that the opposite contrary doth commonly followe, for that the oportunitie of theis remote places doth possesse them with a conceite of Secrecy, to smother their designes the Better, soe as they may deliuer their mindes there with more libertie and freedome, and effect their purpose with less suspicion [than if] their metinges and assemblies had beene in townes, and thus all their conspiracies, coniuracions and treasons are vsually plotted, prepared and concluded for which cause, and for that theis assemblies are commonly vnlawful when they be not guided by supreme Authority. It is very necessary they should be straightly forbidden and seuerallie punished and the rather that they be but obseruacions of the meare Irishe (p.20)