Carraig Shamhna/Carrickhawna “carraig (atá ceangailte le féile) na Samhna”
Dáta: 23/10/2023
Ag teannadh dúinn le deireadh ráithe an fhómhair, is gearr uainn Samhain "haloween", an fhéile Ghaelach óna n-ainmnítear, Mí na Samhna. Níl Samhain chomh coitianta sin ar chor ar bith in ainmneacha na mbailte fearainn, ach is díol spéise sampla amháin, Carrickhawna/Carraig Shamhna i Sligeach (féach logainm.ie: #44706). Breacadh nóta sa bhliain 1838 in Ainmleabhar Paróiste na Suirbhéireachta Ordanáis ina luaitear maidir leis an ionad seo (cnoc): "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". Tá cosúlacht idir sin agus seanghnás na nGael anallód aonach a thionól ar thaobh cnoic, faoi mar a thuairiscítear in Discourse on the mere Irish of Ireland (féach: https://research.ucc.ie/celt/document/E600001-004), ó dheireadh an séú céad déag nó tús an seachtú céad déag, ar léir air nach rógheal a bhí an t-údar do sheanmhodh saoil mhuintir na hÉireann:
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 (l.20)