Skip to main content

Full text of "The origin and history of Irish names of places. (First [-second] series)"

See other formats 


sq;   uo  SuinjDDB  S3ug  ne  joj  poB  pjBO  siq  uo 
UMBjp  s:5iooq  joj  a^qisuodsaj  si  jaMoajoq  sqx 

•no A.  dpq  o:^  pB^Svaq  \\im.  oqM  uBueaqi^ 
9q;   51SB  ';uBAv  no.{  ^Bq/Vi   pug  :}OUubo  no^C  jj 

•3rai;j3Ao  ;d93i 
3iooq  qoB9  aoj  paSaBqD  si  ^Bp   b    s;a3D    omj^ 

•paAjas 
-3J  ssaiun  'pouad  araBS  sq;  aoj  paMauaj  aq 
i^Bin  puB   S5jaaM  oa\;  aoj  ;da5[  aq  Xbui  s^^oog 

•ssvw  'niH  xnNieHHD 

SXHOiaH    AXISHSAlNn 

AHVHan  soaaaoo  Noxsoa 


^f^^Zf 


9  29zei.2i-o  !-eo6  e 


393n03  NOiSOa 


'i 


THE 


ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY 


OF 


IRISH  NAMES  OF  PLACES. 

PrW.  JOYCE,  A.M.,  M.R.LA.nAV 


CpiallaTTi  cimceall  na  po6la. 


^Koni>  (Ebition,  ^nlargcb  mxh  Correti^b. 


DTJBLIK  : 

MCGLASHAN  &  GILL,  UPPER  SACKVILLE-STREET, 

BOSTON:  PATRICK  DONOHOE. 

1870. 


BOSTON  COLLEGE  UBRAKf. 

..-rlJIII       MASii. 


DUBLIN 
BY  M.  H.  GILL. 


4t;-595 


TO 

PATRICK    JOSEPH    KEENAN,    ESQ., 
gis  a  small  tribute 

TO 

GENIUS,    PATRIOTISM,    AND    KINDNESS    OF    HEART, 

THIS  BOOK 

IS    DEDICATED, 

BY 

THE  AUTHOR. 


PREFACE 


i^iaLlam    cimcheaLL    na 

pOt)hLa — Let  us  wander  rotjjsD 
Ireland  :  So  wrote  the  topogra- 
pher John  O'Diigan,  five  hundred  years 
ago,  when  beginning  his  poetical  de- 
scription of  Ireland,  and  so  I  addi^ess 
my  readers,  to-day.  The  jom^ney  will 
be  at  least  a  novel  one;  and  to  those  who  are  inte- 
rested in  the  topography  of  our  country,  in  the  origin 
of  local  names,  or  in  the  philosophy  of  language,  it 
may  be  attended  with  some  instruction  and  amuse- 
ment. 

The  materials  for  this  book  were  collected,  and 
the  book  itself  was  written,  in  the  intervals  of 
serious  and  absorbing  duties.  The  work  of  collec- 
tion, arrangement,  and  composition,  was  to  me  a 
never-failing  source  of  pleasure ;  it  was  often  inter- 
rupted, and  resumed  at  long  intervals ;  and  if  ever 


vi  Preface. 

it  involved  labour,  it  was  really  and  truly  a  labour 
of  love. 

I  might  have  illustrated  various  portions  of  the 
book  by  reference  to  the  local  etymologies  of  other 
countries;  and  this  was  indeed  m}^  original  inten- 
tion :  but  I  soon  abandoned  it,  for  I  found  that  the 
materials  I  had  in  hands,  relating  exclusively  to  my 
own  country,  were  more  than  enough  for  the  space  at 
my  disposal. 

Quotations  from  other  languages  I  have,  all 
through,  translated  into  English ;  and  I  have  given 
in  brackets  the  pronunciation  of  the  principal  Irish 
words,  as  nearly  as  could  be  represented  by  English 
letters. 

The  local  nomenclature  of  most  countries  of  Europe 
is  made  up  of  the  languages  of  various  races ;  that  of 
Great  Britain,  for  instance,  is  a  mixture  of  Keltic, 
Latin,  Anglo-Saxon,  Danish,  and  Norman  French 
words,  indicating  successive  invasions,  and  interest- 
ing and  valuable  for  that  very  reason,  as  a  means  of 
historical  research ;  but  often  perplexingly  inter- 
woven and  difficult  to  unravel.  In  our  island,  there 
was  scarcely  any  admixture  of  races,  till  the  intro- 
duction of  an  important  English  element,  chiefly 
within  the  last  three  hundred  years — for,  as  I  have 
shown  (p.  101),  the  Danish  irruptions  produced  no 
appreciable  eff'ect ;  and  accordingly,  our  place-names 
are   purely  Keltic,   with   the  exception   of  about  a 


Freface.  vii 

thirteenth  part,  which  are  English,  and  mostly  of  re- 
cent introduction.  This  great  name  system,  begun 
thousands  of  years  ago  by  the  first  wave  of  popula- 
tion that  reached  our  island,  was  continued  unceas- 
ingly from  age  to  age,  till  it  embraced  the  minutest 
features  of  the  country  in  its  intricate  net- work  ;  and 
such  as  it  sprang  forth  from  the  minds  of  oiu'  an- 
cestors, it  exists  almost  unchanged  to  this  day. 

This  is  the  first  book  ever  written  on  the  subject. 
In  this  respect  I  am  somewhat  in  the  position  of  a 
settler  in  a  new  country,  who  has  all  the  advantages 
of  priority  of  claim,  but  who  purchases  them  too  dearly, 
perhaps,  by  the  labour  and  difficulty  of  tracking  his 
way  through  the  wilderness,  and  clearing  his  settle- 
ment from  primeval  forest  and  tangled  underwood. 

On  the  journey  I  have  travelled,  false  lights  glim- 
mered, every  step  of  the  way,  some  of  which  I  have 
pointed  out  for  the  direction  of  future  explorers. 
But  I  have  had  the  advantage  of  two  safe  guides. 
Dr.  John  O'Donovan,  and  the  Eev.  William  Eeeves, 
D.  D. ;  for  these  two  great  scholars  have  been  spe- 
cially distinguished,  among  the  honoured  labourers 
in  the  field  of  Irish  Kterature,  by  their  success  in 
elucidating  the  topography  of  Ireland. 

To  the  Eev.  Dr.  Eeeves  I  am  deeply  indebted  for 
his  advice  and  assistance,  generously  volunteered  to 
me  from  the  very  beginning.  He  examined  my 
proposed  plan  of  the  book  in  the  first  instance,  and 


viii  Preface. 

afterwards,  during  its  progress  through  the  press, 
read  the  proof  sheets — all  with  an  amount  of  atten- 
tion and  care,  which  could  only  be  appreciated  by 
an  actual  inspection  of  the  well  annotated  pages, 
abounding  with  remarks,  criticisms,  and  corrections. 
How  invaluable  this  was  to  me,  the  reader  will 
understand  when  he  remembers,  that  Dr.  Reeves  is 
the  highest  living  authority  on  the  subject  of  Irish 
topography. 

My  friend,  Mr.  William  M.  Hennessy,  was  ever 
ready  to  place  at  my  disposal  his  great  knowledge  of 
the  Irish  language,  and  of  Irish  topography.  And 
Mr.  O'Longan,  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  kindly 
lent  me  some  important  manuscripts,  from  his  pri- 
vate collection,  of  which  I  have  made  use  in  several 
parts  of  the  book. 

I  have  to  record  my  thanjis  to  Captain  Berdoe  A. 
Wilkinson,  E.  E.,  of  the  Ordnance  Survey,  for  his 
kindness  in  procuring  permission  for  me  to  read  the 
Manuscripts  deposited  in  his  Office,  Phoenix  Park. 
And  I  should  be  guilty  of  great  injustice  if  I  failed 
to  acknowledge  the  uniform  coiu?tesy  I  experienced 
from  Mr.  Mooney,  Chief  Clerk  in  the  same  office, 
and  the  readiness  with  which  both  he  and  Mr. 
O'Lawlor  facilitated  my  researches. 

I  have  also  to  thank  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy  for  granting  me  permission — long  before 
I  had  the  honour  of  being  elected  a  member  of  that 


Preface.  ix 

learned  body — to  make  use  of  theii'  library,   and  to 
consult  their  precious  collection  of  Manuscripts. 

DuBLTX,  July,  1869. 


The  following  is  a  list  of  the  principal  historical 
and  topographical  works  on  Ireland  published  within 
the  last  twenty  years  or  so,  which  I  have  quoted 
through  the  book,  and  from  which  I  have  derived  a 
large  part  of  my  materials  :  — 

The  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,  translated  and  edited 
by  John  0' Donovan,  LL.  D.,  M.  "R.  I.  A.;  published 
by  Hodges  and  Smith,  Dublin ;  the  noblest  historical 
work  on  Ireland  ever  issued  by  any  Irish  publisher — a 
book  which  every  man  should  possess,  who  wishes  to 
obtain  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  history,  topography, 
and  antiquities,  of  Ireland. 

The  Book  of  Eights ;  published  by  the  Celtic  Society  ; 
translated  and  edited  by  John  0' Donovan.  Abounding 
in  information  on  the  ancient  tribes  and  territories  of 
Ireland. 

The  Battle  of  Moylena :  Celt.  Soc.  Translated  and  edited 
by  Eugene  O'Curry,  M.  R.  I.  A. 

The  Battle  of  Moyrath;  Irish  Arch.  Soc.  Translated  and 
edited  by  John  0' Donovan. 

The  Tribes  and  Customs  of  the  district  of  Hy-Many  : 
Irish  Arch.  Soc.  Translated  and  edited  by  John 
0' Donovan. 


X  Preface. 

The  Tribes  and  Customs  of  the  district  of  Hy-Fiachrach  : 
Irish  Arch.  Soc.  Translated  and  edited  by  John 
O'Donovan  (quoted  as  ''  Hy-Fiachrach"  through  this 
book). 

A  Description  of  H-Iar  Connaught.  By  Roderick  0'  Flaherty : 
Irish  Arch.  Soc.  Edited  by  James  Hardiman,  M.  R.  I.  A. 

The  Irish  Version  of  the  Historia  Britonum  of  Nennius: 
Irish  Arch.  Soc.  Translated  and  edited  by  James  Hen- 
thorn  Todd,  D.  D.,  M.  R.  I.  A. 

Archbishop  Colton's  Visitation  of  the  Diocese  of  Derry, 
1397:  Irish  Arch.  Soc.  Edited  by  the  Rev.  William 
Reeves,  D.  D.,  M.  R.  I.  A. 

Cambrensis  Eversus  :  By  Dr.  John  Lynch,  1662:  Celt. 
Soc.  Translated  and  edited  by  the  Rev.  Matthew 
Kelly. 

The  Life  of  St.  Columba  :  By  Adamnan :  Irish  Arch,  and 
Celt.  Soc.  Edited  by  the  Rev.  William  Reeves,  D.  D., 
M.  B.,  V.  P.  R.  I.  A.  This  book  and  the  next  contain  a 
vast  amount  of  local  and  historical  information,  drawn 
from  every  conceivable  source. 

Ecclesiastical  Antiquities  of  Down,  Connor,  and  Dromore. 
Edited  by  the  Rev.  William  Reeves,  D.  D.,  M.  B., 
M.  R.  I.  A.  (Quoted  as  the  ''Taxation  of  1306,"  and 
'' Reeves's  Eccl.  Ant.") 

The  Topographical  Poems  of  O'Dugan  and  O'Heeren: 
Irish  Arch,  and  Celt.  Soc.  Translated  and  edited. by 
John  O'Donovan. 

The  Calendar  of  the  O'Clerys,  or  the  Martyrology  of 
Donegal :  Irish  Arch,  and  Celt.  Soc.  Translated  by  John 
O'Donovan.     Edited  by  James  Henthorn  Todd,  D.  D. 


Preface.  xi 

M.  E.  I.  A.,  F.  S.  A.  ;  and  hj  the  Eev.  William  Reeves, 
D.  D.,  M.  R.  I.  A.  (quoted  as  "  O'C.  Cal.") 

The  Wars  of  the  Gaedhil  with  the  Gaill.  Published 
under  the  du^ection  of  the  Master  of  the  Rolls.  Trans- 
lated and  edited  by  James  Henthorn  Todd,  D.  D.,  &c. 
(Quoted  as  "  Wars  of  GG.") 

The  Chronicon  Scotorum.  Published  under  the  direction 
of  the  Master  of  the  Rolls.  Translated  and  edited  by 
William  M.  Hennessy,  M.  R.  I.  A. 

Cormac's  Glossary  ;  translated  by  John  0' Donovan  : 
edited  with  notes  by  Whitley  Stokes,  LL.  D. 

Lectures  on  the  Manuscript  Materials  of  Ancient  Irish 
History  :  delivered  at  the  Catholic  University,  by 
Eugene  O'Curry,  M.  R.  I.  A.  Published  by  James 
Duffy,  Dublin  and  London. 

The  Ecclesiastical  Architecture  of  Ireland;  comprising  an 
Essay  on  the  Origin  and  Uses  of  the  Round  Towers  of 
Ireland.     By  George  Petrie,  R.  H.  A.,  Y.  P.  R.  I.  A. 

Among  these,  I  must  not  omit  to  mention  that  most 
invaluable  work  to  the  student  of  Irish  Topography  and 
History, ''  The  General  Alphabetical  Index  to  the  Town  - 
lands  and  Towns,  the  Parishes  and  Baronies,  of  Ireland:" 
Census,  1861  :  which  was  ever  in  my  hands  during  the 
progress  of  the  book,  and  without  the  help  of  which,  I 
scarcely  know  how  I  should  have  been  able  to  write  it. 

I  have  also  consulted,  and  turned  to  good  account,  the 
various  publications  of  the  Ossianic  Society,  which  are 
full  of  information  on  the  legends,  traditions,  and  fairy 
mythology,  of  Ireland. 

On  the  most  ancient  forms  of  the  various  Irish  root- words. 


xii  Preface. 

and  on  the  corresponding  or  cognate  words  in  other  lan- 
guages,  I  have  derived  my    information   chiefly  from 
Professor  Pictet's  admirable  work,  "  Les  Origines  Indo- 
Europeennes,  ou  les  Aryas  Primitifs:"  Zeuss'  masterly 
work,  Grammatica  Celtica,  in  which  the  author  quotes 
in  every  case  from  manuscripts  of  the  eighth,  or  the  be- 
ginning of  the  ninth  century :   Ebel's  Celtic  Studies 
translated  by  AYilliam  K.  Sullivan,  Ph.  D.,  M.  R.  I.  A. 
Irish  Glosses  ;   a  Mediaeval  Tract  on  Latin  Declension 
By  Whitley  Stokes,  A.  B.  :  and  an  Edition,  with  notes, 
of  Three  Ancient  Irish  Glossaries  ;  By  the  same  accom- 
plished philologist. 


PEEFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


S  the  first  edition  of  this  hook 
went  off  very  quickly — it  was 
sold  in  six  months — I  have 
thought  it  right  to  issue  a  se- 
cond edition  with  as  little  delay 
p  as  possihle. 

I  have  considerably  enlarged 
the  book,  partly  by  the  expansion  of  some  of  the 
articles,  which  want  of  space  obliged  me  to  curtail  in 
the  first  edition,  and  partly  by  the  insertion  of  addi- 
tional names. 

For  the  favourable  reception  of  the  work  by  tlie 
Press,  in  England  and  Scotland  as  well  as  in  Ire- 
land, I  here  offer  my  thankful  acknowledgments. 
It  has  been  noticed  in  nearly  thirty  newspapers  and 
magazines  ;  and  while  most  of  the  reviews  are  ela- 
borate and  critical,  not  one  is  unfavourable.  Several 
of  the  -vsTiters  take  exception  to  some  of  my  state- 


xiv  Preface  to  the  Second  Edition. 

ments,  but  in  tlie  whole  of  their  criticisms  I  cannot 
find  one  unfriendly  or  unkind  remark. 

I  have  examined  with  great  care  the  objections  of 
those  who  question  the  correctness  of  some  of  my 
conclusions.  Many  of  them  are  palpably  wrong ; 
while  others,  carrying  more  weight,  and  requiring 
more  investigation  than  I  can  now  afford  time  for, 
are  held  over  for  further  consideration.  Although 
I  adopted  every  available  precaution  to  ensure  cor- 
rectness, yet  w^here  such  a  vast  number  of  names  and 
places  were  concerned,  complete  freedom  from  error 
was  a  thing  scarcely  to  be  hoped  for ;  accordingly  a 
few  undoubted  mistakes  have  been  detected  and 
pointed  out,  some  publicly  by  the  reviewers,  and 
some  privately  by  my  literary  friends.  These  I  have 
corrected  in  the  present  edition. 

Soon  after  the  appearance  of  the  book,  I  received 
communications  from  correspondents  in  various  parts 
of  Ireland,  containing  information,  more  or  less  valu- 
able, on  the  topography  of  their  respective  localities. 
Among  these  I  may  mention  specially  Mr.  John 
Fleming  of  Bathgormuck  in  the  county  Waterford, 
who  has  brought  his  knowledge  of  Irish  to  bear  in 
elucidating  the  topography  of  the  Cummeragh  moun- 
tains, and  who  has  communicated  to  me  without 
stint,  the  results  of  his  investigations.  Mr.  O'Looney 
of  the  Catholic  University  also  furnished  me  with  a 
large  quantity  of  valuable  topographical  notes  taken 


Preface  to  the  Second  Edition.  xv 

from  the  Irish  Lives  of  several  of  our  early  saints. 
To  these,  and  to  all  others  who  gave  me  their  aid,  I 
return  my  best  thanks.  At  the  same  time  I  take 
this  opportunity  of  soliciting  further  information 
from  those  who  are  able  to  give  it,  and  who  are  anx- 
ious to  assist  in  the  advancement  of  Irish  literature. 

The  head-pieces  have  been  copied  by  permission — 
with  some  modifications  in  the  arrangement — from 
the  marginal  illuminations  in  "  The  Cromlech  of 
Howth,"  a  work  in  which  are  faithfully  reproduced 
the  beautifid  ornamental  designs  of  the  Book  of 
Kells  and  other  very  ancient  Irish  manuscripts. 
I  have  to  thank  the  Council  of  the  Irish  Archaeo- 
logical Society  for  the  use  of  four  of  their  ornamen- 
tal letters,  which  were  likewise  copied  from  the  Book 
of  Kells. 

Dublin,  April,  1870. 


CONTENTS 


PAET  I. 

THE  IRISH  LOCAL  NAME  SYSTEM. 

PAGE 

Chapter      I. — How  the  Meanings  have  been  ascertained,      .  1 

Chapter    II. — Systematic  Changes, 17 

Chapter  III. — Corruptions, 46 

Chapter  IV — False  Etymologies, 64 

Chapter     V. — The  Antiquity  of  Irish  Local  Names,    ...  72 


PART  II. 

NAMES  OF  HISTORICAL  AND  LEGENDARY  ORIGIN. 

Chapter        I Historical  Events, 81 

Chapter      II. — Historical  Personages, 114 

Chapter    III. — Early  Irish  Saints, 135 

Chapter     IV. — Legends, 162 

Chapter      V.— Fairies,  Demons,  GobUns,  and  Ghosts,      .     .  172 

Chapter     VI. — Customs,  Amusements,  and  Occupations,       .  192 

Chapter  VII. — Agriculture  and  Pasturage, 217 

Chapter  VIII. — Subdivisions  and  Measures  of  Land,    .     .     .  231 

Chapter     IX. — Numerical  Combinations, 237 

b 


X\111  CONTENTS. 

PAET  III. 

NAMES    COMMEMORATING  ARTIFICIAL  STRLXTURES. 

PAGE 

Chapter     I. — Habitations  and  Fortresses,        255 

Chapter    II. — Ecclesiastical  Edifices, 300 

Chapter  III. — Monuments,  Graves,  and  Cemeteries,      ,     .     .  317 

Chapter  IV. — To-vrns  and  Villages, 334 

Chapter     V. — Fords,  "Weirs,  and  Bridges,        341 

Chapter  VI. — Roads  and  Causeways, 357 

ChapterVII.— Mills  and  Kilns, 361 

PAET  IV. 

NAMES   DESCRIPTIVE    OF    PHYSICAL    FEATURES. 

Chapter         I. — Mountains,  Hills,  and  Rocks, 365 

Chapter       II. — Plains,  Valleys,  Hollows,  and  Cave?,    .     .     .  408 

Chapter     III. — Islands,  Peninsulas,  and  Strands,     ....  426 

Chapter      IV. — "Water,  Lakes,  and  Springs, 431 

Chapter      V. — Rivers,  Streamlets,  and  "Waterfalls,      .     .     .  438 

Chapter    VI.— Marshes  and  Bogs, 445 

Chapter  VII. — Animals, 452 

Chapter  VIII. — Plants, 473 

Chapter     IX. — Shape  and  Position,       503 


Index  of  Names, 513 

Index  of  Root-word^, 565 


IRISH  NAMES  OF  PLACES, 


PART    I. 

THE  IRISH  LOCAL  NAME  SYSTEM. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

HOW  THE  MEANINGS  HAVE  BEEN  ASCERTAINED. 

HE  interpretation  of  a   name  in- 
[/.  volves  two  j)rocesses  :  the  discovery 
"  of  the  ancient  orthography,  and  the 
determination  of  the  meaning  of  this 
original  form.      So  far  as  Irish  local 
names  are  concerned,  the  first  is  gene- 
rally the  most  troublesome,  while  the 
second,  with  some  exceptions,  presents 
no  great  difficulty  to  an  Irish  scholar. 

There  are  cases,  hoAvever,  in  which,  although  we 
have  ver}^  old  forms  of  the  names,  we  are  still  unable 
to  determine  the  meaning  with  any  degree  of  cer- 
tainty.    In  some  of  these,  it  is  certain  that  we  are 

B 


2  The  Irish  Local  Name  Sysfon.       [part  i. 

not  in  possession  of  tlie  most  ancient  oi-thograpliy, 
and  that  the  old  forms  handed  doTVTi  to  us  are  nothing 
more  than  corruptions  of  others  still  older ;  but  in 
most  cases  of  this  kind  our  ignorance  is  very  probably 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  root-words  of  which  the 
names  are  composed  became  obsolete  before  our  most 
ancient  manuscripts  were  written.  Names  of  this 
class  challenge  the  investigation,  not  so  much  of  the 
Irish  scholar,  as  of  the  general  philologist. 

With  respect  to  the  names  occurring  in  this  book, 
the  Irish  form  and  the  signification  are,  generally 
speaking,  sufficiently  well  kno^vm  to  warrant  a  certain 
conclusion ;  and  accordingly,  as  the  reader  may  ob- 
serve, I  have  interpreted  them  in  abnost  all  cases 
mthout  any  appearance  of  hesitation  or  uncertainty. 
There  are  indeed  names  in  every  part  of  the  country, 
about  whose  meanings  we  are  still  in  the  dark  ;  but 
these  I  have  generally  avoided,  for  I  believe  it  to  be 
not  only  useless  but  pernicious,  to  indidge  in  conjec- 
ture where  certainty,  or  something  approaching  it, 
is  not  attainable.  I  have  given  my  authority  when- 
ever I  considered  it  necessary  or  important ;  but  as 
it  would  be  impossible  to  do  so  in  all  cases  without 
encumbering  the  book  with  references,  and  in  order 
to  remove  any  doubt  as  to  the  correctness  of  the  in- 
tei'pretations,  I  shall  give  here  a  shoii;  sketch  of  the 
various  methods  by  which  the  meanings  have  been 
ascertained. 

I.  A  vast  number  of  our  local  names  are  perfectly 
intelligible,  as  they  stand  in  their  present  anglicised 
orthogro.phy,  to  any  person  who  has  studied  the  pho- 
netic laws  by  which  they  have  been  reduced  from 
ancient  to  modem  forms.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
that  the  Irish  name  of  Camcknadarriff,  in  the  parish 
of  Annahilt,  county  of  Down,  is  Carraig-na-dtarhhy 


CHAP.  I.]  Hotc  the  Meanings  have  heen  ascertained.     3 

the  rock  of  the  bulls  ;  that  Boherboy,  the  name  of  a 
village  in  Cork,  and  of  several  places  in  other  eoim- 
ties,  means  yellow  road  (Botha r-buidhe)  ;  or  that 
Knockaunbaun,  in  Galway  and  Mayo,  signifies  white 
little  hill. 

But  this  process  requires  check  and  caution ;  the 
modem  forms,  however  obvious  in  appearance,  are 
often  treacherous  ;  and  whoever  relies  on  them  witli 
un watchful  confidence  will  sooner  or  later  be  led  into 
eiTor.  Carrick-on-Suii'  is  vrhat  it  appears  to  be,  for 
the  Four  Masters  and  other  authorities  ^Tite  it  Car- 
raig-na-Siuire,  the  rock  of  the  Suir,  and  it  appeare  to 
have  got  its  name  from  a  large  rock  in  the  bed  of  the 
river.  But  if  any  one  should  interpret  Carrick-on- 
Shannon  in  the  same  way,  he  would  find  himself 
mistaken.  The  old  English  name  of  the  toTVTi  was 
'Carrickdrumrusk,  as  it  appears  on  the  Down  Survey 
maj) ;  but  the  first  part  should  be  Carra,  not  Carrick, 
to  which  it  has  been  corrupted  ;  for  the  place  got  its 
name  not  from  a  rock,  but  from  an  ancient  carra  or 
weir  across  the  Shannon,  and  accordingly  the  Four 
Masters  write  it  Caradh-droma-ruisc^  the  weir  of 
Drumi'oosk.  Drumroosk  itself  is  the  name  of  seve- 
ral toT\Tilands  in  the  noiih-western  counties,  and 
signifies  the  ridge  of  the  roosk  or  marsh. 

II.  In  numerous  other  cases,  when  the  original 
fonns  are  so  far  disguised  by  their  English  dress,  as 
to  be  in  any  degree  doubtful,  they  may  be  discovered 
by  causing  the  names  to  be  pronounced  in  Irish  by 
the  natives  of  the  respective  localities.  When  pro- 
nounced in  this  manner,  they  become  in  general  per- 
fectly intelligible  to  an  Irish  scholar — as  much  so  as 
file  names  Queensto^Ti  and  Newcastle  are  to  the 
reader.  Lisnanees  is  the  name  of  a  place  near  Let- 
terkenny,  and  whoever  would  undei^ake  to  interpret 

b2 


4  The  Irish  Local  Name  System,     [part.  i. 

it  as  it  stands  would  probably  find  himself  puzzled  ; 
but  it  becomes  plain  enough  when  you  hear  the 
natives  pronounce  it  with  a  ^  in  the  end,  which  has 
been  lately  dropped  : — Lios-na-naosg,  the  fort  of  the 
snipes. 

There  is  a  small  double  lake,  or  rather  two  little 
lakes  close  together,  thi^ee  miles  from  GrlengariJff  in 
Cork,  on  the  left  of  the  road  to  Castleto^vn  Bere- 
haven.  They  are  called  on  the  maps  Lough  Avaul — 
a  name  I  could  never  imderstand,  till  I  heard  the 
local  pronunciation,  which  at  once  removed  the  diffi- 
culty ;  the  people  call  it  Lough-aiV'WOul,  which  any 
one  with  a  little  knowledge  of  Irish  will  recognise  as 
Loch-dha-hhaU,  the  lake  of  the  two  spots,  a  name  that 
describes  it  with  perfect  correctness. 

Take  as  another  example  Ballylongford,  near  the 
Shannon  in  Kerry  :  as  it  stands  it  is  deceptive,  the 
first  part  of  the  name  being  apparently  Bally,  a  town, 
which  in  reality  it  is  not.  I  have  a  hundred  times 
heard  it  pronounced  by  the  natives,  who  always  call 
it  in  Irish  Beal-atha-loyigphort^  the  ford-mouth  of  the 
foi^:ress.  The  name  was  originally  applied  to  the 
ford  over  the  little  river,  long  before  the  erection  of 
the  bridge  ;  and  it  was  so  called,  no  doubt,  because 
it  led  to  the  longphort  or  fortress  of  Carrigafoyle, 
two  miles  distant. 

Of  this  mode  of  arriving  at  the  original  forms  of 
names  I  have  made  ample  use  ;  I  have  had  great 
numbers  of  places  named  in  Irish,  either  in  the  very 
localities,  or  by  natives  whom  I  have  met  fi'om  time 
to  tune  in  Dublin  ;  and  in  this  respect  I  have  got 
much  valuable  information  from  the  national  school- 
masters who  come  twice  a  year  from  every  part  of 
Ireland  to  the  Central  Training  Establishment  in 


CHAP.  I.]  How  the  Meanings  have  been  ascertained.     5 

Dublin.  But  in  tliis  method,  also,  the  investigator 
must  be  very  cautious  ;  names  are  often  corrupted  in 
Irish  as  well  as  in  English,  and  the  pronunciation 
of  the  people  should  be  tested,  whenever  possible,  by 
higher  authority. 

The  more  intelligent  of  the  Irish-speaking  pea- 
santry may  often  assist  the  inquirer  in  determining 
the  meaning  also ;  but  here  he  must  proceed  with 
the  utmost  circumspection,  and  make  careful  use  of 
his  own  experience  and  judgment.  It  is  very  dan- 
gerous to  depend  on  the  etymologies  of  the  people, 
who  are  full  of  imagination,  and  will  often  quite  dis- 
tort a  word  to  meet  some  fancifid  derivation  ;  or  they 
will  account  for  a  name  by  some  silly  story  obviously 
of  recent  invention,  and,  so  far  as  the  origin  of  the 
name  is  concerned,  not  worth  a  moment's  considera- 
tion. 

The  well-known  castle  of  Carrigogunnell,  near  the 
Shannon  in  Limerick,  is  universally  understood  by 
the  inhabitants  to  mean  the  candle  rock,  as  if  it  were 
Carmig-na-geoinneaU ;  and  they  tell  a  wild  legend,  to 
account  for  the  name,  about  a  certain  old  witch,  who 
in  times  long  ago  lived  on  it,  and  every  night  lighted 
an  enchanted  candle,  which  could  be  seen  far  over 
the  plain  of  Limerick,  and  which  immediately  struck 
dead  any  person  who  caught  even  its  faintest  glim- 
mer. She  was  at  last  vanquished  and  destroyed  by 
St.  Patrick,  but  she  and  her  candle  are  immortalised 
in  many  modem  tourist  books,  and,  among  others, 
in  Mrs.  Hall's  "  Ireland,"  where  the  reader  will  find 
a  well-told  version  of  the  story.  But  the  Foui' 
Masters  mention  the  place  repeatedly,  and  always 
call  it  Carraig-0-gCoinnelI.,  which  admits  of  no  exer- 
cise of  the  imagination,  and  banishes  the  old  witch 


6  The  Irish  Local  Na)nc  System.      [part  i. 

and  lier  candle  more  rutlilessly  than  even  St.  Patrick 
himself,  for  it  means  simply  the  rock  of  the  O'Con- 
nells,  who  were  no  doubt  the  original  owners. 

The  meaning  of  a  name,  othermse  doubtful,  will 
often  be  explained  by  a  knowledge  of  the  locality. 
Quilcagh  moimtain,  in  the  north-west  of  CavaUj  at 
the  base  of  which  the  Shannon  rises,  is  called  in  Irish 
by  the  inhabitants,  Cailceach,  which  literally  signi- 
fies ehalk}^  (Ir.  calk,  chalk  ;  Lat.  calx)  ;  and  the  first 
view  of  the  hill  ^ill  show  the  correctness  of  the 
name  ;  for  it  presents  a  remarkably  white  face,  due 
to  the  presence  of  quartz  pebbles,  which  are  even 
brought  do^^i  in  the  beds  of  streams,  and  are  used 
for  garden  walks,  &c. 

Carrantuohill,  in  Kerry,  the  highest  mountain  in 
Ireland,  is  always  called  tln'oughout  Munster,  Car- 
raunthooliill,  and  the  peasantry  will  tell  you  that  it 
means  an  inverted  reaping-hook,  a  name  which  is 
apparently  so  absurd  for  a  mountain,  that  many  re- 
ject the  intei'pretation  as  mere  silliness.  Yet  who- 
ever looks  at  the  peak  fi^om  about  the  middle  of  the 
Hag's  Yalley,  will  see  at  once  that  the  people  are 
quite  right ;  it  descends  on  the  Killamey  side  by  a 
curved  edge,  which  the  spectator  catches  in  profile, 
all  jagged  and  serrated  with  great  masses  of  rock 
projecting  like  teeth,  without  a  single  inten^uption, 
almost  the  whole  way  down.  The  word  tuathail 
[thoohill]  means  literally  left-handed  ;  but  it  is  ap- 
plied to  anything  reversed  from  its  proper  du*ection 
or  position  ;  and  the  great  peak  is  most  correctly  de- 
scribed by  the  name  Carydn-tuathail,  for  the  edge  is 
toothed  like  the  edge  of  a  carrdn,  or  reaping-hook  ; 
but  it  is  a  reaping-hook  reversed,  for  the  teeth  are  on 
a  convex  instead  of  a  concave  edge. 

III.  The  late  Dr.  O'Donovan,  Avhile  engaged  in 


CHAP.  I.]  Hoiv  the  Meanings  have  been  ascertained.     7 

the  Ordnance  Survey,  travelled  over  a  great  part  of 
Ireland,  collecting  information  on  the  traditions, 
tojDography,  and  antiquities  of  the  country.  The  re- 
sults of  these  investigations  he  embodied  in  a  series 
of  letters,  which  are  now  deposited  in  the  Eoyal  Irish 
Academy,  bound  up  in  volumes,  and  they  form  the 
most  valuable  body  of  information  on  Irish  topo- 
graphy in  existence. 

His  usual  plan  was  to  seek  out  the  oldest  and  most 
intelligent  of  the  Irish-speaking  peasantry  in  each 
locfility,  many  of  whom  are  named  in  his  letters ; 
and  besides  numberless  other  inquiries,  he  caused 
them  to  pronounce  the  to^Tiland  and  other  names, 
and  used  their  assistance  in  interpreting  them.  His 
interpretations  are  contained  in  what  are  called  the 
Field  name  Books,  a  series  of  several  thousand  small 
parchment- covered  volumes,  now  lying  tied  up  in 
bundles,  in  the  Ordnance  Office,  Phoenix  Park.  The 
names  of  all  the  to^vTilands,  towns,  and  paiishes,  and 
of  CAxry  important  physical  feature  in  Ireland,  are 
contained  in  these  books,  restored  to  theii'  original 
Irish  fonns,  and  translated  into  English,  as  far  as 
O 'Donovan's  o^tl  knowledge,  and  the  infoiTaation  he 
received,  enabled  him  to  detennine. 

There  are,  however,  numerous  localities  in  every 
one  of  the  thirty- two  counties  that  he  was  unable  to 
visit  personally,  and  in  these  cases,  instead  of  him- 
self hearing  the  names  pronounced,  he  was  obliged 
to  content  himself  with  the  various  modes  of  spelling 
them  prevalent  in  the  neighbourhood,  or  with  the 
pronunciation  taken  down  by  others  from  the  mouths 
of  the  people,  as  nearly  as  they  were  able  to  repre- 
sent it  by  English  letters.  He  had  a  wonderful 
instinct  in  arri\Tng  at  the  meanings  of  names,  but 
the  information  he  received  from  deputies  often  left 


8  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

hiin  in  great  doubt,  which  he  not  unfreqnently  ex- 
presses ;  and  his  interpretations,  in  such  cases,  are  to 
be  received  with  caution,  based  as  they  often  are,  on 
corrupt  spelling,  or  on  this  doubtful  information. 

So  far  as  time  permitted,  I  have  consulted  O'Do- 
novan's  letters,  and  the  Field  name  Books,  and  I 
have  made  full  use  of  the  information  derived  from 
these  sources.  I  have  had  frequently  to  use  my  own 
judgment  in  correcting  what  other  and  older  autho- 
rities proved  to  be  erroneous,  but  I  do  not  wish,  by 
this  remark,  to  underrate  the  value  a,nd  extent  of 
the  information  I  have  received  from  O'Donovan's 
manuscript  wTitings, 

I  will  give  a  few  illustrations  of  names  recovered 
in  this  way.  There  is  a  townland  in  Cavan  called 
Castleterra,  which  gives  name  to  a  parish  ;  the  proper 
pronunciation,  as  O'Donovan  found  by  conversation 
mth  the  people,  is  Cussatirri/,  representing  the  Irish 
Cos-a' -tsiormigh,  the  foot  of  the  colt,  w^hich  has  been 
so  strangely  corrupted  ;  they  accounted  for  the  name 
by  a  legend,  and  they  showed  him  a  stone  in  the 
townland  on  which  was  the  impression  of  a  colt's  foot. 

In  the  parish  of  Kilmore,  in  the  same  county,  the 
townland  of  DeiTywinny  was  called,  by  an  intelligent 
old  man,  Boire-bhainne,  and  interpreted,  both  by  him 
and  O'Donovan,  the  oak  grove  of  the  milk ;  so  called, 
very  probably,  from  a  grove  where  cows  used  to  be 
milked.  FamamiuTy,  near  Nenagh,  in  Tipperary, 
was  pronounced  Farramjmurnj,  showing  that  the 
name  is  much  shortened,  and  really  signifies  0 'Mur- 
ray's land  ;  and  Ballyhoos,  in  Clonfert,  Gralway,  was 
stripped  of  its  deceptive  garb  by  being  called  Bile- 
chuais,  the  old  tree  of  the  cave. 

lY.  We  have  a  vast  quantity  of  topographical  and 
other  literature,  written  from  a  very  early  period 


CHAP.  I.]    How  the  Meanings  have  been  ascertained,     9 

down  to  the  17th  century,  in  the  Irish  language,  by 
native  writers.  Much  of  this  has  been  lately  pub- 
lished and  translated,  but  far  the  greater  part  remains 
still  unpublished. 

Grenerally  speaking,  the  writers  of  these  manu- 
scripts were  singularly  careful  to  transmit  the  correct 
ancient  forms  of  such  names  of  places  as  they  had 
occasion  to  mention  ;  and  accordingly  it  may  be 
stated  as  a  rule,  subject  to  occasional  exceptions,  that 
the  same  names  are  always  found  spelled  in  the  same 
way  by  all  our  ancient  writers,  or  with  trifling  diffe- 
rences depending  on  the  period  in  which  they  were 
transcribed,  and  not  affecting  the  etymology. 

At  those  early  times,  the  names  which  are  now 
for  the  most  part  unmeaning  sounds  to  the  people 
using  them,  were  quite  intelligible,  especially  to 
skilled  Irish  scholars,  and  this  accounts  for  the  almost 
universal  correctness  with  wliich  they  have  been 
transmitted  to  us. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  all  sources  of 
information  to  a  student  of  Irish  local  names,  and  it 
is,  of  course,  of  higher  authority  than  those  I  have 
ah-eady  enumerated  :  with  the  ancient  forms  restored, 
it  usually  requires  only  a  competent  knowledge  of 
the  Irish  language  to  understand  and  interpret  them. 
I  have  consulted  all  the  published  volumes,  and  also 
several  of  the  unpublished  manuscripts  in  Trinity 
College  and  the  Eoyal  Irish  Academy.  Great  num- 
bers of  the  names  occurring  in  the  texts  have  been 
translated  in  foot  notes  by  the  editors  of  the  various 
published  manuscripts,  and  I  have  generally  availed 
myself  of  their  authority.  A  list  of  the  principal 
works  abeady  published  will  be  found  in  the  Preface. 

Many  of  the  local  names  occurring  in  these  manu- 
scripts are  extinct,  but  the  greater  number  exist  at 


10  The  Irish  Local  Name  Sf/sfem.       [part  i. 

the  present  day,  though  disguised  in  an  English 
dress,  and  often  very  much  altered.  In  every  such 
case  it  becomes  a  question  to  identify  the  ancient 
mth  the  modem  name — to  show  that  the  latter  is 
only  a  diiferent  form  of  the  former,  and  that  they 
both  apply  to  the  same  locality.  A  great  deal  has 
been  done  in  this  direction  by  Dr.  O'Donovan, 
Dr.  Eeeves,  and  other  editors  of  the  published 
manuscripts,  and  I  have  generally  adopted  theii' 
identifications. 

This  method  of  investigation  will  be  understood 
fi'om  the  follo^\ing  examples : — At  the  year  586,  it 
is  stated  by  the  Four  Masters  that  Bran  Dubh,  King 
of  Leinster,  gained  a  battle  over  the  Hy  Neill  "  at 
the  hill  over  Cluain-Conaire  '/^  and  they  also  record 
at  the  year  837,  that  a  great  royal  meeting  took  place 
there,  between  Niall  Caille,  king  of  Ireland,  and 
Felimy  (son  of  Criffan),  king  of  Mimster.  In  a 
gloss  to  the  Calendar  of  Aengus  the  Culdee,  at  the 
16th  of-  September,  Claain-Conaire  is  stated  to  be 
"  in  the  north  of  II>/  FaeJain ;"  and  this  clearly 
identifies  it  with  the  modem  to^vTiland  of  Cloncurry, 
wliich  gives  name  to  a  parish  in  Kildare,  between 
Kilcock  and  Innfield,  since  we  know  that  Hy  Faelain 
was  a  territory  occupying  the  north  of  that  county. 
As  a  further  corroboration  of  this,  the  old  translator 
of  the  Annals  of  Ulster,  in  rendering  the  record  of 
the  meeting  in  837,  makes  the  name  Cloncurry. 

Once  we  have  arrived  at  the  form  Cluain-  Conaire, 
the  meaning  is  sufficiently  obvious  ;  it  signifies  Co- 
nary's  la^vn  or  meadow  ;  but  who  this  Conary  was,  we 
have  no  means  of  knowing.  (See  O'Donovan's  Four 
Masters,  Yol.  I.,  p.  457). 

Ballymagowan  is  the  name  of  some  townlands  in 
Donegal  and  Tyrone,  and  signifies  M'Gowan's  town. 


CHAP.  I.]  Sow  the  Aleanings  have  been  ascertained.    11 

But  Balljanagowan,  near  Derry,  is  a  very  different 
name,  as  will  appear  by  reference  to  some  old  autho- 
rities. In  Sampson's  map  it  is  called  Ballygowan, 
and  in  the  Act  4  Anne,  "  Ballygan,  alias  Bally- 
gowan ;"  while  in  an  Inquisition,  taken  at  Derry  in 
1605,  it  is  designated  by  the  English  name  Canons' 
land.  From  all  this  it  is  obviously  the  place  men- 
tioned in  the  following  record  in  the  Yoxvc  Masters, 
at  1537  : — "  The  son  of  O'Doherty  was  slain  in  a 
nocturnal  assault  by  Rury,  son  of  Felim  O'Doherty, 
at  BaUe-na-gcananach  [Ballynagananagh] ,  in  the  Ter- 
mon  of  Derry."  This  old  Irish  name  signifies  the 
to^Ti  of  the  canons,  a  meaning  preserved  in  the  Inq. 
of  1605  ;  while  the  intermediate  forms  between  the 
ancient  and  the  modem  very  corrupt  name  are  given 
in  Sampson  and  in  the  Act  of  Anne. 

In  Adamnan's  Life  of  St.  Columba  (Lib.  ii.  Cap. 
43)  it  is  related,  that  on  one  occasion,  while  the  saint 
was  in  Ireland,  he  undertook  a  join-ney,  in  which 
"  he  had  for  his  charioteer  Columbanus,  son  of 
Echuid,  a  holy  man,  and  founder  of  a  monastery, 
called  in  the  Scotic  tongue  Snamh-Luthiry  In  the 
Life  of  St.  Fecliin,  published  by  Colgan  (Act.  SS. 
p.  136  b.),  we  are  informed  that  "  the  place  which  is 
called  Snamh-Lidhir  is  in  the  region  of  Carhve- 
Gahhraf  and  0 'Donovan  has  shown  that  Carbery- 
Goura  was  a  territory  situated  in  the  north-east  of 
Longford;  but  the  present  identification  renders  it 
evident  that  it  extended  northwards  into  Cavan. 

In  an  Inquisition  taken  at  Cavan  in  1609,  the  fol- 
lowing places  are  mentioned  as  situated  in  the  barony 
of  Loughtee  : — "  Trinitie  Island  scituate  near  the 
Toagher,  *  *  *  Clanlaskin,  Derry,  Bleyncupp 
and  Dromore,  Snawlugker  and  Killevallie"  (Ulster 
Inq.  App.  ^di.)  ;    Snawlugher   being   evidently  the 


12  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

ancient  Snamh-Lufhir.  We  find  these  names  exist- 
ing at  tlie  present  day  in  the  parish  of  Kilmore,  in 
this  barony,  near  the  to^Ti  of  Cavan,  in  the  modem 
forms  of  Togher,  Clonloskan,  Derries,  Bleancup, 
Drummore,  Killyvally,  Trinity  Island  ;  and  there 
is  another  modern  townland  called  Slanore,  which, 
though  more  altered  than  the  others,  is  certainly 
the  same  as  Snawlugher.  If  this  reqnii-ed  further 
proof,  we  have  it  in  the  fact,  that  in  Petty's  map 
Slanore  is  called  Snalore,  which  gives  the  interme- 
diate step. 

Snamh-Luthir  is  very  well  represented  in  pronun- 
ciation by  Snawlughir  of  the  Inquisition.  This  was 
shortened  by  Petty  to  Snalore  without  much  sacri- 
fice of  sound ;  and  this,  by  a  metathesis  common  in 
Irish  names,  was  altered  to  Slanore.  Luthir  is  a 
man's  name  of  frequent  occurrence  in  our  old  MSS., 
and  Snamh-Lufhir  signifies  the  swimming-ford  of 
Luthir.  This  ingenious  identification  is  due  to  Dr. 
Reeves.     (See  Reeves's  Adamnan,  p.  173.) 

V.  Some  of  the  early  ecclesiastical  and  historical 
TVTiters,  who  used  the  Latin  language,  very  often 
when  they  had  occasion  to  mention  places,  gave,  in- 
stead of  the  native  name,  the  Latin  equivalent,  or 
they  gave  the  Irish  name  accompanied  by  a  Latin 
translation.  Instances  of  this  kind  are  to  be  found 
in  the  pages  of  Adamnan,  Bede,  Giraldus  Cam- 
brensis,  Colgan,  O'Sullivan  Beare,  and  others.  Of 
all  the  sources  of  information  accessible  to  me,  this, 
so  far  as  it  extends,  is  the  most  authentic  and  satis- 
factory ;  and  accordingly  I  have  collected  and  re- 
corded every  example  of  suificient  importance  that  I 
could  find. 

These  men,  besides  being,  many  of  them,  pro- 
foundly skilled  in  the  Irish  language,  and  speaking 


\ 


CHAP.  I.]  Hoio  the  Meanings  have  been  ascertained.    13 

it  as  tlieir  motlier  tongue,  lived  at  a  time  when  the 
local  names  of  the  country  were  well  understood ;  their 
interpretations  are  in  almost  all  cases  beyond  dispute, 
and  serve  as  a  guide  to  students  of  the  present  day, 
not  only  in  the  very  names  they  have  translated, 
but  in  many  others  of  similar  structure,  or  formed 
from  the  same  roots.  How  far  this  is  the  case  will 
appear  from  the  following  examples. 

St.  Columba  erected  a  monastery  at  Durrow,  in  the 
King's  County,  aboiit  the  year  550,  and  it  continued 
afterwards  during  his  whole  life  one  of  his  favomite 
places.  The  old  Irish  form  of  the  name  is  Dairniag 
or  Dearniagh,  as  we  find  it  in  Adanman  : — "A 
monastery,  which  in  Scotic  is  called  Dai r mag  f^  and 
for  its  interpretation  we  have  also  his  authority  ;  for 
when  he  mentions  it  in  Lib.  i.  Cap.  29,  he  uses 
the  Latin  equivalent,  calling  it  "  Boboreti  campus," 
the  plain  of  the  oajis.  Bede  also  gives  both  the 
Irish  name  and  the  translation  in  the  following 
passage: — "Before  he  (Columba)  passed  over  into 
Britain,  he  had  built  a  noble  monastery  in  Ireland, 
which,  fi'om  the  great  nimiber  of  oaks,  is  in  the 
Scotic  language  called  Dcarmagh,  the  field  of  the 
oaks,"  (Lib.  iii.  Cap.  4).  Dair,  an  oak;  magh,  a 
plain. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  remark  that  the  name 
was  in  use  ages  before  the  time  of  St.  Columba,  who 
adopted  it  as  he  found  it ;  and  it  has  been  softened 
down  to  the  present  name  by  the  aspiration  of  the 
consonants,  Dearmhagh  being  pronounced  Dancah, 
which  gradually  sunk  to  Durrow. 

Durrow,  on  the  borders  of  the  Queen's  County  and 
Kilkenny,  has  the  same  original  form  and  meaning, 
for  we  find  it  so  called  in  O'Clery's  Calendar  at  the 
20th  of  October,  where  St.  Maeldubh  is  mentioned 


14  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [pakt  i. 

as  "from  Dermagh  in  Hy  Diiach,  in  the  nortli  of 
Ossoiy ;"  which  passage  also  shows  that  Duitow, 
though  now  included  in  the  Queen's  County,  for- 
merly belonged  to  the  territory  of  Idough,  in  Kil- 
kenny. 

There  are  several  to^^Tilands  in  other  parts  of  Ire- 
land called  Durrow,  Durra,  and  Durha  ;  and  although 
we  have  no  ^Titten  evidence  of  their  ancient  forms, 
yet,  aided  by  the  pronunciations  of  the  peasantry, 
and  guided  by  the  analogy  of  Diutow,  we  cannot 
hesitate  to  pronounce  that  they  are  all  modem  forms 
of  Dcarmhagh. 

We  find  the  same  term  forming  part  of  the  name 
of  Dunderrow,  a  village  and  parish  in  Cork,  whose 
ancient  name  is  preserved  in  the  following  entry 
from  the  Book  of  Leinster,  a  MS.  of  the  12th  century, 
recording  an  event  that  occmTed  early  in  the  ninth  : — 
"  By  them  (i.  e.  the  Danes)  werQ  demolished  Dun-der- 
tnaigi  and  Inis-Eoganain''^  (Owenan's  or  little  Owen's 
island  or  river-holm,  now  Inishannon  on  the  river 
Bandon  :  "  Wars  of  GrGr.,"  p.  223) .  Dunderrow  signi- 
fies the  fortress  of  the  oak-plain,  and  the  large  dun  from 
which  it  is  called  is  still  in  existence  in  the  town- 
L^md  of  Dunderrow,  half  a  mile  south  of  the  village. 

I^rumhome,  in  Donegal,  takes  its  name  from  an 
ancient  chm'ch  originally  dedicated  to  St.  Adamnan 
(see  O'Clery's  Calendar  at  23rd  Sept.) .  O'Clery  and 
the  Four  Masters  call  it  Drmm-tuama^  which  seems 
to  imply  that  they  took  it  to  mean  the  ridge  of  the 
tumulus.  Adamnan  himself,  however,  mentions  it  in 
his  Life  of  St.  Colimiba  (Lib.  iii.  Cap.  23)  by  the 
equivalent  Latin  name  Dorsum  Tommw ;  and  Colgan 
(A.  SS.  p.  9,  n.  6)  notices  this,  adding  the  words, 
"  for  the  Irish  druim  signifies  the  same  as  the  Latin 
dorsum.'*^     From  which  it  appears  evident  that  both 


CHAP.  I.]  Row  the  Meanings  have  been  ascertained.  15 

Adamnan  and  Colgan  regarded  Tommse  as  a  personal 
name,  for  if  it  meant  tumulus,  the  former  would,  no 
doubt,  have  translated  it  as  he  did  the  first  part,  and 
the  latter  would  be  pretty  sure  to  have  a  remark  on 
it.  The  name,  therefore,  signifies  the  ridge  or  long 
hill  of  Tomma,  a  pagan  woman's  name. 

About  four  miles  from  Bantry,  on  the  road  to 
Inchigeela,  are  the  ruins  of  Carriganass  castle,  once 
a  stronghold  of  the  O'Sullivans.  O'Sullivan  Beare 
mentions  it  in  his  History  of  the  Irish  Catholics,  and 
calls  it  Tor  rent  iri(j)es,  which  is  an  exact  translation 
of  the  Irish  name  Carraig-an-easa,  the  rock  of  the 
cataract ;  and  it  takes  its  name  from  a  beautiful 
cascade,  where  the  Ouvane  falls  over  a  ledge  of  rocks, 
near  the  castle. 

There  is  another  place  of  the  same  name  in  the 
parish  of  Ardagh,  near  Youghal,  and  another  still  in 
the  parish  of  Lackan,  Mayo  ;  while,  in  Armagh  and 
in  TjT?one,  it  takes  the  form  of  Carrickaness — all  de- 
riving their  name  from  a  rock  in  the  bed  of  a  stream, 
forming  a  waterfall. 

YI.  When  the  Irish  original  of  a  name  is  not 
known,  it  may  often  be  discovered  from  an  old  form 
of  the  anglicised  name.  These  early  English  forms 
are  found  in  old  documents  of  various  kinds  in  the 
English  or  Latin  language — inquisitions,  maps,  char- 
ters, rolls,  leases,  &c.,  as  well  as  in  the  pages  of  the 
early  Anglo-Irish  historical  writers.  The  names 
found  in  these  documents  have  been  embalmed  on 
their  pages,  and  preserved  from  that  continual  pro- 
cess of  corruption  to  which  modern  names  have  been 
subjected ;  such  as  they  sprang  from  their  Irish 
som^ce  they  have  remained,  while  many  of  the  corre- 
sponding modern  names  have  been  altered  in  various 
ways. 


16  TJie  Irish  Local  Nainc  System.       [part  i. 

They  were  ob^dously,  in  many  instances,  taken 
do^Ti  from  the  native  pronunciation  ;  and  very  often 
they  transmit  the  original  sonnd  sufficiently  near  to 
suggest  at  once  to  an  Irish  scholar,  practised  in  these 
matters,  the  proper  Irish  foiTQ.  Drs.  0 'Donovan  and 
Beeves  have  made  much  use  of  this  method,  and  I 
have  succeeded,  by  means  of  it,  in  recovering  the  Irish 
forms  of  many  names. 

Ballybough,  the  name  of  a  -village  near  Dublin,  is 
obscure  as  it  stands ;  but  in  an  Inquisition  of  James 
I.,  it  is  called  Ballybought,  which  at  once  suggests  the 
true  Irish  name  Baile-hocht,,  j)^^^  town  ;  and  Bally- 
bought, the  correct  anglicised  form,  is  the  name  of 
some  to^\Tilands  in  Antrim,  I\Ildare,  Cork,  and  Wex- 
ford. 

Cappancur,  near  G-eashill,  King's  County,  is  men- 
tioned in  an  Inquisition  of  James  I.,  and  spelled 
KeapancuiTagh,  which  very  fairly  represents  the  pro- 
nunciation of  the  Irish  Ceapach-an-churraigh,  the 
tillage-plot  of  the  curragh  or  marsh. 

There  is  a  townland  in  the  parish  of  Aghaboe, 
Queen's  County,  the  name  of  which  all  modern  au- 
thorities concur  in  calling  Kilminfojde.  It  is  cei-tain, 
however,  that  the  n  in  the  middle  syllable  has  been 
substituted  for  /,  for  it  is  spelled  in  the  Down  Survey 
map  Killmullfoyle  :  this  makes  it  perfectly  clear,  for 
it  is  a  very  good  attempt  to  wiite  the  Irish  CUJ-Maol- 
phoil,  MuJfoyle's  Chui'ch,  Mulfoyle  being  a  man's 
name  of  common  occuiTcnce,  signifying  St.  Paul's 
servant. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  guess  at  the  meaning  of 
Ballyboughlin,  the  name  of  a  place  near  Clara,  King's 
County,  as  it  now  stands  ;  but  here  also  the  Down 
Survey  opens  the  way  to  the  original  name,  by  spell- 
ing it  Bealaboclone,  from  which  it  is  obvious  that  the 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes,  17 

Irish  name  is  Beal-atha-hochhiana,  the  ford  of  the  cow- 
meadow,  the  last  part,  hochluain^  cow-meadow,  being 
a  very  usual  local  designation. 


CHAPTEE  II. 

SYSTEMATIC     CHANGES. 

There  are  many  interesting  peculiarities  in  the 
process  of  altering  Irish  topographical  names  from 
ancient  to  modem  English  forms  ;  and  the  changes 
and  corruptions  they  have  undergone  are,  in  nume- 
rous instances,  the  result  of  phonetic  laws  that  have 
been  in  operation  from  the  earliest  times,  and  among 
diBPerent  races  of  people.  Irish  names,  moreover, 
afford  the  only  existing  record  of  the  changes  that 
Irish  words  undergo  in  the  mouths  of  English-speak- 
ing people ;  and,  for  these  reasons,  the  subject  ap- 
pears to  me  to  possess  some  importance,  both  in  an 
antiquarian  and  philological  point  of  view. 

I.  Irish  Pronunciation  preserved,  —  In  anglicising 
Irish  names,  the  leading  general  rule  is,  that  the 
present  forms  are  derived  from  the  ancient  Irish,  as 
they  were  spoken,  not  as  they  were  written.  Those 
who  first  committed  them  to  TVTiting  aimed  at  pre- 
serving the  original  pronunciation,  by  representing 
it  as  nearly  as  they  were  able  in  English  letters. 
Grenerally  speaking,  this  principle  explains  the  altera- 
tions that  were  made  in  the  spelling  of  names  in  the 
process  of  reducing  them  from  ancient  to  modem 
forms  ;  and,  as  in  the  Irish  language  there  is  much 
elision  and  softening  of  consonants ;  as,  consequently, 
the  same  sounds  usually  take  a  greater  number  of 


18  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

letters  to  represent  them  in  Irish  than  in  English  ; 
and  since,  in  addition  to  this,  many  of  the  delicate 
sounds  of  the  Irish  words  were  wholly  omitted,  as 
impossible  to  be  represented  in  English ;  for  all  these 
reasons  the  modem  English  forms  of  the  names  are 
almost  always  shoi^er  than  the  ancient  Irish. 

Allowing  for  the  difficulty  of  representing  Irish 
words  by  English  letters,  it  will  be  found  that,  on 
the  whole,  the  ancient  pronunciation  is  fairly  pre- 
served. For  example,  Drummuck,  the  name  of 
several  places  in  Ulster,  preserves  almost  exactly  the 
sound  of  the  Irish  Dndm-mue,  the  ridge  of  the  pigs  ; 
and  the  same  raebj  be  said  of  Dungarvan,  in  Water- 
ford  and  Kilkenny,  the  Irish  form  of  which  is  Dun- 
Garhhain  (Fom-  Mast.),  meaning  Grarvan's  fortress. 
Not  quite  so  well  preserved,  but  still  tolerably  so,  is 
the  sound  oiBaile-a^-ridire  [Ballj^ariddery] ,  the  town 
of  the  knight,  which  is  nov/  called  Babotherj^  near 
Dublin.  In  some  exceptional  cases  the  attempts  to 
represent  the  sound  were  very  unsuccessful,  of  which 
Ballyagran,  the  name  of  a  village  in  Limerick,  may 
be  cited  as  an  example ;  it  ought  to  have  been  an- 
glicised Bellahagran,  the  original  form  being  Bel- 
atha-greariy  the  ford-mouth  of  the  gravel.  Cases  of 
tliis  kind  are  more  common  in  Ulster  and  Leinster 
than  in  the  other  provinces. 

Wlienever  it  so  happens  that  the  original  com- 
bination of  letters  is  pronounced  nearly  the  same  in 
Irish  and  English,  the  names  are  commonly  modern- 
ized without  much  alteration  either  of  spelling  or 
pronunciation  ;  as  for  instance,  dun,  a  fort,  is  usually 
anglicised  dun  or  doon  ;  ho,  a  cow,  bo  ;  druim,  a  long 
hill,  drum ;  leitir,  a  wet  hill  side,  letter,  &c.  In  most 
cases,  however,  the  same  letters  do  not  represent  the 
same  sounds  in  the  two  languages ;  and,  accordingly^ 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  19 

while  the  pronunciation  was  preserved,  the  original 
orthography  was  in  almost  all  cases  much  altered, 
and,  as  I  have  said,  generally  shortened.  The  con- 
traction in  the  spelling  is  sometimes  very  striking,  of 
which  Lorum,  in  Carlow,  affords  a  good  illustration, 
the  Irish  name  being  Leamhdhruim,  the  dram  or  ridge 
of  the  elms. 

II.  As})!  rat  ion.  —  The  most  common  causes  of 
change  in  the  reduction  of  Irish  names,  are  aspii^ation 
and  eclipsis ;  and  of  the  effects  of  these  two  gram- 
matical accidents,  it  will  be  necessarj^  to  give  some 
explanation. 

O'Donovan  defines  aspiration — "The  changing  of 
the  radical  sounds  of  the  consonants,  fi^om  being 
stops  of  the  breath  to  a  sibilance,  or  fi^om  a  stronger 
to  a  weaker  sibilance :"  so  that  the  aspiration  of  a 
consonant  results  in  a  change  of  sound.  There  are 
nine  of  the  consonants  which,  in  certain  situations, 
may  be  aspirated,  &,  c,  d,  /,  g,  m,  p,  s,  and  t.  The 
aspiration  is  denoted  either  by  placing  a  point  over 
the  letter  (c),  or  an  h  after  it  {ch)  ;  by  this  con- 
trivance letters  that  are  aspii-ated  are  still  retained 
in  writing,  though  their  sounds  are  wholly  altered. 
But  as,  in  anglicising  names,  these  aspii^ated  sounds 
were  expressed  in  English  by  the  very  letters  that 
represented  them,  there  was,  of  course,  a  change  of 
letters. 

B  and  m  aspirated  {hJi^  ?nh),  are  both  sounded  like 
V  or  u;  and,  consequently,  where  we  find  bh  or  ?nh  in 
an  Irish  name,  we  generally  have  r  or  w  in  the  Eng- 
lish form  :  examples,  Ardvally,  in  Sligo  and  Donegal, 
from  the  Irish  Ard-bhaile,  high  town ;  Ballinvana, 
in  Limerick,  Baile-an-b/iana,  the  town  of  the  green 
field ;  Ballinwully,in  'Roscommon,  Baik-an-?rihullaigh, 
the  town  of  the  summit. 

c2 


20  The  Irish  Local  Name  Systcrn.        [part  i. 

Very  often  they  are  represented  by  /  in  English, 
as  we  see  in  Cloondaff,  in  Mayo,  from  Cluain-damh^ 
ox  meadow ;  Boherduff,  the  name  of  several  town- 
lands  in  various  counties,  Bofhar-diibh,  black-road. 
And  not  unfrequently  they  are  altogether  suppressed, 
especially  in  the  end  of  words,  or  between  two  vowels, 
as  in  Knockdoo,  in  Wicklow,  the  same  as  Knockduff, 
in  other  places,  Cnoc-duhh,  black  hill ;  Knocki^our  or 
Knockrower,  in  the  southern  counties,  which  has 
been  made  Knockramer,  in  Aimagh,  all  from  Cnoc- 
reamha}\  fat  or  thick  hill. 

For  c  aspirated  see  next  Chapter. 

D  and  g  aspirated  (r//?,  gh)^  have  a  faint  guttural 
sound  not  existing  in  English ;  it  is  something  like 
the  sound  of  y  (in  yore),  which  occasionally  represents 
it  in  modern  names,  as  in  Annayalla,  in  Monaghan, 
Eanaigh-gheala,  the  white  marshes,  so  called,  pro- 
bably, from  whitish  grass  or  white  bog  flowers.  But 
these  letters,  which  even  in  Irish  are,  in  some  situa- 
tions, not  sounded,  are  generally  altogether  unrepre- 
sented in  English  names,  as  in  Lisnalee,  a  common 
local  name  in  difierent  parts  of  the  country,  which 
represents  the  Irish  Lios-na-laogh,  the  fort  of  the 
calves,  a  name  having  its  origin  in  the  custom  of 
penning  calves  at  night  within  the  enclosure  of  the 
lis ;  Heanabrone,  near  Limerick  city,  Reidh-na-hrov, 
the  marshy  flat  of  the  mill-stone  or  quern  ;  Ballintoy, 
in  Antrim,  Baile-an-tuaidh,  the  town  of  the  north. 

F  aspirated  {fh)  totally  loses  its  sound  in  Irish,  and 
of  course  is  omitted  in  English,  as  in  Bauraneag,  in 
Limerick,  Barr-an-fhiaigh,  the  hill  top  of  the  deer; 
Knockanree,  in  Wicklow,  Cnoc-an-fhraoigh,  the  hill 
of  the  heath. 

P  aspirated  (|;A)  is  represented  by  /,  as  in  Ballin- 
foyle,  the  name  of  a  place  in  WickloAv,  and  of  ano- 


ciiAr.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  21 

ther  near  Galwaj,  Baile-an-plioiU^  the  town  of  the 
hole ;  Shanlongford,  in  Derry,  Sean-Iongphort^  the 
old  fortification. 

8  and  t  aspirated  {sh,  t/i),  both  sound  the  same  as 
English  /?,  as  in  Drunihillagh,  a  townland  name  of 
frequent  occurrence  in  some  of  the  Ulster  counties, 
Dniim-shaileaeh,  the  ridge  of  the  sallows,  which  also 
often  takes  the  form  Drimisillagh,  where  the  original 
s  sound  is  retained ;  Drumhuskert,  in  Mayo,  Druim- 
thuaisceart,  northern  drum  or  ridge. 

III.  EeU2)sis. — O'Donovan  defines  eclipsis,  "  The 
suppression  of  the  sounds  of  certain  radical  consonants 
by  prefixing  others  of  the  same  organ."  When  one 
letter  is  eclipsed  by  another,  both  are  retained  in 
TSTiting,  but  the  sound  of  the  latter  onl}^  is  heard, 
that  of  the  former,  which  is  the  letter  proper  to  the 
word,  being  suppressed.  For  instance,  when  d  is 
eclipsed  by  n  it  is  wiitten  n-d,  but  the  n  alone  is  pro- 
nounced. In  representing  names  by  English  letters, 
however,  the  sound  only  was  transmitted,  and,  con- 
sequently, the  eclipsed  letter  was  wholly  omitted  in 
wi'iting,  which,  as  in  case  of  aspiration,  resulted  in  a 
change  of  letter. 

"  All  initial  consonants  that  admit  of  eclipsis  are 
eclipsed  in  all  nouns  in  the  genitive  case  plural,  when 
the  article  is  expressed,  and  sometimes  even  in  the 
absence  of  the  article"  (O'Donovan's  Grrammar).  S 
is  eclipsed  also,  under  similar  circumstances,  in  the 
genitive  singular.  Although  there  are  several  other 
conditions  under  which  consonants  are  eclipsed,  this, 
with  a  very  few  exceptions,  is  the  only  case  that 
occurs  in  local  names. 

The  consonants  that  are  eclipsed  are  h,  e,  d,/,  r/, 
p,  s,  t ;    and  each  has  a  special  eclipsing  letter  of  its 


22  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.      [part  i. 

B  is  eclipsed  by  m.  Liignamuclclagli,  near  Boyle, 
Roscommon,  represents  tlie  Irish  Lnq-na-mhodach^  the 
hollow  of  the  hodaghs  or  churls ;  Knocknamoe,  near 
Abbeyleix,  Queen's  County,  Cnoc-na-mbo,  the  hill 
of  the  cows  ;  Mullaghnamoyagh,  in  Derry,  MuUach- 
iia-mhoifheach,  the  hill  of  the  byres,  or  cow-houses. 

C  is  eclipsed  by  r/.  KnocknaguUiagh,  Antrim,  is 
reduced  from  the  Irish  Cnoc-na-rjcoi/Ieach ,  the  hill  of 
the  cocks  or  grouse  ;  Cloonagashel,  near  Ballinrobe, 
ought  to  have  been  anglicised  Coolnagashel,  for  the 
Four  Masters  ^Tite  the  name  Cuil-na-gcaiseal,  the 
angle  of  the  cashels,  or  stone  forts. 

J)  and  g  are  both  eclipsed  by  /?.  KilljTiamph,  in 
the  parish  of  Aghalurcher,  Fermanagh,  CoiU-na- 
ndamh,  the  wood  of  the  oxen  ;  Mullananallog  in 
Monaghan,  MnUach-na-ndeaJg,  the  summit  of  the 
thorns  or  thorn  bushes.  The  eclipsis  of^  very  seldom 
causes  a  change,  for  in  this  case  the  n  and  g  coalesce 
in  sound  in  the  Irish,  and  the  g  is  commonly  retained 
and  the  n  rejected  in  the  English  forms  ;  as,  for  in- 
stance, Cnoc-na-ngahhar  [Knock-mmg-our],  the  hill 
of  the  goats,  is  anglicised  Knocknagore  in  Sligo  and 
Down,  and  Knocknagower  in  Kerry. 

F  is  eclipsed  by  hh,  which  is  represented  by  v  in 
English.  Carrignavar,  one  of  the  seats  of  the  McCar- 
thys in  Cork,  is  in  Irish  Carraig-^ia'hhfear,  the  rock 
of  the  men ;  Altnaveagh,  in  Tyrone  and  Armagh, 
Alt-na-hhfiach,  the  cliff  of  the  ravens  ;  Lisnaviddoge, 
near  Templemore,  Tipperary,  Lios-na-hhfeadog^  the  Us , 
or  fort  of  the  plovers. 

P  is  eclipsed  by  b.  Gortnaboul,  in  Kerry  and 
Clare,  Gort-na-hpon,  the  field  of  the  holes  ;  Coma-- 
baste,  in  Cavan,  Cor-na-bpiast,  the  round  hill  of  the 
worms  or  enchanted  serpents. 

S  is  eclipsed  by  t^  but  this  occurs  only  in  the  geni- 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  23 

tive  singular,  with  the  article,  and  sometimes  mthout 
it.  Ballintaggart,  the  name  of  several  places  in 
various  counties  from  Down  to  Kerry,  represents  the 
Irish  Baile-an-fsagairt,  the  town  of  the  priest,  the 
same  name  as  Ballysaggart,  which  retains  the  s,  as 
the  article  is  not  used ;  Knockatancashlane,  near 
Caherconlish,  Limerick,  Cnoc-a^-tsean-caisledin,  the 
hill  of  the  old  castle ;  Kiltenanlea,  in  Clare,  (?///- 
tSendin-kith,  the  church  of  Senan  the  hoary ;  Kilte- 
nan,  in  Limerick,  CiU-tSenain,  Senan's  church. 

T  is  eclipsed  by  d.  Ballynadolly,  in  Antrim, 
Baile-na-dtulach,  the  toT\Ti  of  the  little  hills  ;  G-ortna- 
dullagh,  near  Kenmare,  Gort-na-dtulaeh,  the  field  of 
the  lulls  ;  Lisnadurk,  in  Fermanagh,  Lios-na-dtorc, 
the  fort  of  the  boars. 

IV.  Effects  of  the  Article. — The  next  series  of 
changes  I  shall  notice  are  those  produced  under  the 
influence  of  the  article.  Names  were  occasionally 
formed  by  prefixing  the  Irish  definite  article  an,  to 
noims,  as  in  case  of  Anveyerg,  in  the  parish  of  Agh- 
namidlan,  Monaghan,  which  represents  the  Irish 
An-hheith-dhearg,  the  reel  birch-tree.  When  the  arti- 
cle was  in  this  manner  placed  before  a  word  begin- 
ning with  a  vowel,  it  was  frequently  contracted  to  n 
alone,  and  this  n  was  often  incorporated  with  its 
noun,  losing  ultimately  its  force  as  an  article,  and 
forming  permanently  a  part  of  the  word.  The  at- 
traction of  the  article  is  common  in  other  languages 
also,  as  for  instance  in  French,  which  has  the  words 
Ihierre,  lendemain,  luette,  Lisle,  Lami,  and  many 
others,  formed  by  the  incorporation  of  the  article  /. 

A  considerable  number  of  Irish  names  have  incor- 
porated the  article  in  this  manner ;  among  others, 
the  foUov/ing  :  Naul,  the  name  of  a  village  near  Bal- 
briggan.     The  Irish  name  is  an  aill,  i.  e.  the  rock  or 


24  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

cliff,  wliicli  was  originally  applied  to  the  perpendi- 
cular rock  on  which  the  castle  stands— rising  over 
the  little  river  Delvin  near  the  village.  The  word 
was  shortened  to  n'aill,  and  it  has  descended  to  us  in 
the  present  form  Naul,  which  very  nearly  represents 
the  pronunciation. 

The  parish  of  Neddans,  in  Tipperary,  is  called  in 
Irish  na  feaddin,  the  brooks  or  streamlets,  and  it 
took  its  name  from  a  townland  which  is  now  often 
called  Fearann'na-hhfeaddn,  the  land  of  the  streamlets. 
Ninch,  in  Meath,  the  inch  or  island.  Naan  island, 
in  Lough  Erne,  the  ain  or  ring,  so  called  from  its 
shape  ;  Nart,  in  Monaghan,  an  f heart,  the  grave. 

Nuenna  river,  in  parish  of  Freshford,  Ealkenny — 
an  uaithne,  the  green  river.  The  river  Nore  is  pro- 
perly written  an  Fheoir,  i.  e.  the  Feoir  ;  Boate  calls 
it  "  The  Nure  or  Oure,"  showing  that  in  his  time 
(1645)  the  article  had  not  been  permanently  incorpo- 
rated. Nobber,  in  Meath  ;  the  ohair  or  work,  a 
name  applied,  according  to  tradition,  to  the  English 
fortress  erected  there.  Mageoghegan,  in  his  trans- 
lation of  the  "Annals  of  Clonmacnoise,"  calls  it  "the 
Obber." 

It  is  curious  that  in  several  of  these  places,  a  tra- 
ditional remembrance  of  the  use  of  the  article  still 
exists,  for  the  people  often  employ  the  English  article 
with  the  names.  Thus  Naul  is  still  always  called 
"  The  Naul,"  by  the  inhabitants :  in  this  both  the 
Irish  and  English  articles  are  used  together  ;  but  in 
"  The  Oil"  (the  aill  or  rock),  a  townland  in  parish 
of  Edermine,  Wexford,  and  in  "  The  Obber,"  the 
Irish  article  is  omitted,  and  the  English  used  in  its 
place. 

While  in  so  many  names  the  article  has  been  in- 
corporated, the  reverse  process  sometimes  took  place  ; 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  25 

that  is,  in  the  case  of  certain  words  which  properly 
began  with  n,  this  letter  was  detached  in  consequence 
of  being  mistaken  for  the  article.  The  name  Uach- 
onghhail  is  an  example  of  this.  The  word  Conghhail 
means  a  habitation,  but  it  was  very  often  applied  to 
an  ecclesiastical  establishment,  and  it  has  been  perpe- 
tuated in  the  names  of  Conwal,  a  parish  in  Donegal ; 
Conwal,  in  parish  of  Hossinver,  Leitrim ;  Grreat  Con- 
nell  in  Kildare,  Cimnagavale*  in  the  parish  of  Tuogh, 
Limerick ;  and  other  places.  With  mia  (new)  pre- 
fixed, it  became  Nuachoughhail,  which  also  exists  in 
several  parts  of  Ireland,  in  the  forms  of  Noughaval 
and  Nohoval.  This  word  is  often  found  without  the 
initial  n,  it  being  suj^posed  that  the  proper  word  was 
Uackongbhail  £iTid  n  merely  the  article.  In  tliis  muti- 
lated state  it  exists  in  the  modem  names  of  at  least 
three  places,  viz. :  Oughaval,  in  parish  of  Kilmac- 
teige,  Sligo  ;  the  parish  of  Oughaval,  in  Mayo  ;  and 
Oughaval,  in  the  parish  of  Stradbally,  Queen's 
County;    which  last  is   called  by  its  correct  name, 

*  This  place  is  called  Cunnaghahhail  in  Irish  by  the  peo- 
ple, and  it  is  worthy  of  notice,  as  it  points  directly  to  what 
appears  to  be  the  true  origin  of  Conghhail^  viz.,  congabhail.  I 
am  aware  that  in  O'Clery's  Glossary,  Conghhail  is  derived 
from  comhhaile  (Co7i  +  baile).  But  in  a  passage  in  the  "  Book 
of  Armagh,"  as  quoted  by  Mr.  W.  Stokes  in  his  Irish  Glosses, 
I  find  the  word  congabaim  used  in  the  sense  of  hahito,  and 
O'Donovan  states  that  congeh  =  he  holds  (Sup.  to  O'R.  Diet.). 
The  infinitive  or  verbal  noun  formation  is  cougabail  or  con- 
gahhail^  which,  according  to  this  use,  means  hahitatio  ;  and 
as  Colgan  translates  Conghhail  by  the  same  word  hahitatio, 
there  can  be,  1  think,  no  doubt  that  conghhail  is  merely  a 
contracted  form  of  congabhail.  Congabhail  literally  means 
conception  i.  e.  comprehending  or  including,  and  as  applied  to  a 
habitation,  would  mean  the  whole  of  the  premises  included  in 
the  establishment. 


26  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

NuachonghhaU,  in  O'Clery's  Calendar  at  the  15tli 
May. 

The  word  Uachonghail  has  a  respectable  antiquity 
in  its  favour,  for  "  The  Book  of  Uachongbhail"  is 
mentioned  in  several  old  authorities,  among  others 
the  Book  of  Ball}Tnote,  and  the  Yellow  Book  of  Le- 
can  ;  the  name  occui's  also  in  the  Four  Masters  at 
1197.  Yet  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  NuacJiong- 
hhail  is  the  original  word,  for  we  have  the  express 
authority  of  Colgan  that  nua  not  tia  is  the  prefix,  as 
he  translates  Nuachonghhail  by  nova  habitatio ;  in- 
deed iia  as  a  prefix  could,  in  this  case,  have  scarcely 
any  meaning,  for  it  never  signifies  anything  but  "  a 
descendant." 

The  sepearation  of  the  n  may  be  witnessed  in  opera- 
tion at  the  present  da}^  in  Kerry,  where  the  parish  of 
Nohoval  is  locally  called  in  Irish  sometimes  Uacho- 
hhail  and  sometimes  an  Uachohhail,  the  n  being  ac- 
tually detached  and  turned  into  the  article.  (See 
O'Donovan's  Letter  on  this  parish).  That  the  letter 
n  may  have  been  lost  in  tliis  manner,  appears  also  to 
be  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Graves,  for  in  a  paper  read 
before  the  B.  I.  Academy  in  December,  1852,  he 
remarks  that  the  loss  of  the  initial  n  in  the  words 
oidhcJie  (night)  and  iiimhir  (a  number)  "  may  perhaps 
be  accounted  for,  by  supposing  that  it  was  confounded 
with  the  n  of  the  article." 

The  words  easeu  (or  easgan),so[i  eel,  and  eas  (or  easog)^ 
a  weasel,  have,  in  lilvc  manner,  lost  the  initial  n,  for 
the  old  forms  as  given  in  Cormac's  Glossary,  are 
naiscu  and  ness.  Dr.  Whitley  Stokes,  also,  in  his 
recent  edition  of  this  Glossary,  directs  attention  to  the 
Breton  Ormandl  for  Normandy,  and  to  the  English 
adder  as  compared  with  the  Irish  nathir  (a  snake) 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  27 

and  Lat.  natrix ;  but  in  tliese  two  last  examples,  it 
is  probable  that  the  article  lias  nothing  to  do  with 
the  loss  of  the  n. 

As  a  further  confirmation  of  this  opinion  regarding 
the  loss  of  n  in  UaeJionghhaiJ,  I  may  state,  that  the 
letter  /  is  sometimes  lost  in  French  and  Italian  words 
from  the  very  same  cause ;  as  in  Fr.  once  (Eng. 
ounce,  an  animal) ,  from  Lat.  lynx ;  it  was  formerly 
WTitten  lonce,  and  in  the  It.  lonza,  the  /  is  still  re- 
tained. l^T:azur  (Eng.  azure),  from  lazukis.  So  also 
It.  uscignuolo,  the  nightingale,  from  luscima,  and  It. 
orhacca,  a  berry,  from  lauri-hacca. 

Another  change  that  has  been,  perhaps,  chiefly 
produced  by  the  influence  of  the  ai^icle,  is  the  omis- 
sion or  insertion  of  the  letter/'.  The  article  causes 
the  initial  consonants  of  feminine  nouns  (and  in  cer- 
tain cases  those  of  masculine  nouns  also)  to  be  aspi- 
rated. Now  aspu-ated  /  is  wholly  silent ;  and  being 
omitted  in  pronunciation,  it  was,  in  the  same  circum- 
stances, often  omitted  in  ^Titing.  The  Irish  name  of 
the  river  Nore  affords  an  instance  of  this.  Keating 
and  O'Heerin  w^ite  it  Feoir,  which  is  sounded  Foir 
when  the  article  is  prefixed  {an  F/ieoir).  Accordingly, 
it  is  written  v/ithout  the  /  quite  as  often  as  with  it : 
the  Four  Masters  mention  it  three  times,  and  each 
time  they  called  it  Foir.  The  total  silence  of  this 
letter  in  aspu-ation  appears  to  be,  to  some  extent  at 
least,  the  cause  of  its  uncertain  character.  In  the 
case  of  many  words,  the  writers  of  Irish  seem  either 
to  have  inserted  or  omitted  it  indifferently,  or  to 
have  been  uncertain  whether  it  should  be  inserted 
or  not ;  and  so  we  often  find  it  omitted  even  in  very 
old  authorities,  from  words  where  it  was  really 
radical,  and  prefixed  to  other  words  to  which  it  did 
not  belong.     The  insertion  of  /  is  veiy  common  in 


28  TJic  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

the  South  of  Ireland.  (See  0 'Donovan's  G-rammar, 
p.  30,  and  O'Brien's  Irish  Dictionary,  p.  466.) 

The  following  words  will  exemplify  these  remarks  : 
from  r////,  a  rock  or  cliff,  we  have  a  great  number  of 
names — such  as  Aillenaveagh,  in  Gralway,  dill-na-hh- 
fiach,  the  ravens'  cliff,  &c.  But  it  is  quite  as  often 
called /r////,  especially  in  the  South,  and  this  form  gives 
us  many  names,  such  as  Foilduff,  in  Kerry  and  Tip- 
perary,  black  cliff;  Foylatalure,  in  Kilkenny,  the 
tailor's  cliff.  Aill  I  believe  to  be  the  most  ancient 
foiTn  of  this  word,  for  AllJ-finn  (Elphin)  occurs  in  the 
Tripartite  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  So  with  uar  and  fnor^ 
cold ;  and  Fahan,  on  Lough  Swilly,  is  sometimes 
"UTitten  Fafhain,  and  sometimes  Athain,  and  OtJiahiy 
by  the  Four  Masters. 

The  /  has  been  omitted  by  aspiration  in  the  names 
Lughinny,  in  parish  of  Killahy,  Kilkenny,  and  Lugh- 
anagh,  in  parish  of  Killosolan,  Galway,  both  of  which 
represent  the  Irish  an  fhliuchainc^  the  wet  land  ;  and 
also  in  Ahabeg,  in  parish  of  Carrigparson,  Limerick, 
an  fhaithche  heag^  the  little  green.  In  these  names, 
the  article,  after  having  caused  the  aspiration  of  the 
/,  has  itself  dropped  out ;  but  it  has  held  its  place 
in  Nurchossy,  near  Clogher  in  Tyrone,  the  Irish 
name  of  which  is  an  fhuar-chosac/t,  the  cold  foot  or 
cold  bottom-land,  so  called  probably  from  its  wet- 
ness. A  place  of  this  name  (Faarchosac/i),  is  men- 
tioned by  the  Four  Masters  at  1584,  out  it  lies  in 
Donegal ;  and  there  is  a  little  island  in  Lough 
Corrib,  two  miles  and  a  half  north-east  from  Ought- 
erard,  with  the  strange  name  of  Cussafoor,  which 
literally  signifies  "  cold  feet." 

The /has  been  affixed  to  the  following  words  to 
which  it  does  not  radically  belong ;  fati  for  an, 
stay  ;  fo/ar  for  e'o/ar,  an  eagle ;  fainne  for  ainne,  a 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  29 

ring,  &c.  It  has  also  been  inserted  in  Cnlfeightrin, 
the  name  of  a  parish  in  Antrim,  which  is  properly 
Cml-eachtrann,  the  corner  or  angle  of  the  strangers. 
Umey,  in  Tyrone,  is  often  called  Firniy,  as  in  the 
record  of  Primate  C olt on 's  Visitation  (1397),  and  the 
/  is  also  prefixed  in  the  Taxation  of  Down,  Connor, 
and  Dromore  (1306),  both  showing  that  the  corrup- 
tion is  not  of  recent  origin. 

I  must  notice  yet  another  change  produced  by  the 
article.  When  it  is  prefixed  to  a  masculine  noun 
commencing  with  a  vowel,  a  t  should  be  inserted  be- 
tween it  and  the  noun,  as  anam,  soul,  an  tanam,  the 
soul.*  In  the  case  of  a  few  names,  this  t  has  re- 
mained, and  has  become  incorporated  Tvith  the  word, 
while  the  article  has  disapjDeared.  For  example, 
Turagh,  in  parish  of  Tuogh,  Limerick,  i.  e.  an 
t-'mhhrach,  the  yew  land;  Tummery,  in  parish  of 
Dromore,  Tjnrone,  an  t-iomaire,  the  ridge ;  so  also 
Tassan,  in  Monaghan,  the  assan  or  little  cataract ; 
Tardree,  in  Antrim,  an  tard-fhraoigh.,  the  height  of 
the  heather.  The  best  known  example  of  this  is 
Tempo,  in  Fermanagh,  which  is  called  in  Irish  an 
t-iornpodh  deisiol,  iompodh  meaning  tui'ning,  and 
deisiol,  dextrorsum — from  left  to  right.  The  place 
received  its  name,  no  doubt,  from  the  ancient  custom 
of  turning  sun-ways,  i.  e.  from  left  to  right  in  wor- 
ship. 

Y.  Provincial  Differences  of  Tronunciafion. — There 
are  certain  Irish  words  and  classes  of  words,  which 
by  the  Irish-speaking  people  are  pronounced  differ- 
ently in  different  parts  of  the  country  ;  and,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  general  rule  to  preserve  as  nearly  as 

*  This  t  is  really  a  part  of  the  article  ;  but  the  way  in  which 
I  have  stated  the  case  will  be  more  familiar  to  readers  of 
modern  Irish. 


30  The  Iri^h  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

possible  the  original  pronunciation,  tliese  provin- 
cial peculiarities,  as  might  be  anticipated,  are  re- 
flected in  the  modern  names.  This  principle  is  very 
general,  and  large  numbers  of  names  are  affected  by 
it ;  but  I  shall  notice  only  a  few  of  the  most  promi- 
nent cases. 

In*  the  southern  half  of  Ireland,  the  Irish  letters  a 
and  0  are  sounded  in  certain  situations  like  on  in  the 
English  word  ounce*  Gahhar,  a  goat,  is  pronounced 
gowr  in  the  South,  and  gore  in  the  North  ;  and  so  the 
name  Lios-na-ngahhar  (the  fo  or  fort  of  the  goats) 
is  anglicised  Lisnagower,  in  Tipperarj^,  and  Lisna- 
gore,  in  Monaghan.  So  also  Ballynahown,  a  common 
townland  name  in  the  South  {Baik-na-habhann,  the 
town  of  the  river),  contrasts  mth  BalljTiahone,  an 
equally  common  name  in  the  North.  Fionn  (white 
or  fair),  is  pronounced /f^o?^«  ov  fiune  in  Munster,  as 
in  Bawnfoun,  in  Waterford,  and  BaT^nfmie,  in  Cork, 
the  white  or  fau^- coloured  field.  In  most  other  parts 
of  Ireland  it  is  pronounced  fin,  as  Fin  drum  in  Done- 
gal and  Tyrone,  which  is  written  by  the  Four  Masters 
Mndruim,  white  or  fair  ridge  ;  and  this  form  is  often 
adopted  in  Munster  also,  as  in  Finnahy,  in  the  parish 
of  IJpperchm'ch,  Tipperary,  Fionn-f/iaithche,  the  white 
plat  or  exercise  field. 

The  sound  of  h  aspirated  {bh=i-)  is  often  sunk  alto- 
gether in  Munster,  while  it  is  very  generally  retamed 
in  the  other  provinces,  especially  in  Connaught.  In 
Derrynanool,  in  the  parish  of  Marshalsto^vTi,  Cork 
(Boire-na-n-ab/ian,  the  grove  of  the  apples),  the  hh  is 
not  heard,  v/hile  it  is  fully  sounded  in  Avalbane,  in 
the  parish  of  Clontibret,  Monaghan  (Ahhall-bdn, 
white  orchard),  and  in  Killavil,  in  the  parish  of  Kil- 

*  For  this  and  the  succcedins:  provincial  peculiarities,  see 
O'Donovan's  Grammar,  Part  I.,  Chaps,  i.  and  ii. 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  31 

shalvj,  Sligo  {Cill-ahhaill,  the  cliiiTcli  of  tlie  apple 
tree) . 

In  certain  positions  adh  is  sounded  like  Eng.  eye, 
in  the  South ;  thus  clad/i,  which  generally  means  a 
raised  dyke  of  clay,  but  sometimes  a  sunk  ditch  or 
fosse,  is  pronounced  cly  in  the  South,  as  in  Clyduff, 
in  Cork,  Limerick,  and  King's  County,  black  dyke. 
More  northerly  the  same  word  is  made  cla  or  claic, 
as  in  Cladowen,  near  Clones,  deep  ditch ;  Cla^dneh, 
an  island  in  Lough  Eee,  the  island  of  the  dyke  or 
mound. 

Adh  in  the  termination  of  words  is  generally 
sounded  like  oo  in  Connaught ;  thus  madadh,  a  dog, 
is  anglicised  maddoo,  in  Carrownamaddoo,  the  cjuarter- 
land  of  the  dogs,  the  name  of  three  townlands  in 
Sligo — while  the  same  name  is  made  CaiTO^STia- 
maddy,  in  Eoscommon  and  Donegal. 

One  of  the  most  distinctly  marked  provincial  pecu- 
liarities, so  far  as  names  are  concerned,  is  the  pro- 
nunciation that  prevails  in  Mimster  of  the  final  ^/^, 
wliieh  is  sounded  there  like  English  hard  g  vnfig. 
G-reat  numbers  of  local  names  are  influenced  by  this 
custom.  Bailincollig,  near  Cork,  is  Baile-an-cJiul- 
laigh,  the  town  of  the  boar,  and  Ballintannig,  in  the 
parish  of  Ballinaboy,  Cork,  Baile-an-t-seanaigh,  the 
tovvn  of  the  fox.  The  present  name  of  the  river 
Maigue,  in  Limerick,  is  formed  on  the  same  princi- 
ple, its  Irish  name,  as  written  in  old  authorities, 
being  Maigh,  that  is  the  river  of  the  plain.  Nearly 
all  the  Mimster  names  ending  in  g  hai'd  are  illustra- 
tions of  this  peculiar  pronimciation. 

It  is  owing  to  a  diiference  in  the  way  of  pronounc- 
ing the  original  Irish  words,  that  cluain  (an  insulated 
bog  meadow)  is  sometimes  in  modem  names  made 
cloon,   sometimes  clon,   and  occasionally  clone;    that 


32  TJie  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

dun  (a  fortified  residence)  is  in  one  place  spelt  doon, 
in  another  dun,  and  in  a  tliiiTl  down  ;  that  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Dublin,  halhj  is  shortened  to  hal.,  in 
Donegal  rath  is  often  made  rye  or  ray,  and  that  disert 
is  sometimes  made  ister  and  trlstle,  &c.,  &c. 

VI.  />7sA  Names  with  English  Plurals. — It  is  very 
well  known  that  topographical  names  are  often  in  the 
pliu'al  number,  and  this  is  found  to  be  the  case  in  the 
nomenclature  of  all  countries.  Sometimes  in  trans- 
ferring foreign  names  of  this  kind  into  English,  the 
original  plurals  are  retained,  but  much  oftener  they 
are  rejected,  and  replaced  by  English  plm^als,  as  in 
the  well-known  examples,  Thebes  and  Athens. 

Gfreat  numbers  of  Irish  topographical  names 
are  in  like  manner  plural  in  the  originals.  Very 
frequently  these  plural  forms  have  arisen  from  the 
incorporation  of  two  or  more  denominations  into  one. 
For  example,  the  townland  of  Rawes,  in  the  parish 
of  Tynan,  Armagh,  was  originally  two,  which  are 
called  in  the  map  of  the  escheated  estates  (1609), 
Banragh  and  Douragh  {Ban-rath,  and  Duhh-rath, 
wliite  rath  and  black  rath)  ;  but  they  were  after- 
wards formed  into  a  single  townland,  which  is  now 
called  Rawes,  that  is,  Raths. 

There  is  considerable  diversity  in  the  manner  of 
anglicising  these  plural  forms.  Very  often  the 
original  terminations  are  retained,  as  in  Milleeny,  in 
the  parish  of  Ballyvourney,  Cork,  Millinidhe,  little 
hillocks,  from  meall,  a  hillock.  Oftener  still,  the 
primary  plural  iufleotion  is  rejected,  and  its  place 
supplied  by  the  English  tennination.  Keeloges  is 
the  na.me  of  about  twenty-six  townlands  scattered  all 
over  Ireland  ;  it  means  "  narrow  stripes  or  plots," 
and  the  Irish  name  is  Caeloga,  the  plural  of  caclog. 
Carrigans   is   a  common   name   in  the  North,    and 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes,  33 

Carrigeens  in  the  South  ;  it  is  the  anglicised  form  of 
Carrakjviidhe,  little  rocks.  Daars,  a  townland  in  the 
parish  of  Bodenstown,  Kilclare,  means  "  oaks,"  from 
clairghe,  plural  of  dair,  an  oak.  So  Mullans  and 
Mullaims,  from  muJIoMi,  little  flat  hills  ;  Derreens, 
from  dolrinidhe,  little  derries  or  oak  groves ;  Bawnoges, 
from  bmwga,  little  green  fields,  &c. 

In  other  names,  the  Irish  plui-al  form  is  wholly 
or  partly  retained,  while  the  English  termination  is 
superadded  ;  and  these  double  pteals  are  very  com- 
mon. Killybegs,  the  name  of  a  village  in  Donegal, 
and  of  several  other  places  in  difi'erent  parts  of  Ire- 
land, is  called  by  the  Fom^  Masters,  Cealla-beaga,  little 
churches.  The  plural  of  clnain  (an  insulated  mea- 
dow) is  cluainte^  which  is  anglicised  Cloonty,  a  com- 
mon townland  name.  With  s  added,  it  becomes 
Cloonties,  the  name  of  some  townlands,  and  of  a 
well-kno\^Ti  district  near  Strokestown,  Roscommon, 
which  is  called  Cloonties,  because  it  consists  of 
twenty-foiu"  tovvTilands,  all  whose  names  begin  \\  itli 
Cloon. 

YII.  Transmission  of  Oblique  Forms. — In  the  trans- 
mission of  words  from  ancient  into  modern  European 
languages,  there  is  a  curious  principle  very  extensive 
in  its  operation,  which  it  will  be  necessary  to  notice 
briefly.  When  the  genitive  case  singular  of  the  an- 
cient word  differed  materially  from  the  nominative, 
when,  for  instance,  it  was  formed  by  the  addition  of 
one  or  more  consonants,  the  modern  word  was  very 
frequently  derived  not  fi'om  the  nominative,  but  from 
one  of  the  oblique  forms. 

All  English  words  ending  in  ation  are  examples 
of  this,  such  as  nation  :  the  original  Latin  is  natio, 
gen.  nationis,  abl.  natione,  and  the  English  has  pre- 
served the  n   of  the  oblique  cases.     Lat.  pars,  gen. 


34  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

partis,  &c. ;  here  again  the  English  word  j^art  retains 
the  t  of  the  genitive. 

This  principle  has  been  actively  at  work  in  the 
reduction  of  names  from  Irish  to  modem  English 
forms.  There  is  a  class  of  nouns,  belonging  to 
the  fifth  declension  in  Irish,  which  form  their  geni- 
tive by  adding  oi  or  nn  to  the  nominative,  as  iirsa,  a 
door  jamb,  genitive  iirsan,  dative  ursain ;  and  this  n 
is  obviously  cognate  "^ith  the  n  of  the  third  declension 
in  Latin. 

Irish  names  that  are  declined  in  this  manner  very 
often  retain  the  n  of  the  oblicjue  cases  in  their  modem 
English  forms.  For  example,  Carhoon,  the  name  of 
a  place  in  the  parish  of  Kilbrogan,  Cork,  and  of  two 
others  in  the  parishes  of  Beagh  and  TjTiagh,  Gralway, 
is  the  genitive  of  Carhoo,  a  quarter  of  land  : — Irish 
ceathramha,  gen.  ceathramhan.  In  this  manner,  we 
get  the  modem  forms,  Erin,  Alban,  Eathlin,  from 
Eire,  Alba  {Sooilsiiid) ,  JReachra. 

Other  forms  of  the  genitive,  besides  those  of  the 
fifth  declension,  are  also  transmitted.  Even  within 
the  domain  of  the  Irish  language,  the  same  tendency 
may  be  observed,  in  the  changes  from  ancient  to  mo- 
dem forms  ;  and  we  find  this  very  often  the  case  in 
nouns  ending  in  ach,  and  which  make  the  gen.  in 
aigh.  Tulach,  a  hill,  for  instance,  is  tulaigh  in  the 
genitive  ;  this  is  now  very  often  used  as  a  nomi- 
native, not  only  by  speakers,  but  even  by  writers 
of  authority,  and  most  local  names  beginning  with 
Tully  are  derived  from  it ;  such  as  Tullyallen  on  the 
Boyne,  above  Drogheda,  which  is  most  truly  de- 
scribed by  its  Irish  name  Tulaigh-dlainn,  beautiful 
hiU. 

The  genitive  of  teach,  a  house,  is  tighe,  dative  tigh, 
and  at  the  present  day  this  last  is  the  universal  name 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes,  35 

for  a  house  all  over  the  south  of  Ireland.  Many 
modern  names  beginning  with  Ti  and  Tee  are  ex- 
amples of  this  ;  for,  although  the  correct  form  teach 
is  usually  given  in  the  Annals,  the  modern  names 
are  derived,  not  from  this,  but  from  tigh^  as  the  people 
speak  it. 

There  is  an  old  chm^ch  in  King's  County,  which 
has  given  name  to  a  parish,  and  which  is  called  in 
the  Calendars,  Teach-Sarain,  Saran's  house.  St. 
Saran,  the  original  founder  of  the  church,  was  of  the 
race  of  the  Dealbhua,  who  were  descended  from  Olioll 
Glum,  King  of  Mimster  (O'Clery's  Cal.  20th  Jan.)  ; 
and  his  holy  well,  Tober  Sarai)i,  is  still  in  existence 
near  the  church.  The  people  call  the  church  in  Irish, 
Tigh'Sarain,  and  it  is  from  this  that  the  present  name 
Tisaran  is  derived. 

VIII.  Translated  JVajues. — Whoever  examines  tlie 
Index  list  of  townlands  will  perceive,  that  while  a 
great  preponderance  of  the  names  are  obviously  Irish, 
a  very  considerable  number  are  plain  English  words. 
These  English  names  are  of  tliree  classes,  viz.,  really 
modem  English  names,  imposed  by  English-speaking 
people,  such  as  Kingstown,  Castleblakeney,  Charle- 
ville  ;  those  which  are  translations  of  older  Irish 
names  ;  and  a  thn^d  class  to  which  I  shall  presently 
return.  With  the  first  kind — pure  modern  English 
names — I  have  nothing  to  do  ;  I  shall  only  remark 
that  they  are  much  less  numerous  than  might  be  at 
first  supposed. 

A  large  proportion  of  those  to^Tiland  names  that 
have  an  English  form,  are  translations,  and  of  these 
I  shall  give  a  few  examples.  Watergrasshill,  in  Cork, 
is  universally  called  by  those  speaking  Irish,  C)iocan- 
na-hiolraighey  the  hill  of  the  watercresses.  The  Irish 
name  of  Cloverhill  in  the  parish  of  Kilmacowen,  Sligo, 
d2 


36  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

is  Cnoc-na-seamar,  the  hill  of  the  shamrocks  ;  Skins- 
town  in  the  parish  of  Eathbeagh,  Kilkennj^,  is  a  trans- 
lation of  Baile-na-gcroiccann  ;  and  Nutfield,  in  the 
parish  of  Aghavea,  Fermanagh,  is  correctly  trans- 
lated from  the  older  name  Aghnagrow. 

Among  this  class  of  names,  there  are  not  a  few 
whose  meanings  have  been  incorrectly  rendered ; 
and  such  false  translations  are  generally  the  result 
of  confounding  Irish  words,  which  are  nearly  alike 
in  sound,  but  different  in  meaning.  Freshford  in 
Kilkenny  should  have  been  called  Freshfield,  the 
correct  equivalent  of  its  Irish  name  Achad-ur  (Book 
of  Leinster)  ;  but  the  present  translation  was  adopted 
because  achadh,  a  field,  was  mistaken  for  ath,  a 
ford.  The  Irish  name  of  Strokesto^n,  in  Eoscommon, 
is  not  Baile-na-mbuUIe,  as  the  present  incoiTect  name 
would  imply,  but  Bel-atha-na-mhiiiUc,  the  ford  (not 
the  to^Ti)  of  the  strokes  or  blows.  In  Castleventry, 
the  name  of  a  parish  in  Cork,  there  is  a  strange 
attempt  at  preserving  the  original  signification. 
Its  Irish  name  is  Caislean-na-gaoithe,  the  castle 
of  the  wind,  which  has  been  made  Castleventry, 
as  if  rentry  had  some  connexion  in  meaning  with 
ventus. 

In  the  parish  of  Eed  City,  in  Tipperary,  there  for- 
merly stood,  near  the  old  chiu'ch,  an  ancient  caher 
or  fort,  built  of  red  sandstone,  and  called  from  this 
circumstance,  Caherderg,  or  red  fort.  But  as  the 
v/ord  caher  is  often  used  to  signify  a  city,  and  as  its 
application  to  the  fort  was  forgotten,  the  name  came 
to  be  translated  Eed  City,  which  ultimately  extended 
to  the  parish. 

In  some  of  the  eastern  coimties,  and  especially  in 
Meath,  great  numbers  of  names  end  in  the  word 
town  ;   and  those   derived  from  families  are  almost 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  37 

always  translated  so  as  to  preserve  this  termina- 
tion, as  Drakestown,  Grernonstown,  Criiicetown,  &c. 
But  several  names  are  anglicised  very  strangely, 
and  some  barbarously,  in  order  to  force  them  into 
compliance  mth  this  custom.  Thus  the  Irish  name 
of  Mooretown,  in  parish  of  Ardcath,  is  Baile-an- 
chuDYiigh,  the  town  of  the  onoor  or  marsh  ;  Cran- 
naghtown,  in  the  parish  of  Balrathboyne,  is  in  Irish 
Baile-ua-gcraiuiach,  the  town  of  the  trees.  There  is 
a  place  in  the  parish  of  Martry,  called  Phoenixtown, 
but  which  in  an  Inquisition  of  James  I.  is  written 
Phenockstown  ;  its  Irish  name  is  Baile-na-hhfionnog, 
the  town  of  the  scaldcrows,  and  by  a  strange  caprice 
of  eri'or,  a  scaldcrow,  ov  finnoge,  is  here  converted  into 
a  phoenix  ! 

Many  names  again,  of  the  present  class,  are  only 
half  translations,  one  pa-rt  of  the  word  being  not 
translated,  but  merely  transferred.  The  reason  of 
this  probably  was,  either  that  the  unchanged  Irish 
part  was  in  such  common  use  as  a  topographical 
term,  as  to  be  in  itself  sufficiently  understood,  or 
that  the  translators  were  ignorant  of  its  English 
equivalent.  In  the  parish  of  Ballycarney,  Wexford, 
there  is  a  townland  taking  its  name  from  a  ford, 
called  in  Irish  Sgairhh-an-Bhreafhnaigh,  "Walsh's 
scariff^  or  shallow  ford,  and  this  v/ith  an  obvious 
alteration,  has  given  name  to  the  barony  of  Scara- 
walsh.  In  Cargygray,  in  the  parish  of  Annahilt, 
county  of  Down,  gixiy  is  a  translation  of  Hahhacha^ 
and  cargy  is  the  Irish  for  rocks  ;  the  full  name  is 
Cairge-riahhacha,  grey  rocks.  The  Irish  name  of 
CTirraghbridge,  near  Adare  in  Limerick,  is  Droichet- 
na-corra,  the  bridge  of  the  w^eir,  or  dam,  and  it  is 
anglicised  by  leaving  corra  nearly  unchanged,  and 
translating   droichet  to  bridge.      I   shall   elsewhere 


38  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.        [part  i. 

treat  of  the  term  EochaUl  (yew  wood)  and  its  modern 
forms  :  there  is  a  to^Tiland  near  Tidlamore,  King's 
County,  with  this  Irish  name,  but  now  somewhat 
oddly  called  the  Wood  of  0.  In  some  modern  au- 
thorities, the  place  is  called  The  Owe  ;  so  that  while 
chaiU  was  correctly  translated  wood,  it  is  ohvious  that 
the  first  syllable,  f  o,  was  a  puzzle,  and  was  prudently 
left  untouched. 

IX.  Irish  Names  simulating  English  Forms. — The 
non-Irish  names  of  the  third  class,  already  alluded  to, 
are  in  some  respects  more  interesting  than  those 
belonging  to  either  of  the  other  two.  They  are 
apparently  English,  but  in  reality  Irish  ;  and  they 
have  settled  doTVTi  into  theii'  present  forms,  under 
the  action  of  a  certain  corru23ting  influence,  which 
often  comes  into  operation  when  words  are  trans- 
feiTed  (not  translated)  from  one  language  into 
another.  It  is  the  tendency  to  convert  the  strange 
word,  which  is  etymologically  unintelligible  to  the 
mass  of  those  beginning  to  iise  it,  into  another  that 
they  can  understand,  formed  by  a  combination  of 
their  own  words,  more  or  less  like  the  original  in  sound, 
but  almost  always  totally  different  in  sense.  This 
piinciple  exists  and  acts  extensively  in  the  English 
language,  and  it  has  been  noticed  by  several  writers 
— among  others  by  Latham,  Dr.  Trench,  and  Max 
Mliller,  the  last  of  whom  devotes  an  entire  lecture  to 
it,  under  the  name  of  "  Popular  Etymology."  These 
writers  explain  by  it  the  formation  of  numerous  Eng- 
lish words  and  phrases  ;  and  in  theii'  writings  may 
be  found  many  amusing  examples,  a  few  of  which  I 
shall  quote. 

The  word  ''  beefeater"  is  corrupted  from  huffetier., 
which  was  applied  to  a  certain  class  of  persons,  so 
called,  not  from  eating  beef,  but  because  their  office 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  39 

was  to  wait  at  the  buffet.  Sliotover  Hill,  near  Ox- 
ford, a  name  which  the  people  sometimes  explain  hj 
a  story  of  Little  John  shooting  an  arrow  over  it,  is 
merely  the  French  Chateau  Yert.  The  tavern  sign 
of  "  The  goat  and  compasses  "  is  a  corruption  of  the 
older  sign-hoard,  "  Grod  encompasseth  us  ;"  "  The  oat 
and  the  wheel "  is  "St.  Catherine's  wheel;"  Braze- 
nose  College,  Oxford,  was  originally  called  Brazen- 
huis,  i.  e.  brew-house,  because  it  was  a  brewery  be- 
fore the  foimdation  of  the  college ;  "La  rose  des 
quatre  saisons"  becomes  "The  rose  of  the  quarter 
sessions ;"  and  Bellerophon  is  changed  to  "  Billy 
ruffian,"  &c.,  &c. 

This  principle  has  been  extensively  at  work  in  cor- 
rupting Irish  names — much  more  so  indeed  than  any 
one  who  has  not  examined  the  subject  can  imagine ; 
and  it  will  be  instructive  to  give  some  characteristic 
instances. 

The  best  anglicised  form  of  coiU,  a  wood,  is  kill  or 
l-yle ;  in  many  names,  however,  chiefly  in  the  north 
of  Ireland,  it  is  changed  to  the  English  word  field. 
Cranfield,  the  name  of  three  townlands  in  Down, 
Antrim,  and  Tyrone,  is  in  Irish  Creamhchoill  [crav- 
whill],  i.  e.  wild  garlick  wood.  Leamhchoill  [lav- 
whill],  a  very  usual  name,  meaning  "elm- wood,"  is 
generally  transformed  into  the  complete  English  word 
Longfield,  which  forms  the  whole  or  part  of  a  great 
many  townland  names.  The  conversion  oichoill  mio 
field  seems  a  strange  transformation,  but  every  step 
in  the  process  is  accounted  for  by  principles  examined 
in  this  and  next  chapter ;  namely,  the  conversion  of 
ch  into  /,  the  addition  of  d  after  /,  and  the  tendency 
at  present  under  consideration,  namely,  the  alteration 
of  the  Irish  into  an  English  word.  There  are  many 
townland  names  in  the  South,  as  well  as  in  the  North, 


40  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

in  whicli  the  same  word  coill  is  made  hill.  Wlio 
could  doubt  but  that  Coolhill,  in  the  parish  of  The 
Rower,  Kilkenny,  means  the  cool  or  cold  hill ;  or 
that  Boy-hill,  in  the  parish  of  Aghavea,  Fermanagh, 
is  the  hill  of  the  boys?  But  the  first  is  really 
culchoill  [coolhill],  back  wood,  and  the  aecondbuidhC' 
choill  [bwee-hill],  yellow  wood.  So  also  Scary  hill, 
in  Antrim,  rocky  wood ;  Cullahill,  in  Tipperary,  and 
Queen's  County,  hazel  wood ;  and  many  others. 

Iloinfedii  [moan-thaun] ,  boggy  land,  and  Mointin 
[moantheen],  a  little  bog,  are  in  the  South  very  gene- 
rally anglicised  mountain,  as  in  Balljoiamountain, 
Kilmountain,  Coolmountain,  &c.,  all  townland  names ; 
and  in  both  North  and  South  uachtar,  upper,  is 
frequently  changed  to  water,  as  in  Ballywater,  in 
Wexford,  upper  town ;  Ballywatermoy  in  Antrim, 
the  town  of  the  upper  plain  ;  Kilwatermoy  in  Water- 
ford,  the  church  of  the  upper  plain.  Braighid,  a 
gorge,  is  made  broad,  as  in  Knockbroad,  in  Wexford, 
the  hill  of  the  gorge  ;  and  the  genitive  case  of  conadh, 
'firewood,  appears  as  honey,  as  in  Magherahone}^  in 
Antrim,  the  field  of  the  firewood. 

Many  of  these  transformations  are  very  ludicrous, 
and  were  probably  made  under  the  influence  of 
a  playful  humour,  aided  by  a  little  imagination. 
There  is  a  parish  in  Antrim  called  Billy ;  a  townland 
in  the  parish  of  Kiuawly,  Fermanagh,  called  Molly ; 
and  another,  in  j)arish  of  Ballinlough,  Limerick,  with 
the  more  ambitious  name  of  Cromwell ;  but  all  these 
sail  under  false  colonic,  for  the  first  is  hile  [bille], 
an  ancient  tree;  the  second  mdlaighe  [mauly],  hill- 
brows,  or  braes ;  and  Cromwell  is  nothing  more 
than  crom-choill  [crumwhill],  stooped  or  sloping 
wood. 

There  is  a  townland  in  Kerry   and   another  in 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  41 

Limerick  witli  the  formidalble  name  Knockdown,  but 
it  has  a  perfectly  peaceful  meaning,  viz.,  brown  hill. 
It  required  a  little  pressure  to  force  Tuaim-drccon 
(Four  Masters :  Brecon's  burial  mound)  into  Tom- 
regan,  the  name  of  a  parish  on  the  borders  of 
Fermanagh  and  Cavan  ;  Tuaim-coiU,  the  burial  mound 
of  the  hazel,  a  name  occurring  in  several  parts  of 
Wexford  and  Wicklow,  is  very  fairly  represented  in 
pronunciation  by  the  present  name  Tomcoyle ;  and 
in  case  of  Laithreach-Chormaic,  in  Derry  (Cormac's 
larha  or  house-site),  the  temptation  was  iiTesistible  to 
call  it  as  it  is  now  called,  LaiTycormick. 

There  are  several  places  in  Tipperary  and  Limerick 
called  by  the  Scriptural  name  Mountsion  ;  but  Mount 
is  only  a  translation  of  cp.oc,  and  sion,  an  ingenious 
adaption  of  sidliedn  [sheea^m],  a  faiiy  mount;  the 
full  L*ish  name  being  Cnoc-a^-tsidheain,  faiiy-moimt 
hill :  and  Islafalcon  in  parish  of  Ardtramon,  Wexford, 
is  not  what  it  appears  to  be,  the  island  of  the  falcon, 
but  OUedn-a^ -phocdin  [Ilaun-a-fuckaun],  the  island 
or  river-holm  of  the  buck  goat. 

We  have  a"  very  characteristic  example  of  this  pro- 
cess in  the  name  of  the  Phoenix  Park,  Dublin.  This 
word  Phoenix  (as  applied  to  our  park)  is  a  corruption 
of  fionn-uisff  [feenisk],  v/hich  means  clear  or  limpid 
water.  It  v/as  originally  the  name  of  the  beautiful 
and  perfectly  transparent  spring  well  near  the 
Phoenix  pillar,  situated  just  outside  the  wall  of  the 
Viceregal  grounds,  behind  the  gate  lodge,  and  which 
is  the  head  of  the  stream  that  supplies  the  ponds 
near  the  Zoological  Grardens.  To  complete  the  illu- 
sion, the  Earl  of  Chesterfield,  in  the  year  1745, 
erected  a  pillar  near  the  well,  with  the  figure  of  a 
phoenix  rising  from  its  ashes  on  the  top  of  it ;  and 
most  Dublin  people  now  believe  that  the  Park  re- 


42  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

ceived  its  name  from  this  pillar.  The  change  from 
fionnuiscf  to  phoenix  is  not  peculiar  to  Dublin,  for  the 
river  Finisk,  which  joins  the  Blackwater  below  Cap- 
poquin,  is  called  Phoenix  by  Smith  in  his  History  of 
Waterford. 

X.  Retention  of  Irish  written  Forms. — To  the  gene- 
ral rule  of  preserving  the  pronunciation,  there  is  a 
remarkable  exception  of  frequent  occurrence.  In 
many  names  the  original  spelling  is  either  wholly  or 
partly  preserved  ; — in  other  words,  the  modern  forms 
are  derived  from  the  ancient,  not  as  they  were  spoken, 
but  as  they  were  written.  In  almost  all  such  cases, 
the  names  are  j)ronounced  in  conformity  ^ith  the 
powers  of  the  English  letters ;  and  accordingly, 
whenever  the  old  orthography  is  retained,  the  original 
pronunciation  is  generally  lost. 

This  may  be  illustrated  by  the  word  rath,  which  is 
in  Irish  pronounced  rau\  There  are  over  400  toTVTi- 
land  names  beginning  with  this  word  in  the  form  of 
ra,  rah,  raw,  and  ray ;  these  names  are  derived  from 
the  spoken,  not  the  written  originals ;  g^nd,  while  the 
pronunciation  is  retained,  the  spelling  is  lost.  There 
are  more  than  700  names  commencing  with  the  word 
in  its  original  form,  rath,  in  which  the  correct  spelling 
is  preserved ;  but  the  pronunciation  is  commonly 
lost,  for  the  word  is  pronounced  rath  to  rhyme  mth 
bath.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  however,  that  the 
peasantry  living  in  or  near  these  places,  to  whom  the 
names  have  been  handed  down  orally,  and  not  by 
writing,  generally  preserve  the  correct  ^pronunciation  ; 
of  which  Eatlmiines,  Rathgar,  Rathfarnham,  and 
Rathcoole  are  good  examples,  being  pronounced  by 
the  people  of  the  localities,  Ea-mines,  Ea-gar,  Ea-fam- 
ham,  and  Ea-coole. 

The  principal  effect  of  this  practice  of  retaining  the 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  43 

old  spelling  is,  that  consonants  whicli  are  aspirated 
in  the  original  names,  are  hardened  or  restored  in  the 
modern  pronunciation.  To  illustrate  these  principles 
I  have  given  the  following  short  list  of  words  that 
enter  fi-equently  into  Irish  names,  each  containing 
an  aspirated  letter ;  and  after  each  word,  the  names 
of  two  places  of  which  it  forms  a  part.  In  the  first  of 
each  pair,  the  letter  is  aspirated  as  it  ought  to  be,  but 
the  original  spelling  is  lost ;  in  the  second,  the 
orthography  is  partly  or  wholly  preserved,  and  the 
letter  is  not  aspirated,  but  soimded  as  it  would  in- 
dicate to  an  English  reader,  and  the  proper  pronim- 
ciation  is  lost : — 

1.  Ath  [ah],  a  ford:  Agolagh  in  Antrim,  Ath- 
gohhlach,  forked  ford ;  Athenry  in  Galway,  a  corrupt 
form  fi'om  Ath-ua-riogh  (Four  Masters),  the  ford  of 
the  kings.  2.  Gaoth,  wind  [gwee]  ;  Mastergeeha, 
two  townlands  in  Kerry,  Masteragwee  in  Derry,  and 
Mostragee  in  Antrim,  the  master  of  the  wind,  so 
called  from  the  exposed  situation  of  the  places  ;  Bal- 
geeth,  the  name  of  some  places  in  Meath,  windy  towTi, 
the  same  as  BalljTiageeha  and  Ballynagee  in  other 
counties.  3.  Tamhnach,  a  green  field  [ta"s^TLagh]  ; 
Fintona  in  T^i'one,  T\Titten  by  the  Four  Masters 
Fionn-tamhnach,  faii'-coloui^ed  field ;  Tamnyagan  in 
the  parish  of  Banagher,  Derry,  O'Hagan's  field. 
4.  Damli  [dauv],  an  ox;  Davillaim,  near Inishbofin, 
Mayo,  ox  island ;  Madame  in  the  parish  of  Kimaloda, 
Cork,  Magh-damh,  the  plain  of  the  oxen. 

A  remarkable  instance  of  this  hardening  process 
occurs  in  some  of  the  Leinster  counties,  where  the 
Irish  word  hothar  [boher],  a  road,  is  converted  into 
hatte7\  This  word  "batter"  is,  or  was,  well  imder- 
stood  in  these  counties  to  mean  an  ancient  road ;  and 
it  was  used  as  a  general  term  in  this  sense  in  the 


44  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.        [part  i. 

patents  of  James  I.  It  signifies  in  Wexford,  a  lane 
or  narrow  road : — "  Bater,  a  lane  bearing  to  a  high 
road."  ("  G-lossary  of  the  dialect  of  Forth  and 
Bargy."  By  Jacob  Poole:  Edited  by  William 
Barnes,  B.  D.)  "As  for  the  word  Bater,  that  in 
English  pnrpozeth  a  lane  bearing  to  an  highway, 
I  take  it  for  a  meere  Irish  worde  that  crept  unawares 
into  the  English,  through  the  daily  intercourse  of 
the  English  and  Irish  inhabitants."  (Stanyhurst, 
quoted  in  same.) 

The  word  occurs  in  early  Anglo-Irish  documents 
in  the  form  of  hothir,  or  hothyr,  which  being  pro- 
nounced according  to  the  powers  of  the  English  let- 
ters, was  easily  converted  into  hotter^  or  hatter.  It 
forms  a  part  of  the  following  names  : — Batterstown, 
the  name  of  four  to^Tilands  in  Meath,  which  were 
always  called  in  Irish.  Baile-an-bhothair,  i.  e.  the  town 
of  the  road ;  and  anglicised  by  changing  bothar  to 
batter,  and  translating  baile  to  town.  Batterjohn  and 
Ballybatter  are  also  in  Meath.  Near  Drogheda 
there  is  a  townland  called  Grreenbatter,  and  another 
called  Yellowbatter,  which  are  called  in  Irish,  Boher- 
glas  and  Boherboy,  having  the  same  meanings  as  the 
present  names,  viz.,  green  road  and  yellow  road. 

We  have  also  some  examples  in  and  around  Dub- 
lin, one  of  which  is  the  well-known  name  of  Stony- 
batter.  Long  before  the  city  had  extended  so  far, 
and  while  Stonybatter  was  nothing  more  than  a 
country  road,  it  was — as  it  still  continues  to  be — the 
great  thoroughfare  to  Dublin  from  the  districts  lying 
west  and  north-west  of  the  city ;  and  it  was  knoAvn 
by  the  name  of  Bothar-na-geloch  [Bohernaglogh], 
i.  e.  the  road  of  the  stones,  which  was  changed  to  the 
modern  equivalent,  Stonybatter,  or  Stonyroad.  One 
of  the  five  great  roads  leading  from  Tara,  which  were 


CHAP.  II.]  Systematic  Changes.  45 

constructed  in  the  second  centnry,  vk.,  tliaV  called 
SUghe-Cualann^  passed  throngh  Dublin  by  Eatoatb, 
and  on  towards  Bray :  under  the  name  of  Bealaeh 
D'uihJiUnue  (the  road  or  pass  of  the  [river]  BuihhUnn)* 
it  is  mentioned  in  the  following  quotation  from  the 
"  Book  of  Eights"  :— 

"  It  is  prolilbited  to  liim  (the  king  of  Erin)  to  go  with  a  host 
On  Monday  over  the  Bealaeh  Duihhlinne. 

The  old  ford  of  hurdles,  which  in  these  early  ages 
formed  the  only  foot  passage  across  the  Liffey,  and 
which  gave  the  name  oi  Ath-cHath  to  the  city,  crossed 
the  river  where  Whitworth  bridge  now  stands,  lead- 
ing from  Chm^ch-street  to  Bridge-street ;  f  and  the 
road  from  Tara  to  Wicklow  must  necessarily  have 
crossed  the  Liffey  at  this  point.  There  can  be,  I 
think,  no  doubt  that  the  present  Stonybatter  formed 
a  portion  of  this  ancient  road — a  statement  that  is 
borne  out  by  two  independent  circumstances.  First — 
Stonybatter  lies  straight  on  the  line,  and  would,  if 
continued,  meet  the  Liffey  exactly  at  Whitworth 
bridge.  Secondly — the  name  Stonybatter,  or  Bothar- 
va-gcloch^  affords  even  a  stronger  confii-mation.  The 
most  important  of  the  ancient  Irish  roads  were  gene- 
rally po.ved  with  large  blocks  of  stone,  somewhat  like 
the  old  Eoman  roads  ;  a  fact  that  is  proved  by  the  re- 
mains of  those  that  can  now  be  traced.  It  is  exactly 
this  kind  of  a  road  that  would  be  called  by  the  Irish 
— even  at  the  present  da}^ — Bohernagiogh  ;  and  the 
existence  of  this  name,  on  the  very  line  leading  to 
the  ancient  ford  over  the  Liffey,  leaves  scarcely  any 

*  Duihhlinn  was  originally  the  name  of  that  part  of  the  Liffey 
on  which  the  city  now  stands. 

t  Gilbert's  '^History  of  Dublin,"  Vol.  I.,  Chap.  ix. 


46  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

doubt  Miat  this  was  a  part  of  the  ancient  Slighe  Ciia- 
lann.  It  must  be  regarded  as  a  fact  of  great  interest, 
that  the  modem-looking  name  Stonybatter — changed 
as  it  has  been  in  the  com^se  of  ages — descends  to  us 
with  a  history  seventeen  hundi^ed  j^ears  old  ^Titten  on 
its  front. 

Booterstown  (near  Dublin)  is  another  member  of 
the  same  family ;  it  is  merely  another  form  of  Bat- 
terstown,  i.e.,  Roadtown.  In  a  roll  of  about  the  year 
1435  it  is  written  in  the  Anglo-Irish  foim,  Bally- 
bothyr  (Baile-an-hhothair — towTi  of  the  road),  of 
which  the  present  name,  Booterstown,  is  a  kind  of 
half  translation.  In  old  Anglo-Irish  documents  fi-e- 
quent  mention  is  made  of  a  road  leading  from  Dublin 
to  Bray.  In  a  roll  of  the  fifteenth  century  it  is  called 
Bothyr-de-Bree  (road  of  Bray)  ;  and  it  is  stated  that 
it  was  by  this  road  the  O'Bymes  and  O'Tooles  usually 
came  to  Dublin.*  It  is  very  probable  that  the  Booters- 
town road  and  this  Bray  road  were  one  and  the  same, 
and  that  both  were  a  continuation  of  the  ancient 
Slighe  Cualann. 


CHAPTER  III. 

COmiUPTIONS. 


While  the  majority  of  names  have  been  modernized 
in  accordance  with  the  princij^les  just  laid  down,  great 
numbers,  on  the  other  hand,  have  been  contracted 
and  corrupted  in  a  variety  of  ways.  Some  of  these 
corruptions  took  place  in   the  Irish  language ;  but 

*  For  this  information  about  Booterstown  and  Botliyr-de- 
Bree,  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Gilbert. 


CHAP.  III.]  Corruptions.  47 

far  the  greatest  niunber  were  introduced  by  the 
English-speaking  people  in  transferring  the  words 
from  the  Irish  to  the  English  language.  These  cor- 
ruptions are  sometimes  so  extremely  irregular  and 
unexpected,  that  it  is  impossible  to  reduce  them  to 
rule,  or  to  assign  them  to  any  general  or  uniform 
influence  except  mere  ignorance,  or  the  universal 
tendency  to  contraction.  In  most  cases,  however, 
they  are  the  result  of  laws  or  principles,  by  which 
certain  consonants  have  a  tendency  to  be  substituted 
for  others,  or  to  be  placed  before  or  after  them,  some 
of  which  are  merely  provincial,  or  attributable  to 
particular  races  of  people,  while  the  influence  of 
others  may  be  traced  throughout  the  whole  of  Ire- 
land. Some  of  these  laws  of  corruption  have  been 
noticed  by  Dr.  0 'Donovan  and  Dr.  Reeves ;  and  I 
have  given  expression  to  others  :  I  have  here  brought 
them  all,  or  the  most  important  of  them,  under  one 
view,  and  illustrated  each  by  a  number  of  examples. 

I.  Interchange  of\,  r,  n,  m. — The  interchange  of 
these  letters  is  common  in  most  languages ;  it  would 
be  easy,  if  necessary,  to  give  examples  fi'om  every 
language  of  Eiu-ope.  For  instance,  the  modern  name 
Bologna  is  a  corruption  of  the  ancient  Bononia ; 
Palermo  of  Panormus ;  Amsterdam  of  Amstel-dam 
(the  dam  of  the  river  Amstel)  ;  Eousillon  of  Ruscino, 
&c.,  &c. 

The  substitution  of  these  letters,  one  for  another, 
is  also  exceedingly  common  in  Irish  names  ;  and  since 
this  kind  of  corruption  prevails  in  Irish  as  well  as  in 
English,  the  names  were  altered  in  this  particular  re- 
spect, quite  as  much  in  one  language  as  in  the  other. 
L  appears  to  have  been  a  favoimte  letter,  and  the 
instances  are  particularly  numerous  in  which  it  is 
substituted   for   the   letter   r.      The  word    sruthair 


48  The  Irish  Local  Name  System,        [part  i. 

[sruher],  a  stream,  forms  tlie  whole  or  part  of  many 
names  ;  and  generally — but  not  always— the  r  has 
been  changed  to  /,  as  in  Shrule,  Shruel,  Struell,  Sroo- 
hill,  all  names  of  places  in  different  parts  of  Ireland. 
Biorar,  watercresses,  is  now  always  called  in  Irish 
hiolar,  in  which  form  it  enters  into  several  names,  as, 
for  example,  Aghaviller,  a  parish  in  Kilkenny  ;  the 
Four  Masters  call  it  Achadh-biorair,  the  field  of  the 
w^atercresses,  but  the  present  spoken  Irish  name  is 
Achadh-bhio/air,  from  which  the  English  form  is 
derived;  in  Toberburr,  near  Finglas,  Dublin,  the 
original  r  is  retained  {Tobar-biorair,  watercress  well) . 
Loughbrickland  in  Down  was  anciently  Loch-Bricrenn 
(Four  Masters) ,  the  lake  of  Bricriu,  an  Ulster  chief 
of  the  first  century,  whose  name  is  well  knoT\Ti  in 
Irish  romance. 

iVis  also  sometimes,  though  not  often,  changed 
to  I,  as  in  case  of  Castleconnell,  near  Limerick, 
which  is  the  castle  of  the  O'Connings,  not  of  the 
O'Connells,  as  the  present  form  of  the  name  would 
indicate. 

The  change  of  n  to  r  is  one  of  frequent  occur- 
rence, an  example  of  which  is  the  name  of  Limerick. 
The  Irish  name  is  Luimncach  [Liminegh]  (Book 
of  Leinster,  &c.),  which  was  originally  applied  to 
a  portion  of  the  river  Shannon  ;  as  the  following 
passage  from  an  ancient  poem  on  the  death  of  St. 
Cuimmin  of  Clonfert,  quoted  by  the  Foui'  Masters  at 
661,  will  show  : — 

*'  The  Luiraneach   did  not  bear  on  its  bosom,  of  the  race  of 

Munster,  into  Leath  Chuinn, 
A  corpse  in  a  boat  so  precious  as  he,  Cumniine  son  of  Fiachna ;" 

and  the  modern  name  was  derived  from  this,  by  a 
change  of  n  to   ?',   and  by  substituting   ck  for  the 


CHAP.  III.]  Corruptions.  49 

guttural  in  the  end.  Kilmaerenan,  in  Donegal,  is 
called  in  Irish  authorities,  Cill-mac-nenain^  which 
Colgan  translates,  the  church  of  the  sons  of 
Enan,  who  were  contemporaries  and  relatives  of  St. 
Columba. 

In  some  of  the  Northern  counties,  the  Irish  speak- 
ing people  cannot  without  difficulty  articulate  the 
combinations  en  and  gn^  and  in  order  to  facilitate  the 
pronunciation  they  change  the  n  to  r.  There  are 
about  forty-five  townlands  commencing  Avith  the  word 
Crocks  all  in  Ulster,  except  only  a  few  in  Connaught 
and  Leinster ;  and  a  person  unacquainted  with  the 
present  peculiarity  might  be  puzzled  by  this  prefix, 
or  might  perhaps  consider  it  an  anglicised  form  of 
cniach,  a  rick  or  piled  up  hill.  But  all  these  CrocJiS 
are  really  Knocks^  disguised  by  the  change  of  this  one 
letter.  In  the  Ulster  counties,  the  termination  na- 
groiv  or  nagreic  is  often  found  in  townland  names,  as 
in  Tullynagrow,  in  the  parish  of  Muckno,  Monaghan  ; 
this  termination  has  been  similarly  corrupted,  Tully- 
nagrow being  properly  Tidaigh-na-gcno,  the  hill  of 
the  nuts. 

The  change  of  the  /  to  r  is  not  very  common,  but 
it  is  found  in  some  names.  Dromcolliher,  in  Lime- 
rick, is  properly  Dniini-collchoille,  the  ridge  or  hill  of 
the  hazel  wood  ;  and  Ballysakeery,  a  parish  in  Maj^o, 
is  called  in  Mac  Firbis's  "  Hy  Fiachraeh,"  Baile- 
easa-caoUe  [Ballysakeely] ,  the  town  of  the  narrow 
cataract.  Killery  harbour  in  Connemara  is  called  at 
the  present  day  in  Irish,  Caohhaire  [Keelhary], 
from  which  the  present  name  is  formed ;  but  it 
should  be  Caolshaile,  or,  as  it  is  written  more  fully 
by  the  Four  Masters,  Caolshaile-ruadh,  i.  e.  the  red- 
dish narrow-sea-inlet,  a  most  appropriate  name. 
The  change  of  m  to  n^  or  vice  versa ^  is  not  of 
s 


50  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  t. 

frequent  occurrence.  In  Eatliangan,  in  Kildare, 
the  first  n  should  be  m,  the  connect  name  as  written 
by  the  Four  Masters  being  Eath-iomghain,  Imgan's 
rath ;  and  the  old  rath  is  still  to  be  seen  just  out- 
side the  to^n,  in  a  field  near  the  church.  The 
barony  of  Grienquin,  in  Limerick,  takes  its  name 
from  a  townland  (now  divided  into  three),  near  New- 
castle ;  the  proper  anglicised  form  would  be  Gllenquim, 
for  the  Irish  name  is  Gkann-a'-chuwi,  the  glen  of  the 
coom  or  hollow. 

iV  is  changed  to  m  in  Kilmainham  (near  DubKn), 
which  should  have  been  called  Kilmainen ;  it  is 
written  Kilmanan  by  Boate,  wliich  shows  that  it 
has  been  corrupted  mthin  the  last  two  or  three  hun- 
dred years.  It  took  its  name  from  St.  Maighnenn, 
who  was  bishop  and  abbot  there  early  in  the  seventh 
century,  and  who  is  commemorated  in  the  Calendars 
at  the  18th  of  December.  The  termination  of  the  last 
name  seems  to  have  been  formed  in  imitation  of  the 
common  English  topographical  suffix  ham,  home. 
In  Moyacomb,  the  name  of  a  parish  in  Wicklow, 
there  is  a  genuine  change  of  n  to  m,  the  Irish  name 
being  MagJi-da-chon  [Moyacon],  (Four  Masters)  the 
plain  of  the  two  hoimds  ;  and  the  same  in  Slieve 
Eelim,  the  name  of  a  mountain  range  east  of  Lime- 
rick city,  which  is  SUabh-Eibhlinne  in  the  Annals, 
Evlin's  mountain. 

Several  of  the  letter  changes  now  examined  have 
been  evidently  caused,  or  at  least  facilitated,  by  the 
difficulty  of  articulating  the  same  letter  twice  in  im- 
mediate succession,  and  this  is  a  principle  of  consi- 
derable influence  in  corrupting  language.  It  is  easier 
to  say  Aghaviller  than  the  right  name  Aghavirrer, 
and  so  on,  in  several  other  cases. 

II.   Change  of  ch,  gh,  dh,  and  i\\,  to  f. — The  gut- 


CHAP.  III.]  Corruptions.  51 

tural  sound  of  c  aspirated  (ch),  as  heard  in  loch,  cannot 
be  pronounced  at  all  by  a  speaker  of  mere  English ; 
and  as  it  constantly  occiu'S  in  names,  it  is  interesting 
to  observe  the  different  ways  in  which  English  sub- 
stitutes are  provided.  When  it  comes  in  the  end  of 
words,  it  is  often  passed  over  altogether,  being 
neither  represented  in  writing  nor  in  pronunciation, 
as  in  Ballymena,  in  Antrim,  which  is  in  Irish  Bailc- 
meadhonach,  middle  town,  the  same  as  Ballymenagh 
in  other  places.  Sometimes,  both  in  the  middle  and 
end  of  words,  it  is  represented  by  gh^  which  is  often 
sounded  by  the  English  speaking  natives,  like  the 
proper  guttural  ch,  as  in  Lough,  Lughany,  while 
those  who  cannot  sound  the  guttural,  pronounce  it 
as  k  or  h  (Lock,  Luhany)  ;  but  if  this  gh  occur  at 
the  end  of  words,  it  is  commonly  not  sounded  at  all, 
as  in  Fermanagh,  Kilnamanagh,  &c.  In  the  middle 
of  words,  its  place  is  often  supplied  by  h  alone,  as  in 
Crohane,  the  name  of  a  parish  in  Tipperary,  and  of 
several  townlands,  which  represents  cruachdn,  a  little 
rick  or  hiU  ;  and  in  many  cases  it  is  represented  by 
k  or  ck,  as  in  Foorkill  near  Athenry,  Gralway,  Ftiar- 
choilL  cold  wood. 

Sometimes  it  is  changed  to  ivh,  of  which  a  good 
example  is  seen  in  Grlenwhirry,  a  parish  in  Antrim, 
taking  its  name  from  the  river  which  runs  by  Kells 
into  the  Main.  It  is  called  Griancurry  in  the  Inqui- 
sitions, and  its  Irish  name  is  Gleann-cC -choir e,  the  glen 
of  the  river  Curry  or  Coire,  this  last  name  signify- 
ing a  cauldron.  The  cauldron  is  a  deep  pool  formed 
under  a  cataract;  and  a  rocky  hill  near  it  is  called 
Sceir-cC -choire,  the  rock  of  the  cauldron,  which,  in  the 
modernized  form  Skerrywhirry,  is  the  name  of  a 
townland. 

e2 


52  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

But  there  is  a  more  remarkable  change  which  this 
aspirate  undergoes  in  common  with  thi^ee  others.  In 
many  names,  the  sounds  of  the  Irish  aspu^ated  letters 
ch,  gh,  dh,  and  th,  are  converted  into  the  sound  of/; 
and  this  occurs  so  frequently  as  to  j)reclude  all  sup- 
position of  mere  accident.  Ch  is  a  hard  guttiu*al,  as 
heard  in  the  common  word  lough  {loch)  ;  gh  or  clh 
(both  which  have  the  same  sound)  is  the  correspond- 
ing soft  guttural ;  fh  is  sounded  exactly  like  Eng- 
lish h. 

The  sound  of  ch  is  changed  to  that  of  /  in  the 
following  names.  Knocktopher  in  Kilkenny,  is  in 
Irish  Cnoc-cC -t6chai)\  the  hill  of  the  iogher  or  cause- 
way, and  it  was  so  called  from  an  ancient  iogher 
across  a  marsh ;  Luifany,  the  name  of  two  to^nlands 
in  Kilkenny,  cin  fhUuchaine^  the  wet  land ;  Clifden, 
the  name  of  a  well-kno^Ti  village  in  Gralway,  is  a  very 
modem  corruption  of  Clochdn^  which  is  still  its  Irish 
name,  and  which  means  a  beehive-shaped  stone  house. 
Lisnafiify,  the  name  of  two  townlands  in  Down, 
.Lios-na-faithche,  the  Us  of  the  exercise-green ;  Fi- 
dorfe,  near  Ratoath  in  Meath,  Fidh-clorcha,  dark 
wood. 

The  change  of  gh  or  clh  to  /  is  not  quite  so  common, 
but  we  find  it  in  Muff,  the  name  of  two  villages,  one 
in  Donegal,  and  the  other  in  Derry,  and  of  eight 
townlands,  all  in  the  northern  half  of  Ireland ;  it  is 
merely  a  form  of  mctgh,  a  plain,  and  the  Irish  name, 
as  now  pronounced  in  the  localities,  comes  very  near 
the  English  form.  Balief,  in  Kilkenny,  is  Bnile-Aoclh^ 
Hugh's  town.  In  some  cases,  instead  of  the  hard 
labial  /,  it  is  turned  into  the  corresponding  soft  labial 
V,  as  in  Lough  Melvin,  in  Leitrim ;  which  is  called 
in  the   Annals,  Loch-Meilghe^    from  Meilghe,    king 


CHAP.  III.]  Corruptions.  53 

of  Ireland  in  a,  m.  4678.  Adrivale  in  the  parish  of 
Drishane,  Cork,  Eadar-ghahhal,  a  place  between  (the 
prongs  of)  a  fork,  i.  e.  a  fork  formed  by  rivers. 

The  change  of  th  to  /  is  often  met  with.  The 
parish  of  Tiscoffin  in  Kilkenny  took  its  name  from 
an  old  church  called  Tigh-Scoithin  [Tee-scoheen], 
i.  e.  Scoithin's  house ;  St.  Scoithin  was  a  relative  of 
St.  Ailbe  of  Emly,  and  erected  his  primitive  church 
here  towards  the  close  of  the  sixth  century  (see 
O'Clery's  Cal.  2nd  Jan.,  and  Colgan,  A.  SS.,  p.  9) ; 
Cloonascoffagh,  in  the  parish  of  Kilmacshalgan, 
Sligo,  Cluam-na-scothach,  the  meadow  of  the  flowers. 
In  accordance  with  the  same  law,  a  sridhan,  or 
streamlet,  is  often  called  snifane ;  and  this  is  almost 
always  the  case  in  some  of  the  western  counties,  as 
in  Ballintrofaun  in  Sligo,  Baile-mi-tsrothain,  the  town 
of  the  streamlet. 

The  greater  number  of  the  alterations  noticed 
vmder  this  heading  are  attributable  to  the  English 
language  ;  but  there  are  several  instances  of  words 
and  names  corrupted  similarly  by  the  speakers  of 
Irish.  For  example,  the  word  chuaidh  (past  tense  of 
the  verb  teidh^  go),  is  pronounced  foo  in  the  South  ; 
and  0 'Donovan,  in  one  of  his  Derry  letters,  informs 
us,  that  7)iagh.,  a  plain,  is  there  pronounced  in  Irish 
"  something  between  mugh  and  muff^''  thereby  facili- 
tating or  suggesting  its  conversion  into  the  present 
name.  Muff. 

Ajiy  one  who  had  studied  the  English  language 
and  its  letter- changes,  might  however  anticipate  that 
the  Irish  gutturals  would  sometimes  be  converted 
into  English  /.  Words  transplanted  directly  from 
Irish,  as  might  be  expected,  conform  in  many  in- 
stances to  the  letter-changing  laws  of  the  English 
language  ;  of  which  names  beginning  with  the  word 


54  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.      [part  i. 

hnoch  may  be  taken  as  an  illustration.  In  siicli  Eng- 
lish words  as  "  knight,"  "  knife,"  "  knee,"  &c.,  the 
k  sound  is  now  entirely  omitted  in  pronunciation ; 
but  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  originals  cnight^  cnif,  cneoic, 
both  letters  -  the  c  hard  and  the  n — were  pronoun- 
ced (Max  Muller,  "Lectures,"  2nd  Series,  p.  186). 
The  Irish  owe  is  subjected  to  the  same  law,  for  while 
both  letters  are  heard  in  Irish,  the  anglicised  form 
k)iock  is  always  pronounced  jwck. 

There  is  a  similar  compliance  with  English  custom 
in  the  change  of  the  Irish  guttm^als  to  /.  The  Eng- 
lish language,  though  it  has  now  no  gutturals,  once 
abounded  in  them,  and  in  a  nmnerous  class  of  words 
the  guttm^al  letters  are  still  retained  in  -wTiting,  as  in 
daughter,  tauf/hter,  night,  straight, plough,  &c.  While 
in  many  such  words  the  sound  of  the  guttm-als  was 
wholly  suppressed,  in  others  it  was  changed  to  the 
sound  of/,  as  in  trough,  draught,  cough,  rough,  &c. 
It  is  curious  that  the  struggle  betAveen  these  two 
sounds  has  not  yet  quite  tenninated  ;  it  is  continued 
to  the  present  day  in  Scotland  and  the  North  of  Ire- 
land, where  the  peasantry  still  pronounce  such  words 
with  the  full  strong  guttural. 

It  will  be  seen,  then,  that  when  the  Irish  gutturals 
are  corrupted  to  /,  the  change  is  made,  not  by  acci- 
dent or  caprice,  but  in  conformity  vntli  a  custom  al- 
ready existing  in  the  English  language. 

III.  Interchange  of  d  and  g. — The  letters  d  and  g, 
when  aspirated  (dh  and  gh),  are  sounded  exactly 
alike,  so  that  it  is  impossible  to  distinguish  them  in 
speaking.  This  circimistance  causes  them  to  be,  to 
some  extent,  confounded  one  with  the  other ;  in 
modern  Irish,  gh  is  very  generally  substituted  for  the 
older  dh.  In  topographical  names,  this  aspirated  g 
is  often  hardened  or  restored  (after  the  manner  shown 


CHAP.  III.]  Corriqytions.  55 

in  page  43)  ;  and  thus  many  names  have  been  cor- 
rupted both  in  writing  and  pronunciation,  by  the 
substitution  of  g  for  clh.  But  as  far  as  I  have  ex- 
amined, I  find  only  one  example  of  the  reverse — d 
for  gh. 

There  are  four  to^^Tilands  called  Gargrim  in  the 
counties  of  Donegal,  Fermanagh,  Leitrim,  and  Ty- 
rone, which  should  have  been  called  Grardrim  ;  for 
the  Irish  name  is  Gearrdhruim^  i.  e.  short  ridge  or 
hill,  and  it  is  correctly  anglicised  in  Grardrum,  the 
name  of  two  to^Tilands  in  Fermanagh  and  T}Tone. 
In  exactly  the  same  way  was  formed  Fargrim,  the 
name  of  two  townlands,  one  in  Fermanagh,  and  the 
other  in  Leitrim ;  it  is  in  Irish,  Fardhniim  or 
Fordhniim  (outer  ridge  or  hill),  in  which  form  it 
appears  in  the  Four  Masters  at  a.  d.  1153 ;  in  its 
correct  anglicised  form,  Fardrmn,  it  occurs  in  Fer- 
managh and  Westmeath.  Drmngonnelly,  in  the 
parisli  and  county  of  Louth,  should  have  been 
called  Drumdonnelly,  from  the  Irish  Dniim-Dhou- 
ghaUe^  the  ridge  or  hill  of  the  Donnellys ;  Sliguff, 
in  Carlow,  would  be  more  correctly  anglicised  Sli- 
duff,  the  Irish  name  being  Slighe-dhuhh,  black  road  ; 
and  the  to^\Tiland  of  Rossdagamph,  in  the  parish  of 
Inishmacsaint,  Fermanagh,  is  Roa-da-dhamh,  the 
promontory  of  the  two  oxen.  It  was  a  mistake  the 
reverse  of  this,  that  gave  their  present  English 
name  to  the  Ox  mountains  in  Sligo.  The  Irish 
name,  in  all  our  Annals,  is  Sliahh-ghamk  (which  pro- 
bably means  stormy  mountain)  ;  but  the  natives, 
believing  it  to  be  SUahh-dhamh^  i.  e.  the  mountain 
of  the  oxen,  have  perpetuated  the  present  incorrect 
name. 

lY.  Insertion  of  i  between  s  and  r. — The  combina- 
tion sr  is  one  of  rare  occurrence  in  modem  Euro- 


56  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.      [part  i. 

pean  languages ;  there  is  not  a  single  word  in 
English,  French,  Grerman,  Grreek,  or  Latin,  begin- 
ning with  it,  though  many  of  their  words  are  un- 
doubtedly derived  from  roots  commencing  with  these 
two  letters. 

The  Irish  language  has  retained  this  combination, 
and  in  the  Irish  dictionaries,  a  considerable  number 
of  words  will  be  found  commencing  with  sr.  Of 
these,  there  are  only  foiu^  that  enter  often  into  topo- 
graphical names.  These  are  srdid,  a  street,  srath,  a 
holm  or  inch — the  lowland  along  a  river  ;  sron,  lite- 
rally a  nose,  but  in  a  secondary  sense,  applied  to 
points  of  hills,  promontories,  &c. ;  and  sruth,  a 
stream,  with  its  derivatives.  It  was  not  to  be  ex- 
pected that  the  English  language,  which  within  its 
own  domain  does  not  admit  of  the  union  of  s  and  r, 
would  receive  these  names  in  all  cases  without  altera- 
tion. Of  the  modem  toT^oiland  names  containing 
the  four  words  just  named,  the  sr  has  been  retained 
in  less  than  half ;  in  about  forty  or  fifty,  it  has  been 
changed  to  shr,  a  combination  admitted  in  EngKsh  ; 
and  in  all  the  rest  it  has  been  corrupted  by  the  inser- 
tion of  a  /. 

There  are  about  170  modem  names  commencing 
Avith  str,  and  many  more  containing  these  letters  in- 
termediate. In  all  these,  with  hardly  an  exception, 
the  t  is  a,  late  insertion ;  for  although  we  have  words 
in  Irish  beginning  with  str,  there  are  no  names 
derived  from  them,  except  perhaps  about  half  a  dozen. 
The  insertion  of  a  ^  is  one  of  the  expedients  for 
avoiding  the  combination  sr,  which  is  found  in  several 
languages,  and  which  has  been  in  operation  from  the 
earliest  times.  We  find  it,  for  instance,  in  the  0.  H. 
Grerman  stroiim  (Eng.  stream),  and  in  the  name  of 
the  well-knowTi   Thracian  river  Strymon,    both   of 


CHAP.  III.]  Cornqjtions.  57 

which  are  derived  from  a  Sanscrit  root  sr?/,  meaning 
to  floic* 

A  few  names  will  illustrate  these  remai'ks.  In 
Srugreana  near  Caherciveen,  Kerry  {Snith-greanach, 
gravelly  stream),  and  in  Srananny  in  parish  of 
Donagh,  Monaghan  {Srath-an-eanaigh,  the  strath 
or  holm  of  the  marsh),  the  initial  sr  has  been  re- 
tained. It  has  been  changed  to  sJir  in  Shrongh, 
near  Tipperary,  from  sruth  a  stream  ;  and  also  in 
Shronedarragh,  near  Killarney,  the  nose  or  point  of 
the  oak. 

In  the  folio  win  ^Jiames,  a  t  has  been  inserted  : — 
Strancally,  above  xoughal,  the  well-known  seat  of 
the  Desmonds  ;  w^hose  castle,  now  in  ruins,  was  built 
on  a  point  of  rock  jutting  into  the  Blackwater,  called 
Sron-calUighe^  the  hag's  nose  or  promontory.  Ard- 
straw,  in  T^Tone,  which  the  annalists  ^\T:ite  Ard-sratha^ 
the  height  of  (or  near)  the  river  bank ;  Stradone  in 
Cavan,  and  Stradowan  in  Tyrone,  deep  srath  or  river 
holm. 

This  corruption — the  insertion  of  t — is  found  more 
or  less  all  over  Ireland,  but  it  prevails  more  in  the 
Northern  counties  than  anj^^here  else.  In  Ulster, 
the  combination  sr  is  scarcely  admitted  at  all ;  for 
out  of  about  170  townland  names  in  all  Ireland, 
beginning  with  these  two  letters,  there  are  only 
twelve  in  this  province,  and  these  are  wholly  confined 
to  Donegal,  Fermanagh,  and  Monaghan. 

Y.  Addition  o/'d  after  n,  1,  and  r  ;  and  ofh  after 
m. — The  most  extensive  agency  in  corrupting  lan- 
guage is  contraction,  i.  e.  the  omission  of  letters ; 
first,  in  pronunciation,  and  afterwards  in  writing. 
This  is  what  Max  MiiUer  calls  phonetic  decay,  and 

*  See  Llr.  Whitley  Stokes's  ''  Irish  Glosses  ;"  and  Dr.  W.  K. 
Sullivan's  Translation  of  Ebel's  "  Celtic  Studies." 


58  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

he  shows  that  it  results  from  a  deficiency  of  muscular 
energy  in  pronunciation,  in  other  words,  from  lazi- 
ness. There  are  cases,  however,  in  which  this 
principle  seems  to  he  reversed,  that  is,  in  which 
words  are  corrupted  hy  the  addition  of  anomalous 
letters.  In  English,  for  instance,  a  d  is  often  added 
after  w,  and  in  Grreek,  after  hoth  n  and  / ;  as  in  Eng. 
thunder  from  Ang.  Sax.  tJiunor;  cinder  from  Lat.  {ci- 
nis)  cinerisj  &c.  ;  and  in  Grr.  aner,  gen.  andros^  &c. 
This  tendency  in  English  is  also  noticed  by  Lhuyd 
in  his  "  Archseologia  "  (p.  9).  Another  corruption 
similar  to  this,  which  is  found  iii  several  languages, 
is  the  addition  of  h  after  m  ;  as  in  Eng.  slumber  from 
Ang.  Sax.  slumerian ;  Er.  nomhre  from  numerus  ;  Lat. 
comburo^  from  com  (con),  and  iiro ;  Grr.  gamhros 
for  gamros,  &c.  Max  Miiller  shows,  however,  that 
the  insertion  of  these  letters  is  due  to  the  same 
laziness  in  pronunciation  that  causes  omission  in 
other  cases.* 

These  corruptions  are  very  frequent  in  Irish  names, 
viz. : — the  letter  d  is  often  placed  after  n  and  /,  and 
sometimes  after  r ;  and  the  letter  h  after  m.  In  the 
following  names  the  d  is  a  mere  excrescence,  and  has 
been  added  in  recent  times : — Terryland,  near  Gralway, 
which  the  Four  Masters  write  Tir-oiUin^  the  district 
of  the  island ;  Killashandra,  in  Cavan,  is  in  Irish 
Cill-cC -sean-ratha,  the  chm^ch  of  the  old  rath,  and  it 
was  so  called  because  the  original  chiu^ch  was  built 
within  the  inclosure  of  an  ancient  rath  which  still 
exists ;  Eathfryland,  in  Down,  is  from  Rath-Fraoi- 
Jeann^  Freelan's  rath  ;  TuUyland,  in  parish  of  Balli- 
nadee,  Cork,  Tulaigh-Eileain,  Helena's  hill. 

D  is  added  after  /  in  the  word  "  field,"  when  this 
word  is  an  anglicised  form  of  coill,  a  wood,  as  in 

*  See  Max  Miiller's  "  Lectures,"  2nd  Series,  p.  178. 


CHAP.  III.]  Corruptions.  59 

Longfield,  Cranfield,  &c.,  whidi  names  have  been 
examined  at  page  39.  The  same  corruption  is  found 
in  the  ancient  Welsh  persona.1  name,  (xildas,  and  in 
the  Irish  name  Mac  Donald,  which  are  more  correctly 
^Titten  Grillas  and  Macdonnell. 

Lastly,  d  is  placed  after  r  in  Lifford,  which  is  in 
Irish  Leithhhearr  (Four  Mast.)  ;  tliis  is  a  compara- 
tively modern  corruption  ;  for  Spenser,  in  his  "  View 
of  the  State  of  Ireland,"  calls  it  Castle-liffer.  It  is 
to  be  observed  that  this  adventitious  d  is  placed  after 
n  much  oftener  than  after  the  other  tAvo  letters, 
I  and  r. 

The  addition  of  h  to  m  occurs  only  seldom  ;  we 
find  it  in  Cumber  or  Comber,  which  is  the  name  of  a 
to^m  in  county  Dow^n,  and  of  seA^eral  townlands  in 
different  coimties,  both  singly  and  in  composition. 
It  is  the  Irish  comar,  the  confluence  of  two  waters, 
and  it  is  correctly  anglicised  Cummer  and  Comer  in 
many  other  names. 

All  these  changes  were  made  ia  English,  but  in 
the  Irish  language  there  was  once  a  strong  tendency 
in  the  same  direction.  In  what  is  called  middle  Irish 
(from  the  10th  to  the  15th  century),  the  custom  was 
very  general  of  using  nd  for  nn.  For  instance,  the 
word  cenn  (a  head),  is  old  Irish,  for  it  is  cited  in  this 
form  by  Zeuss  from  MSS.  of  the  eighth  century  ;  but 
in  middle  Irish  MSS.  it'  is  usually  written  ccnd.  In 
all  such  words,  however,  the  proper  termination  is 
restored  in  modern  Irish ;  and  so  strong  was  this 
countercurrent,  that  the  d  was  swept  away  not  only 
from  words  into  which  it  was  incorrectly  introduced, 
but  also  from  those  to  which  it  properly  and  radi- 
cally belonged.  For  example,  the  middle  Irish 
word  Aiffrend  (the  Mass),  is  spelled  correctly  with 
a  d,    for  it  is  derived  from  Lat.  offerenda ;    but  in 


60  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

modern  Irish  it  is  always  spelled  and  pronounced 
Aiffrionn. 

Some  of  the  words  and  names  cited  under  this  sec- 
tion afford  a  curious  example  of  the  fickleness  of  pho- 
netic change,  and,  at  the  same  time,  of  the  regularity 
of  its  action.  We  find  words  spelled  in  old  Irish  with 
nn ;  in  middle  Irish,  a  d  is  introduced,  and  the  nn 
becomes  nd;  in  modern  Irish  the  ^  is  rejected,  and 
there  is  a  return  to  the  old  Irish  nn ;  and  in  modem 
anglicised  names,  the  d  is  reinstated,  and  nd  seems  to 
remain  in  final  possession  of  the  field. 

There  is  a  corruption  peculiar  to  the  northern  and 
north-western  counties,  which  is  very  similar  to  the 
one  now  under  consideration,  namely,  the  sound  of 
aspu-ated  m  {inh  =  Eng.  v)  is  often  represented  in  the 
present  names  by  mph.  This  mode  of  spelling  is 
probably  an  attempt  to  represent  the  half  nasal,  half 
labial- aspirate  sound  of  mh.,  which  an  ear  unaccus- 
tomed to  Irish  finds  it  very  difficult  to  catch.  Under 
the  infiuence  of  this  custom,  damh,  an  ox,  is  converted 
into  damjjh,  as  in  Derrydamph,  in  the  parish  of 
Knockbride,  Cavan,  Doire-damh,  the  oak  grove  of  the 
oxen ;  creamh,  wild  garlic,  is  made  craniph,  as  in 
Annacramph,  in  the  parish  of  Grange,  Armagh, 
Eanach-creamha^  wild  garlic  marsh ;  sceamh,  the 
polj^odium  or  wall  fern,  becomes  scamph,  as  in 
Drumnascamph  in  the  parish  of  Clondnff,  Down, 
Dniim-na-sccamh,  the  ridge  or  hill  of  the  wall  fern. 

VI.  The  letter  s  prefixed  to  teach  and  leacht. — The 
Irish  word  teach  or  tigh,  a  house  or  church,  as  I  shall 
show  elsewhere,  enters  extensively  into  topographical 
names  all  over  Ireland,  in  the  anglicised  fonns  of  ta^ 
tagh,  tee.,  ti,  ty^  &c.  In  some  of  the  eastern  counties 
this  word  is  liable  to  a  singular  corruption,  viz.,  the 
Irish  ta  or  ti  is  converted  into  da  or  sf/,  in  a  con- 


CHAP.  III.]  Corruptions,  61 

siderable  niun'ber  of  names,  of  wMcli  the  following 
are  examples.  Stillorgan  is  in  Irish  Tigh-Lorcain, 
Lorcan's  chui'ch ;  and  it  may  have  received  its  name 
from  a  chnrch  founded  by  St.  Lorcan  or  Laurence 
0' Toole,  Archbishop  of  Dublin  at  the  time  of  the 
English  invasion  ;  Stabannon,  in  Louth,  ought  to  be 
Tabannon,  Bannon's  house ;  Stackallan,  in  Meath, 
is  written  Teach-coJIain,  by  the  Four  Masters,  i.  e. 
CoUan's  house.  So  also  Stirue,  in  Louth,  red  house  ; 
Stapolin  near  Baldoyle,  Dublin,  the  house  of  Paulin, 
or  httle  Paul ;  and  Stalleen  near  Donore  above 
Drogheda,  is  called  in  the  charter  of  Mellifont, 
granted  by  John  in  1185-6,  Teachlemii^  i.  e.  Lenne's 
house. 

This  corruption  is  almost  confined  to  the  counties 
of  Dublin,  Meath,  and  Louth ;  I  can  find  only  very 
few  examples  outside  these  counties,  among  which 
are,  the  parish  of  Stackumny,  in  Kildare,  Stakally 
in  the  parish  of  Powersto^ai,  Kilkenny,  and  Tyrella, 
in  Down,  which  is  called  in  the  well-known  Taxation 
(1306)  published  by  Dr.  Peeves,  Staghi^eel.  But  its 
Lrish  name  is  Tech-Biaghia  (O'C.  Cal.),  the  house  of 
St.  Piaghal  or  Pegulus,  who  is  commemorated  on 
17th  Sept.  There  are  altogether  in  Dublin,  Meath, 
and  Louth,  about  twenty-thi-ee  names  which  com- 
menced originally  with  Ta  or  Ti,  in  about  two-thirds 
of  which  it  has  become  8ta  or  Sti. 

The  Irish  word  leacht,  a  sepulchral  monument,  is 
also,  in  some  of  the  Ulster  counties,  corrupted  by 
prefixing  an  s ;  for  example,  Slaghtneill  and  Slaght- 
manus,  both  in  Londonderry,  ought  to  be  Laghtneill 
and  Laghtmanus,  signifying  respectively  Nialls  and 
Manus's  monument ;  and  we  also  find  Slaghtfreeden, 
Slaghtybogy,  and  a  few  others. 

It  Tvill  be  recollected  that  all  the  con^uptions  hi- 


62  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

therto  noticed  were  found  capable  of  explanation,  on 
some  pre\T.ously  established  principle  of  language : 
the  reason  of  the  alteration  now  under  consideration, 
however,  is  not  so  evident.  In  case  of  the  conver- 
sion oita  and  ti  into  sta  and.sf/,  I  would  suggest  the 
following  as  the  probable  explanation.  The  fact  that 
this  peculiarity  is  almost  confined  to  Dublin,  Meath, 
and  Louth,  renders  it  likely  that  it  is  a  Danish  cor- 
ruption. In  all  the  Northern  languages  there  are 
whole  classes  of  words  commencing  with  st,  which 
mean  habitation,  place,  &c.  For  example,  Ang. 
Sax.  stoic,  a  dwelling  place,  a  habitation  ;  stede,  a 
place,  a  station  ;  Danish,  sted,  locus,  sedes  ;  stad,  urbs, 
oppiclum ;  stede,  statio  :  Icelandic,  stadr,  statio,  urbs, 
oppidum ;  stofa,  curta  domus ;  -sfo,  statio.  And  I 
may  add,  that  in  Iceland,  Norway,  and  other  nor- 
thern countries,  several  of  these  words  are  exten- 
sively used  in  the  formation  of  names  of  places ;  of 
which  any  one  may  satisfy  himself  by  only  looking 
over  a  map  of  one  of  these  countries. 

It  appears  to  me,  then,  sufficiently  natural,  that 
the  Northern  settlers  should  convert  the  Irish  ta  and 
ti  into  their  own  significant  sta  and  sti.  The  change 
was  sufficiently  marked  in  character  to  assimilate  to 
some  extent  the  names  to  their  o'^ii  familiar  local 
nomenclature,  while  the  alteration  of  form  was  so 
slight,  that  the  words  still  remained  quite  intelligible 
to  the  Irish  population.  It  would  appear  more  na- 
tural to  a  Dane  to  say  Stabannon  (meaning  Bannon's 
house)  than  Tabannon,  and  an  Irishman  would  un- 
derstand quite  well  what  he  meant. 

This  opinion  is  further  supported  by  these  two 
well-kno^\Ti  facts  :  first,  many  places  on  the  Eastern 
coast  have  Danish  names,  as  Waterford,  Leixlip, 
Howth,  Ireland's  Eye,  &c. ;  and  secondly,  the  Danes 


CHAP.  III.]  Corrupt  10718.  63 

frequently  changed  the  Irish  inis,  an  island,  into 
their  o^ti  equivalent  word,  ^y,  as  in  the  last  men- 
tioned name.  If  it  be  objected  that  Tabannon  could 
not  be  converted  on  this  principle  into  Stabannon, 
because  the  Northern  method  of  forming  such  names 
is  to  place  the  limiting  term  fii-st,  not  last,  as  in  Irish 
(for  instance  the  Irish  order  is  Stn-hannon,  but  the 
Northern  Baunon-sta)  ;  it  may  be  answered  that  in 
anglicis'uig  Irish  names,  it  is  very  usual  to  convert 
each  pai-t  of  a  compound  wholly  or  pai-tly  into  an 
English  word,  leading  the  whole  at  the  same  time  in 
the  original  Irish  order  ;  as,  for  instance,  Batterjohn, 
Castledonovan,  Downj)atrick,  Port  Stewart,  &c.,  in 
which  the  proper  Enghsh  order  would  be  John's 
batter,  Donovan's  Castle,  &c. 

It  is  only  fair  to  state,  however,  that  Worsae  does 
not  notice  this  corruption,  though  in  his  "  Accomit 
of  the  Danes  and  Norwegians  in  England,  Scotland, 
and  Ireland,"  he  has  collected  every  vestige  he  coidd 
find  of  the  Danish  rule  in  these  countries. 

Notwithstanding  the  variety  of  distui'bing  causes, 
and  the  great  number  of  individual  names  affected 
by  each,  only  a  small  proportion  of  the  whole  are 
corrupted,  the  great  majority  being,  as  already  stated, 
anglicised  correctly,  or  nearly  so.  Wlien  it  is  con- 
sidered that  there  are  more  than  60,000  townlands 
in  Ireland,  and  when  to  the  names  of  these  are 
added  the  countless  names  of  rivers,  lakes,  mountains, 
&c.,  it  will  be  seen  that  even  a  small  fi^action  of  all 
Tvill  form  a  number  large  enough  to  give  sufficient 
play  to  all  the  corrupting  influences  enumerated  in 
this  chapter. 

I  have  now  examined,  in  this  and  the  precediog 
chapter,  sixteen  difl'erent  sources  of  change  in  Irish 
names,  and  I  have  selected  these,  because  they  are 


64  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.         [part  i. 

the  most  striking  and  important,  as  well  as  the  most 
extensive  in  theii'  influence.  There  are  other  letter 
changes  of  a  less  violent  character,  such  as  those 
caused  by  metathesis,  &c.,  which  I  have  not  thought 
sufficiently  impoi-tant  to  notice.  The  interchange  of 
hard  and  soft  mutes  (or  tenues  and  medke)  is  ex- 
tremely common,  but  this,  too,  as  not  causing  con- 
siderable obscuration  of  the  names,  I  shall  dismiss 
with  a  single  remark.  In  the  formation  of  an- 
glicised names  from  Irish,  the  change  from  hard 
to  soft  is  comparatively  rare,  while  the  reverse 
occurs  very  frequently.  Dulane,  near  Kells,  is  an 
example  of  the  former,  its  ancient  name,  as  spelled 
by  the  Four  Masters,  being  Tidlen  or  TMn,  i.  e. 
the  little  tulach  or  hill ;  as  examples  of  the  latter,  it 
will  be  sufficient  to  mention  the  frequent  change  of 
diihh  (black)  to  duff,  garhh  (rough)  to  gariff,  carraig 
(a  rock)  to  carricJiy  &c.,  in  the  two  former  of  which 
the  sound  of  v  is  converted  to  that  of  /,  and  in 
the  last  the  sound  of  g  (in  got)  is  changed  to  that 
of  /i.  There  are  also  corruptions  of  an  exceptional 
and  unexpected  character,  which  I  have  not  been  able 
to  reduce  to  any  principle  ;  but  I  shall  not  dwell  on 
them,  as'  the  object  of  these  chapters  is  not  so  much 
the  examination  of  individual  names  as  the  develop- 
ment of  general  laws. 


CHAPTEE  IV. 

FALSE    ETYMOLOGIES. 


In  no  department  of  Irish  antiquities  have  writers 
indulged  to  such  an  extent  in  vague  and  useless  con- 
jecture as  in  the  interpretation  of  local  names.     Our 


CHAP.  IV.]  False  Etymologies.  65 

county  histories,  topographical  dictionaries,  tourist 
handbooks,  &c.,  abound  in  local  etymologies ;  but  if 
we  leave  out  of  the  question  a  few  topographical 
works  lately  published,  it  may  be  safely  asserted,  that 
these  interpretations  are  generally  speaking  false, 
and  a  large  proportion  of  them  inexpressibly  silly. 
Instead  of  seeking  out  the  ancient  forms  of  the 
names,  in  authentic  Irish  documents,  which  in  many 
cases  a  small  amount  of  inquiry  would  enable 
them  to  do,  or  ascertaining  the  pronunciation  from 
natives,  writers  of  this  class,  ignoring  both  au- 
thority and  analogy,  either  take  the  names  as  they 
stand  in  English,  or  invent  original  forms  that  they 
never  had,  and  interpret  them,  each  according  to  his 
own  fancy,  or  to  lend  plausibility  to  some  favourite 
theory. 

There  are  laws  and  method  in  etymology,  as  well 
as  in  other  sciences,  and  I  have  set  forth  in  the 
three  preceding  chapters,  the  principles  by  which 
an  inquirer  must  be  guided  in  the  present  branch 
of  the  subject.  But  when  we  see  men  pronouncing 
confidently  on  questions  of  Irish  etymology,  who 
not  only  have  no  knowledge  of  these  principles, 
but  who  are  totally  unacquainted  with  the  Irish 
language  itself,  we  cannot  wonder  that  their  con- 
jectures regarding  the  signification  of  Irish  names 
are  usually  nothing  better  than  idle  and  worthless 
guesses. 

The  first  who  to  any  extent  made  use  of  the  ety- 
mology of  Irish  names,  as  an  instrument  of  historical 
investigation,  was  Yallancey.  He  built  whole  theo- 
ries regarding  the  social  condition  and  rehgious  belief 
of  the  early  inhabitants  of  Ireland,  chiefly  on  false 
etymologies  ;  but  his  system  has  been  long  exploded, 
and  no  one  would  now  think  of  either  quoting  or  re- 

F 


Q6  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.      [part  i. 

futing  his  fanciful  conjectures.  He  was  succeeded 
by  a  host  of  followers,  who  in  their  literary  specula- 
tions seem  to  have  lost  eyery  vestige  of  judgment  and 
common  sense  ;  and  the  race,  though  fast  dj-ing  out 
under  the  broad  sunlight  of  modem  scholarship,  is 
not  yet  quite  extinct.  I  shall  not  notice  their  ety- 
mological fancies  through  this  book,  for  indeed  they 
are  generally  quite  beneath  notice,  but  I  shall  bring 
together  in  the  present  chapter  a  few  characteristic 
examples. 

In  Ferguson's  "  Eiver  Names  of  Europe,"  there 
are  near  fifty  Irish  names,  whose  meanings  are  dis- 
cussed. Of  these,  a  few  are  undoubtedly  correct ; 
there  are  about  twenty  on  which  I  am  not  able  to 
offer  an  opinion,  as  I  know  nothing  certain  of 
their  etymology,  and  the  author's  conjectures  are 
far  more  likely  to  be  TVTong  than  right,  for  'they 
are  founded  on  the  modern  forms  of  the  names.  A 
full  half  are  certainly  TVTong,  and  of  these  one  ex- 
ample will  be  sufficient.  The  name  Nenagh  (river) 
is  derived  from  Sansc.  ??2,  to  move,  Grael.  nighf  to 
wash  ;  but  a  little  inquiry  will  enable  any  one  to 
see  that  Nenagh  is  not  the  name  of  the  river  at  all, 
but  of  the  town  ;  and  that  even  if  it  were,  it  could  not 
be  derived  from  any  root  beginning  with  71,  since  the 
original  name  is  Aenach^  the  initial  9i  being  merely 
the  Irish  article.  The  real  name  of  the  river,  which, 
is  now  almost  forgotten,  is  Owen  O'Coffey,  the  river 
of  the  O'Coffeys,  the  family  who  anciently  inhabited 
the  district. 

In  Gribson's  Etymological  Geography,  a  considera- 
ble number  of  Irish  names  are  explained,  but  the 
author  was  very  careful  to  instance  those  only  whose 
meanings  are  obvious,  and  consequently  he  is  gene- 
rally right.     Yet  he  calls  Inishbofin  off  the  coast  of 


CHAP.  IV.]  Fake  Etymologies,  67 

Mayo,  Imskbosi)ie,  and  interprets  it  Basinets  island  I 
and  lie  confounds  Inishcourey  in  Down  with  Ennis- 
cortliy  in  Wexford,  besides  giving  an  erroneous  ety- 
mology for  both. 

The  Eev.  Isaac  Taylor,  who  also  deals  frequently 
with  Irish  names,  in  a  work  of  great  ability,  *'  Words 
and  Places,"  is  m^^e  cautious  than  either.  But 
even  he  sometimes  falls  into  the  same  error ;  for  in- 
stance he  takes  Armagh  as  it  stands,  and  derives  it 
from  the  preposition  ar  (on),  and  magh  (a  plain), 
though  among  the  whole  range  of  Irish  names,  there 
is  scarcely  one  whose  original  form  {Ard-Macha)  is 
better  known. 

There  is  a  parish  near  Downpatrick,  taking  its 
name  from  an  old  church,  now  called  Inch,  i.  e.  the 
island,  because  it  was  built  on  a  small  island  or  penin- 
sula, on  the  west  side  of  Strangford  Lough.  The  full 
name  is  Inishcourey ;  and  as  it  is  a  liistorical  fact 
that  an  abbey  was  founded  there  by  John  de  Courcy 
about  the  year  1180,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that 
Harris  (in  his  History  of  Down),  and  Archdall,  fell 
into  the  error  of  believing  that  the  name  was  derived 
from  him.  But  an  earlier  monastery  existed  there, 
called  Inis-Cumhscraigh  [Inishcooscry] ,  Cooscragh's 
island,  long  before  John  de  Courcy  was  born ;  and 
this  name  was  gradually  corrupted  to  Inishcourey, 
both  on  account  of  the  cm-ious  similarity  of  sound, 
and  of  that  chief's  connexion  with  the  place. 

All  this  will  be  rendered  evident  by  reference  to 
the  Annals.  We  find  it  recorded  in  the  Four  Masters, 
that  in  1001  "  Sitric  son  of  Amlaff  set  out  on  a  pre- 
datory excursion  into  Ulidia  in  his  ships ;  and  plun- 
dered KilcHef  and  Ims-Cumhscraigh ;"  and  Tighern- 
ach,  who  died  in  1088,  records  the  same  event. 
Moreover,    Hugh  Maglanha,    abbot   of  Inishcimihs- 

f2 


68  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.       [part  i. 

craigli.,  was  one  of  those  who  signed  the  Charter  of 
Newry,  a  document  of  about  the  year  1160. 

Dr.  Reeves  has  conjectured,  what  is  highly  proba- 
ble, that  the  person  who  gave  name  to  this  place  was 
Cumhscrach,  one  of  the  sons  of  Conor  Mac  Nessa, 
who  succeeded  his  father  as  king  of  Ulster  in  the 
first  centuiy.  • 

It  has  been  said  by  a  philosoj)her  that  words  go- 
vern men,  and  we  have  an  excellent  example  of  this 
in  the  name  of  the  Black  Valley,  near  Killamey. 
Many  of  our  guide  books,  and  tourists  without  num- 
ber, describe  it  as  something  wonderful  in  its  exces- 
sive blackness ;  and  among  them  is  one  well-known 
writer,  who,  if  we  are  to  judge  by  his  description, 
either  never  saw  it  at  all,  or  wrote  from  memory. 

It  may  be  admitted  that  the  direction  of  this  valley 
with  regard  to  the  sun,  at  the  time  of  day  when  visitors 
generally  see  it,  has  some  influence  in  rendering  the 
view  of  it  indistinct ;  but  it  cei-tainly  is  not  blacker 
than  many  other  valleys  among  the  Killamey  moun- 
tains ;  and  the  imagination  of  tourists  is  led  cap- 
tive, and  they  are  betrayed  into  these  descriptions  of 
its  gloominess,  because  it  has  been  called  the  Black 
Valley,  which  is  not  its  name  at  all. 

The  variety  of  ways  in  which  the  original  is 
spelled  by  different  writers — Coomdhuv,  Coomadhuv, 
Coomydhuv,  Cummeendhuv,  &c.,  might  lead  any  one 
to  suspect  that  there  was  something  wrong  in  the 
translation  ;  whereas,  if  it  were  intended  for  black 
valley,  it  would  be  Coomdhuv  and  nothing  else.  To 
an  Irish  scholar,  the  pronunciation  of  the  natives 
makes  the  matter  perfectly  clear ;  and  I  almost  re- 
gret being  obliged  to  give  it  a  much  less  poetical 
interpretation.  They  invariably  call  it  Cooju-ee-uiv 
(this  perfectly  represents  the  pronunciation,  except 


CHAP.  lY.]  False  Etymologies.  69 

only  the  ti\  where  there  is  a  soft  guttural  that  does 
not  exist  in  English),  which  will  be  recognised  as 
Cum-m-Dhuihh,  O'Duff's  valley.  Who  this  O'Duff 
was,  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain. 

Clonmacnoise  is  usually  written  in  the  later  Annals, 
Cluain-niic-Nois,  which  has  been  translated,  and  is 
very  generally  believed  to  mean,  "  the  retreat  of  the 
sons  ofthenoble,"  aname which  it  was  thought  to  have 
received,  either  because  the  place  was  much  fre- 
quented by  the  nobility  as  a  retirement  in  their  old 
age,  or  because  it  was  the  burial  place  of  so  many 
kings  and  chiefs.  But  this  guess  could  never  be 
made  by  anyone  having  the  least  knowledge  of  Irish, 
for  in  the  original  name,  the  two  last  syllables  are  in 
the  genitive  singular,  not  in  the  genitive  plural. 
Nos  (gen.  nois),  indeed,  means  noble,  but  here  it  is 
the  name  of  a  person,  who  is  historically  known,  and 
Cluain-mic-JSfois  means  the  meadow  of  the  son  of 
Nos. 

Though  the  Irish  name  given  above  is  generally 
used  by  the  Four  Masters,  yet  at  1461  they  call  the 
place  Cluain-niKc-JVois-mic-FiacUiaigh,  by  which  it  ap- 
pears that  this  Nos's  father  was  Fiadhach  [Feeagh] , 
who  was  a  chief  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  the  Dealhh- 
na-Eathra  (now  the  barony  of  Grarrycastle  in  King's 
County),  in  whose  temtory  Clonmacnoise  was  situ- 
ated. Cluain'muc-Nois  would  signify  the  meadow  of 
Nos's  pigs  ;  but  though  this  form  is  used  by  Colgan 
in  the  Tripartite  Life,  the  correct  original  appears 
to  be  Cluain-maccu-Nois,  for  it  is  so  written  in  the 
older  Annals,  and  in  the  Carlsruhe  Manuscript  of 
Zeuss,  which  is  the  most  ancient,  and  no  doubt  the 
most  trustworthy  authority  of  all :  this  last  signifies 
the  meadow  of  the  sons  of  Nos. 

On  the  road  from  Inchigeelagh  to  Gougane  Barra, 


70  The  Irish  Local  Name  Syste7n.       [part  i, 

in  Cork,  you  pass  a  lonely  little  hamlet  at  a  bridge 
over  the  Lee,  called  Ballingeary  ;  and  it  is  no  doubt 
considered  a  very  elegant^  and  imaginative  designa- 
tion, for  many  of  our  leading  guide  books  translate 
it,  *'  The  place  of  the  wilderness,"  though  there  is 
not  a  syllable  in  the  name  that  signifies  either  place 
or  unlclerness.  If  the  tourist  ask  the  driver  of  the 
car,  or  any  other  peasant,  to  pronounce  it  in  Irish,  he 
will  hear  something  like  Beal-a-na-geeragh,  which  re- 
presents the  Irish  Bel-atha-na-gcaerach,  the  ford  of 
the  sheep.  The  place  took  this  name  from  a  ford, 
now  spanned  by  the  bridge,  where  the  Lee  used  to 
be  crossed  by  the  mountain  sheep,  in  their  passage 
up  and  down  the  valley. 

Askeaton  in  Limerick  is  transformed  to  Eas-cead- 
tinne,  in  a  well-known  modern  topographical  work  on 
Ireland  :  the  writer  explains  it  "  The  cataract  of  the 
hundred  fires,"  and  adds,  "  the  fires  were  probably 
some  way  connected  with  the  ritual  of  the  Druids, 
the  ancient  Irish  Gruebres."  The  name,  however,  as 
we  find  it  in  many  Irish  authorities,  is  Eas-Gephtiney 
which  simply  means  the  cataract  of  Grephtine,  some 
old  pagan  chief.  The  cataract  is  where  the  Deel  falls 
over  a  ledge  of  rocks  near  the  town. 

I  may  remark  here,  that  great  numbers  of  these 
fanciful  derivations  were  invented  to  prove  that  the 
ancient  Irish  worshipped  fire.  In  order  to  show  that 
the  round  tower  at  Balla,  in  Mayo,  was  a  fire  temple, 
Vallancey  changes  the  name  to  Beilagh^  which  he 
interprets  "  The  fire  of  fires."  But  in  the  Life  of  St. 
Moehua,  the  founder,  published  by  Colgan  (at  the 
30th  of  March),  we  are  told  that  before  the  saint 
founded  his  monastery  there,  in  the  beginning  of 
the  seventh  century,  the  place  was  called  Rosdair- 
hhreach,  i.  e.  oak-grove  ;  that  he  enclosed  the  wella 


CHAP.  IV.]  Fake  Etymologies.  71 

of  his  religious  establisliment  with  a  "  balla"  or  wall 
(a  practice  common  among  the  early  Irish  saints)  ; 
and  that  "  hence  the  town  received  the  new  name 
Balla,  and  Mochua  himself  became  known  by  the 
cognomen  Ballensis." 

Aghagower,  in  the  same  county,  Vallancey  also 
explains  "  Fire  of  fires,"  and  with  the  sam.e  object,  as 
a  round  tower  exists  there.  He  was  not  aware  that 
the  original  name  was  Aehadh-fohhair,  for  so  it  is 
called  in  the  Four  Masters  and  in  the  most  ancient 
Lives  of  St.  Patrick  :  it  signifies  "  the  field  of  the 
spring,"  and  the  place  took  its  name  from  a  cele- 
brated well,  which  is  now  called  St.  Patrick's  well. 
Its  name  must  have  been  corrupted  at  an  early  date, 
for  Duald  M'Firbis  calls  it  Achadh-gahhair  (Hy 
Fiachrach,  p.  151)  ;  but  even  this  does  not  signify 
"  fire  of  fires,"  but  a  very  different  thing — "  the 
field  of  the  goat." 

Smith,  in  his  History  of  Cork,  states  that  the 
barony  of  Kinalmeaky  means  "  the  head  of  the  noble 
root,"  from  cean.,  head,  neal^  noble,  and  meacan,  a 
root.  The  true  fonn  of  the  name,  however,  is  Cinel' 
mBece  (O'Heerin),  which  was  originally  the  name, 
not  of  the  territory,  but  of  the  tribe  that  inhabited  it, 
and  which  means  "the  descendants  {cmel)  ofBece," 
who  was  the  ancestor  of  the  O'Mahonys. 

In  Seward's  Topographical  Dictionary,  it  is  stated 
that  Baltinglass  (in  Wicklow)  "  is  derived  from  Beal- 
tinne-glas,  or  the  fire  of  BeaVs  mysteries^  the  fires  being 
lighted  there  by  the  Druids  in  honour  of  the  sun ;" 
and  the  wiiter  of  a  Guide  to  Wicklow  (Curry,  Dui3- 
lin,  1834),  says  that  it  is  "  Bal-teach-na-glass,  or  the 
town  of  the  grey  houses ;"  and  he  adds,  "  certainly 
•the  appearance  of  them  bears  us  out  in  this."  This 
is  all  pure  invention,  for  neither  of  the  original  forms 


72  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.        [part  i. 

here  given  is  the  correct  one,  and  even  if  it  were,  it 
would  not  bear  the  meaning  assigned,  nor  indeed  any 
meaning  at  all.  In  ancient  documents  the  name  is 
always  given  Bealach-Chonglais  (Dinnsenchus),  the 
pass  or  road  of  Cuglas,  a  personage  connected  with 
the  locality,  about  whom  there  is  a  curious  and  very 
ancient  legend  ;  and  from  this  the  present  name  has 
been  corrupted.  There  was  another  Bealach-  Chonglais 
near  Cork  city,  but  the  name  is  now  lost,  and  the 
exact  situation  of  the  place  is  not  known. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  ANTIQUITY  OF  IRISH  LOCAL  NAMES. 

In  an  essay  on  Irish  local  names,  it  may  be  expected 
that  I  should  give  some  information  regarding  their 
antiquity.  In  various  individual  cases  through  this 
book,  I  have  indicated  the  date,  certain  or  probable, 
at  which  the  name  was  imposed ;  or  the  earliest  period 
when  it  is  known  to  have  been  in  use  ;  but  it  may  be 
of  interest  to  state  here  some  general  conclusions, 
to  which  the  evidence  at  our  command  enables  us  to 
arrive. 

When  we  wish  to  investigate  the  composition  and 
meaning  of  a  name,  we  are  not  warranted  in  going 
back  farther  than  the  oldest  actually  existing  manu- 
scripts in  which  it  is  found  written,  and  upon  the  form 
given  in  these,  we  must  found  our  conclusions.  But 
when  our  object  is  to  determine  the  antiquity  of  the 
name,  or  in  other  words,  the  period  when  it  was  first 
imposed,  we  have  usually  a  wider  scoj)e  and  fuller 
evidence  to  guide  us. 


k 


CHAP,  v.]     The  Antiquity  of  Irish  Local  Names,      73 

For,  first,  if  the  oldest  existing  manuscript  in  which 
the  name  occurs  is  known  as  a  fact  to  have  been 
copied  from  another  still  older  not  now  in  existence, 
this  throws  back  the  age  of  the  name  to  at  least  the 
date  of  the  transcription  of  the  latter.  But  secondly, 
the  period  when  a  name  happens  to  be  first  committed 
to  writing,  is  no  measure  of  its  real  antiquity  ;  for  it 
may  have  been  in  use  hundreds  of  years,  before  being 
embalmed  in  the  pages  of  any  written  document. 
While  we  are  able  to  assert  with  certainty  that  the 
name  is  at  least  as  old  as  the  time  of  the  writer  who 
fii'st  mentioned  it,  the  validity  of  any  further  deduc- 
tions regarding  its  absolute  age  depends  on  the 
authenticity  of  our  history,  and  on  the  correctness 
of  oui'  chronology. 

I  will  illustrate  these  remarks  by  an  example : — The 
city  of  Armagh  is  mentioned  in  numerous  Irish  docu- 
ments, many  of  them  of  great  antiquity,  such  as  the 
Book  of  Leinster,  &c.,  and  always  in  the  form  Ai'd- 
Macha,  except  when  the  Latin  equivalent  is  used. 
The  oldest  of  these  is  the  Book  of  Armagh,  which  is 
known  to  have  been  transcribed  about  the  year  807  ; 
in  this  we  find  the  name  translated  by  Altitudo  Machce, 
which  determines  the  meaning,  namely,  Macha's 
height. 

But  in  this  same  Book  of  Armagh,  as  well  as  in 
many  other  ancient  authorities,  the  place  is  men- 
tioned in  connexion  with  St.  Patrick,  who  is  recorded 
to  have  founded  the  cathedral  about  the  year  457, 
the  site  having  been  granted  to  him  by  Daire,  the 
chief  of  the  surrounding  district ;  and  as  the  history 
of  St.  Patrick,  and  of  this  foundation,  is  accepted  on 
all  hands  as  authentic,  we  have  undoubted  evidence 
that  the  name  existed  in  the  fifth  century,  though  we 
possess  no  document  of  that  age  in  which  it  is  written. 


74  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.        [part  i. 

And  even  Tsithout  fm-tlier  testimony  we  are  able  to 
say  that  it  is  older,  for  it  was  in  use  before  St. 
Patrick's  arrival,  who  only  accepted  the  name  as  he 
found  it. 

But  here  again,  history,  though  of  a  less  reliable 
character,  comes  to  our  aid.  There  is  an  ancient 
tract  called  Dinnsenchus,  which  professes  to  give  the 
origin  of  the  names  of  the  most  celebrated  localities 
in  Ireland,  and,  among  others,  that  of  Armagh.  It 
is  a  fact  admitting  of  no  doubt,  that  the  place  received 
its  name  from  some  remarkable  woman  named  Macha, 
and  the  ancient  writer  in  the  Dinnsenchus  mentions 
three,  from  one  of  whom  the  name  was  derived,  but 
does  not  decide  which.  The  first  was  Macha  the  wife 
of  Nevvy,  who  led  hither  a  colony  about  600  years 
after  the  deluge  ;  the  second,  Macha  of  the  golden 
hair,  who  founded  the  palace  of  Emania,  300  years 
before  the  Cliristian  era  ;  and  the  third,  Macha,  wife 
of  Crunn,  who  lived  in  the  reign  of  Conor  Mac  Nessa 
in  the  first  century.  The  second  Macha  is  recorded 
to  have  been  buried  there,  and  as  she  was  by  far  the 
most  celebrated  of  the  three,  she  it  was,  most  proba- 
bly, after  whom  the  place  was  called.  We  may 
conclude  therefore,  with  every  appearance  of  certainty, 
that  the  name  has  an  antiquity  of  more  than  two 
thousand  years. 

Following  this  method  of  investigation,  we  are  able 
to  determine  with  considerable  precision,  the  age  of 
hundreds  of  local  names  still  in  use  ;  and  as  a  further 
illustration,  I  shall  enter  into  some  detail  concerning 
a  few  of  the  most  ancient  authorities  that  have  come 
down  to  us. 

The  oldest  writer  by  whom  Irish  places  are  named 
in  detail,  is  the  Grreek  geographer,  Ptolemy,  who 
wrote  his  treatise  in  the  beginning  of  the  second  cen- 


CHAP,  v.]     The  Antiquity  of  Irish  Local  Names.       75 

tury.  It  is  well  known  tliat  Ptolemy's  work  is  only 
a  corrected  copy  of  another  written  by  Marinus  of 
Tyre,  who  lived  a  short  time  before  him,  and  the 
latter  is  believed  to  have  drawn  his  materials  from  an 
ancient  Tyrian  Atlas.  The  names  preserved  by  Pto- 
lemy are  therefore,  so  far  as  they  are  authentic,  as  old 
at  least  as  the  first  century,  and  with  great  probability 
much  older. 

Unfortunately  very  few  of  his  Irish  names  have 
reached  our  time.*  In  the  portion  of  his  work  re- 
lating to  Ireland,  he  mentions  over  fifty,  and  of  these 
only  about  nine  can  be  identified  with  names  exist- 
ing within  the  period  reached  by  our  history.  These 
are  Sows,  now  the  Shannon  ;  Birgos,  the  Barrow ; 
BoKouinda,  the  Boyne  ;  Rhikina,  Rechra  or  Pathlin  ; 
Login,  the  Lagan ;  JYagnatai,  Connaught ;  Isamnion 
Akron,  Rinn  Seimhne  (now  Island  Magee),  i.  e.,  the 
point  of  Seimhne,  an  ancient  tenitory  ;  Eblami,  Dub- 
lin ;  and  another  to  which  I  shall  return  presently. 

The  river  that  he  calls  Ohoka  appears,  by  its  posi- 
tion on  the  map,  to  be  the  same  as  the  Wicklow  river 
now  so  well  known  as  the  Ovoca,  but  this  last  name 
has  been  borrowed  from  Ptolemy  himself,  and  has 
been  applied  to  the  river  in  very  recent  times.  Its 
proper  name,  as  we  find  it  in  the  Annals,  is  Avon- 
more,  which  is  still  the  name  of  one  of  the  two 
principal  branches  that  form  "  The  meeting  of  the 
Waters." 

He  places  a  town  called  Doimon  near  the  Ohoka. 
It  is  now  impossible  to  determine  the  place  that  is 
meant  by  this ;  but  the  reeord  is  valuable,  as  the 
name  is  obviously  the  Keltic  dun,  with  the  Grreek  in- 

*  The  following  observations  refer  to  Mercator's  Edition, 
1605. 


76  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.      [part  i. 

flexion  on  postfixed,  wliich  shows  that  this  word  was 
in  use  as  a  local  appellative  at  t]iat  early  age. 

There  is  one  very  interesting  example  of  the  com- 
plete preservation  of  a  name  unchanged,  fi'om  the 
time  of  the  Phoenician  na\'igators  to  the  present  day. 
Just  outside  Eblana^  there  appears  a  small  island, 
which  is  called  Edri  Deserta  on  the  map,  and  Edrou 
Heremos  in  the  Grreek  text,  i.  e.  the  desert  of  Edros ; 
which  last  name,  after  removing  the  Grreek  inflexion, 
and  making  allowance  for  the  usual  contraction,  re- 
gains the  original  form  Edar.  TJiis  is  exactly  the 
Irish  name  of  Howth,  used  in  all  our  ancient  authori- 
ties, either  as  it  stands,  or  with  the  addition  of  Ben 
{Ben-Edaii%  the  peak  of  Edar)  ;  still  well  known 
throughout  the  whole  country  by  speakers  of  Irish  ; 
and  perpetuated  to  future  time  in  the  names  of  se- 
veral villa  residences,  built  within  the  last  few  years 
on  the  hill. 

Some  winters  have  erroneously  identifled  Edrou 
He}'em.os  with  Ireland's  Eye,  probably  because  the 
former  is  represented  as  an  island.  The  perfect  co- 
incidence of  the  name  is  alone  siiificient  to  prove  that 
Ben  Edar  is  the  place  meant ;  but  I  may  add,  that 
to  the  ancient  navigators  who  collected  the  informa- 
tion handed  down  to  us  by  Ptolemy,  Ireland's  Eye 
would  be  barely  noticeable,  as  they  sailed  along  our 
coast,  whereas  the  bold  headland  of  Ben  Edar  formed 
a  prominent  landmark,  certain  to  be  remembered 
and  recorded;  and  connected  as  it  was  with  the 
mainland  by  a  low  narrow  isthmus,  it  is  no  wonder 
they  mistook  it  for  an  island.  Besides,  as  we  know 
from  our  most  ancient  authorities,  IIo"wth  was  a  cele- 
brated locality  from  the  earliest  times  reached  by 
history  or  tradition ;  whereas  Ireland's  Eye  was  a 
place   of  no  note  till  the  seventh  century,  when  it 


CHAP,  v.]     The  Antiquity  of  Irish  Local  Names.        77 

was  selected,  like  many  other  islands  ronnd  the  coast, 
as  a  place  of  religious  retirement,  by  Christian  mis- 
sionaries. 

According  to  some  Irish  authorities,  the  place  re- 
ceived the  name  of  Ben-Edair  from  a  Tuatha  De  Da- 
nann  cMeftain,  Edar  the  son  of  Edgaeth,  who  was 
buiied  there ;  while  others  say  that  it  was  from  Edar 
the  wife  of  Grann,  one  of  the  five  Firbolg  brothers  who 
divided  Ireland  iDetween  them.  The  name  Howth  is 
Danish.  It  is  written  in  ancient  letters  Hofda,  Hou- 
ete,  and  Howeth,  all  different  forms  of  the  northern 
word  Hoved,  a  head  (Worsae) . 

The  Irish  names  originally  collected  for  this  ancient 
Atlas,  were  learned  from  the  natives  by  sailors  speak- 
ing a  totally  different  language  ;  the  latter  delivered 
them  in  turn  from  memory  to  the  compiler,  who  was 
of  course  obliged  to  represent  them  by  Phoenician 
letters  ;  and  they  were  ultimately  transferred  by  Pto- 
lemy into  the  Grreek  language.  It  appears  perfectly 
obvious,  therefore,  that  the  names  as  we  find  them  on 
Ptolemy's  map,  must  in  general  be  very  much  dis- 
torted from  the  proper  form,  as  used  at  the  time  by 
the  inhabitants. 

Enormous  changes  of  form  have  taken  place  in  our 
own  time,  in  many  Irish  names  that  have  been  trans- 
ferred merely  from  Irish  to  English,  under  circum- 
stances far  more  favourable  to  correctness.  If  some 
old  compiler,  in  drawing  a  map  of  Ireland,  had  re- 
moved the  ancient  Ceaun-Leime  (the  head  of  the 
leap)  twenty  or  thii-ty  miles  from  its  proper  position 
(as  Ptolemy  does  in  case  of  several  places),  and  caUed 
it  by  its  present  name  Slyne  Head,  and  if  all  inter- 
mediate information  were  lost,  it  is  highly  probable 
that  it  would  never  be  recognised. 

When  we  reflect  on  all  this,  and  remember  besides 


78  The  Irish  Local  Name  System.        [part  t. 

that  several  of  the  names  are  no  doubt  fantastic  trans- 
lations, and  that  with  great  probability  many  of  them 
never  existed  at  all,  except  in  the  imagination  of  the 
voyagers,  we  shall  cease  to  be  surprised  that,  out  of 
more  than  fifty,  we  are  able  to  identify  only  about 
nine  of  Ptolemy's  names. 

The  next  writer  after  Ptolemy  who  has  mentioned 
many  Irish  localities,  and  whose  works  remain  to  us, 
is  a  native,  namely,  Adamnan,  who  wrote  his  Life  of 
St.  Columba  in  the  seventh  century,  but  the  names  he 
records  were  all  in  use  before  the  time  of  Columba  in 
the  sixth  century.  In  this  work  about  forty  Irish 
places  are  mentioned,  and  here  we  have  Ptolemy's 
case  reversed.  The  number  of  names  totally  lost,  or 
not  yet  recognised,  does  not  amount  to  half  a  dozen. 
All  the  rest  have  been  identified  in  Reeves's  edition  of 
Adamnan ;  of  these,  nine  or  ten,  though  now  obso- 
lete, occur  frequently  in  Irish  MSS.,  and  have  been 
in  use  down  to  recent  times  ;  the  remainder  exist  at 
the  present  day,  and  are  stiU  applied  to  the  localities. 

It  will  not  be  necessary  to  detail  the  numerous 
writers,  whose  works  are  still  extant,  that  flourished 
at  different  periods  from  Adamnan  down  to  the  time 
of  Colgan  and  the  O'Clerys ;  or  the  ancient  MSS.  that 
remain  to  us,  enumerating  or  describing  Irish  loca- 
lities. It  will  be  enough  to  say,  that  in  the  majority 
of  cases  the  places  they  mention  are  still  known  by 
the  same  names,  and  have  been  identified  in  our  own 
day  by  various  Irish  scholars. 

The  conclusion  naturally  following  from  this  is, 
that  the  names  by  which  all  places  of  any  note  were 
known  in  the  sixth  and  succeeding  centuries  are, 
with  some  exceptions,  the  very  names  they  bear  at 
the  present  day. 

A  vast  number  of  names  containing  the  words  dun, 


ciLiP.  v.]     The  Antiquity  of  Irish  Local  Names.      79 

rath^  lis,  caher,  cam,  fert,  cloon,  &c.,  are  as  old  at 
least  as  the  advent  of  Christianity,  and  a  large  pro- 
portion much  older ;  for  all  these  terms  are  of  pagan 
origin,  though  many  of  them  were  adopted  by  Cliris- 
tian  missionaries.  And  in  various  parts  of  the  book 
will  be  found  numbers  of  territorial  designations, 
which  were  originally  tribe  names,  derived  from  kings 
and  chieftains  who  flourished  at  difi'erent  times  from 
the  foundation  of  the  palace  of  Emania  (300  years 
B.  C.)  to  the  ninth  century  of  the  Christian  Era. 

Those  ecclesiastical  designations  that  are  formed 
from  the  names  of  saints  after  such  words  as  kill, 
temple,  donagh,  aglish,  ti,  &c.,  were  generally  imposed 
at  various  times  from  the  fifth  to  the  eighth  or  ninth 
century  ;  and  among  these  may  be  enumerated "^the 
greater  number  of  our  parish  names.  One  example 
will  be  sufficient  to  illustrate  this,  but  many  will  be 
found  through  the  book,  especially  in  the  next  three 
or  four  chapters. 

We  have  undoubted  historic  testimony  that  the 
name  of  Killaspugbrone,  near  Sligo,  is  as  old  as  the 
end  of  the  fifth  century.  It  took  its  name  from  one 
of  St.  Patrick's  disciples,  Bron  or  Bronus,  who  was 
also  a  contemporary  and  friend  of  St.  Brigid  of  Kil- 
dare,  and  became  bishop  of  Cassel  Irra,  in  the  dis- 
trict of  Cuil  Irra,  the  peninsula  lying  south-west  of 
Sligo.  In  the  Book  of  Armagh,  and  in  the  Tripartite 
Life,  it  is  stated  that  after  St.  Patrick  had  passed 
from  the  Forragh,  or  assembly  place,  of  the  sons  of 
Awly,  he  crossed  the  Moy  at  Bartragh,  and  built 
the  church  of  Cassel  Irra  for  his  disciple,  bishop  Bro- 
nus, the  son  of  Icnus.  Bronus  died  on  the  8th  June, 
612,  on  which  day  he  is  commemorated  in  O'Clery's 
Calendar.  And  the  name  Killaspugbrone  is  very 
little   altered  from   the   original    Cill-easpuig-Broin 


80  The  Irish  Local  Nmne  Sijstem.       [part  i. 

(Four  Mast . ) ,  the  cliTireli  of  bishop  Bronus.  A  ruined 
little  church  still  remains  on  the  very  spot,  but  it 
cannot  be  the  structure  erected  by  St.  Patrick,  for 
the  style  of  masonry  proves  that  it  belongs  to  a  very 
much  later  period. 

The  process  of  name-forming  has  continued  from 
those  early  ages  down  to  recent  times.  It  was  in  ac- 
tive operation  during  the  twelfth,  thirteenth,  four- 
teenth, and  fifteenth  centuries,  for  we  have  great 
numbers  of  names  derived  from  English  families  who 
settled  amongst  us  during  these  periods.  It  has  never 
entirely  ceased,  and  probably  never  will ;  for  I  might 
point  to  some  names  which  have  been  imposed  within 
ouj:  own  memory. 

The  number  of  names  given  within  the  last  two 
centuries  is  so  small,  however,  that  we  may  regard 
the  process  as  virtually  at  an  end,  only  making  allow- 
ance for  those  imperceptibly  slow  changes  incidental 
to  language  in  its  cultivated  stage.  The  great  body 
of  our  townland  and  other  names  are  at  least  several 
hundred  years  old  ;  for  those  that  we  fiod  in  the  in- 
quisitions and  maps  of  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth 
centuries,  which  are  numerous  and  minute,  exist,  with 
few  exceptions,  at  the  present  day,  and  generally  with 
very  slight  alterations  of  form. 


PART     II. 

NAMES  OF  HISTOEICAL  AND  LEGENDAEY  ORIGIN. 


CHAPTER  I. 


HISTORICAL    EVENTS, 


HE  face  of  the  country  is  a  book, 
which,  if  it  be  deciphered  correctly 
and  read  attentively,  will  unfold 
more  than  ever  did  the  cuneiform 
inscriptions  of  Persia,  or  the  hierogly- 
)  phics  of  Egypt.  Not  only  are  historical 
events,  and  the  names  of  innumerable 
remarkable  persons  recorded,  but  the 
whole  social  life  of  our  ancestors — their  customs,  their 
superstitions,  their  battles,  their  amusements,  their 
religious  fervour,  and  their  crimes — are  depicted  in 
vivid  and  everlasting  colom-s.  The  characters  are 
often  obscure,  and  the  page  defaced  by  time,  but 
enough  remains  to  repay  with  a  rich  reward  the  toil 
of  the  investigator.  Let  us  hold  up  the  scroll  to  the 
light,  and  decipher  some  of  these  interesting  records. 
One  of  the  most  noted  facts  in  ancient  Irish  and 
British  history,  is  the  migration  of  colonies  from  the 
north  of  Ireland  to  the  neighbouring  coasts  of  Scotland, 


82  Sistorical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

and  the  intimate  intercourse  that  in  consequence  ex- 
isted in  early  ages  between  the  two  countries.  The 
first  regular  settlement  mentioned  by  our  historians 
was  made  in  the  latter  part  of  the  second  century,  by 
Cairbre  Riada,  son  of  Conary  the  second,  king  of 
Ireland.  This  expedition,  which  is  mentioned  in 
most  of  our  Annals,  is  confirmed  by  Bede,  in  the 
following  words  : — "In  course  of  time,  Britain,  be- 
sides the  Britons  and  Picts,  received  a  third  nation, 
the  Scoti,  who  issuing  from  Hibernia  under  the 
leadership  of  Reuda,  secured  for  themselves,  either 
by  friendship  or  by  the  sword,  settlements  among  the 
Picts  which  they  still  possess.  From  the  name  of 
their  commander,  they  are  to  this  day  called  Dal- 
reudini ;  for  in  their  language,  Dal  signifies  a  part." 
(Hist.  Eccl.,Lib.  L,  Cap.  1). 

There  were  other  colonies  also,  the  most  remark- 
able of  which  was  that  led  by  Fergus,  Angus,  and 
Loarn,  the  tliree  sons  of  Ere,  in  the  year  506,  which 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  Scottish  Monarchy.  The 
country  colonized  by  these  emigrants  was  known  by 
the  name  oi  Airer-Gaedhil  [ Arrer-gale] ,  (Wars  of 
GGr.),  i.  e.  the  territory  of  the  dael  or  Irish,  and 
the  name  is  still  applied  to  the  territory  in  the  short- 
ened form  of  Ai'gyle,  a  living  record  of  these  early 
colonizations. 

The  tribes  over  whom  Carbery  ruled  were,  as  Bede 
and  our  own  Annals  record,  called  from  him  Dal- 
riada,  Eiada's  portion  or  tribe ;  of  which  there  were  two 
— one  in  Ireland,  and  the  other  and  more  illustrious  in 
Scotland.  The  name  has  been  long  forgotten  in  the 
latter  country,  but  still  remains  in  Ireland,  though 
in  such  a  worn  down  and  fragmentary  state,  that  it 
requires  the  microscope  of  the  philologist  and  histo- 
rian to  recognise  it. 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  Events,  83 

The  Irish  Dalriada  included  that  pai-t  of  Antrim 
extending  from  the  Ravel  water  northwards,  and  the 
same  district  is  called  at  the  present  day  the  Route, 
or  by  Latin  writers  Rut  a.,  which  is  considered  by 
Ussher  and  0 'Flaherty  to  be  a  corruption  of  the 
latter  paii;  of  T)Ql-Riada.  If  this  opinion  be  correct 
— and  I  see  no  reason  to  question  it — there  are  few 
local  names  in  the  British  islands  more  venerable  for 
antiquity  than  this,  preserving  with  little  altera- 
tion, through  the  turmoil  of  seventeen  centuries,  the 
name  of  the  first  leader  of  a  Scotic  colony  to  the 
coasts  of  Alba. 

The  name  of  Scotland  also  commemorates  these 
successive  emigrations  of  Irishmen  ;  it  has,  moreover, 
an  interesting  history  of  its  own,  and  exhibits  one  of 
the  most  curious  instances  on  record  of  the  strange 
vicissitudes  to  which  topographical  names  are  often 
subjected,  having  been  completely  transferred  from 
one  country  to  another. 

The  name  Scotia  originally  belonged  to  Ireland, 
and  the  Irish  were  called  Scoti  or  Scots ;  Scotland, 
which  was  anciently  called  Alba,  subsequently  got 
the  name  of  Scotia  minor,  as  being  peopled  by  Scots 
from  Ireland,  while  the  parent  country  was  for  dis- 
tinction often  called  Scotia  major.  This  continued 
down  to  about  the  eleventh  century,  when  Ireland 
returned  to  the  native  name  Eire,  and  *'  Scotia" 
was  thenceforward  exclusively  applied  to  Scotland. 
The  word  "  land"  in  both  Ire-land  and  Scot-land 
was  added  by  the  English,  the  former  being  obviously 
a  contraction  of  Eire-land. 

That  the  Scoti  were  the  inhabitants  of  Ireland 
would  be  sufficiently  proved  by  the  single  quotation 
given  above  from  Bede  ;  but  besides,  we  find  it  ex- 
pressly stated  by  several  other  ancient  authorities ; 
g2 


84  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

and  the  Irish  are  called  Scoti  in  Cormac's  Griossarj, 
as  well  as  in  other  native  writings.  Adamnan  often 
uses  Hibemia  and  Scotia  synonymously  :  thus  in 
his  Life  of  Columba  we  j&nd  the  following  pas- 
sage : — "  On  a  certain  day  the  holy  man  ordered 
one  of  his  monks  named  Trenan  of  the  tribe  of 
Mocurimtir,   to  go   on  a  commission  to  Scotia  {ad 

Scotiani)  : The  saint  answering  him, 

*  Go  in  peace ;  you  shall  have  a  favourable  and 
good  wind  till  you  arrive  in  Hibemia  {ad  Hiber- 
niam)  ;  you  shall  find  a  man  coming  to  meet  you 
from  a  distance,  who  will  be  the  first  to  seize  the  prow 
of  your  ship  in  Scotia  {in  Scotia)  ;  he  will  accompany 
you  in  your  journey  for  some  days  in  Hibernia."  — 
Lib.  I.,  Cap._  18.  ^ 

Many  testimonies  of  this  kind  might  be  adduced 
from  other  writers  ;  and  if  another  clear  proof  were 
necessary,  we  find  it  in  an  ode  of  the  poet  Claudian, 
celebrating  a  ^dctory  of  Theodosius  over  the  three 
nations  of  the  Saxons,  the  Picts,  and  the  Scots,  in 
w^hich  the  following  passage  occurs  : — "  The  Orcades 
flowed  with  Saxon  gore  ;  Thule  became  warm  with 
the  blood  of  the  Picts  ;  and  icy  lerne  wept  her  heaps 
of  (slaughtered)  Scots." 

The  foimdation  of  the  celebrated  palace  oi  Ea- 
mhuin  or  Emania,  which  took  place  about  300  years 
before  the  Incarnation,  forms  an  important  epoch  ;  it 
is  the  limit  assigned  to  authentic  Irish  history  by  the 
annalist  Tighernach,  who  asserts  that  all  accounts  of 
events  anterior  to  this  are  uncertain.  The  following 
are  the  circumstances  of  its  origin  as  given  in  the 
Book  of  Leinster.  Three  Kings,  Aedh-ruadh  [Ay- 
roo],  Dihorba,  and  Ciombaeth  [Kimbay],  agreed  to 
reign  each  for  seven  years  in  alternate  succession, 
and   they  each  enjoyed   the  sovereignty   for   three 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  Events.  85 

periods,  or  twenty-one  years,  when  Aedh-ruaclli  died. 
His  daughter,  the  celebrated  Macha  of  the  golden 
hair,  asserted  her  right  to  reign  when  her  father's 
turn  came,  and  being  opposed  by  Dihorba  and  his 
sons,  she  defeated  them  in  several  battles,  in  one  of 
which  Dihorba  was  killed,  and  she  then  assumed  the 
sovereignty. 

She  afterwards  married  the  surviving  monarch, 
Kjjnbay,  and  took  the  five  sons  of  Dihorba  prisoners. 
The  Ultonians  proposed  that  they  should  be  put  to 
death  : — "  Not  so,"  said  she,  ''  because  it  would  be 
the  defilement  of  the  righteousness  of  a  sovereign  in 
me ;  but  they  shall  be  condemned  to  slavery,  and 
shall  raise  a  rath  around  me,  and  it  shall  be  the  chief 
city  of  Ulster  for  ever."  The  account  then  gives  a 
fanciful  derivation  of  the  name ;  "  And  she  marked 
for  them  the  dun  with  her  brooch  of  gold  from  her 
neck,"  so  that  the  palace  was  called  Eomuin  or  Ea- 
'mhuin,  from  eo^  a  brooch,  and  muin^  the  neck.  (See 
Armagh,  p.  73,  and  O'Curry's  Lectures,  p.  527). 

The  remains  of  this  great  palace  are  situated  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Armagh,  and  consist  of  a 
circular  rath  or  rampart  of  earth  with  a  deep  fosse, 
enclosing  about  eleven  acres,  within  which  are  two 
smaller  circular  forts.  The  great  rath  is  still  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Navan  Fort,  in  which  the  original 
name  is  curiously  preserved.  The  proper  Irish  form 
is  Eamhuin,  which  is  pronounced  aren,  Emania  being 
merely  a  latinized  form.  The  Irish  article  an,  con- 
tracted as  usual  to  n,  placed  before  this,  makes  it 
nEamhuin,  the  pronimciation  of  which  is  exactly  re- 
presented by  Navan  (see  page  23,  supra). 

This  ancient  palace  was  destroyed  in  the  year  A.  D. 
332,  after  having  flourished  as  the  chief  royal  resi- 
dence of  Ulster  for  more  than  600  years ;    and  it 


86  Ilisforical  and  Legendary  J^ames.      [part  ii, 

would  perhaps  be  difficult  to  identify  its  site  with  ab- 
solute certainty,  were  it  not  for  the  singular  tenacity 
with  which  it  has  retained  its  name,  through  all  the 
social  revolutions  of  sixteen  hundred  years. 

The  Red  Branch  knights  of  Ulster,  so  celebrated 
in  our  early  romances,  and  whose  renown  has  de- 
scended to  the  present  day,  flourished  in  the  first 
century,  and  attained  their  greatest  glory  in  the  reign 
of  Conor  mac  Nessa.  They  were  a  kind  of  militia  in 
the  service  of  the  monarch,  and  received  theii'  name 
from  residing  in  one  of  the  houses  of  the  palace  of 
Emania,  called  Craehh-yniadh  [Creeveroe]  or  the  Red 
Branch,  where  they  were  trained  in  valour  and  feats 
of  arms.  The  name  of  this  ancient  military  college 
is  still  preserved  in  that  of  the  adjacent  townland  of 
Creeveroe,  and  thus  has  descended  through  another 
medium,  to  our  own  time,  the  echo  of  these  old 
heroic  days. 

Another  military  organization  not  less  celebrated, 
of  somewhat  later  date,  was  that  of  the  Fians  or 
Fenians,  or,  as  they  are  often  called,  the  Fianna  Erin. 
They  flourished  in  the  reign  of  Cormac  mac  Art  in 
the  third  century,  and  formed  a  militia  for  the  defence 
of  the  throne  ;  their  leader  was  the  renowned  Finn 
mac  Cumhail  [Finn  macCoole],  who  resided  at  the  hill 
of  Allen  in  Kildare,  and  whom  Macpherson  attempted 
to  transfer  to  Scotland  under  the  name  of  Fingal. 
Finn  and  his  companions  are  to  this  day  vividly  re- 
membered in  tradition  and  legend,  in  every  piart  of 
Ireland  ;  and  the  hills,  the  glens,  and  the  rocks  still 
attest,  not  merely  their  existence,  for  that  no  one  who 
has  studied  the  question  can  doubt,  but  the  important 
part  they  played  in  the  government  and  military 
aff'airs  of  the  kingdom. 

One   of  the   principal   amusements   of  these   old 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  E cents.  87 

heroes,  when  not  employed  in  war,  was  hunting,  and 
during  their  long  sporting  exciu^sions,  they  had  cer- 
tain favourite  hills  on  which  they  were  in  the  habit 
of  resting  and  feasting  during  the  intervals  of  the 
chase.  These  hills,  most  of  which  are  crowned  by 
earns  or  moats,  are  called  Suidhe-Finn  [Seefin], 
Finn's  seat  or  resting  place,  and  they  are  found  in 
each  of  the  four  provinces ;  the  name  appears  to 
have  belonged  originally  to  the  earns,  and  to  have 
extended  afterwards  to  the  hills. 

There  is  one  among  the  DubKn  mountains,  a  few 
miles  south  of  Tallaght ;  another  among  the  Gralties  ; 
and  the  fine  mountain  of  Seefin  terminates  the  Bally- 
houi'a  range  towards  the  north  east,  three  miles  south 
of  Kilfinnane  in  Limerick.  Immediately  under  the 
brow  of  this  mountain,  reposes  the  beautiful  vale  of 
Grienosheen,  whose  name  corumemorates  the  great 
poet  and  warrior,  Oisin  the  son  of  Finn ;  and  in 
several  of  the  neighbouring  glens,  there  are  rocks, 
which  are  associated,  in  the  legends  of  the  peasantry, 
with  the  exploits  of  these  ancient  waniors.  There 
are  also  places  called  Seefin  in  Cavan,  Armagh  (neai* 
Newiy),  Down,  King's  County,  Gralway,  Mayo,  and 
Sligo ;  while  in  Tyrone  we  find  Seein,  which  is  the 
same  name,  with  the  /  aspirated  and  omitted.  Finn's 
father,  Cumhal  [Coole],  was  slain  by  Graul-mac- 
Morna  at  the  terrible  battle  of  C nucha  or  Castleknock, 
near  Dublin  :  he  is  believed  to  have  had  his  residence 
at  Rathcoole  (Cumhal's  rath),  now  a  small  town  nine 
miles  south-west  of  the  city ;  but  I  cannot  find  that 
any  vestige  of  his  rath  remains. 

There  are  numerous  places  in  every  part  of  Ire- 
land, where,  according  to  tradition,  Finn's  soldiers 
used  to   meet  for  various  purposes  ;    and  many  of 


88  Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

them  still  retain  names  that  speak  plainly  enough  of 
these  assemblies.  In  the  county  Monaghan  we  find 
Lisnaveane,  that  is  JJos-na-hliFiann^  the  fort  of  the 
Fianna  ;  in  Donegal,  Meenavean,  where  on  the  meen^ 
or  moimtain  flat,  they  no  doubt  rested  from  the  fa- 
tigues of  the  chase  ;  near  Killorglin,  in  Kerry,  Derry- 
nafeana  (Derry,  an  oak  wood),  and  in  another  part  of 
the  same  county  is  a  river  called  Owennafeana ;  in 
Westmeath,  Camfyan  and  Skeanaveane  (Skea,  a 
bush)  ;  and  many  other  such  names. 

The  name  of  Leinster  is  connected  with  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  of  the  very  early  events  recorded  in 
the  history  of  Ireland.  In  the  third  century  before 
the  Christian  era,  Cofi'agh  Gael  Bra  murdered  his 
brother,  Leary  Lore,  monarch  of  Ireland,  and  the 
king's  son,  OlioU  Aine,  and  immediately  usurped  the 
throne.  Maen,  afterwards  called  Labhradh  Linshagh 
(Lavra  the  mariner) ,  son  of  OlioU,  was  banished  by 
the  usurper ;  and  having  remained  for  some  time 
in  the  south  of  Ireland,  he  was  forced  to  leave  the 
country,  and  crossed  the  sea  to  Graul.  He  entered 
the  military  service  of  the  king  of  that  country,  and 
after  having  greatly  distinguished  himself,  he  returned 
to  his  native  land  with  a  small  army  of  foreigners,  to 
^vrest  the  crown  from  the  murderer  of  his  father  and 
grandfather. 

He  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Slaney  in  Wexford, 
and  after  having  been  joined  by  a  number  of  fol- 
lowers, he  marched  to  the  palace  of  Dinn  Righ  [Din- 
ree,  the  fortress  of  the  kings],  in  which  Cofi'agh  was 
then  holding  an  assembly  with  thirty  native  princes, 
and  a  guard  of  700  men.  The  palace  was  surprised 
by  night,  and  set  on  fire,  and  all  its  inmates — king, 
princes,  and  guards — burned  to  death.     Maen  then 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  Events.  89 

assumed  the  sovereignty,  and  reigned  for  nineteen 
3^ears. 

The  exact  description  of  the  annalists  identifies 
very  clearly  the  position  of  this  ancient  palace, 
the  great  monnd  of  which  still  exists,  though  its 
name  has  been  long  forgotten.  It  is  now  called 
Ballyknockan  moat,  and  lies  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Barrow,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south  of  Leighlin- 
bridge. 

Lavra's  foreign  auxiliaries  used  a  peculiarly  shaped 
broad -pointed  spear,  which  was  called  laighen  [layen]  ; 
and  from  this  circumstance,  the  province  in  which 
they  settled,  which  had  previously  borne  the  name 
of  Galian^  was  afterwards  called  Laighen^  which 
is  its  present  Irish  name.  The  syllable  "  ster " 
(for  which  see  farther  on)  was  added  in  after  ages, 
and  the  whole  word  pronounced  Laynster^  which  is 
the  very  name  given  in  a  state  paper  of  the  year 
1515,  and  which  naturally  settled  into  the  present 
form  Leinster. 

La\Ta's  expedition  is  mentioned  by  Tighemach, 
and  by  most  of  the  other  annalists  who  treat  of  that 
period ;  but  as  his  adventures  have  been  amplified 
into  a  romantic  tale  in  the  Book  of  Leinster,*  which 
is  copied  by  Keating  and  others,  the  whole  story,  if 
it  were  not  confirmed,  would  probably  be  regarded 
as  a  baseless  legend.  The  word  Gall  has,  however, 
been  used  in  the  Irish  language  from  the  remotest 
antiquity,  to  denote  a  foreigner.  For  some  centuries 
before  the  Anglo-Norman  invasion  it  was  applied  to 
the  Danes,  and  since  that  period  to  the  English — both 
applications  being  frequent  in  Irish  manuscripts  ; — 
but  it  is  obvious  that  it  must  have  been  originally  ap- 

*  For  which  see  O'Curry's  Lectures,  p.  252. 


90  Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

plied  to  a  colony  of  Gauls,  sufficiently  nmnerous  and 
important  to  fix  the  word  in  the  language. 

We  find  it  stated  in  Cormac's  Grlossary,  that  the 
word  Gall  was  applied  to  pillar  stones,  because  they 
were  first  erected  in  Ireland  by  the  Galli,  or  primi- 
tive inhabitants  of  France  ;  which  not  only  corrobo- 
rates the  truth  of  the  ancient  tradition  of  a  Graulish 
colony,  but  proves  also  that  the  word  Gall  was  then 
believed  to  be  derived  from  this  people.  Thus  the 
story  of  Lavra's  conquest  is  confirmed  by  an  indepen- 
dent and  unsuspicious  cii'cumstance ;  and  as  it  is  re- 
corded by  the  accurate  Tighemach,  and  falls  within 
the  limits  of  authentic  Irish  history  as  fixed  by  that 
annalist  (about  300  years  B.  C),  there  seems  no  sufii- 
cient  reason  to  doubt  its  truth. 

The  little  island  oflnchagoill  in  Lough  Comb,  mid- 
way between  Oughterard  and  Cong,  is  one  of  the 
few  examples  we  have  remaining,  in  which  the  word 
Gall  is  applied  in  its  original  signification,  i.  e.  to  a 
native  of  (jaul ;  and  it  corroborates  moreover  an  in- 
teresting fragment  of  our  ancient  ecclesiastical  history. 
The  name  in  its  present  form  is  anglicised  from /;»'.s-r7/i- 
Ghoill,  the  island  of  the  Gall,  or  foreigner,  but  its 
full  name,  as  given  by  OTlaherty  and  others,  is  In  is-a?i- 
Ghoill-chraihhtMgh  [crauvy],  the  island  of  the  devout 
foreigner.  This  devout  foreigner  was  Lugnat  or  Lug- 
naedon,  who,  according  to  several  ancient  authori- 
ties, was  the  lumaire  or  pilot  of  St.  Patrick,  and  the 
son  of  his  sister  Liemania.  Yielding  to  the  desire  for 
solitude  so  common  among  the  ecclesiastics  of  that 
early  period,  he  established  himself,  by  permission  of 
his  uncle,  on  the  shore  of  Lough  Mask,  and  there 
spent  his  life  in  prayer  and  contemplation. 

This  statement,  which  occurs  in  the  Tripartite  Life 
of  St.  Patrick,  as  well  as  others  relating  to  the  family 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  Events,  91 

history  of  the  saint,  was  by  many  impugned  as  un- 
worthy of  credit,  till  it  received  an  imexpected  con- 
firmation in  the  discovery  on  the  island  of  Lngnaedon's 
headstone  by  Dr.  Petrie.  It  is  a  small  pillar  stone, 
four  feet  high,  and  it  bears  in  old  Eoman  characters 
this  inscription: — "LieLugnaedon  maccLmenueh," 
the  stone  of  Lugnaedon  the  son  of  Limenueh,  which 
is  the  oldest  Eoman  letter  inscription  ever  disco- 
vered in  Ireland.*  Near  it  is  the  ruin  of  a  small  stone 
church  called  Templepatrick,  believed — and  with  good 
reason  according  to  Petrie — to  have  been  founded  by 
St.  Patrick  :  if  this  be  so,  it  is  probable  that  it  is  the 
very  church  in  which  Lugnaedon  worshipped. 

In  several  old  authorities,  this  saint's  name  is 
written  Lugna  [Loona],  in  which  form  we  find  it 
preserved  in  another  locality.  Four  miles  north- 
north-east  from  Ballinrobe,  in  the  demesne  of  Bally- 
walter,  is  an  ancient  church,  which  is  believed,  in  the 
traditions  of  the  inhabitants,  to  be  the  third  church 
erected  in  Ireland.  Near  the  burial  ground,  is  a  holy 
well  now  known  by  the  name  of  Toberloona,  but  which 
is  called  Tohar-Lngna  in  Mac  Pirbis's  Poem,  in  the 
Book  of  Lecan,  i.  e.  Lugna's  well.  It  is  well  known 
that  among  St.  Patrick's  disciples,  his  own  nephew 
was  the  only  one  that  bore  the  name  of  Lugna,  and 
as  this  well  is  in  the  very  neighbourhood  where  he 
settled,  it  appears  quite  clear  that  it  was  dedicated  to 
him,  and  commemorates  his  name. 


*  I  find  that  Dr.  W.  Stokes,  in  his  recent  edition  of  Cormac's 
Glossary,  has  given  a  somewhat  different  reading  of  this  inscrip- 
tion, viz.  :  —  '••  Lie  Lugu^don  macci  Menueh,"  the  stone  of 
Lugusedon,  the  son  of  Menueh.  Whether  this  reading  is  incon- 
sistent with  the  assumption  that  the  stone  marks  the  grave  of 
Lugnat,  St.  Patrick's  nephew,  I  will  not  now  undertake  to  de- 
termine; but  the  matter  deserves  investigation. 


92  Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

We  have  at  least  two  interesting  examples  of  local 
names  formed  by  the  word  Grall  as  applied  to  the 
Danes  —  Fingall  and  Donegal.  A  colony  of  these 
people  settled  in  the  district  lying  north  of  Dublin, 
between  it  and  the  Delvin  river,  which,  in  conse- 
quence, is  called  in  our  authorities  (O'O.  Cal.,  Wars 
of  GrGr.,  &c.),  Fine- Gall,  the  territory  or  tribe  of  the 
Grails  or  Danes  ;  and  the  same  territory  is  still  well 
known  by  the  name  of  Fingall,  and  the  inhabitants 
are  locally  called  Fingallians. 

Donegal  is  mentioned  in  several  of  our  Annals,  and 
always  in  the  form  of  Diin-na-nGall,  the  fortress  of 
the  foreigners.  These  foreigners  must  have  been 
Danes,  and  the  name  was  no  doubt  applied  to  an 
earthen  dun  occupied  by  them  anterior  to  the  twelfth 
century  ;  for  we  have  direct  testimony  that  they  had 
a  settlement  there  at  an  early  period,  and  the  name 
is  older  than  the  Anglo-Norman  invasion.  Dr.  Petrie 
quotes  an  ancient  Irish  poem  (Irish  Pen.  Journal, 
p.  185),  written  in  the  tenth  century,  by  the  Tircon- 
nellian  bard  Flann  mac  Lonan,  in  which  it  is  stated 
that  Egnaghan,  the  father  of  Donnell,  from  whom  the 
O'Donnells  derive  their  name,  gave  his  three  beau- 
tiful daughters,  Duvlin,  Bebua,  and  Bebinn,  in  mar- 
riage to  three  Danish  princes,  Caithis,  Torges,  and 
Tor,  with  the  object  of  obtaining  their  friendship, 
and  to  secure  his  territory  from  their  depredations  ; 
and  the  marriages  were  celebrated  at  Donegal,  where 
Egnaghan  then  resided. 

The  Annals  of  Ulster  relate  that  the  Danish  fortress 
was  burned  in  1159,  by  Murtough  M'Loughlin,  king 
of  the  Northern  Hy  Neill :  not  a  vestige  of  it  now  re- 
mains, but  O'Donovan  considers  it  likely,  that  it  was 
situated  at  a  ford  which  crossed  the  river  Esk,  im- 
mediately west  of  the  old  castle,  and  which  the  Four 


CHAP.  I.]  Kutorkal  Events.  93 

Masters  at  1419  call  Ath-na-nGaU,  the  ford  of  the 
foreigners. 

There  are  several  other  places  through  the  country 
called  Donegal  or  Dungall,  having  the  same  general 
meaning  ;  we  have  no  evidence  to  show  whether  the 
foreigners  were  Danes  or  English  ;  possibly  they  were 
neither. 

There  are  great  numbers  of  names  in  all  parts  of 
Ireland,  in  which  this  w^ord  Grall  commemorates  Eng- 
lish settlements.  Galbally  in  Limerick  is  called  in  the 
Four  Masters,  GaUhhaile,  English-town,  and  it  pro- 
bably got  its  name  from  the  Eitzgeralds,  who  settled 
there  at  an  early  period ;  and  there  are  besides,  a 
dozen  other  places  of  the  same  name,  ten  of  them 
being  in  Tyrone  and  Wexford.  Galwally  in  Down, 
Gralvally  in  Derry,  and  Gallavally  in  Kerry  are  all 
the  same  name,  but  the  h  is  aspirated  as  it  ought  to 
be. 

Ballynagall,  Baltynagaul,  and  Ballygall,  all  town- 
land  names  of  frequent  occurrence,  mean  also  the 
town  of  the  Englishmen  ;  and  I  am  of  opinion  that 
Gaulstown,  a  name  common  in  Kilkenny  and  Meath, 
is  a  translation  of  Ballynagall.  The  terminations 
gall,  nagall,  gill,  and  guile,  are  exceedingly  common 
all  over  Ireland ;  the  two  former  generally  mean  "  of 
the  Englishmen,"  and  the  two  latter  ''  of  the  English- 
man ;"  Clonegall  in  Carlow,  and  Clongall  in  Meath, 
signify  the  Englishmen's  meadow;  Moneygall  in 
King's  County,  the  shubbery  of  the  strangers  ;  Clon- 
gill  in  Meath,  the  Englishman's  meadow ;  Ballinguile 
and  Bally  guile  in  Cork  and  Wicklow,  the  town  of 
the  Englishman. 

Gallhhuaile  [Galvoola]  is  a  name  that  often  occurs 
indifferent  anglicised  forms,  meaning  English-booley, 
i.  e.  a  booley  or  dairy  place  belonging  to  English 


94  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,      [part  ii. 

people.  In  Tipperary  it  gives  name  to  the  parish  of 
Galbooly ;  in  Donegal  it  is  made  Gralwolie ;  while 
in  other  places  we  find  it  changed  to  Gralholey  and 
Galhoola. 

The  mouth  of  the  Malahide  river,  near  Dublin,  is 
called  by  the  strange  name  of  Muldowney,  among 
the  people  of  the  locality,  a  name  which,  when  fully 
developed  under  the  microscope  of  history,  will  re- 
mind us  of  a  colony  still  more  ancient  than  those  I 
have  mentioned.  The  Firbolgs,  in  their  descent  on 
Ireland,  divided  themselves  into  three  bodies  under 
separate  leaders,  and  landed  at  three  different  places. 
The  men  of  one  of  these  hordes  were  called  Firdom- 
nainn  [Firdownan],  or  the  men  of  the  deep  pits,  and 
the  legendary  histories  say  that  they  received  this 
name  from  the  custom  of  digging  deeply  in  cultivat- 
ing the  soil. 

The  place  where  this  section  landed  was,  for  many 
ages  afterwards,  called  Inrer-Domnainn  (Book  of 
Leinster),  the  river  mouth  of  the  Domnanns^  and  it 
has  been  identified,  beyond  all  dispute,  with  the  little 
bay  of  Malahide ;  the  present  vulgar  name  Muldowney, 
is  merely  a  corruption  of  Maeil-Doninainn,  in  which 
the  word  fuaeil,  a  whirlpool,  is  substituted  for  the 
inhher  of  the  ancient  name.  Thus  this  fugitive-looking 
name,  so  little  remarkable  that  it  is  not  knoT\Ti  beyond 
the  immediate  district,  with  aj)parently  none  of  the 
marks  of  age  or  permanency,  can  boast  of  an  antiquity 
"  beyond  the  misty  space  of  twice  a  thousand  years;" 
and  preserves  the  memory  of  an  event  otherwise  for- 
gotten by  the  people,  and  regarded  by  many  as 
mythological ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  affords  a 
most  instructive  illustration  of  the  tenacity  with 
which  loose  fragments  of  language  often  retain  the 
footmarks  of  former  generations. 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  Events.  95 

According  to  our  early  histories,  wliieh  in  this  par- 
ticular are  confirmed  by  Bede  (Lib.  I.,  Cap.  1),  the 
Picts  landed  and  remained  some  time  in  Ireland,  on 
their  way  to  theu'  final  settlement  in  Scotland.  In 
the  Irish  Annals,  they  are  usually  called  Cruithne 
[Cruhne],  which  is  also  the  term  used  by  Adamnan, 
and  which  is  considered  to  be  synonymous  with  the 
word  Picti,  i.  e.  painted,  from  cndt/i,  colour.  Aftei' 
their  establishment  in  Scotland,  they  maintained  in- 
timate relations  with  Ireland,  and  the  ancient  Dala- 
radia,  which  extended  from  Ne"s\Ty  to  the  Pavel 
Water  in  Antrim,  is  often  called  in  our  Annals  the 
country  of  the  Crutheni.  It  is  probable  that  a  rem- 
nant of  the  original  colony  settled  there  ;  but  we 
know  besides  that  its  inhabitants  were  descended 
through  the  female  line,  from  the  Picts  ;  for  Irial 
Grlunmore  (son  of  Conall  Carnagh) ,  the  progenitor  of 
these  people,  was  married  to  the  daughter  of  Eochy, 
king  of  the  Picts  of  Scotland. 

Several  places  in  the  north  of  Ireland  retain  the 
name  of  this  ancient  people.  Duncrun,  in  the  parish 
of  Magilligan,  Derry,  was  in  old  days  a  place  of  some 
notoriety,  and  contained  a  church  erected  by  St. 
Patrick,  and  a  shrine  of  St.  Columba ;  it  must  have 
originally  belonged  to  a  tribe  of  Picts,  for  it  is  known 
in  the  Annals  by  the  name  of  Dim-  Cruithne  (Four 
Masters),  which  Colgan  (Tr.  Th.,  p.  181,  n.  187), 
translates  Arx  Cruthcenorum,  the  fortress  of  the  Cruth- 
nians.  In  the  parish  ofMacosquin,  in  the  same 
county,  there  is  a  townland  called  Drumcroon,  and 
one  in  the  parish  of  Devenish,  Fermanagh,  with  the 
name  of  Drumcroohen,  both  of  which  signify  the 
Picts'  ridge. 

After  the  Milesian  conquest  of  Ireland,  the  van- 
quished races,    consisting  chiefly   of  Firbolgs   and 


96  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

Tuatha  De  Dananns,  were  kept  in  a  state  of  subjec- 
tion by  the  conquerors,  and  oppressed  with  heavy 
exactions,  which  became  at  last  so  intolerable,  that 
they  rose  in  rebellion,  early  in  the  first  century, 
succeeded  in  overthi'owing  for  a  time  the  Milesian 
power,  and  placed  one  of  their  own  chiefs,  Carbery 
Kincat,  on  the  throne.  After  the  death  of  this  king, 
the  Milesian  monarchy  was  restored  through  the 
magnanimity  of  his  son  Moran.  These  helot  races, 
who  figiu'e  conspicuously  in  early  Irish  history,  are 
known  by  the  name  oi  Aitheach- Tuatha  [Ahathooha], 
which  signifies  literally,  plebeian  races  ;  by  Latin 
writers,  it  has  been  corrupted  to  Attacotti,  a  name 
now  more  familiar  than  the  original. 

In  the  barony  of  Carra,  county  of  Mayo,  there 
is  a  parish  called  Touaghty,  preserving  the  name 
of  the  ancient  territory  of  Tuath-Aitheachta  [Thoo- 
ahaghta],  so  ^Titten  by  MTirbis  in  ''  Hy  Fiach- 
rach,"  which  received  its  name  from  having  been 
anciently  occupied  by  a  tribe  of  Firbolgs  :  the  name 
signifies  the  tiiath  or  district  of  the  Attacotti  or 
plebeians. 

To  travellers  on  the  Grreat  Southern  and  Western 
railway,  the  grassy  hill  of  Knocklong,  crowned  by 
its  castle  ruins,  forms  a  conspicuous  object,  lying 
immediately  south  of  the  Knocklong  station.  This 
hill  was,  many  ages  ago,  the  scene  of  a  warlike 
gathering,  the  memory  of  vv^hich  is  still  preserved  in 
the  name. 

In  the  middle  of  the  third  century,  Cormac  mac 
Art,  monarch  of  Ireland,  undertook  an  expedition 
against  Fiacha  Muilleathan  [Mullahan]  king  of 
Munster,  to  reduce  him  to  submission,  and  lay 
the  province  imder  additional  tribute  ;  and  his  army 
marched   from   Tara  unopposed,   tiU   they  pitched 


CHAP.  T.]  Ilidorical  Events.  97 

their  tents  on  this  hill,  which  was  up  to  that  time 
called  Dniim-damhyhaiye  [davary],  the  hill  of  the 
oxen.  The  Munster  king  marched  to  oppose  him, 
and  encamped  on  the  slope  of  the  opposite  hill,  then 
called  Slieve  Claire,  but  now  Slievereagh  (grey  moun- 
tain), Ijing  south  ofKnocklong,  and  north-east  of 
KiLfinnane. 

After  a  protracted  struggle,  and  many  combats  in 
the  intervening  plain,  Cormac,  defeated  and  baffled, 
was  forced  to  retreat  without  effecting  his  object.  He 
was  pm'sued,  with  great  loss,  as  far  as  Ossory,  and 
obliged  by  Fiacha  to  give  secm^ity  that  he  would 
repaii'  the  injury  done  to  Munster  by  this  expedition. 
And  from  this  event  the  hill  of  Knocklong  received 
its  name,  which  is  in  Irish,  Cnoc-luinge,  the  hill  of 
the  encampment. 

These  are  the  bare  historical  facts.  In  the  Book 
of  Lecan  there  is  a  full  narrative  of  the  invasion  and 
repulse  ;  and  it  forms  the  subject  of  a  historical  tale 
called  the  Forbais  or  Siege  of  Drom-damhghaire,  a 
copy  of  which  is  found  in  the  Book  of  Lismore. 
Like  all  historical  romances,  it  is  embellished  by 
exaggeration,  and  by  the  introduction  of  fabulous 
circumstances ;  and  the  druids  of  both  armies  are 
made  to  play  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  whole  trans- 
action, by  the  exercise  of  their  magical  powers. 

It  is  related  that  Cormac's  druids  dried  up,  by  their 
incantations,  the  springs,  lakes,  and  rivers  of  the  dis- 
trict, so  that  the  men  and  horses  of  the  Munster  army 
were  dying  of  thirst.  Fiacha,  in  this  great  distress, 
sent  for  Mogh-Euith  [Mo-rih],  the  most  celebrated 
druid  of  his  time,  who  lived  at  Dairhhre  [Darvery], 
now  Yalentia  island  in  Kerry  ;  and  he  came,  and  the 
men  of  Munster  besought  him  to  relieve  them  from 
the  plague  of  thirst. 

H 


98  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

Mogli-Euith  called  for  his  disciple  Canvore,  and 
said  to  him,  "  Bring  me  my  magical  spear ;"  and 
his  magical  spear  was  brought,  and  he  cast  it  high 
in  the  air,  and  told  Canvore  to  dig  up  the  ground 
where  it  fell.  "  What  shall  he  my  reward  ?"  said 
Canvore  ;  "  Your  name  shall  he  for  ever  on  the 
stream,"  said  Mogh-Ruith.  Then  Canvore  dug  the 
ground,  and  the  living  water  burst  asunder  the  spells 
that  bound  it,  and  gushed  forth  from  the  earth  in  a 
great  stream  ;  and  the  multitudes  of  men  and  horses 
and  cattle  threw  themselves  upon  it,  and  di*ank 
till  they  were  satisfied.  Cormac  was  then  attacked 
with  renewed  valoui^,  and  his  army  routed  Tvith  great 
slaughter. 

I  visited  this  well  a  few  years  ago.  It  lies  on  the 
road  side,  in  the  townland  of  Grlenbrohane,  near 
the  boundary  of  the  parish  of  Emlygrennan,  three 
miles  to  the  south  of  Knocklong  ;  and  it  sj)rings  from 
a  chasm,  evidently  artificial,  dug  in  the  side  of  Slieve- 
reagh,  forming  at  once  a  very  fine  stream.  It  is  still 
well  known  in  the  district  by  the  name  of  Tober 
Canvore,  Canvore's  well,  as  I  found  by  a  very 
careful  inquiry;  so  that  Canvore  has  received  his 
reward. 

That  the  Munster  forces  may  have  been  oppressed 
by  an  unusual  drought,  which  dried  up  the  springs 
round  their  encampment,  is  nothing  very  im- 
probable ;  and  if  we  only  suppose  that  the  druid 
possessed  some  of  the  skill  in  discovering  water  with 
which  many  people  in  our  own  day  are  gifted,  we 
shall  not  find  it  difficult  to  believe  that  this  mar- 
vellous narrative  may  be  in  the  main  true ;  for 
all  unusual  occurrences  were  in  those  days  ac- 
counted supernatural.  And  this  view  receives  some 
confirmation  from  the  prevalence  of  the   tradition 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  Events.  99 

at  the  present  day,  as  well  as  from  the  curious 
circumstance,  that  the  well  is  still  called  Tober 
Canvore. 

There  is  a  village  on  the  east  side  of  the  river 
Moy,  a  kind  of  suburb  of  BaUina,  called  Ardnarea, 
a  name  which  discloses  a  dark  tale  of  treachery  and 
murder ;  it  was  originally  applied  to  the  hill  imme- 
diately south  of  the  village,  which  is  now  called 
Castle  Hill,  from  a  castle  that  has  long  since  dis- 
appeared. The  event  that  gave  origin  to  this  name 
is  very  fully  related  by  Mac  Firbis  in  his  account 
of  the  Tribes  and  Customs  of  the  Hy  Fiachrach, 
and  the  same  story  is  told  in  the  I)innsenchus. 
The  persons  concerned  are  all  well-known  characters, 
^  and  the  event  is  far  within  the  horizon  of  authentic 
'  history. 

Gruaire  Aidhne  [Ainy]  was  king  of  Connaught  in 
the  seventh  century — a  king  whose  name  has  passed 
into  a  proverb  among  the  Irish  for  his  hospitality. 
Though  a  powerful  and  popular  monarch,  he  was  not 
the  true  heir  to  the  throne  ;  the  rightful  heir  was  a 
man  who  in  his  youth  had  abandoned  the  world,  and 
entered  the  priesthood,  and  who  was  now  bishop  of 
Kilmore-Moy ;  this  was  Cellach,  or  Kellagh,  the  son 
of  the  last  monarch,  Owen  Bel,  and  fourth  in  descent 
from  the  celebrated  Dathi.  Cellach  was  murdered 
at  the  instigation  of  Gruary,  by  four  ecclesiastical  stu- 
dents— the  four  Maels,  as  they  were  called,  because 
the  names  of  all  began  with  the  syllable  Mael — who 
were  under  the  bishop's  tuition,  and  who,  it  appears 
by  another  account,  were  his  own  foster-brothers. 
The  bishop's  brother,  however,  soon  after  pursued 
and  captured  the  murderers,  and  brought  them  in 
chains  to  the  hill  overlooking  the  Moy,  which  was  up 
to  that  time  called  Tulach-na-faircsiona  [Tidlanafark- 
h2 


100  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [partii. 

sliina],  the  hill  of  the  prospect,  where  he  hanged 
them  all ;  and  from  this  circumstance  the  place  took 
the  name  oi  Ard-na-riaghadh  [Arclnarea],  the  hill  of 
the  executions. 

Thej  were  buried  at  the  other  side  of  the  river,  a 
little  south  of  the  -present  town  of  Ballina,  and  the 
place  was  called  Ard-na-JIaei,  the  hill  of  the  (four) 
Maels.  The  monument  erected  over  them  remains 
to  this  day  ;  it  is  a  cromlech,  well  known  to  the 
people  of  Ballina,  and  now  commonly  called  the 
Table  of  the  giants.  The  name  Ard-na-Mael  is  ob- 
solete, the  origin  of  the  cromlech  is  forgotten,  and 
bishop  Cellach  and  his  mui^derers  have  long  since 
ceased  to  be  remembered  in  the  traditions  of  the 
people. 

When  we  consider  how  prominently  the  Danes 
figure  in  our  history,  it  appears  a  matter  of  some  sur- 
prise that  they  have  left  so  few  traces  of  their  pre- 
sence. We  possess  very  few  structures,  that  can 
be  proved  to  be  Danish  ;  and  that  siu'e  mark  of  con- 
quest, the  change  of  local  names,  has  occurred  in 
only  a  very  few  instances  ;  for  there  are  little  more 
than  a  dozen  places  in  Ireland  bearing  Danish  names 
at  the  present  day,  and  these  are  nearly  all  on  or 
near  the  east  coast. 

Worsae  (p.  71)  gives  a  table  of  1,373  Danish  and 
Norwegian  names  in  the  middle  and  northern  coun- 
ties of  England,  ending  in  thorpe,  hy^  thwaite^  uith, 
toft,  heck,  nceSy  ey,  dale,  force,  fell,  tarn,  and  haugh.  We 
have  only  a  few  Danish  terminations,  as  ford,  which 
occurs  foui'  times ;  ey,  three  times ;  ster,  thi^ee  times  ; 
and  ore,  which  we  find  in  one  name,  not  noticed  at 
all  by  Worsae ;  and  in  contrast  with  1,373  names  in 
one  part  of  England,  we  have  only  about  fifteen  in 
Ireland,  almost  all  confined  to  one  particular  district. 


CHAP,  i.j  Historical  Events,  101 

This  appears  to  me  to  afford  a  complete  answer  to 
tJie  statement  which  we  sometimes  see  made,  that  the 
Danes  conquered  the  country,  and  that  theii^  chiefs 
ruled  over  it  as  sovereigns. 

The  truth  is,  the  Danes  never,  except  in  a  few  of 
the  maritime  towns,  had  any  permanent  settlements 
in  Ireland,  and  even  there  their  wealth  v^as  chiefly 
derived  from  trade  and  commerce,  and  they  seem  to 
have  had  only  very  seldom  any  territorial  possessions. 
Their  mission  was  rather  to  destroy  than  to  build  up ; 
wherever  they  settled  on  the  coast,  they  were  chiefly 
occupied  either  in  predatory  inroads,  or  in  defending 
their  fortresses  against  the  neighboimng  Irish ;  they 
took  no  permanent  hold  on  the  country ;  and  theii* 
prominence  in  our  annals  is  due  to  their  fierce  and 
dreadful  ravages,  from  which  scarcely  any  part  of  the 
country  was  free,  and  the  constant  w^arfare  main- 
tained for  three  hundred  years  between  them  and  the 
natives. 

The  only  names  I  can  find  that  are  wholly  or 
partly  Danish  are  Wexford,  Waterford,  Carlingford, 
Strangford  (Lough),  Camsore  Point,  Ireland's  Eye, 
Lambay  Island,  Dalkey,  Howth,  Leixlip,  and  Ox- 
mantown  ;  to  these  may  be  added  the  Laxweir  on 
the  Shannon,  the  termination  ster  in  the  names  of 
three  of  the  provinces,  the  second  syllables  of  such 
names  as  Fin  gall  and  Donegal ;  probably  Wicklow 
and  Ai'klow,  and  the  -9  prefixed  to  some  names  near 
the  eastern  coast  (for  which  see  p.  60). 

The  termination  ford  in  the  first  four  names  is 
the  well-known  northern  word  fiord^  an  inlet  of  the 
sea.  Waterford,  Wexford,  and  Strangford  are  pro- 
bably altogether  Danish;  the  first  two  are  called 
respectively  by  early  English  writers  Yadrefiord 
and  Weisford.     The  Danes  had  a  settlement  some- 


102  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

where  near  the  shore  of  Strangford  lough,  in  the 
ninth  and  tenth  centuries  ;  and  the  Galls  of  Longh 
Cuan  (its  ancient  and  present  Irish  name)  are  fre- 
quently referred  to  in  our  Annals.  It  was  these 
who  gave  it  the  very  appropriate  name  of  Strangford, 
which  means  strong-fiord^  from  the  w^ell-known  tidal 
currents  at  the  entrance,  which  render  its  navigation 
so  dangerous. 

The  usual  Irish  name  of  Carlingford,  as  we  find 
it  in  our  Annals,  is  Cairlinn ;  so  that  the  full  name, 
as  it  now  stands,  signifies  the  fiord  of  Cairlinn. 
In  O'Clery's  Calendar  it  is  called  Snamh-ech,  the 
swimming-ford  of  the  horses ;  while  in  "  Wars 
of  GG.,"  and  several  other  authorities,  it  is  called 
Snamh  -A  ighnech . 

Carnsore  Point,  in  "Wexford,  is  known  in  Irish  by 
the  simple  name  Cam,  i.  e.  a  monumental  heap. 
The  meaning  of  the  termination  will  be  rendered 
obvious  by  the  following  passage  from  Worsae : — 
"  On  the  extremity  of  the  tongue  of  land  which 
borders  on  the  north  the  entrance  of  the  Humber, 
there  formerly  stood  a  castle  called  Ravnsore,  raven's 
point.  Ore  is,  as  is  well  known,  the  old  Scandi- 
navian name  for  the  sandy  point  of  a  promontory  " 
(p.  Q6).  The  ore  in  Carnsore  is  evidently  the  same 
word,  and  the  name  written  in  full  would  be  Carn^s 
ore,  the  "ore"  or  sandy  point  of  the  Cam. 

Ptolemy  calls  this  cape,  Hieron  Akron,  i.  e.  the 
Sacred  promontory ;  and  Camden  ("  Britannia,"  Ed. 
1594,  p.  659),  in  stating  this  fact,  says  he  has  no 
doubt  but  that  the  native  Irish  name  bore  the  same 
meaning.  This  conjectui^e  is  probably  well  founded, 
though  I  cannot  find  any  name  now  existing  near 
the  place,  with  this  signification.  Camden,  however, 
in  order  to  show  the  reasonableness  of  his  opinion, 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  Events.  103 

states  that  Bannow,  the  name  of  a  town  nearly 
twenty  miles  from  it,  where  the  English  made  their 
first  descent,  signifies  sacred  in  the  Irish  language. 
The  Irish  participle  heannuighthe  [bannihe]  means 
blessed,  and  this  is  obviously  the  word  Camden  had 
in  view ;  but  it  ha^  no  connexion  in  meaning  with 
Bannow.  The  harbour  where  Eobert  Fitzstephen 
landed  was  called  in  Irish  Cuan-an-hhai)ihh  (O'Fla- 
herty,  lar  Connaught),  the  harbour  of  the  honnive  or 
sucking  pig ;  and  the  town  has  preserved  the  latter 
part  of  the  name  changed  to  Bannow. 

"  It  is  doubtful  whether  Wicklow  derives  its  name 
from  the  Norwegians,  though  it  is  not  improbable 
that  it  did,  as  in  old  documents  it  is  called  TVy- 
kynglo,  Wj^gyngelo,  and  Wykinlo,  which  remind  us 
of  the  Scandinavian  vig,  a  bay,  or  Viking  "  (Worsae, 
p.  325).  Its  Irish  name  is  Kilmantan,  St.  Mantan's 
chm^ch.  This  saint,  according  to  Mac  Greoghegan 
(Annals  of  Clonmacnoise) ,  and  other  authorities, 
w^as  one  of  St.  Patrick's  companions,  who  had  his 
front  teeth  knocked  out  by  a  blow  of  a  stone,  from 
one  of  the  barbarians  w^ho  opposed  the  saint's  landing 
in  Wicklow :  hence  he  was  called  Mantan,  or  the 
toothless,  and  the  chui^ch  which  was  afterwards 
erected  there  was  called  after  him,  Cill-Mantain 
(Four  Mast.).  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the 
word  mantach  [mounthagh] — derived  from  mant,  the 
gum — is  still  used  in  the  south  of  Ireland  to  denote 
a  person  who  has  lost  the  front  teeth. 

Leixlip  is  wholly  a  Danish  name,  old  Norse  Laoc- 
hlaup^  i.  e.  salmon  leap :  this  name  (which  is  pro- 
bably a  translation  from  the  Irish),  it  derived  from 
the  well-known  cataract  on  the  Liffey,  still  called  the 
Salmon  leap,  a  little  above  the  village.  Griraldus 
Cambrensis  (Top.  Hib.  II.  41),  after  speaking  of  the 


104  Historical  and  Legendary  Namef^.     [part  ii. 

fish  leaping  up  tlie  cataract,  says: — "Hence  the 
place  derives  its  name  of  Saltus  sahnonis  (Salmon 
leap)."  From  this  word  saltus,  a  leap,  the  l3aronies 
of  Salt  in  the  connty  Kildare  have  taken  their  name. 
According  to  Worsae,  the  word  lax,  a  salmon,  is 
very  common  in  the  local  names  of  Scotland,  and 
we  have  another  example  of  it  in  the  La,r-iveir,  i.  e. 
Salmon  weir,  on  the  Shannon,  near  Limerick. 

The  original  name  of  Ireland's  Eye  was  Lm- 
Ereann  ;  it  is  so  called  in  Dinnsenchiis,  and  its  mean- 
ing is,  the  island  of  Eu^e  or  Eria,  who  according  to 
the  same  authority,  was  a  woman.  It  was  after- 
wards called  Inis-inac-Nessan  (Four  Mast.)  from  the 
three  sons  of  Nessan,  a  prince  of  the  royal  family  of 
Leinster,  namely  Dicholla,  Munissa,  and  Nadsluagh, 
who  erected  a  chm-ch  on  it  in  the  seventh  century, 
the  ruins  of  which  remain  to  this  day.  They  are 
commemorated  in  O'Clery's  Calendar,  in  the  fol- 
lowing words : — "The  thi^ee  sons  of  Nesan,  oi Inis 
FaitJilenn,  i.  e.  Muinissa,  Nesslugh,  and  Duichoill 
Derg ;"  from  which  it  appears  that  Inis  Faithlenn,  or, 
as  it  would  be  now  pronounced,  Innisfallen,  was 
another  ancient  name  for  the  island ;  this  is  also  the 
name  of  a  celebrated  island  in  the  lower  lake  of 
Killarney  {Inis  Faithlenn,  Book  of  Leinster),  and 
in  both  cases  it  signifies  the  island  of  Fathlenn,  a 
man's  name. 

The  present  name,  Ireland's  Eye,  is  an  attempted 
translation  of  Inis-Ereann,  for  the  translators  under- 
stood Ereann  to  be  the  genitive  case  of  Eire,  Ireland, 
as  it  has  tlie  same  form ;  accordingly,  they  made  it 
Ireland's  Ey  {IrekuuVs  island,  instead  of  Eria^s 
island),  which  in  modern  times  has  been  corrupted 
to  Ireland's  Eye.  Even  Ussher  was  deceived  by  this, 
for  he  calls  the  island  Oculus  Hihernice.     The  name 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  Ecents.  105 

of  this  little  island  has  met  mth  the  fate  of  the 
Highlander's  ancestral  knife,  which  at  one  time  had 
its  haft  renewed,  and  at  another  time  its  blade  :  one 
set  of  people  converted  the  name  of  Eu-e,  a  woman,  to 
Ireland,  but  correctly  translated  Inis  to  ey ;  the 
succeeding  generations  accepted  what  the  others  cor- 
rupted, and  corrupted  the  correct  part  ;  between 
both,  not  a  vestige  of  the  ancient  name  remains  in 
the  modern. 

Eire  or  Eri  was  formerly  very  common  in  this 
country  as  a  woman's  name,  and  we  occasionally 
find  it  forming  a  part  of  other  local  names ;  there 
are,  for  instance,  two  places  in  Antrim  called  Cam- 
earny,  in  each  of  which  a  woman  named  Eire 
must  have  been  buried,  for  the  Four  Masters 
write  the  name  Ccuii-Ereanu,  Eii-e's  monumental 
mound. 

Lambay  is  merely  an  altered  form  oiLamb-ei/,  i.  e. 
Lamb-island  ;  a  name  which  no  doubt  originated  in 
the  practice  of  sending  over  sheep  from  the  mainland 
in  the  spring,  and  allowing  them  to  yean  on  the  island, 
and  remain  there,  lambs  and  all,  during  the  simimer. 
Its  ancient  Irish  name  wsisBecIiru,  which  is  the  form 
used  by  i\.damnan,  as  well  as  in  the  oldest  Irish  docu- 
ments ;  but  in  later  authorities  it  is  written  Rechra 
and  Reachm.  In  the  genitive  and  oblique  cases,  it  is 
RechnJin,  Reachrainii,  &c.,  as  for  example  inLeabiiar 
Breac  : — "  Fothaighis  CoJam-ciUe  eclais  i  rrachraind 
oirthir  Breghj^  "  Oolumkill  erects  achm^ch  on  Rachra 
in  the  east  of  Rregia^'  (O'Don.  G-ram.,  p.  155).  So 
also  in  the  poem  on  the  history  of  the  Picts  printed 
from  the  Book  of  Ballymote  by  Dr.  Todd  (Irish  Nen- 
nius,  p.  127)  : — 

"  From  the  south  (i.  e.  from  near  the  mouth  of  the  Slaney)  was 
Ulfa  sent. 


106         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

After  the  decease  of  his  friends  ; 

In  Rachra  in  Bregia  {In  Rachrand  i  mBreagaihh) 

He  was  utterly  destroyed." 

ThoTigh  the  name  Raclira,  as  applied  to  the  island, 
is  wholly  lost,  it  is  still  preserved,  though  greatly 
smoothed  down  by  the  friction  of  long  ages,  in  the 
name  of  Portraine,  the  parish  adjoining  it  on  the 
mainland.  In  a  grant  to  Christ  Church,  made  in 
the  year  1308,  the  island  is  called  RecJien,  and  the 
parish  to  which  it  belonged,  Port-rahern,  which  is 
merely  an  adaptation  of  the  old  spelling  Port-Rach- 
rann,  and  very  well  represents  its  pronunciation  ;  in 
the  lapse  of  500  years  Port-rahern  has  been  worn 
down  to  Portraine  (Reeves).  The  point  of  land 
there,  was,  in  old  times,  a  place  of  embarkation  for 
the  island  and  elsewhere,  and  this  is  the  tradition 
of  the  inhabitants  to  the  present  day,  who  still 
show  some  remains  of  the  old  landing  place  ;  hence 
the  name  PoH-Rachrann,  the  7:>or/  or  landing  place 
of  Rachra. 

Other  islands  round  the  coast  were  called  Rachra^ 
which  are  now  generally  called  Pathlin,  from  the 
genitive  form  Rachra nn,  by  a  change  from  r  to  /, 
(see  pages  33  and  47).  The  use  of  the  genitive  for  the 
nominative  must  have  begun  very  early,  for  in  the 
Welsh  "Brut  y  Tywysogion"  or  Chronicle  of  the 
Chieftains,  we  read  "  Ac  y  distrywyd  Rechrenn," 
"and  (the  Danes)  desivoj ed Rechretin''  (Todd,  Wars 
of  GrGr.,  Introd.,  p.  xxxii). 

The  best  known  of  these  is  Rathlin  on  the  Antrim 
coast,  which  Ptolemy  calls  Rikina,  and  whose  name 
has  iDeen  modified  in  various  ways  by  foreign  and 
English  writers  ;  but  the  natives  still  call  it  Raghery, 
which  correctly  represents  the  old  nominative  form. 
Ussher  (Br.  Ecc.  Ant.,  c.  17)  says :  "  our  Irish  anti- 


ciiAP.  I.]  Historical  E cents.  107 

qiiaries  call  this  island  Ro-c1irinne,^^  and  he  states 
further,  that  it  was  so  called  from  the  great  quantity 
of  trees  with  which  it  was  formerly  covered.  The 
island,  however,  was  never  called  Rochrinne,  but 
Eachra,  in  which  no  n  appears,  which  puts  out  of  the 
question  its  derivation  from  eninn  a  tree. 

Dalkey  is  called  in  Irish,  Delginis  (O'Cl.  Cal.,  Four 
Mast.,  &c.),  thorn  island.  The  Danes  who  had  a  for- 
tress on  it  in  the  tenth  century,  called  it  DalTx-ei^  which 
has  the  same  meaning  as  the  Irish  name,  for  the 
Danish  word  claJk  signifies  a  thorn :  the  present  name 
Dalkey  is  not  much  changed  from  Delginis,  but  the  /, 
which  is  now  silent,  was  formerly  pronounced.  It  is 
curious  that  there  has  been  a  fortress  on  this  island 
from  the  remotest  antiquity  to  the  present  day.  Our 
early  chronicles  record  that  Seadhgha  [sha],  one  of 
the  chiefs  of  the  Milesian  colony,  erected  the  Dun  of 
Delginis;  this  was  succeeded  by  the  Danish  fort; 
and  it  is  now  occupied  by  a  martello  tower. 

Oxmantown  or  Ostmantown,  now  a  part  of  the  city 
of  Dublin,  was  so  called  because  the  Danes  or  Ost- 
men  (i.  e.  eastmen)  built  there  a  to-s^Ti  of  their  own, 
and  fortified  it  with  ditches  and  walls. 

According  to  Worsae  (p.  230),  the  termination  ster 
in  the  names  of  three  of  the  provinces  is  the  Scandi- 
navian stacb\  a  place,  which  has  been  added  to  the  old 
Irish  names.  Leinster  is  the  2)Iace  (or  province)  of 
Laighen  or  Layn ;  Ulster  is  contracted  from  JJIa-ster, 
the  Irish  name  TJIadh  being  pronounced  TJUa;  and 
Munster  from  Moon-ster,  or  Moiinster  (which  is  the 
form  found  in  a  state  paper  of  1515),  the  first 
syllable  representing  the  pronunciation  of  the  Irish 
Mumhan. 

Many  of  the  acts  of  our  early  apostles  are  pre- 
served in  imperishable  remembrance  in  the  names  of 


108         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  il. 

localities  where  certain  remarkable  transactions  took 
place,  connected  with  tlieii-  efforts  to  spread  the 
Grospel.  Of  these  I  v>dll  give  a  few  examples,  but 
I  shall  defer  to  another  chapter  the  consideration 
of  those  places  which  commemorate  the  names  of 
saints. 

Saul,  the  name  of  a  village  and  parish  near  Down- 
patrick,  preserves  the  memory  of  St.  Patrick's  first 
triumph  in  the  work  of  conversion.  Dichu,  the 
prince  of  the  district,  who  hospitably  entertained  the 
saint  and  his  companions,  was  his  first  convert  in 
Ireland;  and  the  chief  made  him  a  present  of  his 
barn,  to  be  used  temporarily  as  a  church.  On  the 
site  of  this  bam  a  church  v/as  subsequently  erected,  and 
as  its  direction  happened  to  be  north  and  south,  the 
church  was  also  placed  north  and  south,  instead  of 
the  usual  direction,  east  and  west.  On  this  transaction 
the  follovving  are  Ussher's  words  : — '^  T\Tiich  place, 
from  the  name  of  that  chiu-ch,  is  called  in  Scotic  to 
this  day,  Sahhall  Patricl\  in  Latin,  Zahidura  PatricH 
vel  Horreum  PatricH"  (Patrick's  barn).  It  is  still 
called  in  Irish  Sabhall,  which  is  fauiy  represented  in 
pronunciation,  by  the  modern  form  Saul. 

It  is  highly  probable  that  several  churches  were 
erected  in  other  districts,  in  imitation  of  St.  Patrick's 
primitive  and  favouiite  chm^ch  at  Saul,  which  were 
also  placed  north  and  south,  and  called  by  the  same 
name.  We  know  that  among  the  churches  of  Armagh, 
one,  founded  probably  by  the  saint  himself,  was  in 
this  direction,  and  called  by  the  same  name,  Sahhall, 
though  this  name  is  now  lost.  And  it  is  not  unlikely 
that  a  church  of  this  kind  gave  name  to  Saval,  near 
Newry,  toDrumsaul  in  the  parish  ofEmatris,  county 
Monaghan,  and  to  Sawel,  a  lofty  mountain  in  the 
north  of  Tyrone.     This  supposition  supersedes  the 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  Events.  109 

far-fetched  explanation  of  the  last  name,  given  in  the 
neighboiu^hood,  which,  for  several  reasons,  I  have 
no  hesitation  in  pronouncing  a  very  modern  fabrica- 
tion. 

Yerj  similar  in  the  circumstances  attending  its 
origin  is  the  name  of  Elphin,  in  the  county  Roscom- 
mon. In  the  Tripartite  Life  of  St.  Patrick  (Lib.  II.  c. 
88) ,  we  are  told  that  a  noble  Druid  named  Ona,  lord 
of  the  ancient  district  of  Corcaghlan  in  Roscommon, 
presented  his  residence,  called  Emlagh-Ona  (Ona's 
marsh)  to  St.  Patrick,  as  a  site  for  a  church.  The 
chui'ch  was  built  near  a  spring,  over  which  stood  a 
large  stone,  and  from  this  the  place  was  called  Ail- 
finu,  which  Colgan  interprets  "  the  rock  of  the  clear 
spring  :"  the  stone  is  now  gone,  but  it  remained  stand- 
ing in  its  original  position  until  forty  or  fifty  years 
ago.  The  townland  of  Emlagh,  near  Elphin,  still 
preserves  the  name  of  Ona's  ancient  residence. 

The  manner  m  which  St.  Brigid's  celebrated  esta- 
bhshment  was  founded  is  stereotyped  in  the  name  of 
Kildare.  According  to  a  tale  in  the  Book  of  Leinster, 
quoted  by  O'Curry  (Lectures,  p.  487),  the  place  was 
called  Druim-Criaidh  [Drumcree]  before  the  time  of 
St.  Brigid ;  and  it  received  its  present  name  from  "  a 
goodly  fair  oke"  under  the  shadow  of  Vv^hich  the 
saint  constructed  her  little  cell. 

The  origin  and  meaning  of  the  name  are  very  clear- 
ly set  forth  in  the  following  words  of  Animosus,  the 
writer  of  the  fourth  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  published  by 
Colgan : — "  That  cell  is  called  in  Scotic,  Cill-dara, 
which  in  Latin  soimds  CeUa-quercus  (the  church  of  the 
oak) .  Eor  a  very  high  oak  stood  there,  which  Bri- 
gid loved  much,  and  blessed  it ;  of  which  the  trunk 
still  remains  (i.  e.  up  to  the  close  of  the  tenth  century, 
when  Animosus  wrote)  ;    and  no  one  dares  cut  it 


110         Historical  and  Legendary  JVames.      [part  ii. 

with  a  weapon,"  Bisliop  Ultan,  the  ^Titer  of  the 
third  Life,  gives  a  similar  interpretation,  viz.  Cella 
rohoris. 

If  we  may  judge  by  the  number  of  places  whose 
names  indicate  battle  scenes,  slaughters,  murders, 
&c.,  our  ancestors  must  have  been  a  quarrelsome 
race,  and  must  have  led  an  unquiet  existence. 
Names  of  this  kind  are  found  in  every  county  in  Ire- 
land; and  various  terms  are  employed  to  comme- 
morate the  events.  Moreover,  in  most  of  these 
places,  traditions  worthy  of  being  preserved,  regard- 
ing the  occurrences  that  gave  origin  to  the  names, 
still  linger  among  the  peasantry. 

The  word  cath  [cah]  signifies  a  battle,  and  its 
presence  in  manj^  names  points  out,  with  all  the  cer- 
tainty of  history,  the  scenes  of  former  strife.  We 
see  it  in  Ardcath,  in  Meath,  and  MuUycagh  in 
Wicklow,  both  signifying  battle  height ;  in  Doon- 
caha,  in  Kerry  and  Limerick,  the  fort  of  the 
battle ;  Derrycaw  and  Derryhaw,  battle-wood,  in 
Armagh ;  and  Drumnagah,  in  Clare,  the  ridge  of  the 
battles. 

One  party  must  have  been  utterly  defeated,  where 
w^e  find  such  names  as  Ballynarooga  (in  Limerick), 
the  town  of  the  defeat  or  rout  {ruag)  ;  Grreagh- 
naroog  near  Carrickmacross,  and  Maulnarouga,  in 
Cork,  the  marshy  flat  and  the  hillock  of  the  rout. 
And  how  vivid  a  picture  of  the  hideousness  of  a 
battle  field  is  conveyed  by  the  following  names  : — 
Meenagorp,  in  Tyrone,  in  Irish  Mln-na-gcorp,  the 
mountain  flat  of  the  corpses  ;  Kilnamarve,  near  Car- 
rigallen,  Leitrim,  the  wood  of  the  dead  bodies  {Coill- 
na-marhh)  ;  Ballinamara,  in  Kilkenny,  the  town  of 
the  dead  {Baile-na-marhli)  ^  where  the  tradition  of  the 
battle  is  still  remembered ;    Lisnafulla,  near  New- 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  Events.  Ill 

castle  in  Limerick,  the  fort  of  the  blood ;  Cnamh- 
cJioill  [knawhill]  (Book  of  Leinster)  a  celebrated 
place  near  the  town  of  Tipperary,  now  called  Clegh- 
ile,  (by  a  change  of  n  to  / — see  p.  48),  whose  name 
signifies  the  wood  of  bones  :  the  same  Irish  name  is 
more  correctly  anglicised  Knawhill  in  the  parish  of 
Knocktemple,  Cork. 

Many  of  these  sanguinary  encounters,  in  which 
probably  whole  armies  were  almost  annihilated, 
though  lost  to  history,  are  recorded  with  perfect 
clearness  in  names  like  the  following,  numbers  of 
which  are  found  all  over  the  country  : — Grlenanair,  a 
fine  valley  near  the  boundary  of  Limerick  and  Cork, 
five  miles  south  of  Kilfinnane,  the  glen  of  slaughter, 
where  the  people  still  preserve  a  vi\id  tradition  of  a 
dreadfid  battle  fought  at  a  ford  over  the  river ;  and 
with  the  same  root  word  (a/*,  slaughter),  Coumanare, 
in  Kerry,  Drumar,  near  Ballybay  in  Monaghan, 
Griashare,  a  parish  in  Kilkenny,  the  hollow,  the  ridge, 
and  the  streamlet,  of  slaughter. 

The  murder  of  any  near  relative  is  termed  in  Irish 
Jionghal  [finnal],  which  is  often  translated /;Y/f/i"c/(^^%- 
and  the  frequent  occuiTcnce  of  names  containing  this 
word,  while  aff'ording  undeniable  evidence  of  the 
commission  of  the  crime,  demonstrates  at  the  same 
time  the  horror  with  which  it  was  regarded  by  the 
people.  We  have,  for  instance,  Lisnafinelly,  in 
Monaghan,  and  Lisfennell  in  Waterford,  where  in 
both  cases  the  victim  met  his  doom  in  one  of  the 
lonely  forts  so  common  through  the  country ;  Cloona- 
finneela,  near  Kilflyn  in  Kerry  {cloori,  a  meadow)  ; 
Drumnafinnila,  in  Leitrim,  and  Tattanafinnell,  near 
Clogher,  in  Tyrone,  the  ridge  and  the  field  of  the 
fratricide.  And  occasionally  the  murdered  man's 
name  is  commemorated  by  being  interwoven  with 


112  Histoyical  and  Legendary  Karnes,     [part  ii. 

the  name  of  tlie  spot,  as  may  be  seen  in  G-ortmarraha- 
fineen,  near  Xenmare,  in  Kerry,  which  represents 
the  Irish  Gort-marbhtha-FingMn,  the  field  of  Pineen's 
murder. 

In  "  A  Tour  tkrough  Ireland,  by  two  English  Gen- 
tlemen" (Dublin,  1748),  we  read  : — "  The  poorer  sort 
of  Irish  Natives  are  mostly  Roman  Cat/io/icks,  who 
make  no  scruple  to  assemble  in  the  open  Fields.  As 
we  passed  Yesterday  in  a  By-Eoad,  we  saw  a  Priest 
under  a  Tree,  with  a  large  Assembly  about  him,  cele- 
brating Mass  in  his  proper  Habit ;  and  though  at  a 
great  Distance  from  us,  we  heard  him  distinctly. 
These  Sort  of  People,  my  Lord,  seem  to  be  very 
solemn  and  sincere  in  their  devotion"  (p.  163). 

The  Irish  practice  of  celebrating  Mass  in  the  open 
air  appears  to  be  very  ancient.  It  was  more  general, 
however,  during  the  period  preceding  the  above  tour 
than  at  other  times,  partly  because  there  were  in 
many  places  no  chapels,  and  partly  because,  during 
the  operation  of  the  penal  laws,  the  celebration  of 
Mass  was  declared  illegal.  And  the  knowledge  of 
this,  if  we  be  wise  enough  to  tm^n  it  to  right  account, 
may  have  its  use,  by  reminding  us  of  the  time  in 
which  our  lot  is  cast,  when  the  people  have  their 
chapel  in  every  parish,  and  those  prohibitory  enact- 
ments are  made  mere  matters  of  history,  by  wise  and 
kind  legislation. 

Even  in  our  o^ti  day  we  may  witness  the  celebra- 
tion ofMassinthe  open  air;  for  many  will  remember 
the  vast  crowds  that  congregated  on  the  summit  of 
Brandon  hill,  in  Kerry,  on  the  28th  of  June,  last  year, 
to  honour  the  memory  of  saint  Brendan.  The  spots 
consecrated  by  the  celebration  of  the  sacred  mysteries 
are  at  this  day  well  known,  and  greatly  revered  by  the 
people ;  and  many  of  them  bear  names  formed  from 


CHAP.  I.]  Historical  Events.  113 

the  word  Aiffrion  (Afirin),  the  Mass,  that  will  identify 
them  to  all  future  time. 

Places  of  this  kind  are  found  all  over  Ireland,  and 
many  of  them  have  given  names  to  to^vnlands ;  and  it 
may  be  further  observed,  that  the  existence  of  such  a 
name  in  any  particular  locality,  indicates  that  the  cus- 
tom of  celebrating  Mass  there  must  have  continued 
for  a  considerable  time. 

Sometimes  the  lonely  side  of  a  hill  was  chosen, 
and  the  people  remember  well,  and  will  point  out  to 
the  visitor,  the  very  spot  on  which  the  priest  stood, 
while  the  crowd  of  peasants  worshipped  below.  One 
of  these  hills  is  in  the  parish  of  Kihnore,  county  Ros- 
common, and  it  has  left  its  name  on  the  townland  of 
Ardanaffrin,  the  height  of  the  Mass ;  another  in  the 
parish  of  Donaghmore,  county  Donegal,  called  Corr- 
affrin  {co}\  a  round  hill)  ;  a  third  in  the  parish  of 
Kilcommon,  Mayo,  namely,  Drumanaffrin  ;  a  fourth 
in  Cavan,  Mullanaffrin  {mullach,  a  summit)  ;  and  still 
another,  Knockanaffrin,  in  Waterford,  one  of  the 
highest  hills  of  the  Cummeragh  range,  which  name  is 
made  Knocknafreeny,  near  Ardmore,  in  the  same 
county. 

Sometimes  again  the  people  selected  secluded  dells 
and  mountain  gorges  ;  such  as  Clashanaffrin,  in  the 
parish  of  Desertmore,  county  of  Cork  (clash,  a  trench 
or  fosse) ,  and  Lugganaffrin  in  the  county  of  Galway, 
the  hollow  of  the  Mass.  And  occasionally  they  took 
advantage  of  the  ancient  forts  of  their  pagan  ancestors, 
places  for  ages  associated  Avith  fairy  superstitions  ; 
and  while  they  worshipped,  they  were  screened  from 
observation  by  the  circumvallations  of  the  old  fortress. 
The  old  palace  of  Glreenan-Ely  near  Londonderry 
was  so  used  ;  and  there  is  a  fort  in  the  parish  of  Kil- 
I 


114        Histoncal  and  Legendary  Nam^s.       [part  ii. 

cummin,  in  Derry,  wliich  still  bears  the  name  of 
Lissanaffrin,  the  fort  of  the  Mass. 

Many  other  names  of  like  formation  are  to  be  met 
with,  such  as  Grlenanaffrin,  Carriganaifrin,  &c.  Oc- 
casionally the  name  records  the  simple  fact  that  Mass 
was  celebrated,  as  we  find  in  a  place  called  Effrinagh, 
in  the  parish  of  Kiltoghert,  Leitrim,  a  name  which 
signifies  simply  "  a  place  for  Mass/'  And  sometimes 
a  translated  name  occurs  of  the  same  class,  such  as 
Mass-brook  in  the  parish  of  Addergoole,  Mayo,  which 
is  a  translation  of  the  Irish  8ruthan-an-Aiffnnn. 

There  are  other  words  also,  besides  Ajfrin,  which 
are  used  to  commemorate  these  Masses ;  such  as 
aitoir,  an  altar,  which  gives  name  to  a  townland,  now 
called  Altore,  in  the  parish  of  KiltuUagh,  Roscom- 
mon ;  and  to  another  named  Oltore,  in  the  parish  of 
Dono.ghpatrick,  Gfalway.  There  is  also  a  place  called 
"  Altore  cross-roads,"  near  Inchigeelagh,  Cork,  and 
we  find  Carrownaltore  (the  quarter-land  of  the  altar) 
in  the  parish  of  Aglish,  Mayo. 


CHAPTER  II. 

HISTORICAL  PERSONAGES. 

Our  annals  generally  set  forth  with  great  care  the 
genealogy  of  the  most  remarkable  men  —  kings, 
chieftains,  or  saints — who  flourished  at  the  diS'erent 
periods  of  our  history  ;  and  even  their  character  and 
their  personal  peculiarities  are  very  often  given  with 
much  minuteness.  These  annals  and  genealogies, 
which  are  only  now  beginning  to  be  known  and 
studied  as  they  deserve,  when  examined  by  the  in- 


CHAP.  II.]         Historical  Personages.  115 

temal  evidence  of  mutual  comparison,  are  found  to 
exhibit  a  marvellous  consistency  ;  and  this  testimony 
of  their  general  truthfulness  is  fuUy  corroborated  by 
the  few  glimpses  we  obtain  of  detached  points  in  the 
long  record,  through  the  writings  of  English  and 
foreign  historians,  as  well  as  by  the  still  severer  test 
of  verifying  our  frequent  records  of  natural  occui'- 
rences. 

Nor  are  these  the  only  testimonies.  Local  names 
often  afford  the  most  unsuspicious  and  satisfactory 
evidences  of  the  truth  of  historical  records,  and  I  ma} 
refer  to  the  preceding  Chapter  for  instances.  It  is 
with  men  as  with  events.  Many  of  the  characters  who 
figure  conspicuously  in  our  annals,  have  left  their 
names  engraven  in  the  topography  of  the  country, 
and  the  illustration  of  this  by  some  of  the  most  re- 
markable examples  will  form  the  subject  of  the  pre- 
sent Chapter. 

Before  entering  on  this  part  of  the  subject,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  make  a  few  remarks  on  the  origin  of 
the  names  of  our  ancient  tribes  and  territories,  and  to 
explain  certain  terms,  that  are  often  used  in  their 
formation. 

"  It  is  now  universally  admitted,  that  the  ancient 
names  of  tribes  in  Ireland  were  not  derived  from  the 
territories  they  inhabited,  but  from  certain  of  theii- 
distinguished  ancestors.  In  nine  cases  out  of  ten, 
names  of  territories  and  of  the  tribes  inhabiting  them 
are  identical"*  (the  former  being  derived  fi-om  the 
latter).  The  names  of  tribes  were  formed  from  those 
of  their  ancestors,  by  prefixing  certain  words  or  post- 

*  From   O'Donovan's  Introduction  to  the  "  Topographical 
Poems  of  O'Dugan  and  O'Heeren,"  where  the  reader  will  find 
a  valuable  essay  on  tribe  and  family  names. 
i2 


116         Historical  and  Legendary  Names,      [part  ii. 

fixing  otliers,  tlie  most  important  of  which  are  the 
following. 

Cme/ [kinel],  kindred,  race,  descendants;  Cifiel- 
Aedha  [Kinelea]  (O'Heeren),  the  race  of  Aedh  [Ay] 
or  Hugh,  a  tribe  descended  from  Aedh  (father  of 
Failbhe  Flann,  king  of  Miinster  in  A.  D.  636),  who 
were  settled  in  the  county  Cork,  and  gave  name  to 
the  barony  of  Kinalea. 

CJann,  children,  descendants,  race  ;  in  the  Zeuss 
MSS.  it  is  given  as  the  equivalent  oi progenies.  The 
barony  of  Clanliee  in  Cavan  derives  its  name  from  a 
tribe  who  are  called  in  Irish  Clann-an-Chaoieh  [Clan- 
ankee]  (Four  Mast.),  the  descendants  of  the  one-eyed 
man ;  and  they  derived  this  cognomen  from  Niall 
Caoch  O'Eeilly  {caoeh  [kee],  i.  e.  one-eyed,  Lat. 
cmciis),  who  was  slain  in  1256.  The  baronies  of 
Clanwilliam,  in  Limerick  and  Tipperary,  from  the 
clann  or  descendants  of  William  Bmie  ;  Clanmaurice, 
a  barony  in  Kerry,  so  called  from  the  Fitzmaurices, 
the  descendants  of  Maurice  Fitzgerald.  Besides 
several  historic  districts,  this  word  gives  name  to 
some  ordinary  townlands ;  such  as  Clananeese  Glebe, 
in  Tyrone,  from  the  race  of  Aengus  or  Aeneas  ;  Clan- 
hugh  Demesne,  in  Westmeath,  the  descendants  of 
Aedh  or  Hugh. 

Core,  Corca,  race,  progeny.  Corcomohide,  the 
name  of  a  parish  in  Limerick,  is  written  in  Irish, 
Corca-Mtiichet  (Book  of  Lismore),  the  race  of  Mui- 
chet,  who  in  the  "  Forbais  Dromadamhghaire"  are 
stated  to  have  been  descended  from  Muichet,  one  of 
Mogh  Euith's  disciples  (see  p.  97,  supra.) 

Mvinth\  family,  people ;  Muntermellan  and  Mun- 
terneese,  in  Donegal,  the  family  of  Miallan  and  Aen- 
gus ;  Munterowen,  in  Galway,  the  family  of  Eoghan 
or  Owen. 


CHAP.  II.]  Historical  Personages.  117 

Siol  [shiel] ,  seed,  progeny.  Shillelagh,  now  a  ba- 
rony in  Wicklow,  was  so  called  from  the  tribe  of  Siol- 
Elaigh  (O'Heerin),  the  descendants  of  Elach  :  this 
district  was  formerly  much  celebrated  for  its  oak 
woods,  a  fact  that  has  given  origin  to  the  well-known 
word  shillelagh.,  as  a  term  for  an  oak  stick.  Shelburne, 
in  Wexford,  from  the  tribe  of  Siol-Brain  (O'Heerin), 
the  progeny  of  Bran ;  Shelmaliere,  in  the  same  county, 
the  descendants  of  Maliere  or  Maolughra. 

Tealach  [tellach],  family.  The  barony  of  Tully- 
haw,  in  Cavan,  was  so  called  from  the  Magaui^ans,  its 
ancient  proprietors,  whose  tribe  name  was  Tealach- 
Echach  (O'Dugan),  i.  e.  the  family  of  Eochy. 

JJa  signifies  a  grandson,  and  by  an  extension  of 
meaning,  any  descendant ;  it  is  often  written  hua  by 
Latin  and  English  writers,  and  still  oftener  0,  which 
is  the  common  prefix  in  Irish  family  names.  The  no- 
minative plural  is  ui  [ee]  (often  T^aitten  in  Latin 
and  English,  hiii  or  hy),  which  is  applied  to  a  tribe, 
and  this  word  still  exists  in  several  territorial  desig- 
nations. Thus  Offerlane,  now  a  parish  in  Queen's 
County,  was  the  name  of  a  tribe,  called  in  Irish  Ui- 
Foircheallain  (Four  Mast.),  the  descendants  of  Foir- 
cheallan ;  Imaile,  a  celebrated  district  in  Wicklow, 
Ui-Mail  (O'Heerin),  the  descendants  of  Mann  Mai, 
brother  of  Cahirmore,  king  of  Ireland  in  the  second 
century. 

The  ablative  plural  of  tia  is  uibh  [iv],  and  this 
form  is  also  found  occasionally  in  names  (see  p.  3o, 
VII.)  Thus  Iverk,  now  a  barony  in  Kilkenny, 
which  O'Heerin  writes  JJi-Eirc  (abl.  Uibh-Eirc),  the 
descendants  of  Ere ;  Iveleary  in  Cork  (the  descend- 
ants of  Laeghau^e),  taking  its  name  from  the  O'Learys, 
its  ancient  proprietors ;  Iveruss,  now  a  parish  in  Lime- 
rick, from  the  tribe  of  Uihh-Rosa. 


118         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  ii. 

That  the  foregoing  is  the  proper  signification  of 
this  word  in  its  three  cases,  we  have  authorities  tJiat 
preclude  all  dispute  ;  among  others  that  of  Adanman, 
who,  in  several  passages  of  his  Life  of  Columba, 
translates  ua  by  nepos,  ui  by  nepotes,  and  uibh  by 
ncpotihus. 

The  word  tuafh  [tua]  meant  originally  populus 
(people),  which  it  glosses  in  the  Wb  MS.  of  Zeuss; 
but  in  accordance  mth  the  custom  of  naming  the  ter- 
ritory after  its  inhabitants,  it  came  ultimately  to  sig- 
nify district,  which  is  now  the  sense  in  which  it  is 
used.  Near  Sheephaven,  in  Donegal,  is  a  well-known 
district  called  the  Doe  :  its  ancient  name,  as  given  by 
O'Heerin,  is  Tnath  Bladhach ;  but  by  the  Four  Mas- 
ters and  other  authorities  it  is  usually  called  Tuatha, 
i.  e.  districts.  It  was  the  inheritance  of  the  Mao 
Sweenys,  the  chief  of  whom  was  called  Mac  Sweeny 
7ia  dTuath,  or,  as  it  is  pronounced  and  written  in 
English,  na  Doe,  i.  e.  of  the  districts  ;  and  it  is  from 
this  appellation  that  the  place  came  to  be  corruptly 
called  Doe. 

With  the  preceding  may  be  enumerated  the  word 
Fir  or  Fear  a,  men,  which  is  often  prefixed  to  the 
names  of  districts  to  form  tribe  names.  The  old  tribe 
called  Fir-tire  (the  men  of  the  territorj^),  in  Wick- 
low,  is  now  forgotten,  except  so  far  as  the  name  is 
preserved  in  that  of  the  river  Yartry.  The  celebrated 
territory  of  Fermoy,  in  Cork,  which  still  retains  its 
name,  is  called  in  Irish  Feara-muighe-Feine,  or  more 
shortly,  Feara-muighe  (O'Heerin),  the  men  of  the 
plain. 

There  are  also  a  few  words  which  are  suffixed  to 
men's  names,  to  designate  the  tribes  descended  from 
thein  ;  such  as  raidhe  [ree],  in  the  word  CalraidJw. 
There  were  several  tribes  called  Calraidhe  or  Calry 


CHAP.  II.]  Historical  Personages.  119 

(the  race  of  Cal),  who  were  descended  from  Lewy 
Cal,  the  grand-Tincle  of  Maccon,  king  of  Ireland  in 
the  third  century.  The  names  of  some  of  these  are 
still  extant :  one  of  them  was  settled  in  the  an- 
cient Teffia,  whose  name  is  preserved  by  the  moun- 
tain of  SKevegolry,  near  Ardagh,  county  Longford, 
Sliabh  gCalraidhe,  the  mountain  of  the  (people  called) 
Calry.  There  is  a  townland  called  Drum  hairy  {Driii?/i- 
Chalraidhe,  the  ridge  of  the  Calry),  near  Carrig- 
allen  in  Leitrim ;  and  another  of  the  same  name 
in  the  parish  of  Killoe,  county  Longford;  which 
shows  that  Calry  of  north  Teffia  extended  northward 
as  far  as  these  two  townlands.  Calry  in  Sligo  and 
Calary  in  Wicklow,  also  preserve  the  names  of  these 
tribes. 

The  monarch  Hugony  the  great,  who  reigned  soon 
after  the  foundation  of  Emania,  divided  Ireland  into 
twenty-five  parts  among  his  twenty-five  children ; 
and  this  division  continued  for  about  three  centuries 
after  his  time.  Several  of  these  gave  names  to  the 
territories  allotted  to  them,  but  all  those  designations 
are  now  obsolete,  with  a  single  exception.  To  one 
of  his  sons,  Lathair  [Laher],  he  gave  a  territory 
in  Ulster,  which  was  called  from  him  Latharna 
[Laharna]  (Book  of  Eights) ,  a  name  which  exists  to 
this  day  shortened  to  Larne.  Though  now  ex- 
clusively applied  to  the  towTi,  it  was,  in  the  time  of 
Colgan,  the  name  of  a  district  which  extended  north- 
wards along  the  coast  towards  Grlenarm  :  the  town 
was  then  called  Inve7'-an-Lahania,  the  river-mouth  of 
(the  territory  of)  Laharna,  from  its  situation  at  the 
mouth  of  the  OUarhha,  or  Larne  Water.  In  the 
Down  Survey  map,  it  is  called  "Inver  alias  Leame ;" 
and  the  former  name  is  still  retained  in  the  adjacent 
parish  of  Inver. 


120  Historical  and  Legendary  Karnes,     [part  il. 

Many  of  the  remarkable  persons  who  flourished  in 
the  reign  of  Conor  mac  Nessa,  king  of  Ulster  in  the 
first  century,  still  live  in  local  names.  The  descend- 
ants of  Beann,  one  of  Conor's  sons,  were  called  from 
him  Beanntraighe  [Bantry],  (Book  of  Eights),  i.  e. 
the  race  of  Beann  ;  a  part  of  them  settled  in  Wex- 
ford, and  another  part  in  Cork,  and  the  barony  of 
Bantry  in  the  former  county,  and  the  town  of  Ban- 
try  in  the  latter,  retain  their  name. 

When  the  three  sons  of  Usnagh  were  murdered  at 
the  command  of  Conor,  Fergus  mac  Roy,  ex-king  of 
Ulster,  who  had  guaranteed  their  safety,  "  indignant 
at  the  violation  of  his  safe  conduct,  retired  into  exile, 
accompanied  by  Cormac  Conlingas,  son  of  Conor, 
and  by  three  thousand  warriors  of  Uladh.  They 
received  a  hospitable  welcome  at  Cruachan  from  Maev 
[queen  of  Connaught]  and  her  husband  Ailill, 
whence  they  afterwards  made  many  hostile  incur- 
sions into  Ulster,"*  taking  part  in  that  seven  years' 
war  between  Ulster  and  Connaught,  so  celebrated 
by  our  historians  and  romancers  as  the  "  Tain  bo 
Cuailgne,"  the  cattle  spoil  of  Cooley  (near  Carling- 
ford). 

Fergus  afterwards  resided  in  Connaught,  and 
Maev  bore  him  three  sons,  Ciar  [Keer],  Conmac, 
and  Modhruadh  [Moroo],  who  became  the  heads  of 
three  distinguished  tribes.  Ciar  settled  in  Munster, 
and  his  descendants  possessed  the  territory  west  of 
Abbeyfeale,  and  lying  between  Tralee  and  the 
Shannon ;  they  were  called  Ciarraidhe  [Keery] 
(Book  of  Eights),  i.  e.  the  race   of  Ciar,   and  this 

*  From  "The  Irish  before  the  Conquest,"  by  M.  C.  Ferguson, 
where  the  reader  will  find  the  best  published  account  of  this 
war. 


CHAP.  II.]  Historical  Personages.  121 

name  was  afterwards  applied  to  tlie  district ;  it  was 
often  called  Ciarraidhe  Luachra,  from  the  mountain 
tract  of  Sliahh  Luachra  (rushy  mountain,  now  Slieve- 
lougher),  east  of  Castleisland.  This  small  territory 
ultimately  gave  the  name  of  Ciarraidhe  or  Kerry  to 
the  entire  county. 

The  descendants  of  Conmac  were  called  Conmaicn^ 
[Conmacne  :  ne^  a  progeny]  ;  they  were  settled  in 
Connaught,  where  they  gave  their  name  to  several 
territories.  One  of  these,  viz.,  the  district  lying 
west  of  Lough  Con  and  Lough  Mask,  from  its 
situation  near  the  sea,  was  called,  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  others,  Comnaicne'mara  (O'Dugan :  muir, 
the  sea,  gen.  mara)^  or  the  sea-side,  Comnaicne ; 
which  name  is  still  applied  to  the  very  same  district, 
in  the  slightly  contracted,  and  well-knoT\Ti  form 
Connemara. 

The  posterity  of  the  thii'd  son,  Modhraadh,  were 
called  Corca-Modhruadh,  or  Corcomruad  (Book  of 
Leinster) ,  the  race  of  Modhruadh ;  they  settled  in 
the  north  of  the  county  of  Clare,  and  their  territory 
included  the  present  baronies  of  Burren  and  Corcom- 
roe,  the  latter  of  which  retains  the  old  name. 

Another  son  of  Fergus  (not  by  Maev),  was  Finn 
or  Cufinn  (fair-haired  hound),  from  whom  were  de- 
scended the  tribe  of  "the  Dal- Confirm  (ddl,  a  tribe), 
who  afterwards  took  the  family  name  of  O'Finn. 
They  inhabited  a  district  in  Connaught  which  was 
called  from  them  Cuil-O^hhFinn  [Coolovin]  (Four 
Mast.),  the  comer  of  the  O'Finns;  and  the  same 
name  in  the  modernized  form  of  Coolavin  is  still  ap- 
plied to  the  territory,  which  now  forms  a  barony  in 
Sligo. 

When  the  Connaught  forces  under  Ma,ev  marched 
to  invade  the  territories  of  Conor,  the  task  of  defend- 


122         historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  ii. 

ing  the  different  fords  they  had  to  cross,  was  allotted 
to  Cuchullin,  the  great  IJlster  champion ;  and  the 
various  single  conihats  with  the  Conn  aught  warriors, 
in  all  of  which  he  was  victorious,  are  described  with 
great  minuteness  in  the  heroic  romance  of  "  Tain  bo 
Cuailgne."  One  of  these  encounters  took  place  at  a 
ford  of  the  little  river  Nith  (now  called  the  Dee,  in 
Louth),  where  afterwards  grew  up  the  town  of 
Ardee  ;  and  Cuchullin' s  antagonist  was  his  former 
friend,  the  youthful  champion  Ferdia,  the  son  of 
Daman,  of  the  Firbolgic  tribe  Growanree,  who  in- 
habited Erris.  After  a  long  and  sanguinary  combat, 
Ferdia  was  slain,  and  the  place  was  ever  after  called 
Ath-Fhirdia  [Ahirdee]  (Leabhar  na  hUidhre),  Fer- 
dia's  ford.  The  present  form  Ardee  is  a  very  modem 
contraction  ;  by  early  English  writers,  it  is  generally 
called  Atherdee,  as  by  Boate  (Chap.  I.,  Sect,  vi.), 
which  preserves,  with  little  change,  the  original  Ii-ish 
pronunciation. 

In  the  reign  of  Felimy  the  Lawgiver  (A.  D. 
Ill  to  119),  the  men  of  Munster  seized  on  Ossory, 
and  all  the  Leinster  territories,  as  far  as  Mullagh- 
mast.  They  were  ultimately  expelled  after  a  series 
of  battles,  by  an  Ulster  chief,  Lughaidh  Laeighseaoh 
[Lewy  Leeshagh],  son  of  Laeighseach  Canvore,  son 
of  the  renowned  Conall  Cearnach,  chief  of  the  Red 
Branch  knights  of  Ulster  in  the  first  century  (see  p. 
86).  For  this  service,  the  king  of  Leinster  granted 
Lewy  a  large  territory  in  the  present  Queen's 
county  ;  and  as  his  descendants,  the  O'Moores,  were 
called  from  him  by  the  tribe  name  Laeighis  [Leesh], 
their  territory  took  the  same  name,  which  in  English 
is  commonly  written  Leix — a  district  that  figures 
conspicuously  in  Irish  and  Anglo-Irish  chronicles. 

The  name  of  this  principality  has  altogether  dis- 


CHAP.  II.]  Historical  Personages.  123 

appeared  from  modern  maps,  except  so  far  as  it  is 
preserved  in  that  of  the  town  of  Abbeyleix,  i.  e.  the 
abbey  of  the  territory  of  Leix,  which  it  received 
from  a  monastery  founded  there  in  1183  by  Conor 
O'Moore. 

The  first  battle  between  the  Munstermen  and  the 
forces  ofLewywas  ioughi  oi  Ath-Tniisden,  a  ford  on 
the  river  Grreece,  near  Mullaghmast,  and  the  former 
retreated  to  the  Barrow,  where  at  another  ford  there 
was  a  second  battle,  in  which  a  Mnnster  chief,  Ae,  the 
foster  father  of  Eochy  Finn  Fohart,  (p.  125)  was 
slain  ;  and  from  him  the  place  was  called  Atli-I  (Wars 
of  GGr.),  the  ford  of  Ae,  now  correctly  anglicised 
Athy. 

From  Fiacha  Eaidhe  [Eee],  grandson  of  king 
Felimy,  descended  the  tribe  named  Corca-Raeidhe 
(O'Dugan),  whose  name  is  still  borne  by  the  barony 
of  Corkaree,  in  Westmeath,  their  ancient  patrimony. 
This  territory  is  mentioned  by  Adamnan  (Lib.  I.  cap. 
47),  w^ho  calls  it  Korhireti ;  and  in  the  Book  of  Ar- 
magh the  name  is  translated  Regiones  Roide,  i.  e.  the 
territories  of  Eaidhe  or  Eee, 

The  fanciful  creations  of  the  ancient  Irish  story- 
tellers have  thrown  a  halo  of  romance  ronnd  the  names 
of  many  of  the  preceding  personages  ;  nevertheless 
I  have  treated  of  them  in  the  present  chapter,  because 
I  believe  them  to  be  historical.  As  we  descend  from 
those  dim  regions  of  extreme  antiquity,  the  view  be- 
comes clearer,  and  the  characters  that  follow  may, 
with  few  exceptions,  be  considered  as  standing  out 
in  full  historical  distinctness. 

Cahirmore  was  monarch  of  Ireland  from  A.  D.  120 
to  123 ;  he  is  well  known  in  connexion  with  the 
document  called  ,"  The  Will  of  Cahirmore,"  which 
has  been  translated  and  published  by  O'Donovan  in 


124  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

the  Book  of  Rights.  According  to  our  genealogical 
writers  (see  O'Flaherty's  Ogygia,  Part  III.  c.  59),  he 
had  thiiij  sons,  but  only  ten  are  mentioned  in  the 
Will,  three  of  whom  are  commemorated  in  well- 
known  modern  names. 

His  eldest  son  was  Eos-failghe  [faly],  i.  e.  Ros  of 
the  rings  (/«?'//,  a  ring,  pi.  fdilghe)  whom  the  monarch 
addresses  as  "  My  fierce  Eos,  my  vehement  Failghe." 
His  descendants  were  called  Hy  Failghe  (O'Dugan), 
i.  e.  the  descendants  of  Failghe  ;  they  possessed  a 
large  territory  in  Kildare  and  in  King's  and  Queen's 
counties,  to  which  they  gave  their  tribe  name ;  and  it 
still  exists  in  the  form  of  Offaly ,  which  is  now  applied 
to  two  baronies  in  Kildare,  forming  a  portion  of  their 
ancient  inheritance. 

The  next  son  mentioned  in  the  Will  is  Daire  Bar- 
rach,  who  was  the  ancestor  of  a  tribe  called  from 
him  Hy  Bairche  (O'Dugan),  the  race  of  (Daire)  Bar- 
rach.  To  this  tribe  belonged  a  territory  in  the  Queen's 
county,  including  the  modembarony  of  Slievemargy, 
which  has  its  name  from  the  Slievemargy  hills.  These 
hills  have  evidently  been  so  called  from  the  ancient 
tribe  who  possessed  them  ;  for  although  the  Four 
Masters  write  the  name  Sliahh  Mairgi,  this  is  an  ob- 
vious alteration  from  Sliahh  mBairrche  (the  mountain 
of  the  \_Hy'\  Bairrche)^  which  has  nearly  the  same 
pronunciation. 

Another  son,  Ceatach,  also  named  in  the  Will,  was 
probably  the  progenitor  of  the  tribe  that  gave  name 
to  the  barony  of  Ikeathy,  in  Kildare — Hy  Ceataigh, 
the  race  of  Ceatach.  Others  of  Cahirmore's  sons 
were  the  ancestors  of  tribes,  but  their  names  have 
been  long  extinct. 

The  barony  of  Idrone,  in  Carlow,  perpetuates  the 
memory  of  the  tribe  of  Hy  Drona  (Book  of  Rights), 


CHAP.  II.]  Historical  Personages.  125 

who  formerly  possessed  this  territory,  and  whose  fa- 
mily name  was  0'E.yan ;  their  ancestor,  from  whom 
they  derived  their  tribe  name,  was  Drona,  fourth  in 
descent  from  Cahirmore. 

The  county  Fermanagh  was  so  called  from  the 
tribe  of  the  Fir-Monach  (O'Dugan),  the  men  of  Mo- 
nach,  who  were  originally  a  Leinster  tribe,  so  named 
from  their  ancestor  Monach,  fifth  in  descent  from 
Cahirmore,  by  his  son,  Daire  Barrack.  They  had  to 
fly  from  Leinster  in  consequence  of  having  killed 
Enna,  the  son  of  the  king  of  that  province  ;  one  part 
of  them  was  located  in  the  county  of  Down,  where  the 
name  is  extinct ;  another  part  settled  on  the  shore  of 
Lough  Erne,  where  they  acquired  a  territory  extend- 
ing over  the  entire  coimty  Fermanagh. 

Enna  Kinsellagh,  king  of  Leinster  in  the  end  of  the 
fourth  centiuy,  was  foiu-th  in  descent  from  Cahirmore. 
He  had  a  son  named  Felimy,  from  whom  descended 
the  sept  of  ^^  Felimy  (Four  Mast.)  ;  one  branch  of 
them  settled  in  the  county  Carlow,  and  theii'  name  is 
still  preserved  in  that  of  the  parish  of  TuUow-Offelimy, 
or  Tullowphelim  (which  was  also  applied  to  the  town 
of  Tullow)  i.  e.  th  Qtulach  or  hill  of  the  territory  of 
Hy  Felimy^  which  included  this  parish. 

Caliirmore  was  slain  by  the  celebrated  Conn  of  the 
hundred  battles,  who  ascended  the  tln^one  in  A.  D. 
123.  After  a  reign  of  thirty-five  years.  Conn's  two 
brothers,  Fiacha,  and  Eochy  Finn  Fothart,  betrayed 
him  into  the  hands  of  Tibraide  Tireach,  king  of  Ulster, 
who  murdered  him  as  he  was  making  preparations  to 
celebrate  the  Feis  or  convention  of  Tara. 

Conary  XL,  his  successor  (fi'om  A.D.  158  to  165), 
had  three  sons — the  three  Carberys — who  are  re- 
nowned in  Irish  history : — Carbery  Muse,  Carbery 
Baskin,  and  Carbery  Eiada.     From  Carbery  Muse 


126  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

were  descended  and  named  all  the  tribes  called  Mmc- 
raidhe  [Muskeiw]  (O'Heerin),  i.e.  the  race  of  Miisc; 
of  which,  according  to  O'Heerin,  there  were  six,  all 
in  Munster.  The  names  of  all  these  have  recently 
disappeared  except  that  of  one,  Muscraidhe  Mitaine^ 
or  Muscraidhe  O^FIynn,  which  now  forms  the  two 
baronies  of  Muskerry  in  Cork.  From  Carbery  Baskin 
was  named  the  ancient  territory  of  Corcobaskin,  in  the 
south-west  of  Clare,  but  the  name  has  become  obsolete. 
Carbery  Riada  was  the  most  celebrated  of  the  three, 
for  whom  see  p.  82.  Carbery  Muse  had  a  son  named 
Duibhne  [Divne],  whose  descendants  gave  name  to 
the  district  of  Corca-Duibhne  (O'Heerin),  i.  e.  Duibh- 
ne's  race  ;  and  a  portion  of  this  territory  still  re- 
tains the  name,  though  somewhat  corrupted,  viz., 
the  barony  of  Corkaguiny  {dh  changed  to  g ;  p.  54), 
in  Kerry,  which  comprises  the  peninsula  between 
Tralee  and  Dingle  bays. 

Art,  the  son  of  Conn  of  the  hundred  battles,  suc- 
ceeded Conary,  and  immediately  on  his  accession  he 
banished  his  uncle,  Eochy  Finn  Fothart  [Fohart], 
from  Munster.  Eochy  proceeded  to  Leinster,  and 
the  king  of  that  province  bestowed  on  him  and  his 
Bons,  certain  districts,  the  inhabitants  of  which  were 
afterwards  called  Fotharta  [Foharta]  (Book  of 
Rights),  from  their  ancestor.  Of  these,  the  two 
principal  still  retain  the  name,  viz.,  the  baronies 
of  Forth,  in  Wexford  and  Carlow ;  the  former  called 
in  the  Annals,  for  distinction,  Fotharta  of  the  Cam, 
i.  e.  of  Camsore  Point ;  and  the  latter,  Fotharta  Fea^ 
from  the  plain  anciently  called  Moy  Fea,  lying  east 
of  the  town  of  Carlow. 

After  Art,  the  son  of  Conn,  had  reigned  thirty 
years,  he  was  slain  in  the  year  195,  in  the  battle 
of  Magh  Mucruimhe  [Muckrive] ,  near  Athenry,  by 


CHAP.  II.]  Hktorical  Personages.  127 

Lewj  Maccon  and  his  followers.  It  is  stated  in  the 
"  History  of  the  Cemeteries"  in  Leabhar  na  hUidhre, 
that  Art  believed  in  the  Faith  the  day  before  the 
battle,  and  predicted  the  spread  of  Christianity.  It 
would  appear  also  that  he  had  some  presentiment  of 
his  death ;  for  he  directed  that  he  should  not  be 
buried  at  Brugh  on  the  Boyne,  the  pagan  cemetery 
of  his  forefathers,  but  at  a  place  then  called  Dumha 
Dergluachra  (the  burial  mound  of  the  red  rushy- 
place),  "  where  Treoit  is  at  this  day  "  (Trevet  in  the 
county  Meath).  "When  his  body  was  afterwards 
carried  eastwards  to  Dumha  Dergluachra^  if  all  the 
men  of  Erin  were  drawing  it  thence,  they  could  not, 
so  that  he  was  interred  at  that  place,  because  there 
was  a  Catholic  church  to  be  afterwards  at  the  place 
where  he  was  interred,  for  the  truth  and  the  Faith 
had  been  revealed  to  him  through  his  regal  righteous- 
ness "  (Hist,  of  Cemeteries ;  see  Petrie's  E.  Towei-s, 
p.  100). 

In  the  historical  tale  called  "  The  Battle  of  Magh 
Mucruimhe^^  it  is  stated  that,  when  Art  was  buried, 
three  sods  were  dug  in  honour  of  the  Trinity ;  and 
that  hence  the  place,  from  that  time  forward,  got  the 
name  of  Tre-foit  (O'Clery's  Cal.,  &c.),  i.  e.  three /o^^ 
or  sods,  which  is  very  little  changed  in  the  present 
name  Trevet. 

The  celebrated  Mogh  Nuadhat  [Mo  Nuat],  or 
Owen  More,  was  king  of  Munster  during  the  reign  of 
Conn  of  the  hundred  battles ;  he  contended  with  that 
monarch  for  the  sovereignty  of  all  Ireland,  and  after 
defeating  him  in  ten  battles,  he  obliged  him  to  divide 
the  country  equally  between  them — \h.Q  well-known 
ridge  of  sand  hills  called  Esker  Eiada,  extending 
from  Dublin  to  Gralway,  being  adopted  as  the  boun- 
dary.    From  Owen  descended  a  long  Hne  of  kings, 


128  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

and  lie  was  the  ancestor  of  the  most  distinguished  of 
the  great  Munster  families. 

He  spent  nine  years  in  Spain,  and  the  king  of  that 
country  gave  him  his  daughter  Bear  a  in  marriage ; 
on  his  return  to  Ireland,  accompanied  by  Sj)anish 
auxiliaries,  to  make  war  against  Conn,  he  landed  on 
the  north  side  of  Bantry  bay,  and  he  called  the  har- 
bour Beara  in  honour  of  his  wife.  It  is  now  called 
Bearhaven ;  the  island  that  shelters  it  is  called  Great 
Bear  island  ;  and  the  barony  is  also  known  by  the 
name  of  Bear. 

Owen  derived  his  alias  name  of  Mogh  Nuadhat 
(which  signifies  Nuadhat's  slave)  from  his  foster  fa- 
ther Nuadhat,  king  of  Leinster.  From  this  king, 
according  to  O'Donovan  (Cambr.  Evers.,  note  p.  473, 
Vol.  I.),  Maynooth  derives  its  name  : — Magh-Nuadh- 
af,  i.  e.  Nuat's  plain. 

OlioU  Olum,  the  son  of  Owen,  succeeded  him  as 
king  of  Munster,  and  was  almost  as  renowned  as  his 
father  ;  he  is  usually  taken  as  the  starting  point  in 
tracing  the  genealogies  of  the  Munster  families. 
Three  of  his  sons — Owen,  Cormac  Cas,  and  Cian 
[Kean] — became  very  much  celebrated. 

In  the  year  226  was  fought  the  battle  of  Crinna  in 
Meath,  between  Cormac  mac  Art,  king  of  Ireland, 
and  the  Ulstermen,  under  Fergus,  son  of  Imchadh  ; 
Cormac  defeated  the  Ulster  forces,  by  the  assistance 
of  Tadg  [Teige],  son  of  Cian ;  and  for  this  service 
the  king  bestowed  on  him  a  large  territory,  extend- 
ing from  the  Liffey  northwards  to  Drumiskin  in 
Louth.  Tadg's  descendants  were  called  Cianachta 
[Keenaghta]  (O'Dugan),  i.  e.  the  race  of  Cian,  from 
his  father ;  and  the  territory  was  afterwards  known 
by  this  name.  It  is  forgotten  in  Leinster,  but  in  Ulster 
it  is  still  the  name  of  a  barony  in  the  north-west  of 


CHAP.  II.]  Historical  Personages,  129 

Londondeny,  called  Keenaglit,  from  the  O'Conors  of 
Grlengiven,  who  formerly  ruled  over  it,  and  who  were 
a  branch  of  the  tribe  of  Keenaghta,  having  been  de- 
scended from  Connla  the  son  of  Tadg.  The  name  is 
also  preserved  in  Coolkeenaght,  in  the  parish  of 
Fanghanvale,  Derry ;  Cuaille-  Cianach ta  (Four  Mast. ) , 
the  bare  tree  of  Keenaght. 

The  barony  of  Ferrard,  in  Louth,  indirectly  keeps 
up  the  memory  of  this  ancient  tribe.  The  range  of 
heights  called  Slieve  Bregh,  running  from  near  Col- 
Ion,  in  Louth,  eastwards  to  Clogher  head,  was  qh- 
ciQTiilj coR^di  Ard-Oianachta  (Four  Mast. ;  At^d-Cean- 
nackte,  Adamnan),  the  height  of  the  territory  of 
Keenaght,  and  the  inhabitants  were  called  Feara- 
Arda-Cianachta,  or  more  shortly  Feara-Arda  (Four 
Mast.),  i.  e.  the  men  of  the  height,  from  which  the 
modern  name  Ferrard  has  been  formed. 

Tadg,  the  son  of  Cian,  had  a  son  named  Cormac 
G-aileng,  who,  having  fallen  under  the  displeasure  of 
his  father,  fled  from  Munster  to  Connaught,  where  he 
obtained  from  Cormac  mac  Art,  king  of  Ireland,  a 
district  which  had  previously  been  inhabited  by  the 
Firbolgs  or  "  Attacots."  The  descendants  of  Cormac 
Gaileng  and  of  his  son  Luigh,  or  Lewy,  were 
known  by  the  two  names  Gailenga  (O'Dugan),  or 
the  race  of  Gaileng,  and  Luighne  [Leyny]  (O'Du- 
gan), the  posterity  {ne)  of  Luigh.  These  were  origi- 
nally only  various  names  for  the  same  tribe,  but  they 
are  at  the  present  day  applied  to  different  districts — 
one  in  the  modern  form  of  Grallen,  to  a  barony  in 
Mayo,  and  the  other  to  a  barony  in  Sligo,  now  called 
Leyny. 

A  branch  of  the  same  tribe  settled  in  Leinster, 
where  there  were  two  temtories,  called  respectively 
Mo7'-Gailenga  and  Gailenga-heag  (O'Dugan),  or  the 


130         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  n. 

great  and  little  Gaileuga ;  the  latter  is  obsolete,  but 
the  former  is  still  retained  in  the  name  of  the  modern 
barony  of  Morgallion  in  Meath. 

Eile,  the  seventh  in  descent  from  Cian,  was  the 
ancestor  of  the  tribes  called  Eile  or  Ely,  who  gave 
name  to  several  districts,  all  in  the  ancient  Mmnha 
or  Munster,  and  of  which  O'CarroU  was  king.  The 
only  one  of  these  whose  name  has  held  its  ground  is 
Ely  O'Fogarty,  so  called  from  its  ancient  possessors, 
the  O'Eogartys  ;  and  the  name  is  now  applied  to  a 
barony  in  Tipperary,  in  the  shortened  form  of  Eli- 
ogarty. 

Eochy  Liathanach  [Lehanagh]  was  fifth  in  descent 
from  OlioU  Olum,  and  from  him  the  tribe  of 
O'Liathain,  who  now  call  themselves  O^Lehane  or 
Lyons,  are  derived.  Castlelyons,  in  Cork,  was  situ- 
ated in  their  territory,  and  still  retains  its  name — 
Caislen-ni-Liathain,  the  castle  of  the  territory  of  Hj/ 
Liathan. 

Settled  in  different  parts  of  Connaught  and  Leinster 
were  formerly  seven  tribes — three  in  the  former  pro- 
vince, and  four  in  the  latter — all  with  the  same  tribe 
name  of  Dealhhna  [Dal'vana]  ;  they  were  an  ofishoot 
of  the  Dalcassians  of  north  Munster,  and  were  de- 
scended from  Lewy  Dealbhaeth  [Dalway],  who  was 
the  son  of  Cas  mac  Tail  (seventh  in  descent  from 
Olioll  Olum),  the  ancestor  of  the  Dalcassians.  They 
derived  their  tribe  name  from  Lewy  Dealbhaeth  : — 
Dealhhna,  i.  e.  the  descendants  of  Dealbhaeth.  None 
of  these  tribes  have  left  their  name  in  our  present 
t-erritorial  nomenclature  except  one,  namely,  Dealhhna 
mo)%  or  the  gi-eat  Dealhhna,  which  is  now  the  barony 
of  Delvin,  in  Westmeath. 

From  Conall,  the  ninth  from  Olioll  Olum,  descend- 
ed the  tribe  of  Hy  Conaill  Gahra  (Book  of  Leinster), 


CHAP.  II.]         Hisforical  Personages.  131 

who  possessed  a  territory  in  tlie  county  of  Limerick, 
a  part  of  wliich  still  retains  the  name,  \dz.,  the 
baronies  of  Upper  and  Lower  Connello. 

I  have  already  mentioned  (p.  84)  the  destruction 
of  the  palace  of  Emania,  in  the  year  332,  by  the 
three  CoUas ;  these  were  CoUa  Uais,  CoUa  Meann, 
and  Colla  da  Chrioch,  who  were  the  ancestors  of 
many  noble  families  in  Ulster  and  Scotland,  and  the 
first  of  whom  reigned  as  king  of  Ireland  from  A.  D. 
323  to  326.  He  was  the  progenitor  of  the  several 
tribes  known  by  the  name  of  Ui  mic  Uais  [Ee-mic- 
oosh],  one  of  which  was  seated  somewhere  in  the 
north  of  Ireland,  another  in  east  Meath,  near  Tara, 
and  a  third  in  Westmeath.  This  last  is  the  only  one 
of  the  three  whose  name  has  survived ;  whose  terri- 
tory is  now  a  barony,  and  known  by  the  name  of 
Moygoish,  which  is  an  attempt  at  pronouncing  the 
original  Ui  mic  Uais. 

Caerthann  [Kieran],  the  great-grandson  of  Colla 
Uais,  was  the  ancestor,  through  his  son  Forgo,  of 
the  tribe  called  Hy  Mic  Caerthainn  (Four  Mast.);  the 
territory  they  inhabited,  which  was  situated  in  the 
west  of  the  present  county  of  Derry,  was  called  from 
them  Tir-mic-Caerthainn  (the  land  of  Kieran 's  son), 
or  more  shortly,  Tir-Chaerthainn.,  which  is  still  the 
name  of  a  barony  now  called  Tii^keeran. 

The  barony  of  Cremorne,  in  Monaghan,  preserves 
the  name  of  the  ancient  district  of  Crioch'Miighdhorn 
[Cree-Mourne],  i.  e.  the  country  {crioch)  of  the  people 
called  Mughdhorna,  who  were  descended  and  named 
from  Mughdhorn  [Mourne],  the  son  of  Colla  Meann. 
About  the  middle  of  the  12th  century,  a  tribe  of  the 
Mac  Mahons  emigrated  from  Cremorne,  and  settled 
in  the  south  of  the  present  county  of  Down,  to  which 

k2 


132         Historical  and  Legendary  Na772€s.      [part  ii. 

they  gave  their  tribe  name  ofllughdhorna,  and  which 
is  now  knoT^Ti  as  the  barony  of  Moxirne. 

The  Monme  mountains  owe  their  name  to  the  same 
event,  having  been  previously  called  Beanna-Boirche 
[Banna-borka].  The  shepherd  Boirche,  according  to 
the  Dinnsenchus,  herded  on  these  moimtains,  the 
cattle  of  Eoss  (son  of  Imchadh;,  king  of  Ulster,  in 
the  third  century,  and  the  account  states  that  his  fa- 
vourite look-out  point  was  the  summit  of  Slieve 
Slanga,  now  Slieve  Donard,  the  highest  peak  in  the 
range ;  hence  those  mountains  received  the  very  ap- 
propriate name  of  Beanna-Boirche,  Boirche's  peaks. 

Niallan,  descended  in  the  fourth  degree  from  CoUa 
Da  Chrioch  [Cree] ,  was  the  progenitor  of  the  tribe 
called  Hy  Niallain  (i.  e.  Niallan's  race)  ;  and  their 
ancient  patrimony  forms  the  two  baronies  of  Oneil- 
land,  in  Armagh,  which  retain  the  name. 

The  descendants  of  Eochy  Moyvane,  king  of  Ire- 
land from  A.  D.  358  to  365,  branched  into  a  vast 
number  of  illustrious  families,  the  earlier  members  of 
which  have  left  their  names  impressed  on  many  loca- 
lities. The  following  short  genealogical  table  exhi- 
bits a  few  of  his  immediate  descendants,  viz.  those 
concerned  in  the  present  inquiiy,  and  it  will  render 
what  I  have  to  say  regarding  them  more  easily  under- 
stood, 

Eochy  Moyvane. 

1 


I  I  I 

Fiackra.  Olioll.  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages. 


Dathi.         Awly.  Leavy.  Owen.       Conall.     Carbery, 

I  Gulban, 

Fiachra  Ealgach. 


CHAP.  II.]  Historical  Personages.  133 

Fiachra  [Feecra],  son  of  Eochy  Moyvane,  was  the 
ancestor  of  the  Hij  Fiachrach,  which  branched  into  a 
great  number  of  families.  Amhalgaidh  [Awly],  his 
son,  brother  of  the  monarch  Dathi  [Dawhy],  was 
king  of  Connanght,  and  gave  name  to  Tir-Amhal- 
gaidhy  i.  e.  Awly's  district,  now  the  barony  of 
Tirawly,  in  Mayo. 

Fiachra  Ealgach,  son  of  Dathi,  gave  his  name  to 
Tir-Fhiachrach  (Four  Masters),  Fiachra's  district; 
and  the  sound  is  very  well  preserved  in  the  modem 
name  Tireragh,  which  is  applied  to  a  barony  in 
Sligo.  The  barony  of  Tirerrill  in  the  same  county, 
was  possessed  by  the  descendants  of  Olioll,  son  of 
Eochy  Moyvane,  and  from  him  it  got  the  name  of 
Tir-Oliolla  (Hy  Fiachrach),  which,  by  a  change  of  / 
to  r,  has  been  corrupted  to  the  present  name. 

The  great  monarch  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages, 
king  of  Ireland  from  A.  D.  379  to  405,  had  fourteen 
sons,  eight  of  whom  had  issue,  and  became  the 
ancestors  of  many  great  and  illustrious  families  :  of 
these  eight,  four  remained  in  Meath,  viz.,  Laeghaire 
[Leary] ,  Conall  Criffan,  Fiacha,  and  Maine  ;  and 
four  settled  in  Ulster — Eoghan  or  Owen,  Conall 
Grulban,  Carbery,  and  Euna  Finn.  The  posterity 
of  Niall  are  usually  called  Hy  NeiU,  the  southern 
Hy  Neill  being  descended  from  the  first  four,  and 
the  northern  Hy  Neill  from  the  others. 

Laeghaire  was  king  of  Ireland  from  A.  D.  428  to 
458,  and  his  reign  was  rendered  illustrious  by  the 
arrival  of  St.  Patrick ;  he  erected  one  of  the  forts  at 
Tara,  which  still  exists,  and  retains  the  name  Rath- 
Laeghaire ;  and  the  old  name  of  Kingstown — Dun- 
leary,  Laeghaire's  Dun — was,  in  the  opinion  of  some, 
derived  from  him. 

Owen  and  Conall  Grulban  are  renowned  in  Irish 


134         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  it. 

history,  as  the  heads  of  two  great  branches  of  the 
northern  Hy  NeiU,  the  Kinel  Owen,  and  Kinel  Connell. 
Owen,  who  died  in  A.  D.  465,  was  the  ancestor  of 
the  O'Neills,  and  his  descendants  possessed  the 
territory  extending  over  the  counties  of  Tyrone  and 
Londonderry,  and  the  two  baronies  of  Raphoe  and 
Inishowen,  in  Donegal ;  all  this  district  was  anciently 
called  Tir-Eoghain  (Wars  of  G-Gr.),  Owen's  territory, 
w^hich  is  now  written  Tyrone,  and  restricted  to  one 
county.  The  peninsula  between  Lough  Foyle  and 
Lough  Swilly  received  also  its  name  from  him,  Inish- 
owen, i.  e.  Owen's  island. 

Conall,  who  received  the  cognomen  Gulban  from 
having  been  fostered  near  the  mountain  Binn-Giilhain 
(Grulban's  peak;  now  Binbulbin),  in  Sligo,  died  in 
464  ;  he  was  the  ancestor  of  the  O'Donnells,  and 
his  posterity  ultimately  possessed  the  county  of 
Donegal,  which  from  him  was  called  Tirconnell, 
ConaU's  district. 

One  of  the  sons  of  Conall  Grulban  was  Enna 
Boghaine  [Boana],  and  he  became  the  ancestor  of  a 
tribe  called  Kinel  Boghaine ;  the  district  they  inha- 
bited was  called  Tir-Bogkaine  (Foiu-  Mast.),  and  fre- 
quently Baghaineaeh  [Bawnagh],  i.  e.  Boghaine's 
territory ;  and  this  latter  still  holds  its  j)lace  in  the 
form  of  Banagh,  which  is  the  name  of  a  modern 
barony,  a  portion  of  the  ancient  district. 

Baeighill  [Boyle],  who  was  tenth  in  descent  from 
Conall  Oulban,  was  the  ancestor  of  the  O'Boyles, 
and  the  district  they  possessed  was  called  from  them 
BaeigheUach  (Four  Mast.),  or  Boylagh,  which  is 
still  the  name  of  a  barony  in  the  south-west  of 
Donegal. 

Flaheii^y,  also  descended  from  Conall  Culban,  was 
king   of  Ireland  from  A.  D.  723  to  729 :   lafth  in 


CHAP.  III.]  Early  Irish  Saints.  135 

descent  from  him  was  Cannanan,  from  whom  is 
derived  the  family  of  0' Cannanan  (or,  as  they  now 
call  themselves,  Cannon),  who  were  anciently  chiefs 
or  kings  of  Tirconnell,  till  they  ultimately  sank 
under  the  power  of  the  O'Donnells.  From  this 
family,  Letterkenny  in  Donegal  received  its  name, 
which  is  a  shortened  form  of  Letter- Cannanan,  the 
O'Cannanans'  hill-slope. 

Carhery,  another  of  Niall's  sons,  was  the  ancestor 
of  the  Kinel-Carbery  ;  a  part  of  them  settled  in  the 
north  of  the  present  county  of  Longford,  where  the 
mountain  Slieve-Carbury  retains  their  name ;  and 
another  portion  took  possession  of  a  territory  in  the 
north  of  Sligo,  which  is  now  known  as  the  barony  of 
Carbury. 


CHAPTER  IIL 

EARLY  IRISH    SAINTS. 

Our  early  ecclesiastical  writers  have  left  us  ample 
records  of  the  most  remarkable  of  those  illustrious 
men  and  women,  who  in  the  fifth  and  succeeding 
centuries  devoted  their  lives  to  the  conversion  of  the 
Irish  nation.  There  are  great  numbers  again,  of 
whom  we  possess  only  meagre  details,  sometimes  ob- 
scure and  conflicting,  and  often  very  perplexing  to 
the  student  of  those  early  times.  And  many  passed 
silently  to  their  reward,  leaving  their  names  and 
nothing  more,  to  attest  their  participation  in  the 
good  work. 

Most  of  these  saints  settled  in  particular  districts, 
and  founded  churches,  monasteries,  or  schools,  which 


136         Historical  and  Legendary  JYames.      [part  il 

continued  for  ages  to  be  centres  of  civilization,  and 
of  knowledge  both  secular  and  religions.  Whoever 
■understands  the  deep  religions  feeling  of  our  people, 
and  the  fidelity  with  which  they  cling  to  the  tradi- 
tions of  their  ancestors,  will  not  be  surprised  that 
in  most  cases  they  retain  to  this  day  in  the  several 
localities,  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  patron  saints, 
and  cherish  their  memory  with  feelings  of  affection 
and  veneration. 

These  churches  generally  retain  the  names  of  their 
founders,  suffixed  to  such  words  as  Kill,  and  Tempk, 
(a  church),  Tee,  Ti,  or  Ty  (a  house),  &c.  Names 
of  this  kind  abound  in  every  part  of  the  country,* 
and  in  all  Ireland  there  are  probably  not  less  than 
ten  thousand,  that  commemorate  the  names  of  the 
founders,  or  of  the  saints  to  whom  the  churches  were 
dedicated,  or  that  in  some  other  way  indicate  eccle- 
siastical origin. 

To  attempt  an  enumeration  of  even  the  principal 
saints  that  adorned  our  country  from  the  fifth  to  the 
eighth  or  ninth  century,  and  who  are  commemorated 
in  local  names,  would  far  exceed  the  limits  of  a 
chapter ;  but  I  shall  here  select  a  few  for  illus- 
tration, passing  over,  however,  some  of  the  great 
saints,  such  as  Patrick,  Brigid,  and  Columba,  whose 
lives,  and  the  religious  establishments  that  retain 
their  names,  are  generally  speaking  sufficiently  well- 
known. 

Soon  after  St.  Patrick's  arrival  in  Ulster,  and 
while  he  was  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Downpatrick, 
he  met  and  converted  a  young  man  named  Mochaei 
[Mohee],  whose  mother  was  Bronach,  daughter  of 
the  pagan  chief  Milcho,  with  whom  the  saint  had 
spent  seven  years  of  his  youth  in  captivity.  After 
having  baptized  him,   he   tonsured   and  dedicated 


CHAP.  III.]  Early  Irish  Saints.  137 

him  to  the  Church ;  and  according  to  O'Clery's 
Calendar,  he  was  the  first  of  the  Irish  saints  to 
whom  St.  Patrick  presented  a  crozier  and  a  book  of 
the  Grospels. 

This  Mochaei,  who  was  also  called  Caelan  (i.  e.  a 
slender  person),  became  afterwards  very  much  dis- 
tinguished, and  ultimately  attained  the  rank  of 
bishop  :  he  died  in  the  year  497.  He  built  a  church 
and  established  a  school  at  a  place  called  JVaendruim, 
or  Nendrum,  in  Strangford  Lough,  which  was  long  a 
puzzle  to  topographers,  and  was  generally  con- 
founded with  Antrim,  till  Dr.  Reeves,  in  his  "  De- 
scription of  Nendrum,"  identified  the  place,  and 
corrected  the  long-established  error.  It  forms  the 
eastern  portion  of  Ballynakill  parish,  and  in  memory 
of  the  saint,  it  was  also  called  Inis  Mochaei  or  Mahee 
island,  which  last  name  it  retains  to  this  day.  Even 
yet  this  place  retains  the  relics  of  its  former  distinc- 
tion, namely,  the  remains  of  a  round  tower,  and  of  a 
triple  cashel  or  wall  surrounding  the  foundations  of 
the  old  chiu'ch. 

Another  of  St.  Patrick's  disciples  was  St.  Domhan- 
ghart  [Donart],  bishop,  son  of  Eochy,  king  of  Uli- 
dia.  He  founded  two  churches  —  one  at  a  place 
called  JRath-jnurhhuilfj,  near  the  foot  of  Slieve  Donard, 
and  the  other  "  on  the  very  summit  of  the  mountain 
itself,  far  from  all  human  habitation"  (Colgan, 
A.  SS. ,  p.  743) .  The  ruins  of  this  little  church  existed 
down  to  a  recent  period  on  Slieve  Donard  ;  and 
the  name  of  the  mountain  stands  as  a  perpetual 
memorial  of  the  saint,  who  is  still  held  in  extra- 
ordinary veneration  among  the  Moume  mountains, 
and  of  whom  the  peasantry  tell  many  curious 
legends. 

The  ancient  name  of  this   mountain  was  Slieve 


138         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  ii. 

Slainge,  so  called  from  the  bardic  hero  Slainge,  the 
son  of  Parthalon,  who  was  buried  on  its  summit ;  and 
the  great  earn  raised  over  him  still  exists,  and  forms 
a  very  conspicuous  object.  Grn-aldus  Cambrensis, 
writing  in  the  twelfth  century,  records  the  two  names 
of  the  mountain,  but  St.  Domhanghart's  name  he 
latinizes  Dominicus  : — "  A  very  high  mountain  which 
hangs  over  the  sea  flowing  between  Britain  and 
Ireland,  is  called  Salanga,  from  the  second  [son  of 
Bartholanus,  namely,  Salanus,  i.  e.  Slainge]  ;  but  be- 
cause St.  Dominicus  many  ages  afterwards  built  a 
noble  monastery  at  its  base,  it  is  now  more  usually 
called  the  mountain  of  St.  Dominicus"  [i.  e.  SKeve 
Donard]  (Top.  Hib.,  Dist.  III.  Cap.  ii.). 

The  "  noble  monastery"  of  Cambrensis  is  the 
church  mentioned  by  Colgan  (A.  SS.,  p.  743)  as 
"  formerly  called  Rafh-murbhuilg,  now  called  Mach- 
aire-ratlia^^''  and  which  he  states  is  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain.  This  identifies  it  with  Maghera,  now  the 
name  of  a  village  and  parish,  north  of  the  mountain  ; 
Machaire-ratha  (the  plain  of  the  fort)  being  pro- 
nounced Maghera-rdha,  which  was  shortened  to 
Maghera.  The  old  name  Rath-murbhuUg  (which  sig- 
nifies the  rath  of  the  sea-inlet^,  was  of  course  origi- 
nally applied  to  a  fort,  but  it  was  afterwards  trans- 
ferred to  the  church,  and  thence  to  the  parish.  The 
change  of  name  was  efi'ected  by  first  dropping  mur- 
hJuiilg,  and  afterwards  prefixing  machaire ;  and  the 
intennediate  stage  appears  in  the  Taxation  of  1306, 
in  which  the  chui'ch  is  called  simply  Rath. 

The  miirhholg  from  which  it  took  its  original  name, 
is  the  small  inlet  near  it,  entering  from  Dundrum 
Bay  ;  and  it  is  a  cui-ious  confirmation  of  the  authen- 
ticity of  the  foregoing  history  of  the  name,  that  on 
its  shore  there  are  still  two  townlands  (originally 


CHAP.  III.]  Early  Irish  Saints.  139 

one)  called  Mmiougli,  wHcli  is  the  anglicised  form 
of  Murhliolg. 

There  is  a  village  in  Derry  called  Maghera,  which 
is  also  contracted  from  Machaire-ratha.  It  was  an- 
ciently called  Rath-Lumigh  (Four  Mast.),  i.  e.  the 
fort  of  St.  Lurach,  or,  as  he  is  now  called,  Lowry,  the 
patron  saint,  whom  O'Clery's  Calendar,  at  the  17th 
of  February,  designates  as  "  Lurach  of  the  poems, 
son  of  Guana,  of  the  race  of  Colla  Uais,  monarch  of 
Ireland  :"  he  is  well  remembered  in  the  place,  and 
his  chiu-ch,  grave,  and  holy  well  are  still  to  be  seen. 
From  this  church,  the  level  land  where  the  town  stands 
took  the  name  of  Machaire-Ratha-Luraigh  (the  plain 
of  Rathlowry),  contracted  to  Machaire-ratha,  and 
modernized  to  Maghera. 

The  patron  of  Kinawly  in  Fermanagh  is  St.  Natalis, 
or,  as  he  is  called  in  Irish,  Naile  [Nawly],  and 
from  him  the  place  is  called  CiU-Naile  (O'Cl. 
Gal.),  wliich  ought  to  have  been  anglicised  jff'//^««?d'/?/. 
In  O'Clery's  Calendar,  the  following  notice  of  him 
occurs  at  the  27th  of  January  : — "  Naile  of  Inhher- 
Naile  in  Tir-Baghuine  in  Cinel-ConaiU  (the  barony  of 
Banagh,  in  Donegal)  ;  and  afterwards  abbot  of  Cill- 
Naile,  and  Daimhinis  in  Feara-Manach''^  (Devenish,  in 
Fermanagh).  Inhher-NaiJe  (Naile's  river  mouth),  is 
the  present  village  of  Inver,  west  of  Donegal,  of 
which  he  is  also  the  patron,  and  where  he  is  still  re- 
membered ;  and  his  name  is  preserved  in  that  of  Leg- 
nawly  Grlebe  (Naile's  hollow),  near  the  village. 

Another  Natalis  or  Naile  is  the  patron  saint  of 
Kilmanagh,  west  of  Kilkenny  {CiU-Mariach,  Mart. 
Taml.,  the  church  of  the  monks)  ;  and  it  may  be  as- 
sumed that  the  church  of  Killenaule,  in  Tipperary 
(which  is  not  far  from  Kilmanagh),  was  dedicated  to, 
and  named  from,  him. 


140         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  ii. 

Some,  and  among  others  Colgan,  are  of  opinion 
that  the  two  Nailes  are  identical,  but  this  is  disputed 
by  Dr.  Lanigan.  The  O'Clerys  make  them  different, 
and  state  that  Naile  of  Kinawly  was  the  son  of  Aen- 
gus,  that  king  of  Munster,  of  whom  is  told  the  cele- 
brated anecdote,  that  when  he  was  baptized  by  St. 
Patrick  in  Cashel,  his  foot  was  accidentally  pierced 
by  the  crozier,  and  so  deep  was  his  fervour  that  he 
bore  it  without  a  word,  thinking  it  was  a  part  of  the 
ceremony.  Whoever  tries  to  disentangle  this  ques- 
tion by  refening  to  the  Calendars,  will  find  it  involved 
in  much  confusion  :  but  it  seems  certain  that  they 
were  two  different  persons  ;  that  Naile  of  Kilmanagh 
was  really  the  son  of  Aengus ;  and  that  the  other 
Naile  flourished  somewhat  later,  for  it  is  stated  that 
he  died  in  564. 

Ardbraccan  (Brecan's  height),  in  Meath,  was 
founded  by  St.  Brecan,  about  whose  history,  al- 
though he  was  a  very  remarkable  man,  there  hangs 
considerable  obscuiity.  The  most  probable  accounts 
represent  him  as  the  son  of  Eochy  Ballderg,  prince 
of  Thomond,  who  was  baptized  by  St.  Patrick  at 
Singland,  near  Limerick.  Brecan,  after  having 
erected  a  church  at  Ardbraccan,  removed  to  the 
Grreat  island  of  Aran,  where  he  fixed  his  principal 
establishment ;  and  here  are  still  to  be  seen  the  ruins 
of  his  church,  and  his  tombstone,  inscribed  with  his 
name,  in  very  ancient  Roman  characters  (see  Petrie's 
E.  Towers,  p.  138).   ^ 

St.  Ite,  or  Ide,  virgin,  who  is  often  called  the 
Brigid  of  Munster,  was  one  of  the  most  illustrious 
saints  in  an  age  abounding  in  illustrious  men  and 
women.  She  was  born  about  the  year  480,  of  the 
noble  race  of  the  Desii  in  Waterford,  being  descended 
from  Fiacha,  the  son  of  Felim  the  Lawgiver.    She  was 


CHAP.  III.]  Early  Irish  Saints.  141 

from  her  earliest  years  filled  with  the  spirit  of  piety, 
and  when  she  calne  of  age,  obtained  her  parents'  con- 
sent to  devote  herself  to  a  religious  life.  After  having 
received  the  veil,  she  proceeded  to  the  territory  of 
Hij  ConaiU,  in  Limerick,  where  she  selected  a  spot 
called  Cluain  Credhuil  [Clooncrail]  for  her  residence. 
She  was  soon  visited  by  great  numbers  of  pious 
maidens,  who  placed  themselves  under  her  direction; 
and  in  this  manner  sprang  up  her  nunnery,  which 
was  the  first  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  which 
afterwards  attained  to  great  celebrity.  The  name  of 
the  place  was  changed  to  Cill-Ide  (O'Cler.  Cal.),  or 
as  it  is  now  called,  Killeedy,  which  gives  name  to  a 
parish ;  and  at  the  present  day  the  place  contains  the 
ruins  of  a  very  ancient,  and  exquisitely  beautiful 
little  church. 

This  virgin  saint  is  remembered  with  intense  vene- 
ration all  over  Munster,  and  especially  in  Limerick. 
Her  name  is  sometimes  changed  to  Mide  (by  prefix- 
ing Mo*),  and  in  this  form  we  find  it  in  the  names  of 
churches  dedicated  to  her,  of  which  there  are  several, 
and  which  are  now  called  Kilmeedy;  one  of  them 
giving  name  to  a  village  in  Limerick. 

St.  Brendan  of  Clonfert,  or,  as  he  is  often  called 
Brendan  the  navigator,  was  the  son  of  Finlogh  of  the 
race  of  Ciar,  (see  p.  120) ;  and  was  born  near  Tralee 
in  Kerry  in  the  year  484.     He  received  the  rudiments 

*  The  syllables  mo  (my)  and  do  or  da  (thy),  were  often  pre- 
fixed to  the  names  of  Irish  saints  as  terms  of  endearment  or  re- 
verence ;  thus  Conna  became  Mochonna,  and  Dachonna.  The 
diminutives  dti,  in^  and  6g,  were  also  often  postfixed  ;  as  we  find 
in  Ernan,  Ernog,  Baeithin,  Baethan,  &c.  Sometimes  the  names 
were  greatly  changed  by  these  additions ;  thus  Aedh  is  the  same 
name  as  Maedhog  (Mo-Aedh-6g,  my  little  Aedh),  though  when 
pronounced  they  are  quite  unlike,  Aedh  being  pronounced  Ai., 
and  Maedhog,  Mogue  :  Ai  =  Mogue  ! 


142  historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

of  his  education  under  a  bishop  Ere,  and  was  an  in- 
timate friend  of  St.  Ite  of  Killeedy.  After  having 
studied  with  St.  larlath  at  Tuam,  and  with  St.  Fin- 
nian  at  Clonard,  he  ^dsited  Brittany,  where  he  founded 
a  monastery.  It  w^as  previous  to  this  last  visit  that 
he  undertook  his  famous  voyage,  in  which  he  is  said 
to  have  spent  seven  years  sailing  about  on  the  west- 
ern sea,  and  to  have  landed  on  various  strange 
shores. 

He  founded  the  monastery  of  Clonfert,  in  Gralway, 
about  the  year  553,  where  he  drew  together  a  vast 
number  of  monks ;  it  soon  became  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  religious  establishments  in  Ireland;  and 
in  memory  of  the  founder  the  place  is  generally  called 
in  the  Annals  Clonfert-Brendain.  He  also  founded 
the  monastery  of  Ardfert,  in  his  native  county  (which 
is  also  called  Ardfert-Brendain),  where  a  beautiful  an- 
cient church  still  remains.  There  are  several  places 
in  Ireland  called  Clonfert,  which  name  is  written  in 
the  Book  of  Leinster  Cluain-ferta^  the  meadow  of  the 
grave  ;  and  Ardfert  is  written  by  the  Four  Masters 
Ard-ferta,  the  height  of  the  grave. 

There  are  two  remarkable  mountains  in  Ireland 
called  Brandon  Hill  from  this  saint.  One  is  near 
Inistioge,  in  Kilkenny  ;  and  the  other  is  the  well- 
kno\sm  mountain — one  of  the  highest  in  Ireland — west 
of  Tralee,  in  Kerry,  on  the  summit  of  which  are  the 
ruins  of  his  oratory,  with  an  ancient  stone-paved 
causeway  leading  to  it,  which  are  probably  coeval 
with  St.  Brendan  himself. 

There  were  many  saints  named  Ciaran  or  Kieran, 
but  two  of  them  were  distinguished  beyond  the  others  ; 
St.  Ciaran  of  Clonmacnoise,  of  whom  I  shall  not  speak 
here,  and  St.  Ciaran  of  Ossory.  Eegarding  the  exact 
period  when  the  latter  flourished,  there  is  much  un- 


CHAP.  III.]  Early  Irish  Saints.  143 

certainty  ;  but  according  to  the  most  reliable  accounts, 
lie  became  a  bishop  about  the  year  538.  He  was 
born  in  the  island  of  Cape  Clear ;  but  his  father, 
Lugneus,  was  a  native  of  Ossory,  and  of  kingly  de- 
scent. 

Ciaran  was  one  of  the  numerous  band  of  saints  who 
attended  St.  Finnian's  school  at  Clonard  ;  and  having 
retii^ed  to  a  solitary  place  called  Saighir  [Sair],  in 
the  territory  of  Eile,  in  Munster,  he  after  some  time 
erected  a  monastery  there,  which  gradually  grew 
and  became  the  nucleus  of  a  town.  He  subsequently 
employed  himself  partly  in  the  care  of  his  monastery, 
and  partly  in  preaching  the  Grospel  to  the  Ossorians 
and  others,  of  whom  he  converted  great  numbers. 

According  to  a  gloss  in  the  Felire  of  Aengus  at 
the  5th  of  March  (Ciaran's  festival  day),  Saighir  was 
the  name  of  a  fountain  ;  after  the  saint's  time  it  was 
called  Saighir-Ciarain,  which  is  now  contracted  to 
Seirkieran,  the  name  of  a  parish  near  Parsonstown. 
Ciaran  is  also  the  patron  of  Eathkieran,  in  Kilkenny, 
where  he  probably  built  his  church  near  a  pagan 
rath,  which  took  his  name. 

On  the  island  of  Cape  Clear,  traditions  of  St.  Cia- 
ran still  flit  among  the  peasantry.  An  ancient  little 
church  retains  the  name  of  Kilkieran  ;  and  a  strand 
in  one  part  of  the  island  is  called  Trakieran  (Ciaran's 
strand),  on  which  stands  a  primitive  stone  cross,  said 
to  have  been  made  by  the  saint's  own  hands. 

St.  Ciaran  established  a  nunnery  near  Seirkieran 
for  his  mother  Liadhan  [Leean],  or  Liedania;  and 
from  her  the  place  has  since  borne  the  name  of  Killyon 
(Liadhan's  church).  It  is  highly  probable  that  it  is 
from  her  also  that  the  parish  of  Killyon,  in  Meath, 
and  the  townland  of  Killyon  in  the  parish  of  Dun- 
fierth,  Kildare,  received  their  names. 


144        Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

There  were  several  saints  called  Baeithin  [Bwee- 
heen],  of  whom  the  most  distinguished  was  Baeithin 
of  lona,  so  called  because  he  was  a  companion,  rela- 
tive, and  disciple  of  St.  Columba,  and  governed  the 
monastery  for  four  years  after  that  saint's  death  :  he 
died  the  9th  of  June,  600.  This  saint,  whom  Columba 
very  much  loved,  is  often  mentioned  by  Adamnan  ; 
and  in  O'Clery's  Calendar  he  is  spoken  of  in  these 
words  :  —  "  Baeithin,  abbot  of  IcolumMUe  after 
Columkille  himself;  and  Tech-Baeithin  (Baeithin's 
house),  in  Cinel-Conaill  (Donegal),  was  his  chief 
chui^ch,  for  he  was  of  the  race  of  Conall  Grulban,  son 
of  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages."  His  memory  is 
fitill  revered  at  this  church,  w^hich  is  now  called 
Taughboyne,  and  gives  name  to  a  parish  in  Donegal. 

There  is  another  Tech-Baeitkin  in  the  ancient  ter- 
ritory of  Air  teach  in  Roscommon.,  which  also  gives 
name  to  a  parish,  now  called  Tibohine,  the  patron 
saint  of  which  is  a  diflPerent  Baeithin.  He  is  men- 
tioned in  O'Clery's  Calendar  at  the  19th  of  Febru- 
ary (his  festival  day): — "Baeithin,  bishop  (son  of 
Cuana),  of  Tech-Baeithin  in  Airteach,  or  in  the  west 
of  Midhe  (Meath).  He  was  of  the  race  of  Enda,  son 
of  Niall"  [of  the  Nine  Hostages].  He  was  one  of 
the  ecclesiastics  to  whom  the  apostolic  letter  v/as 
^vritten  in  the  year  640,  on  the  subject  of  the  time  for 
celebrating  Easter  (see  Bede,  Hist.  EccL,  Lib.  II. 
Cap.  XIX.) 

The  church  "  in  the  west  of  Midhe, ^^  mentioned 
above,  is  Taghboj^ne,  in  the  parish  of  Churchtown, 
Westmeath,  where  he  is  also  patron.  He  built  another 
church  near  an  ancient  rath,  not  far  from  Kells,  in 
Meath,  and  the  rath  remains,  while  the  church  has 
disappeared  ;  hence  it  was  called  Rath-Baeithin,  and 
in  recent  times  Bab-athboyne,  the  town  of  Baeithin's 
rath,  which  is  now  the  name  of  a  parish. 


CHAP.  III.]  Early  Irish  Saints.  145 

Another  Baeithin,  son  of  Knnacli,  of  the  race  of 
Laeighsech  Ceannmhor  (see  p.  122),  built  a  church 
at  Ennisboyne  (Baeithin's  island  or  river  holm),  in 
the  parish  of  Dunganstown,  "Wicklow,  where  there  is 
still  an  interesting  church  ruin.  He  is  supposed  to 
have  flouiished  about  the  beginning  of  the  seventh 
century.  Crossboyne  in  Mayo  is  called  in  "  Hy  Fiach- 
rach,"  CroS'Baeithin^  i.  e.  St.  Baeithin's  cross ;  and 
Dunboyne  in  Meath  (Baeithin's  dun  or  fortress)  was 
so  called  from  another  of  the  same  name ;  but  who 
these  two  Baeithins  were  I  have  not  been  able  to 
ascertain. 

St.  Ninny,  the  patron  of  Inishmacsaint,  in  Ferma- 
nagh, is  commemorated  in  O'Clery's  Calendar  at  the 
17th  of  January,  in  the  following  words  : — "  Ninnidh, 
bishop  of  Inis-)m(ighe-samh,  in  Loch-Erne ;  and  he 
was  Ninnidh  Saebhruisc  {saebhniisc,  i.  e.  torvi  oculi)^ 
who  was  of  the  race  of  Enda,  sonofNiall"  [of  the 
Nine  Hostages]  ;  and  at  the  16th  of  January  he  is 
mentioned  in  the  Mart.  Taml.  as  "  Ninnid  Lethderc" 
(i.  e.  one-eyed).  He  was  a  disciple  of  St.  Finnian  of 
Clonard,  and  was  a  contemporary  of  St.  Columba. 

Knockninny,  a  hill  in  the  south  of  Fermanagh, 
which  gives  name  to  a  barony,  is  called  Cnoc- Ninnidh 
(Ninny's  hill)  by  the  Four  Masters  ;  and  though  we 
have  no  written  record  of  St.  Ninny's  connexion  with 
it,  the  uniform  tradition  of  the  place  is,  that  the  hill 
derived  its  name  from  him. 

St.  Molaga,  or,  as  he  is  sometimes  called,  Lochein, 
was  born  in  the  territory  of  Fermoy,  in  Cork,  where 
he  also  received  his  education  ;  and  after  distinguish- 
ing himseK  by  piety  and  learning,  he  established  a 
monastery  at  a  place  called  Tualach-Min  (smooth  little 
hill),  in  the  same  district. 

He  visited  Connor,  in  Ulster,  and  thence  proceeded 


146  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,      [part  it. 

to  North  Britain  and  "Wales.  On  his  return  he  settled 
for  some  time  in  Fingal,  north  of  Dublin,  where  he 
kept  a  swarm  of  bees,  a  portion  of  the  bees  brought 
over  from  Wales  by  St.  Modomnoo  of  Tibberaghny, 
in  Kilkenny.  From  this  cu'cumstance  the  place  was 
called  Lann-heachaire  [baekera]  (O'Cl.  Cal.),  the 
church  of  the  bee-man.*  This  is  the  ruined  church 
and  cemetery  in  Bremore,  a  little  north  of  Balbriggan, 
now  nameless,  but  which  in  the  Reg.  Alani  of  the  See 
of  Dublin,  is  called  Lamheecher.  He  returned  to 
Tulach-min,  and  died  there  on  the  20th  of  January, 
some  short  time  after  the  year  664. 

He  is  the  patron  saint  of  Templemolaga,  near 
Mitchelstown,  in  Cork,  where,  on  the  bank  of  the 
Funcheon,  in  a  sequestered  spot,  is  situated  his 
church ;  it  is  called  in  the  Book  of  Lismore,  Eidhnen 
MoJaga — Molaga's  little  ivy  (chiu-ch),  a  name  which 
most  truly  describes  the  present  appearance  of  this 
venerable  little  ruin.  It  is  now  called  Templemo- 
laga, and  gives  name  to  the  parish ;  and  near  it  is 
situated  the  saint's  well,  Tober-Molaga.  About  four 
miles  north-east  of  Templemolaga  is  the  ruined  church 
of  Labbamolaga,  Molaga's  hed  or  grave,  which  gives 
name  to  a  townland.  The  place  called  Tulach-min 
was  obviously  identical  with,  or  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  Templemolaga,  but  the  name  is  now 
obsolete. 


*  Giraklus  among  others,  relates  this  circumstance  of  the  im- 
portation of  bees  by  St.  Modomnoc,  or  Domnoc,  or  as  he  calls 
him,  Dominicus  : — ''  St.  Dominicus  of  Ossory,  as  some  say,  intro- 
duced bees  into  Ireland,  long  after  the  times  of  Solinus  "  (Top. 
Hib.,  Dist.  I.,  c.  v).  Some  records  say  that  these  were  the  first 
bees  brought  to  Ireland,  but  Lanigan  (Vol.  ii.,  p.  321)  shows  that 
there  were  bees  in  the  country  before  St.  Domnoc's  time.  It  is 
evident  that  he  merely  imported  hive  or  domesticated  bees. 


CHAP.  III.]  Early  Irish  Sands.  147 

Timoleague,  in  the  south  of  Cork,  is  called  by  the 
Four  Masters,  Teach-Molaga,  Molaga's  house  ;  we  have 
no  record  of  St.  Molaga's  connexion  with  this  place, 
but  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  he  built  a  church 
there,  from  which  the  name  is  derived  ;  and  the 
place  is  still  well  known  for  its  fine  abbey  ruins. 

St.  Mocheallog  [Mohallog]  or  Dacheallog  flou- 
rished in  the  beginning  of  the  seventh  century. 
According  to  Lanigan,  he  spent  some  time  under  the 
instruction  of  St.  Declan  of  Ai^lmore,  and  died  be- 
tween the  years  639  and  656.  He  founded  a  churcli 
at  Killmallock  in  Limerick,  which  the  same  author 
says,  is  sup230sed  to  be  a  contraction  of  Cill-Mo- 
cheaUog;  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  at  all  that  it  is  so, 
and  for  two  sufficient  reasons  : — first,  because  in  the 
Felire  of  Aengus  it  is  stated  at  the  26th  of  March, 
St.  Mocheallog's  festival  day,  that  CiU-Dacheallog  is 
in  the  territory  of  Hy  Carbery  in  Munster,  which 
identifies  it  with  Kilmallock,  as  Hy  Carbery  included 
the  barony  of  Coshma ;  and,  secondly,  the  inhabitants 
at  this  day,  when  speaking  Irish,  always  call  the  town 
Cill-MocheaUog,  St.  Mocheallog's  Chui'ch. 

Finan  was  the  name  of  many  saints,  of  whomFinan 
surnamed  Lohhar,  or  the  leper,  because  for  thirty 
years  he  was  afflicted  with  some  kind  of  leprosy,  was 
the  most  remarkable.  He  was  a  native  of  Ely  O'Car- 
roU  in  King's  County,  then  forming  part  of  Munster, 
and  governed  for  some  time  as  abbot,  the  monasteries 
of  Swords,  near  Dublin,  and  Clonmore-Mogue  in 
Leinster.  He  is  mentioned  in  O'Clery's  Calendar 
at  the  16th  of  March,  in  the  following  words  : — 
''  Finan  the  leper  of  Sord,  and  of  Cluain-mor  in 
Leinster  ;  and  of  Ard-Fionain  in  Munster ;  he  was 
of  the  race  of  Cian,  son  of  Olioll  Olum."  He  died 
between  the  years  675  and  695. 

l2 


148        Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

He  founded  a  monastery  in  the  island  of  Innisfallen 
(see  p.  104),  in  the  lower  lake  of  Killarney  ;  and 
that  of  Ardfinnan,  in  Tipperary  (mentioned  ahove), 
which  preserves  his  name.  Kilfinnane,  in  Limerick, 
douhtless  owes  its  foundation  to  this  Finan  also,  being 
called  in  Irish  Cill-Fhionain,  i.  e.  Finan's  church ;  his 
well  still  exists,  and  his  festival  was  formerly  cele- 
brated there,  but  all  memory  of  the  exact  day  is 
lost. 

Another  Finan,  who  was  surnamed  Cam,  i.  e. 
crooked,  because,  as  the  Mart.  Taml.  has  it,  ''  there 
was  an  obliquity  in  his  eyes,"  flourished  in  the  sixth 
century.  He  was  a  native  of  Corkaguiny,  in  KeiTy, 
and  was  descended  from  Carbery  Muse.  He  is  the 
patron  of  Kinnitty,  in  King's  County — Ceann-Eitighy 
Etech's  head — so  called  according  to  a  gloss  in  the 
Felire  of  Aengus  at  the  7th  of  April,  the  saint's  fes- 
tival day,  because  the  head  of  Etech,  an  ancient  Irish 
princess,  was  buried  there.  Denynane,  the  well- 
known  seat  of  the  O'Connell  family,  took  its  name 
from  him — Doire-Fhiondin  {Fh  silent) — Finan's  oak 
grove  ;  and  his  house,  one  of  the  beehive-shaped  struc- 
tures, is  still  to  be  seen  on  Church  Island,  in  Currane 
Lough,  four  miles  north  of  Derrynane.  His  name 
is  also  preserved  in  Eahinnane,  Finan's  foi-t,  now  a 
townland  near  Yentry. 

One  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  the  Irish  Church 
in  the  seventh  and  eighth  centuiies  was  the  illustrious 
Adamnan,  abbot  of  lona,  and  the  wiiter  of  the  well- 
known  Life  of  St.  Columba ;  whom  the  Yenerable 
Bede  designates  as  "  a  wise  and  good  man,  and  most 
eminently  learned  in  the  science  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures." (Hist.  EccL,  Lib.  V.,  Cap.  xv.)  We  have 
no  direct  record  of  the  exact  place  or  time  of  his 
birth,  but  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  he  was 


CHAP.  III.]  Early  Irish  Saints.  149 

a  native  of  Donegal,  and  that  lie  was  born  about  the 
year  627.  He  was  elected  abbot  of  lona  in  the  year 
679.  In  685  he  was  sent  to  Alfrid,  king  of  the 
Northnmbrian  Saxons,  to  solicit  a  restoration  of  some 
captives  that  had  been  carried  off,  the  previous  year, 
from  the  territory  of  Meath,  by  Saxon  pirates  ;  and  in 
this  mission  he  was  eminently  successful.  About  the 
year  703  he  visited  Ireland  for  the  last  time,  and 
succeeded  in  inducing  most  of  the  northern  Irish  to 
adopt  the  Eoman  method  of  computing  the  time  for 
Easter.  He  returned  to  lona  in  704,  in  which  year 
he  died,  in  the  77th  year  of  his  age. 

The  name  Adamnan  is,  according  to  Cormac's 
Grlossary,  an  Irish  diminutive  of  Adam.  It  is  gene- 
rally pronounced  in  three  syllables,  but  its  proper 
Irish  pronunciation  is  Aivnaioi,  the  d  and  m  being 
both  aspirated  (Adliamhnan).  The  saint's  name  is 
commemorated  in  several  places  in  Ireland,  and  al- 
ways, as  might  be  expected,  in  this  phonetic  form. 

He  is  the  patron  of  Baphoe,  where  he  is  called 
Eunan,  but  no  place  there  retains  the  name.  He  is 
also  patron  of  Ballindrait  in  the  parish  of  Clonleigh, 
Donegal,  the  Irish  name  of  which  is  Droichet-Adh- 
amhnain,  St.  Adamnan's  bridge.  The  modern  de- 
signation has  not  preserved  the  name  of  the  saint ; 
Ballindrait  is  contracted  from  the  Irish  Baile-an- 
droicMf,  the  town  of  the  bridge. 

Errigal  in  Londonderry  has  Adamnan  also  for  its 
patron,  and  hence  it  was  called  in  Irish  Airecal- 
Adhamhnain,  Adamnan's  habitation.  The  old  church 
was  situated  in  the  townland  of  Ballintemple  (the 
town  of  the  church)  ;  south  of  which  is  the  only  local 
commemoration  of  the  saint's  name,  viz.,  a  large  stone 
called  "  Onan's  rock." 

In  the  Life  of  St.  Farannan  published  by  Colgan, 


150  Historical  and  Legendary  Naines.     [paut  ii. 

we  are  informed  that  Tibraide,  lord  of  Hy  Fiachrach, 
bestowed  on  St.  Coluniba  a  place  called  Cnoc-na- 
maoile ;  but  that  it  was  subsequently  called  Scrin- 
Adhcunhnain  from  a  shrine  of  that  saint  afterwards 
erected  there.  From  this  shrine  the  parish  of  Skreen 
derived  its  name.  He  is  there  called  Awnaun,  and 
his  well,  Toberawnaun  (which  gives  name  to  a  town- 
land)  ,  lies  a  little  south  of  the  old  church. 

There  is  a  townland  called  S_yonan  in  the  parish  of 
Ardnurcher,  in  Westmeath,  which,  according  to  the 
Annals  of  Clonmacnoise,  received  its  name  from  him. 
The  tradition  of  the  place  is,  that  Adamnan  in  one  of 
his  visits  to  Ireland  preached  to  the  multitude  on  the 
hill  there,  which  has  ever  since  been  called  Suidhc- 
Adlmmlinain  [Syonan],  Adamnan's  seat.  Killonan 
in  the  parish  of  Derrjgalvin,  in  Limerick,  may  also 
have  been  called  so  from  him,  but  of  this  we  have  no 
evidence.* 

The  Martyrology  of  Tallaght,  at  the  3rd  of  March, 
mentions  St.  Moshacra,  the  son  of  Senan  of  Teach- 
Sacra;  and  in  O'Clery's  Calendar  we  find,  "Mosha- 
cra, abbot  of  Clonenagh,  and  of  Teach  Sacra,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Tallaght." 

This  Mosacra  or  Sacra  was  one  of  the  fathers  who 
composed  the  synod  held  at  Armagh  about  the  year 
696,  at  which  Adamnan  attended  from  lona.  He 
was  the  founder  and  abbot  of  the  monastery  at  Teach- 
Sacra  (Sacra's  house),  a  name  afterwards  changed  to 
Tassagptrd,  and  subsequently  contracted  to  Saggart, 
which  is  now  the  name  of  a  village  and  parish  near 
Tallaght,  in  Dublin. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  among  the  early  saints 

*  See  the  Rev.  William  Reeves's  Edition  of  Adamnan's  Lif 
of  .St.  Columba,  from  which  the  above  account  has  been  taken. 


CHAP.  III.]  Earljj  Irish  Saints.  lol 

of  Ireland  was  St.  Moling,  bishop  of  Ferns.  He 
was  descended  from  Caliirniore,  monarch  of  Ireland 
in  the  second  century  ;  his  mother  was  Nemhnat,  a 
native  of  Kerry,  and  he  is  therefore  often  called  Mo- 
ling Lnachra,  fi'om  the  district  of  Lu  a  chair,  on  the 
borders  of  Cork,  Kerry,  and  Limerick.  At  his  inter- 
cession, and  in  opposition  to  the  advice  of  8t.  Adam- 
nan,  Finaghty,  king  of  Ireland,  remittedthe  Borumha 
or  cow- tribute  to  the  Leinstermen,  which  had  been 
exacted  for  centimes,  and  which  was  reimposed  many 
ages  afterwards,  by  Brian  Borumha.  He  died  on 
the  17th  of  May,  697. 

He  is  mentioned  in  O'Clery's  Calendar  as  "  Moling 
Luachra,  bishop  and  confessor,  of  Tigh- Moling.'''' 
This  place  is  situated  on  the  Barrow,  in  the  south  of 
the  county  of  Carlow,  and  was  originally  called  Ros- 
broc,  badger  wood ;  but  the  saint  erected  a  church 
there  about  the  middle  of  the  seventh  century,  and 
it  was  afterwards  called  Tigh-Moling  [Tee-Moling], 
i.  e.  St.  Moling's  house,  which  is  now  reduced  to  St. 
Mullins.  The  village  of  Timolin,  in  Kildare,  took 
its  name  from  a  church  erected  there  by  him,  and  it 
preserves  more  correctly  the  original  form,  Tigh- 
Moling. 

St.  Aengus  the  Culdee — or,  as  he  is  often  called, 
Aengus  the  Hagiologist — embraced  a  religious  life  in 
the  monastery  of  Clonenagh,  in  Queen's  County  ; 
and  having  made  great  progress  in  learning  and  holi- 
ness, he  entered  the  monastery  of  Tallaght,  near  Dub- 
lin. There  he  spent  several  years  under  St.  Mael- 
ruain,  whom  he  assisted  to  compile  a  Calendar  of 
saints,  which  is  well  known  as  the  MartjTrology  of 
Tallaght.  He  was  the  author  of  a  still  more  cele- 
brated work,  which  is  now  commonly  known  as  the 
Felire  of  Aengus,  a  metrical  calendar,  in  which  the 


152  Historical  and  Legendary  Karnes,     [pakt  ii. 

saints  of  each  day  are  commemorated  in  a  stanza  of 
four  lines.  He  died,  according  to  the  most  probable 
accounts,  about  the  year  824.* 

He  built  a  cell  for  himself  in  a  lonely  spot  near 
Clonenagh,  to  which  he  frequently  retired  for  medi- 
tation and  prayer.  It  was  called  from  him  Disert- 
Aengusa,  Aengus's  hermitage,  now  modernized  to 
Dysartenos  ;  and  it  is  the  only  place  I  know  that 
commemorates  the  name  of  this  venerable  man. 


CHAPTEE  lY. 

LEGENDS. 

Many  of  the  legends  with  which  the  early  history  of 
our  country  abounds  are  no  doubt  purely  fabulous, 
the  inventions  of  the  old  shanachies  or  story  tellers. 
Great  numbers,  on  the  other  hand,  are  obviously 
founded  on  historical  events  ;  but  they  have  been  so 
distorted  and  exaggerated  by  successive  generations 
of  romancers,  so  interwoven  with  strange  or  super- 
natural circumstances,  or  so  far  removed  from  their 
true  date  into  the  regions  of  antiquity,  that  they  have 
in  many  cases  quite  lost  the  look  of  probability.  It 
is  impossible  to  draw  an  exact  line  of  demarcation 
between  what  is  partly  real  and  what  is  wholly  fic- 
titious ;  but  some  of  these  shadowy  relations  possess 
certain  marks,  and  are  coiToborated  by  independent 
circumstances,  which  render  it  extremely  probable 
that  they  have  a  foundation  of  truth. 

*  See  the  Life  of  St.  Aengus  the  Culdee,  by  the  Rev.  John 
O'Hanlon. 


CHAP.  IV.]  Legends.  153 

It  must  be  careftilly  borne  in  mind  that  the  correct- 
ness of  the  interpretations  given  in  this  chapter,  is 
not  at  all  affected  by  the  truth  or  falsehood  of  the 
legends  connected  with  the  names.  It  is  related  in 
the  Dinnsenchus,  that  Conall  Cearnach,  one  of  the 
most  renowned  of  the  Eed  Branch  knights  of  Ulster 
in  the  first  century,  lived  in  his  old  age  at  Cniachan 
the  royal  palace  of  Maev,  queen  of  Connaught.  OlioU 
More,  Maev's  husband,  was  slain  by  the  old  warrior 
with  a  cast  from  a  javelin  ;  and  the  men  of  Connaught 
pursued  and  overtook  him  at  a  ford  over  a  river  in  the 
present  county  of  Cavan,  where  the  village  of  Bally- 
connell  now  stands.  There  they  slew  him,  so  that 
the  place  was  ever  after  called  Bel-atha-Chonaill 
[Bellaconnell]  ;  and  this  event  is  still  remembered 
in  the  traditions  of  the  neighbourhood. 

The  reader  may  or  may  not  believe  this  story : 
nevertheless  the  name  signifies  Conall's  ford-mouth, 
for  we  find  it  always  written  in  Irish  authorities,  and 
pronounced  at  this  day  by  the  natives,  Bel-atha- 
ChonaiU ;  audit  is  certain  that  it  took  its  name  from 
some  man  named  Conall,  whether  it  be  Conall  Cear- 
nach or  not. 

The  accounts  handed  down  to  us  of  the  early 
colonies,  belong  to  the  class  of  historical  legends. 
I  have  included  some  of  them  in  the  chapter  on  his- 
torical events,  and  others  I  shall  bring  in  here  ;  but 
in  this  case  too  it  is  difiicult,  and  sometimes  impos- 
sible, to  determine  the  line  of  sejDaration.  They  have 
been  transmitted  from  several  ancient  authorities,  and 
always  with  remarkable  consistency  ;  many  of  them 
are  reflected  in  the  traditions  of  the  peasantry ;  and 
the  truth  of  several  is  confirmed  by  present  existing 
monuments.     But  to  most  of  them  the  old  historians 


154        historical  and  Legendary/  Names.      [part  ii. 

have  assigned  an  antiquity  so  incredible  or  absurd, 
that  many  reject  them  on  this  account  as  a  mass  of 
fables. 

The  first  who  led  a  colony  to  Ireland,  according  to 
our  bardic  histories,  was  a  woman  named  Ceasair  or 
Casar,  who  came  jforty  days  before  the  deluge,  with 
fifty  young  women  and  three  men — Bith  [Bili],Ladh- 
ra  [Lara],  and  Fintan.  Ceasair  and  the  three  men 
died  soon  after  their  arrival,  and  gave  names  to  four 
different  places  ;  but  they  are  all  now  forgotten,  with 
one  exception.  Bith  was  buried  on  a  mountain, 
which  was  called  from  him  Sliahh  Beatha  [Slieve- 
baha].  It  is  well  known  and  retains  the  very  same 
name  in  Irish ;  but  it  is  called  in  English  Slieve 
Beagh — a  range  situated  on  the  confines  ofMonaghan, 
Fermanagh,  and  Tyrone.  Bith's  earn  still  exists,  and 
is  a  large  and  consjiicuous  monument  on  the  top  of  a 
hill,  in  the  townland  of  Garnmore  (to  which  it  gives 
name),  parish  of  Clones,  Fermanagh ;  and  it  may  be 
seen  from  the  top  of  the  moat  of  Clones,  distant  about 
seven  miles  north-west.* 

The  first  leader  of  a  colony  after  the  flood  was 
Parthalon,  who,  with  his  followers,  ultimately  took 
up  his  residence  on  the  plain  anciently  called  Sean- 
mhagh-Ealta-Edair  [Shan- va-alta-edar],  the  old  plain 
of  the  flocks  of  Edar,  which  stretched  along  the  coast 
by  Dublin,  from  Tallaght  to  Edar,  or  Howth.  The 
legend — which  is  given  in  several  very  ancient  au- 
thorities —relates  that  after  the  people  of  this  colony 
had  lived  there  for  300  years,  they  were  destroyed  by 
a  plague,  which  in  one  week  carried  off  5000  men 
and  4000  women  ;  and  they  were  buried  in  a  place 

*  See  O'Donovan's  Four  Masters,  vol.  i.,  p.  3. 


CHAP.  IV.]  Legends.  155 

called,  from  this  circiimstaiice,  TaimhleacJif-Mhuin- 
tire-Parthaloin  (Four  Mast.),  the  TavIogJd  or  plague- 
grave  of  Parthalon's  people.  This  place,  which  lies 
ahout  five  miles  from  Dublin,  still  retains  the  name 
Taimhieachty  modernized  to  Tallaght ;  and  on  the  hill, 
lying  beyond  the  village,  there  is  to  be  seen  at  this 
day  a  remarkable  collection  of  ancient  sepulchral 
tumuli,  in  which  cinerary  urns  are  found  in  great 
nimibers. 

The  word  Taimhleacht^  a  plague-monument — a 
place  where  people  who  died  of  an  epidemic  were 
buried — is  pretty  common  as  a  local  appellative  in 
various  parts  of  Ireland,  under  different  forms  :  it  is 
of  pagan  origin,  and  so  far  as  I  know  is  not  applied 
to  a  Christian  cemetery,  except  by  adoption,  like 
other  pagan  terms.  In  the  northern  counties  it  is 
generally  made  Tamlaght  and  Tamlat,  while  in  other 
places  it  takes  the  forms  of  Tawlaght,  Towlaght,  and 
Toulett. 

In  combination  with  other  words,  the  first  t  is 
often  aspirated,  which  softens  it  dovTi  still  more. 
Thus  Derryhowlaght  and  Derryhawlagh,  in  Ferma- 
nagh, is  the  oak  grove  of  the  plague-grave  ;  Dooham- 
lat,  in  Monaghan,  and  Doohallat,  in  Cavan,  black 
grave.  Magherahamlet,  in  Down,  is  called  on  the 
Down  Survey,  Ilagherehouiett,  and  in  a  patent  of 
James  I.,  Magherhamlagkt,  both  of  which  point  to 
the  Irish  Machaire-thaimhleachta,  the  field  of  the 
plague-grave. 

The  Fomorians — a  race  of  pirates  who  infested 
the  coasts  of  Ireland,  and  oppressed  the  inhabitants 
— are  much  celebrated  in  our  histories.  They  came 
to  Ireland  in  the  time  of  Newy  (who  led  another 
colony,  thirty  years  after  the  destruction  of  Par- 
thalon's people)  ;  and  their  principal  stronghold  was 


156         Sistorical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  ii. 

Tory  island.  Balor  of  the  great  blov/s  was  their 
chief,  and  two  of  the  tower-like  rocks  on  the  east  side 
of  Tory,  are  still  called  Balor's  castle  and  Balor's 
prison. 

His  wife,  Cethlenn  [Kehlen],  seems  to  have  been 
worthy  of  her  husband.  She  fought  at  the  second 
battle  of  Moyturey,  and  inflicted  a  wound  on  the 
Dagda,  the  king  of  the  Tuatha  De  Dananns,  of  which 
he  afterwards  died.  It  is  stated  in  the  Annals  of 
Clonniacnoise,  that  Enniskillen  received  its  name 
from  her :  in  the  Irish  authorities  it  is  always  called 
Inis-CefJiIenn,  Cethlenn's  island. 

At  this  time  there  lived  on  the  mainland,  opposite 
Tory,  a  chieftain  named  Mac  Kineely,  who  was  the 
owner  of  the  Glasgavlen,  a  celebrated  cow,  remem- 
bered in  tradition  all  over  Ireland.  Balor  possessed 
himself  of  the  Glas  by  a  stratagem,  and  carried  her 
off  to  Tory ;  and  then  Mac  Kineely,  acting  on  the 
directions  of  a  fairy  called  Biroge  of  the  mountain, 
concerted  a  plan  of  revenge,  which  many  years  after 
led  to  the  death  of  Balor.  When  Balor  became 
aware  of  this,  he  landed  with  his  band  on  the  main- 
land coast,  and  seized  on  Mac  Kineely ;  and,  placing 
his  head  on  a  large  white  stone,  he  cut  it  clean  off 
with  one  blow  of  his  sword. 

Hence  the  place  was  called  Cloch-Chinnfhaelaidh, 
which  is  the  name  used  by  the  Four  Masters  and 
other  authorities,  signifying  Kinfaela's  or  Kineely 's 
stone ;  and  the  pronunciation  is  well  preserved  in  the 
present  name  of  the  place,  Cloghineely.  The  stone 
is  still  to  be  seen,  and  is  very  carefully  preserved ;  it 
is  veined  with  red,  which  is  the  stain  of  Mac  Kineely's 
blood  that  penetrated  to  its  centre ;  and  the  tourist 
who  is  a  lover  of  legend  may  indulge  his  taste  among 


CHAP.  IV.]  Legends.  157 

the  people,  who  will  tell  endless  stories  regarding 
this  wonderful  stone.* 

From  the  same  people  the  Griant's  Causeway  has 
derived  its  name.  It  is  called  in  Irish,  Clochan-na- 
hJiFomharaigh,  [Clohanavowry  :  O'Brien's  Diet,  voce 
Fomhar']  ;  the  cloghan,  or  stepping-stones,  or  cause- 
way, of  the  Fomorians ;  and  as  those  sea  rovers 
were  magnified  into  giants  in  popular  legend,  the 
name  came  to  be  translated  "  Giant's  Causewaj^" 

The  celebrities  of  the  Tuatha  de  Danann  colony 
have  left  their  names  on  many  localities.  From  the 
princess  Danann  some  suppose  they  derive  their 
name  ;  and  from  her  also  two  remarkable  mountains 
in  Kerry  were  called  Da-chich-Danainne,  the  two 
paps  of  Danann,  now  well  Imo-^ivTi  as  the  Paps. 

One  of  the  most  celebrated  characters  among  this 
people  was  Manannan  Mac  Lir,  of  whom  we  are  told 
in  Cormac's  Glossary,  and  other  ancient  authorities, 
that  he  was  a  famous  merchant  who  resided  in,  and 
gave  name  to  Inis  Manaun,  or  the  Isle  of  Man  ; 
that  he  was  the  best  merchant  in  western  Europe  ; 
and  that  he  used  to  know,  by  examining  the  heavens, 
the  length  of  time  the  fair  and  the  foul  weather 
would  last. 

He  was  also  called  Orbsen ;  and  he  was  killed  by 
UUin,  grandson  of  Nuad  of  the  silver  hand,  in  a 
battle  fought  at  Moycullen,  near  Lough  Corrib,  in 
which  the  two  chiefs  contended  for  the  sovereignty 
of  Connaught ;  "  and  when  his  grave  was  dug,  it  was 
then  Loch  Orhsen  burst  [out  of  the  grave]  over 
the  land,  so  that  it  is  from  him  that  Loch  Orhsen 


*  See  O  'Donovan's  Four  Masters,  vol.  i.,  p.  18,  for  a  very 
full  version  of  this  lesfend. 


158  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

is  named."  (Yellow  Book  of  Lecan,  quoted  by 
O'CuiTj,  Atlantis,  YII.,  p.  228.)  This  lake  is 
called  Loch  Orhsen  (Orbsen's  lake)  in  all  our  authori- 
ties ;  and  this  was  changed  to  the  present  name, 
Lough  Corrib,  by  omitting  the  final  syllable,  and 
by  the  attraction  of  the  c  sound  from  Loch  to  Orh- 
sen;  Boate  has  it  in  the  intermediate  form,  Lough 
Corhes. 

Many  of  the  legendary  heroes  of  the  Milesian 
colony  are  also  remembered  in  local  names.  When 
the  sons  of  Milesius  came  to  invade  Ireland,  a  storm 
was  raised  by  the  incantations  of  the  Tuatha  De 
Dananns,  which  drove  them  from  Lnver  Sceine,  or 
Kenmare  bay,  where  they  had  attempted  to  land, 
scattered  their  fleet  along  the  coast,  and  drowned 
many  of  their  chiefs  and  peoj)le.  Donn,  one  of  the 
brothers,  and  all  the  crew  of  his  ship,  were  lost  on  a 
range  of  rocks  off  Kenmare  bay,  afterwards  called  in 
memory  of  the  chief,  Teach- Dlioinn^  i.  e.  Donn's  house, 
which  is  the  name  used  by  the  Irish-speaking  pea- 
santry at  the  present  day;  but  they  are  called  in 
English,  the  Bull,  Cow,  and  Calf. 

Colpa  the  swordsman,  another  of  the  brothers,  was 
drowned  in  attempting  to  land  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Boyne  ;  and  that  part  of  the  river  was  called  from 
him  Lnver  Colptha  [Colpa]  (Foiu'  Mast.),  Colpa's 
river  mouth.  This  name  is  no  longer  applied  to  it ; 
but  the  parish  of  Colp,  lying  on  its  southern  bank, 
retains  the  name  with  little  change. 

Eimher  [Eiver],  son  of  Milesius,  landed  with  his 
followers  at  Lnver  Sceine,  and  after  three  days  they 
fought  a  battle  against  a  party  of  the  Tuatha  De  Da- 
nanns at  Slieve  Mish,  near  Tralee,  where  fell  Scota, 
the  wife  of  Milesius,  and  Fas,  wife  of  Un.  Fas  was 
interred   in   a  glen,    called   from   her    Gleann-Faisi 


CHAP.  lY.]  Legends.  159 

(Four  Mast.);  it  is  now  called  Glenofaush,  and  is 
situated  at  the  base  of  Caherconree  mountain  about 
seven  miles  west  of  Tralee.  The  Four  Masters  state 
that  *'  the  grave  of  Scota  is  to  be  seen  between  Slieve 
Mish  and  the  sea ;"  it  is  still  well  knoT\Ti  by  the 
name  of  Scota's  grave,  and  is  situated  by  the  Fingias 
stream ;  the  glen  is  called  Grienscoheen,  Scotina's  or 
Scota's  glen ;  and  the  monument,  which  was  ex- 
plored some  years  ago  by  a  party  of  antiquaries,  still 
remains. 

A  decisive  battle  was  afterwards  fought  at  Tailltenn, 
or  Teltown,  in  Meath,  in  which  the  Tuatha  De  Da- 
nanns  were  finally  routed  :  in  following  up  the  pur- 
suit, two  distinguished  Milesian  chieftains  were  slain  ; 
namely,  Fuad  and  Cuailgne,  the  sons  of  Brogan, 
grandfather  of  Milesius.  The  former  fell  at  Sliabh 
Fuaid  (Four  Masters  :  Fuad's  moimtain),  near  New- 
to^^mhamilton,  in  Ai^magh,  which  still  retains  the 
name  of  Slieve  Fuad ;  it  is  the  highest  of  the  Fews 
range  ;  but  the  two  words,  Fuad  and  Feics,  have 
no  connexion,  the  former  being  much  the  more 
ancient. 

The  place  where  Cuailgne  [Cooley]  fell  was  called 
Sliabh  Cuailgne  (Four  Masters)  ;  it  is  the  moun- 
tainous peninsula  lying  between  the  bays  of  Dundalk 
and  Carlingford,  and  the  range  of  heights  still  bears 
the  name  of  the  Cooley  Mountains.  From  Bladh 
[Blaw],  another  of  Brogan's  sons,  was  named  Sliabh 
Bladhma  [Slieve-Blawma ;  Four  Masters),  now  called 
Slievebloom.  Whether  this  is  the  same  person  who 
is  commemorated  in  Lickbla,  in  Westmeath,  I  can- 
not tell ;  but  the  name  signifies  "  Bladh's  flagstone,'' 
for  the  Four  Masters  write  it  Liag-Bladhma. 

Fial,  the  wife  of  Lewy  (son  of  Ith,  the  uncle  of 
Milesius) ,  gave  name  to  the  river  Feale,  in  Kerry  : 


160        Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

the  legend  says  that  her  husband  unexpectedly  came 
in  sight,  while  she  stood  naked  after  bathing  in  the 
stream ;  and  that  she,  not  recognising  him,  imme- 
diately died  through  fear  and  shame.  An  abbey, 
built  in  later  ages  on  its  banks,  was  called  in  Irish 
Maimstir-na-Feile,  i.  e.  the  abbey  of  the  river  Feale, 
which  is  now  called  Abbeyfeale,  and  gives  name  to 
the  town. 

Legends  about  cows  are  very  common.  Our 
Annals  relate  that  Breasal  Boidhiobhadh  [Bo-yeeva] 
son  of  Bury,  ascended  the  throne  of  Ireland,  A.  M. 
5001.  He  received  his  cognomen,  because  there 
was  a  great  mortality  of  cows  in  his  reign  :  ho,  a  cow, 
diohhad/i,  death.  The  Annals  of  Clonmacnoise  men- 
tion this  event  in  the  following  words  : — "  In  his 
time  there  was  such  a  morren  of  cows  in  this  land, 
as  there  were  no  more  then  left  alive  but  one  Bull 
and  one  Heiffer  in  the  whole  kingdom,  which  Bull 
and  Heiffer  lived  at  a  place  called  Gleann  Sawasge.^^ 
This  glen  is  situated  in  the  county  of  Keny,  in  the 
parish  of  Templenoe,  north-west  of  Kenmare,  and 
near  the  valley  of  Glencare  ;  and  it  is  still  called 
Gleann-samhaisce  [sowshke],  the  valley  of  the  heifer. 
The  tradition  is  well  remembered  in  the  county,  and 
they  tell  many  wonderful  stories  of  this  bull  and 
heifer,  from  which,  they  maintain,  the  whole  race  of 
Irish  cows  is  descended. 

There  is  a  small  lake  in  the  island  of  Inishbofin,  off 
the  coast  of  Connemara,  in  which  there  lives  an  en- 
chanted white  cow,  or  ho  finn,  which  appears  rfbove 
the  waters  at  certain  times  ;  hence  the  lake  is  called 
Loch-hO'finne,  the  lake  of  the  white  cow,  and  it  has 
given  name  to  the  island.  Bede  calls  the  island  Inis- 
ho-finde^  and  interprets  it  "the  island  of  the  white 
cow." 


CHAP.  IV.]  Legends,  161 

There  is  another  Inishbofin  m  Lough  Eee  on  the 
Shannon,  which  in  Colgan's  Life  of  St.  Aidus  is 
similarly  translated ;  and  another  off  the  coast  of 
Donegal,  south  of  Tory  island.  We  find  also  several 
lakes  in  different  parts  of  Lreland  called  Lough  Bo- 
fin,  the  white  cow's  lake  ;  Lough  Boderg  (of  the  red 
cow) ,  is  a  lake  on  the  Shannon  south  of  Carrick-on- 
Shannon ;  Corrabofin  near  Ballybay,  in  Monaghan 
(properly  Carrowbofin,  the  quarter-land  of  the  white 
cow)  ;  (rortbofinna  (Grort,  a  field),  near  Mallow,  in 
Cork ;  Drombofinny  (Drom,  a  ridge)  in  the  parish  of 
Desertserges,  same  county ;  Lisbofin,  in  Fermanagh 
and  Armagh ;  Lisboduff  (the  fort  of  the  hlacTx  cow),  in 
Cavan,  and  many  others.  It  is  very  probable  that 
these  names  also  are  connected  with  legends. 

There  are  several  places  in  Ireland  whose  names 
end  with  urcJier,  from  the  Ii^ish  word  urchur,  a  throw, 
cast,  or  shot.  In  every  such  place  there  is  a  legend  of 
some  remarkable  cast  of  a  weapon,  memorable  for  its 
prodigious  length,  for  killing  some  great  hero,  a  mid 
animal  or  infernal  serpent,  or  for  some  other  sufficient 
reason.  For  example,  Urcher  itself  is  the  name  of 
three  townlands  in  Armagh,  Cavan,  and  Monaghan; 
and  in  the  last-mentioned  county,  in  the  parish  of 
Currin,  there  is  a  place  called  Drumurcher,  the  ridge 
of  the  cast. 

The  most  remarkable  of  these  mighty  easts  is  comme- 
morated at  the  place  now  called  Ardnurcher,  in  West- 
meath — a  cast  that  ultimately  caused  the  death  of 
Conor  Mac  Nessa,  king  of  Ulster  in  the  first  century. 
The  name  Ardnurcher  is  a  corruption,  and  the  proper 
form  would  be  Athnurcher ;  the  Four  Masters,  in  re- 
cording the  erection  of  the  castle  in  1192,  whose  rums 
are  still  there,  call  it  Ath-an-urchair  ;  and  the  natives 

M 


162  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

still  call  it  in  Irisli  Baile-atha-an-nrchair,  wliich  they 
pronounce  Blaanurchcr. 

Conall  Ceamach,  on  a  certain  occasion,  slew  in 
single  combat  a  Leinster  chieftain  named  Mesgedhra 
[Mesgera],  whose  brains — according  to  a  barbarous 
custom  then  prevalent— he  mixed  with  lime,  and 
made  of  them  a  hard  round  ball,  which  he  kept  both 
as  a  weapon  and  as  a  trophy.  There  was  at  this  time 
a  war  raging  between  Ulster  and  Connaught,  and 
Ceat  [Keth]  mac  Magach,  a  Connaught  chief,  having 
by  stratagem  obtained  possession  of  the  ball,  kept  it 
always  slung  from  his  girdle ;  for  it  had  been  pro- 
phesied that  Mesgera  would  be  revenged  of  the 
Ulstermen  after  his  death,  and  Ceat  hoped  that  this 
prophecy  would  be  fulfilled  by  means  of  the  ball. 

Ceat  went  one  time  with  his  band,  to  plunder  some 
of  the  Ulster  territories,  and  returning  with  a  great 
spoil  of  cattle,  he  was  pursued  and  overtaken  by  an 
army  of  Ulstermen  under  the  command  of  Conor, 
and  a  battle  was  fought  between  them.  The  Con- 
naught chief  contrived  to  separate  the  king  from  his 
party,  and  watching  his  opportunity,  he  cast  the  ball 
at  him  from  his  iahhall  or  sling  ;  and  the  ball  struck 
the  king  on  the  head,  and  lodged  in  his  skull.  His 
physician,  Fingen,  was  brought,  and  he  declared  that 
the  king  would  die  immediately  if  the  ball  were  re- 
moved ;  but  that  if  it  were  left  so,  and  provided  the 
king  kept  himself  free  from  all  inquietude,  he  would 
live. 

And  his  head  was  stitched  up  with  a  golden  thread, 
and  he  lived  in  this  state  for  seven  years,  till  the  day  of 
our  Lord's  Crucifixion  ;  when  observing  the  unusual 
darkness,  he  sent  for  Bacrach,  his  druid,  and  asked 
him  what  it  meant.     Bacrach  told  him  that  the  Son 


CHAP.  IV. 


]  Legends.  1^3 


of  Grod  was  on  tliat  day  crucified  by  tlie  Jews. 
"  That  is  a  pity,"  said  Conor  ;  "  were  I  in  his  pre- 
sence, I  would  slay  those  who  were  around  my  king, 
putting  him  to  death."  And  with  that  he  rushed  at 
a  grove  that  stood  near,  and  began  hewing  it  with  his 
sword,  to  show  how  he  would  deal  with  the  Jews ; 
and  from  the  excessive  fury  which  seized  him,  the 
ball  started  from  his  head,  and  some  of  his  brain 
gushed  out ;  and  in  that  way  he  died. 

The  place  where  Conor  was  wounded  was  called 
Ath-an-nrchair,  the  ford  of  the  cast ;  which  Michael 
O'Clery,  in  a  fly-leaf  note  inO'Clery's  Calendar,  iden- 
tifies with  Aih-an-ur chair  or  Ardnurcher,  in  West- 
meath  (see  O'Cuny's  Lect.,  p.  636). 

Many  other  legendary  exploits  of  the  heroic  times 
are  commemorated  in  local  names,  as  well  as  casts  of 
a  spear.  A  favourite  mode  of  exhibiting  physical 
activity  among  the  ancients,  as  well  as  the  moderns, 
was  by  a  leap  ;  but  if  we  are  to  believe  in  the  prodi- 
gious bounds  ascribed  by  legend  to  some  of  our  fore- 
fathers, the  members  of  our  athletic  clubs  may  well 
despair  of  competing  with  them.  The  word  leim^  a 
leap,  will  be  discussed  hereafter,  but  I  may  remark 
here  that  it  is  generally  applied  to  these  leaps  of  the 
ancient  heroes. 

The  legend  that  gave  name  to  Loop  Head  in  Clare 
is  still  well  remembered  by  the  people.  Cuchullin 
[Cuhullin],  the  chief  of  the  Red  Branch  knights  of 
Ulster,  endeavoiu-ing  once  to  escape  from  a  woman 
by  whom  he  was  pursued,  made  his  way  southwards 
to  the  extremity  of  the  county  of  Clare,  where  he  un- 
happily found  himself  in  a  cul-de-sac,  with  the  furious 
teiTQagant  just  behind  him.  There  is  a  little  rock 
called  BuUdn-na-leime  (leap  rock),  rising  over  the 
waves,  about  twenty-five  feet  beyond  the  cape,  on 

M  2 


164         Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

wliicli  the  chief  alighted  with  a  great  bound  from  the 
mainland ;  and  the  woman,  nothing  daunted  by  the 
raging  chasm,  sprang  after  him  ;  when,  exerting  all 
his  strength,  he  leaped  back  again  to  the  mainland — 
a  much  more  difficult  feat  than  the  first — and  his 
pursuer,  attempting  to  follow  him,  fell  shoii  into  the 
boiling  sea.  Hence  the  cape  was  called  Leim-Clion' 
chuillinn,  CuchuUin's  Leap,  which  is  the  name  always 
used  by  ancient  Irish  writers,  as  for  instance  by  the 
Four  Masters;  afterwards  it  was  more  commonly 
called,  as  it  is  at  the  present  day  in  Irish,  Cpann- 
Leime  [Canleama],  the  head  of  the  leap,  or  Leap 
Head,  which  seems  to  have  been  modified  into  the 
present  name,  Loo})  Head  by  the  Danes  of  the  lower 
Shannon :  Danish  hiaup,  a  leajD.  Ceann-Leirne  is 
also  the  Irish  name  of  Slyne  Head,  in  Galway ;  but 
I  do  not  know  the  legend,  if  there  be  one  (see  page 
77,.sMpr«). 

There  are  several  places  whose  names  contain  this 
word  leim  in  such  a  way  as  to  render  it  probable  that 
they  are  connected  with  legends.     Such  for  example 
is  Leamirlea,  in  the  parish  of  Kilmalkedar,  Kerry, 
Leim-fhir-Jeith,  the  leap  of  the  grey  man ;   Leamy- 
doody,  and  Leamyglissan  in  Kerry,  and  Lemybrien 
in  Waterford ;  which  mean,  respectively,  O'Dowd's, 
O'Gleeson's,    and  O'Brien's  leap ;    Camglearaleary 
near  Mallow,  which  is  called  in  the  Book  of  Lismore, 
Carraig-ieme-Laeguiri,   the   rock   of  Laeghaii-e's    orj 
Leary's  leap.     Leap  Castle,  in  King's  County,  near] 
Roscrea,  the  ruins  of  which  are  still  to  be  seen,  isj 
called  by  the  Four  Masters  Leim-iii-Bhanain,  O'Bani 
ans'  leap. 

The  name  of  Lough  Derg,  on  the  Shannon,  reminc 
us  of  the  almost  unlimited  influence  of  the  bards  inj 
old  times,  of  the  merciless  way  in  which  they  often] 


CHAP.  IV,]  Legends.  165 

exercised  it,  and  the  mingled  feelings  of  dread  and 
reverence  "^ith  which  they  were  regarded  by  all, 
both  nobles  and  people.  This  great  and  long  conti- 
nued power,  which  some  of  the  Irish  monarchs  found 
it  necessary  to  check  by  severe  legislation,  is  an  un- 
doubted historic  fact ;  and  the  legend  transmits  a  very 
vivid  picture  of  it,  whether  the  circimistance  it  re- 
cords happened  or  not.  It  is  one  of  the  incidents 
in  an  ancient  tale  called  Talland  Efair,  or  the  Siege 
of  Ho^i:h  (see  O'Curry's  Lect.,  p.  266). 

Aithirne  [ Ahimy] ,  a  celebrated  Ulster  poet  of  the 
time  of  Conor  mac  Nessa,  once  undertook  a  journey 
through  Ireland,  and  of  every  king  through  whose 
territories  he  passed,  he  made  the  most  unreasonable 
and  outrageous  request  he  could  think  of,  none  of 
whom  dared  refuse  him.  Eochy  mac  Luchta  was  at 
that  time  king  of  south  Connaught  and  Thomond,  and 
had  but  one  eye.  The  malicious  poet,  when  leaving 
his  kingdom,  asked  him  for  his  eye,  which  the  king 
at  once  plucked  out  and  gave  him  ;  and  then  desiring 
his  attendant  to  lead  him  down  to  the  lake,  on  the 
shore  of  which  he  had  his  residence,  he  stooped  down 
and  washed  the  blood  from  his  face.  The  attendant 
remarked  to  him  that  the  lake  was  red  mth  his  blood  ; 
and  the  king  thereupon  said : — "  Then  Loch-Dergdherc 
[Dergerk]  shall  be  its  name  for  ever ;"  and  so  the 
name  remains.  The  lake  is  called  by  this  name,  which 
signifies  ''  the  lake  of  the  red  eye,"  in  all  our  old 
authorities,  and  the  present  name  Lough  Derg  is 
merely  a  contraction  of  the  original. 

In  the  parish  of  Kilgobban  in  Kerry,  about  eight 
miles  west  of  Tralee,  is  situated  the  beautiful  valley 
of  G-lannagalt ;  and  it  was  believed  not  only  in  Kerry, 
but  over  the  whole  of  Ireland,  wherever  the  glen  was 
known,  that  all  lunatics,  no  matter  in  what  part  of 


166         Historical  and  Legendanj  Names.      [part  ii. 

the  country,  would  ultimately,  if  left  to  themselves, 
find  their  way  to  this  glen  to  be  cured.  Hence  the 
name,  Gleann-na-ugeaU,  the  valley  of  the  lunatics. 
There  are  two  wells  in  the  glen,  called  Tobemagalt, 
the  lunatics'  well,  to  which  the  madmen  direct  their 
way,  crossing  the  little  stream  that  flows  through  the 
valley,  at  a  spot  called  Ahagaltaun,  the  madman's 
ford,  and  passing  by  Cloghnagalt,  the  standing  stone 
of  the  lunatics  ;  and  they  diink  of  the  healing  waters, 
and  eat  some  of  the  cresses  that  grow  on  the  margin : 
— the  water  and  the  cress,  and  the  secret  virtue 
of  the  valley,  will  restore  the  poor  wanderers  to 
sanity. 

The  belief  that  gave  origin  to  these  strange  pil- 
grimages, whatever  may  have  been  its  source,  is  of 
great  antiquity.  In  the  ancient  Fenian  tale  called 
Cath  Finntragha,  or  "  The  battle  of  Yentry,"  we  are 
told  that  Daire  Dommhar,  "The  monarch  of  the 
world,"  landed  at  Yentry  to  subjugate  Erin,  the  only 
country  yet  unconquered  ;  and  Finn-mac- Cumhail 
and  his  warriors  marched  southwards  to  oppose  him. 
Then  began  a  series  of  combats,  which  lasted  for  a 
year  and  a  day,  and  Erin  was  successfully  defended 
against  the  invaders.  In  one  of  these  conflicts,  Grall, 
the  son  of  the  king  of  Ulster,  a  youth  of  fifteen,  who 
had  come  to  Finn's  assistance,  "  having  entered  the 
battle  with  extreme  eagerness,  his  excitement  soon 
increased  to  absolute  frenzy,  and  after  having  per- 
formed astounding  deeds  of  valour,  he  fled  in  a  state 
of  derangement  from  the  scene  of  slaughter,  and 
never  stopped  till  he  plunged  into  the  wild  seclusion 
of  this  valley."  (O'Curry,  Lect.,  p.  315.)  O'Curry 
seems  to  say  that  Gall  was  the  first  lunatic  who 
went  there,  and  that  the  custom  originated  with 
him. 


CHAP.  IV.]  Legends.  167 

There  is  another  Fenian  legend,  well  known  in 
Donegal,  which  accounts  for  the  name  of  Lough  Finn, 
and  of  the  river  Finn,  which  issues  from  it  and  joins 
the  Mourne  near  Lifford.  The  following  is  the  sub- 
stance, as  taken  down  from  the  peasantry  by  O'Dono- 
van ;  but  there  is  another  and  somewhat  different 
version  in  "  The  Donegal  Highlands."  Finn  Mac 
Cumhail  once  made  a  great  feast  in  the  Finn  Valley, 
and  sent  two  of  his  heroes,  G-oU  and  Fergoman,  to 
bring  him  a  fierce  bull  that  grazed  on  the  borders  of 
the  lake.  On  their  way,  they  fell  in  with  a  litter  of 
young  pigs,  which  they  killed  and  left  there,  intending 
to  call  for  them  on  their  way  back,  and  bring  them 
for  the  feast ;  but  Finn,  who  had  a  foreknowledge  of 
some  impending  evil,  ascended  a  hill,  and  with  a 
mighty  voice,  called  to  the  heroes  to  return  by  a 
different  route. 

They  returned  each  with  his  half  of  the  bull ;  Groli 
obeyed  Finn's  injunction,  but  Fergoman,  disregarding 
it,  approached  the  spot  where  he  left  the  litter,  and 
saw  an  enormous  wild  sow,  the  mother  of  the  brood, 
standing  over  their  bodies.  She  immediately  rushed 
on  him  to  revenge  their  death,  and  a  furious  fight 
began,  the  sow  using  her  tusks,  the  warrior  his 
spear, 

Fergoman  had  a  sister  named  Finn,  w^ho  was  as 
w^arlike  as  himself ;  and  after  long  fighting,  when  he 
was  lacerated  by  the  sow's  tusks  and  in  danger  of 
death,  he  raised  a  great  shout  for  his  sister's  help. 
She  happened  to  be  standing  at  the  same  side  of  the 
lake,  but  she  heard  the  echo  of  the  shout  from  the 
cliffs  on  the  opposite  side  ;  she  immediately  plunged 
in,  and  swam  across,  but  as  she  reached  the  shore, 
the  voice  came  from  the  side  she  had  left ;  and  when 
she  returned,  the  echo  came  resounding  again  from 


168        Historkal  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

the  opposite  cliffs.  And  so  she  crossed  and  recrossed, 
till  the  dreadful  dying  shouts  of  Fergoman  so  over- 
whelmed her  with  grief  and  terror,  that  she  sank  in 
the  middle  of  the  lake  and  was  drowned.  Hence  it 
was  called  Loch  Fmne,  the  lake  of  Finn,  and  gave 
also  its  name  to  the  river. 

The  place  where  the  heroes  killed  the  young  pigs, 
and  where  Fergoman  met  his  fate,  is  still  called 
Meenanall,  in  Irish  Min-an-dil,  the  7neen  or  mountain 
flat  of  the  litter;  and  the  wild  sow  gave  name  to 
Lough  Muck,  the  lake  of  the  pig,  lying  a  little  south 
of  Lough  Finn. 

Whatever  may  be  thought  of  this  wild  legend,  it  is 
certain  that  the  lake  received  its  name  from  a  woman 
named  Finn,  for  it  is  always  called  in  Irish,  Loch 
Finne,  which  bears  only  one  interpretation,  Finn's  or 
Finna's  lake  ;  and  this  is  quite  consistent  with  the 
name  given  by  Adamnan  to  the  river,  namely  Finda, 
The  suggestion  sometimes  put  forth,  that  the  name 
was  derived  from  the  word_^M>?,  white  or  clear,  is  al- 
together out  of  the  question  ;  for  the  waters  of  both, 
so  far  from  being  clear,  are  from  their  source  all  the 
way  doTSTi  to  Lifford,  particularly  remarkable  for 
their  inky  blackness. 

Among  the  many  traditions  handed  down  by  the 
Irish  people,  none  are  more  universal  than  that  of 
the  bursting  foii;h  of  lakes.  Almost  every  consider- 
able lake  in  Ireland  has  its  own  stoiy  of  an  enchanted 
well,  which  by  the  fatal  neglect  of  some  fairy  injunc- 
tion, or  on  account  of  an  affront  offered  to  its  guardian 
spirit,  suddenly  overflowed  the  valley,  and  over- 
whelmed the  inhabitants  with  their  cattle  and  their 
houses  in  one  common  ruin. 

Nor  is  this  tradition  of  recent  origin,  for  we  find 
lake  eruptions  recorded  in  our  most  ancient  annals ; 


CHAP.  IV.]  Legends.  169 

and  nearly  all  tlie  principal  lakes  in  Ireland  are 
accounted  for  in  this  manner.  There  is  one  very 
remarkable  example  of  an  occnn^ence  of  this  kind — 
an  undoubted  fact — in  comjDaratively  recent  times, 
namely,  in  the  year  1490 ;  at  which  year  the  Four 
Masters  record  : — "  There  was  a  great  earthquake 
imaklhm  tahnhan,  an  eruption  of  the  earth)  at  Sliabh 
GamJi  (the  Ox  mountains),  by  which  a  hundred 
persons  were  destroyed,  among  whom  was  the  son  of 
Manus  Crossagh  O'Hara.  Many  horses  and  cows 
were  also  killed  by  it,  and  much  putrid  fish  was 
thrown  up  ;  and  a  lake  in  which  fish  is  [now]  caught, 
sprang  up  in  the  place."  This  lake  is  nowdiiedup, 
but  it  has  left  its  name  on  the  townland  of  Moym- 
lough,  in  Irish  Maidhm-Ioch^  the  erupted  lake, 
in  the  parish  of  Killoran,  county  of  Shgo ;  and 
a  vivid  tradition  of  the  event  still  prevails  in  the 
county.  (See  O'Donovan's  Four  Masters,  Yol.  lY., 
p.  1185.) 

I  will  digress  here  for  a  moment  to  remark  that 
the  word  madhm  [maum  or  moym]  is  used  in  the 
western  counties  fi-om  Mayo  to  KeiTy,  and  especially 
m  Connemara,  to  denote  an  elevated  mountain  pass 
or  chasm  ;  in  which  application  the  primary  sense  of 
breaking  or  bursting  asunder  is  maintained.  This 
is  the  origin  of  the  several  places  called  Maum  in 
these  counties,  some  of  which  are  well  known  to 
tourists — such  as  Maum  Hotel ;  Maumturk,  the  pass 
of  the  boars ;  Maumakeogh,  the  pass  of  the  mist, 
&c.  In  Mayo  we  find  Maumnaman,  the  pass  of 
the  women ;  and  in  Kerry  Maumnahaltora,  of  the 
altar. 

The  origin  of  Lough  Erne,  in  Fermanagh,  is 
pretty  fully  stated  in  the  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters  ; 
and  it  is  also  given  in  the  Book  of  Invasions,  and  in 


170  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

O'Flaherty's  Ogygia.  Fiacha  Labhrmnne  [Feeha 
Lavrinna]  was  king  of  Ireland  from  A.  M.  3727  to 
3751  ;  and  it  is  related  that  he  gained  several  battles 
during  his  reign,  in  one  of  which  he  defeated  the 
Emai,  a  tribe  of  Firbolgs,  who  dwelt  on  the  plain 
now  covered  by  the  lake.  "  After  the  battle  was 
gained  from  them,  the  lake  flowed  over  them,  so  that 
it  was  fi'om  them  the  lake  is  named  \_Loch-Eirne~\, 
that  is,  a  lake  over  the  Ernai." 

Onr  most  ancient  records  point  to  the  eruption  of 
Lough  Neagh  as  having  occurred  in  the  end  of  the 
first  century.  From  the  universality  of  the  tradition, 
as  well  as  its  great  antiquity,  it  seems  highly  probable 
that  some  great  inundation  actually  occurred  about 
the  time  mentioned  ;  and  the  well-known  shallowness 
of  the  lake  lends  some  corroboration  to  the  tmth  of 
the  records.  Griraldus,  who  evidently  borrowed  the 
story  from  the  native  ^^^iters,  relates  that  it  was 
formed  by  the  overflowing  of  a  faiiy  fountain,  which 
had  been  accidentally  left  uncovered ;  and  mentions 
what  the  people  will  tell  you  to  this  day,  that  the 
fishermen  sometimes  see  the  lofty  and  slender  ecck- 
siasticce  turres,  or  round  towers,  beneath  its  waters — 
a  belief  which  Moore  has  embalmed  in  the  well- 
known  lines : — 

"  On  Lough  Neagh's  banks  as  the  fisherman  strays, 
When  the  clear  cold  eve's  declining, 
He  sees  the  round  tower  of  other  days 
In  the  waves  beneath  him  shining." 

The  ancient  name  of  the  territory  now  covered  by 
the  lake,  was  Liuthmhuine  [Leafony :  grey  shrub- 
berry],  and  it  was  taken  possession  of  by  a  Munster 
chieftain  named  Eochy  Mac  Maireda,  after  he  had 
expelled  the  previous  inhabitants.     He  occupied  the 


CHAP.  IV.]  Legends.  171 

plain  at  the  time  of  tlie  eruption,  and  he  and  all  his 
family  were  drowned,  except  one  daughter  and  two 
sons.  Hence  the  lake  was  called  Loch-nEchach 
[Lough  Nehagh],  i.  e.  Eochy's  lake,  which  is  its 
name  in  all  our  ancient  ^Titings,  and  of  which  the 
present  name  has  preserved  the  sound,  a  little  short- 
ened. The  N  which  now  forms  the  first  letter  does 
not  helong  to  the  word;  it  is  what  is  sometimes 
called  the  prosthetic  n,  and  is  a  mere  grammatical 
accident.  The  name  often  occurs  without  it ;  for 
instance,  in  the  Book  of  Leinster  it  is  given  both 
ways  —  Loch-nEthach,  and  Loch-Echach ;  and  we 
find  it  spelled  Lough  Eaugh  in  Camden,  as  well 
as  in  many  of  the  maps  of  the  16th  and  17th  cen- 
turies. 

This  eruption  is  mentioned  in  an  ancient  poem, 
published  by  Dr.  Todd  (Irish  Nennius,  p.  267),  from 
the  Book  of  Leinster ;  and  from  this  also  it  appears 
that  Linnmhuine  [Linwinny ] ,  the  linn  or  lake  of  the 
shrubbery,  in  allusion  to  the  old  name  of  the  terri- 
tory, was  another  name  for  the  lake  : — 

"Eocliy  Maireda,  the  rebellious  son, 
Of  wonderful  adventure, 
Who  was  overwhelmed  in  lucid  Lmnmhuine, 
With  the  clear  lake  over  him." 

Eochy's  daughter,  Liban,  is  the  subject  of  an  exceed- 
ingly wild  legend,  for  which  see  Reeves's  Ecclesias- 
tical Antiquities,  p.  376. 


172         Sistorical  and  Legendary  Names,      [part  ii. 


CHAPTEE  Y. 

FAIRIES,  DEMONS,  GOBLINS,  AND  GHOSTS. 

It  is  very  probable  tbat  the  belief  in  the  existence  of 
fairies,  so  eliaracteristic  of  the  Keltic  race  of  these 
countries,  came  in  with  the  earliest  colonies.  On 
this  question,  however,  I  do  not  intend  to  enter :  it 
is  sufficient  to  observe  here,  that  the  belief  in  all  its 
reality  is  recorded  in  the  oldest  of  our  native  writ- 
ings, and  that  with  a  distinctness  and  circumstantia- 
lity that  prove  it  to  have  been,  at  the  time  of  which 
they  treat,  long  established  and  universally  re- 
ceived. 

It  was  believed  that  these  supernatural  beings 
dwelt  in  habitations  in  the  interior  of  pleasant  hills, 
which  were  called  by  the  name  of  sidh  or  sith  [shee]. 
Colgan's  explanation  of  this  term  is  so  exact,  and  he 
gives  such  an  admirable  epitome  of  the  superstition 
respecting  the  sidh  and  its  inhabitants,  that  I  will 
here  translate  his  words  : — "  Fantastical  spirits  are 
by  the  Irish  called  men  of  the  sidh^  because  they  are 
seen  as  it  were  to  come  out  of  beautiful  hills  to  infest 
men ;  and  hence  the  vulgar  belief  that  they  reside 
in  certain  subterraneous  habitations  within  these 
hiUs  ;  and  these  habitations,  and  sometimes  the 
hills  themselves,  are  called  by  the  Irish  sidhe  or 
siodha.^'' 

In  Colgan's  time  the  faiiy  superstition  had  de- 
scended to  the  common  people — the  vuhjus ;  for  the 
spread  of  the  Faith,  and  the  influence  of  education, 
had  disenthralled  the  minds  of  the  better  classes. 
But  in  the  fifth  century,  the  existence  of  the  diiinS 
sidhe   [dinna-shee;  people   of  the  fairy  mansions]* 


CHAP,  v.]    Fairies,  Demons,  Goblins,  and  Ghosts.    173 

was  an  article  of  belief  with  the  high  as  well  as 
with  the  low ;  as  may  be  infeiTecl  from  the  following 
curious  passage  in  the  Book  of  Ai-magh,  where  we 
find  the  two  daughters  of  Laeghau^e  [Leary],  king  of 
Ireland,  participating  in  this  superstition  : — "  Then 
St.  Patrick  came  to  the  well  which  is  called  Clehack, 
on  the  sides  of  Cruachan  towards  the  east ;  and  be- 
fore sunrise  they  (Patrick  and  his  companions)  sat 
down  near  the  well.  And  lo  !  the  two  daughters 
of  king  Laeghaire,  Ethne  the  fair  and  Fedelm  the 
ruddy,  came  early  to  the  vvell  to  wash,  after  the  man- 
ner of  women  ;  and  they  found  near  the  well  a  synod 
of  holy  bishops  with  Patrick,  And  they  knew  not 
whence  they  came,  or  in  what  form,  or  from  what 
people,  or  from  what  country ;  but  they  supposed  them 
to  he  I)  nine  sidhe,  or  gods  of  the  earth,  or  a  phantasm." 
(Todd's  Life  of  St.  Patrick,  p.  452).  Dr.  Todd  adds  in 
a  note: — '^  Duine  sidhe,  the  men  of  the  sidhe,  or  phan- 
toms, the  name  given  by  the  Irish  to  the  faiiies — men 
of  the  hills ;  the  word  sidhe  or  siodha  signifies  the 
habitations  supposed  to  belong  to  these  aerial  beings, 
in  the  hollows  of  the  hills  and  mountains.  It  is 
doubtful  whether  the  word  is  cognate  with  the 
Lat,  sedes,  or  from  a  Celtic  root  side,  a  blast  of 
wind." 

The  belief  of  king  Laeghaire's  daughters  regarding 
these  aerial  beings,  as  related  in  a  MS.  copied  in  the 
year  807,  is  precisely  the  same  as  it  was  in  the  time  of 
Colgan,  and  the  superstition  has  descended  to  our 
own  time  in  all  its  integrity.  Its  limits  are  indeed 
further  circumscribed ;  but  at  the  present  day  the 
peasantry  in  remote  districts  believe  that  the  faiiies 
inhabit  the  sidhe,  or  hills,  and  that  occasionally  mor- 
tals are  favoured  with  a  view  of  their  magnificent 
palaces. 


174  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

To  readers  of  modern  fairy  lore,  the  banshee  is  a 
well-knoTVTL  spirit : — Irish  bean-sidhe,  woman  of  the 
fairy  mansions.  Many  of  the  old  Milesian  families 
are  attended  by  a  banshee,  who  foretells  and  laments 
the  approaching  death  of  a  member  of  the  favoured 
race  by  keening  round  the  house  in  the  lonely  night. 
Numberless  banshee  stories  are  related  with  great 
circumstantiality,  by  the  peasantry  all  over  Ireland, 
several  of  which  are  j)reserved  in  Crofton  Croker's 
fairy  legends. 

In  our  old  authorities  it  is  very  often  stated  that 
the  fairies  are  the  Tuatha  De  Dananns  ;  and  the 
chiefs  of  this  race — such  as  the  Dagda,  Bove  Dearg, 
&c. — are  fi^equently  referred  to  as  the  architects  and 
inhabitants  of  the  sidhe,  Por  example,  in  the  copy 
of  the  ''  History  of  the  Cemeteries"  contained  in  the 
MS.  H.  3.  17,  T.  C.  D.,  the  foUowing  statement 
occurs  relating  to  the  death  of  Cormac  mac  Art : — 
"  Or  it  was  the  siabhras  [sheevras]  that  kiUed  him, 
i.  e.  the  Tuatha  De  Dananns,  for  they  were  called 
siabhras.^ ^  In  some  cases,  however,  the  sidhe  were 
named  after  the  chiefs  of  the  Milesian  colony,  as  in 
case  of  Sidh'Aedha  at  Bally  shannon,  (see  page  176)  ; 
and  at  present  the  Tuatha  De  Danann  origin  of 
these  aerial  beings,  seems  to  be  quite  forgotten  ; 
for  almost  all  raths,  cashels,  and  mounds  —  the 
dwellings,  forts,  and  sepulchres  of  the  Firbolgs  and 
Milesians,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Tuatha  De 
Dananns — are  considered  as  fairy  haunts. 

Of  this  ancient  Tuatha  De  Danann  people  our 
knowledge  is  very  scant  indeed ;  but,  judging  from 
many  very  old  tales  and  references  in  our  MSS.,  and 
from  the  works  supposed  to  be  executed  by  this  race, 
of  which  numerous  remains  still  exist — sepulchral 
mounds,  gracefully  formed  slender  spearheads,  (ic. — 


CHAP,  v.]    Fairies,  Demons,  Gohlins,  and  Ghosts.    175 

we  may  conclude  that  they  were  a  people  of  superior 
intelligence  and  artistic  skill,  and  that  they  were 
conquered  and  driven  into  remote  districts,  by  the 
less  intelligent  but  more  warlike  Milesian  tribes 
who  succeeded  them.  Their  knowledge  and  skill 
procured  for  them  the  reputation  of  magicians ;  and 
the  obsciu^e  manner  in  which  they  were  forced  to 
live  after  their  subjugation,  in  retired  and  lonely 
places,  gradually  impressed  the  vulgar  with  the  be- 
lief that  they  were  supernatural  beings. 

It  is  not  probable  that  the  subjugation  of  the  Tua- 
tha  De  Dananns,  with  the  subsequent  belief  regard- 
ing them,  was  the  origin  of  Irish  fairy  mythology. 
The  superstition,  no  doubt,  existed  long  previously  ; 
and  this  mysterious  race,  ha^dng  undergone  a  gradual 
deification,  became  confounded  and  identified  with 
the  original  local  gods,  and  ultimately  superseded 
them  altogether. 

The  most  ancient  and  detailed  account  of  their 
final  dispersion  is  found  in  the  Book  of  Fermoy,  a 
MS.  of  the  year  1463  ;  where  it  is  related  in  the  tale 
of  Curchog,  daughter  of  Manannan  Mac  Lir,  that  the 
Tuatha  De  Dananns,  after  the  two  disastrous  battles 
of  Tailteann  and  Dniim  Lighean,  held  a  meeting  at 
Br  ugh,  on  the  Boyne,  under  the  presidency  of  Man- 
annan ;  and  by  his  advice  they  distributed  and  quar- 
tered themselves  on  the  pleasant  hills  and  plains  of 
Erin.  Bodlibh  [Bove]  Dearg,  son  of  the  Daghda, 
was  chosen  king  ;  and  Manannan,  their  chief  coun- 
sellor, arranged  the  different  places  of  abode  for  the 
nobles  among  the  hills. 

Several  of  the  sidhs  mentioned  in  this  narrative 
are  known,  and  some  of  them  are  still  celebrated  as 
fairy  haunts.  Sidh  Buidhbh  [Boov],  mth  Bove 
Dearg  for  its  chief,  was  on  the  shore  of  Lough  Derg, 


176         Historical  and  Legendary  Names,      [part  ii. 

somewhere  near  Portiimna.  Several  hills  in  Ire- 
land, noted  faiiy  haunts,  took  their  names  from  this 
chief,  and  others  from  his  daughter,  Bugh  [Boo]. 
One  of  the  former  is  Knockavoe,  near  Strabane, 
which  the  Foui'  Masters  write  Cnoc-Buidhhh^  the  hill 
of  Bodhbh  ;  and  from  the  daughter  is  named  Canho, 
in  the  parish  of  Killumod,  Eoscommon,  which  Duald 
M'Firbis  writes  Ceami-Bugha,  i.  e.  Bugh's  head  or 

hm. 

Sidh  Truim,  under  the  guardianship  of  Midir,  was 
situated  a  little  to  the  east  of  Slane,  on  the  Boyne, 
but  its  name  and  legend  are  now  forgotten.  Sidh 
Neannta,  under  Sidhmall,  is  now  called  Mullaghshee, 
and  is  situated  near  Lanesborough,  in  the  county 
Roscommon.  Sidh  Meadha  [Ma],  over  which  presided 
Finnbharr  [Finvar],  is  the  well-hno^Ti  mountain 
now  called  Knockma,  five  miles  south-west  of  Tuam  ; 
the  tradition  respecting  it  is  still  preserved  in  all  its 
vividness  ;  and  the  exploits  of  Finvara,  its  guardian 
fairy,  are  celebrated  all  over  Ireland, 

Sidh  Aodha  Ruaidh^  another  of  these  celebrated 
fairy  resorts,  is  the  hill  now  called  Mullaghshee,  on 
which  the  modern  church  is  built,  at  Bally  shannon, 
in  Donegal.  The  Book  of  Leinster  and  other  an- 
cient authorities  relate  that  Aedh-E,uadh  [Ay-roo], 
the  father  of  Macha,  founder  of  Emania  (see  p.  84 ), 
was  drowned  in  the  cataract  at  Ballyshannon,  which 
was  thence  called  nfterhim,  JEas-Huaidh,  ox Eas-Aedha- 
Baaidh  [ Assroo,  Assayroo] ,  Aedh  Euadh's  waterfall, 
now  shortened  to  Assaroe.  He  was  buried  OTer 
the  cataract,  in  the  mound  which  was  called  from 
him  Sidh-Aedha—^  name  still  partly  preserved  in 
Mullaghshee,  the  hill  of  the  sidh  or  fairy  palace. 

This  hill  has  recently  been  found  to  contain  sub- 
terranean  chambers,   which    confirms    our    ancient 


CHAP,  v.]     Fairies,  Demons,  Gohlins,  and  Ghosts.   177 

legendary  accounts,  and  shows  that  it  is  a  great 
sepulchral  mound  like  those  on  the  Boyne.  How 
few  of  the  people  of  Ballyshannon  know  that  the 
familiar  name  MuUaghshee  is  a  living  memorial  of 
those  dim  ages  when  Aedh  Euadh  held  sway,  and 
that  the  great  king  himself  has  slept  here  in  his 
dome-roofed  dwelling  for  more  than  two  thousand 
years ! 

These  are  a  few  illustrations  of  the  extent  to 
which  the  fairy  mythology  was  accepted  in  Ireland 
in  remote  ages.  But,  even  if  history  were  wholly 
silent  regarding  the  former  prevalence  of  this  belief, 
it  would  be  sufficiently  attested  by  the  great  numbers 
of  places,  scattered  all  over  the  country,  whose 
names  contain  the  word  sidh,  or,  as  it  is  usually 
modernized,  skee.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that 
every  one  of  these  places  was  once  firmly  believed 
to  be  a  fairy  mansion,  inhabited  by  those  myste- 
rious beings,  and  that  in  case  of  many  of  them,  the 
same  superstition  lurks  at  this  day  in  the  minds  of 
the  peasantry. 

Sidh,  as  we  have  seen,  was  originally  applied  to  a 
fairy  palace,  and  it  was  afterwards  gradually  trans- 
ferred to  the  hill,  and  ultimately  to  the  fairies  them- 
selves ;  but  this  last  transition  must  have  begun  at  a 
very  early  period,  for  we  find  it  expressly  stated  in  a 
passage  in  the  Leabhar  na  hUidhre,  that  the  igno- 
rant called  the  fairies  sithi.  At  the  present  day,  the 
word  generally  signifies  a  fairy,  but  the  diminutive 
sidhedg  [sheeoge]  is  more  commonly  employed. 
When  sicih  forms  part  of  a  name,  it  is  often  not  easy 
to  determine  whether  it  means  the  fairies  themselves 
or  their  habitations. 

Shee  and  its  modifications  constitute  or  begin  the 
names  of  about  seventy  townlands,  which  are  pretty 

N 


178  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

equally  distributed  over  the  four  provinces,  very  few 
being  fouid,  however,  in  the  counties  of  Lonth, 
Dublin,  and  Wicklow.  Besides  these,  there  are 
many  more  places  whose  names  contain  this  word  in 
the  middle  or  end ;  and  there  are  innumerable  fairy 
hills  and  forts  through  the  country,  designated  by 
the  word  shee,  which  have  not  communicated  their 
names  to  townlands. 

Sidh-dhndm^  fairy  ridge  —  the  old  name  of  the 
Eock  of  Cashel  and  of  several  other  ancient  fairy 
haunts — is  still  the  name  of  six  townlands  in  Ar- 
magh under  the  modern  form  Sheetrim  ;  the  change 
from  d  to  t  (in  druim)  must  have  begun  a  long  time 
ago,  for  Sidh-druim  is  written  Sith-frimn  in  Toma 
Eigeas's  poem  ("  Hy  Fiachrach,"  p.  29)  :  Shee- 
revagh,  in  Roscommon  and  Sligo,  grey  shce ;  Shee- 
gorey  near  Boyle,  the  fairy  hill  of  G-uaire  or  Gorey, 
a  man's  name.  There  is  a  townland  in  the  parish 
of  Corbally,  Tipperary,  called  The  Sheehys,  or  in 
Irish,  Na  sithe,  i.  e.  the  fairy  mounts ;  and  a  range 
of  low  heights  south  of  Trim  in  Meath,  is  well- 
known  by  the  name  of  the  Shee  hills,  i.  e,  the  fairy 
hills. 

There  is  a  famous  fairy  palace  on  the  eastern 
shoulder  of  Slievenamon  mountain  in  Tipperary. 
According  to  a  metrical  romance  contained  in  the 
Book  of  Lismore  and  other  authorities,  the  Tuatha 
De  Danann  women  of  this  sidh  enchanted  Finn  mac 
Cumhail  and  his  Fianna ;  and  from  these  women 
the  mountain  took  its  name.  It  is  now  called  in 
Irish,  Sliahk-na-mhan-fioun^  which  would  signify  the 
mountain  of  the  fair-haired  women ;  but  O'Dono- 
van  shows  that  the  true  name  is  S/ial/i-na-fnha?i- 
Fcimhinn  [Slievenamon  Fevin],  the  mountain  of  the 
women  of  Feimheann,  which  was  an  ancient  territory 


CHAP,  v.]    Fairies,  Demons,  Gohlins,  and  Ghosts.    179 

coextensive  with  tlie  barony  of  IfFa  and  Offa  East ; 
and  this  was  shortened  to  the  present  name,  Sliahh- 
na-mban,  or  Slievenamon. 

The  word  occurs  still  more  frequently  in  the  end 
of  names ;  and  in  this  case  it  may  be  generally  taken 
to  be  of  greater  antiquity  than  the  part  of  the  name 
that  precedes  it.  There  is  a  parish  in  Longford 
called  Killashee,  which  was  probably  so  called  be- 
cause the  church  was  built  near  or  on  the  site  of  one 
of  these  mounts.  Killashee  in  Kildare  has,  however, 
a  different  origin.  Cloonshee  near  Elphin  in  the 
county  Eoscommon,  is  called  by  the  Four  Masters 
Cluain-sithe,  fairy  meadow ;  and  there  are  several 
other  places  of  the  same  name.  Rashee  in  Antrim, 
where  St.  Patrick  is  recorded  to  have  founded  a 
church,  is  in  Irish  Rath-sithe  (Four  Masters),  the 
fort  of  the  fairies ;  and  the  good  people  must  have 
often  appeared,  at  some  former  period,  to  the  inha- 
bitants of  those  places  now  called  Ballynashee  and 
Ballynasheeoge,  the  town  of  the  fairies. 

The  word  sidh  undergoes  several  local  modifica- 
tions ;  for  example  Knocknasheega  near  Cappoquin 
in  Waterford,  is  called  in  Irish  Cnoc-na-sige,  the  hill 
of  the  fairies  ;  and  the  name  of  Cheek  Point  on  the 
Suir  below  Waterford,  is  merely  an  adaptation  from 
Sheega  point ;  for  the  Irish  name  is  Pointe-na-sige, 
the  point  of  the  fairies.  The  townland  of  Sheegys 
(i.  e.  fairy  hills)  in  the  parish  of  Kilbarron,  Donegal, 
was  once  no  doubt  a  favourite  resort  of  fairies ;  and 
on  its  southern  boundary,  near  high  water  mark, 
there  is  a  moimd  called  Mulnasheefrog,  the  hill  of 
the  fairy  dwellings.  In  the  parish  of  Aghanagh, 
Sligo,  there  are  two  townlands,  called  Cuilshee- 
ghary,  which  the  people  call  in  Irish,  CoiU-sioth- 
n2 


180         Historical  and  Legendary  Names,      [part  ii. 

chaire^  the  fairies'  wood,  for  a  large  wood  formerly 
stood  there. 

While  sidkeog  means  a  fairy,  the  other  diminutive 
sidhedn  [sheeawn]  is  always  applied  to  a  fairy  mount. 
The  word  is  used  in  this  sense  all  over  Ireland,  but 
it  is  particularly  common  in  Connaught,  where  these 
sheeauns  are  met  with  in  great  numbers;  they  are 
generally  beautiful  green  round  hillocks,  with  an  old 
fort  on  the  summit.  Their  numbers  would  lead  one 
to  believe  that  in  old  times,  some  parts  of  Connaught 
must  have  been  more  thickly  peopled  with  fairies 
than  with  men. 

Grreat  numbers  of  places  have  taken  their  names 
from  these  haunted  hills  ;  and  the  word  assumes 
various  forms,  such  as  Sheaun,  Sheehaun,  Sheean, 
and  Shean,  which  give  names  to  about  thirty  town- 
l^nds  scattered  through  the  four  provinces.  It  is  not 
unfrequently  changed  to  Sion,  as  in  the  parish  of 
Laraghbryan  in  Kildare,  where  the  place  now  so 
called,  evidently  took  its  name  from  a  shceaun,  for  it 
is  written  Shiane  in  on.  Inquisition  of  James  I. ;  and 
there  are  several  other  instances  of  this  odd  corrup- 
tion. Near  Ballybay  in  Monaghan,  is  a  place 
called  KShane,  another  form  of  the  word  ;  and  the 
plui-al  Shanes,  fairy  hills,  occurs  in  the  parish  of 
Loughguile,  Antrim.  Sheena  in  Leitrim,  Sheeny 
in  Meath  and  Fermanagh,  and  Sheeana  in  Wick- 
low,  are  different  forms  of  the  Irish  plural  sidhne,  fairy 
hnis. 

The  sound  of  the  s  is  often  eclipsed  by  ^(p.  22), 
and  this  gives  rise  to  further  modifications.  There 
is  a  castle  called  Ballinteean  giving  name  to  a  town- 
land  in  the  parish  of  Ballysokeery,  Mayo,  which  ia 
written  by  M'Firbis,  Baile-an-tsiodhain,  the  town  of 
the  fairy  hill ;  the  same  name  occurs  near  Ballinrobe 


CHAP,  v.]    Fairies^  Demons^  Gohlins,  and  Ghosts.    181 

in  tlie  same  county,  and  in  the  parish  of  Kilglass, 
Sligo  ;  while  in  Down  and  Kildare  it  takes  the  form 
of  Ballintine.  Aghintain  near  Clogher  in  Tyrone, 
would  be  T\T?itten  in  the  original,  Ackadh-an-tsiadhainy 
the  field  of  the  fairy  mount. 

Most  of  the  different  kinds  of  fairies,  so  well-known 
at  the  present  day  to  those  acquainted  with  the  Irish 
peasantry,  have  also  been  commemorated  in  local 
names.  A  few  of  those  I  will  here  briefly  mention, 
but  ihQ  subject  deserves  more  space  than  I  can 
afi'ord.* 

The  Pooka — Irish  ^^if^ca — is  an  odd  mixture  of 
merriment  and  malignity  ;  his  exploits  form  the  sub- 
ject of  innumerable  legendary  narratives  ;  and  every 
literary  tourist  who  visits  our  island,  seems  to  con- 
sider it  a  duty  to  record  some  new  story  of  this  capri- 
cious goblin.  Under  the  name  of  Puck,  he  will  be 
recognized  as  the  "merry  wanderer  of  the  night," 
who  boasts  tha-t  he  can  "  put  a  girdle  round  about 
the  earth  in  forty  minutes  ;"  and  the  genius  of  Shak- 
speare  has  conferred  on  him  a  kind  of  immortality 
he  never  expected. 

There  are  many  places  all  over  Ireland  where  the 
pooka  is  still  well  remembered,  and  where,  though  he 
has  himself  forsaken  his  haunts,  he  has  left  his  name 
to  attest  his  former  reign  of  terror.  One  of  the  best 
known  is  Pollaphuca  in  "Wicklow,  a  wild  chasm 
where  the  Liffey  falls  over  a  ledge  of  rocks  into  a 
deep  pool,  to  which  the  name  properly  belongs,  signi- 
fying the  pool  or  hole  of  the  Pooka.  There  are  three 
townlands  in  Clare,  and  several  other  places  in  diff'e- 
rent  parts  of  the  country,  with  the  same  name  ;  they 

*  See  Crofton  Croker's  "  Irish  Fairy  Legends,"  and  Wilde's 
"  Irish  popular  Superstitions." 


182  Historical  and  Legendary  Na)nes.     [part  ii. 

are  generally  wild  lonely  dells,  caves,  chasms  in 
rocks  on  the  sea  shore,  or  pools  in  deep  glens  like 
that  in  "Wicklow — all  places  of  a  lonely  character, 
suitable  haunts  for  this  mysterious  sprite.  The  ori- 
ginal name  of  Puckstown  in  the  parish  of  Mosstown 
m  Louth,  and  probably  of  Puckstown,  near  Arfcaine 
in  Dublin,  was  Polla]ohuca,  of  w^hich  the  present 
name  is  an  incorrect  translation.  Carrigaphooca  (the 
Pooka's  rock)  two  miles  west  of  Macroom,  where  on 
the  top  of  a  rock  overhanging  the  SuUane,  stand  the 
ruins  of  the  McCarthys'  castle,  is  well  known  as  the 
place  whence  Daniel  O'Pourke  began  his  adven- 
turous voyage  to  the  moon  on  the  back  of  an  eagle  ; 
and  here  for  many  a  generation  the  Pooka  held  his 
"  ancient  solitary  reign,"  and  played  pranks  w^hich 
the  peasantry  will  relate  with  minute  detail. 

About  half  way  between  Kilfinnane  in  Limerick, 
and  Mitchelstown  in  Cork,  the  bridge  of  Ahaphuca 
crosses  the  Ounageeragh  river  at  the  junction  of  its 
two  chief  branches,  and  on  the  boundary  of  the  two 
counties.  Before  the  erection  of  the  bridge,  this  was 
a  place  of  evil  repute,  and  not  without  good  reason, 
for  on  stormy  winter  nights,  many  a  traveller  was 
swept  off  by  the  flood  in  attempting  to  cross  the  dan- 
gerous ford ;  these  fatalities  were  all  attributed  to 
the  malice  of  the  goblin  that  haunted  the  place ;  and 
the  name — the  Pooka's  ford — still  reminds  us  of  his 
deeds  of  darkness. 

He  is  often  found  lurking  in  raths  and  lisses ;  and 
accordingly  there  are  many  old  forts  through  the 
country  called  Lissaphuca  and  Rathpooka,  which 
have,  in  some  cases,  given  names  to  townlands.  In 
the  parish  of  Kilcolman  in  Kerry,  are  two  townlands 
called  Rathpoge  on  the  Ordnance  map,  and  Rath- 
pooke  in  other  authorities — evidently  Rathpuca^  the 


CHAP,  v.]    Fairies,  Demons,  Goblins,  and  Ghosts.    183 

Pooka's  rath.  Sometimes  his  name  is  shortened  to 
pool',  or  2^uck ;  as  for  instance,  in  Castlepook,  the 
Groblin's  castle,  a  black,  square,  stern-looking  old 
tower,  near  Doneraile  in  Cork,  in  a  di^e^ry  spot  at 
the  foot  of  the  Ballyhoura  hills,  as  fit  a  place  for 
a  pooka  as  could  be  conceived.  This  form  is  also 
found  in  the  name  of  the  great  moat  of  Cloghpook, 
in  Queen's  County,  the  stone  or  stone  fortress  of  the 
pooka;  and  according  to  O'Donovan,  the  name  of 
Ploopluck  near  Naas  in  Kildare,  is  a  corruption — a 
very  vile  one  indeed — of  the  same  name. 

The  word  siahhra  [sheevra]  is  now  very  fre- 
quently employed  to  denote  a  fairy,  and  we  have 
foimd  it  used  in  this  sense  in  the  quotation  at  page 
174  fi'om  the  "History  of  the  Cemeteries."  This 
term  appears  in  the  names  of  several  places :  there 
is,  for  example,  a  townland  called  Drumsheaver,  in 
the  parish  of  Tedavnet,  Monaghan,  but  which  is 
WTitten  in  several  modem  authorities,  Drumshevery, 
the  ridge  of  the  sheevras ;  and  they  must  have  also 
haunted  Gflennasheevar,  in  the  parish  of  Inishmac- 
saint  in  Fermanagh. 

Nor  is  the  leprechaun  forgotten — the  merry  sprite 
*'  Whom  maids  at  night.  Oft  meet  in  glen  that's 
haunted,"  who  will  give  you  the  spardn  scillinge,  an 
inexhaustible  fairy  purse,  if  you  can  only  manage  to 
hold  him  spell-bound  by  an  uninterrupted  gaze.  This 
lively  little  fellow  is  known  by  several  different 
names,  such  as  liiprachann,  luricane,  lurrigadane,  cluri- 
cane,  Inppercadane,  loughryman,  &c.  The  correct  ori- 
ginal designation  from  which  all  these  have  been 
corrupted,  is  hicliorpdn,  or  as  we  find  it  in  the  MS, 
H.  2,  16,  (col.  120),  Ittcharhan,  which  signifies  "an 
extremely  little  body  ;"  fcom  lu,  "  every  thing  small" 
(Cor.  Grl.,  wee  "luda"),  and  corpdn,  a  diminutive 


184  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

of  cor}),  a  body,  Lat.  corjms  (see  Stokes's  Cor.  GL, 
p.  1). 

In  the  townland  of  Creevagli,  near  Cong  in  Mayo, 
there  is  a  cave  called  MuUenliipraghaun,  the  lepre- 
chauns' mill,  "  where  in  former  times  the  people  left 
their  caskeem  of  com  at  nightfall,  and  found  them 
full  of  meal  in  the  morning"  (Wilde's  Lough  Cor- 
rib) — ground  by  the  leprechauns.  And  it  is  certain 
that  they  must  have  long  chosen,  as  favourite  haunts, 
Knocknalooricaun  (the  hill  of  the  looricauns),  near 
Lismore  in  Waterford,  and  Poulaluppercadaun  {]ooul, 
a  hole),  near  Killorglin  in  Kerry. 

Every  one  knows  that  fairies  are  a  merry  race,  and 
that  they  enjoy  immensely  their  midnight  gambols  : 
moreover,  it  would  seem  that  they  indulge  in  many 
of  the  ordinary  peasant  pastimes.  The  fairy  fort  of 
Lisfarbegnagommaun  stands  in  the  toT\Tiland  of 
Knocknagraigue  East,  four  miles  from  Corrofin  in 
Clare ;  and  whoever  cautiously  approaches  it  on  a 
calm  moonlight  night,  will  probably  see  a  spectacle 
worth  remembering — the  little  inhabitants,  in  all 
their  glory,  playing  at  the  game  of  comau,  or  hurley. 
Their  favourite  amusement  is  told  clearly  enough  in 
the  name  Lios-fear-heg-na-gcomdn,  the  fort  of  the 
little  hurlers.  Sam  Lover  must  have  been  well 
acquainted  with  their  pastimes  when  he  wrote  his 
pretty  song,  "  The  fairies  are  dancing  by  brake  and 
by  bower ;"  and  indeed  he  probably  saw  them  him- 
self, "  lightly  tripping  o'er  the  green,"  in  one  of  the 
many  forts,  where  they  indulge  in  theu^  nightly 
revelry,  and  which  are  still  called  Lissarinka,  the  fort 
of  the  dancing. 

Readers  of  Crofton  Croker  will  recollect  the  story 
of  the  rath  of  Knockgraffon,  and  how  the  little  man, 
Lusmore,  sitting  down  to  rest  himself  near  the  fort, 


CHAP,  v.]    Fairies,  Demons,  Goblins,  and  Ghosts.    185 

heard  a  strain  of  wild  music  from  the  inside.  Ejiock- 
graffon  is  not  the  only  "  airy"  place  where  the  ccol- 
sidhe,  or  fairy  music,  is  heard ;  in  fact  this  is  a  very 
common  way  of  manifesting  their  presence  ;  and  ac- 
cordingly certain  raths  in  the  south  of  Ireland  are 
known  by  the  name  of  Lissakeole,  the  fort  of  the 
music.  Neilson  (Irish  Gram.,  page  55)  mentions  a 
hill  in  the  county  of  Dowti,  called  Knocknafeadalea, 
whistling  hill,  from  the  music  of  the  fairies  which  was 
often  heard  to  proceed  from  it ;  and  the  townland  of 
Lisnafeddally  (the  fort  of  the  whistling)  took  its  name 
from  a  lis  with  the  same  reputation. 

The  life  of  a  fairy  is  not,  however,  all  merriment. 
Sometimes  the  little  people  of  two  neighbouring  forts 
quarrel,  and  fight  sanguinary  battles.  These  encoun- 
ters always  take  place  by  night ;  the  human  inhabit- 
ants are  terrified  by  shrill  screams  and  other  inde- 
scribable noises ;  and  in  the  morning  the  fields  are 
streTVTi  with  drops  of  blood,  little  bones,  and  other 
relics  of  the  fight.  Certain  forts  in  some  of  the 
northern  counties,  whose  inhabitants  were  often  en- 
gaged in  warfare,  have,  from  these  confiicts,  got 
the  name  of  Lisnascragh,  the  fort  of  the  screeching. 

Very  often  when  you  pass  a  lonely  foi-t  on  a  dark 
night,  you  will  be  astonished  to  see  a  light  shining 
from  it ;  the  faiiies  are  then  at  some  work  of  their 
own,  and  you  will  do  well  to  pass  on  and  not  disturb 
them.  From  the  frequency  of  this  apparition,  it  has 
come  to  pass  that  many  forts  are  called  Lisnagannell 
and  Lisnagunnell,  the  fort  of  the  candles ;  and  in 
some  instances  they  have  given  names  to  townlands, 
as,  for  example,  Lisnagonnell  in  the  county  Down ; 
Lisnageenly  in  Tipperary  ;  Lisgonnell  in  Tyrone ; 
and  Liscunnell  in  Mayo.  We  must  not  suppose  that 
these  fearful  lights  are  always  the  creation  of  the 


186         Jffistorical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  ii. 

peasant's  imagination ;  no  doubt  they  have  been  in 
many  instances  actually  seen,  and  we  must  attribute 
them  to  that  curious  phenomenon,  ignis  fatiius,  or 
Will-o'-the-wisp.  But  the  j)eople  will  not  listen  to 
this,  for  they  know  well  that  all  such  apparitions  are 
the  work  of  the  good  people. 

Fairies  are  not  the  only  supernatural  beings  let 
loose  on  the  world  by  night ;  there  are  ghosts,  phan- 
toms, and  demons  of  various  kinds  ;  and  the  name  of 
many  a  place  still  tells  the  cbeaded  scenes  nightly 
enacted  there.  The  word  dealbh  [dalliv],  a  shape  or 
image,  is  often  applied  to  a  ghost.  The  townland 
of  Killeennagallive  in  the  parish  of  Templebreclon, 
Tipperary,  took  its  name  from  an  old  churchyard, 
where  the  dead  must  have  rested  unquietly  in  their 
graves ;  for  the  name  is  a  corruption  (p.  54)  of  Cil/in- 
na-ndealhh,  the  little  church  of  the  phantoms.  So 
also  Drumnanaliv  in  Monaghan,  and  Clondallow 
in  King's  County,  the  ridge  and  the  meadow  of  the 
spectres.  And  in  some  of  the  central  counties,  cer- 
tain clusters  of  thorn  bushes,  which  have  the  re- 
putation of  being  haunted,  are  called  by  the  name 
of  DuUowbush  {duUoic^  i.  e.  dealbh)^  i.  e.  the  phantom 
bush. 

There  is  a  hideous  kind  of  hobgobhn  generally  met 
with  in  churchyards,  called  a  dullaghan,  who  can 
take  off  and  put  on  his  head  at  will — in  fact  you 
generally  meet  him  with  that  member  in  his  pocket, 
under  his  arm,  or  absent  altogether  ;  or  if  you  have 
the  fortune  to  light  on  a  number  of  them  you  may 
see  them  amusing  themselves  by  flinging  their  heads 
at  one  another,  or  kicking  them  for  footballs.  Bal- 
lindollaghan  in  the  parish  of  Baslick,  Eoscommon, 
must  be  a  horrible  place  to  live  in,  if  the  dullaghan 
that  gave  it  the  name  ever  shows  himself  now  to  the 
inhabitants. 


CHAP,  v.]    Fairies,  Demons,  Gohlins,  and  Ghosts.  187 

Every  one  knows  that  a  ghost  without  a  head  is 
very  usual,  not  only  in  Ireland,  hut  all  over  the  world ; 
and  a  little  lake  in  the  parish  of  Donaghmore  in 
Donegal,  four  miles  south  of  Stranorlar,  is  still  called 
Lough  Gillagancan,  the  headless  man's  lake,  from 
ha^TQg  been  haimted  hy  one  of  these  ^dsitants.  But 
I  suppose  it  is  only  in  Ireland  you  could  meet  with 
a  ghost  without  a  shui.  Several  of  these  tasteless 
fellows  must  have  at  some  former  period  roamed 
nightly  at  large  in  some  of  the  northern  counties, 
where  there  are  certain  small  lakes,  which  are  now 
caUed  Lough  Grillaganleny,  the  lake  of  the  shirtless 
fellow  :  one,  for  instance,  two  miles  east  of  the  nor- 
thern extremity  of  Lough  Eask,  near  the  town  of 
Donegal ;  and  another  in  the  parish  of  Rossinver 
in  Leitrim,  five  miles  north-east  from  Manorha- 
milton. 

Glennawoo,  a  townland  in  the  parish  of  Kilmacteige, 
Sligo,  must  have  been,  and  perhaps  is  still,  a  ghastly 
neighbourhood,  for  the  name  Gleann-na-hhfuatk  sig- 
nifies the  glen  of  the  spectres  ;  and  in  the  parish  of 
Aghavea,  Fermanagh,  is  a  place  which  was  doubtless 
almost  as  bad,  viz.,  Drumarraght,  the  ridge  of  the 
arraght  or  apparition.  Near  the  chiu'ch  of  Eolnamona 
in  Clare,  there  is  a  well  called  Toberatasha ;  it  is  in 
the  form  of  a  coffin,  and  its  shape  is  not  more  dis- 
mally suggestive  than  its  name,  Tohar-cC-talse,  the 
well  of  the  fetch  or  ghost.  What  kind  of  malignant 
bemgs  formerly  tormented  the  people  of  Drumahaire 
in  Leitrim,  it  is  now^  impossible  to  tell ;  and  we  should 
be  ignorant  of  their  very  existence,  if  oiu*  annalists 
had  not  preserved  the  true  form  of  the  name — Dniim- 
da-ethiar  [Drum-a-ehir :  Four  Masters] ,  the  ridge  of 
the  two  air-demons. 

Besides  the  celebrated  fauy  haunts  mentioned  at 


188  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

p.  175,  there  are  several  other  places  in  different  parts 
of  Ireland,  presided  over,  each  by  its  own  guardian 
spirit,  and  among  them  several  female  fames,  or  ban- 
shees. Some  of  these  are  very  famous,  and  though 
belonging  to  particular  places,  are  celebrated  by  the 
bards  over  the  whole  of  Ireland. 

Cliodhna  [Cleena]  is  the  potent  banshee  that  rules 
as  queen  over  the  fairies  of  south  Munster  ;  and  you 
will  hear  innumerable  stories  among  the  peasantry,  of 
the  exercise  of  her  powerful  spells.  Edward  Walsh 
makes  his  lover  of  "  O'Donovan's  Daughter"  thus  ex- 
press liimself : — 

*■'■  God  errant  'tis  no  fay  from  Knockfierna  thai  woos  me ; 
God  grant  'tis  not  Cleena  the  queen  that  pursues  me ; 
That  my  soul,  lost  and  lone,  has  no  witchery  wrought  her, 
While  I  dream  of  dark  groves  and  O'Donovan's  daughter." 

In  the  Dinnsenchus  there  is  an  ancient  poetical 
love  story,  of  which  Cleena  is  the  heroine ;  wherein 
it  is  related  that  she  was  a  foreigner,  and  that  she 
was  drowned  in  the  harbour  of  Grlandore,  near  Skib- 
bereen  in  Cork.  In  this  harbour  the  sea  at  certain 
times,  utters  a  very  pecidiar,  deep,  hollow,  and  me- 
lancholy roar  among  the  caverns  of  the  cliffs,  which 
was  formerly  believed  to  foretell  the  death  of  a  king 
of  the  south  of  Ireland  ;  and  this  surge  has  been 
from  time  immemorial  called  Tonn-CIecna,  Cleena's 
wave. 

Cleena  had  her  palace  in  the  heart  of  a  great  rock, 
situated  about  five  miles  south-south-west  from  Mal- 
low ;  it  is  still  well  known  by  the  name  of  Carrig- 
Cleena,  and  it  has  given  name  to  two  townlands. 
Another  of  her  haunts — a  rock  of  the  same  name — is 
situated  in  the  townland  of  Reenogrena,  in  the  parish 
of  Kilfaughnabeg,  in  the  same  county. 


CHAP,  v.]  FairieSy  Demons,  Goblins,  and  Ghosts.     189 

Aeibhell  [Eevil],  or  more  correctly  Aebhinn  [Ee- 
vin],  whose  name  signifies  "beautiful,"  was  another 
powerful  banshee,  and  presided  over  north  Munster : 
she  was  in  an  especial  manner  the  guardian  spiiit  of  the 
Dalcassians.  Before  the  battle  of  Clontarf,  she  threw 
a  magical  cloak  round  the  Dalcassian  hero,  Dunlang 
O'Hartigan,  which  rendered  him  invisible.  And  to- 
wards evening,  as  the  confusion  of  the  battle  in- 
creased, when  Brian's  attendant  urged  him  to  mount 
his  horse  and  retire  from  the  danger,  he  answered — 
"  Eetreat  becomes  us  not,  and  I  Imow  that  I  shall  not 
leave  this  place  alive.  For  Aeibhell  of  Craglea  came 
to  me  last  night,  and  told  me  that  I  should  be  killed 
this  day"  (see  Wars  of  GGc.,  p.  201). 

Aeibhell  had  her  palace  near  Killaloe,  in  a  rock 
called  Crageevii,  but  better  known  by  the  name  of 
Craglea,  grey  rock,  which  is  also  the  name  of  a  town- 
land.  The  rock  is  situated  in  a  silent  glen,  under 
the  face  of  a  mountain ;  and  the  peasantry  affirm 
that  she  forsook  her  retreat,  when  the  woods  which 
once  covered  the  place  were  cut  down.  There  is  a 
spring  in  the  face  of  the  mountain,  still  called  Tober- 
eevil,  Aeibhell' s  well. 

There  is  a  legend  common  over  all  Ireland,  con- 
nected generally  with  lakes,  that  there  lives  at  the 
bottom,  a  monstrous  serpent  or  dragon,  chained  there 
by  a  superior  power.  The  imprisonment  of  these 
demoniac  monsters  is  commonly  attributed  to  St. 
Patrick,  who,  when  he  cleared  the  country  of  demons, 
chose  this  mode  of  disposing  of  some  of  the  most 
ferocious  : — and  there  they  must  remain  till  the  day 
of  judgment.  In  some  places  it  is  said  that  they  are 
permitted  to  appear  above  the  waters  at  certain 
times,  generally  every  seven  years ;  and  then  the  in- 


190         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

habitants  hear  the  clankmg  of  chains,  or  other  un- 
earthly noises. 

During  the  period  of  St.  Patrick's  sojourn  in  Con- 
naught,  he  re&ed  on  the  approach  of  Lent  to  the 
mountain  of  Croaghpatrick,  and  there  spent  some 
time  in  fasting  and  prayer.  To  this  historical  fact 
has  been  added  a  fabulous  relation,  which  Jocelin  in 
his  Life  of  St.  Patrick,  written  in  the  twelfth  century, 
appears  to  have  been  the  first  to  promulgate,  but 
which  is  now  one  of  Ireland's  most  celebrated  le- 
gends ;  namely,  that  the  saint  brought  together  on 
the  top  of  the  mountain  all  the  serpents  and  veno- 
mous creatures  and  demons  of  Ireland,  and  drove 
them  into  the  sea.  There  is  a  deep  hollow  on  the 
northern  face  of  the  mountain,  called  to  this  day 
Lugnademon,  the  hollow  of  the  demons,  into  which 
they  all  retreated  on  their  way  to  final  banish- 
ment. 

This  story,  however,  is  not  found  in  the  early  au- 
thentic lives  of  the  saint ;  and  that  it  is  a  compara- 
tively recent  invention  is  evident  from  the  fact,  that 
Ireland's  exemption  from  reptiles  is  mentioned  by 
Solinus,  who  wrote  in  the  third  century ;  and  Bede 
m.entions  the  same  fact,  but  without  assigning  any 
cause  ;  whereas,  if  such  a  remarkable  occurrence  had 
been  on  record,  doubtless  he  would  not  fail  to  notice 
it. 

Legends  of  aquatic  monsters  are  very  ancient 
among  the  Irish  people.  We  find  one  mentioned  by 
Adamnan  (Lib.  IL,  cap.  27),  as  infesting  Loch  Ness, 
in  Scotland.  In  the  Life  of  St.  Mochua  of  Balla,  it 
is  related  that  a  stag  which  was  wounded  in  the  chase 
took  refuge  in  an  island  in  Lough  Ree ;  but  that  no 
one  dared  to  follow  it,   "  on  account  of  a  horrible 


CHAP,  v.]  Fairies,  Demons,  Gohlins,  and  GJiosfs.    191 

monster  that  infested  the  lake,  and  was  accustomed 
to  destroy  swimmers."  A  man  was  at  last  prevailed 
on  to  swim  across,  "but  as  he  was  retm^ning,  the 
beast  devoiu'ed  him."  OTlaherty  (lar  Connanght, 
c.  19)  has  a  very  circumstantial  story  of  an  "  Irish 
crocodil,"  that  lived  at  the  bottom  of  Longh  Mask ; 
and  in  O'Clery's  Calendar  (p.  145)  we  read  about 
the  upper  lake  of  Griendalough  : — "  They  say  that 
the  lake  dizains  in  its  middle,  and  that  a  frightful 
serpent  is  seen  in  it,  and  that  from  fear  of  it  no  one 
ever  durst  swim  in  the  lake." 

This  legend  assimies  various  forms  in  individual 
cases,  and  many  are  the  tales  the  people  can  relate 
of  fearful  encounters  with  a  monster  covered  with 
long  hair  and  a  mane :  moreover,  they  are  occasion- 
ally met  with  in  old  castles,  lisses,  caves,  &c.,  as  well 
as  in  lakes.  The  word  by  which  they  are  most  com- 
monly designated  in  modern  times,  is  j^iast ;  w^e  find 
it  in  Cormac's  Glossary  in  the  old  Irish  form  heist, 
explained  by  the  Lat.  hestia  from  which  it  has  been 
borrowed ;  and  it  is  constantly  used  in  the  Lives  of 
the  Irish  saints  to  denote  a  dragon,  serpent,  or  monster. 
Several  lakes  in  different  parts  of  the  country  are 
called  Loughnapiast,  or,  more  coiTectly,  Loch-na- 
peide,  each  of  which  is  inhabited  by  a  demoniacal 
serpent ;  and  in  a  river  in  the  parish  of  Banagher, 
Derry,  there  is  a  spot  called  Lig-na-peiste,  which  is  the 
abode  of  another. 

When  St.  Patrick  was  journeying  westward,  a 
number  of  them  attempted  to  oppose  his  progress  at 
a  place  in  the  parish  of  Arclcarn  in  Eoscommon, 
which  is  called  to  this  day  Knocknabeast ;  or,  in 
Irish,  Cnoc-na-hpiast,  the  hill  of  the  serpents.  In  the 
parish  of  Drumhome  in  Donegal,  stands  a  fort  which 
gives  name  to  a  townland  called  Lisnapaste  ;  there  is 


192  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,    [part  ii. 

another  with  a  similar  name  in  the  townland  of  Grul- 
lane,  parish  of  Kilconly,  Kerry,  in  which  the  people 
say  a  serpent  used  to  be  seen  ;  and  near  Freshford 
in  Kilkenny,  is  a  well  called  Tobernapeastia,  from 
which  a  townland  takes  its  name. 

Sometimes  the  name  indicates  directly  their  super- 
natural and  infernal  character ;  as,  for  instance,  in 
Pouladown,  near  Watergrasshill  in  Cork,  i.  e.  Poll- 
a^'deamhain,  the  demon's  hole.  There  is  a  pool  in 
the  townland  of  Killarah,  parish  of  Kildallan,  Cavan, 
three  miles  from  Ballyconnell,  called  Loughandoul, 
or,  in  Irish,  Loch-an-diahhail,  the  lake  of  the  devil ; 
and  Deune  Castle,  in  the  parish  of  Kilconly  in 
Kerry,  is  the  demon's  castle,  which  is  the  signification 
of  its  Irish  name,  Caislen-a^ -deainliavn. 


CHAPTEE  YI. 

CUSTOMS,  AMUSEMENTS,  OCCUPATIONS. 

The  pagan  Irish  divided  their  year,  in  the  first  in- 
stance, into  two  equal  parts,  each  of  which  was  after- 
wards subdivided  into  two  parts  or  quarters.  The  four 
quarters  were  called  Earrach,  Samhradh,  Fogjimhar, 
and  Geimhridh  [Arragh,  Sowra,  Fowar,  &evre]  : 
Spring,  Summer,  Autumn,  and  Winter,  which  are 
the  names  still  in  use ;  and  they  began  on  the  first 
days  of  February,  May,  August,  and  November,  re- 
spectively. We  have  historical  testimony  that  games 
were  celebrated  at  the  beginning  of  Summer,  Au- 
tumn, and  Winter  ;  and  it  may  be  reasonably  infer- 
red that  Spring  was  also  ushered  in  by  some  sort  of 
festivity. 


CHAP.  VI.]     Customs,  Amusements,  Occupations.     193 

The  first  day  of  May,  which  was  the  beginning  of 
the  smnmer  half  year,  was  GoRed  Bealltaine  [Beltany]  ; 
it  is  still  the  name  always  used  by  those  speaking 
Irish,  and  it  is  well  known  in  Scotland,  where  Beltane 
has  almost  taken  its  place  as  an  English  word  : — 

"  Ours  is  no  sapling,  chance  sown  by  the  fountain, 
Blooming  at  Beltane,  in  winter  to  fade." 

Tuathal  [Thoohal]  the  Acceptable,  king  of  Ireland 
in  the  first  century,  instituted  the  feast  of  Bealltaine 
at  Vis n each,  now  the  hill  of  Usnagh  in  Westmeath, 
where,  ever  after,  the  pagan  Irish  celebrated  their  fes- 
tivities, and  lighted  their  Druidic  fires  on  the  first  of 
May ;  and  from  these  fires,  according  to  Cormac's 
Glossary,  the  festival  derived  its  name  : — "  Belltaine, 
i.  e.  hil-tene,  i.  e.  tene-hil,  i.  e.  the  goodl}'-  fire,  i.  e.  two 
goodly  fires  which  the  Druids  were  used  to  make, 
with  great  incantations  on  them,  and  they  used  to 
bring  the  cattle  between  them  against  the  diseases  of 
each  year." 

While  Usnagh  was  regarded  as  the  chief  centre  of 
these  rites,  there  were  similar  observances  on  the 
same  day  in  other  parts  of  Ireland ;  for  Keating  in- 
forms us  that  "  upon  this  occasion  they  were  used  to 
kindle  two  fires  in  every  territory  in  the  kingdom,  in 
honour  of  the  pagan  god."  Down  to  a  very  recent 
period  these  fires  were  lighted,  and  the  May-day 
games  celebrated  both  in  Ireland  and  Scotland ;  and 
even  at  this  day  in  many  remote  districts,  some  relics 
of  the  old  druidic  fire  superstitions  of  May  morning, 
Btill  linger  among  the  peasantry.* 

The  May-day  festivities  must  have  been  formerly 

*  See  Wilde's  Irish  Popular  Superstitions ;  Petrie's  Round 
Towers ;  and  O'Donovan's  Introduction  to  the  Book  of  Rights. 

o 


194         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  ii. 

celebrated  with  unusual  solemnity,  and  for  a  long 
succession  of  generations,  at  all  those  places  now 
called  Beltany,  which  is  merely  the  anglicised  form 
of  BealUaine.  There  are  two  of  them  in  Donegal — 
one  near  Eaphoe,  and  the  other  in  the  parish  of  Tul- 
loghobegly  ;  there  is  one  also  near  Clogher  in  Ty- 
rone, and  another  in  the  parish  of  Cappagh  in  the 
same  county.  In  the  parish  of  Kilmore,  Armagh, 
we  find  Tamnaghvelton,  the  field  of  the  Beltane 
sports ;  and  in  Lishalting,  in  the  parish  of  Kilcash, 
Tipperary,  the  old  Us  where  the  festivities  were  car- 
ried on  is  still  to  he  seen. 

One  of  the  Tuatha  De  Danann  kings,  Lewy  of  the 
long  hand,  established  a  fair  or  gathering  of  the  peo- 
ple, to  be  held  yearly  on  the  first  day  of  August,  at  a 
place  on  the  Blackwater  in  Meath,  between  Navan 
and  Kells ;  in  which  various  games  and  pastimes,  as 
well  as  marriages,  were  celebrated,  and  which  were 
continued  down  to  times  comparatively  recent.  This 
fair  v>^as  instituted  by  Lewy  in  commemoration  of  his 
foster-mother  Taillte,  who  was  daughter  of  the  king 
of  Spain ;  and  in  honour  of  her  he  called  the  place 
Tailltenn  {Taillte,  gen.  Tailltenn),  which  is  the  pre- 
sent Irish  name,  but  corrupted  in  English  to  Tel- 
town. 

The  place  stiU  exhibits  the  remains  of  raths  and 
artificial  lakes ;  and  according  to  tradition,  marriages 
were  celebrated  in  one  particular  hollow,  which  is 
still  called  Lag-an-aenaigh  [Laganeany,  the  hollow  of 
the  fair].  Moreover,  the  Irish-speaking  people  all 
over  Ireland  still  call  the  first  of  August  Ltigh-Nas- 
adh,  i.  e.  Lewy's  fair. 

The  first  of  November  was  called  Samhuin  [savin 
or  sowan],  which  is  commonly  explained  .say?//^ -//««"/?, 
i.  e.  the  end  oisamh  or  summer ;  and,  like  Belltaine,  it 


CHAP.  VI.]     Customs,  Amusements,  Occupations.     195 

was  a  day  devoted  by  the  pagan  Irisli  to  religious  and 
festive  ceremonials.  Tuatlial  also  instituted  the  feast 
of  Samhuin  (as  well  as  that  of  Belltaine — see  p.  193)  ; 
and  it  was  celebrated  on  that  day  at  Tlachtga,  now 
the  hill  of  Ward  near  Athboy  in  Meath,  where  fires 
were  Kghted,  and  games  and  sports  carried  on.  It 
was  also  on  this  day  that  the  Feis  or  convention  of 
Tara  was  held ;  and  the  festivities  were  kept  up  three 
days  before  and  three  days  after  Samhuin.  These  pri- 
mitive celebrations  have  descended  through  eighteen 
centuries  ;  and  even  at  the  present  time,  on  the  eve 
of  the  first  of  November,  the  people  of  this  country 
practise  many  observances  which  are  undoubted  re- 
lics of  ancient  pagan  ceremonials. 

While  the  great  festival  established  by  Tuathal  was 
celebrated  at  Tlachtga,  minor  festivities  were,  as  in 
case  of  the  Belltaine,  observed  on  the  same  day  in 
different  places  through  the  country  ;  and  in  several 
of  these  the  name  of  Samhuin  has  remained  as  a  per- 
petual memorial  of  those  bygone  pastimes.  Such  a 
place  is  Xnocksouna  near  Kilmallock  in  Limerick. 
The  Four  Masters,  who  mention  it  several  times,  call 
it  Samhuin  — Q.  name  exactly  analogous  to  Beltany  ; 
while  in  the  Life  of  St.  Fionnchu,  in  the  Book  of 
Lismore,  it  is  called  Cnoc-Samhna,  the  hill  of  Sa7nh- 
uin,  which  is  exactly  represented  in  pronunciation 
by  Knocksouna.  According  to  this  last  authority, 
the  hill  was  more  anciently  called  Ard-na-riogh- 
raidhe  [reery],  the  hill  of  the  kings;  from  all  which 
we  may  infer  that  it  was  anciently  a  place  of  great 
notoriety.  In  the  parish  of  Xiltoghert,  county  Lei- 
trim,  there  is  a  place  with  a  name  having  the  same 
signification,  viz.,  Knocknasawna. 

It  would  appear  from  the  preceding  names,  as 
weU  as  from  those  that  follow,  that  these  meetings 
o2 


196         Historical  and  Legendary  Names,      [part  ii. 

wore  usually  held  on  hills  ;  and  this  was  done  no 
doubt  in  imitation  of  the  original  festival ;  for  Takhtga, 
or  the  hill  of  Ward,  though  not  high,  is  very  con- 
spicuous over  the  flat  plains  of  Meath.  Drumhawan, 
near  Ballybay  in  Monaghan,  represents  the  Irish 
Druim-Shamhuin,  the  ridge  of  Samhuin  ;  and  in  the 
parish  of  Donaghmoyne  in  the  same  county,  is  ano- 
ther place  called  Drumhaman,  which  is  the  same 
name,  for  it  is  written  Drumhaven  in  an  old  map  of 
1777  ;  in  the  parish  of  Kilcronaghan,  Londonderry, 
we  find  a  place  called  Drumsamney,  and  the  original 
pronimciation  is  very  well  preserved  in  Driunsawna, 
in  the  parish  of  Magheraculmoney ,  Fermanagh.  Car- 
rickhawna  \_Carrick,  a  rock],  is  found  in  the  parish 
of  Toomour  in  Sligo  ;  and  Grurteennasowna  {Gurteen 
a  little  field) ,  near  Dunmanway  in  Cork. 

An  assembly  of  the  people,  convened  for  any  purpose 
whatever,  was  anciently  called  aenach ;  and  it  would 
appear  that  these  assemblies  were  often  held  at  the 
great  regal  cemeteries.  For,  first,  the  names  of  many 
of  the  cemeteries  begin  with  the  word  aenach^  eisAenach- 
Chruaehain,  Aenach- TaiUtenn^  Aenach-in-Broga,  &c. ; 
and  it  is  said  in  the  ''  History  of  the  Cemeteries," 
(Petrie,  E.  Towers,  p.  106),  that  "  There  are  fifty 
hills  [burial  mounds]  at  each  Aenach  of  these."  Se- 
condly, the  double  purpose  is  shown  very  clearly  in 
the  accounts  of  the  origin  oiCarn-Amhalgaidh  [Awly] 
near  Killala : — "  Carn-Amhalgaidh,  i.  e.  of  Amhal- 
gaidh,  son  of  Fiachra  Ealgach,  son  of  Dathi,  son  of 
Fiachra.  It  was  by  him  that  this  earn  was  formed, 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  meeting  {aenach)  of  the 
Hy  Amhalgaidh  around  it  every  year,  and  to  view 
his  ships  and  fleets  going  and  coming,  and  as  a  place 
of  interment  for  himself."  (Book  of  Lecan,  cited  in 
Petrie's  R.  Towers,  p.  107.     See  p.  132,  supra.) 


CHAP.  VI.]     Customs,  Amusements,  Occupations.     197 

In  modem  times,  and  in  tlie  present  spoken  lan- 
guage, the  word  aenach  is  always  applied  to  a  cattle 
fair.  It  is  pretty  certain  that  in  some  cases  the  pre- 
sent cattle  fairs  are  the  representatives  of  the  ancient 
popular  assemblies ;  which  have  continued  uninter- 
ruptedly from  age  to  age,  gradually  changing  their 
pm^oses  to  suit  the  requirements  of  each  succeeding 
generation.  This  we  find  in  the  case  of  Nenagh  in 
Tipperary,  which  is  still  celebrated  for  its  great  fairs. 
Its  most  ancient  name  was  Aenach- Thete;  and  it  was 
afterwards  called ^6';?*ac/z-  Urmhumhan  [TJrwooan],the 
assembly  or  assembly-place  of  Ormond,  which  indi- 
cates that  it  was  at  one  time  the  chief  meeting  place 
for  the  tribes  of  east  Munster.  The  present  name 
is  formed  by  the  attraction  of  the  article  ^n  to  Aenach, 
viz.,  n Aenach,  i.  e.  the  fair,  which  is  exactly  repre- 
sented in  pronunciation  by  Nenagh  (see  p.  23). 

This  word  forms  a  part  of  a  great  number  of 
names,  and  in  every  case  it  indicates  that  a  fair  was 
formerly  held  in  the  place,  though  in  most  instances 
they  have  been  long  discontinued,  or  transferred  to 
other  localities.  The  usual  forms  in  modern  names 
are  -eeny,  -eena,  -enagh,  and  in  Cork  and  Kerry, 
-eanig.  Monasteranenagh  in  Lrmerick,  where  the 
fine  ruins  of  the  monastery  founded  by  the  king  of 
Thomond  in  the  twelfth  century,  still  remain,  is 
called  by  the  Four  Masters,  Mainister-an-aenaigh, 
the  monastery  of  the  fair.  But  the  fair  was  held 
there  long  before  the  foundation  of  the  monastery, 
and  down  to  that  time  the  place  was  called  Aenach- 
beag  (Four  Masters),  i.  e.  little  fair,  probably  to  dis- 
tinguish it  from  the  great  fair  of  Nenagh. 

The  simple  word  Enagh  is  the  name  of  about 
twenty  to^Tilands  in  dijfferent  counties,  extending 
from  Antrim  to  Cork ;  but  in  some  cases,  especially 


198        Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  it. 

in  Ulster,  this  word  may  represent  eanaeh  a  marsh. 
The  Irish  name  for  Enagh,  in  the  parish  of  Clonlea, 
county  Clare,  is  Aenach-0^ bhFlointi,  the  fair  or  fair- 
green  of  the  O'Flynns. 

Ballinenagh  is  the  name  of  a  place  near  Newcastle 
in  Limerick,  and  of  another  in  Tipperary,  while  the 
form  Ballineanig  is  found  in  Kerry,  and  Bally- 
nenagh  in  Londonderry — all  meaning  the  town  of 
the  fair  :  Ardaneanig  {ard,  a  height) ,  is  a  place  near 
Killarney ;  and  in  Cork  and  Sligo  we  find  Lissa- 
neena  and  Lissaneeny,  the  fort  of  the  fair.  The 
plural  of  aenach  is  acntaigh ;  and  this  is  well  repre- 
sented in  pronunciation  by  Eanty  (-beg  and  -more) , 
in  the  parish  of  Kilcorney  in  Clare.* 

In  the  Tripartite  Life  of  St.  Patrick,  we  have  an 
interesting  notice  of  one  of  the  ancient  tribe  assem- 
blies. In  the  saint's  progress  through  Connaught, 
he  visited  the  assembly  place  of  the  tribe  of  Amhal- 
gaidh  (Awley :  brother  of  Dathi :  see  p.  132),  and 
preached  to  a  very  great  multitude  ;  and  on  that 
occasion  he  converted  and  baptized  the  seven  sons 
of  Amhalgaidh,  and  12,000  persons.  This  place 
was  called  Forvach-mac-n Amhalgaidh  [Forragh-mac- 
nawly],  i.  e.  the  assembly  place  of  Amhalgaidh' s 
clann ;  the  word  Forrach,  which  Tirechan  Latinizes 
Forrgea,  signifying  the  piece  of  ground  on  which  a 
tribe  were  accustomed  to  hold  their  meetings.  Ac- 
cording to  O'Donovan,  this  name  survives,  and  pre- 
serves the  identity  of  this  interesting  spot.  About 
a  mile  and  a  half  south-west  from  Killala,  there  are 
two  townlands,  adjoining  one  another,   one  called 

*  See  Mr.  W.  M.  Hennessy's  paper  "  On  the  Curragh  of 
Kildare,"  for  much  valuable  information  on  the  subject  of  the 
ancient  aenachs. 


CHAP.  VI.]   Customs,  Amusements,  Occupations.       199 

Farragli,  which  is  little  changed  from  the  old  fomi 
For  rack,  as  given  in  the  Tripai-tite  Life ;  and  the 
other — which  is  on  a  hill — called  Mnllafarry,  i.  e. 
MiiUach-Forraigh,  the  hill  of  the  meeting  place. 
There  is  also  a  hill  in  the  same  neighhoiirhood,  called 
Knockatinnole,  Cnoc-a^-tionoil,  the  hill  of  the  as- 
semhly,  which  commemorates  gatherings  of  some 
kind ;  but  whether  in  connexion  with  the  meetings 
at  Farragh,  or  not,  it  is  hard  to  say,  for  it  lies  about 
five  miles  distant  to  the  south-east,  on  the  shore  of 
the  Moy. 

The  word  Forrach  or  Farrach  was  employed  to 
designate  meeting  places  in  other  parts  of  Ireland 
also ;  and  we  may  be  pretty  sure  that  this  was  the 
origin  of  such  names  as  Farragh  in  the  parishes  of 
Denn  and  Kilmore  in  Cavan ;  Farra  in  the  parish 
of  Drumcree,  Armagh  ;  Farrow  in  Westmeath  and 
Leitrim ;  Fary  in  Wexford ;  Furrow  near  Mit- 
chelstown  in  Cork ;  G-ortnaforra  in  the  vale  of 
Aherlow  in  Tipperary,  the  field  of  the  assembly 
place ;  Farraghroe  in  Longford,  and  Forramoyle  in 
Gralway,  the  red,  and  the  bald  or  bai-e,  meeting 
place. 

Nds  [nawee]  is  a  word  of  similar  acceptation  to 
aenach ;  Cormae's  Grlossary  explains  it  a  fair  or  meet- 
ing-place. This  term  is  not  often  used,  but  there  is 
one  place  celebrated  in  former  ages,  to  w^hich  it  has 
given  name,  viz.,  Naas  in  Kildare.  It  was  the 
most  ancient  residence  of  the  kings  of  Leinster; 
having  been  founded,  according  to  bardic  history, 
by  Lewy  of  the  long  hand,  who  also  founded  Tailltenn 
in  Meath  (see  p.  194);  it  continued  to  be  used  as 
a  royal  residence  till  the  tenth  century;  and  the 
great  mound  of  the  palace  still  remains,  just  outside 
the  town.     This  word  is  also  found  in  a  few  other 


200         Ristorical  and  Legendary  Names,      [part  ii. 

names,  all  in  Leinster ;  such  as  Nash,  in  the  parish 
of  Owendiiff,  Wexford,  which  is  still  a  fair  green ; 
and  Balljnaas,  in  the  parish  of  Bathmacnee  in  the 
same  county. 

The  word  sluagh  [sloo],  usually  translated  host, 
signifies  any  multitude,  hut  in  the  Annals,  it  is  com- 
monly applied  to  an  army ;  it  occurs  in  the  Zeuss 
MSS.,  where  it  glosses  agmen,  i.  e.  a  host  on  march. 

This  word  forms  a  part  of  the  names  of  several 
places,  where  great  numbers  of  people  must  have 
been  formerly  in  the  habit  of  congregating,  for  some 
purpose.  One  of  the  best  known  is  Ballinasloe,  on 
the  Gralway  side  of  the  river  Suck.  Its  Irish  name  as 
used  by  the  Four  Masters,  is  Bel-atha-na-sli(aigheadh 
[Bellanaslooa],  the  ford-mouth  of  the  hosts ;  and  it  is 
very  probable  that  these  gatherings,  whatever  may 
have  been  their  original  purpose,  are  represented  by 
the  present  gi^eat  horse  fairs. 

Yery  often  the  s  is  replaced  by  f,  by  eclipse  (see 
p.  22).  Srahatloe,  in  the  parish  of  Aghagower, 
Mayo,  is  an  instance,  the  Irish  name  being  Srath-a^- 
tsluaigh,  the  river-holm  of  the  host.  So  also  Tullintloy 
in  Leitrim ;  Knockatloe  in  Clare,  and  Knockatlowig 
near  Castleventry  in  Cork,  all  signifying  the  hill  of 
the  host. 

Meetings  or  meeting-places  are  sometimes  desig- 
nated by  the  word  pobid^  which  signifies  people. 
This  is  not,  as  might  be  supposed  from  its  resem- 
blance to  the  English  word,  of  modern  introduction  ; 
for  it  occurs  in  the  most  ancient  Irish  MSS.,  as  for 
instance  in  those  of  Zeuss,  where  it  glosses  populus. 
It  is  often  used  to  denote  a  congregation,  and  from 
this  it  is  sometimes  emj^loyed  in  the  sense  of  "parish ;" 
but  its  primary  sense  seems  to  be  people  simply,  with- 
out any  reference  to  assemblies. 


CHAP.  VI.]     Customs,  Amusements,  Occupations.     201 

The  barony  of  Pubblebrien  in  Limerick,  is  called  in 
Irish  PohuI-ui-Bhriain  [Pubble-ee-vreen],  O'Brien's 
people,  for  it  was  the  patrimony  of  the  O'Briens ; 
and  on  the  confines  of  Limerick,  Cork,  and  Kerry,  is 
an  extensive  wild  district,  well-kno^Ti  by  the  name 
of  Pobble  O'Keeffe,  O'Keeffe's  people. 

There  is  a  townland  near  Enniskillen,  containing 
the  remains  of  an  old  chiu-ch,  and  another  near  Ard- 
straw  in  Tyrone,  both  called  Pnbble,  i.  e.  a  congre- 
gation or  parish.  The  word  occurs  in  combination 
in  Eeanabobul  in  the  parish  of  Ballyvonmey,  Cork, 
Reidh-na-hpohul,  the  monntain-flat  of  the  congrega- 
tions ;  in  Lispopple  in  Dublin  and  Westmeath  ( lis, 
a  fort)  ;  and  in  Skephubble,  near  Finglas,  Dublin, 
the  sJ^eagh  or  bush  of  the  congregation,  where  pro- 
bably the  young  people  were  formerly  accustomed  to 
assemble  on  a  Sunday  after  Mass,  to  amuse  them- 
selves round  an  ancient  whitethorn  tree. 

So  far  as  conclusions  may  be  drawn  from  the  evi- 
dence of  local  names,  we  must  believe  that  the  pas- 
time meetings  of  the  peasantry  were  much  more 
common  formerly  than  now.  In  every  part  of  the 
country,  names  are  found  that  tell  of  those  long  for- 
gotten joyous  assemblies  ;  and  it  is  interesting  to 
note  the  various  contrivances  adopted  in  their  for- 
mation. 

The  word  houchail  [boohil],  a  boy,  is  of  frequent 
occmTence  in  such  names  ;  for  example,  Knockan- 
namohilly,  in  the  parish  of  Youghalarra,  Tipperary, 
in  Irish  Cnocan-na-mhouchaiUidhe,  the  hill  of  the  boys, 
indicates  the  spot  where  young  men  used  to  assemble 
for  amusement ;  and  with  the  same  signification  is 
Knocknamohill  in  the  parish  of  Castlemacadam, 
Wicklow  ;  Knocknabohilly,  the  name  of  a  place  near 
Cork  city,  and  of  another,  near  Kinsale  ;  and  Knock- 


202         Historical  and  Legendary  Names,      [part  ii. 

anenaboMUj,  in  tlie  parish  of  Kilcrumper,  Cork — 
the  two  last  names  being  less  correctly  anglicised 
than  the  others.  We  find  names  of  similar  import 
in  the  north :  Edenamohill  is  a  townland  in  the 
parish  of  Donaghmore,  Donegal ;  and  there  is  ano- 
ther place  of  the  same  name  in  the  parish  of  Maghe- 
raculmoney  in  Fermanagh,  both  anglicised  from 
Eudan-na-mhonchail,  the  hill-brow  of  the  boys;  and 
Ardnamoghill  {ard,  a  height),  is  the  name  of  a  place 
in  the  parish  of  Killea,  Donegal. 

Sometimes  the  same  idea  is  expressed  by  the  word 
6g  [oge],  which  literally  signifies  yonng,  but  is  often 
applied  to  a  young  person.  TuUyhog,  or  Tullaghoge, 
the  inauguration  place  of  the  O'Neills — now  a  sniall 
village  three  miles  from  Stewartstown  in  Tyrone — 
is  very  often  mentioned  in  the  Annals,  always  by  the 
name  of  Tulach-6g,  the  hill  of  the  youths  ;  and  the 
name  indicates  that  the  place  was  used  for  the  cele- 
bration of  games,  as  well  as  for  the  inauguration  of 
the  chieftains.  The  fine  old  fort  on  which  the  cere- 
monies took  place  in  long  past  ages,  still  remains  on 
the  top  of  the  tulach  or  hill ;  and  from  time  immemo- 
rial up  to  fifty  or  sixty  years  ago,  a  yearly  gathering 
of  young  people  was  held  on  it,  the  representative  of 
the  ancient  assemblies.  In  Tipperary  we  find  Grlen- 
nanoge  and  Ballaghoge,  the  glen  and  the  road  of  the 
youths.  The  synonymous  term  oglach  occurs  in  Cool- 
nanoglagh,  in  the  parish  of  Monagay,  Limerick,  the 
hill-back  of  the  young  persons ;  while  in  the  parish 
of  Grrange,  Armagh,  we  find  Ballygassoon,  the  town 
of  the  gossoons  (young  boys),  or,  in  the  Munster 
dialect,  gorsoons. 

Other  terms  are  employed  to  designate  the  places 
of  these  meetings,  which  will  be  understood  from  a 
few  examples.     There  can  be  little  doubt  that  Bally- 


CHAP.  VI.]     Customs f  Amusements,  Occupations.     203 

sugagh,  near  Saiil  in  Down,  has  its  name  from  some 
such  merry-makings ;  for  its  name,  Bailc-sugach, 
merrj-town,  indicates  as  much.  Knockaunavogga,  in 
the  parish  of  Boiirney,  Tipperary,  shows  a  simi- 
lar origin,  as  is  seen  by  its  Irish  name,  Cnocan-a^- 
mhagaidh^  the  hill  of  the  joking  or  pleasantry  ;  and 
this  termination  is  found  in  many  other  names,  such 
as  Ardavagga  [cird^  a  height),  in  the  parish  of  Kil- 
murry-ely.  King's  County ;  and  Cashlaunawogga,  the 
castle  of  the  merriment,  a  ruined  fortress  near  Kil- 
fenora  in  Clare.  So  also  Kn ockannavlyman,  in  the 
parish  of  Ballingarry,  Limerick,  Cnocan-a' -hhladh- 
)?iain)i,  the  hill  of  the  boasting ;  Ardingary  near  Let- 
terkenny,  which  the  Four  Masters  call  Ard-an-gJiaire 
the  hill  of  the  shouting  or  laughter  ;  Knocknaclogha 
near  Pomeroy  in  Tyrone,  the  seat  of  Macdonnell, 
the  commander  of  O'Neill's  galloglasses,  Cnoc-an- 
chhiiche  (Four  Masters),  the  hill  of  the  game. 

Not  unfrequently  the  same  idea  is  expressed  by 
the  word  diomhaom  [deeveen],  which  signiiies  idle 
or  vain — a  term  imposed,  we  may  be  sure,  by  wise 
old  people,  who  looked  upon  these  pastime  meetings 
as  mere  idleness  and  vanity.  We  see  this  in  such 
names  as  Dnimdeevin,  near  Ealmacrenan  in  Donegal, 
and  Dromdeeveen,  west  of  DromcoUiher  in  Limerick, 
both  signifying  idle  ridge ;  Coomdeeween  in  Kerry, 
(coom,  a  hollow)  ;  Tievedeevan  in  Donegal,  idle-hill- 
side. 

By  an  examination  of  local  names,  we  are  enabled 
not  only  to  point  out  the  spots  where  the  peasrint  as- 
semblies were  held,  but  also  often  to  get  a  glimpse  of 
the  nature  of  the  amusements.  Dancing  has  from 
time  immemorial  been  a  favourite  recreation  with  our 
peasantry  ;  and  numbers  of  places  have  taken  their 
names  from  the  circumstance  that  the  young  people 


204       Historical  and  Legendary  Names.         [part  ii. 

of  the  neigliboui'liood  were  accustomed  to  meet  there 
in  the  summer  evenings,  to  forget  in  the  dance  the 
fatigue  of  the  day's  labour. 

The  word  for  dance  is  rince  or  rinccadh  [rinka]  ; 
and  it  is  curious  that,  of  all  the  Indo-Eui^opean  lan- 
guages, the  Irish  and  Sanscrit  have  alone  preserved 
the  word,  and  that  with  little  change,  the  Sansc. 
riiikha  being  almost  identical  with  the  Irish. 

Those  who  have  visited  the  great  cave  near  Mit- 
chelstown,  county  Cork,  will  remember  the  name  of 
the  townland  in  which  it  is  situated — Skeheenarinky, 
or  in  Irish  Sceithin-a^-rinceadh,  the  little  bush  of  the 
dancing  ;  the  bush  no  doubt  markicg  the  trysting 
place,  under  which  sat  the  musician,  surrounded  by 
the  merry  juveniles.  And  a  large  stone  {clock)  must 
have  served  a  similar  purpose  in  Clogharinka,  in  the 
parish  of  Muckalee,  Kilkenny.  A  mill  is  generally 
a  place  of  amusement;  and  that  it  was  sometimes 
selected  for  dance  meetings,  we  see  by  Mullenaranky, 
the  mill  of  the  dance,  in  the  parish  of  Lisronagh  in 
Tipperary.  A  merry  place  must  have  been  Ballin- 
rink,  in  the  parish  of  Killeagh,  Meath,  since  it  de- 
served the  name  of  dancing  town. 

When  deer  roamed  wild  through  every  forest,  when 
wild  boars  and  wolves  lurked  in  the  glens  and 
mountain  gorges,  and  various  other  beasts  of  chase 
swarmed  on  the  hills  and  plains,  hunting  must  have 
been  to  the  people  both  an  amusement  and  a  neces- 
sary occupation.  Our  forefathers,  like  most  ancient 
people,  were  passionately  fond  of  the  chase  ;  and  our 
old  tales  and  romances  abound  in  descrij)tions  of  its 
pleasures  and  dangers,  and  of  the  prowess  and  adven- 
tures of  the  hunters.  That  they  sometimes  had  certaia 
f  avomite  spots  for  this  kind  of  sport,  we  have  sufficient 
proof  in  such  names  as  Drumnashaloge,  in  the  parish 


CHAP.  VI,]     Customs,  Amusements,  Occupations.     205 

of  Clonfeacle,  Tyrone  ;  and  Drumasliellig,  near  Bal- 
Ijroan  in  Queen's  County,  in  Irish  Druim-na-sealg, 
the  ridge  of  the  chase.  The  ^OTdi  sealg  [shallog], 
hunting,  occurs  in  many  other  names,  and  as  it  va- 
ries little  in  form,  it  is  always  easy  to  recognise  it. 
Derrynashallog  {Berry,  an  oak  wood)  is  in  the  parish 
of  Donagh  in  Monaghan  ;  and  Ballynashallog,  the 
town  of  the  hunting,  lies  near  the  city  of  London- 
derry. 

The  very  spot  where  the  huntsman  wound  his  horn 
to  collect  his  dogs  and  companions,  is  often  identi- 
fied by  such  names  as  Tullynahearka,  near  Aughrim 
in  Roscommon,  Tulaigk-na-hadhairce,  the  hill  of  the 
horn ;  and,  with  nearly  the  same  meaning,  Altawark 
in  Fermanagh,  and  Ardinawark  at  the  entrance  to 
the  Grap  of  Bamesmore  near  Donegal ;  Killeenerk 
in  Westmeath  {Killeen,  a  little  wood),  and  Drum- 
naheark  in  Donegal  {Drum,  a  ridge)  ;  Knockerk 
near  Slane  in  Meath,  and  Lisnahii^ka  in  Roscom- 
mon, the  hill  and  the  fort  of  the  horn. 

Another  favourite  athletic  exercise  among  the 
ancient  Irish,  and  which  we  find  very  often  mentioned 
in  old  tales,  was  hiuiing  ;  and  those  who  remember 
the  eagerness  with  which  it  was  practised  in  many 
parts  of  Ireland  twenty-five  years  ago,  can  well  at- 
test that  it  had  not  declined  in  popularity.  Down  to 
a  very  recent  period,  it  was  carried  on  with  great 
spirit  and  vigour  in  the  Phoenix  Park,  Dublin,  where 
the  men  of  Meath  contended  every  year  against  the 
men  of  Kildare  ;  and  it  still  continues,  though  less 
generally  than  formerly,  to  be  a  favourite  pastime 
among  the  people. 

The  hmiey  or  curved  stick  with  which  the  ball 
was  struck,  corresponding  with  the  bat  in  cricket,  is 
called  in  Irish   comdn,   signifying   literally  a  little 


206  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

crooked  stick,  from  coin  or  cam,  curved.  It  is  by 
this  word  that  the  game  itself  is  commonly  desig- 
nated;  and  it  is  called  fowrn?  in  most  parts  of  Ire- 
land, even  by  the  English-speaking  people.  It  forms 
a  part  of  several  names,  but  the  initial  c  is  commonly 
made  g  by  eclipse  (see  p.  22) ;  and  in  every  case  it 
serves  to  identify  the  places  where  the  game  was 
played.  Aughnagomaun,  in  the  parish  of  Bally- 
sheehan,  Tipperary,  is  T\Titten  in  Irish  Achadh-na- 
gcoman,  the  hurling  field ;  and  there  is  a  townland 
near  Belfast  called  Ballygammon,  which,  as  it  is 
-^vritten  Bally goman  in  a  grant  of  James  I.,  ob- 
viously represents  Baik-na-gcoman,  ihQ  town  of  the 
hurling. 

Look-out  points,  whether  on  the  coast  to  command 
the  sea,  or  on  the  borders  of  a  hostile  territory  to 
guard  against  surprise,  or  in  the  midst  of  a  pastoral 
country  to  watch  the  flocks,  are  usually  designated  by 
the  word  coimhead  [covade].  This  word  signifies 
watching  or  guarding,  and  it  is  generally  applied  to 
hills  from  which  there  is  an  extensive  prospect. 
Mullycovet  and  MuUykivet  in  Fermanagh,  must 
have  been  used  for  this  purpose,  for  they  are  both 
modern  forms  of  Mullaigh-coimheada,  the  hill  of  the 
watching  ;  and  Glencovet,  the  name  of  a  townland 
in  Donegal,  and  of  another  near  Enniskillen,  and 
Drumcovet  in  Derry,  have  a  similar  origin.  Some- 
times the  711  is  fully  pronounced,  and  this  is  generally 
the  case  in  the  south,  and  occasionally  in  the  north ; 
as  in  Cloontycommade,  near  Kanturk  in  Cork,  Cluain- 
tighe-coimhcada,  the  meadow  of  the  watching  house  ; 
and  Slieve  Comedagh,  a  high  mountain  in  the 
parish  of  Kilcoo,  Down,  the  mountain  of  the  watch- 
ing. 

The  compound  Deagh-choimhead  [Deacovade]  sig- 


CHAP.  VI.]     Customs,  AmusementSy  Occupations.     207 

nifies  "  a  good  reconnoitering  station"  {dcagh,  good)  ; 
and  it  gives  name  to  Deehommed  or  Decomet  in 
Down,  Deechomade  in  Sligo,  Dehomad  in  Clare, 
and  a  few  other  places. 

In  old  Irish  writings  these  reconnoitering  stations 
are  often  mentioned.  For  instance,  in  the  ancient 
tale  of  the  Battle  of  Moyrath,  Congal  Claen  speaks  to 
the  druid,  Dubhdiadh  : — "  '  Thou  art  to  go  therefore 
from  me,  to  view  and  reconnoitre  the  men  of  Erin 
[i.  e.,  the  Irish  army  under  king  Domhnall]  ;  and  it 
shall  be  according  to  thy  account  and  description  of 
the  chiefs  of  the  west,  that  I  will  array  my  battalions, 
and  arrange  my  forces.'  Then  Dubhdaidh  went  to 
Arcl-na-hiomfhairccse  [Ard-na-himarksha,  i.  e.  the  hill 
of  the  reconnoitering],  and  from  it  he  took  his  view." 
(Battle  of  Moyrath;  p.  179.) 

Elevated  stations  that  command  an  extensive  view, 
often  received  names  formed  from  the  word  radharc 
[ryark  in  the  south  ;  rayark  or  rawark  in  the  north] . 
The  Mullaghareirk  mountains  lie  to  the  south-east  of 
Abbeyfeale  in  Limerick,  and  the  name  MuUach-a- 
radharc  signifies  the  summit  of  the  prospect.  The 
same  word  is  found  in  Lisarearke,  in  the  parish  of 
Currin,  Monaghan  (Z/s,  a  fort)  ;  and  in  Knoekan- 
aryark,  two  miles  east  of  Kenmare,  prospect  hill. 
There  is  a  residence  near  Dalkey  in  Dublin,  with 
the  name  Rarkanillan,  which  rej)resents  the  Irish 
Radharc-an-oileain.,  the  view  of  the  Island,  i.  e., 
Dalkey  island. 

In  an  early  stage  of  society  in  every  country,  sig- 
nal or  beacon  fires  were  in  common  use,  either  for  the 
guidance  of  travellers  or  to  alarm  the  country  in  any 
sudden  emergency.  Fires  were  lighted  also  on  certain 
festival  days,  as  I  have  stated  (p.  193) ;  and  those 
lighted  on  the  eve  of  St.  John,  the  24th  of  June,  are 


208         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  ii. 

continued  to  the  present  day  through  the  greater  part 
of  Ireland.  The  tradition  is  that  the  May- day  fes- 
tival was  transferred  by  St.  Patrick  to  the  24th  of 
June,  in  honour  of  St.  John,  but  for  this  we  have  no 
written  authority.  The  spots  where  signal  or  fes- 
tival fires  used  to  be  lighted,  are  still,  in  many  cases, 
indicated  by  the  names,  though  in  almost  all  these 
places  the  custom  has,  for  ages,  fallen  into  disuse. 
The  words  employed  are  usually  teine  and  solas 
[tinne,  sullas] . 

Teine  is  the  general  word  for  fire,  and  in  modern 
names  it  is  usually  found  forming  the  termination 
tinny.  It  is  found  in  Kiltinny  near  Coleraine,  the 
wood  of  the  fire ;  Duntinny  in  Donegal  {dun^  a  fort) ; 
Mullaghtinny  near  Clogher  in  Tyrone,  the  summit 
of  the  fire.  Tennyphobble  near  Grranard  in  Longford, 
Teine-2^hobaiI,  the  fire  of  the  parish  or  congregation, 
plainly  indicates  some  festive  assembly  round  a  fire. 
Cloghaunnatinny,  in  the  parish  of  Kilmurry,  Clare, 
was  anciently,  and  is  still  called  in  Irish,  Clochdn-hile- 
teine,  the  stepping  stones  of  the  fire  tree,  fi^om  a  large 
tree  which  grew  near  the  crossing,  under  which  May 
fires  used  to  be  lighted.  These  fires  were  no  doubt 
often  lighted  under  trees,  for  the  Four  Masters  men- 
tion a  place  called  Bile-teineadh  [Billa- tinne],  the 
old  tree  of  the  fire  ;  which  O'Donovan  identifies  with 
the  place  near  Moynalty  in  Meath,  now  called  in 
Irish,  Coill-a^-hhile^  the  wood  of  the  hile^  or  old  tree, 
and  in  English,  Billywood. 

The  plural  of  teine  is  teinte  [tinte],  and  this  is  also 
of  frequent  occurrence  in  names,  as  in  Clontinty  near 
Glanworth,  Cork,  the  meadow  of  the  fires  ;  MoUy- 
nadinta,  in  the  parish  of  Eossinver,  Leitrim;  MiiUaigh- 
na-dteinte,  the  summit  of  the  fires.  This  word,  with 
the  English  plural  added  (p.  33),  gives  names  to  Tents 


CHAP.  VI.]     Customs^  Amusements,  Occupations.     209 

(i.  e.  fires) ,  tliree  townlands  in  Cavan,  Fermanagli,  and 
Leitiim  ;  and  the  English  is  substituted  for  the  Irish 
plural  in  Tennies  in  Yalentia  island.  The  diminutive 
is  found  in  Clontinteen  in  Westmeath,  and  in  TuUan- 
tintin  in  Cavan,  the  meadow  and  the  hill  of  the  little 
fire. 

Solas  is  the  word  in  general  use  for  light  in  the 
present  spoken  language ;  there  is  another  form, 
soiilse,  which  is  sometimes  used  in  modern  Irish,  and 
which  is  also  found  in  the  Zeuss  MSS.,  where  it 
glosses  lumen  (Zeuss,  Grram.  Celt.,  p.  257)  ;  and  its 
diminutive  soillsean  [sileshaun]  is  often  found  in  local 
names.  Solas  gives  name  to  Ardsollus,  the  hill  of 
light,  in  Clare  ;  in  Antrim  there  is  a  place  called 
Drumnasole,  the  ridge  of  the  lights  ;  Sollus  itself  is 
the  name  of  a  townland  in  Tyrone  ;  and  there  are 
three  townlands  in  the  same  county,  called  Ballyna- 
sollus ;  while  we  find  Rossolus  in  Monaghan,  and 
EostoUus  in  Gralway  (s  eclipsed  by  t\  see  p.  22),  the 
wood  or  the  promontory  of  light. 

There  are  similar  names  formed  from  soillsean ;  as 
for  instance,  MuUaghselsana  in  the  parish  of  Errigal 
Trough,  Monaghan,  the  hill  of  the  illuminations ;  and 
Corhelshinagh  in  the  same  county,  the  round  hill  of 
the  fires.  And  Sileshaun,  the  name  of  a  place  in  the 
parish  of  Inagh,  Clare,  exactly  represents  the  pronun- 
ciation of  the  word. 

In  former  days,  when  roads  were  few,  and  bridges 
still  fewer,  along  journey  was  an  undertaking  always 
arduous,  and  generally  uncertain  and  dangerous. 
E-ivers  were  crossed  by  fords,  and  to  be  able  to  strike 
exactly  on  the  fordable  point,  was  to  the  traveller 
always  important;  while  at  night,  especially  on  a  dark, 
wet,  and  stormy  night,  it  became  not  unfrequently  a 
matter  of  life  or  death.     To  keep  a  light  of  some  kind 

p 


210         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

burning  on  the  spot  would  suggest  itself  as  tlie  most 
natural  and  effectual  plan  for  directing  travellers,  and 
except  in  a  state  of  society  downright  barbarous,  it  is 
scarcely  conceivable  that  some  such  expedient  would 
not  at  least  occasionally  be  adopted. 

The  particular  kind  of  light  employed,  it  would 
now  probably  be  vain  to  speculate ;  a  taper  or  splinter 
of  bogwood  in  a  window  pane,  if  a  house  lay  near, 
a  lantern  hung  on  the  bough  of  a  tree,  a  blaze  of 
dried  furze  or  ferns  kept  up  till  the  expected  arrival 
— some  or  all  of  these  we  may  suppose  would  be 
adopted,  according  to  cn-cumstances.  That  this  cus- 
tom existed  appears  to  be  sufficiently  proved  by  this 
fact,  that  many  fords — now  generally  spanned  by 
]  .ridges — in  different  parts  of  Ireland,  still  go  by  the 
name  oi  Ath-soiais,  the  ford  of  the  light,  variously 
modernized  according  to  locality  ;  and  some  of  them 
have  given  names  to  townlands. 

A  ford  on  tlie  river  Aubeg,  three  miles  east  of 
Kanturk  in  Cork,  has  given  name  to  the  townland  of 
Assolas  ;  there  is  a  ford  of  the  same  name,  where  the 
road  from  Bunlahy  in  Longford,  to  Scrabby,  crosses 
a  little  creek  of  Lough  Gowna ;  another  on  the 
Glenanair  river  near  Doneraile,  on  the  confines  of 
Limerick  and  Cork  ;  and  AthsoUis  bridge  crosses  the 
Buingea  river,  just  beside  the  railway,  four  miles 
south-east  from  Macroom.  Several  small  streams  in 
different  parts  of  the  country  have  names  of  this 
kind,  from  a  ford  somewhere  on  their  course — one 
for  instance,  called  Aughsullish,  in  the  parish  of 
Doon,  Tipperary.  The  name  of  Lightford  bridge, 
two  miles  south-east  from  Castlebar,  is  a  translation 
from  the  Irish  name  which  is  still  used,  Ath-a^-solais. 
There  is  a  ford  on  the  river  Swilly,  two  miles  west  of 
Letterkenny,  which,  judging  from  its  position  and  its 


CHAP.  VI.]     Customs,  Amusements,  Occupations.     211 

being  defended  by  a  castle,  as  well  as  from  its  fre- 
quent mention  in  tlie  Annals,  must  liave  been  in 
former  days  one  of  the  principal  passes  across  the 
river ;  and  as  such  was  no  doubt  often  signalled  by 
lights.  The  Four  Masters  write  the  name  Scairhh- 
sholais,  the  scariff  or  shallow  ford  of  the  light ;  it  is 
now  called  ScarrijQPhollis,  and  the  castle,  which  has 
disappeared,  was  called  Castlehollis. 

Places  of  execution  have  been  at  all  times,  and  in 
all  coimtries,  regarded  by  the  people  with  feelings  of 
awe  and  detestation  ;  and  even  after  the  discon- 
tinuance of  the  practice,  the  traditions  of  the  place 
preserve  the  memory  of  it  from  one  generation  to 
another.  A  name  indicative  of  the  custom  is  almost 
certain  to  fix  itself  on  the  spot,  of  which  we  have  in- 
stances in  the  usual  English  names  Gallows-hill, 
Gallows-green,  &c.  ;  and  such  names,  from  the  pecu- 
harity  of  their  history,  retain  their  hold,  when  many 
others  of  less  impressive  signification,  vanish  from  the 
face  of  the  country. 

Several  terms  are  used  in  Ireland  to  denote  such 
places,  the  principal  of  which  are  the  following : — 
Crock  signifies  literally  a  cross,  but  is  almost  always 
understood  to  mean  a  cross  as  an  instrument  of  exe- 
cution, or  a  gallows.  It  is  of  long  standing  in  the 
language,  and  is  either  cognate  Tvith  or  borrowed  from 
the  Latin  crux,  which  it  glosses  in  the  Zeuss  MSS. 
We  find  it  in  Knocknacrohy,  the  name  of  three  town- 
lands  in  Limerick,  Kerry,  and  Waterford,  in  Irish 
Cnoc-na-croiche,  the  hill  of  the  gallows  ;  and  in  Ard- 
nacrohy  in  Limerick,  with  the  same  meaning.  The 
instrument  of  death  must  have  been  erected  in  an 
ancient  fort,  in  Ranacrohy  in  Tipperary.  The  word 
often  takes  the  forms  of  crehy  and  creha  in  modem 
names,  as  in  Cappanacreha  ( Cappa,  a  plot  of  ground) , 
p2 


212        Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

in  Galway  ;  and  Eaheenacreliy  near  Trim  in  Meath, 
the  little  fort  of  the  gallows. 

Crochaire  [crohera]  signifies  a  hangman,  and  it  is 
in  still  more  frequent  nse  in  the  formation  of  names 
than  croch,  usually  in  the  forms  crocjJiery  and  croghera. 
Knockcroghery,  the  hangman's  hill,  is  a  village  in 
Eoseommon,  where  there  is  a  station  on  the  Midland 
railway ;  and  there  are  places  of  the  same  name  in 
Cork  and  Mayo.  Mullaghcroghery,  with  a  similar 
meaning,  occurs  three  times  in  Monaghan  ;  and  in 
Cork,  (rlenacroghery  and  Ardnagroghery,  Ard-na- 
gcrochaire  (p.  22),  the  hill  of  the  hangmen. 

Sealan  [shallan]  signifies  the  rope  used  by  an  exe- 
cutioner ;  and  it  is  sometimes  used  to  designate  the 
place  where  people  were  hanged.  It  gives  name  to 
Shallon,  a  townland  near  Finglas  in  Dublin  ;  there 
is  another  place  of  the  same  name  near  Swords,  and 
a  third  near  Julianstown  in  Meath.  Shallany  in 
the  parish  of  Derryvullen,  Fermanagh,  is  the  same 
name  slightly  altered ;  and  Drumshallon  in  Louth 
and  Armagh,  signifies  the  ridge  of  the  gallows. 

There  is  another  mode  of  designating  places  of 
execution,  from  which  it  appears  that  criminals  were 
often  put  to  death  by  decapitation ;  an  inference 
which  is  corroborated  by  various  passages  in  Irish  au- 
thorities. Names  of  this  kind  are  formed  on  the  Irish 
word  ceann,  a  head,  which  is  placed  in  the  end  of 
words  in  the  genitive  plural,  generally  taking  the 
forms  nagin,  nagan,  &c. 

There  is  a  place  called  Knocknagin  near  Balro-. 
thery  in  Dublin,  where  quantities  of  human  remains 
were  found  some  years  ago,  and  this  is  also  the  name 
of  a  toAvnland  in  the  parish  of  Desertmartin,  Derry  : 
Irish  form  Cnoc-na-gceann^  the  hill  of  the  heads. 
The  termination  is  modified  in  accordance  with  the 


CHAP.  VI.]     Customs^  Amusements,  Occupations.     213 

Munster  pronunciation  in  Knocknago^sTi  in  Cork, 
and  in  Knoekaunnago^Ti  in  Waterforcl,  both  having 
the  same  meaning.  Loughnagin  occm^s  in  Donegal, 
and  Gortinagin,  the  little  field  of  the  heads,  in  the 
parish  of  Cappagh,  Tyrone. 

In  a  state  of  society  when  war  was  regarded  as  the 
most  noble  of  all  professions,  and  before  the  invention 
of  gunpowder,  those  w^ho  manufactured  swords  and 
spears  were  naturally  looked  upon  as  very  important 
personages.  In  Ireland  they  were  held  in  great  esti- 
mation ;  and  in  the  historical  and  legendary  tales,  we 
find  the  smith  was  often  a  powerful  chieftain,  who 
made  arms  for  himself  and  his  relations.  We  know 
that  Yulcan  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  of  the  Grre- 
cian  gods,  and  the  ancient  Irish  had  their  Groban,  the 
Tuath  De  Danann  smith-god,  who  figures  in  many  of 
the  ancient  romances. 

The  land  possessed  by  smiths,  or  the  places  where 
they  resided,  may  in  many  cases  be  determined  by 
the  local  names.  Gohlia  [gow]  is  a  smith,  old  Irish 
form  goha ;  old  Welsh  goh,  now  gof ;  Cornish  and  Bre- 
ton ^of.  The  usual  genitive  form  is  gobhan  [gown], 
but  it  is  often  the  same  as  the  nominative ;  and  both 
forms  are  reproduced  in  names,  the  former  being 
commonly  made  goicaii  or  gown,  and  the  latter  gou\ 
Both  teiminations  are  very  common,  and  may  be 
generally  translated  "of  the  smith,"  or  if  it  be 
nagoican,  "  of  the  smiths." 

Ballygowan,  Ballygow,  and  BaUingowan,  the  town 
of  the  smith,  are  the  names  of  numerous  places 
through  the  four  provinces ;  and  there  are  several 
townlands  in  Ulster  and  Munster  called  Ballyna- 
gowan,  the  town  of  the  smiths.  Occasionally  the 
Irish  genitive  plural  is  made  goibhne,  which  in  the 
west  of  Ireland  is  anglicised  guivnia,  givna,  &c. ;  as 


214  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

in   Carrownaguivna    and  Ardgivna    in   Sligo,    the 
quarter-land,  and  the  height,  of  the  smiths. 

Sometimes  the  genitive  singular  is  made  goe  or  go 
in  English ;  as  we  find  in  Athgoe  near  Newcastle 
in  Dublin,  the  smith's  ford  ;  Kinego  in  Tyrone  and 
Donegal,  the  smith's  head  or  hill  {ceann)  ;  Ednego 
near  Dromore  in  Down,  the  hill  brow  (eudan)  of  the 
smith.  It  takes  a  different  form  in  Clongowes  in 
Kildare,  the  smith's  meadow,  where  there  is  now  a 
Roman  Catholic  college — the  same  name  as  Cloon- 
gown  in  Cork. 

Ceard  signifies  an  artificer  of  any  kind  ;  it  occurs 
in  the  Zeuss  MSS.  in  the  form  of  cerd  or  cert,  and 
glosses  aerarius.  In  Scotland,  it  has  held  its  place 
as  a  living  word,  even  among  speakers  of  English, 
but  it  is  applied  to  a  tinker:  —  "Her  charms  had 
struck  a  sturdy  caird,  As  weel  as  poor  gut  scraper  " 
(Burns). 

It  usually  enters  into  names  with  the  c  eclipsed 
(p.  22),  forming  the  termination  nagarde  or  nagard, 
"  of  the  artificers."  Thus  there  are  several  places  in 
Antrim,  Derry,  Limerick,  and  Clare,  called  Ballyna- 
garde,  in  Irish  Baile-na-g ceard,  the  town  of  the  arti- 
ficers :  the  same  name  is  corrupted  to  Ballynacaird 
in  the  parish  of  Racavan  in  Antrim,  and  to  Ballyna- 
card  in  King's  County.  Castlegarde  and  Gortna- 
garde  in  Limerick,  the  castle,  and  the  field  of  the 
artificers. 

Cearda  or  ceardcha  denotes  a  workshop  of  any  kind, 
but  it  is  now  generally  applied  to  a  forge  :  old  Irish 
cerddchae,  ofiicina  (Zeuss).  It  enters  very  often  into 
names  as  a  termination,  under  several  forms,  indica- 
ting the  spots  where  forges  formerly  stood.  It  is  very 
often  contracted  to  cart,  as  in  Coolnacart  in  Monaghan, 
which  would  be  correctly  written  in  Irish  Cul-na- 


CHAP.  VI.]     Customs,  Amusements,  Occupations.     215 

ceardcha,  the  liill-back  of  the  forge.  A  final  n  is  often 
added,  in  accordance  with  the  fifth  declension ;  as  in 
Coolnacartan  in  Queen's  County,  the  same  name  as 
the  last ;  Ballycarton  in  Derry ;  Mullaghcarton  in 
Antrim  {mullach,  a  summit)  ;  Shronacarton  andE-ath- 
nacarton  in  Cork,  the  nose  or  point,  and  the  fort,  of 
the  forge.  Other  forms  are  exhibited  in  Farranacardy 
in  Sligo,  forge  land  ;  and  Tull}aiagardy  near  New- 
townardes  in  Do'vsti,  Tulaigh-na-gceardcha,  the  hill  of 
the  forges. 

Saer,  a  builder  or  carpenter,  appears  in  modem 
names  generally  in  the  form  seer ;  as  in  Eathnaseer 
in  Limerick,  the  fort  of  the  carpenters  ;  Derrynaseer 
(Derry,  an  oakwood),  the  name  of  several  townlands 
in  Leitrim  and  the  Ulster  counties  ;  Farranseer  in 
Cavan  and  Londonderry,  carpenter's  land.  Some- 
times the  s  becomes  t  by  eclipse  (p.  22) ;  as  in  Bal- 
linteer  the  name  of  a  place  near  Dundrum  in  Dub- 
lin, and  of  another  place  in  Londonderry,  in  Irish 
Baile-an-tsaeir,  the  toT\Ti  of  carpenter  or  builder. 

The  ancient  Keltic  nations  na^dgated  their  seas 
and  lakes  in  the  currach  or  hide-covered  wicker  boat ; 
and  it  is  very  probable  that  it  was  in  fleets  of  these 
the  Irish  made  their  frequent  descents  on  the  coasts 
of  Britain  and  Gaul.  Canoes  hollowed  out  of  a 
single  tree  were  also  in  extensive  use  in  Ireland, 
especially  on  the  rivers  and  lakes,  and  they  are  now 
frequently  found  buried  in  lakes  and  dried-up  lake 
beds. 

Cobhlach  [cowlagh]  means  a  fleet ;  but  the  term 
was  applied  to  a  collection  of  boats,  such  as  were 
fitted  out  for  lake  or  river  navigation,  as  well  as  to 
a  fleet  of  ships.  In  Munster  the  word  is  pronounced 
as  if  written  cohhaltach  [coltagh],  and  it  is  preserved 
according  to  this  pronunciation  in  the  names  of  se- 


216        Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

veral  places,  the  best  known  of  which  is  Carrigaholt, 
a  village  in  Clare,  at  the  month  of  the  Shannon. 
The  Four  Masters  write  it  Carraig-an-chohhhiigh,  the 
rock  of  the  fleet ;  and  the  rock  from  which  it  took  its 
name  rises  over  the  bay  where  the  fleets  anchored, 
and  is  crowned  by  the  ruins  of  a  castle.  The  present 
Irish  pronunciation  is  Carraig-a^-chohhaJtaigh  (Carrig- 
aholty),  which,  by  the  omission  of  the  final  syllable, 
settled  into  the  modern  name.  Another  place  of  the 
same  name,  also  well  known,  and  which  preserves 
the  correct  Irish  pronunciation,  is  Carrigahowly  on 
Newport  bay  in  Mayo,  the  castle  of  the  celebrated 
Grace  O'Malley,  the  Connaught  chieftainess,  who 
paid  a  visit  to  Queen  Elizabeth.  The  word,  with  its 
Munster  pronunciation,  appears  in  Eingacoltig  in 
Cork  harbour,  opposite  Hawlbowline  island,  the  point 
of  the  fleet. 

Most  of  the  various  terms  employed  to  designate 
ships  and  boats,  also  find  their  way  into  local  names. 
According  to  the  Book  of  Lecan  and  other  authori- 
ties, Ceasair  and  her  people  (see  p.  154)  landed  at  a 
place  called  Dun-na-mharc,  the  fortress  of  the  barks 
or  ships,  which  O'Donovan  (Four  Mast.,  vol.  i.,  p.  3) 
believes  is  the  place  now  called  Dunnamark,  near 
Bantry.  Long  signifies  a  ship.  According  to  Cor- 
mac's  Grlossary,  it  is  derived  from  the  Saxon  word 
la7ig,  long  ;  it  appears  more  likely,  however,  that 
both  the  Saxon  and  Irish  words  are  cognate  with  the 
Lat.  longifs,  for  we  find  the  Irish  word  in  the  Zeuss 
MSS.  (forlongis=narigatione).  It  occiu'S  occasionally 
in  local  names,  as  in  Tralong  near  Eoss  Carbery  in 
Cork,  the  strand  of  the  ships ;  Dunnalong  on  the 
Foyle,  five  miles  south  of  Derry,  the  name  of  which 
is  Irish  as  it  stands,  and  signifies  the  fortress  of  the 
ships  ;  Annalong  on  the  coast  of  the  county  DoAvn, 


CHxVP.  Yii.]     Agriculture  and  Pasturage,  217 

Ath-na-loug,  the  ford  of  the  ships,  a  name  which 
shows  that  the  little  creek  at  the  village  was  taken 
advantage  of  to  shelter  vessels,  in  ancient  as  well  as 
in  modern  times. 

Many  places  take  their  names  from  had,  a  boat ; 
several  of  which  spots,  we  may  be  pretty  certain, 
were  ferries,  in  which  a  boat  was  always  kept,  little 
or  nothing  different  from  the  ferries  of  the  present 
day.  Snch  a  place  was  Einawade  on  the  Liifey, 
near  Celbridge,  above  Dublin — Bimi-a^-b/idid,  the 
point  of  the  boat ;  and  Donabate  near  Malahide,  the 
church  {domhnach)  of  the  boat.  And  cot,  a  small 
boat,  is  also  employed  occasionally  in  the  formation 
of  names  ;  from  it  is  derived  the  name  of  Annacotty, 
now  a  small  village  on  the  river  Mulkear,  east  of 
Limerick,  called  in  Irish  Ath-na-coite,  the  ford  of  the 
cot  or  small  boat ;  as  well  as  that  of  Ayleacotty  in 
Clare,  the  cliff  of  the  boat.  A  diminutive  form  ap- 
pears in  the  name  of  a  well-known  lake  near  Killar- 
ney,  Lough  Gruitane,  which  the  people  pronounce 
Loch-coitedin,  the  lake  of  the  little  cot. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

AGRICULTURE  AND  PASTURAGE. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  country  were,  from  the  ear- 
liest antiquity,  engaged  in  agriculture  and  pasturage. 
In  our  oldest  records  we  find  constant  mention  of 
these  two  occupations;  and  the  clearing  of  plains  is 
recorded  as  an  event  worthy  of  si^ecial  notice,  in  the 
reigns  of  many  of  the  early  kings. 

It  has  been  remarked  by  several  writers,  and  it  is 


218         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  ii. 

still  a  matter  of  common  observation,  that  many 
places,  especially  hill  sides,  now  waste  and  wild, 
show  plain  traces  of  former  cultivation.  Boate 
(Nat.  Hist.  Chap.  X.  Sect,  iii.),  writes: — "It  hath 
been  observed  in  many  parts  of  Ireland,  chieflie  in 
the  county  of  Meath,  and  further  northward,  that 
upon  the  top  of  great  hills  and  mountains,  not  only 
at  the  side  and  foot  of  them,  to  this  day  the  ground 
is  uneven,  as  if  it  had  been  plowed  in  former  times. 
The  inhabitants  do  affirm,  that  their  forefathers  being 
much  given  to  tillage,  contrarie  to  what  they  are 
now,  used  to  turn  all  to  plowland."  The  archbishop 
of  Dublin,  in  a  letter  inserted  in  the  same  book, 
says: — "For  certain  Ireland  has  been  better  in- 
habited than  it  is  at  present :  mountains  that  now 
are  covered  with  boggs,  have  formerly  been  plowed  ; 
for  when  you  dig  five  or  six  feet  deep,  you  discover 
a  proper  soil  for  vegetables,  and  find  it  plowed  into 
ridges  and  furrows."  And  Smith  (Hist,  of  Cork,  I., 
198),  speaking  of  the  mountains  round  the  source  of 
the  river  Lee,  tells  us: — "Many  of  the  mountains 
have  formerly  been  tilled,  for  when  the  heath  that 
covers  them  is  pulled  up  and  burned,  the  ridges  and 
furrows  of  the  plough  are  visible." 

These  facts  tend  to  confirm  the  opening  statement 
of  this  chapter,  that  the  Irish  have  from  all  time, 
lived  partly  by  tillage.  Many  have  come  to  the 
same  conclusion  as  the  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  that 
"  Ireland  has  been  better  inhabited  than  it  is  at  pre- 
sent" (about  1645).  But  I  think  Boate  gives  the 
true  solution  in  the  continuation  of  the  passage 
quoted  above: — "Others  say  that  it  was  done  for 
want  of  arable,  because  the  champain  was  most  every- 
where beset  and  overspread  with  woods,  which  by 
degrees  are  destroyed  by  the  wars." 


CHAP,  vii.]     Agriculture  and  Pasturage.  219 

There  are  several  terms  entering  into  local  names, 
which  either  indicate  directly,  or  imply,  agricultural 
operations,  the  enclosure  of  the  land  by  fences,  or  its 
employment  as  pasture  ;  and  to  the  illustration  of 
those  that  occur  most  frequently  I  will  devote  the 
present  Chapter. 

Ceapach  [cappagh]  signifies  a  plot  of  land  laid  out 
for  tillage ;  it  is  still  a  living  word  in  Connaught, 
and  is  in  common  use  in  the  formation  of  names,  hut 
it  does  not  occur  in  Ulster  so  frequently  as  in  the 
other  provinces.  Cappagh  and  Cappa  are  the  most 
usual  anglicised  forms  ;  and  these,  either  alone  or  in 
combination,  give  names  to  numerous  places.  It  has 
been  often  asserted,  and  seems  generally  believed, 
that  Cappoquin  (county  Waterford)  means -"The 
head  of  the  house  of  Con  ;"  but  this  is  a  mere  guess  : 
the  name  is  a  plain  Irish  compound,  Ceajmch-Chninn, 
signifying  merely  Con's  plot  of  land,  but  no  one  can 
tell  who  this  Con  was. 

Cappaghwhite  in  Tipperary,  is  called  after  the 
family  of  White ;  Cappaghcreen  near  Dunboyne 
in  Meath,  withered  plot ;  Cappanageeragh  near 
Greashill  in  King's  County,  the  plot  of  the  sheep  ; 
Cappateemore  in  Clare,  near  Limerick  city,  is  in 
Irish  Ceapach-cC-tighe-mhoir^  the  plot  of  the  great 
house  ;  Cappanalarabaun  in  Galway,  the  plot  of  the 
white  mare  ;  Cappaghmore  and  Cappamore,  great 
tillage  plot.  The  word  is  sometimes  made  Cappy, 
which  is  the  name  of  a  townland  in  Fermanagh ; 
Cappydonnell  in  King's  County,  Donnell's  plot ; 
and  the  diminutive  Cappog  or  Cappoge  (little  plot) , 
is  the  name  of  several  places  in  Ulster,  Leinster,  and 
Munster. 

Garrdha  [gara],  a  garden  ;  usually  made  garry  or 
garra  in  modern  names.     About  half  a  mile  from 


220  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

Banagher  in  King's  County,  are  situated  the  ruins  of 
Grarry  castle,  once  the  residence  of  the  Mac  Coghlans, 
the  chiefs  of  the  surrounding  territory.  This  castle 
is  called  in  the  Annals,  Garrdha-an-chaislein,  i.  e.  the 
garden  of  the  castle ;  and  fi^oni  this  the  modern 
name  Grarrycastle  has  been  formed,  and  has  been 
extended  to  the  barony.  The  literal  meaning  of  the 
old  designation  is  exactly  preserved  in  the  name  of 
the  modern  residence,  Castle- Garden,  situated  near 
the  ruins. 

Grarry,  i.  e.  the  garden,  is  the  name  of  a  place  near 
Ballymoney  in  Antrim ;  and  the  parish  of  Myross, 
west  of  Glandore  in  Cork,  is  called  the  GaiTy,  from 
its  fertility  compared  with  the  suiTounding  district. 
The  well-known  Grarryowen  near  Limerick,  signifies 
Owen's  garden  ;  Carrysallagh  in  Cavan  and  other 
counties,  dirty  garden  ;  Garry  vicleheen  near  Thurles 
in  Tipperary,  Mac  Leheen's  garden ;  Ballingarry, 
the  town  of  the  garden,  is  the  name  of  a  town  on  the 
borders  of  Limerick  and  Tipperary,  and  of  fourteen 
townlands.  The  word  Garry  begins  the  names  of 
about  ninety  to^Tilands  scattered  over  the  four  pro- 
vinces. 

Govt,  a  tilled  field  :  in  the  Zeuss  MSS.,  it  occurs  in 
the  form  gart^  and  glosses  hortus,  and  Colgan  trans- 
lates it  prwdium.  It  is  obviously  cognate  with  Fr. 
jardin,  Sax.  gcard,  Eng.  garden,  Lat.  hortns.  It  is  a 
very  prolific  root  word,  for  there  are  more  than  1200 
townlands  whose  names  are  formed  by,  or  begin  with 
Gort  and  Gmi,  its  usual  modern  forms.  Gortna- 
glogh,  or,  as  it  would  be  written  in  Irish,  GorUna- 
gcloch,  the  field  of  the  stones,  is  the  name  of  a  dozen 
townlands,  some  of  them  in  each  of  the  four  pro- 
vinces ;  Gortmillish  in  Antrim,  sweet  field,  so  called 
probably  from  the  abundance  of  honeysuckle ;  Gorta- 


CHAP.  VII.]      Agriculture  and  Pasturage.  221 

ganniff  near  Adare  in  Limerick,  the  field  of  the 
sand ;  Grortanui^e  and  Grortinui^e,  in  several  counties, 
the  field  of  the  yew.  The  town  of  Groi^t  in  Galway, 
is  called  by  the  Four  Masters  Gort-innsi-Guaire,  and 
this  is  also  its  present  Irish  name ;  it  signifies  the 
field  of  the  island  of  Guary,  and  it  is  believed  that  it 
took  its  name  from  Guaire  Aidhne,  king  of  Con- 
naught  in  the  seventh  centiuy  (see  p.  99). 

Gorteen,  Gortin,  and  Gurteen  (little  field)  three 
diff'erent  forms  of  the  diminutive,  are  exceedingly 
common,  and  are  themselves  the  names  of  about  100 
townlands  and  villages.  The  ancient  form  gart  is 
preserved  in  the  diminutive  Gartan,  which  is  the 
name  of  a  parish  in  Donegal,  well  known  as  the 
birth  place  of  Saint  Columba. 

Tamhnach  [tawnagh]  signifies  a  green  field  which 
produces  fresh  sweet  grass.  This  word  enters  very 
generally  into  names  in  Ulster  and  Connaught, 
especially  in  the  mountainous  districts ;  it  is  found 
occasionally,  though  seldom,  in  Leinster,  and  still 
more  seldom  in  Munster.  In  modern  names  it  usually 
appears  as  Tawnagh,  Tawny,  and  Tonagh,  which  are 
themselves  the  names  of  several  places  ;  in  the  north 
of  Ulster  the  aspirated  m  is  often  restored  (see  p.  43), 
and  the  word  then  becomes  Tamnagh  and  Tamny. 
In  composition  it  takes  all  the  preceding  forms,  as 
well  as  Tawna  and  Tanma. 

Saintfield  in  Down,  is  a  good  example  of  the  use 
of  this  word.  Its  old  name,  which  w^as  used  to  a 
comparatively  late  period,  and  which  is  still  well 
known,  was  Tonaghneeve,  the  phonetic  representative 
of  Tcmihnach-naemh,  the  field  of  the  saints.  There  is 
a  townland  near  the  town  which  still  retains  the 
name  of  Tonaghmore,  great  field  ;  originally  so  called 
to  distinguish  it  from  Tonaghneeve. 


222        Historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  ii. 

The  forms  Tawnagh  and  Taicna  are  found  in  Taw- 
naglilalian  near  Donegal,  broad  field ;  Tawnaglia- 
knaff  in  the  parish  of  Bohola,  Mayo,  the  fields  of  the 
bones  {cnamh.,  a  bone),  which  probably  points  out 
the  site  of  a  battle  ;  Tawnakeel  near  Crossmolina, 
narrow  field.  Tawny  appears  in  Tawnyeely  near 
Mohill  in  Leitrim,  the  field  of  the  lime  {Tamhnach- 
aeJaigh)  ;  and  Tawnybrack  in  Antrim,  speckled  field. 
Tamnagh  and  its  modifications  give  names  to  Tam- 
naghbane  in  Ai^magh,  white  field;  Tamnaficarbet 
and  Tamnafiglassan,  both  in  Armagh — the  first 
Ta77ihnach'Jidh-carhait,  the  field  of  the  wood  of  the 
chariot,  and  the  second  the  field  of  Griassan's  wood  ; 
Tanmymartin  near  Maghera  in  Derry,  Martin's  field. 

Rathdowney,  the  name  of  a  village  and  parish  in 
Queen's  County,  signifies  as  it  stands,  the  fort  of 
the  church  (dornhnach)  ;  but  the  correct  name  would 
be  Rathto^vney,  representing  the  Irish  Rath-tamhnaigh, 
as  the  Four  Masters  '^nrite  it — the  fort  of  the  green 
field.  This  was  the  old  pagan  name,  which  the 
people  corrupted  (by  merely  changing  ^  to  d)  under 
the  idea  that  dornhnach  was  the  proper  word,  and 
that  the  name  was  derived  from  the  church,  which 
was  built  near  the  original  rath. 

There  is  a  form  Tavnagh,  used  in  some  of  the  Ulster 
counties,  especially  in  Antrim  and  Monaghan  ;  such 
as  Ta\Tiaghdrissagh  in  Antrim,  the  field  of  the  briers ; 
Tavanaskea  in  Monaghan,  the  field  of  the  bushes. 
In  composition  the  t  is  sometimes  aspirated,  as  in 
Corhawnagh  and  Corhawny,  the  rough  field,  or  the 
round  hill  of  the  field,  the  names  of  several  places  in 
Cavan  and  the  Connaught  counties.  Of  the  few  cases 
that  occur  in  Leinster,  the  only  other  one  I  shall 
mention  is  Taney,  which  is  the  name  of  the  parish 
that  contains  the  town  of  Dundrum,  near  Dublin. 


CHAP.  VII.]     Agriculture  and  Pasturage.  223 

Achadli  [aha],  a  l&eld :  translated  campulm  by 
Adamnan.  It  is  generally  represented  in  modern 
naines  by  agha^  agh,  oxaugh;  but  in  individual  cases 
the  investigator  must  be  careful,  for  these  three  words 
often  stand  for  ath,  a  ford. 

The  parish  of  Agha  in  Carlo w,  takes  its  name  from 
a  very  old  church  ruin,  once  an  important  religious 
foundation,  which  the  Four  Masters  call  Achadh- 
arghlais,  the  field  of  the  green  tillage.  Aghinver 
on  Lough  Erne  in  Fermanagh,  is  called  in  the 
Annals  Acliadh-inhlm\  the  field  of  the  huer^  or  river 
mouth.  Aghmacart  in  Queen's  County,  is  in  Irish 
Achadh-miC'Airt,  the  field  of  Art's  son;  Aghindar- 
ragh  in  Tyrone,  the  field  of  the  oak ;  Aghawoney 
near  Kilmacrenan  in  Donegal,  written  by  the  Four 
Masters  Achadh-nihona,  bogfield.  Aghintamy  near 
the  town  of  Monaghan,  is  in  Irish  Achadh-an-tsamh- 
aidh,  sorrel  field ;  Achonry  in  Sligo,  is  called  in 
the  Annals  AcJiadh- Chonaire,  Conary's  field.  Ardagh 
is  the  name  of  numerous  villages,  townlands,  and 
parishes,  through  the  four  provinces  ;  several  of  these 
are  often  mentioned  in  the  Annals,  the  Irish  form 
being  always  Ard-achadhy  high  field.  In  a  few  cases 
the  modern  form  is  Ardaghy. 

Cluain  [cloon]  is  often  translated  p7'atum  by  Latin 
wi-iters,  and  for  want  of  a  better  term  it  is  usually 
rendered  in  English  by  "  lawn"  or  "  meadow."  Its 
exact  meaning,  however,  is  a  fertile  piece  of  land,  or 
a  green  arable  spot,  surrounded  or  nearly  surrounded 
by  bog  or  marsh,  or  by  a  bog  or  marsh  on  one  side, 
and  water  on  the  other. 

The  word  forms  a  part  of  a  vast  number  of  names 
in  all  parts  of  Ireland  ;  many  of  the  religious  esta- 
blishments derived  their  names  from  it ;  and  this  has 
led  some  winters  into  the  erroneous  belief  that  the 


224  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

word  originally  meant  a  place  or  religious  retirement. 
But  it  is  certain  that  in  its  primitive  signification  it 
had  no  reference  to  religion  ;  and  its  frequent  occur- 
rence in  our  ecclesiastical  names  is  sufficiently  ex- 
plained by  the  well-known  custom  of  the  early  Irish 
saints,  to  select  lonely  and  retired  places  for  their 
own  habitations,  as  well  as  for  their  religious  esta- 
blishments. 

The  names  of  many  of  the  religious  cloons  are  in 
fact  of  pagan  origin,  and  existed  before  the  ecclesias- 
tical foundations,  having  been  adopted  without  change 
by  the  founders  : — among  these  may  be  reckoned  the 
following.  Clones  (pronounced  in  two  syllables),  in 
Monaghan,  where  a  round  tower  remains  to  attest  its 
former  religious  celebrity ;  its  name  is  written  in  the 
Annals  Chiain-Eois,  [Cloonoce]  Eos's  meadow  ;  and  it 
is  not  improbable  that  Eos  was  the  pagan  chief  who 
raised  the  great  fort,  the  existence  of  which  proves  it 
to  have  been  a  place  of  importance  before  the  Chris- 
tian settlement. 

Clonard  in  Meath,  where  the  celebrated  St.  Fin- 
ian  had  his  great  school  in  the  sixth  century,  is  called 
in  all  the  Irish  authorities,  Cluain-Eraird,  from  which 
the  present  name  has  been  contracted.  Many  have 
translated  this  "  The  retirement  on  the  western 
height ;  "  but  this  is  a  mere  guess,  and  at  any  rate 
could  not  be  right,  for  the  site  of  the  estsblishment  is 
a  dead  flat  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Boyne.  Accord- 
ing to  Colgan,  Erard  was  a  man's  name  signifying 
"  noble,  exalted,  or  distinguished,  and  it  was  formerly 
not  unfrequent  among  the  Irish"  (A.  SS.,  p.  28). 
He  then  states  that  this  place  was  so  called  from  some 
man  named  Erard,  so  that  Cluain-Eraird  or  Clonard 
signifies  Erard's  Meadow ;  and  since  as  in  case  of 
Clones,  a  moat  still  remains  there,  Erard  may  have 


CHAP.  VII.]     Agriculture  and  Pasturage.  225 

been  the  pagan  chief  who  erected  it,  ages  before  the 
time  of  St.  Finian.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that 
Erard  is  occasionally  met  mth  as  a  personal  name 
even  at  the  present  time.  There  are  several  other 
places  in  Leinster  and  Munster,  called  Clonard  and 
Cloonard,  but  in  these  the  Irish  form  of  the  name  is 
probably  Cluainarcl,  high  meadow. 

We  find  the  names  of  some  of  the  religious  esta- 
blishments formed  by  suffixing  the  name  of  a  saint  or 
some  other  Christian  term  to  the  word  cluain  ;  and 
in  these  cases,  this  cluain  may  be  a  remnant  of  the 
previous  pagan  name,  which  was  partly  changed 
after  the  ecclesiastical  foundation.  Clonallan,  now 
a  parish  near  Newiy  in  Down,  is  mentioned  by 
Keating,  Colgan,  and  others,  who  call  it  Cluain- 
Dallaiu,  Dalian's  meadow  ;  the  d  is  omitted  by  as- 
piration (see  p.  20)  in  the  modern  name,  but  in  the 
Taxation  of  1306  it  is  retained,  the  place  being 
called  Clondalan,  It  received  its  name  from  Dalian 
Forgall,  who  flourished  about  the  year  580  ;  he  was 
a  celebrated  poet,  and  composed  a  panegyric  in  verse 
on  St.  Columba,  called  Anihra-Choluimcille,  of  which 
we  possess  copies  in  a  very  old  dialect  of  the  Irish 
(see  Eeeves,  Eccl.  Ant.,  p.  114). 

Except  in  a  very  few  cases,  cluain  is  represented 
in  the  present  names  by  either  clon  or  cloon ;  and 
there  are  about  1800  places  in  Ireland  whose  names 
begin  with  one  or  the  other  of  these  syllables.  Clon 
is  found  in  the  following  names : — Clonmellon  in 
Westmeath,  is  written  by  the  Four  Masters,  Cluain- 
Mildin,  Milan's  meadow.  Clonmel  in  Tipperary, 
they  write  Cluain-meala,  which  is  the  Irish  name 
always  used  at  the  present  time  :  this  name,  which 
it  bore  long  before  the  foundation  of  the  town,  ori- 
ginated, no  doubt,  from  the  abundance  of  wild  bees' 


226  Ilistorical  and  Legendary  Names,      [part  ii. 

nests.  There  is  also  a  Clonmel  near  Grlasnevin, 
Dublin,  and  another  in  King's  County.  Clonmnlt, 
the  meadow  of  the  wethers,  is  the  name  of  a  village 
and  parish  in  Cork,  and  of  a  townland  in  Cavan. 

With  cloon  are  foi-med  Cloontuskert  in  Eoscommon, 
which  is  written  in  the  Annals  C/aain-taaisceirty  the 
noi-theni  meadow  ;  Cloonlogher,  the  name  of  a  parish 
in  Leitrim,  Cluain-Iuachra,  the  meadow  of  the  rushes  ; 
Cloonkeen,  a  very  common  to'^Tiland  name,  Cluain- 
vaoin,  beautiful  meadow,  which  is  also  very  often 
anglicised  Clonkeen.  Sometimes  the  word  is  in  com- 
position pronoimced  cli/i,  as  we  see  in  Bracklin,  the 
same  as  Brackloon,  both  townland  names  of  frequent 
occiurence,  deriYed  from.  £reac-c/ilaaiji  (Four  Mast.), 
speckled  meadow ;  and  of  similar  formation  are 
Mucklin  Mucklone  and  Muckloon,  pig  meadow. 

Two  forms  of  the  diminutive  are  in  use ;  one, 
Chiainin  [Clooneen],  occiu'S  in  the  Four  Masters,  and 
in  the  form  Clooneen  (little  meadow),  it  gives  name 
to  a  great  many  townlands,  chiefly  in  the  west  of 
Ireland.  The  other  diminutive,  C/aaintin,  in  the  an- 
glicised form  Cloonteen,  is  the  name  of  several  places 
in  Connaught  and  Mimster.  The  plural  of  eluain  is 
cluainte  [cloonty],  and  this  also  enters  into  names. 
It  is  sometimes  made  cloonta,  as  in  Cloontabonniv  in 
Clare,  the  meadows  of  the  hon)n'res  or  young  pigs; 
Cloontakillew  and  Cloontakilla  in  Mayo,  the  meadows 
of  the  wood.  But  it  is  much  oftener  made  Cloonty, 
or  with  the  double  plural  Cloonties ;  which  are 
themselves  the  names  of  several  places.  Occasionally 
it  is  made  c/intj/  in  Ulster,  as  in  Clinty  in  the  parish 
of  Kii'kinriola  in  Antrim ;  Clinty cracken  in  TjTone, 
Cluainte-croieeann,  the  meadows  of  the  skins,  so 
called  probably  from  being  used  as  a  place  for 
tanning. 


CHAP.  VII.]      Agriculture  and  Pasturage.  227 

Tuar  [toor]  signifies  a  bleach  green ;  in  an  extended 
sense  it  is  applied  to  any  place  where  things  were 
spread  out  to  dry,  and  very  often  to  fields  along 
small  streams,  the  articles  being  washed  in  the  stream, 
and  dried  on  its  banks.  The  word  is  used  in  Munster, 
Connaught,  and  Leinster,  but  does  not  occur  at  all  in 
the  Ulster  counties. 

Toor  is  the  almost  universal  anglicised  form,  and 
this  and  Tooreen  or  Tourin  (little  bleach  green)  are 
the  names  of  more  than  sixty  townlands  in  the  three 
provinces :  as  a  part  of  compounds,  it  helps  to  give 
names  to  a  still  larger  number.  Toomageeha  in 
Waterford  and  Kerry,  signifies  the  bleach  green  of 
the  wind ;  Toorfune  in  Tipperary,  fair  or  white 
coloured  bleach  green  ;  Tooreennablauha  in  Kerry, 
the  little  bleach  green  of  the  flowers ;  Tooreenna- 
grena  in  Cork,  sunny  little  bleach  green. 

It  occasionally  exhibits  other  forms  in  the  Leinster 
counties.  The  Irish  name  of  Ballitore,  a  village  in 
Kildare,  is  Bel-atha-a^-tuair,  the  ford-mouth  of  the 
bleach  green,  and  it  took  this  name  from  a  ford  on 
the  river  Grreece  ;  Monatore  {mon,  a  bog)  occui's  in 
Wicklow  and  Kildare ;  Tintore  in  Queen's  County, 
is  in  Irish  Tigh-an-tuair,  the  house  of  the  bleach 
green  ;  and  the  same  name  without  the  article  be- 
comes Tithewer,  near  Newtownmountkennedy  in 
Wicklow. 
"**  The  peasantry  in  most  parts  of  Ireland  use  a  kind 
of  double  axe  for  grubbing  or  rooting  up  the  surface 
of  coarse  land  ;  it  is  called  a  grafdn  [graffaun],  from 
the  verb  graf.,  to  write,  engrave,  or  scrape,  cognate 
with  Greek  grapho.  Lands  that  have  been  grubbed 
or  graffed  with  this  instrument  have  in  many  cases 
received  and  preserved  names,  formed  on  the  verb 
graf,  that  indicate  the  operation.  This  ia  the  origin 
q3 


228         Historical  and  Legendartj  Names,      [part  it. 

of  those  names  that  begin  with  the  syllable  graf ; 
such  as  Grraifa,  Grraffan,  Grraffee,  Grrafibge,  Grraffin, 
and  Grraffy,  which  are  found  in  the  four  provinces, 
and  all  of  which  signify  grubbed  land. 

Ploughing  by  the  horsetail,  and  burning  com  in 
the  ear,  were  practised  in  Ireland  cIo^ti  to  a  com- 
paratively recent  period;  Arthur  Young  witnessed 
both  in  operation  less  than  a  hundred  years  ago  ;  but 
at  that  time  they  had  nearly  disappeared,  partly  on 
account  of  acts  of  Parliament  framed  expressly  to 
prevent  them,  and  partly  thi^ough  the  increasing 
intelligence  of  the  people.  Loisgredn  [lusgraun]  is 
the  term  applied  to  corn  bm^nt  in  the  ear ;  and  the 
particular  spots  where  the  process  was  carried  on  are 
in  many  cases  indicated  by  names  formed  on  this 
word. 

The  modem  forms  do  not  in  general  depart  much 
from  what  would  be  indicated  by  the  original  pro- 
nunciation ;  it  is  well  represented  in  Knockaluskraun 
and  KnocHoskeraun  in  Clare,  each  the  name  of  a 
hill  (A- nock)  where  corn  used  to  be  buimed.  The 
simple  term  gives  name  to  Loskeran  near  Ardmore 
in  Waterford. 

Sometimes  the  word  is  pronounced  lustraun  ;  and 
this  form  is  seen  in  Caherlustraun  near  Tuam  in 
Gralway,  where  the  corn  used  to  be  bumed  in  an  an- 
cient caher  or  stone  fort ;  in  Lugalustran  in  Leitrim, 
and  Stralustrin  in  Fermanagh,  the  hoUovf,  and  the 
river  holm  of  the  burnt  corn. 

Land  burnt  in  any  way,  whether  by  accident  or 
design  for  agricultm^al  pui^poses— as,  for  instance, 
when  heath  was  bm^nt  to  encom'age  the  growth  of 
grass,  as  noticed  by  Boate  (Nat.  Hist.  XIII. ,  4)  — 
was  designated  by  the  word  loisgthe  [luske],  bui-nt ; 
which  in  modern  names  is  usually  changed  to  lusky^ 


CHAP.  VII.]      Agriculture  and  Pashirage.  229 

losky,  or  lusJc.  Ballylusky  and  Ballylusk,  i.  e.  Bailc- 
loisgthe,  burnt  town,  are  the  names  of  several  town- 
lands,  the  former  being  found  in  the  Munster  counties, 
and  the  latter  in  Leinster ;  while  it  is  made  Bally- 
losky  in  Donegal :  Molosky  in  Clare,  signifies  burnt 
plain  : — 3Io  =  magh,  a  plain. 

Sometimes  the  word  tcotda  [totaun],  a  burning,  is 
employed  to  express  the  same  thing,  as  in  Knockato- 
taun  in  Maj^o  and  Sligo,  Cnoc-a^-teotain,  the  hill  of 
the  burning  ;  Parkatotaun  in  Limerick,  the  field  of 
the  burning. 

It  was  formerly  customary  with  those  who  kept 
cattle,  to  spend  a  great  part  of  the  summer  wandering 
about  with  theii'  herds  among  the  mountain  pastures, 
removing  from  place  to  place,  as  the  grass  became 
exhausted.  During  the  winter  they  lived  in  their 
lowland  villages,  and  as  soon  as  they  had  tilled  a 
spot  of  land  in  spring,  they  removed  with  their  herds 
to  the  mountains  till  autumn,  when  they  returned  to 
gather  the  crops. 

The  mountain  habitations  where  they  lived,  fed 
their  cattle,  and  carried  on  their  dairy  operations 
during  the  summer,  were  called  in  Irish  huaile 
[booly],  a  word  evidently  derived  from  ho,  a  cow. 
This  custom  existed  down  to  the  sixteenth  century ; 
and  the  poet  Spenser  describes  it  very  correctly,  as 
he  witnessed  it  in  his  day : — "  There  is  one  use 
amongst  them,  to  keepe  their  cattle,  and  to  live  them- 
selves the  most  part  of  the  yeare  in  boolies,  pastur- 
ing upon  the  mountaine,  and  waste  wilde  places ; 
and  removing  still  to  fresh  land,  as  they  have  de- 
pastured the  former"  (View  of  the  State  of  Ireland  ; 
Dublm  edition,  1809,  p.  82).  O'Flaherty  also 
notices  the  same  custom  : — "In  summer  time  they 
drive  their  cattle  to  the  mountaines,  where  such  as 


230         Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii, 

looke  to  the  cattle  live  in  small  cabbins  for  that  sea- 
Bon'*  (lar-Connaught,  c.  17).  The  term  hooley  was 
not  confined  to  the  mountainous  districts ;  for  in 
some  parts  of  Ireland  it  was  applied  to  any  place 
where  cattle  were  fed  or  milked,  or  which  was  set 
apart  for  dairy  purposes. 

Grreat  numbers  of  places  retain  the  names  of  these 
dairy  places,  and  the  word  huaile  is  generally  repre- 
sented in  modern  names  by  the  forms  Booley,  Boley , 
Boola,  and  Boula,  which  are  themselves  the  names  of 
many  places,  and  forai  the  beginning  of  a  still  larger 
number.  In  Boleylug  near  Baltinglass  in  Wicklow, 
they  must  have  built  their  "  cabbins"  for  shelter  in 
the  lug  or  mountain  hollow  ;  Booladurragha  in  Cork, 
and  Booldurragh  in  Carlow,  dark  booley  {Buaile- 
dorcha)^  probably  from  being  shaded  with  trees ; 
Booleyglass,  a  village  in  Kilkenny,  green  booley. 

The  word  is  combined  in  various  other  ways,  and 
it  assumes  other  forms,   partly  by  corruption  and 
partly  by  grammatical  inflexion.     Farranboley  near 
Dun  drum  in  Dublin,  is  booley  land;  Aughvolyshane 
in  the  parish  of  Grienkeen,  Tipperary,  is  in  Irish -4 ^7^- 
hhuaile-Sheain^  the  ford  of  John's  booley.    Ballyboley, 
the  name  of  some  toT^Tilands  in  Antrim  and  Down, 
Ballyvooly   in  the   parish    of  Layd,   Antrim,    and 
Ballyvool  near  Inistioge,  Kilkenny,  are  all  different 
forms  of  Baile-huaile,  the  town  of  the  dairy  place  ; 
Ballynaboley,  Ballynaboola,  and  Ballynabooley,  have 
the  same  meaning,  the  article  na  being  inserted ;  and 
Boulabally   near  Adare  in  Limerick,    is   the  same 
name  with  the  terms  reversed.     On  Ballyboley  hill 
near  the  source  of  the  Lame  water  in  Antrim,  there 
are  still  numerous  remains  of  the  old  "  cabbins,"  ex- 
tending for  two  miles  along  the  face  of  the  hiU  ;  they 
are  called  Boley  houses,  and  the  people  retain  the 


CHAP.  VIII.]    Subdivisions  and  Measures  of  Land.  231 

tradition  that  they  were  formerly  used  by  the  in- 
habitants of  the  valley  when  they  drove  up  their 
cattle  in  summer  to  pasture  on  the  heights.  (See 
Eeeves,  Eccl.  Ant.,  p.  268 j. 

The  diminutive  huailtin  [boolteen],  and  the  plural 
huailte  \hoo\ij~\,  occur  occasionally;  Boolteens  and 
Eoolteeny  (see  p.  32,  vi.),  in  Kerry  and  Tipperary, 
loth  signify  little  dairy  places  ;  Boultypatrick  in 
Donegal,  Patrick's  booleys. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

SUBDIVISIONS  AND  MEASURES  OF  LAND. 

Among  a  people  who  followed  the  double  occupation 
of  tillage  and  pasturage,  according  as  the  country  be- 
came populated,  it  would  be  divided  and  subdivided, 
and  parcelled  out  among  the  people  ;  boundaries 
would  be  determined,  and  standards  of  measurement 
adopted.  The  following  was  the  old  partition  of  the 
country,  according  to  Irish  authorities  : — There  were 
five  provinces :  Leinster,  Ulster,  Connaught,  Mun- 
ster,  and  Meath,  each  of  which  was  divided  into 
tricka-ceds  (thirty  hundreds)  or  trichas,  Meath  con- 
taining 18,  Connaught  30,  Ulster  36,  Leinster  31, 
and  Munster  70  ;  each  tric/ia  contained  30  haile-hia- 
taighs  (victualler's  town),  and  each  Baile-Uataiyh, 
12  seisreachs.  The  di^dsion  into  provinces  is  still  re- 
tained with  some  modification,  but  the  rest  of  the  old 
distribution  is  obsolete.  The  present  subdivision  is 
into  provinces,  counties,  baronies,  parishes,  and  town- 
lands  ;  in  all  Ireland  there  are  325  baronies,  2422 
parishes,  and  about  62,000  townlands.     Various  mi- 


232         Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

nor  subdivisions  and  standards  of  measurement  were 
adopted  in  dijfferent  parts  of  the  country  ;  and  so  far 
as  these  are  represented  in  our  present  nomenclature, 
I  will  notice  them  here.* 

The  old  term  tricha  or  triiicha  [truha],  is  usually 
rendered  by  "  cantred  "  or  "  district,"  and  we  find  Ji 
giving  name  to  the  barony  of  Trough  in  Monaghan ; 
to  the  townland  of  Trough  near  O'Brien's  Bridge  in 
Clare ;  and  to  True  in  the  parish  of  Killyman  in 
Tyrone.  Seisreach  [sheshragh]  is  commonly  trans- 
lated "  plowland  ; "  it  is  said  to  be  derived  from 
seisear,  six,  and  each,  a  horse,  and  it  was  used  to  de- 
note the  extent  of  land  a  six-horse  plough  would  turn 
up  in  one  year.  We  find  the  term  in  Shesheragh- 
more  and  Shesheraghscanlan  near  Borrisokane  in 
Tipperary  ;  in  Shesheraghkeale  (kea/e,  narrow)  near 
Nenagh,  the  same  name  as  Sistrakeel  (see  p.  55,  iv.) 
in  the  parish  of  Tamlaght  Finlagan,  Derry ;  and 
in  Drumsastry  in  Fermanagh,  the  ridge  of  the  plow- 
land. 

The  terms  in  most  common  use  to  denote  portions 
of  land  or  territorj^  were  those  expressing  fractional 
parts,  of  which  there  are  five  that  occiu*  very  fre- 
quently. The  word  leath  [lah]  signifies  half,  and  we 
find  it  forming  part  of  names  all  over  Ireland.  Thus 
when  a  seisreach  was  divided  into  two  equal  parts, 
each  was  called  leath-sheisreach  [lahesheragh] ,  half 
plowland,    which   gives    name   to   Lahesheragh   in 

*  For  further  information  the  reader  is  referred  to  Dr.  Keeves's 
paper  ''  On  the  Townland  Distribution  of  Irehmd,"  (Proc.  R  I. 
Academy,  Vol,  VII. ,  p.  473),  from  which  much  of  the  informa- 
tion in  this  chapter  has  been  deiived  ;  and  to  a  paper  "  On  the 
Territorial  Divisions  of  the  Country,"  by  Sir  Thomas  Larcom, 
prefixed  to  the  "  Kelief  Correspondence  of  the  Commissioners 
of  Public  Works." 


CHAP.  Yiii.]   Suhdivisions  and  Measures  of  Land.    233 

Kerry,  to  Lahesseragli  in  Tipper ary,  and  to  Bally- 
nalaliessery  near  Dimgarvan  in  Waterford,  which 
signifies  the  town  of  the  half-plowland.  In  like 
manner,  half  a  townland  was  denoted  by  the  term 
Leath-hhaile,  pronounced,  and  generally  anglicised, 
Lavally  and  Levally,  which  are  the  names  of  about 
thii'ty  townlands  scattered  through  the  four  pro- 
vinces. Laharan,  the  name  of  many  places  in  Cork 
and  Kerry  signifies  literally,  half  land,  Irish  Leath- 
fhearann,  the  initial/ in /tY/vT/;?^i  (land)  being  rendered 
silent  by  aspiration  (see  p.  20). 

The  territory  of  Lecale  in  Down,  now  forming 
two  baronies,  is  called  in  the  Irish  authorities  Leth- 
Cathail,  Cathal's  half  or  portion.  Cathal  [Cahal], 
who  was  fifth  in  descent  from  Deman,  king  of  Ulidia 
in  the  middle  of  the  sixth  century,  flomished  about 
the  year  700  ;  and  in  a  division  of  territory  this  dis- 
trict was  assigned  to  him,  and  took  his  name.  It 
had  been  previously  called  Magh-inis,  which  Colgan 
translates  Insula  canipestris,  the  level  island,  being  a 
plain  tract  nearly  surrounded  by  the  sea. 

Trian  [treen]  denotes  the  third  part  of  anything  ; 
it  was  formerly  a  territorial  designation  in  frequent 
use,  and  it  has  descended  to  the  present  time  in  the 
names  of  several  places.  A  tripartite  division  of  ter- 
ritory in  Tipperary  gave  origin  to  the  name  of  the 
barony  of  Middlethird,  which  is  a  translation  from  the 
Irish,  Trian-meadhanach  [managh]  as  used  by  the 
Four  Masters.  There  was  a  similar  division  in  Wa- 
terford,  and  two  of  the  three  parts — now  two  baronies 
— are  still  known  by  the  names  of  Middlethird  and 
Upperthird.  The  barony  of  Duff'erin  in  Down,  is 
called  by  the  Fom*  Masters  Dubh-fhrian,  the  black 
third,  the  sound  of  which  is  very  well  represented  in 
the  present  name. 


234  Historical  and  Legendanj  Names:     [part  ii. 

Trian  generally  takes  the  forms  of  Trean  and  Trien, 

which  constitute  or  begin  the  names  of  about  70 
townlands  in  the  four  provinces.  TreanamuUin 
near  Stranorlar  in  Donegal,  signifies  the  thh-d  part 
or  division  of  the  mill,  i.  e.  having  a  mill  on  it ; 
Treanfohanaun  in  Mayo,  the  thistle-producing  third ; 
Treanlaur  •  in  Gralway  and  Mayo,  middle  third ; 
Treanmanagh  in  Clare,  Kerry,  and  Limerick,  same 
meaning  ;  Trienaltenagh  in  Londonderry,  the  third 
of  the  precipices  or  cliffs. 

Ceathramhadh  [carhoo  or  carrow]  signifies  a  quar- 
ter, from  ceathair  [cahir]  four.  The  old  townlands 
or  ballybetaghs,  were  very  often  divided  into  quarters, 
each  of  which  was  commonly  designated  by  this  word 
Ceathramhadh,  which,  in  the  present  names,  generally 
takes  one  of  the  two  forms  carrow  and  carhoo ;  the 
former  being  the  more  usual,  but  the  latter  occurring 
very  often  in  Cork  and  Kerry.  Carrow  forms  or 
begins  the  names  of  more  than  700  townlands,  and 
Carhoo,  of  about  30 ;  and  another  form  Carrive,  occurs 
in  some  of  the  northern  counties. 

The  four  quarters  into  which  the  townland  was  di- 
vided were  generally  distinguished  from  one  another 
by  adjectives  descriptive  of  size,  position,  shape,  or 
quality  of  the  land,  or  by  sufiixing  the  names  of  the 
occupiers.  Thus,  there  are  more  than  60  modem 
townlands  called  Carrowkeel,  Ceathramhadh-caol, 
narrow  quarter;  Carrowgarriff  and  Carrowgarve, 
rough  (garbh)  quarter,  is  the  name  of  sixteen  ;  there 
are  25  called  Carrowbane  and  Carrowbaun,  white 
quarter;  24  called  Carrowbeg,  little  quarter;  and  more 
than  60  called  Carrowmore,  great  quarter.  Lecarrow, 
half-quarter,  gives  name  to  about  60  townlands,  the 
greater  number  of  them  in  Connaught. 

A  fifth  part  is  denoted  by  coigeadh  [coga]  :  the  ap- 


CHAP.  VIII.]    Subdivisions  and  Measures  of  Land.   235 

plication  of  this  term  to  land  is  very  ancient,  for  in 
the  old  form  coiced  it  occurs  in  the  Book  of  Armagh, 
where  it  is  translated  quinta  jmrs.  In  later  times  it 
was  often  used  in  the  sense  of  "  province,"  which  ap- 
plication seems  to  have  originated  in  the  division  of 
Ireland  into  fve  provinces.  In  its  primitive  signifi- 
cation of  a  fifth  part — probably  the  fifth  part  of  an 
ancient  townland — it  has  given  names  to  several 
places.  Cooga,  its  most  usual  modern  form,  is  the 
name  of  several  townlands  in  Connaught  and  Mun- 
ster;  there  are  three  townlands  in  Mayo  called 
Coogue ;  and  Coogaquid  in  Clare,  signifies  literally 
'*  fifth  part ;" — cuid,  a  part. 

Seiseadh  [shesha]  the  sixth  part ;  to  be  distin- 
guished from  seisreack.  As  a  measure  of  land,  it  was 
usual  in  Ulster  and  north  Connaught,  where  in  the 
forms  Sess,  Sessia,  Sessiagh,  it  gives  names  to  about 
thirty  townlands.  It  occurs  also  in  Munster,  though 
in  forms  slightly  difi'erent ;  as  in  case  of  Sheshia  in 
Clare,  and  Sheshiv  in  Limerick ;  Shesharoe  in  Tip- 
perary,  red  sixth;  Sheshodonnell  in  Clare,  O'Don- 
nell's  sixth  part. 

Several  other  Irish  terms  were  employed ;  such  as 
Ballyboe  or  "  cow-land,"  which  prevailed  in  some  of 
the  Ulster  counties,  and  which  is  still  a  very  common 
townland  name  in  Donegal.  In  some  of  the  counties 
of  Munster,  they  had  in  use  a  measure  called  gniomh 
[gneeve],  which  was  the  twelfth  part  of  a  plowland ; 
and  this  term '  occurs  occasionally  in  the  other  pro- 
vinces. It  has  given  name  to  about  twenty  town- 
lands,  now  called  Grneeve  and  Gneeves,  the  greater 
number  of  them  in  Cork  and  Kerry.  There  is  a 
place  in  the  parish  of  Kilmacabea,  Cork,  called  Three- 
gneeves  ;  and  in  the  same  county  there  are  two  town- 
lands,  each  called  Tv/o-gneeves. 


236         Historical  and  Legendary  Names,      [pakt  it. 

In  many  parts  of  Ireland  the  Anglo-Norman 
settlers  introduced  terms  derived  from  their  own  lan- 
guage, and  several  of  these  are  now  very  common  as 
to^Tiland  names.  Cartron  signifies  a  quarter,  and  is 
derived  through  the  French  quarteron  from  the 
medii3eval  Lat.  quarteronus ;  it  was  in  very  common 
use  in  Connaught  as  well  as  in  Longford,  Westmeath, 
and  King's  County  :  and  it  was  applied  to  a  parcel 
of  land  varying  in  amount  from  60  to  160  acres. 
There  are  about  80  townlands  called  Cartron,  chiefly 
in  Connaught,  and  60  others  of  whose  names  it  forms 
the  beginning.  The  terms  with  which  it  is  com- 
pounded are  generally  Irish,  such  as  Cartronganny 
near  MuUingar,  Cartron-gainimh,  sandy  cartron; 
Cartronnagilta  in  Cavan,  the  cartron  of  the  reeds  ; 
Cartronrathroe  in  Mayo,  the  cartron  of  the  red 
fort. 

Tate  or  tath  is  an  English  word,  and  meant  60 
native  acres.  It  occurs  chiefly  in  Fermanagh,  Mon- 
aghan,  and  Tyrone,  generally  in  the  forms  tat,  tatt, 
and  tatty ;  and,  as  in  the  case  of  cartron,  it  usually 
compounds  with  Irish  words.  Thus  Tattendillur  in 
Fermanagh,  is  Tat-an-dniUeahhair,  the  tate  of  the 
foliage.  Tattynageeragh  in  the  parish  of  Clones  in 
Fermanagh,  the  tate  of  the  sheep  ;  Tattintlieve  in 
Monaghan,  the  tate  of  the  mountain. 

In  Cavan,  certain  measures  of  land  were  called  by 
the  names  poll,  gallon,  and  pottle.  Thus,  PoUakeel  is 
the  narrow  poll ;  Pollamore,  great  poll,  &c.  In  most 
other  counties,  however,  j^oll  is  an  Irish  word,  signi- 
fying a  hole.  Pottlebane  and  Pottleboy  in  Cavan, 
signify  white  and  yellow  pottle,  respectively  ;  Gallon- 
nambraher  the  friars'  gallon,  &c. 


CHAP.  IX.]        Numerical  Combinations,  237 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

NUMERICAL    COMBINATIONS. 

While  names  involving  niunerical  combinations  are 
found  all  over  the  world,  a  careful  examination  would 
be  pretty  sure  to  show,  that  each  people  had  a  predi- 
lection for  one  or  more  particular  numbers.  During 
my  examination  of  Irish  proper  names,  I  have  often 
been  struck  with  the  constant  recurrence  of  the  num- 
bers two  and  thi^ee  ;  and  after  ha\T.ng  specially  inves- 
tigated the  subject,  I  have  found,  as  I  hope  to  be  able 
to  show,  that  names  involving  these  two  numbers  are 
so  numerous  as  to  constitute  a  distinct  peculiarity, 
and  that  this  is  the  case  most  especially  with  regard 
to  the  number  two. 

I  never  saw  it  stated  that  the  number  two  was  in 
Ireland  considered  more  remarkable  than  any  other ; 
but  from  whatever  cause  it  may  have  arisen,  certain 
it  is,  that  there  existed  in  the  minds  of  the  Irish 
people  a  distinctly  marked  predilection  to  designate 
persons  or  places,  where  circumstances  permitted  it, 
by  epithets  expressive  of  the  idea  of  duality,  the  epi- 
thet being  founded  on  some  circumstance  connected 
with  the  object  named  ;  and  such  circumstances  were 
often  seized  upon  to  form  a  name  in  preference  to 
others  equally  or  more  conspicuous.  We  have,  of 
course,  as  they  have  in  all  countries,  names  with  com- 
binations of  other  numbers,  and  those  containing  the 
number  three  are  very  numerous ;  but  the  number 
two  is  met  with  many  times  more  frequently  than  all 
the  others  put  together. 

The  Irish  word  for  two  that  occurs  in  names  is  dd 


238         historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [part  ii. 

or  dhd,  both  forms  being  used;  da  is  pronounced 
daw ;  but  in  tbe  other  form,  dh,  which  has  a  peculiar 
and  rather  faint  guttural  sound,  is  altogether  sup- 
pressed in  modem  names ;  the  word  dhd  being  gene- 
rally represented  by  the  vowel  a,  while  in  many  cases 
modem  contraction  has  obliterated  every  trace  of  a 
representative  letter.  It  is  necessary  to  bear  in  mind 
that  da  or  dhd  generally  causes  aspiration,  and  in 
a  few  cases  eclipses  consonants,  and  prefixes  n  to 
vowels  (see  pp.  19  and  21,  supra). 

We  find  names  involving  the  number  two  recorded 
in  Irish  history,  from  the  most  ancient  authorities 
down  to  the  MSS.  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and 
they  occur  in  proportion  quite  as  numerously  as  at 
the  present  day  ;  showing  that  this  curious  tendency 
is  not  of  modern  origin,  but  that  it  has  descended, 
silent  and  unnoticed,  from  ages  of  the  most  remote 
antiquity. 

There  is  a  village  and  parish  in  the  north-west  of 
Tipperary,  on  the  shore  of  Lough  Derg,  now  called 
Terryglass  ;  its  Irish  name,  as  used  in  many  Irish 
authorities,  is  Tir-da-ghlas,  the  territory  of  the  two 
streams ;  and  the  identity  of  this  with  the  modern 
Terryglass  is  placed  beyond  all  doubt  by  a  passage 
in  the  "  Life  of  St.  Fintan  of  Clonenagh,"  which  de- 
scribes Tir-da-glds  as  *'  in  the  territory  of  Munster, 
near  the  river  Shannon."  The  great  antiquity  of  this 
name  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  it  is  mentioned  by 
Adamnan  in  his  "  Life  of  St.  Columba"  (Lib.  ii.,  Cap. 
xxxvi.),  written  in  the  end  of  the  seventh  century  ; 
but  according  to  his  usual  custom,  instead  of  the  Irish 
name,  he  gives  the  Latin  equivalent :  in  the  heading 
of  the  chapter  it  is  called  Ager  duorum  rivorum^  and 
in  the  text,  Rus  duum  rivulorum,  either  of  which  is  a 


CHAP.  IX.]         Numerical  Comhinations.  239 

correct  translation  of  Tir-da-ghlas*  There  is  a  sub- 
division of  the  townland  of  Clogher  in  the  parish  of 
Kilnoe,  Clare,  called  Terryglass,  which  has  the  same 
Irish  form  and  meaning  as  the  other. 

In  the  Book  of  Leinster  there  is  a  short  poem, 
ascribed  to  Finn  Mac  Cimihail,  accounting  for  the 
name  of  Magh-da-gJieisi  in  Leinster,  the  plain  of  the 
two  swans ;  and  the  Dinnsenchns  gives  a  legend 
about  the  name  of  the  river  Owendalulagh,  which 
rises  on  the  slope  of  Slieve  Anghty,  and  flows  into 
Lough  Cooter  near  Grort  in  Gralway.  This  legend 
states,  that  when  Echtghe  [Ekte],  a  Tuatha  De  Dan- 
ann  lady,  married  Fergus  Lusca,  cupbearer  to  the 
king  of  Connaught,  she  brought  with  her  two  cows 
remarkable  for  their  milk-bearing  fruitfulness,  which 
were  put  to  graze  on  the  banks  of  this  stream ;  and 
from  this  circumstance  it  was  called  Ahhainn-da- 
loilghench,  the  river  of  the  two  milch  cows.  Accord- 
ing to  the  same  authority,  Slieve  Aughty  took  its 
name  from  this  lady  —  SUahh-Echtghe,  Echtghe's 
mountain.  Several  other  instances  of  names  of  this 
class,  mentioned  in  ancient  authorities,  will  be  cited 
as  I  proceed. 

Though  this  peculiarity  is  not  so  common  in  per- 
sonal as  in  local  names,  yet  the  number  of  persons 
mentioned  in  Irish  writings  whose  names  involve  the 
number  two,  is  sufficiently  large  to  be  very  remark- 
able. The  greater  number  of  these  names  appear  to 
be  agnomina,  which  described  certain  peculiarities  of 
the  individuals,  and  which  were  imposed  for  the  sake 
of  distinction,  after  a  fashion  prevalent  among  most 
nations  before  the  institution  of  surnames. 

*  See  Reeves's  Adaranan,  where  ager  duorum  rivorum  is  iden- 
tified with  Terryglass. 


240  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

One  of  the  three  CoUas  who  conquered  Ulster  in 
the  foiu'th  centiuy  (see  p.  131)  was  called  Colla-da- 
chrich,  Colla  of  the  two  territories.  Da-chrich  was  a 
favomite  sobriquet,  and  no  doubt,  in  case  of  each  in- 
dividual, it  records  the  fact  of  his  connexion,  either 
by  possession  or  residence,  with  two  countries  or  dis- 
tricts ;  in  case  of  Colla,  it  most  probably  refers  to 
two  territories  in  Ireland  and  Scotland,  in  the  latter 
of  which  he  lived  some  years  in  a  state  of  banish- 
ment before  his  invasion  of  Ulster.  In  the  Martyro- 
logy  of  Donegal  there  are  nine  different  persons 
mentioned,  called  Ferdachrich,  the  man  of  the  two 
territories. 

The  word  Dubh  applied  to  a  dark-visaged  person  is 
often  followed  by  da ;  thus  the  Four  Masters  mention 
two  persons  named  Dubhdabharc,  the  black  (man) 
of  the  two  ships  ;  four  named  Dubhdachrich  ;  eight, 
Dubhdabhoireann  (of  the  two  stony  districts  ?)  ;  two, 
Dubhdainbher,  of  the  two  estuaries ;  one,  Dubhdaing- 
ean,  of  the  two  daughters;  four,  Dubhdaleithe,  of 
the  two  sides  or  parties  ;  and  two,  Dubhdathuath,  of 
the  two  districts  or  cantreds.  In  the  "  Genealogy  of 
Corcahddhe''^  we  find  Dubhdamhagh,  of  the  two 
plains ;  and  in  the  Martyrology  of  Donegal,  Dubhda- 
locha,  of  the  two  lakes. 

Fiacha  Muilleathan,  king  of  Munster  in  the  third 
century,  was  called  Ferdaliach,  the  man  of  the  two 
sorrows,  because  his  mother  died  and  his  father  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Magh  Mucruimhe  on  the  day 
of  his  birth.  The  father  of  Maine  Mor,  the  ancestor  of 
the  Hy  Many^  was  Eochaidh,  surnamed  Ferdaghiall, 
the  man  of  the  two  hostages.  Many  more  names 
might  be  cited,  if  it  were  necessary  to  extend  this 
list ;  and  while  the  number  two  is  so  common,  we 
meet  with  few  names  involving  any  other  number, 
except  thi'ee. 


CHAP.  IX.]        Numerical  Combinations.  241 

It  is  very  natural  that  a  place  should  be  named 
from  two  prominent  objects  forming  part  of  it,  or  in 
connexion  with  it,  and  names  of  this  kind  are  oc- 
casionally met  with  in  most  countries.  The  fact  that 
they  occui'  in  Ireland  would  not  be  considered  re- 
markable were  it  not  for  these  two  circumstances — 
first,  they  are,  beyond  all  comparison,  more  numerous 
than  could  be  reasonably  expected;  and  secondly, 
the  word  da  is  usually  expressed,  and  forms  part  of 
the  names. 

Grreat  numbers  of  places  are  scattered  here  and 
there  thi'ough  the  country  whose  names  express  posi- 
tion between  two  physical  features,  such  as  rivers, 
mountains,  lakes,  &c.,  those  between  two  rivers  being 
the  most  numerous.  Killederdaowen  in  the  parish  of 
Duniry,  Gralway,  is  called  in  Irish,  CoiU-eder-da- 
ahhainn,  the  wood  between  two  rivers  ;  and  Killa- 
drown,  in  the  parish  of  Drumcullen,  King's  County, 
is  evidently  the  same  word  shortened  by  local  cor- 
ruption. Drumder^own  in  Cork,  and  Dromdir^irowen 
in  Kerry,  are  both  modern  forms  of  Druim-dir-dhd- 
ahhainn,  the  ridge  between  two  rivers,  where  the 
Irish  dhci  is  repesented  by  a  in  the  present  names. 
In  Cloonederowen,  Gralway— the  meadow  between 
two  rivers — there  is  no  representative  of  the  dha, 
though  it  exists  in  the  Irish  name  ;  and  a  like  remark 
applies  to  Ballyederown  (the  toTVTiland  between  two 
rivers),  an  old  castle  situated  in  the  angle  where  the 
rivers  Funcheon  and  Araglin  in  Cork,  mingle  their 
waters.  Coracow  in  the  parish  of  Killaha,  Kerry, 
is  a  name  much  shortened  from  its  original  Comhrac- 
dhd-ahha,  the  meeting  of  the  two  streams.  The  Four 
Masters  at  A.  D.  528,  record  a  battle  fought  at  a 
place  called  Liiachair-mor-etir-da-inhkir,  the  large 
rushy  place  between  two   river  mouths,   otherwise 

R 


242  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

called  Ailhhe  or  Cluain-Ailhhe  (Ailbhe's  meadow) 
now  Clonal vy  in  the  county  Meath. 

With  glaise  (a  stream)  instead  of  ahhainn,  we  have 
Ederdaglass,  the  name  of  two  townlands  in  Ferma- 
nagh, meaning  (a  place)  between  two  streams ;  and 
Drumederglass  in  Cavan,  the  ridge  between  two 
streams.  Though  all  trace  of  da  is  lost  in  this  name, 
it  is  preserved  in  the  Down  Survey,  where  the  place 
is  called  Drumaderdaglass. 

Ederdacurragh  in  Fermanagh,  means  (a  place)  be- 
tween two  marshes ;  Aderavoher  in  Sligo,  is  in  Irish 
Eadar-dha-hhothair  (a  place)  between  two  roads,  an 
idea  that  is  othermse  expressed  in  Grouldavoher 
near  Mungret,  Limerick,  the  fork  of  the  two  roads. 
Drumdiralough  in  Kerry,  the  ridge  between  two 
lakes ;  and  Drumederr/lena  in  Sligo,  the  ridge  be- 
tween the  two  lenas  or  meadows ;  Inchideraille  near 
Inchigeelagh,  is  in  Irish  Tnis-idir-dha-fhdill,  the 
island  or  river  holm  between  two  cliffs;  a  similar 
position  has  given  name  to  Derdaoil  or  Dariel,  a 
little  tillage  in  the  parish  of  Kilmastulla,  Tipperary, 
which  is  shortened  from  the  Irish  Idir-da-fhaiU,  be- 
tween two  cliffs ;  Cloonderavally  in  Sligo,  the  eloon 
or  meadow  between  the  two  hallies  or  townlands. 

Crockada  in  the  parish  of  Clones,  Fermanagh,  is 
only  a  part  of  the  Irish  name,  Cnoc-eadar-da-ghreuch, 
the  hill  between  the  two  marshy  flats  ;  and  the  true 
form  of  the  present  name  would  be  Knockadder. 
Mogh,  the  name  of  a  townland  in  the  parish  of  Rath- 
lynin,  Tipperary,  is  also  an  abbreviation  of  a  longer 
name  ;  the  inhabitants  call  it  Magh-idir-dha-ahhainn^ 
the  plain  between  two  rivers. 

The  well-known  old  church  of  Aghadoe  near  Kil- 
larney,  w^hich  gives  name  to  a  parish,  is  called  by  the 
Four  Masters,  at  1581,  Achadh-da-e6,  the  field  of  the 


CHAP.  IX.]       Numerical  Combinations.  243 

two  yew  trees,  which  must  have  been  growing  near 
each  other,  and  must  have  been  sufficientlj  large  and 
remarkable  to  attract  general  attention.  Part  of  the 
townland  of  Driunharkan  Grlebe  in  the  parish  of 
Cloone,  Leitrim,  is  called  Cooldao,  the  back  of  the 
two  yews.  In  the  townland  of  Oornagee,  parish  of 
Killinagh,  Cavan,  there  is  a  deep  cavern,  into  which 
a  stream  sinks  ;  it  is  called  PoUadaossan,  the  hole  of 
the  two  bushes. 

In  the  parish  of  Killashee,  Longford,  there  is  a 
village  and  townland  called  Cloondara,  containing 
the  ruins  of  what  was  once  an  important  ecclesiastical 
establishment ;  it  is  mentioned  by  the  Four  Masters 
at  1323,  and  called  Climin-da-raf/i,  the  meadow  of  the 
two  raths  ;  and  there  is  a  townland  of  the  same  name 
in  the  parish  of  Tisrara,  Roscommon.  Near  Cross- 
molina  in  Mayo,  is  a  townland  called  Grlendavoolagh, 
the  glen  of  the  two  boolies  or  dairy  places  ;  and  Da- 
dreen  in  the  same  county,  is  the  two  dreens  or  sloe 
bushes. 

The  parish  of  Donagh  in  Monaghan,  takes  its 
name  from  an  old  church,  the  ruins  of  which  are  still 
to  be  seen  near  the  village  of  Grlasslough  ;  it  is  men- 
tioned twice  by  the  Four  Masters,  and  its  full  name, 
as  written  by  them,  is  Domhnach-maighe-da-chlaoine, 
the  church  of  the  plain  of  the  two  slopes.  Dromda- 
league  or  Dromaleague,  the  name  of  a  village  and 
parish  in  Cork,  signifies  the  ridge  of  the  two  stones. 
Ballydehob  in  the  south  of  the  same  county,  took 
its  name  from  a  ford,  which  is  called  in  Irish  Bel- 
atha-da-chah^  the  ford  of  the  two  cahs  or  mouths  ;  the 
two  mouths^  I  suppose,  describing  some  peculiarity  of 
shape. 

Several  places  derive  their  names  from  two  plains  : 
thus  Damma,  the  name  of  two  townlands  in  Kilkenny, 
k2 


244         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.      [paut  ii. 

is  simply  Da-mhagh  two  plains;  Eosdama  in  the 
parish  of  Grange,  same  county,  the  wood  of  the  two 
plains.  That  pai-t  of  the  King's  Coimty  now  occu- 
pied by  the  baronies  of  Warrenstown  and  Coolestown, 
was  anciently  called  Tuath-da-inhaighe,  the  district  of 
the  two  plains,  by  which  name  it  is  fi^equently  men- 
tioned in  the  Annals,  and  which  is  sometimes  angli- 
cised Tethmoy  ;  the  remarkable  hill  of  Drnmcaw, 
giving  name  to  a  town  land  in  this  neighbourhood, 
was  anciently  called  Dndm-da-mhaigJie,  from  the 
same  district ;  and  we  find  Glendavagh,  the  glen  of 
the  two  plains,  in  the  parish  of  Aghaloo,  Tyrone. 

The  valley  of  Glendalough  in  "Wicklow,  takes  its 
name  from  the  two  lakes  so  well  known  to  tourists  ; 
it  is  called  in  Irish  authorities  Gleann-da-Iocha,  which 
the  author  of  the  Life  of  St.  Kevin  translates  "  the 
valley  of  the  two  lakes."  There  is  an  island  in  the 
vShannon,  in  the  parish  of  Killadysert,  Clare,  called 
Inishdadroum,  which  is  mentioned  in  the  "  Wars  of 
GGr."  by  the  name  of  Inis-da-dromand^  the  island  of 
the  two  drums  or  backs,  from  its  shape  ;  and  a  similar 
peculiarity  of  form  has  given  name  to  Inishdavar  in 
the  parish  of  DerryvuUan,  Fermanagh  (of  the  two 
tops)  ;  to  Cornadarum,  Fermanagh,  the  round  hill  of 
the  two  drnms  or  ridges ;  and  to  Corradeverrid  in 
Cavan,  the  hill  of  the  two  caps.  Tuam  in  Galway, 
is  called  in  the  Annals  Tuaim-da-ghualann,  the  tumu- 
lus of  the  two  shoulders,  e^ddently  from  the  shape  of 
the  ancient  sejoulchral  mound  from  which  the  place 
has  its  name. 

Desertcreat,  a  townland  giving  name  to  a  parish 
in  Tyrone,  is  mentioned  by  the  Four  Masters  as  the 
scene  of  a  battle  between  the  O'Neills  and  the 
O'Donnells,  in  A.  D.  1281,  and  it  is  called  by  them 
Diseart-da-chrioch,   the    desert  or  hermitage  of  the 


CHAP.  IX.]  Numerical  Comb  mat  ions.  245 

two  territories ;  they  mention  also  a  place  called 
Magh-da-chai)'neach,  the  plain  of  the  two  earns  ; 
Magh-da-cjhabhal,  the  plain  of  the  two  forks  ;  Ailiiin- 
da-hhernach^  the  island  of  the  two  gaps  ;  Magh-da- 
Chainneach,  the  plain  of  the  two  Cainneachs  (men) . 
The  district  between  Lough  Conn  and  the  river  Moy 
was  anciently  called  An  Da  Bhac^  the  two  bends, 
under  which  name  it  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the 
Annals. 

There  is  a  townland  in  the  parish  of  Bossinver, 
Leitrim,  called  Lisdarush,  the  fort  of  the  two  promon- 
tories ;  and  on  the  side  of  Hungry  Hill,  west  of 
Griengarilf  in  Cork,  is  a  small  lake  which  is  called 
Coomadavallig,  the  hollow  of  the  two  roads  ;  in  Eos- 
common  we  find  Cloondacarra,  the  meadow  of  the 
two  weirs  ;  the  Four  Masters  mention  Clar-atha-da- 
charadh,  the  plain  (or  footboard)  of  the  ford  of  the 
two  weu's  ;  and  Charlemont  in  Tyrone  was  anciently 
called  Achadh-an-da-ckaradh,  the  field  of  the  two 
weirs.  Grubbacrock  in  the  parish  of  Killesher,  Fer- 
managh, is  written  in  Irish  Goh-dha-chnoc,  the  beak 
or  point  of  the  two  hills. 

L)undareirke  is  the  name  of  an  ancient  castle  in 
Cork,  built  by  the  McCarthys,  signifying  the  fortress 
of  the  two  prospects  (Dan~da-radharc),  and  the  name 
is  very  suitable ;  for,  according  to  Smith,  "  it  is  on  a 
hill  and  commands  a  vast  extended  view  west  as  far 
as  Kerry,  and  east  almost  to  Cork  ;"  there  is  a  town- 
land  of  the  same  name,  but  written  Dundaryark,  in 
the  parish  of  Danesfort,  Kilkenny. 

The  preceding  names  were  derived  from  conspi- 
cuous physical  features,  and  their  origin  is  therefore 
natural  enough,  so  far  as  each  individual  name  is  con- 
cerned ;  their  great  number,  as  already  remarked,  is 
what  gives  them  significance.     But  those  I  am  now 


246  Historical  and  Legendary  Najues.     [part  ii. 

about  to  bring  forward  admit  in  general  of  no  such 
explanation,  and  appear  to  me  to  prove  still  more 
conclusively  the  existence  of  this  remarkable  disposi- 
tion in  the  minds  of  the  people,  to  look  out  for  groups 
of  two.  Here  also,  as  in  the  preceding  class,  names 
crowd  upon  us  w\i\i  remarkable  frequency,  both 
in  ancient  authorities  and  in  the  modern  list  of 
townlands. 

Great  numbers  of  places  have  been  named  from  two 
animals  of  some  kind.  If  we  are  to  explain  these 
names  from  natural  occurrences,  we  must  believe  that 
the  places  were  so  called  because  they  wttc  the  fa- 
vourite haunt  of  the  two  animals  commemorated ; 
but  it  is  very  strange  that  so  many  places  should  be 
named  from  just  two,  while  there  are  very  few  from 
one,  three,  or  any  other  number  — except  in  the  ge- 
neral way  of  a  genitive  singular  or  a  genitive  plural. 
Possibly  it  may  be  explained  to  some  extent  by  the 
natm-al  pairing  of  male  and  female  ;  but  this  will  not 
explain  all,  nor  even  a  considerable  part,  as  any  one 
may  see  from  the  illustrations  that  follow.  I  believe 
that  most  or  all  of  these  names  have  their  origin  in 
legends  or  superstitions,  and  that  the  two  animals 
were  very  often  supernatural,  viz.,  fairies,  or  ghosts, 
or  human  beings  transformed  by  Tuatha  De  Danann 
enchantment. 

We  very  frequently  meet  with  two  birds — dd-en. 
A  portion  of  the  Shannon  near  Clonmacnoise  was  an- 
ciently called  Snamh-dd-en,  the  swimming  ford  of 
the  two  birds.  The  parish  of  Duneane  in  Antrim, 
has  got  its  present  name  by  a  slight  contraction  from 
Dini-dd-en,  the  fortress  of  the  two  birds,  which  is  its 
name  in  the  Irish  authorities,  among  others,  the  Felire 
of  Aengus.  There  is  a  mountain  stretching  between 
Lough  Gill  and  CoUooney,  Sligo,  which  the  Four 


CHAP.  IX.]  Numerical  Combinations,  247 

Masters  mention  at  1196  by  the  name  of  Sliahh-cld-en, 
the  mountain  of  the  two  birds,  now  called  Slieve  Da- 
eane ;  it  is  curious  that  a  lake  on  the  north  side  of 
the  same  mountain  is  called  Lough  Dagea,  the  lake 
of  the  two  geese,  which  are  probably  the  two  birds 
that  gave  name  to  the  mountain.  There  is  a  town- 
land  in  the  parish  of  Kinawly,  Fermanagh,  called 
Rossdanean,  the  peninsula  of  two  birds  ;  and  Colgan 
(A.  SS.,  p.  42,  note  9)  mentions  a  place  near  Lough 
Neagh,  called  Ciuaiii-dd-en,  the  meadow  of  the  two 
birds. 

Two  birds  of  a  particular  kind  have  also  given 
their  names  to  several  places,  and  among  these,  two 
ravens  seem  to  be  favourites.  In  the  last-mentioned 
parish  is  a  townland  called  Aghindaiagh,  in  Irish 
Achadh-au-da-fhiach,  the  field  of  the  two  ravens  ;  in 
the  townland  of  Kilcolman,  parish  of  same  name, 
Kerry,  is  a  pit  or  cavern  called  PoU-da-fhiach^  the 
hole  of  the  two  ravens  ;  we  find  in  Cavan,  Ned- 
daiagh,  the  nest  of  the  two  ravens ;  in  Gralway,  Cuil- 
leendaeagh,  and  in  Kerry  Grlandaeagh,  the  little 
wood,  and  the  glen,  of  the  two  ravens.  With  ^r^^^o^, 
another  name  for  the  same  bird,  we  have  Brannock 
Island,  near  Grreat  Aran  Island,  Gralway  bay,  which 
is  called  in  Irish  0ilean-da-hhrau6g  (O'Flahei-ty, 
lar  Connaught),  the  island  of  the  two  ravens. 
Aghadachor  in  Donegal,  means  the  field  of  the  two 
herons  or  cranes.  There  is  a  townland  in  the  parish 
of  Killinvoy,  Roscommon,  whose  name  is  improperly 
anglicised  Lisdaulan;  the  Four  Masters,  at  1380, 
call  it  Lios-da-hn,  the  fort  of  the  two  blackbirds. 

Several  places  are  called  from  two  hounds  ;  such 
as  Moyacomb  in  Wicklow  (see  p.  50)  ;  Cahiracon, 
two  townlands  in  Clare,  which  are  in  Irish  Caihair- 
dhd-chon^  the  caher  or  stone  fortress  of  the  two  hounds  ; 


248  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

and  Lisdachon  in  Westmeatli.  In  the  parish  of  Deve- 
nish,  Fermanagh,  there  are  two  conterminous  town- 
lands  called  Big  Dog  and  Little  Dog ;  these  singular 
appellations  derive  their  origin  from  the  modern 
division  into  two  unequal  parts,  of  an  ancient  tract 
which  is  called  in  the  Annals,  Sliahh-dd-chon,  the 
mountain  of  the  two  hounds.  We  find  also 
Cloondacon  in  Mayo,  the  meadow  of  the  two 
hounds. 

In  several  other  places  we  have  two  oxen  comme- 
morated, as  in  Cloondadauv  in  Gralway,  which  the 
annalists  write  Cluain-dd-damh,ih.e  meadow  of  the  two 
oxen  ;  Rossdagamph  in  Fermanagh,  and  Aughada- 
nove,  Armagh,  the  promontory  and  the  field  of  the 
two  oxen  ;  in  the  first,  d  is  changed  to  g  (see  p.  54), 
and  in  the  second,  da  prefixes  n  to  the  vowel.  At 
the  year  606,  the  Four  Masters  mention  a  lake  in 
which  a  crannoge  was  built,  situated  in  Oriel,  but  not 
now  known,  called  Loch-da-damh^  the  lake  of  the  two 
oxen. 

Two  bucks  are  commemorated  in  such  names  as 
Bally davock,  Cappadavock,  Grlendavock,  Lisdavock, 
(town,  plot,  glen,  fort),  and  Attidavock,  the  site  of 
the  house  of  the  two  bucks.  The  parish  of  Clony- 
hurk  in  King's  County,  takes  its  name  from  a  town- 
land  which  the  Four  Masters  call  Cluain-da-thorc,  the 
meadow  of  the  two  boars  ;  Glendahui^k  in  Mayo  is 
the  Grlen  of  the  two  boars ;  and  Lisdavuck  in  King's 
County,  the  fort  of  the  two  pigs. 

Cloondanagh  in  Clare  is  in  Irish  Cluain-da-neach, 
the  meadow  of  the  two  horses ;  we  find  the  same 
two  animals  in  Tullyloughdaugh  in  Fermanagh,  and 
Aghadaugh  in  Westmeath  ;  the  second  meaning  the 
field,  and  the  first  the  hill  of  the  lake,  of  the  two 
horses ;  and  Cloondelara  near  Clonmacnoise,  is  the 


CHAP.  IX.]  Numerical  Coinbinatlons.  249 

meadow  of  the  two  mares.  Clondalee  in  the  parish 
of  Killjon,  Me#h,  is  called  in  Irish  Cluain-da-laegh^ 
the  meadow  of  the  two  calves.  Aghadavoyle  in 
Ai-magh  is  the  field  of  the  two  maels^  or  hornless 
cows  ;  two  animals  of  the  same  kind  have  given  name 
to  a  little  island  in  Mayo,  viz.,  Inishdaweel ;  while 
we  have  two  yellow  cows  in  Inishdauwee,  the  name 
of  two  townlands  in  Gralway. 

There  is  a  legend  concerning  the  origin  of  Clon- 
dagad  in  Clare,  the  cloon  of  the  two  gads  or  withes, 
and  another  accounting  for  the  name  Dun-da-Jeath- 
glas,  anciently  applied  to  the  great  rath  at  Down- 
patrick,  the  fortress  of  the  two  broken  locks  or  fetters. 
The  two  remarkable  mountains  in  Kerry  now  called 
the  Paps,  were  anciently  called,  and  are  still,  in  Irish, 
Da-chich-DanaimiP,  the  two  paps  of  Danann  (see 
p.  157)  ;  and  the  plain  on  which  they  stand  is  called 
Bun-a^ -da-chich,  the  bottom  or  foundation  of  the  two 
Paps  :  Drumahaire,  the  name  of  a  village  in  Leitrim, 
signifies  the  ridge  of  the  two  air-spiiits  or  demons 
(see  p.  187). 

In  this  great  diversity  it  must  be  supposed  that  two 
persons  would  find  a  place ;  and  accordingly  we  find 
Kildaree,  the  church  of  the  two  kings,  the  name  of 
two  townlands  in  Galway  (for  which  see  Sir  William 
Wilde's  "  Lough  Corrib"),  and  of  another  near  Cross- 
molina,  Mayo.  There  is  a  fort  one  mile  south  of  the 
village  of  Killoscully,  Tipperary ,  called  Lisdavraher, 
the  fort  of  the  two  friars ;  and  there  is  another  of  the 
same  name  in  the  south  of  Ballymoylan  townland, 
parish  of  Youghalarra,  in  the  same  county.  In  both 
these  cases  the  friars  were  probably  ghosts. 

There  is  a  j)arish  called  Toomore  in  the  county  of 
Mayo,  taking  its  name  fi'om  an  old  church  standing 
near  the  river  Moy  ;  it  is  also  the  name  of  a  townland 


250  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

in  the  parish  of  Aughrim,  Eoscommon,  and  of  a 
townland  and  parish  in  Sligo.  This%  a  very  ciuious 
and  a  very  ancient  name.  Toomore  in  Mayo  is 
written  Tuaim-da-Wwdliar  by  Duald  Mac  Firbis  and 
the  Four  Masters ;  and  Tuaim-da-hhodar  in  a  poem 
in  the  "Book  of  Lecan."  The  pronunciation  of 
the  original  is  Tooma-oiir,  which  easily  sank  into 
Toomore ;  and  the  name  signifies  the  tomb  of  the 
two  deaf  persons  ;  but  who  they  were,  neither  history 
nor  tradition  records. 

The  memory  of  the  two  venerable  people  who  gave 
name  to  Cordalea  in  the  parish  of  Kilmore,  Cavan, 
has  quite  perished  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  except 
only  so  far  as  it  is  preserved  in  the  name  Cor-da-liath, 
the  hill  of  the  two  grey  persons.  Two  people  of  a 
different  complexion  are  commemorated  in  &lenda- 
duff  in  Mayo,  the  glen  of  the  two  black  visaged 
persons.  Meendacalliagh  in  the  parish  of  Lower 
Fahan,  Donegal,  means  the  Mee)i  or  mountain  flat  of 
the  two  calUaghs  or  hags,  probably  a  pair  of  those 
old  witches  who  used  to  turn  themselves,  on  Good 
Friday,  into  hares,  and  suck  the  cows. 

It  must  occur  to  any  one  who  glances  through 
these  names  to  ask  himself  the  question — what  was 
the  origin  of  this  curious  custom  ?  I  cannot  believe 
that  it  is  a  mere  accident  of  language,  or  that  it 
sprang  up  spontaneously,  without  any  particular 
cause.  I  confess  myself  wholly  in  the  dark,  unable 
to  offer  any  explanation  :  I  have  never  met  anything 
that  I  can  call  to  mind  in  the  whole  range  of  Irish 
literature  tending  in  the  least  degree  to  elucidate  it. 
Is  it  the  remnant  of  some  ancient  religious  belief,  or 
some  dark  superstition,  dispelled  by  the  light  of 
Cliristianity  ?  or  does  it  commemorate  some  wide- 
spread social  custom,  prevailing  in  times  beyond  the 


CHAP.  IX.]         Numerical  Comhinations.  251 

reach  of  history  or  tradition,  leaving  its  track  on  the 
language  as  the  only  manifestation  of  its  existence  ? 
We  know  that  among  some  nations  certain  numbers 
were  accounted  sacred,  like  the  number  seven  among 
the  Hebrews.  Was  tw^o  a  sacred  number  with  the 
primitive  people  of  this  country  ?  I  refrain  from  all 
conjectm'e,  though  the  subject  is  sufficiently  tempt- 
ing ;  I  give  the  facts,  and  leave  to  others  the  task  of 
accounting  for  them. 

The  number  three  occurs  also  with  remarkable  fre- 
quency in  Irish  proper  names,  so  much  so  that  it 
would  incline  one  to  believe  that  the  Irish  had  a 
predilection  for  grouping  things  in  triads  like  the 
Welsh.  Dr.  Reeves  has  observed  that  the  old  chro- 
niclers often  enumerate  rivers  in  tlirees  ;  such  as  the 
three  Uinseanns ;  the  three  Sucks  ;  the  three  Finns  ; 
the  three  Coimdes ;  the  three  rivers,  Siiiir,  Feil,  and 
Ercre ;  the  three,  Fleasc^  Maud,  and  Labhrann ;  the 
three  black  rivers,  Fuhhna,  Torann,  and  Callann ; 
the  nine  Brosnachs  (3x3);  the  nine  Eighes,  &c. — all 
these  taken  from  the  Four  Masters. 

Mr  Hennessy  has  directed  my  attention  to  a  great 
number  of  triple  combinations ;  such  as  the  three 
Tuathas  or  districts  in  Connaught ;  the  places  called 
thi^ee  castles  in  Kilkenny  and  Wicklow;  Bearna-tri- 
carhad  the  gap  of  the  three  chariots,  a  place  in  the 
county  Clare ;  the  cam  of  the  three  crosses  at  Clon- 
macnoise  ;  several  places  called  three  plains ;  the  three 
Connaughts  ;  and  many  others.  He  has  also  giA' en 
me  a  long  list,  taken  from  the  Annals,  of  names  of 
persons  distinguished  by  three  qualities  (such  as  Fear- 
7ia-dt?i-mbi{ad/i,  the  man  of  the  three  virtues,  a  cog- 
nomen of  Conary  More),  which  would  enable  me  to 
extend  this  enumeration  of  triplets  much  farther;  but 
as  I  am  at  present  concerned  only  about  local  names, 


252  Historical  and  Legendary  Names,     [part  ii. 

I  shall  content  myself  with  simply  noting  the  fact, 
that  names  of  this  kind  occur  in  great  numbers  in 
our  old  wi'itings. 

Many  of  these  combinations  were  no  doubt  adopted 
in  Christian  times  in  honour  of  the  Trinity,  of  which 
the  name  of  Trevet  (see  p.  127)  is  an  example  ;  and 
it  is  probable  that  the  knowledge  of  this  mystery  dis- 
posed men's  minds  to  notice  more  readily  combina- 
tions of  three,  and  to  give  names  accordingly,  even 
in  cases  where  no  direct  reference  to  the  Trinity  was 
intended. 

We  learn  the  origin  of  Duntry league  near  Galbally 
in  Limerick,  from  a  passage  in  the  Book  of  Lismore, 
which  states  that  "  Cormac  Cas  (king  ofMunster), 
son  of  OilioU  Olum  (see  p.  128,  supra)  fought  the 
battle  of  Knocksouna(nearKilmallock)  against  Eochy 
Abhradhruadh  [Avraroo],  king  of  Ulster,  in  which 
Eochy  was  slaiu  ;  and  Cormac  was  wounded  (in  the 
head),  so  that  he  was  three  years  under  cure,  with  his 
brain  continually  flomng  from  his  head."  Then  a 
goodly  dan  was  constructed  for  him,  "  having  in  the 
middle  a  beautiful  clear  spring,  and  a  great  royal  house 
was  built  over  the  well,  and  three  iiagdns  (pillar  stones) 
were  placed  round  it,  on  which  was  laid  the  bed  of 
the  king,  so  that  his  head  was  in  the  middle  between 
the  three  pillars.  And  one  of  his  attendants  stood 
constantly  by  him  with  a  cup,  pouring  the  water  of 
the  well  on  his  head.  He  died  there  after  that,  and 
was  buried  in  a  cave  within  the  dun  ;  and  from  this  is 
(derived)  the  name  of  the  place,  Dun-tri-liag,  the 
fortress  of  the  three  pillar  stones." 

The  erection  of  three  stones  like  those  at  Duntry- 
league  must  have  been  very  usual,  for  we  find  several 
names  containing  the  compound  tri-liag,  three  pillar 
stones.     It  occurs  simply  in  the  form  of  Trillick,  as 


CHAP.  IX.]  Nii7nerical  Combinations.  253 

the  name  of  a  village  in  Tyrone,  and  of  two  townlands, 
one  in  Donegal,  and  the  other  in  Fermanagh.  In  the 
parish  of  Ballymacormick,  Longford,  there  are  two 
townlands  called  respectively,  Trillickacurry  and  Tril- 
lickatemple,  the  trillick  or  Three  Stones  of  the  marsh, 
and  of  the  church.  Near  Dromore  in  Down,  we  find 
Edentrillick,  and  in  the  parish  of  Tynan,  Armagh, 
Rathtrillick,  the  first  the  hill  hrow,  and  the  second 
the  fort,  of  the  three  pillar  stones. 

Several  places  take  their  names  from  three  persons, 
who  were  prohahly  joint  occupiers.  In  the  parish 
of  Kilbride,  Meath,  there  is  a  townland  called  Bal- 
lintry,  Baile-an-fri,  the  town  of  the  thi'ee  (per- 
sons). The  more  usual  word  employed  in  this  case, 
however,  is  triur  [troor],  w^hich  means,  not  three  in 
the  abstract,  but  three  persons  ;  and  it  is  not  im- 
probable that  in  the  last  mentioned  name,  a  final  r 
has  been  lost.  Ballintruer  in  the  parish  of  Donagh- 
more,  Wicklow,  has  the  same  meaning  as  Ballintry. 
In  the  parish  of  Eamoan,  Antrim,  is  a  hill  called 
Camtroor,  where  three  persons  must  liave  been  buried 
under  a  cam  ;  and  in  the  parish  of  Templecorran, 
same  county,  is  another  hill  called  Slieveatrue,  which 
name  appears  to  be  a  corruption  from  Slieveatroor, 
the  mountain  of  the  three  persons. 

Cavantreeduff  in  the  parish  of  Cleenish,  Ferma- 
nagh, has  probably  some  legendary  story  connected 
w^ith  it,  the  Irish  name  being  Cab/ian-tri-dan?/i,  the 
round  hill  of  the  three  oxen.  The  celebrated  castle 
of  Portnatrynod  at  Lifi'ord,  of  which  the  name  is 
now  forgotten,  and  even  its  very  site  unknow^n,  is 
repeatedly  mentioned  in  the  Annals,  and  alwaj^s 
called  Port-na-dtri-namhad,  the  port  or  bank  of  the 
three  enemies  ;  who  these  three  hostile  persons  were, 


254         Historical  and  Legendary  Names.       [part  ii. 

history  does  not  tell,  though  the  old  people  of  Lifford 
have  a  legend  about  them. 

There  is  a  place  in  the  parish  of  Grartan,  Donegal, 
called  Bunnatreesruhan,  the  mouth  of  the  three 
streamlets.  A  fort  with  three  circumvallations  is 
often  called  Lisnatreeclee,  or  more  correctly  Lisna- 
dreeglee,  i.  e.  in  Irish,  Lios-na-dtri-gcladh,  the  lis  of 
the  three  mounds.  Ballytober,  in  the  Grlens  of 
Antrim  is  a  shortened  form  of  the  correct  Irish 
name,  Baile-na-dtri-dtobar,  the  town  of  the  three 
springs. 

We  find  occasionally  other  numbers  also  in  names. 
At  the  year  872,  the  Four  Masters  mention  a  place 
called  Rath-aen-ho,  the  fort  of  the  one  cow.  There 
is  a  place  of  this  name,  now  called  Eaheanbo,  in  the 
parish  of  Churchtown,  Westmeath,  but  whether  it  is 
the  Rath-aen-ho  of  the  Annals  is  uncertain.  In  the 
parish  of  Magheross,  Monaghan,  is  a  townland  called 
Corrinenty,  in  Irish  Cor-an-aen-tighe^  the  round  hill 
of  the  one  house  ;  and  Boleyneendorrish  is  the  name 
of  a  place  near  Ardrahan,  Gralway,  signifying  the 
hooly  or  dairy  place  of  the  one  door.  In  the  parish 
of  E-athronan,  Limerick,  is  a  townland  called  Kerry- 
kyle,  Ceithre-choill,  four  woods.  A  townland  in  the 
parish  of  Tulla,  Clare,  is  called  Derrykeadgran,  the 
oak  wood  of  the  hundred  trees  ;  and  there  is  a  parish 
in  Kilkenny,  called  TuUahaught,  or  in  Irish  Talach- 
ocht,  the  hill  of  the  eight  (persons). 


PART   III. 

NAMES  COMMEMOEATING  ARTIFICIAL  STEUCTUEES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HABITATIONS  AND  FORTRESSES. 

EFORE  the  introduction  of  Christia- 
nity, buildings  of  all  the  various  kinds 
erected  in  Ireland,  whether  do- 
mestic, military,  or  sepulchral, 
were  round  or  nearly  round 
I  in  shape.  This  is  suffi- 
ciently proved  by  the  nu- 
merous forts  and  mounds  that 
still  remain  all  over  the  country, 
and  which  are  almost  universally 
circular.  We  find  moreover  in 
our  old  Manuscripts,  many  pas- 
sages in  which  the  strongholds  of  the  chiefs  are 
described  as  of  this  shape ;  and  in  the  ancient 
Life  of  St.  Patrick  ascribed  to  St.  Evin,  there  is 
an  Irish  stanza  quoted  as  the  composition  of  a 
druid  named  Con,  in  which  it  is  predicted,  that  the 
custom  of  building  houses  narrow  and  quadrangular 


256  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

would  be  introduced  among  other  innovations  by 
St.  Patrick. 

The  domestic  and  military  structures  in  use  among 
the  ancient  Irish  were  denoted  by  the  words,  lios,  rcdh., 
dun,  cathair,  hrugh,  &c. ;  and  these  terms  are  still  in 
use  and  applied  to  the  very  same  objects.  A  notion 
very  generally  prevails,  though  much  less  so  now 
than  formerly,  that  the  cu'cular  forts  which  still  exist 
in  great  numbers  in  every  county  in  Ireland,  were 
erected  by  the  Danes  ;  and  they  are  hence  very  often 
called  "Danish  raths."  It  is  difficult  to  trace  the 
origin  of  this  opinion,  unless  we  ascribe  it  to  the  well- 
known  tendency  of  the  peasantry  to  attribute  almost 
every  remarkable  ancient  work  to  the  Danes.  These 
people  had,  of  course,  fortresses  of  some  kind  in  the 
maritime  to^Tis  where  they  were  settled,  such  as 
Dublin,  Limerick,  Waterford,  Donegal,  &c.  In  the 
"  Wars  of  GGf."  (p.  41),  we  are  told  that  they  "  spread 
themselves  over  Munster,  and  they  built  duns  and 
daingeans  (strongholds)  and  caladh-phorts'^  (landing 
ports)  ;  the  Chronicon  Scotorum  at  the  year  845, 
records  the  erection  of  a  dun  at  Lough  Ree,  by  the 
Danish  king  Turgesius,  from  which  he  plundered 
Connaught  and  Meath ;  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that 
the  Danes  may  have  taken,  and  for  a  long  time 
occupied,  some  of  the  strongholds  they  found  in  the 
country.  But  that  the  raths  and  lisses  are  not  of 
Danish  origin  would  be  proved  by  this  fact  alone, 
that  they  are  found  in  every  paii^  of  Ireland, 
and  more  plentifully  in  districts  where  the  Danes 
never  gained  any  footing,  than  where  they  had  settle- 
ments. 

There  is  abundance  of  evidence  to  show  that  these 
structures  were  the  dwellings  of  the  people  of  this 
country  before  the  adoption  of  houses  of  a  rectan- 


CHAP.  I.]         Habitations  and  Fortresses.  257 

gular  form ;  the  larger  raths  belonging  to  the  better 
classes,  and  the  gueat  fortified  duns  to  the  princes 
and  chieftains.  The  remains  still  to  be  seen  at  the 
historic  sites  —  Tara,  The  Navan,  Eathcroghan, 
Bruree,  &c. — places  celebrated  for  ages  as  royal  re- 
sidences— afi'ord  striking  testimony  to  the  truth  of 
this  ;  for  here  we  find  the  finest  and  most  characte- 
ristic specimens  of  the  Irish  circular  forts  in  all  their 
sizes  and  varieties. 

But  besides,  in  our  ancient  writings,  they  are  con- 
stantly mentioned  as  residences  under  their  various 
names  of  dioi,  rath,  tios,  &c. — as  constantly  as  houses 
and  castles  are  in  books  of  the  last  two  or  three  cen- 
turies. To  illustrate  this,  I  will  give  a  few  passages, 
which  I  might  extend  almost  indefinitely,  if  it  were 
necessary.  In  the  "  Feast  of  JDun-na-ngedh"  ("  Battle 
of  Moyrath"),  Congal  Claen  thus  addresses  his  foster 
father,  king  Domhnall  :  —  "  Thou  didst  place  a 
w^oman  of  thine  own  tribe  to  nurse  me  in  the  garden 
of  the  lios  in  which  thou  dwelledst."  On  which 
O'Donovan  remarks : — "  Thelrishkings  and  chieftains 
lived  at  this  period  (A.  D.  637)  in  the  great  earthen 
raths  or  lisses,  the  ruins  of  which  are  still  so  numerous 
in  Ireland."  In  the  same  tale  we  read  of  two  visi- 
tors that  "they  were  conducted  into  the  dun,  and 
a  dinner  sufiicient  for  a  himdred  was  given  to  them" 
(p.  22)  ;  and  in  another  place,  king  Domhnall  says 
to  Congal : — "  Gro  to  view  the  great  feast  which  is  in 
the  dwi"'  (p.  24). 

In  the  "  Forbais  Dromadamhghaire  "  (see  p.  97, 
supra),  we  read  that  when  Cormac  sent  to  demand 
tribute  from  the  men  of  Munster,  they  refused  ;  but 
as  there  was  a  great  scarcity  in  Cormac's  dominions, 
they  offered  to  relieve  him  by  a  gift  of  "  a  cow  out 
of  each  lios  in  Munster  ;"  and  in  the  poem  of  Dubh- 


258  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

thach  ua  Lugair  in  the  Book  of  Leinster,  celebrating 
the  triumphs  of  Enna  Kinsellagh,  king  of  Leinster, 
it  is  stated  that  the  tribute  which  was  paid  to  Enna 
out  of  Munster,  was  ''  an  uinge  of  gold  from  every 
liosr 

In  many  cases,  too,  we  find  the  building  of  raths  or 
lisses  recorded.  Thus  in  the  passage  quoted  from  the 
Book  of  Leinster  (p.  85,  supra),  queen  Maev  sentences 
the  five  sons  of  Dihorba  to  "  raise  a  rath'''  around  her, 
which  should  be  "the  chief  city  of  Ulster  for  ever." 
In  the  "  Battle  of  Moylena"  (p.  2),  it  is  stated  that 
Nuadhat,  the  foster  father  of  Owen  More  (see  p.  128, 
supra)  *'  raised  a  kingly  rath  on  Magh  Feimhin."  In 
the  Book  of  Armagh,  and  in  several  of  the  ancient 
Lives  of  St.  Patrick,  it  is  stated  that  on  a  certain  oc- 
casion, the  saint  heard  the  voices  of  workmen  who 
were  building  a  rath ;  and  Jocelin,  in  relating  the 
same  circumstance,  says  that  the  work  in  which  they 
were  engaged  was  "  Rayth,  i.  e.  murus.''' 

The  houses  in  which  the  families  lived,  were  built 
within  the  enclosed  area,  timber  being,  no  doubt,  the 
material  employed,  in  accordance  with  the  well- 
known  custom  of  the  ancient  Irish ;  and  the  circum- 
vallations  of  the  rath  served  both  for  a  shelter  and 
a  defence.  I  might  adduce  many  passages  to  prove 
this,  but  I  will  content  myself  with  two — one  from 
the  MS.  Harl.  5280,  Brit.  Mus.,  quoted  by  O'Curry 
(Lect.,  p.  618):— ''They  then  went  forward  until 
they  entered  a  beautiful  plain.  And  they  saw  a 
kingly  7'ath,  and  a  golden  tree  at  its  door ;  and  they 
saw  a  splendid  house  in  it,  under  a  roof- tree  oifind- 
ruine;  thirty  feet  was  its  length."  And  the  other  from 
the  tale  of  "The  fate  of  the  Children  of  Usnagh" 
(Atlantis,  No.  YI.)>  in  which  we  find  it  stated  that 
as  Deirdre's  mother  "  was  passing  over  the  floor  of 


CHAP.  I.]  Habitations  and  Fortresses.  259 

the  house,  the  infant  shrieked  in  her  womb,  so  that 
it  was  heard  all  over  the  /^s." 

The  circular  form  was  not  discontinued  at  the  in- 
troduction of  Ohristianitj.  The  churches  indeed 
were  universally  quadrangular,  but  this  form  was 
adopted  only  very  slowly  in  the  strongholds  and 
dwellings  of  the  chiefs  and  people.  Even  in  ecclesi- 
astical architecture  the  native  form  to  some  extent 
prevailed,  for  it  seems  evident  that  the  shape  of  the 
round  towers  was  suggested  byihat  of  the  old  fortresses 
of  the  country.  Circular  duns  and  raths,  after  the 
ancient  pagan  fashion,  continued  to  be  erected  down 
to  the  twelfth  or  thirteenth  century.  It  is  recorded 
in  the  "  "Wars  of  GrGr.,"  that  Brian  Borumha  fortified 
or  erected  certain  duns,  fastnesses,  and  islands  (i.  e. 
crannoges) ,  which  are  enumerated ;  and  the  remains 
of  several  of  these  are  still  to  be  seen,  differing  in  no 
respect  from  the  more  ancient  forts.  iJonagh 
Cairbreach  O'Brien,  the  sixth  in  descent  from  Brian 
Borumha,  erected,  according  to  the  *'  Cathreim 
Thoirdhealbhaigh "  (compiled  in  1459,  by  John 
M'Grrath),  "a  princely  palace  of  a  circular  form,  at 
Clonroad"  (nearEnnis);  and  the  same  authority  states 
that  Conchobhaii'  na  Siudaine,  the  son  of  Donagh, 
built  at  the  same  place  a  longphort  of  earth,  as  a  resi- 
dence for  himself. 

It  is  highly  probable  that  originally  the  words  lios^ 
rath,  dun,&e.,weTe  applied  to  different  kinds  of  struc- 
tures :  but  however  that  may  be,  they  are  at  present, 
and  have  been  for  a  long  time,  especially  the  two 
first,  confounded  one  mth  another,  so  that  it  seems 
impossible  to  make  a  distinction.  The  duns  indeed, 
as  I  shall  explain  further  on,  are  usually  pretty  well 
distinguished  from  the  lisses  and  raths ;  but  we  often 
find,  even  in  old  authorities,  two  of  these  terms,  and 
s2 


260  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

sometimes  the  whole  three,  applied  to  the  very  same 
edifices. 

In  the  following  passage  for  instance,  from  the 
annotations  of  Tirechan,  in  the  Book  of  Armagh, 
the  terms  lios  and  dun  appear  to  be  applied  synony- 
mously : — "Cummen  and  Breathan  pui'chased  Ochter- 
nAchid  (upper  field,  supposed  to  be  Ought eragh,  a 
parish  in  the  county  Leitrim) ,  with  its  appurtenances, 
both  wood,  and  plain,  and  meadow,  together  with  its 
Uus  and  its  garden.  Half  of  this  wood,  and  house  and 
dun^  was  mortmain  to  Cummen."  (Petrie,  R.  Towers, 
p.  218).  And  some  other  terms  also  are  used  in  the 
same  manner ;  as  for  example,  in  case  of  the  great  en- 
closure at  Tara,  which  is  known  by  the  two  names, 
i?fff/^-na-riogh,  and  Cathair-Q-ao^Tm. 

In  another  passage*  from  the  Book  of  Ballymote, 
the  word  rath  is  used  to  denote  the  circular  entrench- 
ment, and  les  the  spacfe  enclosed  by  the  raths,  while 
the  whole  quotation  aff'ords  another  proof  that  houses 
were  built  on  the  interior  : — (a  person  who  is  making 
his  way  towards  the  palace)  "leaped  with  that  shaft 
over  the  thi^ee  rafhs,  until  he  was  on  the  floor  of  the 
les ;  and  from  that  until  he  was  on  the  floor  of  the 
king-house." 

Lios.  The  words  lios  [lis]  and  rath  were  applied 
to  the  circular  mound  or  entrenchment,  generally  of 
earth,  thrown  up  both  as  a  fortification  and  a  shelter 
round  the  level  sjoace  on  which  the  houses  were 
erected ;  and  accordingly  they  are  often  translated 
atriurn  by  Latin  writers.  But  though  this  is  the 
usual  application  of  these  terms,  both — and  especially 

*  Quoted  by  Mr.  J.  O'Beirne  Crowe,  in  an  article  in  the 
Journal  of  the  Hist,  and  Arch.  Assoc,  of  Ireland  :  January,  1869, 
p.  223. 


CHAP.  I.]         Habitatmis  and  Fortresses.  261 

rath — were,  and  are,  not  unfrequently  applied  to  tlie 
great  high  entrenched  mounds  which  are  commonly 
designated  by  the  word  dun.  These  forts  are  still 
very  numerous  through  the  country,  and  they  are 
called  lisses  and  rat/is  to  the  present  day.  Their 
great  numbers,  and  the  very  general  application  of 
the  terms,  may  be  judged  of  from  the  fact,  that  there 
are  about  1400  towmlands  and  villages  dispersed 
through  all  parts  of  Ireland,  whose  names  begin  with 
the  word  Lis  alone  ;  and  of  course  this  is  only  a  very 
small  fraction  of  all  the  lisses  in  Ireland. 

The  name  of  Lismore  in  Waterford,  affords  a  good 
illustration  of  the  application  of  this  word ;  and  its 
history  shows  that  the  early  saints  sometimes  sur- 
rounded theu'  habitations  with  circular  lisses,  after 
the  fashion  of  their  pagan  ancestors.  In  the  Life  of 
St.  Carthach,  the  founder,  published  by  the  Bolland- 
ists  at  the  14th  of  May,  we  are  told  that  when  the 
saint  and  his  followers,  after  his  expulsion  from  Ra- 
han,  arrived  at  this  place,  which  had  previously  been 
called  Maghsciath  [Ma-skee],  the  plain  of  the  shield, 
they  began  to  erect  a  circular  entrenchment.  Then 
a  certain  virgin,  who  had  a  little  cell  in  the  same  field, 
came  up  and  inquired  what  they  were  doing  ;  and  St. 
Carthach  answered  her  that  they  were  preparing  to 
construct  a  little  enclosure  or  Us  around  their  goods, 
for  the  service  of  God.  And  the  holy  vii^gin  said, 
'-'  It  will  not  be  little,  but  great."  "  The  holy  father, 
Mochuda  (i.  e.  Carthach)  answered — '  Truly  it  will 
be  as  thou  sayest,  thou  handmaid  of  Christ ;  for  from 
this  name  the  place  will  be  always  called  in  Scotio, 
Liassmor,  or  in  Latin,  Atrium -magnum,''  "  i.  e.  great 
lis  or  enclosure.  There  are  altogether  eleven  places 
in  Ireland  called  by  this  name  Lismore  ;  all  with  the 
same  meaning. 


262  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

Many  local  names  are  formed  by  the  union  of  the 
term  lios  with  a  personal  name  ;  the  individual  com- 
memorated heing  either  the  builder  of  the  lis^  or  one 
of  its  subsequent  possessors.  Listowel  in  Kerry,  is 
called  by  .the  Four  Masters,  Lios-Tuatkai/,  Tuathal's 
or  Thoohal's  fort ;  Liscarroll  in  Cork,  Carroll's  or 
Cearbhall's ;  Liscahane  in  the  parish  of  Ai'dfert, 
Kerry,  called  in  the  Annals,  Lios-Cathain,  Cathan's 
or  Kane's  lis.  The  parish  of  Lissonuffy  in  Roscom- 
mon, took  its  name  from  an  old  chm^ch  built  by  the 
O'Dujffys  within  the  enclosure  of  a  fort ;  it  is  called 
by  the  Four  Masters  Lios-O-uDuhJifhaigh,  the  fort  of 
the  0 'Duffy s,  the  pronunciation  of  which  is  exactly 
preserved  in  the  present  name. 

Or  if  not  by  name,  we  have  a  person  commemo- 
rated in  some  other  way :  as,  for  instance,  in  Lisal- 
banagh  in  Londonderry,  the  Scotchman's  Us  ;  Lisa- 
taggart  in  Cavan,  of  the  priest ;  Lisnabantry  in 
the  same  county,  the  lis  of  the  widow  [Lios-na-bain- 
treahhaighe)  ;  Lissadill  in  the  parish  of  Drumcliff, 
Sligo,  which  the  Fom-  Masters  write  Lios-aii-doill, 
the  fort  of  the  blind  man,  the  same  name  as  Lissa- 
doill  in  Galway ;  Lissanearla  near  Tralee,  the  earl's 
fort. 

The  old  foiTa  of  this  word  is  fes,  genitive  lis ;  but 
in  the  modern  language,  a  corrujDt  genitive  leasa 
[lassa]  is  often  found.  All  these  are  preserved  in 
modern  names  ;  and  the  word  is  not  much  subject  to 
change  in  the  process  of  anglicisation.  Different 
forms  of  the  genitive  are  seen  in  the  following  :— 
Drumlish,  the  ridge  of  the  fort,  the  name  of  a  village 
in  Longford,  and  of  some  townlands  in  the  northern 
counties  :  Moyliss,  Moylish  and  Moylisha  (Moy,  a 
plain)  ;  Gortalassa,  the  field  of  the  lis ;  Knockalassa 
(hill)  ;  BalKnlass,  Ballinliss,  Ballinlassa,  and  Ballin- 


CHAP.  I.]         Hahitations  and  Fortresses.  263 

lassy,  the  town  of  the  fort ;  all  widely-spread  town- 
land  names. 

The  two  diminutives  liosdn  and  Hsin  [lissaun,  lish- 
een],  little  fort,  are  very  common.  The  latter  is 
usually  made  Lisheen,  which  is  the  name  of  twenty 
townlands,  and  helps  to  form  many  others.  It  as- 
sumes a  different  form  in  Lissen,  or  Lissen  Hall, 
the  name  of  a  place  near  Swords  in  Dublin,  and  of 
another  in  the  parish  of  Kilmore,  Tipperary .  Liosdn 
appears  in  Lissan  and  Lissane,  which  are  the  names 
of  several  townlands  and  parishes.  The  Irish  plural 
appears  in  Lessanny  (little  forts)  in  Mayo  ;  and  the 
English  in  Lessans  near  Saintfield  in  Down.  It 
occurs  in  combination  in  Mellison  in  Tipperary, 
which  is  called  in  Irish,  Magh-Iiosain,  the  plain  of  the 
little  lis^  and  in  Ballylesson  in  Do^n  and  Antrim, 
the  town  of  the  little  fort. 

With  the  adjective  diir  prefixed,  signifying 
"  strong,"  the  compound  durlas  is  formed,  which 
means,  according  to  0 'Donovan,  strong  fort  (Sup.  to 
O'Eeilly's  Diet,  in  voce).  Several  great  forts  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country  are  called  by  this  name, 
one  of  the  finest  of  which  is  situated  in  the  parish  of 
Kih-uan,  Tipperary  ;  it  is  surrounded  by  tln-ee  great 
entrenchments,  and  contains  within  it  the  ruins  of  a 
small  ancient  church.  It  is  now  called  Rath-durlais 
in  Irish,  and  gives  name  to  the  townland  of  Eathur- 
les.  Several  places  derive  their  names  from  this 
word  durlas,  the  best  known  of  which  is  the  town  of 
Thurles  in  Tipperary,  which  was  often  called  Dur- 
las-0^  Fog  arty,  from  its  situation  in  O'Fogarty's 
country ;  but  whether  the  fort  remains  or  not,  I  can- 
not tell.  Dmiess,  another  form,  is  the  name  of  a 
tx)wnland  in  Mayo,  and  of  two  others  in  Tyrone. 

Rath,  This  term  has  been  explained  in  conjunction 


264  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

with  lios,  atpage  260  :  in  the  Book  of  Armagh,  rath 
is  translated  ,/b6-677.  In  a  great  number  of  cases  this 
word  is  preserved  in  the  anglicised  names  exactly  as 
it  is  spelled  in  Irish ;  namely,  in  the  form  of  rath, 
which  forms  or  begins  the  names  of  about  700  town- 
lands.  The  townland  of  Rathurd  near  Limerick,  is 
now  called  in  Irish  Rath-tSuird^  but  by  the  annalists 
Bath-arda-Suird,  the  fort  of  Sord's  height,  Sord  being 
a  man's  name.  The  Four  Masters  record  the  erec- 
tion of  this  rath,  by  one  of  Heber's  chieftains,  in 
A.  M.  3501 ;  and  its  remains  are  still  to  be  seen  on 
the  top  of  Rathurd  hill,  near  the  old  castle.  Rath- 
new  inWicklow,  is  called  in  Irish  authorities,  Hath- 
Naol,  the  latter  part  of  which  is  a  man's  name, 
possibly  the  original  possessor.  Rathdrum,  also  in 
Wicklow,  means  the  rath  of  the  drum  or  long  hill, 
and  there  are  several  other  places  of  the  same  name 
in  different  parts  of  Ireland ;  for  raths  were  often 
built  on  the  tops  of  low  hills 

Rathmore,  great  fort,  is  the  name  of  forty  town- 
lands  in  different  counties.  The  great  fortification 
that  gave  name  to  Rathmore  near  the  town  of  An- 
trim, still  exists,  and  is  famous  for  its  historical  asso- 
ciations. It  is  the  Rath-mor-Muighe-Line  (great 
rath  of  Moylinny)  of  om-  historians  ;  Tighernach  no- 
tices it  as  existing  in  the  second  century  ;  and  in  the 
seventh  it  was  the  residence  of  the  princes  of  Dala- 
radia.  It  was  burned  in  the  year  1315  by  Edward 
Bruce,  which  shows  that  even  then  it  was  an  impor- 
tant residence  (Reeves,  Eccl.  Ant.,  p.  280).  The 
rath  also  remains  at  Rathmore,  four  miles  east  of 
Naas  in  Kildare. 

Rath  is  in  Irish  pronounced  raw,  and  in  modern 
names  it  takes  various  phonetic  forms,  to  correspond 
with  this  pronunciation,  such  as  ra,  rah,  ray,  &c., 


CHAP.  I.]         Habitations  and  Fortresses.  265 

which  syllables,  as  representatives  of  rath^  begin  the 
names  of  about  400  toTVTilands.  Raheny  near  Dub- 
lin is  called  by  the  annalists  Rath-Enna,  the  fort  of 
Enna,  a  man's  name  formerly  common  in  Ireland ; 
the  cn-cumvalloiions  of  the  old  fort  are  still  distinctly 
traceable  roimd  the  Protestant  church,  which  was 
built  on  its  site.  The  village  of  Ardara  in  Donegal, 
takes  its  name  from  a  conspicuous  rath  on  a  hill  near 
it,  to  which  the  name  properly  belongs,  in  Irish  Ard- 
a'-raith,  the  height  of  the  rath.  Drimiragh,  a  parish 
in  Tyrone,  containing  the  town  of  Omagh,  is  called 
in  Irish  Druini-ratha,  the  ridge  or  hill  of  the  rath. 
The  word  occurs  singly  as  Kaigh  in  Gralway  and 
Mayo  ;  Raw,  with  the  plural  Raws,  in  several  of  the 
Ulster  counties  ;  and  Ray  in  Donegal  and  Cavan. 

Other  modern  modifications  and  compounds  are 
exhibited  in  the  following  names : — Beba  in  Sligo, 
Belragh  near  Carnteel  in  Tyrone,  and  Belraugh  in 
Londonderry,  all  meaning  the  mouth  or  entrance  of 
the  fort ;  Corray  in  the  parish  of  Ivilmacteige,  Sligo, 
Cor-rait/i,  the  round  hill  of  the  rath.  Roemore  in 
the  parish  of  Breaghwy,  Mayo,  is  called  liaheniore  in 
an  Inquisition  of  James  I.,  which  shows  it  to  be 
a  corruption  of  Rath  more,  great  fort ;  and  there  is 
another  Roemore  in  the  parish  of  Kilmeena,  same 
county.  Raharney  in  Westmeath  preserves  an  Irish 
personal  name  of  great  antiquity,  the  full  name  being 
Rath-Athairne,  Aharny's  fort. 

The  diminutive  Raheen  (little  fort),  and  its  plural 
Raheens,  are  the  names  of  about  eighty  townlands, 
and  form  part  of  many  others.  There  are  six  town- 
lands  called  Raheenroe,  little  red  rath :  the  little  fort 
which  gave  name  to  Raheenroe  near  Ballyorgan  in 
the  south  of  Limerick,  has  been  levelled  within  my 
own  memory. 


266  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

JDun.  The  primary  meaning  of  the  word  dun  is 
"  strong"  or  "  firm,"  and  it  is  so  interpreted  in  Zeuss, 
page  30  : — "  Dun,  firmus,  fortis."  In  tliis  sense  it 
forms  a  part  of  the  old  name  of  Dnnluce  castle,  near 
the  Griant's  Causeway — Dunlios,  as  it  is  called  in  all 
Irish  authorities.  Dunlios  signifies  strong  lis  or  fort, 
and  this  name  shows  that  the  rock  on  which  the  castle 
niins  stand  was  in  old  times  occupied  by  a  fortified 
lis.  It  has  the  same  signification  in  Dunchladh  [Dun- 
claw],  i.  e.  fortified  mound  or  dyke,  the  name  of  the 
ancient  boundary  rampart  between  Brefny  and  An- 
naly,  extending  from  Lough  GrOTSTia  to  Lough  Kin- 
clare  in  Longford ;  a  considerable  part  of  this  ancient 
entrenchment  is  still  to  be  seen  near  Grranard,  and 
it  is  now  well  kno^Ti  by  the  anglicised  name  of 
Duncla. 

As  a  verb,  the  word  dun  is  used  in  the  sense  of 
*' to  close,"  which  is  obviously  derived  from  its  adjec- 
tival signification  ;  and  this  usage  is  exemplified  in 
Corragunt,  the  name  of  a  place  in  Fermanagh,  near 
Clones,  which  is  a  corruption  from  the  Irish  name, 
Corra-dhunta  (change  oidh  to  g,  page  54),  i.  e.  closed 
or  shut  up  weir. 

Dun,  as  a  noun,  signifies  a  citadel  or  fortified  resi- 
dence ;  in  the  Zeuss  MSS.  it  glosses  arjc  and  castrum, 
and  Adamnan  translates  it  nuDiitio.  It  is  found  in  the 
Teutonic  as  well  as  in  the  Keltic  languages — Welsh, 
din ;  Anglo-Saxon,  tun  ;  old  high  Grerman,  zun.  It 
is  represented  in  English  by  the  word  town ;  and  it 
is  the  same  as  the  termination  dunum,  so  common  in 
the  old  Latinized  names  of  many  of  the  citiea  of 
Grreat  Britain  and  the  Continent. 

This  word  was  anciently,  and  is  still,  frequently  ap- 
plied to  the  great  forts,  with  a  high  central  mound, 
flat  at  top,  and  surrounded  by  several — very  usually 


CHAP.  I.]  Hahitations  and  Fortresses,  267 

three — earthen  circumvallations.  These  fortified  dum^ 
so  many  of  which  remain  all  over  the  country,  were 
the  residences  of  the  kings  and  chiefs  ;  and  they  are 
constantly  mentioned  as  such  in  the  Irish  authorities. 
Thus  v/e  read  in  the  Feast  oi  Dun-na-ugedh  (Battle  of 
Maghrath^  p.  7),  that  Domhnall,  son  of  Aedh,  king  of 
Ireland  from  A.  D.  624  to  639,  "first  selected  Bun- 
na-ngedh,  on  the  bank  of  the  Boyne,  to  be  his  habi- 
tation, ....  and  he  formed  seven  very  great  ram- 
parts around  this  dun,  after  the  model  of  the  houses 
of  Tara."  And  other  passages  to  the  same  efi'ect  are 
cited  at  page  257  et  seq. 

In  modern  names,  dun  generally  assumes  the  forms 
dun,  doon,  or  don ;  and  these  syllables  form  the  be- 
ginning of  the  names  of  more  than  600  townlands, 
towns,  and  parishes. 

There  are  twenty-seven  different  places  called 
Doon  ;  one  of  them  is  the  village  and  parish  of  Doon 
in  Limerick,  where  was  situated  the  church  of  St. 
Fintan  ;  the  fort  fi'om  which  the  place  received  the 
name  still  remains,  and  was  anciently  called  Bun- 
blesque.  Dunamon,  now  a  parish  in  Gralway,  was  so 
called  from  a  castle  of  the  same  name  on  the  Suck  ; 
but  the  name,  which  the  annalists  write  Dun-Iomgain, 
Imgan's  fort,  was  anciently  applied  to  a  dun,  which 
is  still  in  part  preserved.  Dimdonnell,  i.  e.  Donall's 
or  Domhnall's  fortress,  is  the  name  of  a  townland  in 
Boscommon,  and  of  another  in  Westmeath  ;  in  Dot\ti 
it  is  modified,  under  Scottish  infiuence,to  Dundonald, 
which  is  the  name  of  a  parish,  so  called  from  a  fort 
that  stands  not  far  from  the  church. 

The  name  of  Dundalk  was  originally  applied,  not  to 
the  town,  but  to  the  great  fortress  now  called  the  moat 
of  Castletown,  a  mile  inland  ;  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  this  is  the  Bun-Bealgan  of  the  ancient  histories 


268  Artificial  Structures.  [pakt  nr. 

and  romances,  tlie  residence  of  Cucliiillm,  chief  of  the 
Red  Branch  Knights  in  the  first  century.  In  some 
of  the  tales  of  the  Leabhar  na  hnidhre,  it  is  called 
Bun-Deica,  but  in  later  authorities,  Dun-Dcalgan, 
i.  e.  Delga's  fort ;  and  according  to  0' Curry,  it  re- 
ceived its  name  from  Delga,  a  Firbolg  chief  who 
built  it.  The  same  personal  name  appears  in  Kil- 
dalkey  in  Meath,  which  in  one  of  the  Irish  charters 
in  the  Book  of  Kells,  is  WTitten  Cill-Deiga,  Delga's 
church. 

There  is  a  townland  near  Lisburn,  now  called 
Dun  eight,  but  written  Downeagh  in  an  Inquisition  of 
James  L,  which  has  been  identified  by  Dr.  Reeves 
with  the  place  called  in  the  "  Circuit  of  Ireland" 
Dun-EacJidhach,  Eochy's  fortress ;  where  the  great 
king  Muircheartach  of  the  leather  cloaks,  slept  a 
night  with  his  men,  when  performing  his  circuit  of 
the  country  in  the  year  941.  There  is  a  parish  in 
Antrim,  and  also  a  townland,  called  Dunaghy,  which 
is  the  same  name  more  correctly  anglicised. 

The  celebrated  Rock  of  Dunamase  in  Queen's 
County  is  now  covered  by  the  ruins  of  the  O'Mores' 
castle,  but  it  must  have  been  previously  occupied  by 
a  dun  or  cahcr.  In  an  Inquisition  of  Richard  IL,  it 
is  called  Donemaske,  which  is  h  near  approach  to  its 
Irish  name  as  we  find  it  in  the  Annals,  viz..  Dun- 
Masg,  the  fortress  of  Masg,  who  was  grandson  of 
Sedna  Sithbhaic,  one  of  the  ancestors  of  the  Leinster 
people. 

A  great  number  of  these  duns^  as  will  be  seen  from 
the  preceding,  have  taken  their  names  from  persons, 
either  the  original  founders  or  subsequent  posses- 
sors. But  various  other  circumstances,  in  connexion 
with  these  structures,  were  seized  upon  to  form  names. 
Doneraile  in  Cork,  is  called  in  the  Book  of  Lismore, 


CHAP.  I.]         Habitations  and  Fortresses.  269 

Dun-air-aill,  the  fortress  on  the  cliff,  but  whether  the 
dun  is  still  there  I  cannot  tell.  There  is  a  parish  in 
Waterford,  whose  name  has  nearly  the  same  signi- 
fication, viz.,  Dnnhill,  which  is  in  Irish  Dun-aille, 
the  fortress  of  the  cliff ;  it  is  understood  to  have  taken 
its  name  from  a  rock  on  which  a  castle  now  stands ; 
but  a  dun  evidently  preceded  the  castle,  and  was 
really  the  origin  of  the  name.  Doonally  in  the 
parish  of  Calry,  Sligo  (an  ancient  residence  of  the 
O'Donnells),  which  the  Four  Masters  ^^tUq  Dun-aille, 
and  which  is  also  the  name  of  several  townlands  in 
Sligo  and  Gralway,  is  the  same  name,  but  more  cor- 
rectly rendered. 

Of  similar  origin  to  these  is  Dundrum  in  Down, 
which  the  Four  Masters  mention  by  the  name  of  Dun- 
drorna,  the  fort  on  the  ridge  or  long  hill ;  the  original 
fort  has  however  disappeared,  and  its  site  is  occupied 
by  the  well-known  castle  ruins.  There  are  several 
other  places  called  Dundrum,  all  of  which  take 
their  name  from  a  fort  built  on  a  ridge ;  the  ancient 
fort  of  Dundi'um  near  Dublin,  was  most  probably 
situated  on  the  height  where  the  church  of  Taney 
now  stands. 

Although  the  word  dim  is  not  much  liable  to  be 
disguised  by  modern  corruption,  yet  in  some  cases  it 
assumes  forms  different  from  those  I  have  mentioned. 
The  town  of  Do^Tipatriek  takes  its  name  from  the 
larged  entrenched  dun  which  lies  near  the  Cathedral. 
In  the  first  century  this  fortress  was  the  residence  of  a 
warrior  of  the  Eed  Branch  Knights,  called  Celtchair, 
or  Keltar  of  the  battles  ;  and  from  him  it  is  variously 
called  in  Irish  authorities  Dunkeltar,  Rathlxeltar,  and 
Araskeltar  (aras,  a  habitation).  By  ecclesiastical 
writers  it  is  commonly  called  Dun-Iet/i-glas,  or  Du7i- 
da-lefh-glas ;  this  last  name  is  translated,  the  dun  of  the 


270  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

two  broken  locks  or  fetters,  whicli  Jocelin  accounts 
for  by  a  legend — that  tlie  two  sons  of  Dicliu  (see 
p.  108),  having  been  confined  as  hostages  by  king 
Laeghaii'e,  were  removed  from  the  place  of  their 
confinement,  and  the  two  fetters  by  which  they  were 
bound  were  broken,  by  miraculous  agency.  "  After- 
wards, for  brevity's  sake,  the  latter  part  of  this  long 
name  was  dropped,  and  the  simple  word  Dun  retained, 
which  has  passed  into  the  Latin  Duniim,  and  into 
the  English  Down'''  (Eeeves,  Eccl.  Ant.,  p.  143). 
The  name  of  St.  Patrick  Avas  added,  as  a  kind  of 
distinctive  term,  and  as  commemorative  of  his  con- 
nexion with  the  place. 

Down  is  the  name  of  several  places  in  King's 
County"  and  Westmeath  ;  and  the  plural  Downs  (i.  e. 
forts)  is  still  more  common.  The  name  of  the  Glen 
of  the  Downs  in  Wicklow,  is  probably  a  translation 
of  the  Irish  Gleann-na-ndun ^  the  Grien  of  the  dann  or 
forts.  Downamona  in  the  parish  of  Kilmore,  Tip- 
perary,  signifies  the  fort  of  the  bog. 

Dooneen,  little  fort,  and  the  plural  Dooneens,  are 
the  names  of  nearly  thirty  townlands  in  the  south 
and  west ;  they  are  often  made  Downing  and 
Downings  in  Cork,  Carlow,  "Wicklow,  and  Kildare ; 
and  Downeen  occurs  once  near  Eoss  Carbery  in 
Cork. 

The  diminutive  in  an  is  not  so  common,  but 
it  gives  name  to  some  places,  such  as  Doonan, 
three  towTilands  in  Antrim,  Donegal,  and  Ferma- 
nagh ;  Doonane  in  Queen's  County  o.nd  Tipperary ; 
and  Doonans  (little  forts)  in  the  parish  of  Armoy, 
Antrim. 

There  are  innumerable  names  all  over  the  country, 
containing  this  word  as  a  termination.  There  is  a 
small  island,  and  also  a  townland,  near  Dungarvan, 


CHAP.  I.]  Habitations  and  Fortresses.  271 

called  Shandon,  in  Irish  Seandim,  old  fort ;  and 
there  is  little  doubt  that  this  fortress  was  situated  on 
the  island.  This  name  is  better  known,  however,  as 
that  of  a  church  in  Cork,  celebrated  in  Father  Front's 
melodious  chanson : — 


That  sound  so  grand  on 
The  pleasant  waters  of  the  river  Lee." 

The  name  reminds  us  of  the  time  when  the  hill,  now 
teeming  with  city  life  under  the  shadow  of  the 
church,  was  crowned  by  the  ancient  fortress,  which 
looked  down  on  St.  Finbar's  infant  colony,  in  the 
valley  beneath.  Shannon  in  Donegal,  near  Lifford, 
is  from  the  same  original,  having  the  d  aspirated,  for 
it  is  written  Shandon  in  some  old  English  documents ; 
and  Shannon  in  the  parish  of  Calry,  Sligo,  is  no  doubt 
similarly  derived. 

We  sometimes  find  two  of  the  terms,  lios,  rath,  and 
dun,  combined  in  one  name  ;  and  in  this  case,  either 
the  first  is  used  adjectively,  like  dun  in  Dunluce  (p. 
266),  or  it  is  a  mere  explanatory  term,  used  synony- 
mously with  the  second.  Or  such  a  name  might 
originate  in  successive  structiu'es,  like  the  old  name 
of  Caher  in  Tipperary,  for  which  see  p.  274,  infra.  Of 
the  union  of  two  terms,  we  have  a  good  illustration 
in  Lisdoonvarna  in  the  north-west  of  Clare,  well 
known  for  its  spa  ;  which  takes  its  name  from  a  large 
fort  on  the  right  of  the  road  as  you  go  from  Bally- 
vaughan  to  Ennistymon.  The  proper  name  of  this  is 
Doonvarna  {Diin-hhearnach),  gapj)ed  fort,  from  its 
shape  ;  and  the  word  Lis  was  added  as  a  generic 
term,  somevv'hat  in  the  same  manner  as  "  river,"  in 
the  expression  "  the  river  Liifey ;  "  Lisdoonvarna, 
i.  e.   the  lis  (of)  Doonvarna.     In  this  way  came  also 


272  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

the  name  of  Lisdown  in  Armagli,  and  Lisdoonan  in 
Down  and  Monaghan.  The  word  hearnach,  gapped, 
is  not  unfreqiiently  applied  to  a  fort,  referring,  not 
to  its  original  form,  but  to  its  dilapidated  appearance, 
when  the  clay  had  been  removed  by  the  peasantry, 
so  as  to  leave  breaches  or  gaps  in  the  circumvallations. 
Hence  the  origin  of  such  names  as  Rathbarna  in 
Roscommon,  and  Caherbarnagh  in  Clare,  Cork,  and 
Kerry. 

One  of  the  most  obvious  means  of  fortifying  a  fort 
was  to  flood  the  external  ditch,  when  the  construc- 
tion admitted  it  and  the  water  was  at  hand ;  and 
whoever  is  accustomed  to  examine  these  ancient  struc- 
tures, must  be  convinced  that  this  p>lan  was  often 
adopted.  In  many  cases  the  old  channel  may  be 
traced,  leading  from  an  adjacent  stream  or  sj)ring ; 
and  not  unfrequently  the  water  still  remains  in  its 
place  in  the  fosse. 

The  names  themselves  often  prove  the  adoption  of 
this  mode  of  defence,  or  rather  the  existence  of  the 
water  in  its  original  position,  long  after  the  fort  had 
been  abandoned.  There  are  twenty-eight  townlands 
called  Lissaniska  and  Lissanisky,  chiefly  in  the  south- 
em  half  of  Ireland — Lios-an-ni^ge,  the  fort  of  the 
water.  None  of  these  are  in  Ulster,  but  the  same 
name  occurs  as  Lisanisk  in  Monaghan,  Lisanisky  in 
Cavan,  and  Lisnisk  and  Lisnisky  in  Antrim,  Down, 
and  Armagh.  With  the  same  signification  we  find 
Rathaniska,  the  name  of  a  place  in  Westmeath  ;  Ra- 
heenaniska  and  Raheenanisky  in  Queen's  County  ; 
Rahaniska  and  Rahanisky  in  Clare,  Tipperary,  and 
Cork ;  and  in  the  last-mentioned  county  there  is  a 
parish  called  Dunisky  or  Doonisky. 

Long  after  the  Hsses  and  rafhs  had  been  abandoned 
as  dwellings,  many  of  them  were  tui-ned  to  different 


CHAP.  I.]  Habitations  and  Fortresses,  273 

uses ;  and  we  see  some  of  the  high  duns  and  mounds, 
crowned  with  modern  buildings,  such  as  those  at 
Drogheda,  Naas,  and  Castletown  near  Dundalk. 
The  peasantry  have  always  felt  the  greatest  reluctance 
to  putting  them  under  tillage ;  and  in  every  part  of 
Ireland,  you  mil  hear  stories  of  the  calamities  that 
befel  the  families  or  the  cattle  of  the  foolhardy  farm- 
ers, who  outraged  the  fairies'  dwellings,  by  removing 
the  earth  or  tilling  the  enclosm'e. 

They  were,  however,  often  used  as  pens  for  cattle, 
for  which  some  of  them  are  admirably  adaj^ted ;  and 
we  have,  consequently,  many  such  names  as  Lisna- 
geeragh,  Eathnageeragh,  and  Eakeeragh,  the  fort  of 
the  sheep;  Lisnagree  andLisnagry  {Lios-na-ngroidJi) y 
of  the  cattle  ;  Lisnagowan,  the  Us  of  the  calves,  &c. 

Cathair.  This  word,  which  is  pronounced  caher, 
appears  to  have  been  originally  applied  to  a  citj^,  for 
the  old  form  catJiir  glosses  ciritas  in  the  Wb.  MS.  of 
Zeuss.  It  has  been,  however,  from  a  very  early 
period — perhaps  from  the  beginning — used  to  desig- 
nate a  circular  stone  fort ;  it  is  applied  to  both  in  the 
present  spoken  language. 

These  ancient  buildings  are  still  very  common 
throughout  the  country,  especially  in  the  south  and 
west,  where  the  term  was  in  most  general  use  ;  and 
thej^  have  given  names  to  great  numbers  of  places. 
In  modern  nomenclature  the  word  usually  takes  one 
of  the  two  forms,  caher  and  cahir ;  and  there  are  more 
than  300  townlands  and  towns  whose  names  begin 
with  one  or  the  other  of  these  two  words,  all  in 
Munster  and  Connaught,  except  three  or  four  in 
Leinster — none  in  Ulster. 

Caher  itself  is  the  name  of  more  than  thirty  town- 
lands,  in  several  of  which  the  original  structures  are 
still  standing.     The  stone  fort  that  gave  name  to 


274  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

Caher  in  Tipperary,  was  situated  on  the  rocky  island 
now  occupied  by  the  castle,  which  has  of  course  obli- 
terated every  vestige  of  the  previous  edifice.  Its 
full  name,  as  used  by  the  Four  Masters  and  other 
authorities,  was  Cathair-duna-iascaigh  [eesky],  the  cir- 
cular stone  fortress  of  the  fish-abounding  dun ;  from 
which  it  is  obvious,  "  that  an  earthen  dun  had  origi- 
nally occupied  the  site  on  which  a  caher  or  stone  fort 
was  erected  subsequently."  (Petrie,  "  Irish  Penny 
Journal,"  p.  257).  I  think  it  is  equally  evident  that 
before  the  erection  of  the  caher  its  name  was  Dun- 
iascaigh  [Duneesky],  the  fish- abounding  dun^  and 
indeed  the  Four  Masters  once  (at  1581)  give  it  this 
appellation.  Dr.  Petrie  goes  on  to  say  :  —  "  The 
Book  of  Lecan  records  the  destruction  of  the  caher 
by  Cuirreach,  the  brother-in-law  of  Felimy  the  Law- 
giver, as  early  as  the  third  century,  at  which  time  it 
is  stated  to  have  been  the  residence  of  a  female  named 
Badamar." 

Cahersiveen  in  Kerry  retains  the  correct  pronun- 
ciation of  the  Irish  name,  Cathair-Saidhhhm,  the  stone 
fort  of  Saidhhhm  or  Sabina.  Saidhhhin  is  the  dimi- 
nutive of  Sadhbh  [Sauv],  a  woman's  name  formerly 
in  very  general  use,  which  in  latter  times  has  been 
commonly  changed  to  Sarah.  Caherconlish  in  Lime- 
rick must  have  received  its  name,  like  Caher  in 
Tipperary,  from  the  erection  of  a  stone  fort  near  an 
older  earthen  one  ;  its  Irish  name  being  Cathair- 
chinn-lis  (Annals  of  Innisfallen),  the  caher  at  the 
head  of  the  lis.  The  ruins  of  the  original  stone  fort 
that  gave  name  to  Cahermurphy  in  the  parish  of 
Kilmihil,  Clare,  still  remain  :  the  Four  Masters  call  it 
Cathair-Murchadha,  Murrough's  caher.  The  whitish 
colour  of  the  stones  has  given  the  name  of  Cahergal 
{Cat hair- gealy  white  caher)   to  many  of  these  forts, 


CHAP.  1.]  Habitations  and  Fortresses.  275 

from  wliicli  again  eleven  townlands  in  Cork,  Water- 
ford,  Gralway,  and  Mayo  have  derived  their  names. 

Cahereen,  little  caher,  is  the  name  of  a  place  near 
Castleisland  in  Kerry.  The  genitive  of  cathair  is 
catharach  [caheragh],  and  this  forms  the  latter  part 
of  a  number  of  names ;  for  example,  there  is  a 
place  near  Dunmanway,  and  another  near  Kenmare, 
called  Derrynacaheragh,  the  oak  wood  of  the  stone 
fort. 

Caiseal.  Cormac  Mac  Cullenan,  in  his  Griossary, 
conjectures  that  the  name  of  Cashel  in  Tipperary,  is 
derived  from  Cis-ail,  i.  e.  tribute-rent ;  the  same  de- 
rivation is  given  in  the  Book  of  Rights;  while  O'Clery 
and  other  Irish  authorities  propose  Cios-ai/,  rent-rock 
— the  rock  on  which  the  kings  of  Munster  received 
their  rents  ;  for  Cashel  was  once  the  capital  city  of 
Munster,  and  the  chief  residence  of  its  kings.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  all  this  is  mere  fancy,  for  the 
word  caiseal  is  very  common  in  Irish,  and  is  always 
used  to  signify  a  circular  stone  fort ;  it  is  a  simple 
word,  and  either  cognate  with,  or,  as  Ebel  asserts,  de- 
rived from,  the  Latin  castellum ;  and  it  is  found  in 
the  most  ancient  Irish  MSS.,  such  as  those  of  Zeuss, 
Cormac's  Griossary,  &c. 

Moreover,  in  the  modern  form,  Cashel,  it  is  the 
name  of  about  fifty  townlands,  and  begins  the  name 
of  about  fifty  others,  every  one  of  which  was  so 
called  from  one  of  these  ancient  stone  forts  ;  and 
there  is  no  reason  why  Cashel  in  Tipperary  should 
be  different  from  the  others.  As  a  further  proof 
that  this  is  its  real  signication,  it  is  translated  ma- 
ceria  in  a  charter  of  A.  D.  1004,  which  is  entered  in 
the  Book  of  Armagh  (Reeves's  Adanman,  p.  75). 
About  the  beginning  of  the  fifth  century.  Core,  king 
of  Munster,  took  possession  of  Cashel,  and  there  can 
t2 


276  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

be  little  doubt  that  lie  erected  a  stone  fort  on  the 
rock  now  so  well  known  for  its  ecclesiastical  ruins, 
for  we  are  told  that  he  changed  its  name  from  sidJi- 
dhruhn  (fauy  ridge)  to  CaiseaL  The  cashels  belong 
to  the  same  class  as  cahers,  raths,  &c.,  and  like  them 
are  of  pagan  origin  ;  but  the  name  was  very  often 
adopted  in  Christian  times  to  denote  the  wall  with 
which  the  early  saints  surrounded  their  establish- 
ments. 

Cashels,  and  places  named  from  them,  are  scat- 
tered over  the  foui^  provinces,  but  they  preponderate 
in  the  western  and  north-western  counties.  Cashel- 
fean  in  Cork  and  Donegal,  and  Cashelnavean  near 
Stranorlar  in  the  latter  coimty,  both  signify  the  stone 
fort  of  the  Fianna  or  ancient  Irish  militia  (see  p.  86)  ; 
Cashelfinoge  near  Boyle  in  Roscommon,  the  fort  of 
the  scald  crows.  Sometimes  this  word  is  con^upted 
to  castle^  as  we  find  in  Bally  castle  in  Mayo,  the 
correct  name  of  which  would  be  BaUycashel,  for  it  is 
called  in  Irish  BaUe-cm-chaisU,  the  town  of  the  cashel ; 
but  the  name  of  Ballycastle  in  Antrim  is  correct, 
for  it  was  so  called,  not  from  a  casJieJ,  but  from  a 
castle.  Castledargan  in  the  parish  of  Kilross,  Sligo, 
is  similarly  conaipted,  for  the  Four  Masters  call  it 
Caiseal-Lochci' Dear g €1X71^  the  stone  fort  of  Lough 
Dargan. 

Bnigh  and  Bruighean,  Bnigh  [bru]  signifies  a 
palace  or  distinguished  residence.  Its  primary  mean- 
ing seems  to  be  a  hill ;  afterwards  it  was  applied  to 
a  fortified  residence  on  a  hill,  and  next  to  any  great 
mansion.  The  word  descends  from  the  most  ancient 
times,  and  "  it  appears  in  the  German,  Keltic,  and 
Slavonic  languages  with  the  general  acceptation  of 
mountain,  height,  little  hill,  SKniniit,  but  under  forms 
slightly  altered  by   a  forgetfulness   of  its   original. 


CHAP.  I.]  Habitations  and  Fortresses.  277 

Ang.-Sax.,  heorg;  Seand.,  berg ;  O.  H.  Grermaiij^j^r^; 
Irish,  brigh,  a  mountain ;  Cymr.,  brig,  the  same. 
Whence  the  word  brigand,  (literally)  a  mountaineer, 
and  the  name  of  the  ancient  brigantes  "  (Pictet,  Ori- 
gines.  Vol.  I.,  p.  128).  Pictet  believes  that  brigh 
(which  in  Irish  is  now  applied  only  to  a  hill)  is  the 
original  word,  and  that  brugh  was  derived  from  it,  by 
the  change  of  /  to  u,  through  the  retroactive  influence 
of  the  termination  in  the  ancient  form  brigliu. 

This  term  was  applied  to  many  of  the  royal  resi- 
dences of  Ireland ;  and  several  of  the  places  that 
have  preserved  the  word  in  their  names,  have  also 
preserved  the  old  brughs  or  raths  themselves.  Bruree 
on  the  river  Maigue  in  Limerick,  is  a  most  charac- 
teristic example.  Its  proper  name,  as  it  is  found  in 
many  Irish  authorities,  is  Brugh-righ,  the  fort  or 
palace  of  the  king  ;  for  it  was  the  principal  seat  of 
Oilioll  Olum,  king  of  Munster  in  the  second  century 
(see  p.  128),  and  afterwards  of  the  O'Donovans, 
chiefs  of  Hy  Carbery,  i.  e.  of  the  level  country  round 
Bruree  and  Kilmallock.  In  the  Book  of  Eights,  it  is 
mentioned  first  in  the  list  of  the  king  of  Cashel's  seats, 
and  there  are  still  remaining  extensive  earthen  forts, 
the  ruins  of  the  ancient  brugh  or  palace  of  Oilioll 
Olum  and  his  successors.  According  to  an  an- 
cient MS.  quoted  by  0' Curry  (Battle  of  Moylena, 
p.  72),  the  most  ancient  name  of  this  place  was 
Dun-CobhthaigJi  or  Duncoffy,  Coffagh's  dun;  which 
proves  that  it  was  a  fortified  residence  before  its  oc- 
cupation by  Oilioll  Olum. 

The  present  name  of  Bruff  in  Limerick,  is  a  cor- 
ruption oi  Brugh  (see  p.  50).  It  is  now  called  in 
Irish  Brubh-na-Ieise,  in  which  both  terms  are  cor- 
rupted, the  correct  name  being  Brugh-na-Deise,  i.  e. 
the  brugh  or  mansion  of  the  ancient  territory  of  Deis- 


278  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

beg;  and  from  the  first  part,  Bnihh  [briiv],  the 
modern  form  Bruff  is  derived.  The  brugh  that  gave 
name  to  this  place  still  exists ;  it  is  an  earthen  fort 
near  the  town,  called  at  the  present  day  by  the 
people,  Lkin-cC -Bhrogha^  as  in  the  old  song  ''  Binn 
Hsin  aerach  (C  Bhroglia^^  "  The  melodious  airy  little 
Ik  of  Bruff."  There  is  a  place  called  Bruff  in  the 
parish  of  Aghamore,  Sligo,  which  is  also  from  the 
same  word  brugh. 

In  some  parts  of  the  country  they  use  the  form 
brughas  [bruas],  which  has  originated  the  names  of 
Bruis,  now  a  parish  in  Tipperary  ;  Bruce,  two  town- 
lands  in  Wexford ;  and  Bruse,  two  others  in  Cavan. 
There  is  also  a  derivative  brughachas  [brughas], 
which,  as  well  as  brugh  itself,  is  used  in  several 
places  to  denote  a  farmhouse,  and  the  former  is 
pretty  common  in  this  sense,  in  some  of  the  Ulster 
counties.  We  derive  from  it  Brughas,  the  name  of 
a  townland  in  Armagh,  and  of  another  in  Ferma- 
nagh ;  and  Drumbrughas,  the  ridge  of  the  farm- 
house, a  name  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Cavan  and 
Fermanagh. 

The  diminutive  hriiighean  [breean]  signifying  also 
a  royal  mansion,  or  great  house,  is  even  more  com- 
mon than  its  original.  Both  bnigh  and  bruighean 
were  often  used  to  signify  a  house  of  public  hospi- 
tality, whence  the  term  brughaidh  [broo-ey],  the 
keeper  of  such  a  house— a  farmer.  There  was  a  cele- 
brated house  of  this  kind  on  the  river  Dodder,  two 
miles  south  of  Tallaght  in  Dublin,  called  Brmghean- 
Da-Derga,  from  Da-Derga,  its  owner.  This  mansion 
was  destroyed  by  a  band  of  pirates,  about  the  time 
of  the  Christian  era,  and  they  also  slew  the  monarch, 
Conary-more,  who  was  enjoying  the  hosi3itality  of 
Da-Derga.     Its  destruction,   and  the  death  of  the 


CHAP.  I.]        Habitations  and  Fortresses.  279 

monarch,  are  mentioned  in  oiir  oldest  authorities, 
such  as  the  Leabhar-na-hUidhre,  &c. ;  no  remains  of 
the  old  fort  can  now  be  discovered,  but  it  has  left  its 
name  on  the  townland  of  Bohernabreena,  which  is 
the  phonetic  representative  of  B61iar-na-BruighnS^ 
the  road  of  the  hndghean  or  mansion. 

Another  mansion  of  the  same  kind,  equally  re- 
nowned, was  Bndghean-Da-CJioga,  which  was  situated 
in  the  present  county  Westmeath.  This  was  stormed 
and  destroyed  in  the  first  century,  and  Cormac  Con- 
loingeas,  son  of  Conor  mac  Nessa  (see  p.  120),  who 
had  stopped  there  to  rest  on  his  journey  from  Con- 
naught  to  Ulster,  was  slain.  The  ancient  Bally- 
betagh  attached  to  this  house  is  now  subdivided  into 
four  townlands,  situated  in  the  parish  of  Drumrany, 
two  of  them  called  Bryanmore,  and  two,  Bryanbeg ; 
in  which  Bryan  represents  the  present  pronunciation 
of  Bruighean.  The  old  mansion  itself  still  remains, 
and  is  situated  in  Bryanmore  Upper ;  it  is  a  fort 
about  200  feet  in  diameter,  containing  within  its  circle 
the  ruins  of  an  Anglo-Norman  castle  ;  and  it  was  for- 
merly surrounded  by  a  circle  of  upright  stones. 

In  more  recent  times,  the  word  hndghean  has  been 
always  used  by  the  people  to  denote  a  fairy  palace — 
for  the  old  forts  were  believed  to  be  inhabited  by  the 
fairies  ;  and  in  this  sense  it  is  generally  understood 
in  its  application  to  local  names.  The  form  hryan  is 
found  in  some  other  names  besides  these  in  West- 
meath ;  such  as  Bryan  (-beg  and  -more) ,  near  Augh- 
rim  in  Roscommon.  Breen,  which  well  represents 
the  original  sound,  is  the  name  of  three  townlands  in 
Antrim,  Donegal,  and  Tyrone  ;  and  there  is  a  place 
in  Limerick,  north  of  Kilfinnane,  and  another  near 
Emly  in  Tipperary,  called  Ballin^Tcena,  the  town  of 
the  fairy  mansion.    The  double  diminutive  Breenaun 


280  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

ocem^s  in  the  parish  of  Eoss,  Galway ;  and  we  find 
Breenagh — a  place  abounding  in  fairy  mansions — in 
the  parish  oConwal,  Donegal.  The  diminutive  in 
6g  occurs  once  in  Sligo,  giving  name  to  Breeoge,  in 
the  parish  of  Kilmacowen — Bruigheog^  little  hrugh  or 
fort. 

3Iota. — The  large  high  mounds  are  often  called 
mota  in  Irish,  the  same  as  the  English  word  moat. 
It  is  the  opinion  of  the  best  Irish  scholars,  and  among 
others,  0 'Donovan,  that  it  is  not  an  original  Irish 
word  at  all,  for  it  is  not  found  in  any  ancient  autho- 
rity ;  it  is  very  probably  nothing  more  than  the  Eng- 
lish word  7noat,  or  perhaps  the  Anglo-Saxon  7note, 
borrowed,  like  many  others,  into  the  Irish. 

"We  find  a  few  names  in  the  Annals,  formed  from 
this  word.  The  Four  Masters  mention  Mountgarret, 
now  a  ruined  castle  on  the  Barrow,  near  New  Eoss, 
once  a  residence  of  the  Butlers  ;  and  they  call  it 
Mota-Gaired,  Garret's  moat,  which  shows  that  the 
place  should  have  been  called  J/or/fgarret.  Bally- 
mote  in  Sligo,  also  occurs  in  the  Four  Masters, 
in  the  Irish  form  Baile-an-rnhota,  the  town  of  the 
moat. 

There  are  many  townlands  called  Moat  and  Mota, 
which  derive  their  names  from  this  word,  and  in 
numerous  cases  the  mounds  are  still  preserved.  The 
great  mound  of  Moate  in  Westmeath,  forms  a  very 
eonsj)icuous  feature ;  it  is  called  Moategranoge ; 
and  this  name  it  derived,  according  to  tradition, 
from  Grraine-og,  young  Grraine  or  Grrace,  a  Mimster 
lady  who  man-ied  one  of  the  O'Melaghlins.  She  is 
probably  the  person  commemorated  in  the  legend 
referred  to  by  Caesar  Otway  ; — "  a  legend  concern- 
ing a  Milesian  princess  taking  on  herself  the  ofiice  of 
brehon,  and  from  this  moat  adjudicating  causes,  and 


CHAP.  I.]  Habitations  and  Fortresses.  281 

delivering  her  oral  laws  to  the  people"    (Tour  in 
Connanght,  p.  55). 

Grianan. — The  word  grianan  [greenan]  is  ex- 
plained by  O'Donovan  (App.  to  O'Eeilly's  Diet.,  in 
voce),  1.  a  beautiful  sunny  spot;  2.  a  bower  or 
summer  house  ;  3.  a  balcony  or  gallery  (on  a  house)  ; 
4.  a  royal  palace.  Its  literal  meaning  is  a  sunny 
spot,  for  it  is  derived  from  grian,  the  sun  ;  and  the 
Irish-Latin  writers  often  translate  it  solarium,  and 
terra  Solaris.  It  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the 
most  ancient  Irish  MSS.,  principally  in  the  third  and 
fourth  senses  ;  as  for  instance  in  Cormac's  Glossary, 
where  it  is  used  as  another  name  for  "a  palace  on  a 
hill."  O'Brien  explains  it  a  royal  seat,  in  which 
sense  it  is  used  by  the  best  Irish  TVT?iters ;  and  this  is 
unquestionably  its  general  meaning,  when  it  occurs 
in  topographical  names.  The  most  common  English 
forms  of  the  word  are  Crreenan,  Grreenane,  Greenaun, 
and  Grennan,  which  are  the  names  of  about  forty-five 
townlands  distributed  all  over  the  four  provinces. 

The  grianans  are  generally  the  same  kind  of  struc- 
tures as  the  ca/iers,  hrag/is,  &e.,  abeady  explained ; 
and  many  of  them  still  remain  in  the  places  whose 
names  contain  the  w^ord.  The  most  celebrated  palace 
of  the  name  in  Ireland  was  Green  an-Ely,  of  w^hich  I 
will  speak  under  Aileach.  Grenanstow^n  in  Tipperary, 
five  miles  from  Nenagh,  has  got  its  present  name  by 
translation  from.  Baile-an-g/irianain,  the  town  of  the 
palace ;  the  grianan  is  evidently  the  great  fort  now 
called  Lisrathdine,  w^hich  appears  to  have  been  an 
important  place,  as  it  is  very  large,  and  has  three 
circumvallations.  The  name  of  the  fort  has  been 
formed  like  that  of  Lisdoonvarna  (p.  271)  ;  Lisrath- 
dine, i.  e.  the  fort  of  Eathdine,  this  last  signifying 
deep  rath  {Rath-doimhin),  in  allusion  to  the  depth  of 
the  fosses.    Clogrennan  castle,  the  ruins  of  which  are 


282  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

situated  on  the  Barrow,  three  miles  below  Carlow, 
must  have  been  built  on  the  site  of  a  more  ancient 
residence,  as  the  name  sufficiently  attests — Clock- 
grianain,  the  stone  castle  of  the  grianan. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  grianan  is  a  diminutive 
from  grian ;  the  other  diminutive  in  6g  sometimes 
occurs  also,  and  is  understood  to  mean  a  sunny  little 
hill.  We  find  Grreenoge,  a  village  and  parish  in 
Meath ;  and  this  is  also  the  name  of  a  townland  near 
Eathcoole,  Dublin,  and  of  another  near  Dromore  in 
T)own. 

Aileach. — The  circular  stone  fortresses  already  de- 
scribed under  the  words  cathair  and  caiseal,  were  often 
called  by  the  name  aileach  [ellagh],  a  word  which 
signifies  literally  a  stone  house  or  stone  fort,  being 
derived  from  ail,  a  stone.  Michael  O'Clery,  in  his 
Griossary  of  ancient  Irish  words,  gives  this  meaning 
and  derivation  : — "  Aileach  or  ailtheachy  i.  e.  a  name 
for  a  habitation,  which  (name)  was  given  from 
stones." 

Aileach  is  well  known  to  readers  of  Irish  history 
as  the  name  of  the  palace  of  the  northern  Hy  Neill 
kings,  which  is  celebrated  in  the  most  ancient  Irish 
writings  under  various  names,  such  as  Aileach  Neid, 
Aileach  FrigUrinn,  &c.  The  ruins  of  this  great  for- 
tress, which  are  situated  on  a  hill,  four  miles  north- 
west from  Derry,  have  been  elaborately  described  in 
the  Ordnance  memoir  of  the  parish  of  Templemore  ; 
they  consist  of  a  circular  w.s7/^/of  cyclopean  masonry, 
crowning  the  summit  of  the  hill,  surrounded  by  tliree 
concentric  ramparts.  It  still  retains  its  old  name, 
being  called  Grreenan-Ely,  i.  e.  the  palace  of  Aileach, 
for  Ehj  represents  the  pronunciation  of  Ailigh,  the 
genitive  oi  Aileach  ;  and  it  gives  name  to  the  two  ad- 
jacent townlands  of  Elaghmore  and  Elaghbeg. 


CHAP.  I.]  Habitations  and  Fortresses.  283 

Elagh  is  also  the  name  of  two  townlands  in  Tyrone, 
and  there  are  several  places  in  Gralway  and  Mayo 
called  EUagh,  all  derived  from  a  stone  fort.  In 
Caherelly,  the  name  of  a  parish  in  Limerick,  there  is 
a  imion  of  two  synonymous  terms,  the  Irish  name 
being  Cathaiy-ailigh,  the  caher  of  the  stone  fort.  A 
stone  fort  must  have  existed  on  a  ridge  in  Druman- 
allig,  a  townland  near  Inchigeelagh  in  Cork;  and 
another  on  the  promontory  called  Ai^lelly  in  Erris, 
which  Mac  Firbis,  in  "  Hy  Fiachrach,"  caUs  Ard- 
Ailigh. 

Teamlmir.  The  name  of  Tara,  like  that  of  Cashel, 
has  been  the  subject  of  much  conjecture,  and  our  old 
etymologists  have  also  in  this  instance  committed  the 
mistake  of  seeking  to  decompose  what  is  in  reality  a 
simple  term.  The  ancient  name  of  Tara  is  Teamlmir^ 
and  several  of  our  old  ^Titers  state  that  it  was  so 
called  from  Tea,  the  wife  of  Heremon,  who  was 
bmied  there  : — TeamJiair,  i.  e.  the  mur  or  wall  of  Tea. 
But  this  derivation  is  legendary,  for  Teamhair  was, 
and  is  still,  a  common  local  name. 

Teamhair  [Tawer]  is  a  simple  word,  and  has  pretty- 
much  the  same  meaning  as  grlanan  (see  p.  281)  ;  it 
signifies  an  elevated  spot  commanding  an  extensive 
prospect,  and  in  this  sense  it  is  frec[uently  used  as  a 
generic  term  in  Irish  MSS.  In  Cormac's  Glossary  it 
is  stated  that  the  teamhair  of  a  house  is  a  grianan 
(i.  e.  balcony),  and  that  the  teamhair  of  a  country  is  a 
hill  commandicg  a  wide  view.  This  meaning  applies 
to  every  teamhair  in  Ireland,  for  they  are  all  con- 
spicuously situated ;  and  the  great  Tara  in  Meath,  is 
a  most  characteristic  example.  Moreover,  it  must  be 
remembered  that  a  teamhair  was  a  residence,  and  that 
aU  the  teamhairs  had  originally  one  or  more  forts, 
which  in  case  of  many  of  them  remain  to  this  day. 


284  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

The  genitive  of  toamhair  is  tpamhrach  [taragh  or 
towragli] ,  and  it  is  this  form  which  has  given  its  pre- 
sent name  to  Tara  in  Meath,  and  to  every  other 
place  whose  name  is  similarly  spelled  (see  p.  33). 
By  the  old  inhabitants,  however,  all  these  places  are 
called  in  Irish  Teamhair,  Our  histories  tell  us  that 
when  the  Firbolgs  came  to  Tara,  they  called  the  hill 
Drui/u-caeiit  [Drumkeen] ,  beautiful  ridge  ;  and  it  was 
also  cajlledLiathdhru i/ji  [Leitrim],  grey  ridge.  There 
is  a  place  called  Tara  in  the  parish  of  Witter,  Down, 
which  has  a  fine  fort  commanding  an  extensive  view  ; 
another  in  the  parish  of  Dun^ow,  King's  County ; 
and  Tara  is  the  name  of  a  conspicuous  hill  near 
Gorey  in  Wexford,  on  the  top  of  which  there  is  a 
earn. 

There  was  a  celebrated  royal  residence  in  Munster, 
called  Teamhfdr-Luachra^  from  the  district  of  Sliabh 
Luachra  or  Slievelougher.  Its  exact  situation  is  now 
unknown,  though  it  is  probable  that  the  fort  is  stiU 
in  existence  ;  but  it  must  have  been  somewhere  near 
Ballaghantoui'agh,  a  ford  giving  name  to  a  townland 
near  Castleisland  in  Kerry,  which  is  called  in  Irish 
JBel-at/ia-(ni- Tea }u/i rack,  the  ford-mouth  of  the  Teamh- 
air. A  similar  form  of  the  name  is  found  in  Knock- 
auntouragh,  a  little  hill  near  Kildorrery  in  Cork,  on 
the  top  of  which  is  a  fort — the  old  Teamhair — cele- 
brated in  the  local  legends. 

There  are  many  other  places  deriving  their  names 
from  these  teajnJiairs,  and  to  understand  the  following 
selection,  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  word  is 
pronounced  tavver^  taicer,  and  toicer,  in  different  parts 
of  the  country.  One  form  is  found  in  Towerbeg  and 
Towermore,  two  townlands  in  the  parish  of  Devenish, 
Fermanagh  ;  and  there  is  a  Towermore  near  Castle- 
lyons  in  Cork.      Taur,  another  modification,  gives 


CHAP.  I.]  Habitations  and  Fortresses.  285 

name  to  two  townlands  (-more  and  -beg),  in  the  pa- 
rish of  Clonfert,  same  county.  Tawran,  little  Teamh- 
air  {Teamhrdn),  occiu's  in  the  parish  of  Killaraght, 
Sligo  ;  we  find  the  same  name  in  the  slightly  dif- 
ferent form  Ta'VTaim,  in  the  parish  of  Kilmovee, 
Mayo ;  while  the  diminutive  in  in  gives  name  to 
Teviin  in  the  parish  of  Rathconnell,  Westmeath. 

Faithche,  In  front  of  the  ancient  Irish  residences, 
there  was  usually  a  level  green  plot,  used  for  various 
purposes — for  games  and  exercises  of  different  kinds, 
for  the  reception  of  visitors,  &c.  Faithche  [faha]  was 
the  name  applied  to  this  green ;  the  word  is  trans- 
lated jt^/^fe^  in  Cormac's  Grlossary  ;  and  it  is  constantly 
used  by  ancient  Irish  writers,  who  very  frequently 
mention  ihefaithcl/e  in  connexion  with  the  king's  or 
chieftain's  fort.  For  instance,  in  the  feast  of  Dun-na- 
ngedh  it  is  related  that  a  visitor  reached  ''  Aileach 
Neid  (see  p.  282,  supra),  where  the  king  held  his  resi- 
dence at  that  time.  The  king  came  out  upon  the 
faithche^  surrounded  by  a  great  concoui^se  of  the  men 
of  Erin  ;  and  he  was  playing  chess  amidst  the  host" 
(Battle  of  Mop-ath,  p.  36). 

Th,e  word  is,  and  has  been,  used  to  denote  a  hurl- 
ing field,  or  fair  green,  or  any  level  green  field  in 
which  meetings  were  held  or  games  celebrated, 
whether  in  connexion  with  a  fort  or  not ;  in  the  Irish 
version  of  Nennius,  for  instance,  it  is  applied  to  a 
hurling  green.  In  Connaught  at  the  present  time, 
it  is  universally  understood  to  mean  simply  a  level 
green  field. 

The  word  enters  pretty  extensively  into  names,  and 
it  is  generally  made  Fahy  and  Faha,  the  former  being 
more  usual  in  Connaught,  and  the  latter  in  Munster ; 
both  together  constitute  the  names  of  about  thii'ty 


286  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

townlands.  It  enters  into  several  compounds,  such  as 
Fahanasoodry  near  Balljlanders  in  Limerick,  Faith- 
che-na-sudaire,  the  green  of  the  tanners,  where  tan- 
ning must  have  been  carried  on  ;  Fahykeen  in  Done- 
gal, beautiful  green. 

The  word  takes  various  other  forms,  of  which  the 
following  names  will  be  a  sufficient  illustration.  Fa- 
heeran  in  the  parish  of  Kilcomreragh,  King's  County, 
is  a  contraction  oi  Faithche-Chicwain  (Four  Masters), 
Ciaran's  green  plot ;  Faiafannan  near  Killybegs, 
Donegal,  Fannan's  green.  It  is  made  Foy  in  several 
places,  as,  for  instance,  near  Rathangan  in  Kildare  ; 
in  Armagh  we  find  Foyduff,  Foybeg,  and  Foymore 
(black,  little,  great),  and  in  Donegal,  Foyfin,  fair  or 
whitish  faifhche.  Foygh  occurs  in  Longford  and 
Tyrone  ;  in  Donegal  we  have  Foyagh,  and  in  Ferma- 
nagh, Fyagh,  both  meaning  a  place  abounding  in 
green  plots. 

The  townland  of  Dunseverick  in  Antrim,  which 
takes  its  name  from  the  well-known  castle,  is  also 
called  Feigh,  a  name  derived,  no  doubt,  from  the 
faithcke  of  the  ancient  dun,  which  existed  ages  before 
the  erection  of  the  castle  ;  and  we  may  conclude 
that  the  name  of  Hathfeigh  in  Meath  (the  fort  of  the 
faithche  or  green),  was  similarly  derived.  The  name 
Feigh  occurs  also  in  the  south,  but  it  is  not  derived 
from  faithche.  Ballynafoy  in  Down,  is  the  town  of 
the  green  ;  the  same  name  is  found  in  Antrim,  in  the 
forms  Ballynafeigh,  Ballynafey,  and  Bally nafie ;  and 
in  Kildare  we  find  it  as  Ballynafagh. 

The  word  occurs  with  three  diminutives.  Fahan  in 
Kerry,  and  Fahane  in  Cork,  both  signify  little  faith- 
che. Faheens  (little  green  plots),  is  found  in  Mayo  ; 
and  there  is  a  lake  not  far  from  the  town  of  Donegal, 


CHAP.  I.]  Habitations  and  Fortresses.  287 

called  Lough  Foyhin,  the  lake  of  the  little  green. 
In  Sligo  we  have  Foyoges,  and  in  Longford,  Fihoges, 
both  having  the  same  meaning  as  Faheens. 

Mothar.  The  ruin  of  a  caher  or  rath  is  often  desig- 
nated in  Munster  by  the  term  mothar  [moher]  ;  and 
sometimes  the  word  is  applied  to  the  ruin  of  any 
building.  On  a  cliff  near  Hag's  Head,  on  the  west- 
ern coast  of  Clare,  there  formerly  stood,  and  per- 
haps still  stands,  an  old  caher  or  stone  fort  called 
Moher  O'Euan,  O'Ruan's  ruined  fort ;  and  this  is 
the  feature  that  gave  name  to  the  well-known  Cliffs 
of  Moher. 

The  word  is  used  in  the  formation  of  local  names 
pretty  extensively  in  Munster  and  Connaught,  and  in 
two  of  the  Ulster  counties,  Cavan  and  Fermanagh  ; 
while  in  Leinster  I  find  only  one  instance  in  the 
parish  of  Offerlane,  Queen's  County.  Scattered  over 
this  area,  Moher  is  the  name  of  about  twenty-five 
townlands,  and  it  is  found  in  combination  in  those  of 
many  others. 

The  plural  Mohera  (ruined  forts),  is  the  name  of  a 
townland  near  Castlelyons  in  Cork ;  and  we  find  the 
word  in  Moheracreevy  in  Leitrim,  the  ruins  of  or 
near  the  creeve  or  large  tree.  In  Cork  also,  near 
Bathcormick,  is  a  place  called  Mohereen,  little  mo- 
her ;  and  Moheragh,  signifying  a  place  abounding 
in  mohers,  occurs  in  the  parish  of  Donohill,  Tipper- 
ary.  Moheranea  in  Fermanagh,  signifies  the  moher 
of  the  horse  ;  and  Drum  moher  in  Clare,  and  Drom- 
moher  in  Limerick,  the  ridge  of  the  ruined  fort. 

Cramwg.  The  word  crannog,  a  formation  from 
crann,  a  tree,  means  literally  a  wooden  house  ;  but 
the  houses  so  called  were  generally  placed  on  arti- 
ficial islands  in  lakes.  These  islands  were  formed 
in  a  shallow  part,  by  driving  stakes  into  the  bottom. 


288  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

which  were  made  to  support  cross  beams ;  and  on 
these  were  heaped  small  trees,  brambles,  clay,  &c., 
till  the  structure  was  raised  over  the  surface  of  the 
water.  On  this  the  family,  and  in  many  cases  seve- 
ral families,  lived  in  wooden  houses,  sufficiently  pro- 
tected from  enemies  by  the  surrounding  lake,  while 
communication  with  the  land  was  carried  on  by  means 
of  a  small  boat.  The  word  crannog  was  very  often, 
and  is  now  generally,  understood,  to  mean  the  whole 
structure,  both  island  and  houses. 

These  lake  dwellings  were  used  from  the  most  re- 
mote ages  down  to  the  sixteenth  or  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, and  they  are  frequently  mentioned  in  the  Annals. 
The  remains  of  many  of  them  have  been  recently  dis- 
covered, and  have  been  examined  and  described  by 
several  archseologists.  There  are  various  places 
through  the  country  whose  names  contain  the  word 
crannog^  in  most  of  which  there  was  a  lake,  with  an 
artificial  island,  though  in  some  cases  the  lakes  have 
disappeared. 

Crannoge  is  the  name  of  a  townland  near  Pomeroy 
in  Tyrone  ;  Cronoge,  of  another  in  Kilkenny ;  and  in 
the  parish  of  Cloonclare,  Leitrim,  is  a  place  called 
Crannoge  Island.  Crannogeboy  (yellow)  in  the 
parish  of  Inishkeel,  Donegal,  was  once  the  residence 
of  one  of  the  O'Boyles.  Coolcronoge,  the  corner  or 
angle  of  the  wooden  house,  is  the  name  of  a  place 
in  the  parish  of  Ardagh,  Limerick.  There  is  a  small 
lake  near  Ballingarry  in  the  north  of  Tipperary, 
called Loughnahinch  (the  lake  of  the  island),  in  which 
there  is  a  crannoge  fifty  feet  in  diameter,  which  gave 
name  both  to  the  lake  and  to  the  townland  of  Bally- 
nahinch.  The  Four  Masters  mention  eight  crannoges 
in  as  many  different  parts  of  Ireland. 

Longphort.    This  term  is  in  frequent  use,  and  gene- 


CHAP.  I.]        Habitations  and  Fortresses.  289 

rally  signifies  a  fortress,  but  sometimes  an  encamp- 
ment. Tlie  word  was  applied  both  to  the  old  cii'cular 
entrenched  forts  and  to  the  more  modern  stone  castles ; 
and  the  fortresses  bearing  this  designation  have  given 
name  to  all  those  places  called  Longford,  of  which 
there  are  about  twenty.  The  town  of  Longford  is 
called  in  the  Annals,  Longford-OTarrell,  from  the 
castle  of  the  O'Farrells,  the  ancient  proprietors, 
which,  according  to  tradition,  was  situated  where  the 
military  barrack  now  stands.  The  barony  of  Long- 
ford in  Roscommon,  takes  its  nnme  from  Longford 
castle  in  the  parish  of  Tiaranascragh.  Longford 
demesne  in  the  parish  of  Dromard,  county  Sligo, 
west  of  Ballysodare,  now  the  property  of  the  Crofton 
family,  was  formerly  a  seat  of  the  O'Dowds,  from 
whom  it  took  the  name  oi  Lonqpliort-ui-Bhuhhda^ 
("  Hy  Fiachrach"),  O'Dowd's  fortress. 

In  a  few  cases,  the  word  is  somewhat  disguised  in 
modern  names,  as  in  Lonart  near  Killorglin  in  Kerry, 
which  is  a  mere  softening  of  the  sound  of  Longphort. 
Athlunkard  is  the  name  of  atownland  near  Limerick, 
from  which  Athlunkard-street  in  the  city  derives  its 
name ;  the  correct  anglicised  form  would  be  Atlilong- 
ford,  the  ford  of  the  fortress  or  encampment. 

Teach.  This  word  [pron.  tagh']  means  a  house  of 
any  kind,  and  is  cognate  with  Lat.  tectum ;  it  was  used 
both  in  pagan  and  Christian  times,  and  has  found  its 
way  extensively  into  local  names.  The  best  angli- 
cised form  is  tagh,  which  is  of  frequent  occurrence  ; 
as  in  Tagheen,  a  parish  in  Mayo,  which  is  called  in 
"  Hy  Fiachrach,"  Teach-chaein,  beautiful  house ;  and 
Taghboy,  a  parish  in  Meath,  yellow  house.  Some- 
times the  final  guttural  was  omitted,  as  in  Taduff  in 
Roscommon,  black  house. 

The  form  tigh  [tee]  is  however  in  more  general  use 
u 


290  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

in  the  formation  of  names  than  the  nominative  (see 
p.  33)  ;  and  it  usually  appears  as  tee,  ti,  and  ti/. 
Teebane  and  Teemore  (white  and  great  house),  are 
the  names  of  several  townlands  in  the  northern  coun- 
ties ;  Tibradden  near  Dublin,  and  Tyone  near  Ne- 
nagh,  Braddan's  and  John's  house. 

When  tigh  is  joined  with  the  genitive  of  the  article, 
it  almost  always  takes  the  form  of  tin  or  timia,  which 
we  find  in  the  beginning  of  a  great  number  of  names. 
There  is  a  small  town  in  Carlow,  and  several  town- 
lands  in  Wicklow  and  Queen's  County,  called  Tinna- 
hinch,  which  represents  the  Irish  Tiyh-na-hinnse,  the 
house  of  the  island  or  river  holm  ;  Tincurragh  and 
Tincurry  in  Wexford  and  Tipperary,  the  house  of 
the  curragh  or  marsh ;  Tinnascart  in  Cork  and  Water- 
ford,  and  Tinnascarty  in  Kilkenny,  the  house  of  the 
scart  or  cluster  of  bushes. 

The  site  on  which  a  house  stood  is  often  denoted 
by  the  combination  ait-tighe  [aut-tee],  literally  "the 
place  of  a  house ;"  in  modern  names  it  is  almost  al- 
ways made  atti  or  atty,  which  form  the  beginning  of 
about  sixty  townland  names,  the  latter  part  being 
very  often  the  name  of  the  former  owner  of  the  house. 
It  occurs  once  in  the  Four  Masters  at  1256,  where 
they  mention  a  place  called  Ait-tig  he- Mic-Ctiirrin,  the 
site  of  Mac  Currin's  house.  • 

Attidermot  near  Aughrim  in  Gal  way,  signifies  the 
site  of  Dermot's  house  ;  Attykit  near  Cashel  in  Tip- 
perary, of  Ceat's  or  Ket's  house.  In  a  few  cases,  the 
compound  is  followed  by  some  term  characterising 
the  house,  as  in  Attiduff  in  Monaghan  and  Sligo,  the 
site  of  the  black  house  ;  Attatantee  in  Donegal,  in 
Irish  Ait-a^ -tsean-tighe,  the  site  of  the  old  house.  The 
word  ait  is  sometimes  used  alone,  to  denote  the  site 
of  anything,  as  in  Atshanboe  in  Tipperary,  the  site  of 


CHAP.  I.]        Habitations  and  Fortresses.  291 

the  old  tent  {Ait-sean-hotha)  ;  Attavally,  the  name  of 
three  townlands  in  Mayo,  the  site  of  the  hally  or  vil- 
lage. 

From  the  general  meaning  of  house,  teach  or  tigh 
came  to  be  used  frequently  in  Christian  times,  to  de- 
note a  church  ;  and  hence  the  word  is  often  joined  to 
the  names  of  saints,  to  designate  ecclesiastical  foun- 
dations, which  afterwards  gave  names  to  parishes  and 
townlands.  Examples  of  this  occur  in  Chap.  iii.  Part 
II.,  and  I  will  add  a  few  more  here. 

Taghadoe,  a  parish  in  Kildare,  takes  its  name  from 
an  old  church,  which,  however,  has  wholly  disappeared, 
though  a  portion  of  the  round  tower  still  stands  in  the 
churchyard ;  the  name  is  written  by  Irish  authorities, 
Teach'Tuae,  St.  Tua's  chui'ch.  Tiaquin  was  originally 
the  name  of  a  primitive  church  in  Glalway,  and  it  is 
written  in  Irish  Tigh-Dachonna,  St.  Dachonna's  house, 
from  which  the  present  name  was  formed  by  contrac- 
tion, and  by  the  aspiration  of  the  B  (see  p.  20).  A 
castle  was  erected  there  long  afterwards,  from  which 
the  barony  of  Tiaquin  has  been  so  called.  Timahoe 
in  Queen's  County,  well  known  for  its  beautiful  round 
tower,  took  its  name  {Tech-Mochua,  O'Clery's  Cal.) 
from  St.  Mochua,  the  original  founder  and  patron, 
who  flourished  in  the  sixth  century.  St.  Munna  or 
Fintan,  who  died  in  A.  D.  634,  founded  a  monastery 
in  Wexford,  which  was  called  from  him  Teach- 
Munna  (Book  of  Leinster),  St.  Munna's  house,  now 
modernized  to  Taghmon ;  and  the  parish  of  Tagh- 
mon  in  Westmeath  derived  its  name  from  the  same 
saint.  Tymon,  the  name  of  a  place  near  Dublin, 
containing  an  interesting  castle  ruin,  has  the  same 
signification  as  Taghmon,  but  whether  the  Munna 
whom  it  commemorates,  is  the  same  as  St.  Munna 
of  Taghmon,  I  cannot  tell. 

u2 


292  Artificial  Structures.  [part  lit. 

This  word  enters  into  various  other  combinations 
in  local  names.  There  is  a  townland  in  the  parish  of 
Lower  Bodoney,  Tyrone,  called  Crockatanty,  whose 
Irish  name  is  Cnoc-cC -tscan-tighe  (see  pp.  49  and  22, 
supra),  the  hill  of  the  old  house  ;  and  we  see  the 
same  form  in  TuUantanty  (Tidach,  a  hill)  in  Cavan, 
which  has  also  the  same  meaning.  Edentiroory  near 
Dromore  in  Down,  means  the  edan  or  hill  brow  of 
E-ory's  house. 

I  have  abeady  mentioned  (p.  60)  that  in  some  of 
the  eastern  counties,  s  is  sometimes  prefixed  to  this 
word  ;  and  in  addition  to  the  examples  given  there, 
I  may  mention  Staholmock  in  Meath,  St.  Colmoc's 
or  Mocholmoc's  house ;  and  Stamullen  in  the  same 
county,  Maelan's  house. 

Both  [boh].  This  word  signifies  a  tent,  booth,  or 
hut,  and  it  was  applied  not  only  to  the  huts  erected 
for  human  habitation,  but  also  sometimes  to  cattle 
houses.  It  is  an  old  word  in  the  language,  and  ex- 
ists also  in  the  kindred  Keltic  dialects  : — Welsh  bod, 
Cornish  bod  and  bos.  It  occurs  very  often  in  our 
ancient  authorities ;  and  the  Annals  make  mention 
of  several  places  whose  names  were  derived  from 
these  huts. 

Templeshanbo  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Leinster  in 
Wexford,  was  anciently  called  Seanboth  [Shanboh], 
old  tent  or  hut,  the  prefix  Temple  having  been  added 
in  recent  times.  It  was  also  called  Seanboth- SinS, 
and  Seanboth- Cohnain,  from  St.  Colman  OTiachra, 
who  was  venerated  there.  Seanboth-SinS  signifies 
the  old  tent  of  Sin  [Sheen]  a  woman's  name  belong- 
ing to  the  pagan  ages ;  and  it  is  very  probable  that 
this  was  its  original  name,  and  that  St.  Colman,  like 
many  other  Irish  saints,  adopted  it  without  change. 
There  is  a  Shanbo  in  Meath,  a  Shanboe  in  Queen's 


CHAP.  1.]  Habitations  and  Fortresses.  293 

County  ;  and  Shanbogh  is  the  name  of  a  parish  in 
Kilkenny — all  different  forms  of  the  same  word.  It 
also  appears  in  Drumshanbo  (the  clnim  or  ridge  of 
the  old  tent),  the  name  of  a  village  in  the  parish  of 
Kiltoghert,  Leitrim,  of  a  townland  in  the  parish  of 
Cloone,  same  county,  and  of  another  in  the  parish  of 
Kildress,  Tyrone.  This  name  is  pojDularly  believed 
— in  my  opinion  erroneously — to  signify  "  the  ridge 
of  the  old  cow"  {ho,  a  cow),  from  the  resemblance 
of  the  outline  of  the  hill  at  each  place,  to  a  cow's 
back. 

Bough,  which  is  merely  an  adaptation  of  Both,  is 
the  name  of  a  townland  in  Carlow,  and  of  another  in 
Monaghan.  Eaphoe  in  Donegal,  is  called  in  the 
annals  Ratk-hoth,  the  fort  of  the  huts  ;  and  in 
O'Clery's  Calendar,  Bodoney  in  Tyrone  is  called 
Both-domhiaigh,  the  tent  of  the  church.  There  is 
an  old  church  near  Dungiven  in  Londonderry,  which 
in  various  Irish  authorities  is  called  Both-Mheidhbhe 
[Yeva] ,  Maev's  hut,  an  old  pagan  name  which  is  now 
modernised  to  Bovevagh.  Bohola,  a  parish  in  Mayo, 
takes  its  name  from  a  church  now  in  ruins,  which 
is  called  in  ''  Hy  Fiachrach,"  Both-Thola,  St.  Tola's 
tent ;  and  in  the  parish  of  Templeniry,  Tipperary, 
there  is  a  townland  called  Montanavoe,  in  Irish 
Mointedn-a^-hhoith,  the  boggy  land  of  the  tent. 

We  have  the  plui^al  (hotha)  represented  by  Boho, 
a  parish  in  Fermanagh,  which  is  only  a  part  of  its 
name  as  given  by  the  Four  Masters,  viz.,  the  Botha 
or  tents  of  3Iiiuitir  Fialain,  this  last  being  the  name 
of  the  ancient  tribe  who  inhabited  the  district :  Boha- 
boy  in  Gralway,  yellow  tents. 

Almost  all  local  names  in  Ireland  beginning  with 
Boh  (except  the  Bohers),  and  those  also  that  end 
with  -boha   and  -hohy,  are  derived  from  this  word. 


294  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

Thus  Bohullion  in  Donegal,  represents  the  Irish 
Both-ChuiUinn,  the  hut  of  the  holty,  i.  e.  surrounded 
with  holly  trees.  Ivnockboha,  a  famous  hill  in  the 
parish  of  Lackan,  Mayo,  is  called  in  "  Hy  Fiach- 
rach,"  Cnoc-hotJia^  the  hill  of  the  hut ;  and  Knoek- 
naboha  in  Limerick  and  Tipperary,  has  the  same 
meaning. 

There  are  two  diminutives  of  this  word,  viz., 
Bothc'in  and  Bothog  [holiaun,  bohoge],  both  of  which 
are  in  very  common  use  in  the  south  and  west  of  Ire- 
land, even  among  speakers  of  English,  to  denote  a 
cabin  or  hut  of  any  kind.  Bohaun  is  the  name  of 
four  to"v\Tilands  in  Galway  and  Mayo  ;  and  we  find 
Bohanboy  (yellow  little  hut)  in  Donegal.  The  other, 
Bohoge  is  the  name  of  a  townland  in  the  parish  of 
Manulla,  Mayo. 

Caislen.  The  word  caislen  or  caislean  [cashlaim]  is 
applied  to  a  castle  ;  and  like  caiscal,  it  is  evidently 
a  loan  word — a  diminutive  formation  from  the  Latin 
castelhmi.  Like  the  older  dims,  cahers,  &c.,  these 
more  modern  structm-es  gave  names  to  numerous 
places,  and  the  word  is  almost  alwaj^s  represented  by 
the  English  word  castle. 

Of  the  names  containing  this  word,  far  the  greater 
number  are  purely  Irish,  notwithstanding  the  Eng- 
lish look  of  the  word  castle.  Castlereagh  is  a  small 
town  in  Hoscommon,  wdiich  gives  name  to  a  barony. 
The  castle,  of  which  there  are  now  no  remains,  stood 
on  the  west  side  of  the  town,  and  it  is  called  by  the 
Eour  Masters,  CaisJen-riahJtach,  E^^^J  castle.  There 
is  a  barony  in  Down  of  the  same  name,  which  was 
BO  called  from  an  old  castle,  a  residence  of  a  branch 
of  the  O'Neills,  which  stood  on  a  height  in  the  town- 
land  of  Castlereagh  near  Belfast ;  and  some  half 
dozen  townlands  in  difiPerent  counties  are  called  by 


CHAP.  I.]  Habitations  and  Fortresses.  295 

this  name,  so  descriptive  of  the  venerable  appearance 
of  an  ancient  castle.  Castlebar  in  Mayo  belonged, 
after  the  English  invasion,  to  the  Barrys,  one  of 
whom  no  doubt  built  a  castle  there,  though  the  name 
is  the  only  record  we  have  of  the  event.  It  is  called 
in  Irish  authorities,  Caiden-an-BJiarraigh  (Barry's 
castle)  ;  and  Downing  who  wrote  a  short  description 
of  Mayo  in  1680,  calls  it  Castle-Barry,  which  has  been 
shortened  to  the  present  name. 

In  a  few  cases,  the  Irish  form  is  preserved,  as  for 
example  in  Cashlan,  the  name  of  two  townlands  in 
Monaghan,  and  of  one  in  Antrim  ;  Cashlaundarragh 
in  Galway,  the  castle  of  the  oak  tree  ;  Cashlancran 
in  Mayo,  the  castle  of  the  trees  ;  Ballycushlane  in 
Wexford,  the  town  of  the  castle. 

Daingean.  The  word  daingean  [dangan]  as  an  ad- 
jective, means  strong ;  as  a  noun  it  means  a  strong- 
hold of  any  kind,  whether  an  ancient  circular  fort,  or 
a  more  modern  fortress  or  castle  ;  and  it  is  obviously 
connected  with  the  English  words  dungeon  and  donjon. 
Dangan,  which  is  the  correct  English  form,  is  the 
name  of  a  village  in  Kilkenny,  and  of  a  number  of 
townlands,  including  Dangan  in  Meath,  once  the 
residence  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington.  This  was  also 
the  old  name  of  Philipstown  ;  the  erection  of  "the 
castle  of  Daingean^^  is  recorded  by  the  Four  Masters 
at  1546;  but  it  is  probable  that  the  name  is  older  than 
the  castle,  and  that  it  had  been  previously  borne  by 
a  circular  fort. 

Occasionally  this  word  is  anglicised  Dingin,  which 
is  the  name  of  a  townland  in  Cavan  ;  Dinginavanty 
in  the  parish  of  Kildrumsherdan  in  this  county, 
means  Mantagh's  fortress.  It  is  this  form  which  has 
given  origin  to  the  modern  name  of  Dingle  in  Kerry, 
by  the  usual  change  of  final  I  to  n  (Dingin,  Dingil, 


296  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

Dingle  :  see  p.  47).  It  is  called  in  the  Annals,  Bain- 
gean-ui-Chuis,  now  usually  written  Dingle-I-Coush, 
i.  e.  the  fortress  of  O'Cush,  the  ancient  proprietor 
before  the  English  invasion.  These  people  sometimes 
call  themselves  Hussey  in  English,  and  this  is  the 
origin  of  the  mistaken  assertion  made  by  some  waiters, 
that  the  place  received  its  name  from  the  English 
family  of  Hussey. 

In  the  north  of  Ireland,  the  ng  in  the  middle  of  the 
word  daingean,  is  pronounced  as  a  soft  guttural, 
which  as  it  is  very  faint,  and  quite  incapable  of  being 
represented  by  English  letters,  is  suppressed  in  modern 
spelling,  thereby  changing  daingean  to  dian  or  some 
such  form.  There  are  some  to^vnlands  called  Dian 
andDyan  in  Tyrone  and  Monaghan;  two  in  Armagh 
and  one  in  Down,  called  Lisadian,  the  lis  of  the 
stronghold.  Even  in  Mayo,  a  pronunciation  much 
the  same  is  sometimes  heard ;  and  hence  we  have  the 
name  of  Ballindine,  a  village  in  that  county,  the 
same  as  Ballindagny  in  Longford,  Ballindaggan  in 
Wexford,  and  Ballindangan  near  Mitchelstown  in 
Cork,  the  town  of  the  stronghold.  Elsewhere  in 
Mayo,  however,  the  word  retains  its  proper  form  as 
in  Killadangan,  the  wood  of  the  fortress. 

Badhun,  or  Badhhhdhim  [bawn].  Beside  many  of 
the  old  castles,  there  was  a  bmtii  or  large  enclosure 
surrounded  by  a  strong  fence  or  wall,  which  was 
often  protected  by  towers  ;  and  into  this  enclosure 
the  cattle  were  driven  by  night  to  protect  them  from 
wolves  or  robbers.  It  corresponds  to  i}xQ  faithche  of 
the  old  pagan  fortresses  (see  p.  285],  and  served 
much  the  same  purposes ;  for  as  Smith  remarks, 
speaking  of  the  castle  of  Kilcrea,  west  of  Cork,  *'  the 
bawn  was  the  only  appendage  formerly  to  great  men's 
c  astles,  which  places  were  used  for  dancing,  goaling, 


CHAP.  I.]         Habitations  and  Fortresses.  297 

and  such  diversions  *  *  *  and  for  keeping  cattle 
at  night." 

O'Donovan,  writing  in  the  "  Ulster  Journal  of  Ar- 
chaeology," says  : — "The  term  5«?r/?, which  frequently 
appears  in  documents  relating  to  Irish  history  since 
the  plantation  of  Ulster,  is  the  anglicised  form  of  the 
Irish  bad/uoi,  an  enclosure  or  fortress  for  cows.  It 
occurs  seldom  in  Irish  documents,  the  earliest  men- 
tion of  a  castle  so  called  being  found  in  the  "  Four 
Masters"  at  1547,  viz.  Badhun-Riaganach*  From 
this  forward  it  is  met  with  in  different  parts  of  Ireland. 
In  the  most  ancient  Irish  documents,  a  cow  fortress 
is  more  usually  called  ho-dhaingecni,  but  bo-dhim  or  ba- 
dhun  is  equally  correct.  Sometimes  written  Badhbh- 
dhun,  the  fortress  oi  Badhbh  [Bauv],  the  Bellona  of 
the  ancient  Irish,  but  this  is  probably  a  fanciful  writ- 
ing of  it."  This  latter  form,  however,  and  its  pre- 
sumed derivation  from  the  name  of  the  old  war  goddess, 
receive  some  support  from  the  fact,  that  in  Ulster  it  is 
pronounced  bauvan,  in  which  the  v  plainly  points  to  a 
bh  in  the  Irish  original ;  and  this  pronunciation  is 
perpetuated  in  Bavan,  the  name  of  three  townlands  in 
Dowm,  Cavan,  and  Louth. f 

The  ba^NTis  may  still  be  seen  near  the  ruins  of  many 
of  the  old  castles  through  the  country  ;  and  in  some 
cases  the  surrounding  wall,  with  its  towers,  remains  in 

*  The  word  occurs  however,  in  the  form  of  ho-dhun  in  the 
Annals  of  Loch  Ce  at  the  years  1199  and  1200. 

f  Duald  Mac  Firbis  writes  the  word  hadhhh-dhun  in  "  Hy- 
Fiachrach."  Boa  Island,  in  Lough  Erne,  is  called  by  the  Four 
Masters,  Badhhha,  while  the  natives  call  it  Inis-Badhhhan^  i.  e. 
the  island  of  Badhhh.  ]\Ir.  W.  M.  Hennessy's  paper— read  a 
short  time  since — "On  the  War-Goddess  of  the  Ancient  Irish," 
is  not  yet  published,  and  I  regret  not  being  able  to  avail  myself 
of  it  to  illustrate  more  fully  this  interesting  subject. 


298  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

tolerable  preservation.  The  syllable  bawn  is  of  very 
usual  occurrence  in  local  names,  but  as  tliis  is  also 
the  anglicised  form  of  hd)?^  a  green  field,  it  is  often 
difiicult  to  tell  from  which  of  the  two  Irish  words  it 
is  derived,  for  hadhun  and  ban  are  pronounced  nearly 
alike.  The  townland  of  Bawn  in  the  parish  of  Moy- 
dow,  Longford,  derives  its  name  from  the  bawn  of 
Moydow  castle,  whose  ruins  remean  yet  in  the  toT^Ti- 
land. 

Lathrach.  The  site  of  anything  is  denoted  by  the 
word  lathrach  [lauragh],  but  this  word  is  usually 
applied  to  the  site  of  some  sort  of  building.  Lathrach 
senmuilind  (H.  3.  18,  T.  C.  D.),  the  site  of  an  old 
mill.  There  are  many  places  scattered  through  the 
four  provinces  called  Laragh  and  Lauragh,  to  which 
this  word  gives  name  ;  Laragh  in  the  parish  of  Skreen 
in  Sligo  is  called  Lathrach  in  the  Book  of  Lecan, 
and  the  village  of  Laragh  at  the  entrance  to  Glenda- 
lough  is  another  well-known  example.  Laraghleas 
in  Londonderry  means  the  site  of  the  Us  or  fort ; 
Laraghshankill  in  Armagh,  the  site  of  the  old  church ; 
Laraghbryan  near  Leixlip  in  Kildare,  Bryan's 
house  site.  Caherlarhig,  the  stone  fort  of  the  site, 
near  Clonakilty  in  Cork,  very  probably  derived  its 
name  from  a  caher,  built  on  the  site  of  a  more  ancient 
dun. 

Lathair  [lauher],  from  which  lathrach  is  derived, 
and  which  literally  means  "  presence,"  is  itself  some- 
times used  in  Cork  and  Kerry  to  signify  a  site,  and 
is  found  also  forming  a  part  of  names  in  these  coun- 
ties. Laheratanvally  near  Skibbereen  in  Cork,  the 
site  of  the  old  towTi  {Lathair-a^ -tseanbhaiJe)  ;  Laher- 
tidaly  in  the  same  neighbourhood,  the  site  of  Daly's 
house.     We  find  the  diminutive  Lareen  in  Leitrim, 


CHAP.  I.]         Habitations  and  Fortresses.  299 

and  LerMn  in  Galway  ;  Lislarheen  (-more  and  -beg) 
in  Clare,  signifies  the  fort  of  tlie  little  site. 

Laragh  in  the  parish  of  Kilcumreragh,  Westmeath, 
takes  its  name  from  a  castle  of  the  Mageoghegans, 
whose  ruins  are  jet  there,  and  which  the  Fonr  Mas- 
ters call  Leath-rafh  [Lara],  i.  e.  half-rath  ;  and  some 
of  the  other  Laraghs  are  probably  derived  from  this 
Irish  compound,  and  not  from  lath  rack,  Leath-rath 
is  also  the  Irish  name  of  Lara  or  Abbeylara  in  Long- 
ford, for  so  it  is  written  in  the  Annals. 

Suidhe  [see].  This  word  means  a  seat  or  sitting- 
place,  cognate  with  Lat.  sedes ;  it  is  found  in  our 
oldest  authorities  ;  and  among  others,  the  MSS.  of 
Zeuss  (Gram.  Celt.  p.  60).  It  is  frequently  used  in 
the  formation  of  names,  usually  under  the  forms  see, 
sy,  se,  and  sea ;  and  these  four  syllables,  in  the  sense 
of  "  seat,"  begin  the  names  of  over  thirty  townlands. 
It  is  very  commonly  followed  by  a  personal  name, 
which  is  generally  understood  to  mean  that  the  place 
so  designated  was  frequented  by  the  person,  either 
as  a  residence,  or  as  a  favourite  resort.  The  names 
of  men,  both  pagan  and  Christian,  are  found  com- 
bined with  it. 

See,  which  exactly  represents  suidhe  in  pronun- 
ciation, is  the  name  of  a  townland  in  Cavan.  On  the 
sl^ith  shore  of  Lough  Derg  in  Donegal,  is  the  town- 
land  of  Seadavog,  the  seat  of  St.  Davog,  the  patron  of 
Termondavog,  or,  as  it  is  now  called,  Termonmagrath. 
In  this  name  the  word  sea  is  understood  in  its  literal 
sense,  for  the  people  still  show  the  stone  chair  in 
which  the  saint  was  wont  to  sit. 

The  parish  of  Seagoe  in  Armagh,  is  called  in  Irish 
Suidhe-Gohha  [See-gow],  the  seat  of  St.  Gobha 
[Gow]   or  Gobanus ;  Colgan   calls  him  "  Gobanus 


300  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

of  Teg-da- Goha,  at  the  bank  of  tlie  river  Bann;" 
from  wliicli  expression  it  appears  that  the  place  was 
anciently  called  Tech-Dagohha^  the  house  of  St. 
Dagobha,  this  last  name  being  the  same  as  Gro- 
banus  (p.  141  supra ^  note  ;  see  Reeves's  Eccl.  Ant., 
p.  107). 

Shim-one  in  the  King's  County  is  mentioned  by 
the  Four  Masters,  who  call  it  Suidhe-an-roiii  [seen- 
rone]  the  seat  of  the  ron,  i.  e.  literally  a  seal,  but 
figuratively  a  hirsute  or  hairy  man.  In  the  same 
authority  we  find  Seeoran  in  Cavan  written  Suidhe- 
Odhrain,  Odhran's  or  Oran's  seat.  Seeconglass  in 
Limerick,  Cuglas's  seat;  Syunhin  near  Clogher 
in  Tyrone,  the  seat  of  the  ash,  i.  e.  abounding  in  ash 
trees. 

Suidheachdn  [seehaun]  is  a  kind  of  diminutive  for- 
mation on  suid/ie,  which  we  also  find  occasionally  in 
names.  For  instance,  there  is  a  hill  called  Seeghane 
near  Tallaght  in  Dublin  ;  Seehanes  (seats)  is  the 
name  of  a  place  near  Dromdaleague  in  Cork ;  and 
Seeaghandoo  and  Seeaghanbane  (black  and  white), 
are  two  townlands  in  Mayo. 


CHAPTER  II. 

ECCLESIASTICAL  EDIFICES. 


It  is  well  known  that  most  of  the  terms  employed  in 
Irish  to  designate  Christian  structures,  ceremonies, 
and  offices,  are  derived  directly  from  Latin.  The 
early  missionaries,  finding  no  suitable  words  in  the 
native   language,   introduced   the    necessary   Latin 


CHAP.  II.]  Ecclesiastical  Edifices.  301 

terms,  wMcli,  in  course  of  time,  were  more  or  less 
considerably  modified  according  to  the  laws  of  Irish 
pronunciation.  Those  applied  to  buildings  are  no- 
ticed in  this  Chaj)ter;  but  we  have  besides,  such 
words  as  easjoog,  old  Irish  epscoj),  a  bishop,  from  ejns- 
copus ;  sagart  or  sacart,  a  priest,  from  sacerdos ;  bean- 
nacht,  old  Irish  hendacht,  a  blessing,  from  henedictio  ; 
Aiffrionn  or  Aiffrend,  the  Mass,  from  offerenda ;  and 
many  others. 

We  know  from  many  ancient  authorities  that  the 
early  Irish  churches  were  usually  built  of  timber 
planks,  or  of  wattles  or  hurdles,  j)lastered  over  with 
clay  ;  and  that  this  custom  was  so  general  as  to  be 
considered  a  national  characteristic.  Bede,  for  in- 
stance, mentions  that  when  Fin  an,  an  Irish  monk, 
became  bishop  of  Lindisfarne,  "  he  built  a  church  fit 
for  his  episcopal  see ;  he  made  it  not,  however,  of 
stone,  but  altogether  of  sawn  oak,  and  covered  it 
with  reeds,  after  the  manner  of  the  Scots"  (Hist. 
EccL,  III.  25)  :  and  many  other  authorities  to  the 
same  eff'ect  might  be  cited.  In  some  of  the  lives  of 
the  early  saints,  we  have  interesting  accounts  of  the 
erection  of  structures  of  this  kind,  very  often  by  the 
hands  of  the  ecclesiastics  themselves — accounts  that 
present  beautiful  pictures  of  religious  devotion  and 
humility ;  for  the  heads  of  the  communities  often 
worked  with  their  own  hands,  in  building  up  their 
simple  churches  —  men  who  were,  for  long  ages 
afterwards,  and  are  still,  venerated  for  their  learn- 
ing and  holiness. 

These  structures,  often  put  up  hastily  to  meet  the 
wants  of  a  newly  formed  religious  community,  or 
the  recently  conveii;ed  natives  of  a  district,  we  know 
were  generally  very  small  and  simple  ;  and  in  some 
cases  the  names  preserve  the  memory  of  the  primi- 


302  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

tive  materials.  Kilclief  in  the  county  of  Down, 
took  its  name  from  one  of  those  rude  edifices ;  for  its 
Irish  name,  as  used  by  several  authorities,  is  Cill- 
cleithe  [cleha],  the  hmdle  church  {cUatk,  a  hurdle), 
from  which  the  present  form  has  been  derived  by  the 
change  of  th  to/  (p.  50).  The  same  name  is  found 
as  Kilclay  near  Ologher  in  Tyrone  ;  and  a  parish  in 
Westmeath,  called  Kilcleagh,  exhibits  another,  and 
still  more  correct  form. 

But  timber  was  not  the  only  material  employed ; 
for  stone  churches  began  to  be  erected  from  the  ear- 
liest Christian  period.  It  was  believed  indeed,  until 
very  recently,  that  buildings  of  stone  and  mortar 
were  unknown  in  Ireland  previous  to  the  Anglo- 
Norman  invasion ;  but  Petrie  has  shown  that  churches 
of  stone  were  erected  in  the  fifth,  sixth,  and  succeed- 
ing centuries ;  and  the  ruins  of  many  of  these  vene- 
rable structures  are  still  to  be  seen,  and  have  been 
identified  as  the  very  buildings  erected  by  the  early 
saints. 

Cill.  The  Irish  words,  cill,  eaglais,  teampull,  domhn- 
ach,  &c.  —  all  originally  Latin — signify  a  church. 
cm  [kill],  also  written  cell  and  ceall,  is  the  Latin 
cella,  and  next  to  haile,  it  is  the  most  prolific  root  in 
Irish  names.  Its  most  usual  anglicised  form  is  kill 
or  Jul,  but  it  is  also  made  Jiyle,  keel,  and  cal ;  there 
are  about  3400  names  beginning  with  these  syllables, 
and  if  we  estimate  that  a  fifth  of  them  represent  coil  I, 
a  wood,  there  remain  about  2700  whose  first  syllable 
is  derived  from  cill.  Of  these,  the  greater  number . 
are  formed  by  placing  the  name  of  the  founder  or 
patron  after  this  word,  of  which  I  give  a  few  illus- 
trative examples  here,  but  many  more  will  be  foimd 
scattered  through  the  book. 

Colman  was  a  favourite  name  among  the  Irish 


CHAP.  II.]  Ecclesiastical  Edifices.  303 

saints;  O'Clery's  Calendar  alone  commemorates  about 
sixty  of  the  name.  It  is  radically  the  same  as  Colum 
or  Columba,  and  its  frequency  is  probably  to  be  at- 
tributed to  veneration  for  the  great  St.  Columba. 
There  are  in  Ireland  seven  parishes,  and  more  than 
twenty  townlands  (including  Spenser's  residence  in 
Cork)  called  Kilcolman  (Uolman's  church) ;  but 
in  many  of  these  it  is  now  difficult  or  impossible  to 
determine  the  individual  saints  after  whom  they  were 
called.  St.  Cainnech  or  Canice,  who  gave  name  to 
Kilkenny,  and  also  to  Kilkenny  West  in  Westmeath, 
was  abbot  of  Aghabo  in  Queen's  Coimty,  where  he 
had  his  principal  church  ;  he  is  mentioned  by  Adam- 
nan  in  his  Life  of  St.  Columba,  and  he  died  in  the 
year  598.  There  are  thirty-five  townlands  and 
parishes  scattered  through  the  four  provinces,  called 
Kilbride,  in  Irish  CiU-Bhrighde,  Brigid's  or  Bride's 
chm'ch,  most  of  which  were  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid 
of  Kildare  ;  and  Kilbreedy,  the  name  of  two  parishes 
in  Limerick,  has  the  same  origin.  KilmiuTy  is  the 
name  of  nearly  fifty  townlands,  in  which  there 
must  have  been  churches  dedicated  to  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  for  the  Irish  name  is  Cill-Mhuire,  Mary's 
church. 

Besides  the  names  of  saints,  this  term  is  combined 
with  various  other  words,  to  form  local  names.  Shan- 
kill,  in  Irish  Seiiw/ieall,  old  church,  is  the  name  of 
seventeen  townlands  and  four  parishes,  among  others 
the  parish  which  includes  Belfast.  There  is  a  village 
in  Kildare,  called  Kilcullen,  which  was  much  cele- 
brated for  its  monastery ;  it  is  called  by  Irish  writers 
Cill-cidliinn,  the  church  of  the  holly  ;  and  there  are 
several  townlands  in  other  counties  of  the  same  name. 
At  Killeigh  near  Tullamore,  there  was  once  a  great 
ecclesiastical  establishment,  under  the  patronage  of 


304  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

St.  Smcheall.  Its  original  name,  as  used  in  Irish 
authorities,  is  Cill-achaidh  [Killahy],  the  church  of 
the  field,  which  has  heen  softened  down  to  the  present 
form.  There  was,  according  to  Colgan,  another  place 
of  the  same  name  in  East  Breifny  ;  and  to  distinguish 
them,  Killeigh  in  King's  County  is  usually  called  by 
the  annalists  Cill-achaidh-droma-fada,  i.  e.  Killeigh  of 
Drumfada,  from  a  long  ridge  or  hill  which  rises  im- 
mediately over  the  village. 

Kyle,  a  form  much  used  in  the  south,  is  itself  the 
name  of  more  than  twenty  townlands,  and  constitutes 
the  first  syllable  of  about  eighty  others  ;  a  large  pro- 
portion of  these,  however,  probably  half,  are  not 
churches  but  woods  (coill).  In  some  parts  of  the 
south,  Kyle  is  used  to  denote  a  burial  place  for  chil- 
dren, and  sometimes  for  unbaj^tized  infants,  but  this 
is  a  modern  application. 

The  diminutive  Killeen  is  the  name  of  more  than 
seventy  toTsoilands,  and  its  combinations  are  very  nu- 
merous— all  derived  from  a  "  little  church,"  except 
about  a  fifth  from  "  woods."  Killeentierna  in  Kerry 
must  have' been  founded  by,  or  dedicated  to,  some 
saint  named  Tierna  or  Tighernach.  Killeens  and 
Killeeny,  little  churches,  are  also  often  met  with. 
Monagilleeny  near  Ardmore  in  Waterford,  is  in  Irish 
Moin-na-gcilHnidhe,  the  bog  of  the  little  churches. 

Calluragh,  or  as  it  is  written  in  Irish,  Cealhirach^ 
which  is  a  derivative  from  cill,  is  applied  in  the 
southern  counties,  and  especially  in  Clare,  to  an  old 
burying  ground  ;  sometimes  it  means  a  burial  place 
disused  except  only  for  the  interment  of  children  ; 
and  occasionally  it  denotes  a  burial  place  for  unbap- 
tized  infants  even  where  there  never  was  a  church  ; 
as,  for  example,  in  the  parish  ofKilcrohane  in  Kerry, 
where  the  old  forts  or  lisses  are  sometimes  set  apart 


CHAP,  n.]  Ecclesiastical  Edifices.  305 

for  this  purpose,  and  called  Callooraghs.  In  the  an- 
glicised form,  Calluragh,  this  word  has  given  name 
to  several  townlands. 

Cealtmch  [caltragh],  which  is  also  a  derivative 
from  cill,  is  used — chiefly  in  the  western  half  of  Ire- 
land— to  denote  an  old  burying  ground.  It  is  com- 
monly anglicised  Caltragh,  which  is  the  name  of  a 
great  many  places  ;  and  there  is  a  village  in  Gralway 
called  Caltra,  another  modification  of  the  same  word. 
We  find  Cloonacaltry  in  Sligo  and  Roscommon,  the 
cloon  or  meadow  of  the  burying  ground.  Cealdmeh, 
another  Irish  form,  gives  name  to  eight  townlands, 
now  called  Caldragh,  which  are  confined  to  six  coun- 
ties, with  Leitrim  as  centre  ;  in  one  case  it  is  made 
Keeldra  in  this  last  county. 

Eaglals,  Another  term  for  a  church  is  eaglais 
[aglish],  derived,  in  common  with  the  Welsh  eccliiisy 
the  Cornish  eglos,  and  the  Armoric  ylis,  from  the 
Latin  ecclesia.  This  term  was  applied  to  a  great 
many  churches  in  Ireland ;  for  we  have  a  considerable 
number  of  parishes  and  townlands  called  Aglish  and 
Eglish,  the  former  being  more  common  in  the  south, 
and  the  latter  in  the  north.  There  is  a  parish  in 
Tipperary  called  Aglishcloghane,  the  church  of  the 
cloghaim  or  row  of  stepping-stones  ;  another  in 
Limerick  called  Aglishcormick,  St.  Cormie's  church  ; 
and  a  third  in  Cork,  called  Aglishdrinagh,  the  church 
of  the  slow  bushes.  Ballynahaglish,  the  town  of  the 
church,  is  the  name  of  a  parish  in  Mayo,  and  of  ano- 
ther in  Kerry  ;  and  near  Ballylanders  in  Limerick,  is 
a  place  called  Griennahaglish,  the  glen  of  the  church. 
In  the  corrupt  form  Heagles,  it  is  the  name  of  two 
townlands  near  Ballymoney  in  Antrim ;  and  in  the 
same  neighbourhood  we  find  Drumaheglis,  the  ridge 
or  long  hill  of  the  church. 


306  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi, 

TeatnpuU,  From  the  Latin  templum  is  derived  the 
Irish  teampuU.  Like  cill,  eaglais,  and  domhnach,  it 
was  adopted  at  a  very  early  date,  being  found  in  the 
oldest  Irish  MSS.,  among  others  those  cited  by  Zeuss. 
In  anglicised  names  it  is  usually  changed  to  temjyle, 
which  forms  the  beginning  of  about  ninety  townland 
names ;  and  it  is  to  be  borne  in  mind  that  these, 
though  to  all  appearance  at  least  partly  English,  are 
in  reality  wholly  Irish.  A  remarkably  large  propor- 
tion of  parishes  have  taken  their  names  from  these 
teampulls^  there  being  no  less  than  fifty  parish  names 
beginning  with  the  word  temple. 

There  are  four  parishes  in  Cork,  Longford,  Tip- 
perary,  and  Waterford,  where  the  original  chui'ches 
must  have  been  dedicated  to  the  Archangel  Michael, 
as  they  still  bear  the  name  of  Templemichael ;  Tem- 
piebredon  in  Tipperary,  is  called  in  Irish  Tcampull- 
iii-Bhridedin^  O'Bredon's  church ;  and  Temple-et- 
ney  in  the  same  county,  was  so  called  from  8t. 
Eithne,  whose  memory  is  fast  dying  out  there. 
The  original  church  of  Templecarn,  not  far  from 
Pettigo  in  Donegal,  must  have  been  built  near  a 
pagan  sepulchre,  for  the  name  signifies  the  church 
of  the  cam  or  mxonument.  Templetuohy  in  Tip- 
perary, signifies  the  chuax-h  of  the  tnatJi  or  territory, 
and  it  received  this  name  as  having  been  the  princi- 
pal church  of  the  tuath  or  district  in  which  it  was 
situated.  A  cathedral,  or  any  large  or  important 
chui'ch,  was  sometimes  called,  by  way  of  distinction, 
Templemore,  great  church ;  and  this  is  the  name  of 
three  parishes  in  Londonderry,  Mayo,  and  Tipperary, 
the  first  including  the  city  of  Derry,  and  the  last,  the 
town  of  Templemore. 

Domhnach.  The  Irish  word  domhnach  [dowTiagh], 
)vhich  signifies  a  church,   and  also  Sunday,  is  from 


CHAP.  II.]  Ecclesiastical  Edifices.  307 

the  Latin  Dominica^  the  Lord's  day.  According  to 
the  Tripartite  Life,  Jocelin,  Ussher,  &c.,  all  the 
churches  that  bear  the  name  of  Domhnach.,  or  in 
the  anglicised  fonn,  Donagh,  were  originally  founded 
by  St.  Patrick ;  and  thej^  were  so  called  because  he 
marked  out  their  foundations  on  Sunday.  For  ex- 
ample, in  the  Tripartite  Life  we  are  told  that  the 
saint  "  having  remained  for  seven  Sundays  in  Cian- 
achta^  laid  the  foundations  of  seven  sacred  houses 
to  the  Lord ;  [each  of]  which  he  therefore  called 
Dominica^^  i.  e.  in  Lish  Domhnach. 

In  the  year  439,  while  St.  Patrick  was  in  Con- 
naught,  his  nephew,  bishop  Sechnall  or  Secundinus, 
arrived  in  Ireland  in  company  with  some  others. 
He  was  the  son  of  Eestitutus  the  Lombard  by  St. 
Patrick's  sister  Liemania  or  Darerca  (see  p.  90,  si(pra), 
and  very  soon  after,  he  was  left  by  his  uncle  in 
Meath.  The  church  founded  for  him,  where  he  re- 
sided till  his  death  in  448,  was  called  from  him 
Domhnach- Seachnaill  [Donna-shaughnill :  Four  Mas- 
ters], the  chmx'h  of  St.  Sechnall,  now  shortened  to 
Dunshaughlin,  which  is  the  name  of  a  village  and 
parish  in  the  county  Meath. 

There  are  nearly  forty  townlands  whose  names  are 
formed  by,  or  begin  with,  Donagh,  of  which  more 
than  twenty  are  also  parish  names.  In  all  those 
places,  there  must  have  been  one  of  the  primitive 
Dominicas,  and  most  of  them  have  biuial  places  and 
ruins  to  this  day;  foui^teen  of  the  parishes  are 
called  Donaghmore,  great  church.  Donaghanie  near 
Cloghemy  in  Tyrone,  is  called  by  the  Four  Masters, 
Domhnach-an-eich,  the  church  of  the  steed ;  accord- 
ing to  the  same  authority,  the  proper  name  of 
Donaghmoyne  in  Monaghan,  is  Domhnach-maighin, 
the  church  of  the  little  plain ;  and  there  is  a 
x2 


308  Artificial  Structures,  [part  hi. 

place  of  the  same  name  near  Clogher  in  Tyrone. 
The  genitive  form  of  the  word  (see  p.  33)  gives 
name  to  Donnycarney,  Ceamach's  or  Carney's 
church,  a  village  near  Dublin,  and  another  near 
Drogheda. 

Aireagal  This  word  (pronounced  arrigle)^  means 
primarily  a  habitation,  but  in  a  secondary  sense,  it 
was  often  applied  to  an  oratory,  hermitage,  or  small 
church.  The  word  is  obviously  derived  from  the 
Latin  oraculum ;  for  besides  the  similarity  of  form, 
we  know  that  in  the  Latin  Lives  of  the  Irish  saints 
who  flourished  on  the  continent,  the  oratories  they 
founded  are  often  designated  by  the  term  oraculum 
(Petrie,  R.  Towers,  p.  349).  It  has  been  used  in 
Irish  from  the  earliest  times,  for  it  occurs  in  our 
oldest  MSS.,  as  for  instance  in  the  Leabhar  na 
hUidhre,  where  we  find  it  in  the  form  airicul. 

Errigal,  the  usual  English  form,  is  the  name  of  a 


:)arish  in  Londonderry,  and  of  a  townland  in  Cavan. 


The  well-known  mountain  called  Errigal  in  Donegal, 
in  all  probability  took  its  name  from  an  oratory 
somewhere  near  it.  The  church  of  Errigal  Keer- 
ogue,  which  gives  name  to  a  parish  in  Tyrone,  was 
once  a  very  important  establishment;  it  is  often 
mentioned  by  the  Annalists,  and  called  by  them 
Aireagal- Dachiarog,  the  church  of  St.  Dachiarog. 
Errigal  Trough  in  Monaghan,  is  called  in  Irish 
Aireagal- Triiwha,  the  church  of  (the  barony  of) 
Trough.  Duarrigle  is  the  name  of  a  place  on  the 
Blackwater,  near  Millstreet  in  Cork,  containing  the 
ruins  of  a  castle  built  by  the  O'Keefies ;  its  Irish 
nafne  is  Diibh-aireagal,  black  habitation  or  oratory  ; 
and  there  is  another  place  of  the  same  name  near 
Kanturk. 

Urnaidhe.     This  word,  which  is  variously  written 


CHAP.  II.]  Ecclesiastical  Edifices.  309 

urnaidhe^  ornaidhe,  or  ernaidhe  [urny,  erny]  signifies 
primarily  a  prayer,  but  in  a  secondary  sense,  it  is 
applied  to  a  prayer-house :  Latin  oratoriimi.  It 
takes  most  commonly  the  form  Urney,  which  is  the 
name  of  some  parishes  and  townlands  in  Cavan, 
Tyrone,  and  King's  County;  Urney  in  Tyrone  is 
often  mentioned  by  the  Four  Masters,  and  called 
Ernaidhe  or  Urnaidhe,  The  word  often  incorporates 
the  article  in  English  (see  p.  23),  and  becomes  Nur- 
ney  (an  Urnaidhe,  the  oratory) ,  which  is  the  name  of 
several  parishes,  villages,  and  townlands,  in  Carlow 
and  Kildare.  It  occurs  in  combination  in  Tem- 
plenahurney  in  Tipperary,  the  church  of  the  oratory. 

Serin.  Serin  [skreen],  which  comes  directly  from 
the  Latin  serinium,  signifies  a  shrine,  i.  e.  an  orna- 
mented casket  or  box,  containing  the  relics  of  a  saint. 
These  shrines  were  very  usual  in  Ireland ;  they  were 
held  in  extraordinary  veneration,  and  kept  with  the 
greatest  care  ;  and  several  churches  where  they  were 
preserved  were  known  on  this  account  by  the  Irish 
name  Serin,  or  in  English,  Skreen  or  Skrine.  The 
most  remarkable  of  these  was  Skreen  in  Meath, 
which  is  called  in  the  Annals,  Serin-  Cholmmcille,  St. 
Columkille's  shrine,  and  it  was  so  called  because  a 
shrine  containing  some  of  that  saint's  relics  was  pre- 
served there. 

Lann.  Lann,  in  old  Irish  land,  means  a  house  or 
church.  The  word  is  Irish,  but  in  its  ecclesiastical 
application,  it  was  borrowed  from  the  Welsh,  and  was 
introduced  pinto  Ireland  at  a  very  early  age ;  when 
it  means  simply  "  house,"  it  is  no  doubt  purely 
Irish,  and  not  a  loan-word.  It  forms  part  of  the 
terms  ith-Iann  and  lann-iotha  [ihlan,  lan-iha],  both 
of  which  are  used  to  signify  a  granary  or  barn,  lite- 
rally house  of  corn    (ith,   corn)  ;  the  latter  is  often 


310  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

used  by  the  English  speaking  people  of  some  of  the 
Miinster  counties,  who  call  a  barn  a  linney.  It  is 
found  in  our  earliest  MSS.,  among  others  in  those  of 
Zeuss;  it  occurs  also  in  an  ancient  charter  in  the 
Book  of  Kells  in  the  sense  of  house ^  and  it  is  so  trans- 
lated by  O'Donovan.  It  is  a  word  common  to  se- 
veral languages,  and  its  primary  signification  seems 
to  be  an  enclosed  piece  of  ground ;  "  Old  Ai^m.  lann ; 
Ital.,  Fr.,  Provencal,  landa,  lande,  Gothic  (and  Eng- 
lish)/«>?//"  (EbeL). 

It  is  not  found  extensively  in  local  nomenclature, 
and  I  cannot  find  it  at  all  in  the  south  ;  but  it  has 
given  origin  to  the  names  of  a  few  remarkable  places  ; 
and  it  is  often  anglicised  lyn,  lynn,  or  tin,  from  the 
oblique  form  lainn  [lin  :  see  p.  33,  sujrm'],  as  in  the 
word  linney  quoted  above.  The  celebrated  St.  Col- 
man-Elo,  patron  of  L}Tially  near  Tullamore,  was, 
according  to  O'Clery's  Calendar,  the  son  of  St.  Co- 
lumba's  sister.  At  an  assembly  of  saints  held  in  this 
neighbourhood  about  the  year  590,  Columba,  who 
had  come  from  the  convention  at  Druim-ceat,  to  visit 
his  monastery  at  Durrow,  proposed  that  a  spot  of 
ground  should  be  given  to  Colman,  where  he  might 
establish  a  monastery ;  and  Aedh  Slaine,  prince  of 
Meath,  afterwards  king  of  Ireland,  answered,  that 
there  was  a  large  forest  in  his  principality,  called 
Fidh-Elo  [Fee-Elo]  i.  e.  the  wood  of  Ela,  where  he 
might  settle  if  he  wished.  Colman  accepted  it,  and 
said : — "  My  resurrection  shall  be  there,  and  hence- 
forth I  shall  be  named  [Colman-Elo]  from  that 
place."  He  soon  after  erected  a  monastery  there, 
which  became  very  famous,  and  which  was  called 
Lann-Elo  or  Lcmd-Ealla  (O'Clery's  Cal.),  i.  e.  the 
church  of  Ela,  now  anglicised  Lynally  (see  Lanigan, 
Eccl.  Hist.  II.,  304). 


CH  AP,  II .  ]  Ecclesiastical  Edifices.  311 

Another  place  equally  celebrated,  was  La  nn- lei  re 
OT  Land-Ieri  (Book  of  Leinster) ,  i.  e.  the  church  of 
austerity,  which  until  recently  was  supposed  to  be 
the  old  chiu'ch  of  Lynn,  on  the  east  side  of  Lough 
Ennel  in  Westmeath.  But  Dr.  Eeeves  has  clearly 
identified  it  with  Dunleer  in  Louth,  the  word  dun 
being  substituted  for  lann,  while  the  latter  part  of  the 
name  has  been  preserved  with  little  change.  (See 
Dr.  Todd  in  ''Wars  of  GO.,"  Introd.,  p.  xL).  ^  The 
old  church  of  Lynn,  which  gives  name  to  a  parish  in 
Westmeath,  though  it  is  not  the  Lann-ieire  of  history, 
derives  its  name  from  this  word  kotiL 

The  word  appears  in  other,  and  more  correct  forms, 
in  Landmore,  i.  e.  great  church,  in  Londonderry  ; 
Landahussy  or  Lannyhussy,  O'Hussy's  house  or 
church,  in  Tyrone  ;  Lanaglug  in  the  same  county, 
Lann-na-r/clof/,  the  chui-ch  of  the  bells.  In  Landbrock 
in  Fermanagh,  Land  appears  to  mean  simply  habita- 
tion, the  name  being  applied  to  a  badger  warren — 
Lann-broc,  house  of  badgers.  Belan  in  Kildare,  is 
called  by  the  Annahsts  Liothlann,  which  name  it 
may  have  derived  from  a  house  of  hospitality ;  bioth, 
life  or  existence  ;  BiofJtIann,  refection  house  ;  similar 
in  formation  to  ithlann,  corn-house  (see  p.  309). 

Grlenavy  in  Antrim,  is  another  example  of  the  use 
of  this  word.  The  ^  is  a  modern  addition  ;  and  Dr. 
Reeves  has  remarked,  that  the  earliest  authority  he 
finds  for  its  insertion  is  a  Yisitation  Book  of  1661, 
In  the  Taxation  of  1306,  it  is  called  Lenneivij,  and 
in  other  early  English  documents,  Lenavy,  Lynavy, 
&c.  (Reeves,  Eccl.  Ant.,  p.  47),  Avhich  very  well  re- 
present the  pronunciation  of  the  original  Irish  name, 
Lann-abhaich  [Lanavy],  as  given  in  the  Calendar, 
signifying  the  church  of  the  dwarf.  Colgan  states 
that  when  St.  Patrick  had  built  the  church  there,  he 


312  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

left  it  in  charge  of  Hs  disciple  Daniel,  who,  from  his 
low  stature,  was  called  ahhac  [avak  or  ouk],  i.e. 
dwarf,  and  that  from  this  circumstance  the  church 
got  its  name.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  here,  that 
other  places  have  got  names  from  a  like  circumstance  ; 
for  example,  Cappanouk  in  the  parish  of  Ahington, 
Limerick,  represents  the  Irish  Ceapach-an-ahhaich, 
the  garden  plot  of  the  dwarf. 

Baisleac.  This  is  a  loan  word,  little  changed, 
from  the  Latin  basilica,  and  hears  the  same  meaning, 
viz.,  a  church ;  it  is  of  long  standing  in  Irish,  being 
found  in  very  ancient  MSS.,  and  was  no  doubt 
brought  in,  like  the  preceding  terms,  by  the  first 
Christian  teachers.  I  am  aware  of  only  two  places 
in  Ireland  deriving  their  names  from  this  word.  One 
is  Baslick,  an  old  church  giving  name  to  a  parish  in 
Eoscommon,  which  is  often  mentioned  by  the  Four 
Masters,  and  which,  in  the  Tripartite  Life  of  St. 
Patrick,  is  called  Baisleac-m6)\  great  church.  The 
other  place  has  for  its  name  the  diminutive  Bas- 
lickane,  and  is  a  townland  in  the  parish  of  Kilcrohane, 
Kerry. 

Disert.  The  word  disert  is  borrowed  from  the  Latin 
desertum,  and  retains  its  original  meaning  in  Irish, 
viz.,  a  desert,  wilderness,  or  sequestered  place.  It  is 
used  very  often  in  Irish  writings ;  as  for  example,  in 
the  Battle  of  Moyrath,  p.  10 : — "  Ocus  disert  mhec 
aigi  ann  sin,^'  "  and  he  (the  saint)  had  a  little  desert 
(hermitage)  there."  It  is  generally  used  in  an  ec- 
clesiastical sense  to  denote  a  hermitage,  such  secluded 
spots  as  the  early  Irish  saints  loved  to  select  for  their 
little  dwellings ;  and  it  was  afterwards  applied  to 
churches  erected  in  those  places. 

Its  most  usual  modern  forms  are  Desert,  Disert, 
Dysart,  and  Dysert,  which  axe  the  names  of  a  con- 


CHAP.  II.]  Ecclesiastical  Edifices,  313 

siderable  number  of  parishes  and  townlands  tkrough- 
ont  Ireland,  except  only  in  the  Connanght  counties 
(where,  however,  the  word  is  found  in  other  forms). 
Desertmartin  is  the  name  of  a  village  in  Londonderry, 
and  Desertserges  that  of  a  parish  in  Cork,  the  former 
signifying  Martin's,  and  the  latter,  Saerghus's  hermi- 
tage ;  Killadysert  in  Clare  means  the  church  of  the 
desert  or  hermitage. 

The  word  disert  takes  various  corrupt  forms  in  the 
mouths  of  the  peasantry,  both  in  Irish  and  English ; 
such  as  ister,  ester,  tirs,  tristle,  &c.  A  good  example 
of  one  of  these  corruptions  is  found  in  Estersnow,  the 
name  of  a  townland  and  parish  in  Roscommon.  The 
Four  Masters  call  it  Disert-Nuadhan  [Nooan],  St. 
Nuadha's  hermitage;  but  the  people  now  call  it 
in  Irish,  Tirs-Niiadhan ;  while  in  an  Inquisition  of 
Elizabeth,  it  is  called  in  one  place,  Issetnowne,  and 
in  another  place,  Issertnoivne,  which  stand  as  inter- 
mediate forms  between  the  ancient  and  present  names. 
Though  written  Estersnow  on  the  Ordnance  maps,  it 
is  really  called  by  the  people,  when  speaking  English, 
Eastersnotv,  which  form  was  evidently  evolved  under 
the  corrupting  influence  noticed  at  page  38,  supra, 
(ix).  The  patron  saint  is  probably  the  Nuadha 
fNooa]  commemorated  in  O'Clery's  Calendar  at  the 
3rd  of  October  ;  but  he  is  now  forgotten  there,  though 
his  holy  well,  Tobernooan,  is  still  to  be  seen,  and  re- 
tains his  name  (see  O'Donovan's  Eour  Masters, 
Yol.  III.,  p.  546,  note  |j). 

This  root  word  assumes  another  form  in  Isertkelly, 
an  ancient  church  giving  name  to  a  parish  in  Gal- 
way,  mentioned  by  the  Four  Masters,  who  call  it 
Disert' Cheallaigk,  Ceallach's  or  Kelly's  hermitage; 
and  in  Isertkieran,  a  parish  in  Tipperary,  which  no 
doubt  received  its  name  from  St.  Ciaran  of  Ossory 


314  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

(see  p.  142,  supra).  It  is  still  further  altered  in 
Isliartmon,  a  parish  in  Wexford,  St.  Munna's  desert, 
i.  e.  St.  Munna  of  Taghmon  (p.  291). 

In  some  of  the  Leinster  counties,  there  are  several 
places  whose  names  haA^e  been  changed  by  the  sub- 
sitution  of  the  modern  word  castte  for  the  ancient 
disert ;  this  may  be  accounted  for  naturally  enough 
in  individual  cases,  by  the  fact  that  a  castle  was 
erected  on  or  near  the  site  of  the  older  hermitage. 
Castledermot  in  Kildare,  whose  ancient  importance 
is  still  attested  by  its  round  tower  and  crosses,  is  well 
known  by  the  name  of  JD/sert-JDiarmada ;  where 
Diarmad,  son  of  Aedh  Hoin,  king  of  Ulidia,  founded 
a  monastery  about  a.  d.  800.  The  present  form  of 
the  name  was,  no  doubt,  derived  from  the  castle  built 
there  by  Walter  de  Riddlesford  in  the  time  of  Strong- 
bow. 

The  Irish  name  of  Castledillon  in  Kildare,  is 
Disert- loUadhan  [Disertillan] ,  i.  e.  loUadhan's  her- 
mitage. Castlekeeran  near  Oldcastle  in  Meath,  is 
another  example.  The  ancient  name  of  this  place,  as 
appears  by  the  Four  Masters,  A.  D.  868,  was  Bealach- 
duin  [Ballaghdoon],  the  road  of  the  fort;  but  after 
the  time  of  St.  Ciaran  tlie  Pious,  who  founded  a 
monastery  there  in  the  eighth  century,  and  died  in 
year  770,  it  was  generally  called  in  the  annals,  Disert- 
Chiarain,  St.  Kieran's  hermitage.  The  castle  that 
originated  the  present  form  of  the  name  belonged,  as 
some  think,  to  the  Staifords,  but  according  to  others, 
to  the  Plunkets. 

Cros.  Cros  signifies  a  cross,  and  is  borrowed  from 
the  Latin  crux ;  it  occurs  in  our  earliest  writings,  and 
is  found  in  some  very  old  inscriptions  on  crosses.  It 
is  scarcely  necessary  to  state  that,  from  the  time  of  the 
introduction  of  Christianity  into  this  country,  crosses 


CHAP.  II.]  Ecclesiastical  Edifices.  315 

were  erected  in  connexion  with  cliurches  and  other 
religious  foundations ;  they  were  at  first  simple  and  un- 
adorned, but  became  gradually  more  elegant  in  design, 
and  more  elaborate  in  ornamentation  ;  and  we  have 
yet  remaining,  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  crosses 
of  the  most  beautiful  workmanship,  lasting  memorials 
of  the  piety  and  artistic  skill  of  our  forefathers. 

These  monmnents  were  not  confined  to  religious 
buildings.  In  Adamnan's  Life  of  St.  Columba,  it  is 
related  that  on  a  certain  occasion,  a  man  whom  the 
saint  was  coming  to  meet,  suddenly  fell  down  and 
expired.  "  Hence,  on  that  spot,  before  the  entrance 
to  the  kiln,  a  cross  was  erected,  and  another  where 
the  saint  stopped,  which  is  seen  to  this  day."  (Lib.  I., 
Cap.  45);  on  which  Dr.  Reeves  remarks:  —  "It 
was  usual  among  the  Irish  to  mark  with  a  cross  the 
spot  where  any  providential  visitation  took  place." 
This  very  general  custom  is  attested  not  only  by  his- 
tory, but  also  by  the  great  number  of  places  that 
have  taken  their  names  from  crosses. 

The  word  Cross  itself  is  the  name  of  about  thirty 
townlands,  and  it  forms  the  first  syllable  of  about 
150  others  ;  there  are  besides  numerous  names  in 
which  it  assumes  other  forms,  or  in  which  it  occurs 
in  the  termination.  Some  of  these  places  probably 
took  their  names  from  cross  roads,  and  in  others  the 
word  is  used  adjectively,  to  signify  a  transverse  posi- 
tion ;  but  these  are  exceptions,  and  the  greater  num- 
ber commemorate  the  erection  of  crosses. 

A  cross  must  have  formerly  stood  near  the  old 
parish  church  of  Crosserlough  in  Cavan,  the  Irish 
name  being  Cros-air-locli^  the  cross  on  or  by  the 
lake.  Crossmolina  in  Mayo,  is  called  by  the  Four 
Masters,  CroS'Ui-Mhaeilfhina^  O'Mulleeny's  cross ; 
the  family  of  O'Maelfhina,  whose  descendants  of  the 


316  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

present  day  generally  call  themselves  Mullany,  had 
their  seat  here,  and  were  chiefs  of  the  surrounding 
district.  There  are  some  townlands  and  a  village  in 
Down,  called  Crossgar,  short  cross  ;  Crossfamoge, 
the  name  of  a  prominent  cape  near  Camsore  point, 
signifies  the  cross  of  the  alder  tree  ;  and  Gortnagross, 
the  name  of  several  places  in  the  northern  and 
southern  counties,  is  the  field  of  the  crosses —  Gort- 
na-gcros.  The  parish  of  Aghacross  (the  ford  of  the 
cross),  near  Kildorrery  in  Cork,  took  its  name,  no 
doubt,  from  a  cross  in  connexion  with  St.  Molaga's 
establishment  (see  p.  145),  erected  to  mark  a  ford 
on  the  Funcheon.  There  are  several  places  called 
Crossan,  Crossane,  and  Crossoge,  all  which  signify 
little  cross. 

The  oblique  form  crois  (see  p.  33,  stipra)  is  pro- 
nounced crush,  and  has  given  the  name  Crosh  to  two 
townlands  in  Tyrone  ;  to  Crushybracken  in  Antrim, 
O'Bracken's  cross,  and  to  several  other  places.  We 
find  the  genitive  in  Ardnacrusha,  the  name  of  a  vil- 
lage near  Limerick  city,  and  of  a  townland  in  Cork, 
Ard-)ia-croise,  the  height  of  the  cross ;  the  diminu- 
tive, Crusheen,  little  cross,  is  the  name  of  a  small 
town  in  Clare  ;  and  there  are  townlands  in  Galway 
called  Crosheen  and  Crusheeny, — the  last  meaning 
little  crosses.  Crossaire  [crussera],  which  is  a  deri- 
vative from  C7'os,  is  applied  in  the  south  of  Ireland 
to  cross-roads,  and  hence  we  have  Crossery  and 
Crussera,  two  townlands  in  Waterford,  the  latter  near 
Dimgarvan.     For  the  form  crock,  see  page  211. 


CHAP.  III.]  Monuments,  Graves,  and  Cemeteries.     317 


CHAPTEE  III, 


MONUMENTS,  GRAVES,  AND  CEMETERIES. 

Before  tlie  introduction  of  Ckristianity,  different 
modes  of  sepulture  were  practised  in  Ireland.  In 
very  early  ages  it  was  usual  to  burn  the  body,  and 
place  the  ashes  in  an  urn,  which  was  deposited  in 
the  grave.  It  seems  very  extraordinary  that  all 
memory  of  this  custom  should  be  lost  to  both  his- 
tory and  tradition ;  for  I  am  not  aware  that  there 
is  any  mention  of  the  burning  of  bodies  in  any — 
even  the  oldest — of  our  native  writings.  But  that 
the  custom  was  very  general  we  have  the  best  possible 
proof ;  for  in  every  part  of  Ireland,  cinerary  urns, 
containing  ashes  and  burned  bones,  have  been  found, 
in  the  various  kinds  of  pagan  sepulchres.  *' Crema- 
tion does  not  appear  to  have  been  the  rule  as  to  the 
mode  of  interment  in  ancient  Erinn,  as  many  re- 
mains of  skeletons  have  been  found When 

the  dead  were  interred  without  cremation,  the  body 
was  placed  either  in  a  horizontal,  sitting,  or  re- 
cumbent posture.  When  the  remains  were  burned, 
a  fictile  vessel  was  used  to  contain  the  ashes.  These 
urns  are  of  various  forms  and  sizes.  The  style 
of  decoration  also  differs  widely — some  being  but 
rudely  ornamented,  while  others  bear  indications  of 
artistic  skill  which  could  not  have  been  exercised  by 
a  rude  or  uncultivated  people."* 

Occasionally  the  bodies  of  kings  and  chieftains 
were  burned  in  a  standing  posture,  arrayed  in  full 

*  From  the  "  Illustrated  History  of  Ireland,"  by  F.  M.  C. 
(p.  117),  the  most  attractive  history  of  our  country  that  has  yet 
appeared. 


318  Artificial  Structwes.  [part  hi. 

battle  costume,  with  tlie  face  turned  towards  the 
territories  of  their  enemies.  Of  this  custom  we  have 
several  very  curious  historical  records.  In  the  Lea- 
bhar  na  hUidhre  it  is  related  that  king  Leaghaire 
[Leary]  (see  pp.  132,  133,  supra)  was  killed  "  by  the 
sun  and  wind"  in  a  war  against  the  Lagenians  ;  "  and 
his  body  was  afterwards  brought  from  the  south,  and 
interred  with  his  arms  of  valour,  in  the  south-east  of 
the  external  rampart  of  the  royal  Rath  Laeghaire 
at  Temur  (Tara),  with  the  face  turned  southwards 
upon  the  Lagenians  [as  it  were]  fighting  with  them, 
for  he  was  the  enemy  of  the  Lagenians  in  his  life- 
time" (Petrie's  ''  Antiquities  of  Tara  HiU,"  p.  145). 
The  same  circumstance  is  related  in  a  still  older 
authority,  with  some  additional  interesting  details — 
the  "Annotations  of  Tirechan,"  in  the  Book  of 
Armagh.  King  Laeghaire  says: — "For  Neel,  my 
father  (i.  e.  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages),  did  not 
permit  me  to  believe  [in  the  preaching  of  St.  Patrick], 
but  that  I  should  be  interred  in  the  top  of  Temur ^ 
like  men  standing  up  in  war.  For  the  pagans  are 
accustomed  to  be  buried  armed,  with  theii*  weapons 
ready,  face  to  face  [in  which  manner  they  remain], 
to  the  day  of  Erclathe^  among  the  Magi,  i.  e.  the  day 
of  judgment  of  the  Lord"  (Ibid.,  p.  146). 

The  pagan  Irish  believed,  that  while  the  body  of 
their  king  remained  in  this  position,  it  exercised  a 
malign  influence  on  their  enemies,  who  were  thereby 
always  defeated  in  battle.  Thus,  in  the  Life  of  St. 
Ceallach,  it  is  stated,  that  his  father,  Owen  Bel,  great 
grandson  of  Dathi,  and  king  of  Connaught  (see  pp. 
99  and  132,  supra),  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Sligo, 
fought  against  the  Ulstermen.  And  before  his  death 
he  told  his  people  "  to  bury  him  with  his  red  javelin 
in  his  hand  in  the  grave.     '  Place  my  face  towards 


CHAP.  III.]  Monuments,  Graves,  and  Cemeteries.     319 

the  nortli,  on  the  side  of  the  hill  by  which  the 
northerns  pass  when  flying  before  the  army  of  Con- 
nanght ;  let  my  grave  face  them,  and  place  myself 
in  it  after  this  manner.'  And  this  order  was  strictly 
complied  with  ;  and  in  every  place  where  the  Clanna 
Neill  and  the  Connacians  met  in  conflict,  the  Clanna 
Neill  and  the  northerns  were  routed,  being  panic- 
stricken  by  the  coimtenances  of  their  foes  ;  so  that 
the  Clanna  Neill  and  the  people  of  the  north  of  Ire- 
land, therefore  resolved  to  come  with  a  numerous  host 
to  Eath-O^hJiFiachrach  and  raise  [the  body  of]  Owen 
from  the  grave,  and  carry  his  remains  northwards 
across  to  Sligo.  This  was  done,  and  the  body  was 
buried  at  the  other  side  [of  the  river],  at  Aenach 
Locha  Gile,  with  the  mouth  down,  that  it  might  not 
be  the  means  of  causing  them  to  fly  before  the  Con- 
nacians." (Translated  by  O'Donovan  in  ''  Hy  Fiach- 
rach,"  p.  472.) 

It  is  very  ciuious  that,  in  some  23arts  of  the  country, 
the  people  still  retain  a  dim  traditional  memory  of 
this  mode  of  sepultm-e,  and  of  the  superstition  con- 
nected with  it.  There  is  a  place  in  the  parish  of 
Errigal  in  Londonderry,  called  Slaghtaverty,  but  it 
ought  to  have  been  called  LagJttacerty,  the  laght 
or  sepulcln^al  monument  of  the  ahhar tacit  [avartagh] 
or  dwarf  (see  p.  61,  supra).  This  dwarf  was  a  ma- 
gician, and  a  dreadful  tyrant,  and  after  having 
perpetrated  great  cruelties  on  the  people  he  Vv^as  at 
last  vanquished  and  slain  by  a  neighbouring  chief- 
tain; some  say  by  Finn  Mac  Cumhail.  He  was 
buried  in  a  standing  posture,  but  the  very  next  day 
he  appeared  in  his  old  haunts,  more  cruel  and  vigo- 
rous than  ever.  And  the  chief  slew  him  a  second 
time,  and  bmied  him  as  before,  but  again  he  escaped 
from  the  grave,  and  spread  terror  through  the  whole 


320  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

country.  The  chief  then  consulted  a  druid,  and  ac- 
cording to  his  directions,  he  slew  the  dwarf  a  third 
time,  and  buried  him  in  the  same  place,  icith  his  head 
downwards ;  which  subdued  his  magical  power,  so 
that  he  never  again  appeared  on  the  earth.  The  laght 
raised  over  the  dwarf  is  still  there,  and  you  may  hear 
the  legend  with  much  detail,  from  the  natives  of  the 
place,  one  of  whom  told  it  to  me. 

The  modes  of  forming  receptacles  for  the  remains, 
and  the  monuments  erected  over  them,  were  exceed- 
ingly various.  It  was  usual  in  this  country,  as  in 
many  others,  to  pile  a  great  heap  of  stones,  usually 
called  a  cam,  over  the  grave  of  any  person  of  note  ; 
and  where  stones  were  not  abundant,  clay  was  used 
for  the  same  purpose.  This  custom  is  mentioned 
in  many  of  our  ancient  writings,  and  I  might  quote 
several  passages  in  illustration,  but  I  shall  content 
myself  with  one  from  Adamnan  (7th  cent.)  : — "  The 
old  man  [Artbrananus]  believed,  and  was  baptized, 
and  when  the  Sacrament  was  administered  he  died 
in  the  same  spot  [on  the  shore  of  the  isle  of  Skye], 
according  to  the  prediction  of  the  saint  [i.  e.  of  St. 
Columba]  ;  and  his  companions  buried  him  there ; 
raising  a  heap  of  stones  over  his  grave."  (Vit. 
Col.  I.,  33). 

The  same  custom  exists  to  some  extent  at  the  pre- 
sent day,  for  in  many  parts  of  Ireland,  they  pile  up  a 
laght  or  cam  over  the  spot  where  any  person  has  come 
to  an  untimely  death ;  and  every  passer  by  is  expected 
to  add  a  stone  to  the  heap.  The  tourist  who  ascends 
Mangerton  mountain  near  Killarney,  may  see  a  earn 
of  this  kind  near  the  Devil's  Punch  Bowl,  where  a 
shepherd  was  found  dead  some  years  ago. 

Our  pagan  ancestors  had  a  particular  fancy  for 
elevated  situations  as  their  final  resting  place  ;  and 


CHAP.  III.]  Monuments,  Graves^  and  Cemeteries.     321 

accordingly  we  find  that  great  numbers  of  mountains 
through  the  country  have  one  or  more  of  these  earns 
on  theu'  summit,  under  each  of  which  sleeps  some 
person  important  in  his  day.  They  are  sometimes 
very  large,  and  form  conspicuous  objects  when  viewed 
from  the  neighboui'ing  plains. 

Many  mountains  through  every  part  of  the  country 
take  their  names  from  these  earns,  the  name  of  the 
monument  gradually  extending  to  the  hill.  Carnlea, 
a  high  hill  north  of  Cushendall  in  Antrim,  is  an  ex- 
ample, its  Irish  name  being  Ccuii-Uath,  grey  cam  ; 
Carntogher,  the  name  of  a  range  of  hills  in  London- 
derry, signifies  the  earn  of  the  causeway  ;  the  great 
pile  on  the  top  of  Carn  Clanhugh  in  Longford  (the 
cam  of  Hugh's  sons) ,  is  visible  for  many  miles  over 
the  level  country  round  the  mountain ;  and  Carron 
hill  near  Charleville,  county  Cork,  takes  its  name 
from  a  vast  pile  of  stones  on  its  summit. 

The  word  cam  forms  the  whole  or  the  beginning 
of  the  names  of  about  300  townlands,  in  every  one 
of  which  a  remarkable  carn  must  have  existed, 
besides  many  others  of  whose  names  it  forms  the 
middle  or  end ;  and  there  are  innumerable  monu- 
ments of  this  ki-nd  all  tlirough  the  country,  which 
have  not  given  names  to  townlands.  It  is  very  pro- 
bable that  the  persons  who  are  commemorated  in  such 
names  as  the  following,  are  those  over  whom  the 
earns  were  originally  erected. 

Carnteel,  now  a  village  and  parish  in  Tjo-one,  is 
called  by  the  Four  Masters  Carn-tSiadhail,  SiadhaPs 
or  Shiel's  monument.  There  is  a  remarkable  moun- 
tain, with  a  carn  on  its  summit,  called  Carn  Tiema, 
near  Rathcormack  in  the  county  Cork.  According 
to  O'CmTy  (Lectures,  p.  267),  Tighernach  [Tierna] 
Tetbannach  king  of  Munster  in  the  time  of  Conor 


322  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

mao  Nessa,  in  the  first  century,  was  buried  in  this, 
whence  it  was  called  Cam  Tighernaigk^  Tighemach's 
cam  ;  and  the  sound  of  the  old  name  is  preserved  in 
the  modern  Cam  Tierna.  Carmavy  (Grange)  in 
the  parish  of  Killead,  Antrim,  Maev's  earn  ;  Cam- 
kenny  near  Ardstraw  in  Tyrone,  the  earn  of  Cain- 
nech  or  Kenny ;  Carnew  in  Wicklow  probably  con- 
tains the  same  personal  name  as  Rathnew — Cam- 
Naoi,  Naoi's  earn ;  Carnacally,  the  name  of  several 
places,  the  monument  of  the  calUach  or  hag. 

It  is  certain  that  the  following  places  have  lost 
their  original  names  : — Carndonagh  in  Innishowen, 
which  got  the  latter  part  of  its  name  merely  because 
the  old  monument  was  situated  in  the  parish  of 
Donagh  ;  there  are  some  places  in  Antrim  and  Tyrone 
called  Carnagat,  the  earn  of  the  cats,  from  having 
been  resorts  of  wild  cats ;  and  a  similar  remark  ap- 
plies to  Carnalughoge  near  Louth,  the  earn  of  the 
mice ;  Carney  in  Sligo  is  not  formed  from  cam  ;  it 
is  really  a  family  name,  the  full  designation  being 
Farran-O'Camey,  O'Carney's  land. 

Other  modifications  of  this  word  are  seen  in  Car- 
ron,  the  name  of  several  townlands  in  Waterford, 
Tipperary,  and  Limerick ;  in  Carronadavderg  near 
Ardmore  in  "Waterford,  the  monument  of  the  red  ox, 
a  singular  name,  no  doubt  connected  with  some  le- 
gend ;  Carnane  and  Carnaun,  little  earn,  are  very 
often  met  with ;  and  the  form  Kern  an  is  the  name 
of  a  townland  near  Armagh,  and  of  another  in  the 
county  Down. 

The  moimds  or  tumuli  of  earth  or  stones,  raised 
over  a  grave,  were  sometimes  designated  by  the  word 
tuaim  [toom] .  Like  the  cognate  Latin  word  tumulKs, 
it  was  primarily  applied  to  a  hillock  or  dyke,  and  in 
a  secondary  sense  to  a  monumental  mound  or  tomb. 


CHAP.  III.]  Monuments,  Graves,  and  Cemeteries.     323 

These  moTinds,  which  were  either  of  earth  or  stones, 
are  still  found  in  all  kinds  of  situations,  and  some- 
times they  are  exceedingly  large.  It  is  often  not 
easy  to  distinguish  them  from  the  duns  or  residences ; 
but  it  is  probable  that  those  mounds  that  have  no  ap- 
pearance of  circumvallations  are  generally  sepulchral. 
They  have  given  names  to  a  great  many  places  in 
every  part  of  Ireland,  in  numbers  of  which  the  old 
tumuli  still  remain.  There  are  about  a  dozen  places, 
chiefly  in  the  north,  called  Toome,  the  most  remark- 
able of  which  is  that  on  the  Bann,  between  Lough 
Neagh  and  Lough  Beg,  which  gives  name  to  the  two 
adjacent  baronies.  There  must  have  been  formerly 
at  this  place  both  a  sandbank  ford  across  the  river, 
and  a  sepulchral  mound  near  it,  for  in  the  Tripartite 
Life  it  is  called  Fearsat  Tuama,  the  far-set  or  ford  of  the 
tumulus ;  but  in  the  Annals  it  is  generally  called  Tuaim. 
Tomgraney  in  Clare  is  often  mentioned  by  the 
annalists,  who  call  it  Tuaim- Greine,  the  tomb  of 
Grrian,  a  woman's  name.  The  traditions  of  the  place 
still  preserve  the  memory  of  the  lady  Grian,  but  the 
people  now  call  her  Grillagraney — GiU-greinc,  the 
brightness  of  the  sun.  They  say  that  she  was 
drowned  in  Lough  Graney  ;  that  her  body  was  found 
in  the  river  Graney  at  a  place  called  Derry graney ; 
and  that  she  was  buried  at  Tomgraney.  All  these 
places  retain  her  name,  and  her  monument  is  still  in 
existence  near  the  village.  Grian,  which  is  the  Irish 
word  for  the  sun,  and  is  of  the  feminine  gender,  was 
formerly  very  usual  in  Ireland  as  a  woman's  name. 
There  is  a  place  called  Carngranny  near  the  town  of 
Antrim,  where  another  lady  named  Grian  must  have 
been  buried.  Her  monument  also  remains  : — "  it 
consists  of  ten  large  slabs  raised  on  side  supporters, 
like  a  series  of  cromlechs,  forming  steps  commencing 
y2 


324  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

mth  the  lowest  at  the  north-east,  and  ascending  gra- 
dually for  the  length  of  forty  feet  towards  the  south- 
west" (Eeeves's  Ecel.  Ant.,  p.  QQ).  The  pile  is  called 
Grranny's  Grave,  which  is  a  translation  of  Carn-Greinc. 

The  parish  of  Tomfinlough  in  Clare,  took  its  name 
from  an  old  church  by  a  lake  near  Sixmile-bridge, 
which  is  several  times  mentioned  by  the  Four  Mas- 
ters under  the  name  of  Tuaim  Fion)iIocha,  the  tumulus 
of  the  bright  lake.  Toomona  in  the  parish  of  Ogulla, 
same  county,  v/here  are  still  to  be  seen  the  ruins  of  a 
remarkable  old  monastery,  is  called  in  the  Annals 
Tiiaim-mona,  the  tomb  of  the  bog.  Toomyvara  in 
Tipperary,  exactly  represents  the  sound  of  the  Irish 
Tuaim-ui-Mlieadhra.,  O'Mara's  tomb ;  and  Tomdeely, 
a  townland  giving  name  to  a  parish  in  Limerick,  is 
probably  the  tumulus  of  the  (river)  Deel. 

On  the  summit  of  Tomies  mountain,  which  rises 
over  the  low^er  lake  of  Killarney,  there  are  two  sepul- 
chral heaps  of  stones,  not  far  from  one  another ; 
hence  the  Irish  name  Tumaidhe  [Toomy],i.  e.  monu- 
mental mounds  ;  and  the  present  name,  which  has 
extended  to  three  townlands,  has  been  formed  by 
the  addition  of  the  English  after  the  Irish  plural 
(see  page  32).  The  Irish  name  of  the  parish  of 
Tumna  in  Eoscommon  is  Tuaim-nina  (Four  Mast.), 
the  tumulus  of  the  woman  (bean,  a  woman,  Gren. 
mna).  Tooman  and  Toomog,  little  tombs,  are  the 
names  of  several  townlands  in  different  counties. 

Dumha  [dooa]  is  another  word  for  a  sepulchral 
mound  or  tumulus ;  it  is  very  often  used  in  Irish  writ- 
ings, and  we  frequently  find  it  recorded,  that  the 
bodies  of  the  slain  were  buried  in  a  dumha.  These 
mounds  have  given  names  to  numerous  places,  but 
being  commonly  made  of  earth,  they  have  themselves 
in  many  cases  disappeared.     Moydow,  a  parish  in 


CHAP.  III.]   Monuments,  Graves,  and  Cemeteries.     325 

Longford  wliicli  gives  name  to  a  barony,  is  called  by 

the  Four  Masters,  Magh-dnmha  [Moy-dooa],  the  plain 
of  the  burial  mound ;  and  there  is  a  townland  of  the 
same  name  in  Eoscommon. 

In  modern  names  it  is  not  easy  to  separate  this 
word  from  duhli,  black,  and  dumhach,  a  sand  bank; 
but  the  following  names  may  be  referred  to  it. 
Dooey,  which  is  the  name  of  several  townlands  in 
Ulster,  is  no  doubt  generally  one  of  its  modern  forms, 
though  when  that  name  occurs  on  the  coast,  it  is 
more  likely  to  be  from  dmnhach.  Knockadoo,  the 
hill  of  the  mound,  is  the  name  of  some  townlands  in 
Roscommon,  Sligo,  and  Londonderry ;  and  there  are 
several  places  called  Corradoo,  Corradoba,  and  Corra- 
dooey,  the  round  hill  of  the  tumulus. 

A  leacht  Qaght]  is  a  sepulchre  or  monument,  cog- 
nate with  Lat.  led  us  and  Grreek  lechos  ;  for  in  many 
languages  a  grave  is  called  a  bed  (see  lecdxi,  further 
on)  ;  Goth.  Uga ;  Eng.  lie,  lay ;  Manx,  Ihiaght.  It  is 
often  applied,  like  earn,  to  a  monumental  heap  of 
stones ;  in  Cormac's  Grlossary  it  is  explained  lighedh 
mairhh,  the  grave  of  a  dead  (person). 

There  are  several  places  in  different  parts  of  the 
country,  called  Laght,  which  is  its  most  correct  an- 
glicised form ;  Laghta,  monuments,  is  the  name  of 
some  townlands  in  Mayo  and  Leitrim,  and  we  find 
Laght agalla,  white  sepulchres,  near  Thurles.  Laght- 
ane,  little  laght,  is  a  place  in  the  parish  of  Killeena- 
garriff.  Limerick. 

In  the  north  of  Ireland,  the  guttural  is  universally 
suppressed,  and  the  word  is  pronounced  lat  or  let ;  as 
we  find  in  Latt,  the  name  of  a  townland  in  Armagh, 
and  of  another  in  Cavan  ;  Derlett  in  Armagh,  the 
oak  wood  of  the  grave  {Doire-leachta) ;  Letfern  in 
Tyrone,  the  laght  of  the  f earns  or  alder  trees ;  and 


326  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

Corlat,  the  name  of  several  places  in  the  Ulster  coun- 
ties, the  round  hill  of  the  sepulchres. 

The  word  tdadh  [ulla]  originally  meant  a  tomb 
or  earn,  as  the  following  passages  will  show  : — "  oe 
denam  uluidh  ciimdachta  imat  flaitli^''  making  a  pro- 
tecting tomb  over  thy  chief  (O'Donovan,  App. 
to  O'Reilly's  Diet,  voce  uladh).  In  the  Leabhar  na 
hUidhre,  it  is  related  that  Caeilte  [Keeltha],  Finn 
mac  Cumhal's  foster  son,  slew  Fothadh  Airgtheach, 
monarch  of  Ireland,  in  the  battle  of  Ollarha  (Lame 
Water),  in  A.  D.  285.  Caeilte  speaks :— "  The  uluidh 
of  Fothadh  Airgtheach  will  be  found  a  short  distance 
to  the  east  of  it.  There  is  a  chest  of  stone  about  him 
in  the  earth ;  there  are  his  two  rings  of  silver,  and 
his  two  hunne  doat  [bracelets?]  and  his  torque  of  sil- 
ver on  his  chest;  and  there  is  a  pillar  stone  at 
his  earn;  and  an  ogum  is  [inscribed]  on  the  end 
of  the  pillar  stone  which  is  in  the  earth;  and  what 
is  on  it  is  'Eochaidh  Airgtheach  here'"  (Petrie, 
E.  Towers,  p.  108). 

The  word  is  now,  however,  and  has  been  for  a  long 
time,  used  to  denote  a  penitential  station,  or  a  stone 
altar  erected  as  a  place  of  devotion ;  a  very  natural 
extension  of  meaning,  as  the  tombs  of  saints  were  so 
very  generally  used  as  places  of  devotion  by  the 
faithful.  It  was  used  in  this  sense  at  an  early  period, 
for  in  the  "Battle  ofMoyrath,"  it  is  said  that  "Domh- 
nall  never  went  away  from  a  cross  without  bow- 
ing, nor  from  an  ulaidh,  without  turning  round,  nor 
from  an  altar  without  praying"  (p.  298).  On  which 
O'Donovan  remarks  : — "  TJluidh^  a  word  which  often 
occurs  in  ancient  MSS.,  is  still  understood  in  the  west 
of  Ireland  to  denote  a  penitential  station  at  which 
pilgrims  pray,  and  perform  rounds  on  their  knees." 
These  little  altar  tombs  have  given  names  to  places 


CHAP.  III.]  Monuments,  Graves,  and  Cemeteries.     327 

all  over  Ireland,  in  many  of  wMcIi,  especially  in  tlie 
west  and  south,  they  may  still  be  seen. 

Among  several  places  in  Cork,  we  have  Grlenna- 
huUa  near  Kildorrery,  and  KilnahuUa  in  the  parish 
of  Kilmeen,  the  glen  and  the  church  of  the  altar  tomb ; 
the  latter  name  being  the  same  as  Killulla  in  Clare. 
In  Ulusker  near  Castleto^Ti  Bearhaven,  the  word 
seems  to  be  used  in  its  primary  sense,  as  the  name  is 
understood  to  mean  Oscar's  earn  (Uladh-Oscuir);  and 
in  this  sense  we  must  no  doubt  understand  it  in 
Tullyullagh  near  Enniskillen,  the  hill  of  the  tombs. 
Knockanully  iux^ntrim  signifies  the  hill  of  the  tomb  ; 
andTomnahuUa  inCalway,  would  be  written  in  Irish, 
Tuaim-na-hulaidh^  the  moimd  of  the  altar-tomb.  "We 
have  the  diminutive  Ullauns  near  Killamey,  and 
Ullanes  near  Macroom  in  Cork,  both  signifying  little 
stone  altars. 

"  A  cromlech,  when  perfect,  consists  of  three  or 
more  stones  unhewTi,  and  generally  so  placed  as  to 
form  a  small  enclosure.  Over  these  a  large  [flat] 
stone  is  laid,  the  whole  forming  a  kind  of  rude 
chamber.  The  position  of  the  table,  or  covering 
stone,  is  generally  sloping  ;  but  it^  degree  of  inclina- 
tion does  not  appear  to  have  been  regulated  by  any 
design"  (Wakeman's  Handbook  of  Irish  Antiquities, 
p.  7).  They  are  very  numerous  in  all  parts  of  Ire- 
land, and  various  theories  have  been  advanced  to 
account  for  their  origin  ;  of  which  the  most  common 
is  that  they  were  "  Druids'  altars,"  and  used  for  offer- 
ing sacrifices.  It  is  now,  however,  well  known  that 
they  are  tombs,  which  is  proved  by  the  fact  that 
under  many  of  them  have  been  found  cinerary  urns, 
calcined  bones,  and  sometimes  entire  skeletons.  The 
popular  name  of  "  Griants'  graves,"  which  is  applied 
to  them  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  preserves,  with 


328  Artificial  Structures.  [part  iir. 

sufficient  correctness,  the  memory  of  their  original 
purpose.  They  have  other  forms  besides  that  described; 
sometimes  they  are  very  large,  consisting  of  a  chamber 
thirty  or  forty  feet  long,  covered  by  a  series  of  flags 
laid  horizontally,  like  Carngranny  (p.  323)  ;  and  not 
unfrequently  the  chamber  is  in  the  form  of  a  cross. 

The  word  cromlech — crom-Ieac^  sloping  stone — is 
believed  not  to  be  originally  Irish ;  but  to  have  been 
in  late  years  introduced  from  Wales,  where  it  is  used 
merely  as  an  antiquarian  term.  That  it  is  not  an  old 
Irish  word  is  proved  by  the  fact,  that  it  is  not  used 
in  the  formation  of  any  of  our  local  names.  It  has 
none  of  the  marks  of  a  native  term,  for  it  is  not  found 
in  our  old  writings,  and — like  the  expression  "  Druids' 
altars" — it  is  quite  unknown  to  the  Irish-speaking 
peasantry. 

These  sepulclires  are  sometimes  called  Icaha  or 
leahaidh,  old  Irish  lehaid  [labba,labby],Manx  Ihiabhee; 
the  word  literally  signifies  a  bed,  but  is  applied  in 
a  secondary  sense  to  a  grave,  both  in  the  present 
spoken  language  and  in  old  writings.  For  ex- 
ample, in  the  ancient  authority  cited  by  Petrie  (R. 
Towers,  p.  350),  it  is  stated  that  the  great  poet 
Rumann,  who  died  in  the  year  747  at  Rahan  in 
King's  County, ''  was  buried  in  the  same  Jeahcndh  with 
Ua  Suanaigh,  for  his  great  honour  with  God  and  man." 
There  is  a  fine  sepulchral  monument  of  this  kind, 
hitherto  unnoticed,  in  a  mountain  glen  over  Mount 
Russell  near  Charleville,  on  the  borders  of  the 
counties  of  Limerick  and  Cork,  which  the  peasantry 
call  Lahl>a- Incur ^  Oscur's  grave.  O'Brien  (Diet,  voce 
Leaba)  says,  "  Leaba  is  the  name  of  several  places 
in  Ireland,  which  are  by  the  common  peoj)le  called 
Leahthacha  -  na  -  hhfeinne  [Labbaha-na-veana],  the 
monuments  of  the  Fenii  or  old  Irish  champions;"  and 


CHAP.  III.]    Monuments,  Graves,  and  Cemeteries.     329 

it  may  be  remarked  that  Oscur  was  one  of  the  most 
renowned  of  these,  being  the  son  of  Oisin,  the  son  of 
Finn  mac  Cumhal  (see  p.  86,  supra). 

Labby,  which  is  one  of  the  modern  forms  of  this 
term,  is  the  name  of  a  townland  in  Londonderry. 
Sometimes  the  word  is  followed  by  a  personal  name, 
which  is  probably  that  of  the  individual  buried  in  the 
monument ;  as  in  Labbyeslin  near  Mohill  in  Leitrim, 
the  tomb  of  Eslin ;  Labasheeda  in  Clare,  Sioda  or 
Sheedy's  grave.  Sioda  is  the  common  Irish  word  for 
silk  ;  and  accordingly  many  families,  whose  real  an- 
cestral name  is  Sheedy,  now  call  themselves  Silk. 
In  case  of  Labasheeda,  the  inhabitants  believe  that 
it  was  so  called  from  the  beautiful  smooth  sand  in 
the  little  bay  —  Leaha-sioda,  silken  bed,  like  the 
*'  Velvet  strand"  near  Malahide.  Perhaps  they  are 
right. 

Cromlechs  are  called  in  many  parts  of  the  country 
Leaha-DJuarmada-agus-Grai)ine,  the  bed  of  Dairmaid 
and  Grainne  ;  and  this  name  is  connected  with  the 
well-known  legend,  that  Dairmad  O'Duibhne  eloped 
with  Grainne,  the  daughter  of  king  Cormac  mac  Art, 
and  Finn  mac  Cumhal's  betrothed  spouse.  The  pair 
eluded  Finn's  piu^suit  for  a  j^ear  and  a  day,  sleeping 
at  a  different  place  each  night,  under  a  leaha  erected 
by  Diarmaid  after  his  day's  journey  ;  and  according 
to  the  legend  there  were  just  366  of  them  in  Ireland. 
But  this  legend  is  a  late  invention,  and  evidently 
took  its  rise  from  the  word  leabaidh,  which  was  un- 
derstood in  its  literal  sense  of  a  bed.  The  fable  has, 
however,  given  origin  to  the  name  of  Labbadermody, 
Diarmaid's  bed,  a  townland  in  the  parish  of  Clondro- 
hid  in  Cork;  and  to  the  term  Labbacallee— Zert'^^- 
caillighe,  hag's  bed — sometimes  applied  to  these  mo- 
numents. 


330  Artificial  Structures.  [part  iit. 

In  some  parts  of  Ulster  a  cromlecli  is  called  cloch- 
toghhaJa  [clogli-togvla],  i.  e.  raised  or  lifted  stone,  in 
reference  to  the  covering  flag  ;  from  wliicli  Clogh- 
togle  near  Enniskillen,  and  Cloghogle  {t  aspirated 
and  omitted — p.  21),  two  townlands  in  Tyrone,  have 
their  name.  There  is  a  hill  near  Downpatrick  called 
Slieve-na-griddle,  the  mountain  of  the  griddle ;  the 
griddle  is  a  cromlech  on  the  top  of  the  hill ;  but  the 
name  is  half  English,  and  very  modern. 

"  In  many  parts  of  Ireland,  and  particularly  in  dis- 
tricts where  the  stone  circles  occui',  may  be  seen  huge 
blocks  of  stone,  which  evidently  owe  their  upright 
position,  not  to  accident,  but  to  the  design  and  la- 
bour of  an  ancient  people.  They  are  called  by  the 
native  Irish  gallauns  or  leaganns,  and  in  character 
they  are  precisely  similar  to  the  hoar-stones  of  Eng- 
land, the  hare-stane  of  Scotland,  and  the  maen-gwyr 
of  Wales.  Many  theories  have  been  promulgated 
relative  to  their  origin.  They  are  supposed  to  have 
been  idol-stones — to  have  been  stones  of  memorial — 
to  have  been  erected  as  landmarks,  boundaries,  &c. 
— and,  lastly,  to  be  monumental  stones"  (Wakeman's 
"  Handbook  of  Irish  Antiquities,"  p.  17).  "We  know 
that  the  erection  of  j)illar  stones  as  sepulchral  monu- 
ments is  often  recorded  in  ancient  Irish  authorities, 
one  example  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  passage 
quoted  from  Leabhar  na  hUidhi-e  at  page  326 ;  but  it 
is  probable  that  some  were  erected  for  other  purposes. 

There  are  several  words  in  Irish  to  signify  a  pillar 
stone ;  one  of  which  is  coirfhe  or  cairthe  [corha, 
carha].  It  is  used  in  every  part  of  Ireland,  and  has 
given  names  under  various  forms,  to  many  different 
places,  in  several  of  which  the  old  pillar  stones  are 
yet  standing.  The  beautiful  valley  and  lake  of  Grlen- 
car,  on  the  borders  of  Leitrim  and  Sligo,  is  called  in 


CHAP.  III.]    Monuments,  Graves,  and  Cemeteries.    331 

Irisli  Gleann-a^-chairthe,  the  glen  of  the  pillar  stone ; 
but  its  ancient  name,  as  used  by  the  Four  Masters, 
was  Cairtlie-Muilcheann,  Carha  and  Carra,  the 
names  of  several  townlands  in  Ulster  and  Connaught, 
exhibit  the  word  in  its  simple  anglicised  forms. 
There  is  a  place  in  the  parish  of  Clonfert,  Cork,  called 
Knockahorrea,  which  represents  the  Irish  Cnoc-a'- 
chairthe,  the  hill  of  the  pillar  stone  ;  and  in  Louth 
we  find  Drumnacarra,  which  has  nearly  the  same 
meaning. 

These  stones  are  also,  as  Mr.  Wakeman  remarks, 
called  galknins,  and  leaganns.  The  Irish  form  of  the 
first  is  galldn,  which  is  sometimes  corrupted  in  the 
modern  language  to  d all  an ;  it  has  given  name  to 
Gallan  near  Ardstraw  in  Tyrone  ;  and  to  Grallane 
and  Grallanes  in  Cork.  There  are  several  low  hills 
in  Ulster,  which,  from  a  pillar  stone  standing  on  the 
top,  were,  called  Drimigallan,  and  some  of  them  have 
given  names  to  to^mlands.  Aghagallon,  the  field  of 
the  gallan,  is  the  name  of  a  townland  in  Tyrone,  and 
of  a  parish  in  Antrim ;  Knockagallane  (hill)  is  the 
name  of  two  townlands  in  Cork,  and  there  is  a  parish 
near  Mitchelstown  in  the  same  county,  called  Kil- 
guUane,  the  church  of  the  pillar  stone. 

The  word  gaU,  of  which  galldn  is  a  diminutive,  was 
applied  to  standing  stones,  according  to  Cormac  mac 
CuUenan  (see  p.  90,  snpra),  because  they  were  first 
erected  in  Ireland  by  the  Gauls.  This  word  is  also 
used  in  the  formation  of  names ;  as  in  CanguUia,  a 
place  near  Castleisland  in  Kerry,  the  Irish  name  of 
which  is  Ceann-gaUle,  the  head  or  hill  of  the  standing 
stone.  The  adjective  gallach,  meaning  a  place  abound- 
ing in  standing  stones,  or  large  stones  or  rocks,  has 
given  name  to  several  places  now  called  Gallagh, 
scattered  through  all  the  provinces  except  Munster  ; 


332  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

and  G-allow,  the  name  of  a  parish  in  Meath,  is  another 
form  of  the  same  word. 

The  other  term  liagdn  [leegaun]  is  a  diminutive  of 
liag,  which  will  be  noticed  farther  on ;  and  in  its 
application  to  a  standing  stone,  it  is  still  more  com- 
mon than  galldn.  Legan,  Legane,  Legaun,  and 
Leegane,  all  different  anglicised  forms,  are  the  names 
of  several  places  in  different  parts  of  the  country ; 
and  the  English  plui^al  Liggins  (pillar  stones)  is 
found  in  Tyrone.  Ballylegan,  the  town  of  the  stand- 
ing stone,  is  the  name  of  a  place  near  Caher  in  Tip- 
perary,  and  of  another  near  Grlan worth  in  Cork  ;  there 
is  a  place  called  Tooraleagan  {Toor,  a  bleach  green), 
near  Ballylanders  in  Limerick ;  and  Knockalegan, 
the  hill  of  the  pillar  stone,  is  the  name  of  half  a 
dozen  townlands  in  Ulster  and  Munster. 

Fert,  plural  ferta,  signifies  a  grave  or  trench.  The 
old  name  of  Slane  on  the  Boyne,  was  Ferta-fer-Feic, 
and  the  account  given  by  Colgan  (Trias  Thaum., 
p.  20)  of  the  origin  of  this  name,  brings  out  very 
clearly  the  meaning  of  ferta  : — "  There  is  a  j)lace  on 
the  north  margin  of  the  river  Bojme,  now  called 
Siaine  ;  [but  anciently]  it  was  called  Ferta-fer-Feic^ 
i.  e.  the  trenches  or  sepulchres  of  the  men  of  Fiac, 
because  the  servants  of  a  certain  chieftain  named 
Fiac,  dug  deep  trenches  there,  to  inter  the  bodies  of 
the  slain." 

In  the  Book  of  Armagh  there  is  an  interesting 
account  by  Tii^echan,  of  the  biuial  in  the  ferta,  of 
Laeghaire's  tliree  daughters  (see  p.  173,  SKpra),  who 
had  been  converted  by  St.  Patrick  : — ''  And  the  days 
of  mourning  for  the  king's  daughters  were  accom- 
plished, and  they  buried  them  near  the  well  Clebach ; 
and  they  made  a  circular  ditch  like  to  d^.  ferta ;  because 
so  the  Scotic  people  and  gentiles  were  used  to  do, 


CHAP.  HI.]  Monuments^  Graves,  and  Cemeteries.     333 

but  with  lis  it  is  called  Beliquice  (Irish  Beleg),  i.  e. 
the  remains  of  the  virgins"  (Todd's  Life  of  St. 
Patrick,  p.  455),  Ferta  was  originally  a  pagan  term, 
as  the  above  passage  very  clearly  shows,  but  like 
cluaiii  and  other  words,  it  was  often  adopted  by  the 
early  Irish  saints  (see  Reeves's  "  Ancient  Churches 
of  Ai-magh,"  p.  47). 

The  names  Farta,  Ferta,  and  Fartha  (i.  e.  graves), 
each  of  which  is  applied  to  a  townland,  exhibit  the 
plural  in  its  simple  form ;  with  the  addition  of  ach 
to  the  singular,  we  have  Fertagh  and  Fartagh,  i.  e.  a 
place  of  graves,  which  are  names  of  frequent  occur- 
rence. Fertagh  near  Johnstown  in  Kilkenny,  is 
called  by  the  Four  Masters  Fcrta-na-gcaerack,  the 
graves  of  the  sheep  ;  and  O'Donovan  states  that  ac- 
cording to  tradition,  it  was  so  called  because  the  car- 
cases of  a  great  number  of  sheep  which  died  of  a 
distemper,  were  buried  there.  (Foui^  Masters,  Yol.  I. , 
p.  498.)  In  the  parish  of  Magheross,  Monaghan, 
there  is  a  townland  called  Nafarty,  i.  e.  the  graves, 
the  Irish  article  na,  forming  part  of  the  name.  The 
parish  of  Moyarta  in  Clare  which  gives  name  to  a 
barony,  is  called  in  Irish  Magh-fherta,  (fh  silent,  see 
p.  20),  the  plain  of  the  grave. 

jReilig,  old  Irish  relec,  means  a  cemetery  or  grave- 
yard ;  it  is  the  Latin  reUquice,  and  was  borrowed  very 
early,  for  it  occurs  in  the  Zeuss  MSS.  The  most  ce- 
lebrated place  in  Ireland  with  this  name  was  Reilig- 
na-riogh,  or  *' the  burial  place  of  the  kings,"  at  the 
royal  palace  of  Cruachan  in  Connaught,  one  of  the 
ancient  regal  cemeteries.  There  are  only  a  few 
places  in  Ireland  taking  their  names  from  this  term. 
Belick  is  the  name  of  two  townlands  in  Westmeath, 
and  there  is  a  graveyard  in  the  parish  of  Carragh 
near  Naas,  county  Kildare,  called  The  Relick,  i.  e. 


334  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

the  cemetery.  The  parish  of  RelickmuiTy  [and 
Athassel]  in  Tipperary,  took  its  name  from  an  old 
burial  ground,  whose  church  must  have  been  dedi- 
cated to  the  Blessed  Yii^gin,  for  the  name  signifies 
Mary's  cemetery.  One  mile  S.  E.  of  Portstewart  in 
Londonderry,  there  are  two  townlands  called  Rose- 
lick  More  and  Eoselick  Beg.  Eoselick  is  a  modern 
contraction  for  Rosrelick  as  we  find  it  wiitten  in  the 
Taxation  of  1306  ;  and  the  name  signifies  the  ros  or 
point  of  the  cemetery.  There  is  a  spot  in  Eoselick 
Beg  where  large  quantities  of  human  remains  have 
been  found,  and  the  people  have  a  tradition  that  a 
church  once  existed  there;  showing  that  the  name 
preserves  a  fragment  of  true  history  (Eccl.  Ant.  p.  75) . 


CHAPTEE  lY. 

TOWNS  AND  VILLAGES. 

"  The  most  interesting  word  connected  -with  topical 
nomenclature  is  halli/.  As  an  existing  element,  it  is 
the  most  prevalent  of  all  local  terms  in  Ireland,  there 
being  6400  townlands,  or  above  a  tenth  of  the  sum 
total,  into  [the  beginning  of]  whose  names  this  word 
enters  as  an  element.  And  this  is  a  much  smaller 
proportion  than  existed  at  the  beginning  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  when  there  was  a  tendency,  at  least 
in  some  of  the  northern  counties,  to  prefix  haUy  to 
almost  every  name  whose  meaning  would  admit  of 
it."  ("  The  townland  Distribution  of  Ireland,"  by 
the  Eev.  Wm.  Eeeves,  D.  D.  :  Proc.  E.  I.  A.,  Vol. 
YIL,  p.  473,  where  this  word  bai/e  is  fully  discussed.) 
The  Irish  word  baii^  is  now  understood  to  mean  a 


CHAP.  IV.]  Towns  and  Villages.  335 

town  or  townland,  but  in  its  original  acceptation 
it  denoted  simply  locus — place  or  situation;  it  is  so 
explained  in  various  ancient  glosses,  such  as  those 
in  the  Book  of  Armagh,  Cormac's  Gllossary,  the 
Book  of  Lecan,  &c. ;  and  it  is  used  in  this  sense  in 
the  Leabhar  na  hUidhre,  and  in  many  other  old 
authorities. 

In  writings  of  more  modern  date,  it  is  often  used 
to  signify  a  residence  or  military  station — a  natural 
extension  of  meaning  from  the  original.  For  instance, 
the  Four  Masters,  at  1560,  state  that  Owen  O'Roui^ke, 
having  been  kept  in  prison  by  his  brother,  slew  his 
keeper,  "  and  ascending  to  the  top  of  the  haile, 
cried  out  that  the  castle  was  in  his  power;"  in  which 
baiie  evidently  means  the  fortress  in  which  he  was 
confined.  In  the  Yellow  Book  of  Lecan,  an  ancient 
gloss  explains  a  rath  (i.e.  a  fort  or  residence)  by  baik; 
and  in  the  story  of  ''  The  fate  of  the  children  of  Lir" 
we  read  : — "  She  [Aeife]  went  on  to  [the  fairy  resi- 
dence called]  Siclh  Buidhhh  Deirg ;  and  the  nobles 
of  the  haile  bade    her    welcome"   (Atlantis,   YII., 

This  application  of  the  term  is  obviously  pre- 
served in  the  name  of  the  tongue  of  land  on 
which  the  Howth  lighthouse  is  built,  which  is 
called  the  Green  Bailey.  Our  Annals  relate  that 
Criffan,  monarch  of  Ireland  in  the  first  century,  had 
his  residence.  Dun- Criffan^  at  Ben  Edar  or  Howth, 
where  he  died  in  A.  D.  9,  "  after  returning  from 
the  famous  expedition  upon  which  he  had  gone.  It 
was  from  this  expedition  he  brought  with  him  the 
wonderful  jewels,  among  which  were  a  golden  chariot, 
and  a  golden  chess-board  [inlaid]  with  a  hundred 
transparent  gems,  and  a  beautiful  cloak  embroidered 
with  gold.     He  brought  a  conquering  sword,  with 


336  Artificial  Structures.  [part  in. 

many  serpents  of  refined  massy  gold  inlaid  in  it ;  a 
shield  with  bosses  of  bright  silver ;  a  spear  from  the 
wound  of  which  no  one  recovered;  a  sling  from  which 
no  erring  shot  was  discharged  ;  and  two  grej^hounds, 
with  a  silver  chain  between  them,  which  chain  was 
worth  three  hundred  cunihah;  with  many  other  pre- 
;cious  articles."    (Four  Masters,  A.  D.  9.) 

Petrie  and  O'Donovan  both  believe  that  the  light- 
house occupies  the  site  of  this  ancient  fortress ;  and 
portions  of  the  fosses  by  w^hich  it  was  defended  are 
still  clearly  traceable  across  the  neck  of  the  little 
peninsula.  The  Eev.  J.  F.  Shearman  is  of  opinion  that 
it  was  situated  higher  up,  where  the  old  Bailey  light- 
house stood ;  but  this  does  not  invalidate  the  deriva- 
tion of  the  name.  And  so  the  memory  of  Criffan's 
old  hally,  which  has  long  been  lost  in  popular  tradi- 
tion, still  lives  in  the  name  of  the  Bailey  lighthouse. 
In  the  colloquial  language  of  the  present  day  the 
word  haile  is  used  to  signify  home,  which  is  obviously  a 
relic  of  its  more  ancient  application  to  a  residence. 

In  modem  times  this  word  is  usually  translated 
"  town  ;"  but  in  this  sense  it  is  applied  to  the  smallest 
village,  even  to  a  collection  of  only  a  couple  of 
houses.  It  is  also  used  to  designate  mere  townlands, 
vv'ithout  any  reference  at  all  to  habitations.  This  ap- 
plication is  as  old  as  the  twelfth  century  ;  for  we  are 
informed  by  Dr.  Eeeves  that  the  word  was  often  so 
used  in  the  charters  of  that  period,  such  as  those  of 
Kells,  Newry,  Ferns,  &c.,  in  which  numbers  of  deno- 
minations are  mentioned,  whose  names  contain  it  in 
the  forms,  bali,  balei/,  balli,  hale,  &c.  It  is  probable 
that  in  many  old  names  which  have  descended  to  our 
own  time  the  word  hally  is  used  in  the  sense  of  ''  re- 
sidence," but  it  is  difficult  or  impossible  to  distin- 
guish them  ;  and  I  have,  for  the  sake  of  uniformity. 


CHAP.  IV.]  Towns  and  Villages.  387 

througliout  this  book  translated  the  word  by  "  town" 
or  "  townland." 

The  most  common  anglicised  form  of  haile  is  hally^ 
which  is  found  in  a  vast  number  of  names  ;  such  as 
Ballyorgan  near  Kilfinnane  in  Limerick,  which  the 
people  call  in  Irish  Baik-Aragdin,  the  town  of  Ara- 
gan,  an  ancient  Irish  personal  name,  the  same  as  the 
modern  Horgan  or  Organ.  In  Ballybofey  (Donegal), 
the  ballg  is  a  modern  addition  ;  and  the  place,  if  it 
had  retained  an  anglicised  form  of  the  old  name, 
Srath-ho-Fiaich  (Four  Masters),  should  have  been 
called  Srafhhofcy.  Some  old  chief  or  occupier  named 
Fiach  must  have  in  past  times  kept  his  cows  on  the 
beautiful  holm  along  the' river  Finn  near  the  tovv^n  ; 
for  the  name  signifies  the  srafh  or  river  holm  of 
Fiach's  cows.  Ballyheige  in  Kerry  has  its  name 
from  the  family  of  O'Teige,  its  full  Irish  name  being 
Baile-ui-Thadg ;  and  Ballylanders  is  in  like  manner 
called  from  the  English  family  of  Landers.  Indeed, 
a  considerable  proportion  of  these  Balhjs  take  their 
names  from  families,  of  which  many  are  so  j^lain  as 
to  tell  their  own  story. 

When  holly  is  joined  to  the  article  followed  by  a 
noun  in  the  genitive  singular,  if  the  noun  be  mascu- 
line, the  Irish  Baile-an-  is  generally  contracted  to 
Ballin-;  as  we  find  in  Ballinrobe  in  Mayo,  which  the 
Four  Masters  v/rite  Baile-an-Rodhha  [Eoba],  the 
town  of  the  (river)  Eobe  ;  and  in  Ballincurry,  Bal- 
lincurra,  and  BailinciuTig,  all  which  are  in  Irish 
Baile-an-churmigh,  the  town  of  the  moor  or  marsh. 
But  it  is  occasionally  made  Bally n-,  as  in  Ballyneety, 
the  name  of  a  dozen  places,  chiefly  in  Waterford, 
Tipperary,  and  Limerick,  which  represents  the  sound 
of  the  likh.  Baile-an-F/iaeite,  the  town  of  White,  a 
family  name  of  English  origin.      If  the  following 

z 


338  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

noun  be  feminine,  or  in  the  genitive  plural,  the  Irish 
Bcnle-na-  is  made  either  Ballina-  or  Ballyna-  ;  as  in 
the  common  townland  names,  Ballynahinch  and  Bal- 
linahinch,  the  town  of  the  island ;  Ballynaglogh,  the 
town  of  the  stones. 

In  the  counties  on  the  eastern  coast,  halhj  is  very 
often  shortened  to  hal^  of  which  there  are  numerous 
examples,  such  as  Baldoyle  near  Dublin,  w^hich  is 
called  in  Irishl»r///<^-I}?'/^/^^/^027/,  the  town  of  the  black 
GalloT  Dane  ;  Balbriggan,  the  town  of  Brecan,  a  very 
usual  personal  name  ;  Bah-ath,  the  town  of  the  fort  ; 
Baltrasna,  cross-town,  i.  e.  placed  in  a  transverse 
dii'ection,  the  same  name  as  Ballytrasna,  Ballytarsna, 
and  Ballytarsney. 

The  plural  of  haile  is  hailte,  which  aj)pears  in  names 
as  it  is  pronounced,  halfTj.  There  is  a  townland  in 
Wicklow  near  Hollywood,  called  Baltyboys,  i.  e. 
Boice's  townlands  ;  and  a  further  step  in  the  process  of 
anglicisation  appears  in  its  alias  name  of  Boystown, 
which  form  has  given  name  to  the  parish.  Baity lum 
in  Armagh,  bare  townlands,  i.  e.  bare  of  trees ; 
Baltydaniel  in  Cork,  Donall's  or  Domhnall's  town- 
lands.  The  diminutives  Balleen  and  Balteen  (little 
town)  are  the  names  of  several  places  in  Kilkenny 
and  the  Munster  counties  ;  Balteenbrack  in  Cork, 
speckled  little  town. 

Baile  is  not  much  liable  to  changes  of  foiTQ  further 
than  I  have  noticed  ;  yet  in  a  few  names  we  find  it 
much  disguised.  For  instance,  Coolballow  in  the 
parish  of  Kerloge,  Wexford,  represents  Cul-hhaile, 
back  tOTNTL,  the  same  as  we  find  in  Coolbally  and 
Coolballyogan  (Hogan's)  in  Queen's  County,  and 
Coolballyshane  (John's)  in  Limerick.  The  proper 
original  of  Baur«7/e  in  Innishowen,  Donegal,  is  Bo- 
bhaile,  cowtown ;  Lough^o//ard  near  Clane,  Kildare, 


CHAP.  IV.]  Toions  and  Villages.  339 

the  lake  of  tlie  high-town  ;  DeYryicillow  in  Leitrim 
represents  Doire-bhaile,  which,  with  the  root  words 
reversed,  is  the  same  name  as  Ballinderrj,  the  town 
of  the  oak  wood. 

Srdid  [sraud]  signifies  a  street,  and  appears  to  be 
borrowed  from  the  Latin  strata.  The  Four  Masters 
use  it  once  when  they  mention  Sraid-an-fJuona 
[Sraud-an-eena],  the  street  of  the  wine,  now  Wine- 
tavern-street  in  Dublin.  There  are  several  town- 
lands  in  Antrim,  Donegal,  and  Londonderry,  called 
Straid,  which  is  one  of  its  English  forms,  and  which 
enters  into  several  other  names  in  the  same  counties ; 
we  find  Strade  in  Mayo,  and  Stradeen,  little  street, 
in  Monaghan.  It  is  also  sometunes  made  stmd,  as 
in  Stradreagh  in  Londonderry,  grey-street ;  Strad- 
avoher  near  Thm4es,  the  street  of  the  road :  Strad- 
brook  near  Monkstown,  Dublin,  is  very  probably  a 
translation  of  Sruthan-na-sraidS,  the  brook  of  the 
street. 

A  village  consisting  of  one  street,  undefended  by 
either  walls  or  castle — a  small  unfortified  hamlet — 
was  often  called  Sradbhaile,  i.  e.  the  street-town ;  which, 
in  its  English  form,  Stradbally,  is  the  name  of  several 
villages,  parishes,  and  townlands,  in  the  southern  half 
of  Ireland.  Stradbally  in  Queen's  County,  is  men- 
tioned by  the  Four  Masters,  who  call  it  "  Sradbhaile 
ofLeix." 

Buirghes  [burris]  signifies  a  burgage  or  borough. 
This  word  was  introduced  by  the  Anglo-Normans, 
who  applied  it  to  the  small  borough  towns  which 
they  established,  several  of  which  have  retained  the 
original  designations.  After  the  twelfth  century,  it 
is  often  found  in  Irish  ^Titings,  but  always  as  a  part 
of  local  names. 

z2 


340  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

It  is  usually  spelled  in  the  present  anglicised  names, 
Boiris,  Burris,  and  Bui'ges,  which  are  met  with 
forming  the  whole  or  part  of  names  in  several  of  the 
Munster,  Connaught,  and  Leinster  counties  :  it  does 
not  occur  in  Ulster.  Burriscarra,  Borris-in-Ossory, 
Borrisoleagh,  and  Burrishoole,  w^ere  so  called  to  dis- 
tinguish them  from  each  other,  and  from  other 
Borrises  ;  being  situated  in  the  ancient  territories  of 
Carra,  Ossory,  Ileaghor  Ui-Luighdheach,  and  TJmhall, 
or  "  The  Owles."  Borrisnafarney,  the  name  of  a 
parish  in  Tipperary,  signifies  the  borough  of  the 
alder-plain  (see  Farney)  ;  Borrisokane,  O'Keane's 
borough  town. 

Graig,  a  village.  It  is  supposed  by  many  to  have 
been  introduced  by  the  Anglo-Normans,  but  its  ori- 
gin is  very  doubtful.  It  is  used  extensively  in  the 
formation  of  names,  there  being  upwards  of  sixty 
places  called  draigue,  and  a  great  many  others  of 
whose  names  it  forms  a  part.  It  does  not  occur  at 
all  in  Ulster. 

The  name  of  Grraiguenamanagh  in  Kilkenny,  bears 
testimony  to  its  former  ecclesiastical  eminence,  for  it 
signifies  the  village  of  the  monks  ;  Grraiguealug  and 
G-raiguenaspiddogue,  both  in  Carlow,  the  village  of 
the  hollow,  and  of  the  robin-redbreasts ;  Grraiguefra- 
hane  in  Tipperary,  the  graig  of  the  freaghans  or 
whortleberries.  Gragane  and  Grraigeen  in  Limerick, 
Gragan  in  Clare,  and  Grageen  in  Wexford,  all  signify 
little  village,  being  different  forms  of  the  diminutive  ; 
Ardgraigue  in  Galway,  and  Ardgregane  in,  Tip- 
perary, the  height  of  the  village. 


CHAP,  v.]       Fords  J  Weirs,  and  Bridges.  341 

CHAPTEE  Y. 

FORDS,  WEIRS,  AND  BRIDGES. 

The  early  inhabitants  of  a  country,  often,  for  obvious 
reasons,  selected  the  banks  of  rivers  for  their  settle- 
ments ;  and  the  position  most  generally  chosen  was 
opposite  a  part  of  the  stream  sufficiently  shallow  to 
be  fordable  by  foot  passengers.  Many  of  our  impor- 
tant towns,  as  their  names  clearly  indicate,  derive 
their  origin  from  these  primitive  and  solitary  settle- 
ments ;  but  most  of  the  original  fords  have  been  long 
since  spanned  by  bridges. 

But  whether  there  was  question  of  settlements  or 
not,  the  fordable  points  of  rivers  must  have  been 
known  to  the  very  earliest  colonists,  and  distinguished 
by  names  ;  for  upon  this  knowledge  depended,  in  a 
great  measure,  the  facility  and  safety  of  intercommu- 
nication, before  the  erection  of  bridges.  Fords  were, 
generally  speaking,  natural  features,  but  in  almost  all 
cases  they  were  improved  by  artificial  means,  as  we 
find  mentioned  by  Boate  : — "Concerning  the  fords  : 
it  is  to  be  observed  that  not  every  where,  where  the 
high-ways  meet  with  great  brooks  or  small  rivers, 
bridges  are  found  for  to  pass  them,  but  in  very  many 
places  one  is  constrained  to  ride  through  the  water 
itself,  the  which  could  not  be  done  if  the  rivers  kept 
themselves  everywhere  inclosed  between  their  banks ; 
wherefore  they  are  not  only  suffered  in  such  places  to 
spread  themselves  abroad,  but  men  help  thereto  as 
much  as  they  can,  to  make  the  water  so  much  the 
shallower,  and  consequently  the  easier  to  be  passed'* 
(Nat.  Hist.,  C.  YII.,  Sect.  YII.).     Yery  often  also, 


342  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

when  circmnstances  made  it  necessary,  a  river  was 
rendered  passable  at  some  particular  point,  even  where 
there  was  no  good  natural  ford,  by  laying  down 
stones,  trees,  or  wicker  work.  For  these  reasons  I 
have  included  *' Fords"  in  this  third  Part  among 
artificial  structiu-es. 

There  are  several  Irish  words  for  the  different  kinds 
of  fords,  of  which  the  most  common  is  afJt,  cognate 
with  Latin  vadum.  In  the  various  forms  ath,  ah, 
aiigh,  agh,  a,  &c.,  it  forms  apart  of  hundreds  of  names 
all  over  Ireland  (see  p.  43,  supra).  The  Shannon 
must  have  been  anciently  fordable  at  Athlone  ;  and 
there  was  a  time  when  the  site  of  the  present 
busy  town  was  a  wild  waste,  relieved  by  a  few  soli- 
tary huts,  and  when  the  traveller — directed  perhaps 
by  a  professional  guide  —  struggled  across  the  dange- 
rous passage  where  the  bridge  now  spans  the  stream. 
It  appears  from  the  "  Battle  of  Moylena"  (p.  60)  that 
this  place  was  first  called  Athmore,  great  ford,  which 
was  afterwards  changed  to  Ath-Luain,  the  ford  of 
Luan,  a  man's  name,  formerly  very  common.  I  know 
nothing  fiuiher  of  this  Luan,  except  that  we  learn 
his  father's  name  from  a  passage  in  the  tale  called 
"  The  fate  of  the  children  of  Tuireann,"  in  which  the 
place  is  called  Afh-Luain-mic-Luighdheach,  the  ford  of 
Luan  the  son  of  Lewy. 

Athleague  on  the  Suck  in  the  county  Roscommon, 
is  called  by  the  Four  Masters  Ath-Uag,  the  ford  of 
the  stones,  or  more  fully,  Afh-Uag-3Iaenagain,  from 
St.  Maenagan,  who  was  formerly  venerated  there, 
though  no  longer  remembered.  The  people  say  that 
there  is  one  particular  stone  which  the  river  never 
covers  in  its  frequent  inundations,  and  that  if  it  were 
covered,  the  town  would  be  drowned.  There  was 
another  Ath-liag  on  the  Shannon,  which  is  also  very 


CHAP,  v.]         Fords,  Weirs,  and  Bridges.  343 

often  mentioned  in  the  Annals ;  it  crossed  the  river 
at  the  present  village  of  Lanesborough,  and  it  is  now 
called  in  Irish  Baile-atha-liag,  or  in  English  Bally- 
league  (the  town  of  the  ford  of  the  stones) ,  which  is 
the  name  of  that  part  of  Lanesborongh  lying  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Shannon.  Another  name  nearly  the 
same  as  this,  is  that  of  Athlacca  in  Limerick,  which 
was  so  called  from  a  ford  on  the  Morning  Star  river, 
called  in  Irish  Ath-Ieacach,  stony  ot  flaggy  iovdi.  And 
it  will  appear  as  I  go  on,  that  a  great  many  other 
places  derive  their  names  from  these  stony  fords. 
There  was  another  ford  higher  up  on  the  same  river, 
which  the  Foiu'  Masters  call  Bel-atha-na-nDeise  [Bel- 
lananeas}^],  the  ford-mouth  of  the  Desii,  from  the 
old  territory  of  Deisheag,  which  lay  round  the  hill  of 
Knockany  ;  and  in  the  shortened  form  of  Ath-nDeise 
it  gives  name  to  the  siuTOunding  parish,  now  called 
Athneasy. 

Atli  is  represented  by  aa  in  Drumaa,  the  name  of 
two  townlands  in  Fermanagh,  in  Irish  Dndm-atha, 
the  ridge  of  the  ford.  A  ford  on  the  river  Inny,  for- 
merly siuTOunded  with  trees,  gave  name  to  the  little 
village  of  Finnea  in  Westmeath,  which  the  Four 
Masters  call  Fidh-an-atha  [Fee-an-aha] ,  the  wood  of 
the  ford.  Aifane,  a  well-known  j^lace  on  the  Black- 
water,  took  its  name  from  a  ford  across  the  river 
about  two  miles  below  Cappoquin  ;  it  is  mentioned 
by  the  Four  Masters,  when  recording  the  battle  fought 
there  in  the  year  1565,  between  the  rival  houses  of 
Desmond  and  Ormond,  and  they  call  it  Ath-mheadh- 
on  \_Ah-vane'] ,  middle  ford.  At  the  year  524,  we  read  in 
the  Four  Masters,  "the  battle  oiAth-Sidhe  [Ah-shee] 
( was  gained)  by  Muircheartach  (king  of  Ireland)  against 
the  Leinstermen,  where  Sidhe,  the  son  of  Dian,  was 
slain,  hovsi^}ioxn.Ath- Sidhe  [on  the Boyne]  is  called;" 


344  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

and  the  place  has  preserved  this  name,  now  changed 
to  Assey,  which,  from  the  original  ford,  has  been  ex- 
tended to  a  parish.  The  same  authority  states 
(A.  D.  526),  that  Sin  [Sheen],  the  daughter  of  Sidhe, 
afterwards  killed  Muircheartach,  by  biu-ning  the 
house  of  Cletty  over  his  head,  in  revenge  of  her 
father's  death. 

Ath  is  very  often  combined  with  haile,  forming  the 
compound  BaUe-Atha,  the  town  of  the  ford;  of  which 
Ballyboy  in  the  King's  County,  a  village  giving 
name  to  a  parish  and  barony,  is  an  example,  being 
called  in  various  authorities,  Baile-atha-huidhe  [Bally- 
aboy],  the  town  of  the  yellow  ford.  There  are  many 
townlands  in  difierent  counties,  of  the  same  name, 
but  it  probably  means  yellow  toAvn  [Baile-buidhe'] 
in  some  of  these  cases.  Ballylahan  in  the  parish  of 
Templemore,  Mayo,  is  called  in  the  Annals  Baile- 
atha-Jeathain,  the  town  of  the  broad  ford.  The  parish 
of  Bailee  in  Down,  is  written  in  the  Taxation  of  1306, 
Baliath,  which  shows  clearly  that  the  original  name 
is  Baile-atJia  (Eeeves,  Eccl.  Ant.,  p.  41), 

The  diminutive  athcui  is  of  frequent  occurrence  ;  in 
the  form  of  Ahane  (little  ford) ,  it  gives  name  to  seve- 
ral townlands  in  the  southern  counties ;  and  there  is 
a  parish  in  Deny  called  Aghanloo,  or  in  Irish  Athan- 
Lugha,  Lewy's  little  ford. 

The  word  hel  or  beat  [bale]  primarily  signifies  a 
mouth,  but  in  a  secondary  sense  it  was  used,  like  the 
Latin  o-s,  to  signify  an  entrance  to  any  place.  In 
this  sense  it  appears  in  Bellaugh,  the  name  of  a  vil- 
lage lying  west  of  Athlone.  Between  this  village 
and  the  town  there  was  formerly  a  slough  or  miry 
place,  called  in  Irish  a  lafhnch  [lahagh],  which  the 
Four  Masters  mention  by  the  name  of  Lathach-Caich- 
tutJihil,  Catubel's  miry  place  ;  and  the  spot  where  the 


CHAP,  v.]         Fords,  Weirs,  and  Bridges.  345 

village  stands,  was  called  Bel'lathaigh,  the  entrance 
to  the  lathach,  which  is  now  correctly  enough  angli- 
cised Bellangh.  Bellaghy,  another  and  more  correct 
form,  is  the  name  of  a  village  in  Londonderry,  of 
another  in  Sligo,  and  of  a  townland  in  Antrim. 

This  word  hel  is  very  often  united  with  ath,  form- 
ing the  compound  hel-atha,  which  signifies  ford- 
entrance — an  entrance  by  a  ford — literally  mouth  of 
a  ford ;  it  is  applied  to  a  ford,  and  has  in  fact  much 
the  same  signification  as  ath  itself.  It  is  so  often 
used  in  this  manner  that  the  word  hel  alone  some- 
times denotes  a  ford.  Belclare,  now  the  name  of  a 
parish  in  Gralway,  was  more  anciently  applied  to  a 
castle  erected  to  defend  a  ford  on  the  road  leading  to 
Tuam,  which  was  called  Bel-an-chlair,  the  ford  or 
entrance  to  the  plain.  There  is  also  a  townland  in 
Mayo,  called  Belclare,  and  another  in  Sligo,  which 
the  Four  Masters  call  Bel-an-chlair.  Phale  near 
Enniskeen  in  Cork,  is  called  in  the  Annals  of  Innis- 
fallen,  Inis-an-hheiJ  [Innishanm/e],  the  island  or 
river  holm  of  the  mouth,  the  last  syllable  of  which  is 
preserved  in  the  present  name. 

The  proper  anglicised  form  of  hel-atJia,  is  hella^ 
which  is  the  beginning  of  a  great  many  names.  Bel- 
lanagare  in  Roscommon,  formerly  the  residence  of 
Charles  0' Conor  the  historian,  is  called  in  Irish  Bel- 
atha-na-gcarr,  the  ford-mouth  of  the  cars ;  Lisbellaw 
in  Fermanagh,  Lios-hel-atha,  the  Us  of  the  ford- 
mouth.  Sometimes  the  article  intervenes,  making 
hel-an-afha  in  the  original,  the  correct  modern  re- 
presentative of  which  isbenaiid,  as  wefindinBellana- 
cargy  in  Cavan,  the  ford-mouth  of  the  rock. 

Bel-atha  is  often  changed  in  modern  names  to  halH 
or  hally,  as  if  the  original  root  were  haile,  a  town ; 
and   hel-cm-atha   is  made   hallina.      Both    of  these 


346  Artificial  Structures..  [part  iit. 

modern  forms  are  very  general,  but  tliey  are  so  in- 
correct as  to  deserve  the  name  of  corruptions. 
Ballina  is  the  name  of  about  twenty-five  townlands 
and  villages  in  different  j)arts  of  Ireland,  several  of 
which  are  written  Bel-au-afha  in  the  Annals.  Ballina 
in  Tipperary,  opposite  Killaloe,  was  so  called  from 
the  ford — now  spanned  by  a  bridge — called  Ath-na- 
horuiuha,  the  ford  of  the  cow  tribute  ;  and  here  no 
doubt  the  great  monarch  Brian  was  accustomed  to 
cross  the  Shannon  when  returning  to  his  palace  of 
Kincora,  with  the  herds  of  cattle  exacted  from  the 
Leinstermen  (see  next  page).  Ballina  in  Mayo  on 
the  Moy,  is  somewhat  different,  and  represents  a 
longer  name,  for  it  is  called  in  an  ancient  poem  in 
the  Book  of  Lecan,  Bel-atha-an-fheadha  [Bellahana], 
the  ford-mouth  of  the  wood.  We  find  this  compound 
also  in  Ballinafad  in  Sligo,  which  the  Four  Masters 
call  Bel-an-atha-fada^  the  mouth  of  the  long  ford  ; 
and  there  is  a  village  in  Leitrim  and  several  town- 
lands  in  other  counties,  called  Ballinamore,  the 
mouth  of  the  great  ford. 

Bel-atha  is  reduced  to  bally  and  halli  in  the  fol- 
lowing names.  The  ford  on  the  river  Erne  round 
which  the  town  of  Ballyshannon  rose,  is  called  by 
the  annalists,  Afh-Seanaigh  and  Bel-atha- Seanaigh 
[Bellashanny]  ;  from  the  latter,  the  modern  name  is 
derived,  and  it  means  the  mouth  of  Seanach's  or 
Shannagh's  ford,  a  man's  name  in  common  use. 
The  on  in  Ballyshanno;^  is  a  modern  corruption ;  the 
people  call  the  town  Bally Hhanny.,  which  is  nearer  the 
original ;  and  in  an  Inquisition  of  James  I.,  it  is 
given  mth  perfect  correctness,  Bealashanny.  Bally- 
shannon in  Kildare,  west  of  KilcuUen  Bridge,  is  also 
called  in  Irish  Ath-Seanaigh  (Four  Masters),  Sean- 
ach's ford  ;  and  the  present  name  was  formed,  as  in 


CHAP,  v.]         Fords,  Weirs,  and  Bridges.  347 

ease  of  the  northern  town,  by  prefixing  Bel.  It 
appears  from  a  record  in  the  Annals  of  Ulster,  that 
this  place  in  Kildare  was  also  called  JJchha. 

There  is  a  ford  on  the  river  Boro  in  Wexford, 
called  Bel-atha-Borumha,  which  preserves  the  me- 
mory of  the  well-known  Borumlta  or  cow  tribute, 
long  exacted  from  the  kings  of  Leinster  by  the  mo- 
narchs  of  Ireland  (see  p.  151).  From  the  latter  part 
of  the  name,  Borumha  [Born],  this  river — so  lovingly 
commemorated  in  Mr.  Kennedy's  interesting  book, 
"  The  Banks  of  the  Boro" — derives  its  name.  The 
ford  is  called  Bealahorou'C,  in  an  Inquisition  of 
Charles  I.,  and  in  the  modern  form  Bally  boro,  it 
gives  name  to  a  townland.  Ballylicky.  on  the  road 
from  Grlengarriff  to  Bantry  in  Cork,  where  the  river 
Ouvane  enters  Bantry  Bay,  is  called  in  Irish  Bel- 
afha-Uce,  the  ford-mouth  of  the  flag  stone,  and  who- 
ever has  seen  it  will  acknowledge  the  appropriateness 
of  the  name.  All  the  places  called  Bellanalack, 
derive  their  names  from  similar  fords. 

"When  a  river  spread  widely  over  a  craggy  or  rug- 
ged spot,  the  rough  shallow  ford  thus  formed,  was 
often  called  scairhh  [scarriv],  or  as  O'Eeilly  spells  it, 
scirbh.  A  ford  of  this  kind  on  a  small  river  in  Clare, 
gave  name  to  the  little  town  of  Scarriff ;  and  there 
are  several  townlands  of  the  same  name  in  Cork, 
Kerry,  and  Gralway.  Near  Newtownhamilton  in 
Armagh,  there  are  two  adjoining  towTilands  called 
Skerriff ;  and  the  same  term  is  found  shortened  in 
Scarnageeragh  in  Monaghan,  the  shallow  ford  of  the 
sheep. 

The  syllable  ach  is  sometimes  added  to  this  word 
in  the  colloquial  language,  making  scairhheach  [scar- 
vagh],  which  has  the  same  meaning  as  the  original ; 
this  derivative  is  represented  by  Scarva,  the  name  of 


348  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

a  village  in  Down  ;  Scarvy  in  Monaglian  ;  and  Scar- 
ragli  in  Tij)perary  and  Cork. 

In  the  end  of  names,  when  the  word  occurs  in  the 
genitive,  it  is  usually  though  not  always,  anglicised 
scarry,  as  in  Ballj^nascarry  in  Westmeath  and  Kil- 
kenny, the  town  of  the  ford  ;  and  Lackanascarry  in 
Limerick,  the  flagstones  of  the  shallow  ford.  A  ford 
of  this  kind  where  the  old  road  crosses  the  Cookstown 
river,  gave  name  to  Enniskerry  in  Wicklow.  This 
spot  is  truly  described  by  the  term  scairbh,  being 
rugged  and  stony  even  now ;  the  natives  call  it  An- 
na skerr?/,  and  its  Irish  name  is  obviously  Ath-na- 
scairbhe  [Anascarvy] ,  the  ford  of  the  scarriff  or  rough 
river-crossing. 

The  word  fearsad  [farsad]  is  applied  to  a  sandbank 
formed  near  the  mouth  of  a  river,  by  the  opposing 
ciurents  of  tide  and  stream,  which  at  low  water  often 
formed  a  firm,  and  comparatively  safe  passage  across. 
The  term  is  pretty  common,  especially  in  the  west, 
where  these  farsets  are  of  considerable  importance,  as 
in  many  places  they  serve  the  inhabitants  instead  of 
bridges.  Colgan  translates  the  word,  "  vadum  vel 
trajcctus.''^ 

A  sandbank  of  this  kind  across  the  mouth  of  the 
Lagan  gave  name  to  Belfast,  which  is  called  in  Irish 
authorities  Bel-feirsde,  the  ford  of  the  far  set ;  and  the 
same  name,  in  the  uncontracted  foiTa  Belfarsad,  oc- 
curs in  Mayo.  There  is  now  a  bridge  over  the  old 
sandbank  that  gave  name  to  the  village  of  Farsid 
near  Aghada  on  Cork  harbour :  the  origin  of  tliis 
name  is  quite  forgotten,  and  the  people  call  it  Farsidc, 
and  interpret  it  as  an  English  word  ;  but  the  name 
of  the  adjacent  to^Tiland  of  Ballynafarsid  proves,  if 
proof  were  necessary,  that  it  took  its  name  from  a 


CHAP,  v.]  FordSf  TTeu'S,  and  Bridges.  349 

farset.  On  the  river  Swilly  where  it  narrows  near 
Letterkennj,  there  was  o,  farset  vfhich  in  old  times 
was  evidently  an  important  pass,  for  the  Foiu"  Mas- 
ters record  several  battles  fought  near  it :  it  is  now 
called  Farsetmore,  and  it  can  still  be  crossed  at  low 
water. 

A  kish  or  kesh^  in  Irish  eels  [kesh] ,  is  a  kind  of  cause- 
way made  of  wickerwork,  and  sometimes  of  boughs 
of  trees  and  brambles,  across  a  small  river,  a  marsh, 
or  a  deep  bog.  The  word  means  primarily  wicker  or 
basket  work  ;  and  to  this  day,  in  some  parts  of  Ire- 
land, they  measure  and  sell  turf  by  the  kish,  which 
originally  meant  a  large  wicker  basket.  These 
wickerwork  bridges  or  kishes,  were  formerly  very 
common  in  every  part  of  Ireland,  and  are  so  still  in 
some  districts.  The  Four  Masters  record  at  1483, 
that  O'Donnell  on  a  certain  occasion  constructed  a 
ceasaighdroichet  or  mcker  bridge  across  the  Black- 
water  in  Tyrone  for  his  army  ;  and  when  they  had 
crossed,  he  let  the  bridge  float  down  the  stream. 
The  memory  of  this  primitive  kind  of  bridge  is  pre- 
served in  many  places  by  the  names. 

This  word  appears  in  its  simple  form  in  Kesh,  a 
small  town  in  Fermanagh  ;  and  in  Kish,  a  townland 
near  Arklow ;  and  I  suppose  the  Kish  light,  outside 
Dublin  bay,  must  have  been  originally  floated  on  a 
wicker  framework.  A  causeway  of  brambles  and 
clay  made  across  a  marsh,  not  far  from  a  high  lime- 
stone rock,  gave  name  to  the  village  of  Keshcarrigan 
in  Leitrim,  the  kesh  of  the  carrigan  or  little  rock. 
There  is  a  place  not  far  from  Mallow,  called  Anna- 
kisha  (Ath-na-cise),  the  ford  of  the  wickerwork  cause- 
way— a  name  that-  points  clearly  to  the  manner  in 
which  the  ford  on  the  river  was  formerly  rendered 
passable. 


350  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

Sometimes  ceiseach^  or  in  English  kishagh,  is  the 
form  used,  and  this  in  fact  is  rather  more  common 
than  Txish  :  we  find  it  as  Kisha  near  Wexford ;  and 
the  same  form  is  preserved  in  Kishaboy  {hoy,  yellow) 
in  Armagh.  Other  modifications  are  seen  in  Casey 
Grlehe  in  Donegal ;  Cassagh  in  Kilkenny ;  and  in 
Cornakessagh  in  Fermanagh,  the  round  hill  of  the 
wicker  causeway.  Kishoge,  little  kish,  is  the  name 
of  a  place  near  Lucan  in  Dublin. 

Those  wickerwork  causeways  were  also  often  de- 
signated by  the  word  cliath  [clee],  which  primarily 
means  a  hurdle  ;  the  diminutive  clethnat  glosses  tigil- 
lum  in  the  Sg.  MS.  of  Zeuss  (Gram.  Celt.,  p.  282)  ; 
and  it  is  cognate  with  Lat.  cliteUce  and  Fr.  claie.  An 
artificial  ford  of  this  kind  was  constructed  across  the 
Liffey  (see  p.  45)  in  very  early  ages ;  and  the  city 
that  subsequently  sprung  \x^  around  it,  was  from  this 
circumstance  called  Ath-cUafh  [Ah-clee],  the  ford  of 
hurdles,  which  was  the  ancient  name  of  Dublin.  This 
is  the  name  still  used  by  speakers  of  Irish  in  every 
part  of  Ireland  ;  but  they  join  it  to  Bally — Baile- 
atha-cliath  (which  they  pronounce  Blaa-clee),  the 
town  of  the  hurdle  ford. 

The  present  name,  Dublin,  is  written  in  the  Annals 
Duibh-linn,  which  in  some  of  the  Latin  Lives  of  the 
Saints,  is  translated  nigra  fherma,  i.  e.  black  pool ;  it 
was  originally  the  name  of  that  part  of  the  Lifi'ey  on 
which  the  city  is  built,  and  is  sufficiently  descriptive 
at  the  present  day.  DHihh-Unn  is  sounded  Duvlin  or 
Divlin,  and  it  was  undoubtedly  so  pronounced  down 
to  a  comparatively  recent  period,  by  speakers  of  both 
English  and  Irish  ;  for  in  old  English  writings,  as 
well  as  on  Danish  coins,  we  find  the  name  writ- 
ten Bivlin,  Dyjiin,  &c.,  and  even  yet  the  Welsh 
call  it  Din  as  Dulin.     The   present   name   has  been 


CHAP,  v.]        Fords ^  Weirs,  and  Bridges.  351 

formed  by  the  restoration  of  the  aspirated  h  (see  p.  43, 
supra). 

There  are  several  other  places  through  Ireland 
called  DuibhUu)),  but  the  aspiration  of  the  h  is  ob- 
served in  all,  and  consequently  not  one  of  them  has 
taken  the  anglicised  form  Dublin.  Devlin  is  the 
name  of  eight  townlands  in  Donegal,  Mayo,  and 
Monaghan  ;  Dowling  occui's  near  Fiddown  in  Kil- 
kenny, Doolin  in  Clare,  and  Ballincloolin,  the  town 
of  the  black  pool,  in  Kildare. 

In  several  of  these  cases,  the  proper  name  was 
AtJi-cHath,  hmxlle  ford,  which  was  formerly  common 
as  a  local  name ;  and  they  received  their  present 
names  merely  in  imitation  of  Dublin  ;  for,  as  the 
people  when  speaking  Irish,  always  called  the  metro- 
polis, Baile-atha-cUafh,  and  in  English,  Dublin,  they 
imagined  that  the  latter  was  a  translation  of  the 
former,  and  translated  the  names  of  their  own  places 
accordingly. 

A  row  of  stepping  stones  across  a  ford  on  a  river, 
is  called  in  every  part  of  Ireland  by  the  name  of 
clochan,  pronounced  clac'kan  in  the  north  of  Ireland 
and  in  Scotland.  This  mode  of  rendering  a  river 
fordable  was  as  common  in  ancient  as  it  is  in  modern 
times  ;  for  in  the  tract  of  Brehon  Laws  in  the  Book 
of  Ballymote,  regulating  the  stipend  of  various  kinds 
of  artificers,  it  is  stated  that  the  builder  of  a  clochan 
is  to  be  paid  two  cows  for  his  labour. 

These  stepping  stones  have  given  names  to  places 
in  all  parts  of  Ireland,  now  called  Cloghan,  Cloghane, 
and  Cloghaun,  the  first  being  more  common  in  the 
north,  and  the  two  last  in  the  south.  Cloghanaskaw 
in  Westmeath,  was  probably  so  called  from  a  ford 
shaded  with  trees,  for  the  i>ame  signifies  the  stepping 
stones  of  the  shade  or  shadoAv ;  Cloghanleagh,  grey 


852  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

stepping  stones,  was  the  old  name  of  Dunglow  in 
Donegal ;  Ologhanenagleragli  in  Kerry,  tlie  stepping 
stones  of  the  clergy  ;  Ballj^cloghan  and  Ballincloghan, 
the  town  of  the  cloghan,  are  the  names  of  several 
townlands. 

Clochan  is  sometimes  applied  to  a  stone  castle,  and 
in  some  of  the  names  containing  this  root,  it  is  to  be 
understood  in  this  sense.  And  in  Cork  and  Kerry  it 
is  also  used  to  denote  an  ancient  stone  house  of  a 
beehive  shape. 

When  there  were  no  means  of  making  a  river  ford- 
able,  there  remained  the  never-failing  resource  of 
swimming.  When  rivers  had  to  be  crossed  in  this 
manner,  certain  points  seem  to  have  been  selected, 
which,  either  because  the  stream  was  narrower  there 
than  elsewhere,  or  that  it  was  less  dangerous  on  ac- 
count of  the  stillness  of  the  water,  or  that  the  shape " 
of  the  banks  afforded  peculiar  facilities,  were  con- 
sidered more  suitable  than  others  for  swimming  across. 
Such  spots  were  often  designated  by  the  word  snamh 
[snauv],  which  literally  means  smmming ;  a  word 
often  met  with  in  our  old  historical  writings  in  the 
sense  of  a  swimming  ford,  and  which  forms  part  of 
several  of  our  present  names. 

Lixnaw  on  the  river  Brick  in  Kerry,  is  called  in 
the  Four  Masters  Lic-mamha  [Licksnawa],  the  flag- 
stone of  the  swimming  ;  the  name  probably  indicat- 
ing that  there  was  a  large  stone  on  the  bank,  from 
w^hich  the  swimmers  were  accustomed  to  fling  them- 
selves off;  and  VoTin^siiow  near  Enniskillen  (;;or/, 
a  bank),  is  a  name  of  similar  origin.  About  midway 
between  Grlengariff  and  Bantry,  the  traveller  crosses 
Snave  bridge,  where,  before  the  erection  of  the  bridge, 
the  deep  creek  at  the  mouth  of  the  Coomhola  river 
must  have  been   generally   crossed  by   swimming. 


CHAP,  v.]        Fords,  Weirs,  and  Bridges.  353 

So  with  the  Shannon  at  Drumsna  in  Leitrim  ;  the 
Erne  at  Drumsna,  one  mile  south-east  of  Enniskillen  ; 
and  the  narrow  part  of  the  western  arm  of  Lough 
Corrib  at  Drumsnauv  ;  all  of  which  names  are  from 
the  Irish  Druim-snamha  [Drum-snauva],  the  hill  of 
the  swimming- ford. 

When  the  article  is  used  with  this  word  suamh,  the  .s- 
is  eclipsed  by  t,  as  we  see  in  Carrigatna  in  Kilkenny, 
which  is  in  Irish  Carraig-a'-tsnamha,  the  rock  of  the 
swimming ;  and  Glanatnaw  in  the  parish  of  Caheragh, 
Cork,  where  the  people  used  to  swim  across  the  stream 
that  runs  through  the  glan  or  glen.  In  the  north  of 
Ireland,  the  7i  of  this  construction  is  replaced  by  /• 
(see  p.  48,  supra),  as  in  Ardatrave  on  the  shore  of 
Lough  Erne  in  Fermanagh,  Ard-a'' -tsruimha ,  the 
height  of  the  swimming.  Immediat-ely  after  the 
Shannon  issues  from  Lough  Allen,  it  flows  under  a 
bridge  now  called  Ballintra  ;  but  Weld,  in  his  "  Sur- 
vey of  Roscommon,"  calls  it  BalUntrave,  which  points 
to  the  Irish  Bel-an-tsnamha,  the  ford  of  the  swim- 
ming, and  very  clearly  indicates  the  usual  mode  of 
crossing  the  river  there  in  former  ages. 

The  lower  animals,  like  the  human  inhabitants, 
had  often  their  favouiite  spots  on  rivers  or  lakes,  where 
they  swam  across  in  their  wanderings  from  place  to 
place.  On  the  shore  of  the  little  lake  of  Muckno  in 
Monaghan,  where  it  narrows  in  the  middle,  there 
was  once  a  well-known  religious  establishment,  called 
\n\hQ  K-nxidl^Miicsknamh  [Mucknauv] ,  the  swimming 
place  of  the  pigs,  which  has  been  softened  to  the 
present  name  Muckno.  Some  of  our  ecclesiastical 
writers  derive  this  name  from  a  legend  ;  but  the 
natural  explanation  seems  to  be,  that  wild  pigs  were 
formerly  in  the  habit  of  crossing  the  lake  at  this  nar- 
row part.  Exactly  the  same  remark  applies  to  the 
2  A 


354  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

Kenmare  river,  where  it  is  now  spanned  by  the  sus- 
pension bridge  at  the  town.  It  was  narrowed  at  this 
point  by  a  spit  of  land  projecting  from  the  northern 
shore  ;  and  here  in  past  ages,  wild  pigs  iised  to  swim 
across  so  frequently  and  in  such  numbers,  that  the 
place  was  called  Mucsnamh  or  Mucksna,  which  is  now 
well  known  as  the  name  of  a  little  hamlet  near  the 
bridge,  and  of  the  hill  that  rises  oyer  it,  at  the  south 
side  of  the  river. 

A  weir  across  a  river,  either  for  fishing  or  to  divert 
a  mill  stream,  is  called  in  Irish  cora  or  coradh  [curra]. 
Brian  Borumha's  palace  of  Kincora  was  built  on  a 
hill  in  the  present  town  of  Killaloe,  and  it  is  re- 
peatedly mentioned  in  the  Annals,  by  the  name  of 
Ceann-coradh,  the  head  or  hill  of  the  weir;  from 
which  we  may  infer,  that  there  was  a  fishing  weir 
across  the  Shannon  at  this  point,  from  very  early 
times.  There  is  another  Kincora  in  King's  County, 
in  which  was  a  castle  mentioned  by  the  Four  Mas- 
ters, and  called  by  the  same  Irish  name.  And  we 
find  Hikincor  in  Waterford,  the  house  at  the  head  of 
the  weir. 

Ballinacor  in  Grlenmalure  in  Wicklow,  which  gives 
name  to  two  baronies,  is  called  in  the  Leabhar 
Branach,  Baile-na-corra,  the  town  of  the  weir.  There 
are  several  other  places  of  the  same  name  in  Wick- 
low  and  Westmeath  ;  and  it  is  modified  to  Ballinacur 
in  Wexford,  and  to  BallinacmTa  or  Ballynacorra  in 
several  counties,  the  best  known  place  of  the  name 
being  Ballynacorra  on  Cork  harbour.  Corrofin  in 
Clare  is  called  by  the  Four  Masters  Coradh-Finne, 
the  weir  of  Finna,  a  woman's  name  (see  p.  167, 
supra)  ;  and  in  the  same  authority  we  find  Drumcar 
in  Louth,  written  Druim-caradh,  the  ridge  of  the 
weir.      Smith  (Ilist.   of  Cork,  II.,  254)  states  that 


CHAP,  v.]         Fords,  Weirs,  and  Bridges.  355 

there  was  formerly  an  eel- weir  of  considerable  profit 
at  the  castle  of  Carrignacurra  on  the  river  Lee  near 
Inchigeelagh ;  and  the  name  bears  out  his  assertion, 
for  it  signifies  the  rock  of  the  weir. 

"  The  origin  of  stone  bridges  in  Ireland  is  not 
very  acciu'ately  ascertained  ;  but  this  much  at  least 
appears  certain,  that  none  of  any  importance  were 
erected  previous  to  the  twelfth  century."  (Petrie, 
"Dub.  Pen.  Journal,"  I.,  150).  Droichet,  as  it 
is  given  in  Cormac's  Griossary,  or  in  modern  Irish, 
droichead  [drohed],  is  the  word  universally  employed 
to  denote  a  bridge,  and  under  this  name,  bridges  are 
mentioned  in  our  oldest  authorities.  The  fourteenth 
abbot  of  lona,  from  A.  D.  726  to  752,  was  Cilline, 
who  was  mxm^m.QdLDroichfeach,  i.  e.  the  bridge  maker ; 
and  Fiachna,  the  son  of  Aedh  Poin,  king  of  Ulidia 
in  the  eighth  century,  was  called  Fiachna  Dubh 
Droichtech,  black  Fiachna  of  the  bridges,  because  "  it 
was  he  that  made  Droichet-na-Feirsi  (the  bridge  of 
farsef,  see  p.  348),  and  Droichet-Mona-daimh  (the 
bridge  of  the  bog  of  the  ox),  and  others."  It  is  al- 
most certain  however,  that  these  structui'es  were  of 
wood,  and  that  bridges  with  stone  arches  were  not 
built  till  after  the  arrival  of  the  Anglo-Normans. 

Many  places  in  Ireland  have  taken  theu^  names 
from  bridges,  and  the  word  droichead  is  often  greatly 
modified  by  modern  corruption.  It  is  to  be  observed 
that  the  place  chosen  for  the  erection  of  a  bridge, 
was  very  usually  where  the  river  had  already  been 
crossed  by  a  ford ;  for  besides  the  convenience  of  re- 
taining the  previously  existing  roads,  the  point  most 
easily  fordable  was  in  general  most  suitable  for  a 
bridge.  There  are  many  places  whose  names  pre- 
serve the  memory  of  this,  of  which  Drogheda  is  a 
good  example.  This  place  is  repeatedly  mentioned 
2a2 


356  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

in  old  authorities,  and  always  called  Droichead-atha 
[Drohed-aha],  the  bridge  of  the  ford,  from  which 
the  present  name  was  easily  formed  ;  pointing  clearly 
to  the  fact,  that  the  first  bridge  was  built  over  the 
ford  where  the  northern  road  along  the  coast 
crossed  the  Boyne. 

There  is  a  townland  in  Kildare  called  Drehid,  and 
another  in  Londonderry,  called  Droghed ;  Drehid- 
tarsna  (cross-bridge)  is  a  parish  in  Limerick ;  Bally- 
drehid  and  Ballmdrehid,  the  to^m  of  the  bridge, 
are  the  names  of  some  townlands,  the  same  as 
Ballindrait  in  Donegal.  Five  miles  east  of  Macroom, 
near  a  bridge  over  the  Lee,  there  is  a  rock  in  the 
river  on  which  stands  a  castle,  called  Carrigadrohid, 
the  rock  of  the  bridge :  according  to  a  legend  told 
in  the  neighbourhood,  the  castle  was  built  by  one  of 
the  Mac  Carthys  with  the  money  extorted  from  a 
leprechaun  (see  p.  183,  supra). 

The  word  is  obscured  in  Knockac/r^e^,  the  hill  of 
the  bridge,  in  Wicklow,  which  same  name  is  correctly 
anglicised  Knockadrehid,  in  Eoscommon.  A  like 
difference  is  observable  between  Drumadrehid  and 
Drum-didried,  the  ridge  of  the  bridge,  the  former  in 
Clare,  and  the  latter  in  Antrim.  The  parish  of 
Kildrought  in  Kildare  took  its  name  from  a  bridge 
over  the  Liffey,  the  Irish  form  being  Cill-droichid,  the 
church  of  the  bridge.  Though  the  parish  retains  the 
old  name,  that  of  the  original  spot  is  changed  by  an 
incorrect  translation ;  the  first  paii:  was  altered  to 
Cel,  and  the  last  part  translated,  forming  Celbridge, 
the  name  of  a  well-known  town.  What  renders  this 
more  certain  is,  that  the  place  is  called  Kyldroghct, 
in  an  Inquisition  of  William  and  Mary. 


CHAP.  VI.]  Roads  and  Causeways.  35* 


CHAPTEE  YI. 

ROADS  AND  CAUSEWAYS. 

"  According  to  the  Irish  Annals,  and  other  fragments 
of  our  native  history,  the  ancient  Irish  had  many 
roads  which  were  cleaned  and  kept  in  repair  accord- 
ing to  law.  The  different  terms  used  to  denote  road, 
among  the  ancient  Irish,  are  thus  defined  in  Cormac's 
Griossary,  from  which  a  pretty  accurate  idea  may  be 
formed  of  their  nature"  (O'Donovan,  Book  of  Rights, 
Introd.,  p.  Ivi.)  O'Donovan  then  quotes  Cormac's 
enumeration  of  the  different  terms,  several  of  which 
are  still  used.  According  to  the  Dinnsenchus,  there 
were  anciently  five  great  roads  leading  to  Tara,  from 
five  different  directions ;  and  it  would  appear  from 
several  authorities,  that  they  were  constructed  in  the 
reign  of  Felimy  the  lawgiver,  in  the  second  century 
(seep.  122,  siq:)m).  Besides  these  great  highways, 
numerous  other  roads  are  mentioned  in  our  Annals 
and  tales,  many  of  which  are  enumerated  in  O'Dono- 
van's  valuable  introduction  to  the  Book  of  Rights. 

Among  the  diff'erent  Irish  words  to  denote  a  road, 
the  most  common  and  best  known  is  hoihar  [boher]  ; 
and  its  diminutive  holier  ecu  is  almost  on  the  eve  of 
acknowledgment  as  an  English  word.  It  originally 
meant  a  road  for  cattle,  being  derived  from  ho,  a 
cow ;  and  Coniiac  defines  its  breadth  to  be  such  that 
"two  cows  fit  upon  it,  one  lengthwise,  the  other 
athwart,  and  their  calves  and  yearlings  fit  on  it  along 
with  them." 

The  word  is  scarcely  used  at  all  in  Ulster ;  but  in 
the  other  provinces,  the  anglicised  forms  Boher,  and 
Bohereen   or  Borheen,   constitute  part   of  a  great 


358  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

number  of  names,  and  they  are  themselves  the  names 
of  several  places.  There  is  a  townland  in  Gralway 
called  Bohercnill,  the  road  of  the  hazel  (coll) ;  and 
this  same  name  becomes  Boherkyle  in  Kilkenny, 
Boherkill  in  Kildare,  and  Boherquill  in  Westmeath  ; 
while  with  the  diminutive,  it  is  found  as  Bohereen- 
kyle  in  Limerick. 

Sometimes  the  word  is  contracted  to  one  syllable ; 
as  we  find,  for  instance,  in  Borleagh  and  Borna- 
courtia  in  Wexford,  grey  road,  and  the  road  of  the 
court  or  mansion  ;  and  Borderreen  in  King's  County, 
the  road  of  the  little  wood.  When  the  word  occurs 
as  a  termination,  the  b  is  often  aspirated  (p.  19),  as  in 
the  common  townland  name,  Ballinvoher,  the  town 
of  the  road ;  and  in  this  case,  we  also  sometimes  find 
it  contracted,  as  in  Cartronbore  near  Grranard,  the 
quarter-land  of  the  road.  For  the  change  of  bothar 
to  batter,  see  p.  43,  supra. 

SligJie  or  Sligheadh  [slee]  was  anciently  applied  by 
the  Irish  to  the  largest  roads ;  the  five  great  roads 
leading  to  Tara,  for  instance,  were  called  by  this 
name.  The  word  is  still  in  common  use  in  the  verna- 
cular, but  it  has  not  entered  very  extensively  into 
names. 

Slee  near  Enniskillen,  preserves  the  exact  pro- 
nunciation of  the  original  word ;  Clonaslee,  a  village 
in  Queen's  County,  is  the  meadow  of  the  road  ;  Bru- 
slee  in  Antrim,  indicates  that  a  briigh  or  mansion 
stood  near  the  old  road ;  and  Sleemanagh  near  Castle- 
townroche  in  Cork,  is  middle  road.  Sleehaun,  little 
road,  is  the  name  of  some  places  in  Longford  and 
Donegal ;  and  in  Eoscommon  we  find  Cornasleehan, 
the  round  hill  of  the  little  road. 

Bealach  [ballagh],  signifies  a  road  or  pass.  It 
forms  part  of  the  well-known  battle  cry  of  the  88th 


CHAP.  VI.]  Roads  and  Causeways.  359 

Connaught  Rangers,  Fdg-a''-healack,  clear  the  road. 
Ballagh,  the  usual  modern  form,  constitutes  or  begins 
the  names  of  a  number  of  places  ;  near  several  of 
these  the  ancient  roadways  may  be  traced ;  and  in 
some  cases  they  are  still  used.  Ballaghboy,  yellow 
road,  was  formerly  the  name  of  several  old  highways, 
and  is  still  retained  by  a  number  of  townlands.  Bal- 
laghmoon,  two  miles  north  of  Carlow,  where  the 
battle  in  which  Cormae  Mac  Cullenan  was  killed,  was 
fought  in  the  year  903,  is  called  in  the  Book  of 
Leinster,  Bealach-31ughna,  Mughan's  or  Mooan's 
pass,  but  we  know  not  who  this  Mughan  was. 

The  great  road  from  Tara  to  the  south-west,  called 
SUghe  Dala,  is  still  remembered  in  the  name  of  a 
townland  in  Uueen's  County,  which  enables  us  to 
identify  at  least  one  point  in  its  course.  This  road 
was  also  called  Ballaghmore  Moydala  (the  great 
road  of  the  plain  of  the  conference),  and  the  first 
part  of  this  old  name  is  retained  by  the  townland  of 
Ballaghmore  near  Stradbally.  There  are  several 
other  places  in  Leinster  and  Munster  called  Ballagh- 
more, but  none  with  such  interesting  associations  as 
this. 

Several  other  well-known  places  retain  the  memory 
of  those  old  healachs.  Ballaghaderreen  in  Mayo,  is 
called  in  Irish  Bealach-a^ -doinn,  the  road  of  the 
little  oak  wood ;  the  village  of  Ballaghkeen  in 
Wexford,  was  originally  called  Bealach-caein,  beau- 
tiful road ;  and  Ballaghkeeran  near  Athlone,  must 
have  been  formerly  shaded  with  keerans  or  quicken 
trees. 

When  this  word  occurs  as  a  termination,  it  is  very 
often  changed  to  vallg  by  the  aspiration  of  the  b,  and 
the  disappearance  of  the  final  guttural.  There  are 
townlands  scattered  through  the  four  provinces  called 


'360  Artificial  Sfrucfures.  [part  iit. 

Ballinvally  and  Balljyally,  the  town  of  the  road, 
which  in  Limerick  is  made  Ballinvallig,  by  the  resto- 
ration of  the  final  g  (p.  31).  So  also  Moyvally,  the 
name  of  a  place  in  Carlo w,  and  of  another  in  Kildare 
— the  latter  a  station  on  the  Midland  railway — the 
plain  or  field  of  the  road.  The  word  has  another 
form  still  in  Revallagh  near  Coleraine,  clear  or  open 
(reid/i)  road — so  called,  no  doubt,  to  distinguish  it 
from  some  other  road  difficult  of  passage. 

Casdn  signifies  a  path.  It  is  a  term  that  does  not 
often  occur,  but  we  find  a  few  places  to  which  it  gives 
names  ;  such  as  Cassan  in  Fermanagh ;  Cussan  in 
Kilkenny  ;  and  Cossaun  near  Athenry  in  Gralway — 
all  of  which  mean  simply  "  path  :"  the  same  name  is 
corrupted  to  Carsan  in  Monaghan ;  and  the  plural, 
Cussana  (paths),  is  the  name  of  two  to^Tilands  in 
Kilkenny.  Ardnagassan  near  Donegal,  and  Ardna- 
gassane  in  Tipperary,  are  both  called  in  the  original 
Ard-na-gcasau,  the  height  of  the  paths. 

It  is  curious  that  the  river  Cashen  in  Kerry,  de- 
rives its  name  from  this  word.  It  is  called  Cashen 
as  far  as  it  is  navigable  for  curraghs,  i.  e.  up  to  the 
junction  of  the  Feale  and  the  Brick ;  and  its  usual 
name  in  the  Annals  is  Casdn-Ken^y,  i.  e.  the  path  to 
Kerry — being  as  it  were  the  high  road  to  that  an- 
cient territory.  But  the  term  was  also  applied  to 
other  streams.  The  mouth  of  the  Ardee  river  in 
Louth,  was  anciently  called  Casdn-Linne  ("  Circuit 
of  Ireland")  ;  and  the  village  of  Annagassan  partly 
preserves  this  old  name — Ath-na-gcasan,  the  ford  of 
the  jj<7i/?.s — probably  in  reference  to  the  two  rivers, 
G-lyde  and  Dee,  which  join  near  the  village''  (see 
Dr.  Todd  in  "  Wars  of  Ca.,"  Introd.,  p.  Ixii.  note  /). 

In  early  ages,  before  the  extension  of  cultivation 
and  drainage,  the  roads  through  the  country  must 


CHAP.  VII.]  Mills  and  Kilns.  361 

have  often  been  interriipted  by  bogs  and  morasses, 
wliicli,  when  practicable,  were  made  passable  by 
causeways.  They  were  variously  constructed ;  but 
the  materials  were  generally  branches  of  trees,  bushes, 
earth,  and  stones,  placed  in  alternate  layers,  and 
trampled  down  till  they  were  sufficiently  firm  ;  and 
they  were  called  by  the  Irish  name  of  iochar. 

These  tochars  were  very  common  all  over  the 
country ;  our  Annals  record  the  construction  of  many 
in  early  ages ;  and  some  of  these  are  still  traceable. 
They  have  given  names  to  a  number  of  townlands  and 
villages,  several  of  them  called  Togher,  and  many 
others  containing  the  word  in  combination.  Ballin- 
togher,  the  town  of  the  causeway,  is  a  very  usual 
name  ;  and  Templetogher  (the  church  of  the  togher) 
in  Gralway,  was  so  called  from  a  celebrated  causeway 
across  a  bog,  whose  situation  is  still  well  kno^Ti  to 
the  inhabitants. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

MILLS    AND    KILNS. 

Many  authorities  concur  in  showing  that  water  mills 
were  known  in  this  country  in  very  remote  ages,  and 
that  they  were  even  more  common  in  ancient  than  in 
modern  times.  We  know  from  the  lives  of  the  Irish 
saints,  that  several  of  them  erected  mills  where  they 
settled,  shortly  after  the  introduction  of  Christianity, 
as  St.  Senanus,  St.  Ciaran,  St.  Mochua,  St.  Fechin, 
&c. ;  and  in  some  cases  mills  still  exist  on  the  very 
sites  selected  by  the  original  founders — as  for  in- 
stance, at  Fore  in  "Westmeath,  where  "  St.  Fechin's 


362  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

mill"  works  as  busily  to-day  as  it  did  twelve  hundred 
years  ago.  We  may  infer,  moreover,  from  several 
grants  and  charters  of  tlie  eleventh  and  twelfth  cen- 
tui'ies,  that,  where  circumstances  permitted,  a  mill 
was  a  usual  aj)pendage  to  a  ballybetagh,  or  ancient 
townland. 

It  appears  certain  that  water  mills  were  used  in 
Ireland  before  the  introduction  of  Christianity.  For 
we  have  reliable  historical  testimony,  that  Cormac 
mac  Art,  monarch  of  Ireland  in  the  third  century,  sent 
across  the  sea  for  a  millwright,  who  constructed  a 
mill  on  the  stream  of  Nith,  which  flowed  from  the  well 
of  Neamhnach  [Navnagh]  at  Tara.  "  The  ancient 
Irish  authorities  all  agree  in  stating  that  this  was  the 
first  mill  ever  erected  in  Ireland ;  and  it  is  remarkable 
that  this  cuTiimstance  is  still  most  vividly  preserved 
by  tradition,  not  only  in  the  neighbom'hood,  where  a 
mill  still  occupies  its  site,  but  also  in  most  parts  of 
Ireland.  Tradition  adds  that  it  was  from  the  king  of 
Scotland  the  Irish  monarch  obtained  the  millwright, 
and  it  can  be  shown  that  the  probability  of  its  truth 
is  strongly  corroborated  by  that  circumstance."* 

The  Irish  word  for  a  mill  is  muilenn  [muUen],  and 
this  term  exists  in  sei^eral  of  the  Indo-European  lan- 
guages : — Sansc.  malana,  the  action  of  grinding  ;  Lat. 
molo,  to  grind;  Groth.  malan ;  Eng.  mill.  A  very 
considerable  number  of  places  in  Ireland  have  taken 
their  names  from  mills,  and  the  most  usual  anglicised 
form  of  muilenn  is  Mullen  or  Mullin. 

Muilenn akill  in  Kilkenny,  is  in  Irish,  Miiilenn-na- 
cille,  the  mill  of  the  church ;  and  MuUinavat,  in  the 


*  From  the  Ordnance  memoir  of  the  parish  of  Templemore. 
See  also  O'Donovan's  article  on  the  antiquity  of  corn  in  Ire- 
land in  the  Dublin  Penny  Journal ;  and  Petrie's  Essay  on  Tara. 


CHAP.  VII.]  Mills  and  Kilns.  363 

same  county  is  Muilenn-a^  -hhata,  the  mill  of  the  stick. 
When  this  word  occurs  as  a  termination  the  m  is 
often  changed  to  w  by  aspiration  (p.  19),  as  in  Ma- 
willian  in  Londonderry,  Magli-mhuilinn.,  the  plain  of 
the  mill.  Ballywillin  is  the  name  of  a  parish  on 
the  borders  of  Antrim  and  Londonderry,  and  of 
several  townlands  in  these  and  other  counties,  while 
the  form  Ballinwillin  is  very  frequent  in  some  of  the 
southern  counties  ;  this  name  signifies  the  town  of 
the  mill,  and  it  is  often  so  translated,  from  which  has 
originated  the  very  common  name  of  Milltown. 
Cloonawillen  is  the  name  of  five  townlands,  the  same  as 
Clonmullin  and  Cloonmullin,  all  signifying  the  cloo)i 
or  meadow  of  the  mill ;  there  is  a  parish  in  Monaghan 
called  Aghnamullen,  and  two  townlands  in  Leitrim 
called  Aghawillin,  the  former  the  field  of  the  mills, 
and  the  latter,  of  the  mill ;  Killawillin  on  the  Black- 
water,  near  Castletownroche  in  Cork,  is  called  in 
Irish  by  the  people  Cill-a^-mhuilinn,  the  church  of 
the  mill. 

A  quern  or  hand  mill  is  designated  by  the  word 
hvo,  which  is  also  applied  to  the  mill  stones  used  with 
water  mills;  genitive  ^rd/i  or  broin  [brone],  plural 
hrointe  [broanty].  We  find  this  word  in  the  names 
of  several  places,  where  it  is  likely  there  were  for- 
merly water  mills  or  hand  mills,  the  owners  of  which 
made  their  living  by  grinding  their  neighbours'  corn. 
Coolnabrone,  the  hill-back  of  the  quern  or  mill-stone, 
is  the  name  of  two  townlands  in  Kilkenny  ;  and  in 
the  same  county  near  Fiddown,  is  Tobernabrone,  the 
well  of  the  quern ;  Clonbrone  and  Cloonbrone,  the 
meadow  of  the  mill-stone,  are  the  names  of  some 
townlands  in  King's  County,  Gralway,  and  Mayo. 

Before  the  potato  came  into  general  use,  it  was 
customary  for  families — those  especially  who  were 


364  Artificial  Structures.  [part  hi. 

not  within  easy  reach  of  a  mill — to  grind  their  own 
corn  for  home  consumption ;  and  the  quern  was  con- 
sequently an  instrument  of  very  general  use.  We 
may  presume  that  there  were  professional  quern 
makers ;  and  we  know  for  a  certainty,  that  some  places 
received  names  from  producing  stones  well  suited  for 
querns.  Such  a  place  is  Carrigeenamronety,  a  hill 
near  Bally  organ  in  Limerick,  on  whose  side  there  is 
a  ridge  of  rocks,  formerly  much  resorted  to  by  the 
peasantry  for  quern  stones ;  its  Irish  name  is  Car- 
raigin-na-mhrolnte,  the  little  rock  of  the  mill-stones  ; 
and  there  are  other  rocks  of  the  same  name  in 
Limerick.  So  also  Bronagh  in  Leitrim,  i.  e.  a  place 
abounding  in  mill  stones. 

Aith  [ah]  denotes  a  kiln  of  any  kind,  whether  a 
lime-kiln  or  a  kiln  for  drying  corn.  It  is  generally 
found  in  the  end  of  names,  joined  with  na,  the  gen. 
fern,  of  the  article,  followed  by  /?,  by  which  it  is  dis- 
tinguished from  ath,  a  ford,  which  takes  an  in  the 
genitive.  There  are  several  places  in  Monaghan  and 
Armagh,  called  Annahaia  andAnnahagh,  all  of  which 
are  from  the  Irish,  Ath-ua-haithc,  the  ford  of  the 
kiln  ;  we  find  Ballynahaha  in  Limerick,  and  Bally- 
nahaia  in  Cavan  {Bally,  a  town)  ;  in  Antrim,  Lisna- 
hay  (fort)  ;  Grortnahey  in  Londonderry,  Grortnahaha 
in  Clare  and  Tipperary,  and  Aughnahoy  in  Antrim, 
all  of  which  signify  the  field  of  the  kiln. 


PART   lY. 

NAMES  DESCRIPTIVE  OF  PHYSICAL  FEATURES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

MOUNTAINS,  HILLS,  AND  ROCKS. 

IKE  most  other  countries,  Ireland  lias 
a  large  proportion  of  its  territorial 
names  derived  from  those  of  hills. 
For  hills,  being  the  most  conspicuous 
physical  featui-es,  are  naturally  often 
fixed  upon,  in  preference  to  others, 
to  designate  the  districts  in  which 
they  stand.  There  are  at  least  twenty- 
five  words  in  the  Irish  language  for  a 
hill,  besides  many  others  to  denote 
rocks,points,  slopes,  and  clifPs  ;  and  all 
without  exception  have  impressed 
themselves  on  the  nomenclature  of  the  country. 
Many  of  these  are  well  distinguished  one  from 
another,  each  being  applied  to  a  hill  of  some  particu- 
lar shape  or  formation ;  but  several,  though  they 
may  have  been  formerly  different  in  meaning,  are 
now  used  synonymously,  so  that  it  is  impossible  to 
make  any  distinction  between  them.     I  will  here 


366  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

enumerate  them,  and  illustrate  the  manner  in  which 
names  are  formed  from  each. 

Sliahh  [sleeve]  signifies  a  mountain ;  and  accord- 
ing to  O'Brien,  it  was  sometimes  applied  to  any  heath- 
land,  whether  mountain  or  plain.  It  occurs  in  the 
Zeuss  MSS.  in  the  old  Irish  form  sUah^  which  glosses 
mons.  The  word  in  the  anglicised  form  of  slieve  is 
applied  to  great  numbers  of  the  principal  mountains 
in  Ireland  ;  and  it  is  almost  always  followed  by  a 
limiting  term,  such  as  an  adjective  or  a  noun  in  the 
genitive  case.  For  example,  Slievesnaght,  the  name 
of  a  mountain  in  Innishowen,  and  of  several  others 
in  different  parts  of  the  country,  represents  the  Irish 
SUahh-sneachta,  the  mountain  of  the  snow;  Slieve 
Anierin  in  Leitrim,  Sliabh-an-iarainn,  the  mountain 
of  the  ii'on,  in  allusion  to  its  well-known  richness 
in  iron  ore  ;  Slieve  Bernagh  in  the  east  of  Clare, 
gapped  mountain. 

This  word  is  occasionally  so  very  much  disguised 
in  modern  names,  that  it  is  difficult  to  recognise  it, 
and  of  such  names  I  will  give  a  few  examples.  There 
is  a  mountain  west  of  Lough  Arrow  in  Sligo,  called 
Bricklieve,  the  proper  Irish  name  of  which  is  Breic- 
shliabh  (Fom-  Mast.),  speckled  mountain,  and  the  s 
has  disappeared  by  aspiration.  The  same  thing  oc- 
curs in  Finliff  in  Down,  white  mountain ;  in  Grortin- 
lieve  in  Donegal,  the  little  field  of  the  mountain  ; 
and  in  Beglieve  in  Cavan,  small  mountain.  The  pa- 
rish of  Ivillevy  in  Armagh,  took  its  name  from  an 
old  church  situated  at  the  foot  of  Slieve  Grullion, 
which  the  Annalists  usually  call  CiU-shkihhe,  i.  e. 
the  chm-ch  of  the  mountain,  the  pronunciation  of 
which  is  well  preserved  in  the  modern  spelling. 

Sometimes  the  v  soimd  is  omitted  altogether,  and 
this  often  happens  when  the  word  comes  in  as  a  ter- 


CHAP.  I.]        Mountains,  Hills,  and  Rocks.  367 

mination.  Sleamaine  in  Wicklow  is  anglicised  from 
SUahh-tneadJioin,  middle  mountain ;  Illannslea  in 
Kerry,  the  island  of  the  mountain.  Slemish  in  An- 
trim is  well  known  as  the  mountain  where  St.  Patrick 
passed  his  early  days  as  a  slave,  herding  swine  ;  the 
full  Irish  name  is  8liab/i-Mis,  the  mountain  of  Mis,  a 
woman's  name  ;  and  there  is  another  almost  equally 
celebrated  mountain  in  Kerry,  of  the  same  name, 
now  called  Slieve  Mish. 

In  other  cases  both  the  s  and  v  are  lost,  as  for  ex- 
ample in  Crotlie  or  Cratlie,  the  name  of  several  hills, 
Croit-shliabk,  hump-backed  mountain.  In  a  great 
many  cases  the  sound  of  s  is  changed  to  that  of  t  by 
eclipse  (p.  22),  as  in  Ballintlea,  the  name  of  about 
fifteen  townlands  in  the  Munster  and  Leinster  coun- 
ties, Baile-an-tslcihhe,  the  town  of  the  mountain  ;  the 
same  name  as  Ballintleva  in  Galway  and  Mayo,  Bal- 
lintlevy  in  Westmeath,  and  Ballintlieve  in  Meath 
and  Down  ;  Baunatlea  in  the  parish  of  BaUingaddy, 
Limerick,  the  haiin  or  green  field  of  the  mountain. 

The  plural  sleihhte  [sleaty]  appears  in  Sleaty,  a 
celebrated  chui'ch  giving  name  to  a  village  and 
parish  in  Queen's  County.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
as  to  the  original  form  and  meaning  of  this  name,  as 
it  is  written  Sleihhte  by  all  Irish  authorities,  and 
Colgan  translates  it  Monies,  i.  e.  mountains.  The 
name  must  have  been  originally  given  to  the  chui'ch 
from  its  contiguity  to  the  hills  of  Slieve  Margy,  as 
Killevy  was  called  so  from  its  proximity  to  Slieve 
Grullion. 

SleihMn  [slayveen],  a  diminutive  of  sliahk,  is  ap- 
plied to  a  little  hill ;  in  modern  nomenclature  it  is 
usually  made  Sleveen,  which  is  the  name  of  a  hill 
rising  over  Macroom  in  Cork,  of  a  village  in  Water- 
ford,  and  of  nine  townlands  chiefly  in  the  southern 


368  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

counties.  Slevin  in  Roscommon,  is  the  same  word  ; 
and  Slevinagee  in  the  same  county,  signifies  the  little 
mountain  of  the  wind  {gaetJi) . 

Cnoc  signifies  a  hill ;  its  most  common  anglicised 
form  is  Iniock,  in  which  the  k  is  usually  silent,  but  in 
the  original,  the  first  c,  which  the  k  represents,  was 
sounded  \_c)wc,  pron.  kunnuck,  the  first  u  very  short]. 
There  is  a  conspicuous  isolated  hill  near  Ballingarry 
in  Limerick,  called  Knockfierna,  a  noted  fairy  haunt. 
It  serves  as  a  weather  glass  to  the  people  of  the  circum- 
jacent plains,  who  can  predict  with  certainty,  whether 
the  day  will  be  wet  or  dry  by  the  appearance  of  the 
summit  in  the  morning ;  and  hence  the  mountain  is 
called  Cnoc-firinue,  the  hill  of  truth,  i.  e.  of  truthful 
prediction.  Knockea  is  the  name  of  a  hill  near  Grleno- 
sheen,  three  miles  south  from  Kilfinnane  in  Limerick, 
and  of  several  townlands,  all  of  which  are  called  in 
Irish  Cnoc-Aedha,  Aedh's  or  Hugh's  hill,  probably 
from  some  former  proprietors.  The  well-known  hill 
ofKnocklayd  in  Antrim  was  so  called  from  its  shape, 
Cnoc- kith  id  [Knocklehid] ,  literally  the  hill  of  breadth, 
i.  e.  broad  hill. 

The  diminutives  Knockane,  Knockaun,  Knockeen, 
and  Knickeen,  with  their  plurals,  form  the  names  of 
more  than  seventy  townlands,  all  so  called  from  a 
"little  hill."  Ballyknockan  and  Ballyknockane, 
the  town  of  the  little  hill,  are  the  names  of  about 
twenty-five  townlands  ;  and  Knockauneevin  in  Gral- 
way  and  Cork  are  truly  described  by  the  name, 
Cnocdn-aebhinn,  beautiful  little  hill. 

Cnuic,  the  genitive  of  cnoc^  is  often  made  knick  and 
nick  in  the  present  names,  as  the  diminutive  cnuic- 
in  is  sometimes  represented  by  knickeen ;  and  these 
modem  forms  give  correctly  the  pronunciation  of  the 
originals — except  of  course  the  silent  k.  Thus  Bally- 
knick  in  the  parish  of  Grange,  Armagh,  which  is  the 


CHAP.  I.]        Mountains,  Sills,  and  Rocks,  369 

same  as  the  very  common  name,  Balljknock,  the 
toT\Ti  of  the  hill ;  Tinnick  in  Wexford,  and  Ticknick 
on  the  side  of  the  Three  Eock  mountain  in  Dublin, 
Tigh-cmiic,t'he  house  of  the  hill,  which  under  the  forms 
Ticknock  and  Tiknoek,  is  the  name  of  several  town- 
lands  in  the  eastern  counties. 

The  word  is  still  further  modified  by  the  change  of 
n  to  r,  already  noticed  (p.  49),  which  prevails  chiefly 
in  the  northern  half  of  Ireland,  and  which  converts 
knock  into  crock  or  cruck.  Crockacapple  in  the  parish 
of  Kilbarron,  l)onegal,  means  the  hill  of  the  horse 
{capcill),  and  Crocknagapple  near  Killybegs,  same 
county,  the  hill  of  the  horses  (Cnoc-na-gcapall)  ;  and 
these  two  names  are  the  same  respectively  as  Knock- 
acappul  and  Knocknagappul,  which  are  found  in 
other  counties.  Crockshane  near  Eathcoole  in  Dub- 
lin, John's  hill ;  Crockanui^e  near  Kildare,  the  hill  of 
the  yew  tree.  The  diminutives  suifer  this  corruption 
also,  and  we  find  many  places  called  Crockaun, 
Crickaun,  Crockeen,  Cruckeen  and  Crickeen,  all 
meaning  little  hill.  The  syllable  Knock  begins  the 
names  of  about  1800  townlands,  and  Crock  of  more 
than  fifty. 

Beann  [ban],  genitive  and  plural  heanna  [banna], 
signifies  a  horn,  a  gable,  a  peak,  or  pointed  hill,  but 
it  is  often  applied  to  any  steep  hill :  cognate  with 
Latin  2^ifina'  In  anglicised  names,  it  is  generally 
spelled  ben  or  bin,  each  of  which  begins  about  thirty 
townland  names;  but  it  undergoes  various  other 
modifications. 

Beann  is  not  applied  to  great  mountains  so  much 
in  Ireland  as  in  Scotland,  where  they  have  Ben  Lo- 
mond, Ben  Nevis,  Benledi,  &c. ;  but  as  aj)plied  to 
middle  and  smaller  eminences,  it  is  used  very  exten- 
sively. There  is  a  steep  hill  in  "Westmeath,  called 
2b 


370  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

the  Ben  (i.  e.  the  peak)  of  Fore,  from  the  village 
near  its  base ;  the  Irish  name  of  Bengore  Head  in 
Antrim  is  Beann-gabhar,  the  peak  of  the  goats. 
Benbnrb,  now  the  name  of  a  village  in  Tyrone,  the 
scene  of  the  battle  in  1646,  was  originally  applied  to 
the  remarkable  cliff  overhanging  the  Blackwater,  on 
which  the  castle  ruins  now  stand  ;  the  Irish  name  as 
given  in  the  Annals  is  Beann-borb,  which  O'Sullivan 
Bear  correctly  translates  Pinna  superba,  the  proud 
peak. 

The  Twelve  Pins,  a  remarkable  group  of  mountains 
in  Connemara,  derive  their  name  from  the  same 
word ;  Pins  being  a  modification  of  Bens.  They  are 
commonly  called  "  The  Twelve  Pins  of  Bunnabeola," 
in  which  the  word  beann  occurs  twice ;  for  Bunna- 
beola  is  Beanna-Beola,  the  peaks  of  Beola.  This 
Beola,  who  was  probably  an  old  Firbolg  chieftain,  is 
still  vividly  remembered  in  tradition  ;  and  a  remark- 
able person  he  must  have  been,  for  the  place  of  his 
interment  is  also  commemorated,  namely,  Toombeola, 
Beola' s  tumulus,  w^hich  is  a  townland  south  of  the 
Twelve  Pins,  at  the  head  of  Eoundstone  bay,  con- 
taining the  ruins  of  an  abbey. 

The  adjective  form  beannach  is  applied  to  a  hilly 
place — a  place  full  of  bens  or  peaks  ;  and  it  has  given 
name  to  Bannagh  in  Cork,  and  to  Benagh  in  Down 
and  Louth.  This  word  appears  in  Bannaghbane  and 
Bannaghroe  (white,  red)  in  Monaghan  ;  and  Agha- 
vannagh,  Irish  Achadh-bJieannack,  hilly  field,  is  the 
name  of  three  townlands  in  Wicklow.  The  plural, 
beanna,  is  found  in  Bannamore  and  Benamore  in 
Tipperary,  great  peaks  ;  and  in  the  form  Banna,  it 
occurs  several  times  in  Kerry.  Benbo,  a  conspicuous 
mountain  near  Manorhamilton,  is  written  by  the 
Four  Masters,  Beanna-bo,  the  peaks  or  horns  of  the 


CHAP.  I.]         Mountains,  Hills,  and  Hocks.  371 

cow ;  it  is  still  so  called  in  Irish,  and  it  appears  to 
have  got  the  name  from  its  curious  double  peak, 
bearing  a  rude  resemblance  to  a  cow's  horns. 

The  word  assumes  various  other  forms,  and  enters 
into  many  combinations,  of  which  the  following 
names  will  be  a  sufficient  illustration.  The  old  name 
of  Dunmanwaj  in  Cork,  was  Dun-na-mheann  [Dun- 
naman  :  Four  Mast.],  the  fortress  of  the  gables  or 
pinnacles  ;  and  the  name  was  probably  derived  from 
the  ridge  of  rocks  north  of  the  town,  or  perhaps  from 
the  shape  of  the  old  dun.  In  a  grant  made  in  the 
time  of  Elizabeth,  the  place  is  called  Dotvnemanvoy^ 
from  which,  as  well  indeed  as  from  the  tradition  of 
the  inhabitants,  it  appears  that  the  last  syllable, 
ivaij — which  must  be  a  modem  addition,  as  it  does 
not  appear  in  the  older  documents — is  a  corruption 
of  the  Irish  huidhe,  yellow  {h  changed  ioichj  aspira- 
tion ;  p.  19) : — Dunmanway,  the  fortress  of  the 
yellow  pinnacles.  Dunnaman,  which  is  a  correct 
anglicised  form  of  Dun-na-mbeann,  is  still  the  name 
of  a  townland  in  Down,  and  of  another  near  Croom 
in  Limerick.  Ballyrr('y?gour  in  Carlow,  is  in  Irish, 
Baile-bheanna-gabha)%  the  town  of  the  pinnacle  of  the 
goats,  the  latter  part  (-vangour)  being  the  same  as 
Bengore  in  Antrim  (see  last  page)  ;  Knockbine  in 
Wexford,  the  hill  of  the  peak ;  Dunnavenny  in  Lon- 
donderry, the  fortress  of  the  peak. 

The  word  has  several  diminutive  forms,  the  most 
common  of  which  is  beinnin  [benneen],  which  gives 
name  to  several  mountains  now  called  Binnion  or 
Bignion,  i.  e.  small  peak.  Another  diminutive,  bean- 
nachdn,  appears  in  Meenavanaghan  in  Donegal,  the 
meen  or  mountain  flat  of  the  small  peak. 

Beannchar  or  beannchor  [banagher]  is  a  modifica- 
tion of  beann^  and  signifies  horns,  or  pointed  hills  or 
2b2 


372  PMjsical  Features.  [part  iv. 

rocks,  and  sometimes  simply  a  peaked  hill ;  it  is  a 
word  of  frequent  topographical  use  in  different  parts 
of  Ireland,  and  it  is  generally  anglicised  hanagher 
or  hangor.  Banagher  in  King's  County  (Beannc/wr, 
Four  Mast.)  is  said  to  have  taken  its  name  from 
the  sharp  rocks  in  the  Shannon ;  and  there  are 
seven  townlands  in  different  counties  bearing  the 
same  name. 

Bangor  in  Down  is  written  Beannchar  by  various 
authorities,  and  Keating  and  others  account  for  the 
name  by  a  legend ;  but  the  circumstance  that  there 
are  so  many  Beannchars  in  Ireland  renders  this  of  no 
authority ;  and  there  is  a  hill  near  the  town,  from 
which  it  is  more  likely  that  the  place  received  its 
name.  Coolbanagher  or  Whitechui^h,  a  church  giv- 
ing name  to  a  parish  in  Queen's  County,  where  Aengus 
the  Culdee  began  his  celebrated  Felire  (see  p.  151), 
is  written  in  Irish  authorities,  CuUheannchaii\  the 
angle  or  corner  of  the  pinnacles.  "  There  is  a  Lough 
Banagher  (the  lake  of  the  pinnacles)  in  Donegal ; 
Drumbaiip.gher  in  Armagh;  Movanagher  on  the 
Bann,  parish  ofKilrea,  Derry  {Magh-hhc(mnchah\i]i^. 
plain  of  the  pinnacles)  ;  and  the  ancient  church  of 
Boss-hennchuir  {Boss,  a  wood),  placed  by  Archdall  in 
the  county  of  Clare"  (Eeeves,  Ecclesiastical  Antiqui- 
ties, p.  199,  where  the  word  Sef/i2??c7?rtr  is  exhaustively 
discussed). 

Ard  is  sometimes  a  noun  meaning  a  height  or  hill, 
and  sometimes  an  adjective,  signifying  high :  cog- 
nate with  Lat.  arduns.  In  both  senses  it  enters 
extensively  into  Irish  nomenclatm^e  ;  it  forms  the 
beginning  of  about  650  townland  names,  and  there 
are  at  least  as  many  more  that  contain  it  otherwise 
combined. 

There  is  a  little  town  in  Waterford,   and  about 


CHAP.  I.]       Mountains,  Hills,  and  Bocks,  373 

twenty- six  townlands  in  different  counties,  called 
Ardmore,  great  height ;  but  only  two  bear  the  cor- 
relative name,  Ardbeg,  little  height.  Ardglass  in 
Down,  is  called  Ard-glas  by  the  Four  Masters,  i.  e. 
green  height ;  which  is  also  a  usual  townland  name  ; 
and  there  are  many  places  scattered  over  the  country, 
called  Ardkeen,  that  is,  Ard-caein,  beautiful  height. 
Arderin  in  the  Queen's  County  is  the  highest  of  the 
Slieve  Bloom  range ;  and  the  inhabitants  of  the 
great  central  plain  who  gave  it  the  name,  signifying 
the  height  of  Ireland,  unaccustomed  as  they  were  to 
the  view  of  high  mountains,  evidently  believed  it  to 
be  one  of  the  principal  elevations  in  the  country. 

When  ard  is  followed  by  fighe  [tee],  a  house,  the 
final  d  is  usually  omitted  ;  as  in  Artiferrall  in  An- 
trim, Ard-tighe-Fearghaill,  the  height  of  FarrelFs 
house;  Artimacormick  near  Ballintoy,  same  county, 
the  height  of  Mac  Cormack's  house,  &c. 

This  word  has  two  diminutives,  airdin  and  arddn 
[ardeen,  ardaun]  ;  the  former  is  not  much  in  use, 
but  it  gives  name  to  some  places  in  Cork  and  Kerry, 
called  Ardeen,  and  it  forms  a  part  of  a  few  other 
names.  The  latter,  under  the  different  forms  Ardan, 
Ardane,  and  Ardaun,  all  meaning  little  height  or 
hillock,  is  by  itself  the  name  of  several  places  in  the 
midland  counties  ;  and  it  helps  to  form  many  others, 
such  as  Ardanreagh  in  Limerick,  grey  hillock  ;  and 
Killinardan  near  Tallaght  in  Dublin,  the  church  or 
wood  of  the  little  height, 

Leath-ard  [lahard],  which  means  literally  half 
height,  is  used  topographically  to  denote  a  gently 
sloj^ing  eminence  ;  and  the  anglicised  form  Lahard, 
and  the  diminutives  Lahardan,  Lahardane,  and  La- 
hardaun,  are  the  names  of  many  places,  chiefly  in 
Connaught  and  Mimster.    Derrylahard,  the  oak  wood 


374  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

of  the  gentle  hill,  occiu's  near  Skull  in  Cork,  and  the 
same  name,  in  the  shortened  form,  Derrylard,  is 
found  in  the  parish  of  Tartaraghan,  Armagh. 

The  word  alt  primarily  denotes  a  height,  cognate 
with  Lat.  alt  us ;  it  occurs  in  Cormac's  Grlossary, 
where  it  is  derived  "  ah  aUitucUne ; "  in  its  present 
topographical  application,  it  is  generally  understood 
to  mean  a  cliff,  or  the  side  of  a  glen.  It  is  pretty 
generally  spread  throughout  the  country,  forming 
the  first  syllable  of  about  100  townland  names,  which 
are  distributed  over  the  four  provinces.  Alt  stands 
alone  as  the  name  of  some  places  in  Mayo  and  Done- 
gal; and  Alts  (heights  or  glen  sides)  occurs  in 
Monaghan.  Altachullion  in  Cavan,  is  the  cliff  of 
the  holly;  in  Limerick  and  Queen's  County  we 
have  Altavilla,  Alt-a^-hhile,  the  glen-side  of  the  old 
tree  ;  Altinure  in  Derry  and  Cavan,  the  cliff  of  the 
yew. 

There  is  a  place  in  the  parish  of  Tulloghobegly, 
Donegal,  called  Altan,  little  cliff;  and  the  plural 
Altans  occurs  in  Sligo.  Altanagh  in  Tyrone,  signi- 
fies a  place  abounding  in  cliffs  or  glens.  In  the  end 
of  names,  this  word  is  sometimes  made  alta,  and 
sometimes  ilt,  representing  two  forms  of  the  genitive, 
alta  and  ailt^  as  we  see  in  Lissanalta  in  Limerick, 
the  fort  of  the  height ;  and  Tonanilt  in  Cavan,  the 
backside  of  the  cliff. 

The  primary  meaning  of  cniach  is  a  rick  or  stack, 
such  as  a  stack  of  corn  or  hay ;  but  in  an  extended 
sense,  it  is  applied  to  hills,  especially  to  those  pre- 
senting a  round,  stacked,  or  piled  up  appearance ; 
Welsh  cnig^  a  heap  ;  Cornish  erne.  It  is  used  pretty 
extensively  as  a  local  term,  generally  in  the  forms 
Croagh  or  Crogh ;  and  the  diminutive  Cruaehdn  is 
still  more  common,  giving  names  to  numerous  moun- 


CHAP.  1.]         Mountains,  Hills,  and  Bocks.  375 

tains,townlands,andparish.es,calledCroaglian,Croagh- 
aun,  Croghan,  and  Crohane,  all  originally  applied  to 
a  round-shaped  hill. 

Croghan  hill  in  King's  County,  was  anciently 
called  Bri-Eile^  the  hill  of  Eile,  daughter  of  Eochy 
Feileach,  and  sister  of  Maev  queen  of  Connaught  in 
the  first  century  (see  p.  120,  supra)  ;  it  afterwards 
received  the  name  of  Cniachan,  and  in  the  Annals  it 
is  sometimes  called  Cruachan-Bri-Eile,  which  looks 
tautological,  as  Cniachan  and  Bri  both  signify  a  hill. 
Croaghan  near  Killashandi'a  in  Cavan,  the  inaugu- 
ration place  of  the  O'Eourkes,  is  often  mentioned  in 
the  Irish  authorities  by  two  names —  Cruachan  0'  Citp- 
roin,  O'Cupron's  round  hill,  and  Cruachan-Mic- 
Tighearnain,  from  the  Mac  Tighearnans  or  Mac 
Kiernans,  the  ancient  possessors  of  the  barony  of 
Tullyhunco,  the  chief  of  whom  had  his  residence 
there. 

The  parish  of  Cruagh,  six  miles  south  of  Dublin, 
takes  its  name  from  Cruagh  hill,  which  is  within  its 
boundary.  The  word  is  somewhat  disguised  in  Bal- 
ly crogue,  the  name  of  a  parish  in  Carlow,  the  same  as 
Ballycroghan  near  Bangor  in  Down,  only  that  in  the 
latter  the  diminutive  is  used.  Kilcruaig,  a  townland 
near  Bally  organ  in  the  south-east  of  Limerick,  obvi- 
ously got  its  name,  which  means  the  church  of  the 
round  hill,  from  the  detached  mountain  now  called 
Carrigeenamronety,  on  whose  side  the  place  in  ques- 
tion lies. 

Tulach,  a  little  hill — a  hillock :  it  occurs  in  Cormac's 
Grlossary,  where  it  is  given  as  the  equivalent  of  hri. 
It  is  anglicised  TuUa,  Tullow,  and  Tullagh,  but 
most  commonly  TuUy  (see  p.  33).  Tullanavert 
near  Clogher  in  Tyrone,  represents  Tulach-na-hhfeart, 
the  hill  of  the  graves ;  Tullaghacullion  near  Killybegs, 


376  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

Tullagliciillioii  near  Donegal,  and  TuUjcuUion  in 
Tyrone,  the  hill  of  the  holly.  The  parish  of  Tully 
near  Kingsto^^ai  in  Dublin  was  anciently  called 
Tidacli-na-nespm^  which  signifies  the  hill  of  the 
bishops  ;  and  according  to  the  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  it 
received  this  name  from  seven  bishops  who  lived 
there,  and  on  one  occasion  visited  the  saint  at  Kildare 
(O'CuiTy,  Lect.,  p.  382).  Tullymongan,  the  name 
of  two  townlands  near  Cavan,  was  originally  applied 
to  the  hill  over  the  town  now  called  G-allows  Hill ; 
the  Four  Masters  call  it  Tiilach-Mongain,  the  hill  of 
Mongan,  a  man's  name. 

The  parish  of  Kiltnllagh  in  Eoscommon  was  so 
called  from  an  old  chm^ch,  the  name  of  which  per- 
fectly describes  its  situation — CiU-tuIaigh,  the  church 
of  the  hill ;  and  this  is  also  the  name  of  a  parish  in 
Gralway,  and  of  some  townlands.  In  the  Munster 
counties,  the  g  in  hdaigh  is  pronounced  hard,  giving 
rise  to  a  new  form  Tullig,  which  is  found  in  the 
names  of  many  places,  the  greater  number  being  in 
Cork  and  Kerry. 

There  are  two  diminutive  forms  in  use,  tuldn  and 
talachdn.  From  the  former  comes  Tullen  in  Ros- 
common, Tullin  near  Athlone,  and  TuUans  near 
Coleraine ;  but  the  other  is  more  common,  and  gives 
origin  to  Tullaghan,  Tullaghaun,  and  Tullaghans 
(little  hills) ,  found  in  several  counties  as  the  names 
of  townlands  and  villages.  The  word  is  sometimes 
spelled  in  Irish,  tcalach  [tallagh],  which  orthography 
is  often  adopted  by  the  Four  Masters  ;  this  form 
appears  in  the  name  of  Tallow,  a  town  in  Waterford, 
which  is  called  in  Irish  Tealach-an-iarainn  [Tallow- 
anierin],  the  hill  of  the  iron,  from  the  iron  mines 
worked  there  by  the  great  Earl  of  Cork. 

Bri  [bree]    signifies  a  hill  or  rising  ground,  the 


CHAP.  I.]  Mountains^  HiUs,  and  Eoclcs.  377 

same  as  the  Scotch  word  brae  :  in  Cormac's  Glossary 
it  is  explained  by  tulach ;  Cornish  and  Breton  hre  ; 
Graulish  hrega,  briga.  The  word  occurs  frequently 
as  a  topographical  term  in  our  ancient  writings,  of 
which  Bri-Eile  (p.  375),  is  an  example.  Brigown, 
a  village  near  Mitchelstown  in  Cork,  once  a  cele- 
brated ecclesiastical  establishment,  where  are  still  to 
be  seen  the  remains  of  a  very  ancient  church  and  round 
tower,  is  called  in  Irish,  Bri-gobkunn  (Book  of  Lis- 
more),  the  hill  of  the  smith.  In  om^  present  names 
this  word  does  not  occui'  very  often :  it  is  found 
simply  in  the  form  of  Bree,  in  Donegal,  Monaghan, 
and  Wexford ;  while  in  Tyrone  it  takes  the  form  of 
Brigh. 

Bray,  which  is  the  name  of  several  places  in  Ire- 
land, is  another  form  of  the  same  word.  Bray  in 
Wicklow  is  called  Bree  in  old  church  records  and  other 
documents  ;  and  it  evidently  received  its  name  from 
Bray  head,  which  rises  793  feet  over  the  sea.  In  the 
Dinnsenchus  there  is  a  legendary  account  of  the 
origin  of  the  name  of  this  place,  viz.,  that  it  was  so 
called  from  Brea,  son  of  Seanboth,  one  of  Parthalon's 
followers,  who  first  introduced  single  combat  into 
Ireland  (see  p.  154).  The  steep  promontory  on  the 
south-western  extremity  of  Yalentia  island,  is  also 
called  Bray  head.  At  the  head  of  Grlencree  in  Wick- 
low, is  a  small  mountain  lake,  well  kno^vTi  to  Dublin 
excursionists,  called  Lough  Bray,  whose  name  was, 
no  doubt,  derived  from  the  rocky  point — a  spur  of 
Kippure  mountain — which  rises  perpendicularly  over 
its  gloomy  waters. 

Lagh  [law]  a  hill,  cognate  with  Ang.-Sax.  lau\ 
same  meaning.  It  is  not  given  in  the  dictionaries, 
but  it  undoubtedly  exists  in  the  Irish  language,  and 


378  Physical  Features.  [part  iv, 

has  given  names  to  a  considerable  number  of  places 
through  the  country,  of  which  the  following  may  be 
taken  as  examples  : — 

Portlaw  on  the  Suir  in  Waterford  took  its  name 
from  the  steep  hill  at  the  head  of  the  village — Port- 
lagha,  the  bank  or  landing  place  of  the  hill ;  there  are 
some  townlands  in  Kilkenny  and  the  Munster  coun- 
ties called  Ballinla  and  Ballinlaw,  the  town  of  the 
hill ;  Luggelaw  in  Wicklow,  the  lug  or  hollow  of  the 
hill,  the  name  of  the  valley  in  which  is  situated  the 
beautiful  Lough  Tay  ;  Clonderalaw  in  Cork  and 
Clare,  the  meadow  between  the  two  hills. 

O'Brien  explains  ceide  [keady]  "  a  hillock,  a  com- 
pact kind  of  hill,  smooth  and  plain  at  the  top  ;"  and 
this  is  the  sense  in  which  it  is  understood  at  the  pre- 
sent day,  wherever  it  is  understood  at  all.  The  Four 
Masters  write  it  ceideach,  when  mentioning  Keady- 
drinagh  in  Sligo,  which  they  call  Ceideach-droighn- 
each,  the  flat-topped  hill  of  the  black-thoms.  The 
word  is  not  in  very  general  use,  and  is  almost  con- 
fined to  the  northern  and  north-western  counties ; 
but  in  these  it  gives  name  to  a  considerable  number 
of  places  now  called  Keadew  and  Keady.  It  takes 
the  forms  of  Keadagh,  Cady,  and  Caddagh,  in  several 
counties  ;  the  diminutive  Keadeen  is  the  name  of  a 
high  hill  east  of  Baltinglass  in  Wicklow,  and  ano- 
ther modification,  Cadian,  occurs  in  Tyrone. 

Mullach,  in  its  primary  meaning,  signifies  the  top 
or  summit  of  anything — snch  as  the  top  of  a  house. 
Topographically  it  is  generally  used  to  denote  smaller 
eminences,  though  we  find  it  occasionally  applied  to 
hills  of  considerable  elevation  ;  and  as  a  root  word,  it 
enters  very  extensively  into  the  formation  of  names, 
generally  in  the  forms  Mulla,  Mullagh,  Mully,  and 


CHAP.  1.]         Mountains,  Hills,  and  Rocks.  379 

Mul,  which  constitute  of  themselves,  or  form  the  be- 
ginning of,  -upwards  of  400  names. 

Mnlla  is  well  known  as  the  name  given  by  the 
poet  Spenser  to  the  httle  river  Awbeg,  which  flows 
by  Kilcolman  castle  where  he  resided,  near  But- 
tevant  in  Cork  : — 

"  Strong  Alio  torabling  from  Slewlogher  steep, 
And  Mulla  mine  whose  waves  I  whilom  taught  to  weep." 
"  Faerie  Queene,"  Book  IV.,  Canto  xi. 

In  another  place  he  says  that  Kilnamnlla  (now 
Buttevant) ,  took  its  name  from  the  Mulla : — 

"  It  giveth  name  unto  that  ancient  cittie, 
W^hich  Kilnemulla  clepped  is  of  old." 

But  this  is  all  the  creation  of  the  poet's  fertile 
imagination  ;  for  the  Awbeg  was  never  called  Mulla 
except  by  Spenser  himself,  and  Kilnamullagh,  the 
native  name  of  Buttevant,  has  a  very  difi'erent  ori- 
gin. 

The  peasantry  of  the  locality  understand  Kilna- 
mullagh  to  mean  the  chui-ch  of  the  curse  {mallacht), 
in  connexion  with  which  they  relate  a  strange  legend ; 
but  the  explanation  is  erroneous,  and  the  legend  an 
invention  of  later  times.  At  the  year  1251,  the 
Foui'  Masters,  in  recording  the  foundation  of  the 
monastery,  call  it  Cill-na-muUach,  which  O'Sullivan, 
in  his  History  of  the  Irish  Catholics,  translates  ecclesia 
tumulorum,  the  church  of  the  hillocks  or  summits, 
and  the  name  admits  of  no  other  interpretation.  The 
present  name  Buttevant,  is  said  to  have  been  derived 
from  Boutez-en-avant,  a  French  phrase  meaning 
"  Push  forward  !"  the  motto  of  the  Barry  more 
family. 

The  village  of  Mullagh  in  Cavan,  got  its  name 


380  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

from  tlie  hill  near  it,  wliicli  the  Four  Masters  call 
MulIach-LaeigJiiU^  the  hill  of  Laeighell  or  Lyle,  a 
man's  name  formerly  common  in  Ireland.  The  Hill 
of  Lloyd  near  Kells,  is  called  in  the  Annals  Mullach- 
Aidi,  Aide's  hill ;  and  it  still  retains  this  same  name 
with  those  who  speak  Irish  ;  Mnllaghattin  near  Car- 
lingford,  the  hill  of  the  fiu^ze  ;  MuUaghsillogagh  near 
Enniskillen,  the  hill  of  the  sallows  ;  Mullaghmeen, 
smooth  summit.  Mul,  the  shortened  form,  appears 
in  Mulboj  in  Tyrone,  yellow  summit ;  and  in  Mul- 
keeragh  in  Derry,  the  summit  of  the  sheep. 

J/^^//r/y?,  little  summit,  is  a  diminutive  oi  mullach, 
and  it  is  generally  applied  to  the  top  of  a  low,  gently 
sloping  hill.  In  the  forms  Mullan,  MuUaun,  and  in 
the  pliu'al  MuUans  and  Mullauns,  it  is  the  nanjte  of 
nearly  forty  townlands,  and  of  course  helps  to  form 
many  others.  Grlassavullami  near  Tallaght  in  Dub- 
lin, represents  Glaise-a^-mhullam,  the  streamlet  of 
the  little  summit ;  and  Mullanagore  in  Monaghan, 
and  MuUanagower  in  "Wexford,  signify  the  little 
eminence  of  the  goats.  In  Carlow,  Wicklow,  and 
Wexford,  this  word  is  understood  to  mean  simply  a 
green  field  ;  but  it  has  evidently  undergone  a  cliange 
of  meaning,  the  transition  being  sufficiently  easy 
from  a  gentle  green  hill  to  a  green  field.  Mulkaun 
in  Leitrim,  exhibits  another  diminutive,  namely  mul- 
cdn  or  mallachdn  which  also  appears  in  Meenawul- 
laghan  in  the  parish  of  Inver,  Donegal,  the  meen  or 
mountain  flat  of  the  little  summit ;  and  in  Meena- 
mullaghan,  parish  of  Lower  Fahan,  same  cotmty, 
Mm-na-mullachan^  the  mountain  flat  of  the  little 
summits. 

lomalre  [ummera]  signifies  a  ridge  or  hill-back ;  as 
a  local  term  it  is  found  in  each  of  the  four  provinces, 
being,  however,  more  common  in  Ulster  and  Con- 
naught  than  in  the  other  provinces  ;  but  in  any  part 


CHAP.  I.]         Mountains^  Hills^  and  Rocks.  381 

of  Ireland  it  does  not  enter  extensively  into  names. 
Its  most  common  modern  forms  are  IJmmera,  Um- 
mery,  and  Umry,  which  form  or  begin  the  names  of 
more  than  twenty  townlands. 

Ummeracam  in  Ai'magh,  and  Umrycam  in  Done- 
gal and  Derry,  are  called  in  Irish  lomaire-cam^  crooked 
ridge ;  Ummeraboy  in  Cork,  yellow  ridge  ;  Um- 
merafree  in  Monaghan,  the  ridge  of  the  heath.  Kil- 
lanummery,  a  townland  giving  name  to  a  parish  in 
Leitrim,  is  called  by  the  Four  Masters  CiU-an-iomaire, 
the  church  of  the  ridge  ;  and  the  word  is  somewhat 
altered  in  Clonamery  in  Kilkenny,  the  meadow  of 
the  ridge. 

The  primary  meaning  of  meall  [mal]  is  a  lump, 
mass,  or  heap  of  anything  ;  and  it  is  aj^plied  locally 
to  a  small  round  hillock.  It  does  not  occur  very 
often  except  in  Munster,  where  it  is  met  with  pretty 
extensively  ;  its  most  usual  anglicised  form  is  maul, 
which  begins  the  names  of  near  sixty  townlands,  all 
in  Cork  and  Kerry.  Take  as  examples  Maulanim- 
irish  and  Maulashangarry,  both  near  Dunmanway, 
the  first  meaning  the  hillock  of  the  contention  {im- 
reas) ,  and  the  second,  of  the  old  garden.  Maulagh 
near  Killarney,  signifies  a  place  abounding  in  hil- 
locks. 

MiJJbi  [milleen]  is  a  diminutive  of  this  word, 
usually  represented  in  the  present  names  by  Milleen, 
which  forms  the  whole  or  the  beginning  of  fifteen 
townland  names,  all  except  one  in  Cork  ;  Milleena- 
horna  has  the  same  meaning  as  Maulnahorna,  the 
hillock  of  the  barley  {eonia).  Near  Eathcormaek, 
there  is  a  place  called  Maulane,  the  only  example  I 
find  of  the  diminutive  in  an.  In  anglicised  names  it 
is  often  difficult  to  distinguish  this  word  from  mael 
and  its  modifications,  as  both  often  assume  the  same 
form. 


382  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

Mael  [mwail  or  mojde]  as  an  adjective  signifies 
bald,  bare,  or  hornless ;  and  it  is  often  employed  as 
a  noun  to  denote  anything  having  these  shapes  or 
qualities.  It  is,  for  instance,  applied  to  a  cow  with- 
out horns,  which  in  almost  every  part  of  Ireland  is 
called  a  mael.,  or  mweeUeen.  It  is  also  used  synony- 
mously with  gioUa,  to  denote,  in  a  religious  sense,  a 
person  having  the  head  shorn  or  tonsured  ;  it  was 
often  prefixed  to  the  name  of  a  saint,  and  the  whole 
compound  used  to  denote  a  person  devoted  to  such  a 
saint ;  and  as  a  mark  of  reverence  this  kind  of  name 
was  often  given  to  men  at  their  baptism,  which  origi- 
nated such  surnames  as  MulhoUand,  Mulrony,  Mo- 
loney, Mulrenin,  Malone,  &c. 

It  is  applied  to  a  church  or  building  of  any  kind 
that  is  either  unfinished  or  dilapidated — most  com- 
monly the  latter ;  thus  Templemoyle,  the  bald  or 
dilapidated  church,  is  the  name  of  some  places  in 
Derry,  Gralway,  and  Donegal ;  there  are  five  town- 
lands  in  Antrim  and  one  in  Longford  called  Kilmoyle 
which  has  the  same  meaning :  —  Kilmoyle  near 
Ballymoney  is  in  Latin  records  translated  Ecclesia 
calra,  which  gives  the  exact  sense.  And  Castlemoyle, 
bald  castle,  occurs  in  G-alway,  Wexford,  and  Tip- 
perary.  The  word  is  used  to  designate  a  moat  or 
mound  flat  on  top,  or  dilapidated  by  having  the  ma- 
terials carted  away  ;  and  hence  we  have  such  names 
as  Rathmoyle,  Lismoyle,  and  Dunmoyle. 

Mael  is  applied  to  hills  and  promontories,  and  in 
this  sense  it  is  very  often  employed  to  form  local 
names.  Moyle,  one  of  its  usual  forms,  and  the  plural 
Moyles,  give  names  to  several  places  in  the  middle 
and  northern  counties ;  Knockmoyle,  a  usual  town- 
land  name,  bald  hill.  In  the  south  and  west  it  often 
assumes  the  form  mweel,  which  preserves  the  pro- 


CHAP.  I.]         Mountains,  Hills,  and  Hocks.  383 

nunciation  more  nearly  than  moi/le :  thus  Mweela- 
horna  near  Ardmore  in  Waterford,  the  bald  hill  of 
the  barley;  and  in  Fermanagh  also,  this  form  is 
found  in  Mweelbane,  white  hill.  It  sometimes 
takes  the  form  of  meel,  as  in  Meelshane  in  Cork, 
John's  bald  hill ;  Meelgarrow  in  Wexford,  rough 
hill ;  Meeldrum  near  Kilbeggan  in  Westmeath,  bare 
ridge. 

There  are  two  diminutives  in  pretty  common  use, 
maeldn  and  maeilin  [mweelaun,  mweeleen] ;  the 
former  is  often  applied  to  round-backed  islands  in  the 
sea,  or  to  round  bare  rocks  ;  and  we  find  accordingly 
several  little  islands  off  the  south  and  west  coast, 
called  Moylaun,  Moylan,  and  Mweelaun.  The  same 
word  is  seen  in  Meelon  and  Milane,  two  towTilands 
in  Cork.  The  second  diminutive  is  more  frequent, 
and  it  is  spelled  in  various  ways ;  it  is  found  as 
Moyleen  and  Mweeleen  in  Galway,  Kerry,  and 
Mayo  ;  Mweeling  near  Ardmore  in  Waterford ;  and 
Meeleen  in  the  parish  of  Kilquane,  Cork. 

Meelaghans  near  Geashill  in  King's  Coimty  (little 
bare  hills),  exhibits  another  diminutive,  Maelachdn ; 
and  we  have  still  another  in  Milligan  in  Monaghan, 
and  Milligans  in  Fermanagh,  little  hills.  Mealough 
is  the  name  of  a  townland  in  the  parish  of  Drumbo, 
Down,  meaning  either  a  round  hill  or  a  place  abound- 
ing in  hillocks.  In  Scotland,  the  word  mael  is  often 
used,  as  for  instance,  in  the  Mull  of  Gralloway  and 
the  Mull  of  Cantire;  in  both  instances  the  word 
Mull  signifying  a  bare  headland.  From  the  Mull  of 
Cantire,  the  sea  between  Ireland  and  Scotland  was 
anciently  called  the  "Sea-stream  of  Moyle;"  and 
Moore  has  adopted  the  last  name  in  his  charming 
song  "  Silent,  0  Moyle,  be  the  roar  of  thy  water." 

Mael  combines  with  the  Irish  preposition  for,  form- 


384  Physical  Features.  [part  iy. 

ing  the  compound  formaeil,  which  is  used  to  signify 
a  round  hill ;  and  which,  in  the  forms  Formoyle,  Fer- 
moyle,  and  Formil,  constitutes  the  names  of  twenty- 
nine  townlands,  scattered  through  the  four  provinces  ; 
in  Meath  it  is  made  Formal,  and  in  Gralway  it  retains 
the  more  Irish  form,  Formweel.  This  name  occurs 
twice  in  the  Four  Masters ;  first. at  A.  D.  965,  where 
a  battle  is  recorded  to  have  been  fought  at  Formaeil 
of  Eathbeg,  which  O'Donovan  identifies  with  For- 
mil in  the  parish  of  Lower  Bodoney,  Tyrone  ;  and 
secondly,  at  1051,  where  mention  is  made  of  Slieve- 
Formoyle,  which  was  the  ancient  name  of  Slieve 
O'Flynn,  west  of  Castlerea  in  Eoscommon, 

The  word  co7\  as  a  topographical  term,  has  several 
meanings,  the  most  common  being  a  round  hill ;  but 
it  is  also  applied  to  a  round  pit  or  cup-like  hollow,  to 
a  turn  or  bend,  such  as  the  bend  of  a  road,  &c. ;  and 
as  an  adjective,  it  means  odd,  and  also  round.  In 
consequence  of  this  diversity,  it  is  often  difficult  to 
determine  its  exact  sense ;  and  to  add  to  the  com- 
plexity, the  word  corr,  a  crane,  is  liable  to  be  con- 
founded with  it. 

This  word  is  used  very  extensively  in  local  nomen- 
clature ;  and  in  its  various  senses,  it  forms  the  first 
syllable  of  more  than  1000  townland  names,  in  the 
greater  number  of  which  it  means  a  roimd  hill.  Cor- 
beagh  in  Longford  and  Cavan,  is  in  Irish,  Cor-heith- 
each,  the  round  hill  of  the  birch;  Corkeeran  in 
Monaghan,  of  the  rowan-trees ;  Cornagee  and  Corna- 
geeha,  the  hill  of  the  wind;  Cornaveagh,  of  the 
ravens.  The  diminutives  Corrog  and  Corroge,  give 
names  to  some  places  in  Down  and  Tipperary ;  and 
we  find  Correen  in  several  of  the  north-western  coun- 
ties ;  Correenfeeradda  near  Knockainy  in  Limerick, 
is  called  in  Irish,  Coirin-feir-fhada,  the  round  hill  of 
the  long  grass. 


CHAP.  I.]       Mountains,  Hills,  and  Rocks.  385 

Cruit  means  a  hump  on  the  back ;  from  this  it  is 
applied  to  round  humpj/-loo'king  hills  ;  and  it  is  com- 
monly rej^resented  by  Crott,  Crutt,  or  Crit,  which  are 
the  names  of  places  in  Fermanagh,  Longford,  Mayo, 
and  Kilkenny.  There  is  an  island  called  Cruit  off 
the  coast  of  Donegal,  i.  e.  humpy-backed  island ;  and 
two  townlands  in  King's  County  and  Eoscommon  are 
called  by  the  same  name.  The  plural  Crotta  or 
Crutta,  humps,  and  the  English  plural  Crottees,  give 
names  to  some  places  in  Kerry,  Tipperary,  and  Cork ; 
and  Crottan,  little  hmnp,  occui's  in  Fermanagh. 

The  word  is  variously  combined  to  form  other 
names  ;  such  as  Kilcruit  in  Carlow,  the  wood  of  the 
hump-backed  hill;  Loughcrot  near  Dromdaleague 
in  Cork,  the  lake  of  the  hillocks ;  Drumacruttan  in 
Monaghan  ;  and  Drumacrittin  in  Fermanagh,  the 
ridge  of  the  little  hump  ;  Barnagrotty  in  King's 
County,  Barr-na-gcvotta,  the  hill-top  of  the  hum- 
mocks. 

Cnap  [knap,  c  pronounced  as  in  cnoc,  p.  368]  is  a 
button,  a  knob,  a  limip  of  anything,  a  knot  in  timber, 
&c. ;  and  it  is  cognate  with  Ang.-Sax.  cnaep,  Grer. 
hiopf,  Eng.  Ixnoh.  In  a  secondary  sense  it  is  applied 
to  small  round  hillocks,  and  gives  name  to  a  conside- 
rable number  of  places.  In  anglicised  names  it  takes 
various  forms,  such  as  knap,  nap,  &c. ;  and  in  the 
northern  counties,  it  becomes  crap  and  crnp,  just  as 
knock  becomes  crock  (see  p.  49).  The  diminutives  in 
6g  and  an  occur  oftener  than  the  original ;  Knoppoge, 
little  knob  or  hill,  is  the  name  of  thirteen  townlands 
in  Cork,  Kerry,  and  Clare  ;  and  in  the  slightly  diffe- 
rent form  Knappoge,  it  occurs  twice  in  Longford, 
and  once  in  Clare. 

There  are  many  places  in  the  north  and  north- 
western counties,  called  Knappagh,  which  renresents 

2c 


386  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

the  Irish  cnapach,  ^"^J  ^'^^^^ — a  place  full  of  knobs  or 
hillocks  ;  Nappagh  near  Ai'dagh  in  Longford  is  the 
same  name,  hut  it  has  lost  the/^;  and  the  same  thing 
has  happened  in  Nappan  in  Antrim,  which  is  the 
diminutive  Cnapan,  a  little  hillock  ;  in  this  last  place 
is  an  old  burial  ground  called  Killycrappin  {cill-a^- 
cnapain  :  see  Reeves,  EccL,  Ant.,  p.  87),  which  pre- 
serves the  name  in  another  form.  In  the  following 
names,  the  n  is  changed  to  r : — Crappaghin  Monaghan 
and  Gfalway,  which  is  the  same  name  as  Knappagh  ; 
Crippaun  in  Kildare,  the  same  as  Nappan  in  Antrim  ; 
Carrickcroppan  in  Armagh,  Carraig  -  cnapain,  the 
rock  of  the  little  hillock  ;  and  Lisnacroppan  in  Down, 
the  fort  of  the  hillock. 

Tor  signifies  a  tower,  and  corresponds  to  Lat. 
turris.  Although  the  word  properly  means  an  arti- 
ficial tower,  yet  in  many  parts  of  Ireland,  as  for 
instance  in  Donegal,  it  is  applied  to  a  tall  rock  re- 
sembling a  tower,  without  any  reference  to  an  arti- 
ficial structure.  It  is  pretty  common  as  forming  part 
of  names,  and  its  derivatives  occur  oftener  than  the  ori- 
ginal. Toralt  in  Fermanagh,  signifies  the  tower  of  the 
alt  or  cliff;  Tormore,  great  tower,  is  the  name  of  seve- 
ral islands,  of  one  for  instance,  off"  the  coast  of  Done- 
gal ;  Tornaroy  in  Antrim  is  the  king's  tower ;  and 
in  the  parish  of  Culfeightrin,  same  county,  there  are 
five  tow^nlands  whose  names  begin  with  Tor.  In 
some  few  cases,  especially  in  the  central  counties, 
the  syllable  tor  may  have  been  corrupted  from  tuar, 
a  bleach  green  ;  but  the  physical  aspect  of  the  place 
will  generally  determine  which  is  the  correct  root. 

Tory  Island  ofi"  the  coast  of  Donegal,  is  known  in 
ancient  writings  by  two  distinct  names,  Toirinis  and 
Torach,  quite  different  in  meaning,  but  both  derived 
from  tor.    This  island  is  mentioned  in  our  bardic  his- 


CHAP.  I.]         Mountains^  Hills,  and  Rocks.  387 

tories  as  the  stronghold  of  the  Fomorian  pirates  (see 
p.  155),  and  called  in  these  documents,  Toir-i}iis,i]iQ 
island  of  the  tower ;  and  according  to  all  our  tradi- 
tional accounts,  it  received  this  name  from  Tor- 
Conaing  or  Conaing's  tower,  a  fortress  famous  in 
Irish  legend,  and  called  after  Conaing,  a  Fomorian 
chief. 

In  many  other  ancient  authorities,  such  as  the  Life 
of  St.  Columbkille,  "  The  Wars  of  GG-.,"  &c.,  it  is 
called  Torach  ;  and  the  present  name  Tory,  is  derived 
from  an  oblique  case  of  this  form  {Toraigh,  pron. 
Tornj  :  see  p.  33,  supra).  The  island  abounds  in 
lofty  isolated  rocks,  which  are  called  tors  or  towers  ; 
and  the  name  Torach  m.Qim^  simply  towery — abound- 
ing in  tors  or  tower-like  rocks.  The  intelligent 
Irish-speaking  natives  of  the  Donegal  coast  give  it 
this  interpretation  ;  and  no  one  can  look  at  the  island 
from  the  mainland,  without  admitting  that  the  name 
is  admirably  descriptive  of  its  appeai-ance. 

Tortdn,  a  diminutive  of  tor,  forms  a  part  of  several 
modern  names,  and  it  is  applied  to  a  small  knoll  or 
tummock,  or  a  high  turf  bank.  It  gives  name  to 
Turtane  in  Carlow,  to  Toortane  in  Uueen's  County, 
Waterford,  and  Kilkenny,  and  to  Tartan  in  Ros- 
common. 

Fornocht  is  a  bare,  naked,  or  exposed  hill.  It 
gives  name  to  a  parish  in  Kildare,  now  called  Fore- 
naghts,  in  which  the  plural  form  has  prevailed,  very 
probably  in  consequence  of  the  subdivision  of  the 
original  townland  into  two  parts.  There  are  also 
several  townlands  called  Fornaght  in  Cork  and  Wa- 
terford ;  and  Farnaght,  another  modern  form,  is 
the  name  of  some  places  in  Fermanagh  and  the  Con- 
naught  counties. 

Cahhdn  [cavan]  means  a  hollow  or  cavity,  a  hollow 
2  c2 


388  Phijsical  Features.  [part  iv. 

place,  a  hollow  field ;  and  this  is  undoubtedly  its  jori- 
mary  meaning,  for  it  is  evidently  cognate  with  Lat. 
cavea,  Fr.  cahan,  Welsh,  cahane,  and  Eng.  caUn. 
Yet  in  some  parts  of  Ulster  it  is  understood  to  mean 
the  very  reverse,  viz.,  a  round  dr}^  hill.  This  cuiious 
discrepancy  is  probably  owing  to  a  gradual  change  of 
meaning,  similar  to  the  change  in  the  words  liig^  mul- 
/an,  &c. :  which  of  the  two  meanings  it  bears  in 
each  particular  case,  depends  of  course  on  the  phy- 
sical conformation  of  the  place.  In  its  topographical 
application  this  word  is  confined  to  the  northern  half 
of  Ireland,  and  is  more  frequent  in  the  Ulster  coun- 
ties than  elsewhere ;  its  universal  anglicised  form  is 
car an. 

The  town  of  Cavan  is  well  described  by  its  name, 
for  it  stands  in  a  remarkable  hollow.  There  are  more 
than  twenty  townlands  called  Cavan,  and  the  word 
begins  the  names  of  about  seventy  others.  In  the 
counties  of  Tyrone,  Donegal,  and  Armagh,  there  are 
several  places  called  Cavanacaw,  which  represents 
the  Irish  Cabhan-a'-cdtlw,  the  roimd  hill  of  the  chafi*, 
from  the  custom  of  winnowing  corn  on  the  top ; 
Cavanaleok  near  Enniskillen,  the  hill  of  the  flagstone 
or  stony  surface.  The  word  cahJianach  is  an  adjective 
formation  from  cahhan,  and  means  a  place  abounding 
in  round  hills ;  in  the  modern  form  Cavanagh  it  is 
found  in  Cavan  and  Fermanagh  ;  and  in  Monaghan, 
the  same  v/ord  occurs  under  the  form  Cavany. 

Eiscir  [esker]  means  a  ridge  of  high  land,  but  it  is 
generally  applied  to  a  sandy  ridge,  or  a  line  of  low 
sand  hills.  It  enters  pretty  extensively  into  local 
names,  but  it  is  more  frequently  met  with  across  the 
middle  of  Ireland  than  in  either  the  north  or  south. 
It  usually  takes  the  form  of  Esker,  which  by  itself  is 
the  name  of  more  than  thirty  townlands,  and  com- 


CHAP.  I.]        Mountains,  Hills,  and  Rocks.  389 

bines  to  form  the  names  of  many  others  ;  the  word 
is  somewhat  altered  in  Garrisker,  the  name  of  a  place 
in  Kildare,  signifying  short  sand-ridge. 

The  most  celebrated  eslier  in  Ireland  is  Esher-Riada^ 
a  line  of  gravel  hills  extending  with  little  interrup- 
tion across  Ireland,  from  Dublin  to  Clarin-Bridge  in 
Galway,  which  was  fixed  upon  as  the  boundary  be- 
tween the  north  and  south  halves  of  Ireland,  when 
the  country  was  divided,  in  the  second  century,  be- 
tween Owen  More  and  Con  of  the  Ilimdi-ed  Battles 
(see  p.  127). 

As  a  termination,  this  word  assumes  other  forms, 
all  derived  from  the  genitive  escreach  [eskera]. 
Clashaniskera  in  Tipperary  is  called  in  Irish  Clak- 
an-eiscreach,  the  trench  or  pit  of  the  sand-hill ;  Ahas- 
cragh  in  Gralway  signifies  the  ford  of  the  esker  ;  but 
its  full  name  as  given  by  the  Four  Masters  is  Ath- 
eascrach-Cuain,  the  ford  of  St.  Cuan's  sand  hill ;  and 
they  still  retain  the  memory  of  St.  Cuan,  the  patron, 
who  is  commemorated  in  O'Clery's  Calendar  at  the 
15th  of  October ;  Tiranascragh,  the  name  of  a  town- 
land  and  parish  in  Gralway,  the  land  of  the  esker. 
Eskeragh  and  Eskragh  are  the  names  of  several 
townlands  in  the  Ulster  and  Connaught  counties, 
the  Irish  Eiscreach  signifying  a  place  full  of  eskers 
or  sand  hills. 

Tiompan  is  generally  understood,  when  used  topo- 
graphically, to  mean  a  small  abrupt  hill,  and  some- 
times a  standing  stone ;  it  occurs  as  a  portion  of  a 
few  townland  names,  and  it  does  not  appear  to  be 
confined  to  any  particular  part  of  the  country.  It 
is  pronounced  Timpan  in  the  north,  and  Timpaun 
in  the  south  and  west,  and  modernized  accordingly, 
the  former  being  the  name  of  a  place  in  the  parish  of 
Layd,  Antrim,   and  the  latter  of  another  in  Eos- 


390  PJnjsical  Features.  [part  iv. 

common.  In  the  townland  of  Eeanadimpan,  parish 
of  Seskinan,  Waterford,  there  is  an  ancient  monu- 
ment consisting  of  a  number  of  pillar  stones,  which 
has  given  name  to  the  townland — Reidh-na-dtiompan^ 
the  mountain-flat  of  the  standing  stones.  The  word 
is  slightly  varied  in  Tempanroe  (ro^,  red)  in  Tyrone  ; 
and  Timpany  in  the  same  county  is  from  Tiompcmaehy 
a  place  full  of  timpam  or  hillocks.  Craigatempin  near 
Ballymoney,  Antrim,  is  the  rock  of  the  hillock ;  and 
Ciuraghnadimpaun  in  Kilkenny,  the  marsh  of  the 
little  hills. 

The  word  learg  [larg]  signifies  the  side  or  slope  of 
a  hill ;  it  is  used  in  local  names,  but  not  so  often  as 
Jeargaidh  [largy],  a  derivative  from  it,  with  the  same 
meaning.  Largy,  the  most  usual  modernized  form, 
is  found  only  in  the  northern  half  of  Ireland,  and  is 
almost  confined  to  Ulster ;  it  gives  names  to  many 
townlands,  both  by  itself  and  in  combination.  Lar- 
gysillagh  and  Largynagreana  are  the  names  of  two 
places  near  KiUybegs  in  Donegal,  the  former  signi- 
fying the  hill-side  of  the  sallows,  and  the  latter, 
sunny  hill-slope,  from  its  southern  aspect.  The 
diminutive  Largan,  meaning  still  the  same  thing,  is 
also  of  very  common  occurrence  as  a  townland  name, 
both  singly  and  compounded  with  other  words  ;  Lar- 
ganreagh  in  Donegal,  grey  hill-side. 

Leitir  [letter].  According  to  Peter  O'Connell, 
this  word  means  the  side  of  a  hill,  a  steep  ascent  or 
descent,  a  0116";  and  O'Donovan  translates  it  "hill- 
side," "  wet  or  spewy  hill-side,"  "  hill-side  with  the 
tricklings  of  water,"  &c.  It  is  still  understood  in 
this  sense  in  the  west  of  Conn  aught ;  and  that  this  is 
its  real  meaning  is  further  shown  by  the  Welsh 
IJethr,  which  signifies  a  slope.  In  Cormac's  Glossary 
it  is  thus  explained: — ^^ Leitir,  i.e.  leth  tirim  agus 


CHAP.  I.]      Mountains,  Hills,  and  Bocks.  391 

leth  flinch;^''  ''  leitir,  i.  e.  half  dry  and  half  wet;" 
from  which  it  appears  that  Cormac  considered  it 
derived  from  lefh-tirhn,  half-dry.  This  corresponds, 
so  far  as  it  goes,  with  present  use. 

This  word  is  often  fomid  in  ancient  authorities,  as 
forming  the  names  of  places.  At  1584,  the  Four 
Masters  mention  an  island  called  Lcitlr-Meallain , 
Meallan's  letter  or  hill  side,  which  lies  off  the  Con- 
nemara  coast,  and  is  still  called  Lettermullan. 
Latteragh  in  Tipperary  is  very  often  mentioned  in 
the  Annals  and  Calendars,  and  always  called  Letrecha- 
Odhrain  (O'Cler.  Cal.),  Odhran's  wet  hill-slopes. 
St.  Odhran  [Oran],  the  patron,  who  is  commemo- 
rated in  the  Calendar  at  the  26th  of  November,  died 
according  to  the  Four  Masters,  in  the  year  548. 
Other  modifications  of  the  plural  {leatracha,  pron. 
latraha)  are  seen  in  Lettera  and  Letteragh,  the  names 
of  places  in  various  counties  ;  Lattery  in  Armagh  ; 
and  Lettery  in  Galway  and  Tyrone  :  all  meaning 
"wet  hill-slopes."  Lettreen,  little  letter,  occurs  in 
Roscommon ;  and  another  diminutive,  Letteran,  in 
Londonderry. 

A  considerable  number  of  places  derive  their  names 
from  this  word,  especially  in  the  western  half  of  Ire- 
land, where  it  prevails  much  more  than  elsewhere ; 
I  have  not  found  it  at  all  towards  the  eastern  coast. 
Its  most  usual  form  is  Letter,  which  is  by  itself  the 
name  of  about  twenty-six  townlands,  and  forms 
the  beginning  of  about  120  others.  Letterbrick  in 
Donegal  and  Mayo,  is  Leitir-hruic,  the  hill-side  of 
the  badger ;  Letterbrock,  of  the  badgers ;  Letter- 
shendony  in  Derry,  the  old  man's  hill-side  ;  Letter- 
keen  in  Fermanagh  and  Mayo,  beautiful  letter; 
LetterHcky  in  Cork,  the  hill  side  of  the  flag-stone  or 
flag-surfaced  land  ;   Lettergeeragh  in  Longford,  of 


392  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

the  sheep  ;  and  Lettermacaward  in  Donegal,  the 
hill-slope  of  Mac  Ward  or  the  son  of  the  bard. 

Rum  means  the  point  of  anything,  such  as  the 
point  of  a  spear,  &c. ;  in  its  local  application,  it  denotes 
a  point  of  land,  a  promontory,  or  small  peninsula. 
O'Brien  says  in  his  Dictionary : — "  It  would  take  up 
more  than  a  whole  sheet  to  mention  all  the  neck- 
lands  of  Ireland,  whose  names  begin  with  this  word 
Emn.'^  It-  is  found  pretty  extensively  in  names 
in  the  forms  Rin,  Rinn,  Keen,  Rine,  and  Ring  ; 
and  these  constitute  or  begin  about  170  townland 
names. 

Names  containing  this  word  are  often  found  in 
Irish  authorities.  In  the  county  Roscommon,  on  the 
western  shore  of  Lough  Ree,  is  a  small  peninsula 
about  a  mile  in  length,  now  called  St.  John's  or 
Randown,  containing  the  ruins  of  a  celebrated  castle ; 
there  must  have  been  originally  a  choi  on  the  point, 
for  the  ancient  name  as  given  in  the  Annals  is  Hinn- 
duin,  the  peninsula  of  the  d^in  or  fortress.  The  an- 
cient name  of  Island-Magee,  a  peninsula  near  Lame, 
was  Rinn-Seimhne  [Sevne],  from  the  territory  in 
which  it  was  situated,  which  was  called  Seimhne ;  in 
the  Taxation  of  1306  it  is  called  by  its  old  name,  in 
the  anglicised  form  Ransevyn.  It  received  its  pre- 
sent name  from  its  ancient  proprietors,  the  Mac 
Aedhas  or  Magees,  not  one  of  whose  descendants  is 
now  living  there.  (See  Reeves,  Eccl.  Ant.,  pp.  58, 
270.)  • 

In  the  parish  of  Kilconry,  Clare,  is  a  point  of  land 
jutting  into  the  Shannon,  called  Rineanna,  which 
the  Four  Masters  call  Rinn-eanaujli^  the  point  of  the 
marsh ;  there  is  an  island  in  Lough  Ree  called 
Rinanny,  and  a  townland  in  Mayo,  called  Rinanagh, 


CHAP.  I.]         Mountains,  Hills,  and  Rocks.  393 

both  of  wLicli  are  different  foiTQS  of  the  same  name. 
Ringcurran  is  a  peninsula  forming  a  modern  parish 
near  Kinsale ;  it  is  a  place  very  often  mentioned  in 
the  Annals,  and  its  Irish  name  is  Rinn-chorrain., 
which  Philip  0 'Sullivan  Beare  correctly  translates, 
cuspis  falcis,  the  point  of  the  reaping  hook,  so  called 
from  its  shape.  It  is  curious  that  the  same  sickle 
shape  has  given  the  name  of  Curran  to  a  little  penin- 
sula near  Larne.  On  a  point  of  land  near  Kinsale, 
are  the  ruins  of  Ringrone  castle,  the  old  seat  of  the 
De  Coiu-cys ;  the  name,  which  properly  belongs  to 
the  little  peninsula  on  which  the  castle  stands,  is 
written  in  the  Annals  of  Innisfallen,  Rinn-roin,  the 
point  of  the  seal.  The  little  promontory  between 
the  mouths  of  the  rivers  Ouvane  and  Coomhola  near 
Bantry,  is  called  Eeenadisert,  the  point  of  the  wil- 
derness or  hermitage,  a  name  which  is  now  applied 
to  a  ruined  castle,  a  stronghold  of  the  O'SuUivans. 
The  next  peninsula,  lying  a  mile  southwards,  is 
called  Reenydonagan,  O'Donagan's  point. 

Ring  stands  alone  as  the  name  of  many  places  in 
different  counties,  in  all  cases  meaning  a  point  of 
land ;  Ringaskiddy  near  Spike  Island  in  Cork,  is 
Skiddy's  point.  I  think  it  very  probable  that  the 
point  of  land  between  the  mouth  of  the  river  Dodder 
and  the  sea,  gave  name  to  Ringsend  near  Dublin, 
the  second  syllable  being  English  : — Ringsend,  i.  e. 
the  end  of  the  Rinn  or  point.  There  is  a  parish 
forming  a  peninsula  near  Dungarvan  in  "Waterford, 
called  Ringagonagh,  in  Irish  Rinn-0-gCuana,  the 
point  of  the  O'Cooneys. 

Ringville  in  Waterford,  though  it  looks  English, 
is  an  Irish  name,  Rinn-hhile,  the  point  of  the  bile  or 
ancient  tree  ;  this  is  also  the  name  of  two  to^mlands 
in  Cork  and  Kilkenny  ;  and  Ringvilla  in  Fermanagh, 


394  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

is  still  the  same.  There  is  a  little  peninsula  in  Gal- 
way,  opposite  Inishbofin  island,  called  Einville,  and 
another  of  the  same  name,  with  a  \illage  on  it,  pro- 
jecting into  Gralway  bay,  east  of  Galway ;  both  are 
written  in  our  authorities  Rinn-Mhil^  the  point  of 
Mil ;  and  according  to  Mac  Firbis,  they  were  so 
called  from  Mil,  an  old  Fii^bolg  chief.  "  Einghaddy 
is  a  part  of  Killinchy  parish  in  Do^ti,  lying  in 
Strangford  Lough.  It  was  originally  an  island ;  but 
having  been  from  time  immemorial  imited  to  the 
mainland  by  a  causeway,  it  presents  on  the  map  the 
appearance  of  an  elongated  neck  of  land,  running 
northwards  into  the  Lough.  Hence,  probably,  the 
name  Einn-fhada^  the  long  point"  (Eeeves,  Eccl. 
Ant.  p.  9).  In  the  same  county  there  is  a  townland 
called  Eingfad,  which  is  another  modification  of  the 
same  name. 

Eeen  is  another  form  of  this  word,  which  is  con- 
fined to  Cork,  Kerry,  and  Limerick,  but  in  these 
counties  it  occurs  very  often,  especially  on  the  coasts. 
Einn  and  Ein  are  more  common  in  the  western  and 
north-western  counties  than  elsewhere  ;  as  in  Ein- 
rainy  island  near  Dunglow  in  Donegal,  the  point  of 
the  ferns.  In  Clare  the  word  is  pronounced  Eine, 
and  anglicised  accordingly ;  Einecaha  in  the  parish 
of  Kilkeedy,  signifies  the  point  of  the  chaff"  or  wiu- 
nowing.  The  diminutive  Einneen,  little  point,  is 
the  name  of  several  townland s  in  Galway,  Clare,  and 
Kerry. 

Stuaic  [stook]  is  applied  to  a  pointed  pinnacle,  or 
a  projecting  point  of  rock.  Although  the  word  is 
often  used  to  designate  projecting  rocky  points,  es- 
pecially on  parts  of  the  coast  of  Donegal,  it  has  not 
given  names  to  many  townlands.  Its  usual  English 
form  is  sfooh,  which,  in  Ireland  at  least,  has  taken 


CHAP.  I.]        Motmfaws,  Hills^  and  EocAs.  395 

its  place  as  an  English  word,  for  the  expression,  "  a 
stook  of  corn"  is  used  all  over  the  country,  meaning 
the  same  as  the  English  word  sJiock.  Stook  is  the 
name  of  a  place  in  Tipperary  ;  but  the  two  diminu- 
tives, Stookan  and  Stookeen,  occur  more  frequently 
than  the  original. 

Visitors  to  the  Giant's  Causeway  will  remember 
the  two  remarkable  lofty  rocks  called  the  Stookans — 
little  stooks  or  rock  pinnacles — standing  in  the  path 
leading  to  the  Causeway,  which  afford  a  very  charac- 
teristic example  of  the  application  of  this  term.  We 
find  Stookeens,  the  same  word,  in  Limerick,  and  the 
singular  Stookeen  occurs  in  Cork.  Near  Louglu-ea 
in  Galway,  is  a  to^Tiland  called  Cloghastookeen,  the 
stone  fortress  of  the  little  pinnacle,  which  received 
its  name  from  a  castle  of  the  Biu^kes,  the  ruins  of 
which  still  remain  ;  Baurstookeen  in  Tipperary,  the 
summit  of  the  pinnacle. 

The  words  aill  and  fail/  [oil,  foil],  mean  a  rock,  a 
cliff,  or  a  precipice ;  both  words  are  radically  the 
same,  the  latter  being  derived  from  the  former  by 
prefixing  /  (see  p.  27) .  I  have  abeacly  observed 
that  this  practice  of  prefixing  /  is  chiefly  found  in  the 
south,  and  accordingly  it  is  only  in  this  part  of  Ire- 
land that  names  occur  derived  iromfcn/I. 

Fa  ill  is  generally  made/o?7  smdfoi/k  in  the  pre- 
sent names,  and  there  are  great  numbers  of  cliffs 
round  the  Munster  coasts,  especially  on  those  of  Cork 
and  Kerry,  whose  names  begin  with  these  syllables ; 
they  also  begin  the  names  of  about  twenty-five  to^^■n- 
lancls,  inland  as  well  as  on  the  coast.  Foilycleara  in 
Limerick  and  Tipperary,  signifies  O'Cleary's  cliff; 
Foilnaman  in  the  latter  county,  the  cliff  of  the  wo- 
men. The  diminutive  is  seen  in  Falleenadatha  in 
the  parish  of  Doon,  Limerick,  Faiiliu-a'-dcata,  the 


396  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

little  cliff  of  tlie  smoke.  When  foyle  comes  in  as  a 
termination,  it  is  commonly  derived,  however,  not 
hovafaiU,  but  from  poll,  a  hole  ;  for  instance  Bally- 
foyle  and  Ballyfoile,  the  names  of  several  town- 
lands,  represent  the  Irish  Baile-plioiU,  the  town  of  the 
hole. 

While  faill  is  confined  to  the  south,  the  other  form 
aill,  is  found  all  over  Ireland,  under  a  variety  of 
modern  forms.  Ayle  and  Aille  are  the  names  of  a 
number  of  places  in  Munster  and  Connaught;  Al- 
lagower  near  Tallaght,  Dublin,  is  the  clifi'  of  the 
goat.  Lisnahall  in  Tyrone,  signifies  the  fort  of  the 
cliff;  and  Aghnahily  in  Queen's  County,  the  field 
of  the  cliff.  The  diminutive  AUeen  is  found  in  Tip- 
perary  and  Gal  way  ;  in  the  former  county  there  are 
four  townlands,  two  of  them  called  Alleen  Hogan, 
and  two,  Alleen  Eyan,  Hogan's  and  Eyan's  little 
cliff. 

Carraig  or  carraic  [carrig,  carrick],  signifies  a  rock ; 
it  is  usually  applied  to  a  large  natural  rock,  not 
lying  flat  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  like  leae,  but 
more  or  less  elevated.  There  are  two  other  forms  of 
this  word,  cmig  and  creag,  which,  though  not  so 
common  as  carraig,  are  yet  found  in  considerable 
numbers  of  names,  and  are  used  in  Irish  documents 
of  authority.  Carraig  corresponds  with  Sansc.  kar- 
kara,  a  stone ;  Armoric,  karrek,  and  Welsh,  careg  or 
craig,  a  rock. 

Carrick  and  Carrig  are  the  names  of  nearly  seventy 
townlands,  villages,  and  towns,  and  form  the  begin- 
ning of  about  550  others  ;  craig  and  creag  are  repre- 
sented by  the  various  fonns.  Crag,  Craig,  Creg,  &c., 
and  these  constitute  or  begin  about  250  names  ;  they 
mean  primarily  a  rock,  but  they  are  sometimes  ap- 
plied to  rocky  land. 


CHAP.  I.]       Mountains,  Hills,  and  Bocks.  397 

Carrigafoyle,  an  island  in  the  Shannon,  near  Bally- 
longford,  Kerry,  with  the  remains  of  Carrigafoyle 
castle  near  the  shore,  the  chief  seat  of  the  0' Conors 
Kerry,  is  called  in  the  Annals,  Carraig-an-jjhoill,  the 
rock  of  the  hole  ;  and  it  took  its  name  from  a  deep 
hole  in  the  river  immediately  imder  the  castle.  Bally- 
nagarrick  in  Down,  represents  the  Irish  BaiJe-na- 
gcarraig,  the  town  of  the  rocks ;  Carrigallen  in  Lei- 
trim  was  so  called  from  the  rock  on  which  the 
original  church  was  built,  the  Irish  name  of  which 
was  Carraig-dluinn,  beautiful  rock.  In  Inishargy  in 
Down,  the  initial  c  has  dropped  out  by  aspii^ation  ;  in 
the  Taxation  of  1306  it  is  called  luyscargi,  which  well 
represents  Inis-carraige,  the  island  of  the  rock ;  and 
the  rising  ground  on  which  the  old  church  stands 
was  formerly,  as  the  name  indicates,  an  island  sur- 
rounded by  marshes,  which  have  been  conyerted  into 
cultivated  fields.     (See  Eeeves,  Eccl.  Ant.,  p.  19.) 

The  form  craig  occurs  more  than  once  in  the  Four 
Masters ;  for  instance  they  mention  a  place  called 
Craig-Corcrain,  Corcran's  rock  ;  and  this  name  in  the 
corrupted  form  of  Cahercorcaun,  is  still  applied  to  a 
townland  in  the  parish  of  Eath,  Clare  ;  they  also 
mention  Craig-ui-Chiarduhhain,  O'Kirwan's  rock,  now 
Craggykeriivan  in  the  parish  of  Clondagad,  same 
county.  Craigavad  on  Belfast  Lough,  was  so  called, 
probably,  from  a  rock  on  the  shore  to  which  a  boat 
used  to  be  moored ;  for  its  Irish  name  is  Craig-a'- 
hhaid,  the  rock  of  the  boat. 

The  form  Carrick  is  pretty  equally  distributed  over 
Ireland ;  Carrig  is  much  more  common  in  the  south 
than  elsewhere  ;  Cregg  and  Creg  are  found  oftener 
in  the  north  and  west  than  in  the  south  and  east ; 
and  with  three  or  four  exceptions,  Craig  is  confined  to 
Ulster.     The  diminutives  Carrigeen,  Carrigane,  and 


398  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

Carrigaiin,  prevail  in  the  southern  half  of  Ireland  ; 
and  in  the  northern,  Carrigan,  Cargan,  and  Cargin, 
all  signifying  little  rock,  or  land  with  a  rocky  surface  ; 
and  with  their  plurals,  they  give  names  to  numerous 
townlands  and  villages.  There  are  also  a  great  many 
places  in  the  north  and  north-west,  called  Creggan, 
and  in  the  south  and  west,  Creggane  and  Creggaun, 
which  are  diminutives  of  creag^  and  are  generally 
applied  to  rocky  land  ;  Cargagh  and  Carrigagh, 
meaning  a  place  full  of  rocks,  are  the  names  of  several 
townlands. 

Clock  signifies  a  stone — any  stone  either  large  or 
small,  as  for  instance,  cloch'Shneachta,  a  hail-stone, 
literally  snow-stone ;  doch-teine,  fire-stone,  i.  e.  a  flint. 
So  far  as  it  is  perpetuated  in  local  names,  it  was 
applied  in  each  particular  case  to  a  stone  sufficiently 
large  and  conspicuously  placed,  to  attract  general 
notice,  or  rendered  remarkable  by  some  custom  or 
historical  occurrence.  The  word  is  also,  in  an  ex- 
tended sense,  often  applied  to  a  stone  building,  such 
as  a  castle  ;  for  example,  the  castle  of  Grlin  on  the 
Shannon  in  Limerick,  the  seat  of  the  Knight  of  Grlin, 
is  called  in  Irish  documents,  Cloch-gleamia^  the  stone 
castle  of  the  glen  or  valley.  It  is  often  difficult  to 
determine  with  certainty  which  of  these  two  mean- 
ings it  bears  in  local  names. 

Cloch  is  one  of  our  commonest  topographical  roots  ; 
in  the  English  forms  Clogh  and  Clough,  it  constitutes 
or  begins  more  than  400  townland  names ;  and  it  helps 
to  form  innumerable  others  in  various  combinations. 
Cloghbally  and  Clogh vally,  which  are  common  town- 
land  names,  represent  the  Irish  Cloch-hhaile^  stony- 
town;  scattered  overMunster,  Connaught,  and  Ulster, 
are  many  places  called  Cloghboley  and  Cloghboola, 
stony  hooky  or  dairy  place  ;  and  Cloghvoley,  Clogh- 


CHAP.  I.]         Mountains,  Hills,  and  Rocks.  399 

voola,  and  Cloghvoula,  are  varied  forms  of  the  same 
name  ;  Shanaclogh  and  Shanclogh  in  Munster  and 
ConnaiTght,  old  stone  or  stone  castle. 

Sometimes  the  final  guttTiral  drops  out  and  the 
word  is  reduced  to  do ;  as  in  Clomantagh  in  Kilkenny, 
in  which  no  guttural  appears,  though  there  is  one  in 
the  original  CIoch-Manfaicjh,  the  stone-castle  of  Man- 
tach,  a  man's  name  signifying  toothless  (see  p.  103) ; 
Clomoney  and  Clorusk  in  Carlow,  the  former  sig- 
nifying the  stone  of  the  shruhbery,  and  the  latter,  of 
the  marsh.  And  very  often  the  first  c  becomes  g  by 
eclipse  (see  p.  22),  as  in  Carrownaglogh,  which  con- 
veys the  sound  of  the  Irish  Ceathnimhadh-na-gclogh, 
the  quarter-land  of  the  stones. 

Names  formed  from  this  word,  variously  combined, 
are  found  in  every  part  of  Ireland :  when  it  comes  in 
as  a  termination,  it  is  usually  in  the  genitive  {cloiche, 
pron.  clohy),  and  in  this  case  it  takes  several  modern 
forms,  which  will  be  illustrated  in  the  following 
names.  Ballyclogh,  Ballyclohy,  BaUinaclogh,  Bally- 
naclogh,  and  Ballynacloghy,  all  names  of  frequent 
occurrence,  mean  stone  toTVTi,  or  the  town  of  the 
stones.  Aughnacloy  is  a  little  town  in  Tyrone  ;  and 
there  are  several  townlands  in  other  counties  of  the 
same  name,  all  called  in  Irish  Achadh-na-cloiche,  the 
field  of  the  stone. 

There  are  three  diminutives  of  this  word  in  com- 
mon use — cloich'm,  clocJwg,  and  cloghdn — of  which  the 
third  has  been  already  dealt  with  (p.  351).  The  first 
is  generally  anglicised  Cloheen  or  Clogheen,  which  is 
the  name  of  a  town  in  Tipper ary,  and  of  several 
townlands  in  Cork,  Waterford,  and  Kildare.  Clogh- 
oge  or  Clohoge,  though  literally  meaning  a  small 
stone  like  Clogheen,  is  generally  applied  to  stony 
land,   or  to  a  place  full  of  round  stones  ;   it  is  the 


400  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

name  of  about  twenty  townlands,  chiefly  in  Ulster — a 
few,  however,  being  found  in  Sligo  and  in  the  Lein- 
ster  counties. 

There  are  several  derivative  forms  from  this  word 
clock.  The  most  common  is  clochar,  which  is  gene- 
rally applied  to  stony  land — a  place  abounding  in 
stones,  or  having  a  stony  surface ;  but  it  occa- 
sionally means  a  rock.  Its  most  usual  anglicised 
form  is  Clogher,  which  is  the  name  of  a  well-known 
town  in  T}T:one,  of  a  village  and  a  remarkable  head- 
land in  Louth,  and  of  nearly  sixty  townlands  scat- 
tered over  Ireland  ;  and,  compounded  ^dth  various 
words,  it  helps  to  form  the  names  of  numerous  other 
places. 

For  Clogher  in  Tyrone,  however,  a  different  origin 
has  been  assigned.  It  is  stated  that  there  existed 
anciently  at  this  place  a  stone  covered  with  gold, 
which  was  worshipped  as  Kermann  Kelstach,  the  prin- 
cipal idol  of  the  northern  Irish ;  and  this  stone,  it 
is  said,  was  preserved  in  the  church  of  Clogher  down 
to  a  late  period :  hence  the  place  was  called  Cloch-oir, 
golden  stone.  0' Flaherty  makes  this  statement  in 
his  Ogygia,  on  the  authority  of  Cathal  Maguire,  arch- 
deacon of  Clogher,  the  compiler  of  the  Annals  of 
Ulster,  who  died  in  1495  ;  and  Harris,  in  his  edition 
of  Ware's  Bishops,  notices  the  idol  in  the  following 
words : — "  Clogher,  situated  on  the  river  Lanny, 
takes  its  name  from  a  Golden  Stone,  from  which,  in 
the  Times  of  Paganism,  the  Devil  used  to  pronounce 
juggling  Answers,  like  the  Oracles  oiApofio  Pi/thlus, 
as  is  said  in  the  Eegister  of  Clogher." 

With  this  story  of  the  idol  I  have  nothing  to  do ; 
only  I  shall  observe  that  it  ought  to  be  received  with 
caution,  as  it  is  not  found  in  any  ancient  authority  ; 
it  is  likely  that  Maguire's  statement  is  a  mere  record 


CHAP.  1.]      Mountains^  Hills,  and  Rocks.  401 

of  the  oral  tradition,  preserved  in  his  time.  But  that 
the  name  of  Clogher  is  derived  from  it — i.  e.  from 
Cloch-oir — I  do  not  believe,  and  for  these  reasons. 
The  prevalence  of  the  name  Clogher  in  different  parts 
of  Ireland,  with  the  same  general  meaning,  "  is  rather 
damaging  to  such  an  etymon,"  as  Dr.  Eeeves  re- 
marks, and  affords  strong  presumption  that  this 
Clogher  is  the  same  as  all  the  rest.  The  most  ancient 
form  of  the  name,  as  found  in  Adamnan,  is  Cloclmr 
FiUonim  Daimeni  (this  being  Adamnan's  translation 
of  the  proper  Irish  name,  Clochur-mac-Daim/iin, 
Clochur  of  the  sons  of  Daimhin)  ;  in  which  the  final 
syllable  ^ir  shows  no  trace  of  the  genitive  of  or,  gold 
(or,  gen.  oir)  ;  and,  besides,  the  manner  in  which 
Clochur  is  connected  with  mac-Daimlun  goes  far  to 
show  that  it  is  a  generic  term,  the  construction  being 
exactly  analogous  to  Inis-mac-Nessan  (p.  104). 

But  farther,  there  is  a  direct  statement  of  the 
origin  of  the  name  in  a  passage  of  the  Tain-bo- 
Chuailgne  in  Leabhar  na  hUidhre,  quoted  by  Mr.  J. 
O'Beirne  Crowe  in  an  article  in  the  Kilkenny  Archaeo- 
logical Journal  (April,  1869,  p.  311).  In  this  pas- 
sage we  are  told  that  a  certain  j)lace  on  which  was 
a  great  quantity  of  stones,  was  called  for  that  reason 
Mag  Clochair,  the  plain  of  the  stones ;  and  Mr.  Crowe 
remarks  : — "  Clochar,  as  any  Irish  scholar  might 
know,  does  not  mean  a  stone  of  gold ;  the  form  clochar 
from  clocli,  a  stone,  is  like  that  of  sruthar  from  sruth, 
a  stream,  and  other  nouns  of  this  class  with  a  cumu- 
lative signification." 

This  place  retains  its  ancient  name  in  the  latest 
Irish  authorities.  Daimhin,  whose  sons  are  comme- 
morated in  the  name,  was  eighth  in  descent  from 
CoUa-da-Chrich  (p.  131),  and  consequently  must 
have  lived  about  the  end  of  the  sixth  centm-v.  His 
2d 


402  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

descendants  were  in  later  times  called  Claim- Dai mh- 
in  ;  and  they  were  represented  so  late  as  the  four- 
teenth century,  by  the  family  of  Dwyer. 

Cloghereen,  little  stony  place,  a  diminutive  of 
clogher^  is  well  known  to  tourists  as  the  name  of 
a  village  near  Killarney.  Cloichredn,  or  cloithredn 
[cloherawn],  another  diminutive,  signifies  also  a 
stony  place,  and  is  found  in  every  part  of  Ireland  in 
different  modern  forms.  It  is  Clogherane  in  Kerry 
and  Waterford  ;  and  in  the  county  of  Dublin  it  gives 
name  to  two  parishes  called  Cloghran.  In  many 
cases  the  guttural  has  dropped  out,  reducing  it  to 
Cloran  in  Westmeath,  Tipperary,  and  Gralway  ;  Clo- 
rane  and  Clorhane  in  Limerick,  King's,  and  Queen's 
County.  It  undergoes  various  other  alterations — as 
for  instance,  CJerran  in  Monaghan :  Cleighran  in 
Leitrim ;  Cleraun  in  Longford ;  and  Clerhaun  in 
Mayo  and  Gralway. 

Clochar  has  other  developments,  one  of  which, 
clocharach  or  cloithreacJi,  meaning  much  the  same  as 
clochar  itself — a  stony  place — is  found  pretty  widely 
spread  in  various  modern  forms ;  such  as  Cloghera 
in  Clare  and  Kerry  ;  and  Clerragh  in  Roscommon. 
Another  offshoot  is  cloichearnach,  with  still  the  same 
meaning  ;  this  is  anglicised  Cloghernagh  in  Donegal 
and  Monaghan  ;  Clahernagh  in  Fermanagh ;  Cloher- 
nagh  in  Wicklow  and  Tipperary  ;  while  in  Tyrone  it 
gives  the  name  of  Clogherny  to  a  j)arish  and  four 
townlands. 

The  word  leac,  lie,  or  Hag  [lack,  lick,  leeg] — for  it  is 
written  all  three  ways — means  primarily  a  great  stone, 
but  it  is  commonly  applied  to  a  flag  or  large  flat 
stone  ;  thus  the  Irish  for  ice  is  leac-oidhre  [lack-ira], 
literally  snow-flag.  The  most  ancient  form  is  liac  or 
liaoc,  which  is  used  to  translate  lapis  in  the  Wb.  and 


CHAP,  r.]  Mountains,  Hills,  and  Rocks.  403 

Sg.  MSS.  of  Zeuss  ;  and  it  is  cognate  with  tlie 
Welsh  llech ;  Latin  lapis ;  and  Greek  lithos. 

This  word  occurs  very  often  in  Irish  names,  and 
in  its  local  application  it  is  very  generally  used  to 
denote  a  flat-surfaced  rock,  or  a  place  having  a  level 
rocky  surface.  Its  most  common  forms  are  Lack, 
Leek  and  Lick,  which  are  the  names  of  many  town- 
lands  and  villages  through  Ireland,  as  well  as  the 
diminutives  Lackeen  and  Lickeen,  little  rock.  The 
form  Hag  is  represented  by  Leeg  and  Leek  in 
Monaghan,  and  by  Leeke  in  Antrim  and  London- 
derry. 

Lickmolassy,  a  parish  in  Galway — St.  Molaise's 
flag-stone  —was  so  called,  because  the  hill  on  which 
the  church  was  built  that  gave  name  to  the  parish, 
is  covered  on  the  surface  with  level  flag-like  rocks. 
Legvoy,  a  place  in  Roscommon,  west  of  Carrick-on- 
Shannon,  is  called  by  the  Four  Masters,  Leagmhagh 
[Legvah],  the  flag-surfaced  plain.  The  celebrated 
mountain  Slieve  League  in  Donegal,  is  correctly 
described  by  its  name: — "A  quarry  lately  opened 
here,  shows  this  part  of  the  mountain  to  be  formed 
of  piles  of  thin  small  flags  of  a  beautiful  whita 
colour  ....  And  here  observe  how  much  there  is 
in  a  name  ;  for  Slieve  League  means  the  mountain 
of  flags."* 

I  have  already  observed  (p.  343)  that  stonj^  fords 
are  very  often  designated  by  names  indicating  their 
character;  and  I  will  give  a  few  additional  illustrations 
here.  BelLeek  in  Fermanagh,  on  the  Erne,  east  of 
Ballyshannon,  is  called  in  Irish  authorities,  Bel-leice, 
"translated  os  rupis  by  Philip  O'Sullivan  Beare  in  his 
History  of  the  Irish  Catholics.     The  name  signifies 

*  From  "  The  Donegal  Higlilands,"  Murray  and  Co.,  Dublin. 
2d2 


404  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

ford-mouth  of  the  flag-stone,  and  the  place  was  so 
called  from  the  flat-snifaced  rock  in  the  ford,  which, 
when  the  water  decreases  in  summer,  appears  as  level  as 
a  marble  floor  (O'Donovan,  Four  Mast.  Y.,  p.  1354). 
Belleek  is  also  the  name  of  a  place  near  Ballina  in 
Mayo,  which  was  so  called  from  a  rocky  ford  on  the 
Moy ;  there  is  a  village  of  the  same  name  near  New- 
town Hamilton,  Armagh,  and  also  two  townlands  in 
G-alway  and  Meath.  Ballinalack  is  the  name  of  a  vil- 
lage in  Westmeath,  a  name  originally  applied  to  a 
ford  on  the  river  Inny,  over  which  there  is  now  a 
bridge ;  the  correct  name  is  Bel-atha-na-Ieac  [Bella- 
nalack],  the  mouth  of  the  ford  of  the  flag-stones, 
a  name  that  most  truly  describes  the  place,  which  is 
covered  with  limestone  flags.  In  some  other  cases, 
however,  Ballinalack  is  derived  from  Baile-na-leac^ 
the  town  of  the  flag-stones. 

Several  derivative  forms  from  leac  are  perpetuated 
in  local  names;  one  of  these,  Icacach^  signifying  stony, 
is  applied  topographically  to  a  place  lull  of  stones  or 
flags,  and  has  given  the  name  of  Lackagh  to  many 
townlands  in  diff'erent  parts  of  Ireland.  Several  places 
of  this  name  are  mentioned  in  the  Annals ;  for  instance, 
Lackagh  in  the  parish  of  Inishkeel,  Donegal,  and  the 
river  Lackagh,  falling  into  Sheephaven,  same  county, 
both  of  which  are  noticed  in  the  Four  Masters. 

Leaccin  is  one  of  the  most  widefy-extended  of  all 
derivatives  from  Jeac^  and  in  every  part  of  the  country 
it  is  applied  to  a  hill  side.  In  the  modern  forms  of 
Lackan,  Lacken,  Lackaun,  Leckan,  Leckaun,  and 
Lickane,  it  gives  name  to  more  than  forty  townlands, 
and  its  compounds  are  still  more  numerous.  Lackan- 
darra,  Lackandarragh,  and  LackendaiTagh,  all  sig- 
nify the  hill-side  of  the  oak  ;  Ballynalackan  and 
Ballynalaeken,  the  town  of  the  hill-side.     Lackan  in 


CHAP.  T.]  Ifoimtains,  Hills,  and  Rocks.  405 

tlie  parisli  of  Kilglass  in  Sligo,  was  formerly  the 
residence  of  the  Mac  Firbises,  where  their  castle,  now 
called  Castle  Forbes  (i.  e.  Firbis),  still  remains  ;  and 
here  they  compiled  many  Irish  works,  among  others, 
the  well-known  Book  of  Lecan.  The  form  Lacka  is 
also  very  common  in  local  names,  with  the  same 
meaning  as  leacdn,  viz.,  the  side  of  a  hill ;  Lackabane 
and  Lackabaun,  white  hill-side. 

^^ Boireann  [burren],  a  large  rock;  a  stony,  rocky 
district.  It  is  the  name  of  several  rocky  districts  in 
the  north  and  south  of  Ireland"  (O'Donovan,  App.  to 
O'Eeilly's  Diet,  in  voce).  Accordingto  an  ancient  MS. 
quoted  by  O'Donovan,  it  is  fancifully  derived  from 
hor)\  great,  and  onn^  a  stone. 

A  considerable  number  of  local  names  are  derived 
from  this  word ;  one  of  the  best  known  is  Burren  in 
Clare,  an  ancient  territory,  very  often  mentioned  in  the 
Annals,  which  is  as  remarkable  for  its  stony  character, 
as  it  is  celebrated  for  its  oyster  bank.  Burren  is  the 
name  of  eleven  townlands,  some  of  which  are  found 
in  each  of  the  provinces;  there  is  a  river  joining  the 
Barrow  at  the  town  of  Carlow,  called  Burren,  i.  e. 
rocky  river ;  and  in  Dublin,  the  word  appears  in  the 
name  of  the  Burren  rocks  near  the  western  shore  of 
Lambay  island. 

There  are  many  places  whose  names  are  partly 
formed  from  this  word  : — Burrenrea  in  Cavan,  and 
Burrenreagh  in  Down,  both  mean  grey  burren. 
Cloonburren  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Shannon,  nearly 
opposite  Clonmacnoise,  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the 
Annals,  its  Irish  name  being  Cluain-boireann,  rocky 
meadow.  Rathborney,  a  parish  in  Clare,  received 
its  name — Rafh-Boirne^  the  fort  of  Burren  —  from 
the  district  in  which  it  is  situated.  The  plural,  hoirt}e 
[boumy],  is   modernized  into  Burnew,  i.  e.   rocky 


408  Physical  Features.  [part  iv, 

lands,  in  tlie  parish  of  Killinkere,  Cavan;  in  tlie  form 
Bourne}^,  it  is  the  name  of  a  parish  in  Tipperarj ; 
and  near  Aghada  in  Cork,  is  a  place  called  Knock- 
anemorney,  in  Irish  Cnocan~na-7]iboirne,i}iQ\iii\Q  hill 
of  the  rocks. 

The  word  carr,  though  not  found  in  the  diction- 
aries, is  understood  in  several  parts  of  Ireland  to 
mean  a  rock,  and  sometimes  rocky  land.  It  is  pro- 
bable that  carraig^  a  rock,  carn^  a  monumental  heap 
of  stones,  and  cairfhe,  a  pillar-stone,  are  all  etymolo- 
gically  connected  with  this  word. 

Carr  is  the  name  of  three  townlands  in  Down, 
Fermanagh,  and  Tyrone ;  and  it  forms  part  of  several 
names ;  such  as  Carcullion  in  the  parish  of  Clonduff, 
L)o^Ti,  the  rock  or  rocky  land  of  the  holly ;  Gortahar 
in  Antrim,  Gort-a^-chairi\  the  field  of  the  rock.  In 
the  parish  of  Clonallan,  Down,  is  a  place  called  Car- 
rogs,  little  rocks.  There  is  another  diminutive  com- 
mon in  the  west  of  Ireland,  namely,  cairiJi'in,  which  is 
anglicised  as  it  is  pronounced,  Carheen  ;  it  generally 
means  rocky  land,  but  in  some  places  it  is  understood 
to  mean  a  cahereen,  that  is,  a  little  caJier  or  stone 
fort,  and  occasionally  a  little  cairthe,  or  pillar-stone  ; 
the  English  plural  Carheens,  and  the  Irish  Carheeny, 
both  meaning  little  rocks  or  little  stone  forts,  are  the 
names  of  several  places  in  Galway,  Mayo,  and  Lime- 
rick. 

The  third  diminutive,  carran,is  more  generally  used 
than  either  of  the  two  former,  and  it  has  several  an- 
glicised forms,  such  as  Caran,  Caraun,  Carran,  and 
Carraun.  It  is  often  difficult  to  fix  the  meaning  of 
these  words  ;  they  general^  signify  rocky  land,  but 
they  are  occasionally  understood  to  mean  a  reaping 
hook,  applied  in  this  sense,  from  some  peculiarity 
of  shape  ;  and  Caran  and  Carran  are  sometimes  varied 


CHAP.  I.]         Mountains,  Hills,  and  Rocks.  407 

forms  of  cam.  Craan,  Craane,  and  Crane,  wliicli  are 
the  names  of  a  number  of  places,  are  modifications 
which  are  less  doubtful  in  meaning ;  they  are  almost 
confined  to  Carlow  and  Wexford,  and  are  always 
applied  to  rocky  land — land  showing  a  rocky  sur- 
face. 

Sceir  [sker]  means,  according  to  the  dictionaries,  a 
sharp  sea  rock ;  sceire  [skerry],  sea  rocks  ;  Scandina- 
vian sker,  a  reef,  skcre,  reefs.  It  is  applied  to  rocks 
inland,  however,  as  well  as  to  those  in  the  sea,  as  is 
proved  by  the  fact,  that  there  are  several  places  far 
removed  from  the  coast  whose  names  contain  the 
word.  It  enters  pretty  extensively  into  local  nomen- 
clature, and  its  most  usual  forms  are  either  the 
singular  Skerry,  or  the  plural  Skerries,  which  are 
the  names  of  several  well-known  places. 

SceiUg  [skellig],  according  to  O'Reilly,  means  a 
rock ;  the  form  scillec  occurs  in  Cormac's  Glossary  in 
the  sense  of  a  splinter  of  stone  ;  and  0 'Donovan,  in 
the  Four  Masters,  translates  Sceillic,  sea  rock.  There 
are,  however,  as  in  the  case  of  sceir,  some  places  in- 
land whose  names  are  derived  from  it. 

The  most  remarkable  places  bearing  the  name  of 
Sceilig  are  the  great  and  little  Skelligs,  two  lofty 
rocks  off  the  coast  of  Kerry.  Great  Skellig  was  se- 
lected, in  the  early  ages  of  Christianity,  as  a  religious 
retreat,  and  the  ruins  of  some  of  the  primitive  cells 
and  oratories  remain  there  to  this  day ;  the  place 
was  dedicated  to  the  Archangel  Michael,  and  hence 
it  is  called  in  Irish  authorities,  Sceilig  Mhichil, 
Michael's  skellig  or  sea  rock.  From  these  rocks  the 
bay  of  Ballinskelligs,  on  the  coast  of  Iveragh,  took 
its  name. 

One  of  the  little  ruined  churches  in  Glendalough, 
which  is  situated  under  the  crags  of  Lugduff  moim- 


408  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

tain,  is  called  Templenaskellig,  the  church  of  the 
rock,  and  this  skelUg  or  rock  is  often  mentioned  in  the 
old  Lives  of  St.  Kevin.  Bunskellig,  the  foot  of  the 
rock,  is  a  place  near  Eyeries  on  Kenmare  bay ;  and 
in  Tyrone  there  are  two  townlands  called  Skelgagh, 
an  adjective  formation  from  sceilig,  signifying  rocky 
land. 

Speilic  is  used  in  Louth  in  the  sense  of  a  splintery 
rock,  but  it  is  very  probably  a  corruption  of  sceilig ; 
it  has  given  name  to  Spellickanee  in  the  parish  of 
Ballymascanlan,  which  is  in  Irish,  Spell ic-an-fhiaichy 
the  rock  of  the  raven.  Among  the  Moume  moun- 
tains it  is  pronounced  spellig ;  and  the  adjective  form 
speilgeach  [spelligagh] ,  is  understood  there  to  de- 
note a  place  full  of  pointed  rocks. 

Sjnnc  [spink]  is  used  in  several  parts  of  Ireland  to 
denote  a  point  of  rock,  or  a  sharp  overhanging  cliff, 
but  it  is  employed  more  generally  on  the  coast  of 
Donegal  than  elsewhere.  It  has  not  given  names  to 
many  places,  however,  even  in  Donegal,  where  it  is 
most  used.  There  is  a  townland  in  King's  County, 
called  Spink  ;  and  near  Tallaght  in  Dublin,  rises  a 
small  hill  called  Spinkan,  little  spink  or  pinnacle. 

There  are  other  terms  for  hills,  such  as  dncim,  eudan, 
reann,  &c.,  but  these  will  be  treated  of  in  another 
chapter. 


CHAPTEE  II. 

PLAINS,  VALLEYS,  HOLLOWS,  AND  CAVES. 

Magh  [maw  or  moy]  is  the  most  common  Irish  word 
for  a  plain  or  level  tract ;  Welsh  ma.  It  is  generally 
translated  campus  by  Latin  writers,  and  it  is  rendered 


CHAP.  II.]  Plains  J  Valleys,  Hollows,  and  Caves.      409 

planiUes  in  the  Annals  of  Tighemach.  It  is  a  word 
of  great  antiquity,  and  in  the  Latinized  form  magus 
— which  corresponds  with  the  old  Irish  orthography 
mag — it  is  frequently  used  in  ancient  Graulish  names, 
such  as  Csesaromagus,  Drusomagus,  Noviomagus, 
Bigomagus,  &c.  (Grram.  Celt.,  p.  9).  It  occurs  also 
in  the  Zeuss  MSS.,  where  it  is  given  as  the  equiva- 
lent of  campus.  The  word  appears  under  various 
forms  in  anglicised  names,  such  as  magh,  moy,  ma, 
mo,  &c. 

Several  of  the  great  plains  celehrated  in  former 
ages,  and  constantly  mentioned  in  Irish  authorities, 
have  lost  their  names,  though  the  positions  of  most  of 
them  are  known.  Magh-breagh  [Moy-hra],  the  great 
plain  extending  from  the  Liffey  northwards  towards 
the  borders  of  the  present  county  of  Louth,  may  be 
mentioned  as  an  example.  The  word  hreagh  signifies 
fine  or  beautiful,  and  it  is  still  preserved  both  in 
sound  and  sense  in  the  Scotch  word  braic ;  Magh- 
hreagh  is  accordingly  translated,  in  the  Annals  of 
Tighernach,  Planities  amoena,  the  delightful  plain, 
and  our  "  rude  forefathers"  never  left  us  a  name 
more  truly  characteristic.  In  its  application  to  the 
plain,  however,  it  has  been  forgotten  for  generations, 
though  it  is  still  preserved  in  the  name  of  Slieve 
Bregh,  a  hiU  between  Slane  and  Collon,  signifying 
the  hill  of  Magh-hreagh. 

Many  of  the  celebrated  old  plains  stiU  either  partly 
or  wholly  retain  their  original  names,  and  of  these  I 
will  mention  a  few.  Macosquin,  now  a  parish  in 
Londonderry,  is  called  in  the  Annals,  Jf(7^/^- Co.^^ram, 
the  plain  of  Cosgran,  a  man's  name,  very  common 
both  in  ancient  and  modern  times.  There  is  a  village 
called  Movilla  near  Newtownards  in  Down,  where  a 
great  monastery  was  founded  by  St.  Finnian  in  the 


410  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

sixth  century  ;  its  Irish  name  is  Magh-hiJe  (O'Cler. 
CaL),  the  plain  of  the  ancient  tree  ;  and  there  is  ano- 
ther place  with  the  same  Irish  name  in  the  east  of 
Inishowen  in  Donegal,  now  called  Mo^dlle,  which 
was  also  a  religious  establishment,  though  not  equally 
ancient  or  important. 

Mallow  in  Cork,  is  called  in  Irish  Magh-Ealla 
[Moj^alla  :  Four  Mast.],  the  plain  of  the  river  Ealla 
or  Alio.  The  stream  now  called  the  Alio  is  a  small 
river  flowing  into  the  Blackwater  through  Kanturk, 
ten  or  eleven  miles  from  M  allow  ;  but  the  Blackwater 
itself,  for  at  least  a  part  of  its  coui^se,  was  anciently 
called  Alio  ;*  from  this  the  district  between  Mallow 
andKantui^k  was  cnlledMag/i-Ealla,  which  ultimately 
settled  down  as  the  name  of  the  town  of  Mallow.  The 
river  also  gave  name  to  the  territory  lying  on  its 
north  bank,  w^est  of  Kanturk,  which  is  called  in 
Irish  authorities,  Diithaigh-Ealla  [Doohy-alla],  i.  e. 
the  district  of  the  Alio,  now  shortened  to  Dulial- 
low. 

Magunihy,  now  a  barony  in  Kerry,  is  called  by  the 
Four  Masters,  in  some  places,  J/r////?-^/ Co /^^c/y?;^^,  [Ma- 
gunkinny],  and  in  others,  Magh-O-g Coinchinn,  i.  e. 
the  plain  of  the  O'Coincinns  ;  from  the  former  of 
which  the  present  name  is  derived.  The  territory, 
however,  belonged  250  j^ears  ago  to  the  O'Donohoes, 
and,  according  to  O'Heeren,  at  an  earlier  period  to 
the  O'Connells :  of  the  family  of  O'Conkin,  who 
gave  name  to  the  territory,  I  have  found  no  further 
record. 

The  form  Moy  is  the  most  common  of  any.  It  is 
itself,  as  •  well  as  the  plural  Moys  (i.  e.  plains) ,  the 


*  See  a  Paper  bv  the  author,  "  On  Spenser's  Irish  Rivers," 
Proc.  R.I.  A.,  Vol.  X.  p.  1. 


CHAP.  II.]    Plains,  Valleys,  HoUows,  and  Caves.     411 

name  of  several  places,  and  forms  part  of  a  large  num- 
ber. Mojnalty  in  Meath  rej^resents  the  Irish  Magh- 
nealta,  the  plain  of  the  flocks ;  this  was  also  the  ancient 
name  of  the  level  country  lying  between  Dublin  and 
Howth  (see  p.  154)  ;  and  the  bardic  Annals  state  that 
it  was  the  only  plain  in  Ireland  not  covered  with  wood, 
on  the  arrival  of  the  first  colonies.  The  district  be- 
tween the  rivers  Erne  and  Drowes  is  now  always 
called  The  Moy,  which  partly  preserves  a  name  of 
great  antiquity.  It  is  the  celebrated  plain  oi  Magh- 
gCedne  [genne],  so  frequently  mentioned  in  the  ac- 
counts of  the  earliest  colonists  ;  and  it  was  here  the 
Fomorian  pirates  of  Tory  (p.  155),  exacted  their  op- 
pressive yearly  tribute  from  the  Nemeclians. 

This  word  assumes  other  forms  in  several  counties, 
such  as  Maw,  Maws,  Moigh,  and  Muff.  In  accordance 
with  the  Munster  custom  ofrestoring  the  final^  (p.  31), 
it  is  modified  to  Moig  in  the  name  of  some  places  near 
Askeaton,  and  elsewhere  in  Limerick ;  and  this  form, 
a  little  shortened,  appears  in  Mogeely,  a  well-known 
place  in  Cork,  which  the  Four  Masters  call  Magh- 
Ile,  the  plain  of  He  or  File,  a  man's  name.  There 
is  a  parish  in  Cork,  east  of  Macroom,  called  Canna- 
way,  or  in  Irish  Ceann-a^-nihaighe  [Cannawee],  the 
head  of  the  plain ;  the  same  name  is  anglicised  Can- 
nawee in  the  parish  of  Kilmoe,  near  Mizen  head  in 
the  same  county  ;  while  we  find  Kilcanavee  in  the 
parish  of  Mothell,  Waterford,  and  Kilcanway  near 
Mallow  in  Cork,  both  signifying  the  chiuch  at  the 
head  of  the  jilain. 

There  is  one  diminutive,  wahjhln  [moyne],  which 
is  very  common,  both  in  ancient  and  modern  names ; 
it  occurs  in  Zeuss  in  the  form  magcn;  and  we  find  it 
in  the  Four  Masters,  when  they  recoid  the  erection, 
in  1460,  by  Mac  "William  Burke,  of  *the  celebrated 


412  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

abbey  of  Maighui  or  Moyne  in  Mayo.  The  ruins  of 
this  abbey  still  remain  near  the  river  Moy,  in  the 
parish  of  Killala,  Comity  Mayo.  This,  as  well  as  the 
village  of  Mojnie  in  Tipperary,  and  about  a  dozen 
places  of  the  same  name  in  the  three  southern  pro- 
vinces, were  all  so  called  from  a  maigldn  or  little 
plain.  Maine  and  Mayne,  which  are  the  names  of  se- 
veral places  from  Derry  to  Cork,  are  referrible  to  the 
same  root,  though  a  few  of  them  may  be  from  meadh- 
on,  middle. 

Mac  ha  ire  [maghera],  a  derivative  from  magh,  and 
meaning  the  same  thing,  is  very  extensively  used  in 
local  nomenclature.  It  generally  appears  in  the  an- 
glicised forms  of  Maghera  and  Maghery,  which  are 
the  names  of  several  villages  and  townlands  ;  Magh- 
era is  the  more  usual  form,  and  it  begins  the  names 
of  nearly  200  places,  which  are  found  in  each  of  the 
four  provinces,  but  are  more  common  in  Ulster  than 
elsewhere.  The  parish  of  Magheradrool  in  Down,  is 
called  in  the  Beg.  Prene,  Machary-edargawaJ,  which 
represents  the  Irish,  Machaire-eaclarghahhal  [Magh- 
era-addrool] ,  the  plain  between  the  (river)  forks. 
(Eeeves,  Eccl.  Ant.,  pp.  106,  316.) 

Reidh  [ray]  signifies  a  plain,  a  level  field ;  it  is 
more  commonly  employed  in  the  south  of  Ireland 
than  elsew^here,  and  it  is  usually  applied  to  a  moun- 
tain flat,  or  a  coarse,  moory,  level  piece  of  land 
among  hills.  Its  most  general  anglicised  forms  are 
r<?«,  re^  and  reij. 

In  the  parish  of  Eingagonagh,  Waterford,  there  is 
a  townland  called  Readoty,  which  is  modernized  from 
Reidh-doightc^  burnt  mountain-plain  :  Reanagishagh 
in  Clare,  the  mountain  flat  of  the  Imhes  or  wicker 
causeways ;  Eemeen  in  Kilkenny,  smooth  plain ; 
Ballynarea  near  Newtown  Hamilton,  Armagh,  the 


CHAP.  II.]   Plains,  Valleys,  Hollows,  and  Caves.      413 

town  of  the  mountain-flat.  The  plural  Rehy,  i.  e. 
mountain-flats,  is  the  name  of  a  place  in  Clare. 
Reidhleach  [Relagh],  a  derivative  from  reidh,  and 
meaning  the  same  thing,  gives  names  to  some  places 
in  Tyrone,  Fermanagh,  and  Cavan,  in  the  modern- 
ized form,  Relagh. 

Reidh  is  also  used  as  an  adjective,  signifying  ready 
or  prepared;  and  from  this,  by  an  easy  transitiou, 
it  has  come  to  signify  clear,  plain,  or  smooth ;  it  is 
probable  indeed  that  the  word  was  primarily  an  ad- 
jective, and  that  its  use  as  a  noun  to  designate  a  j^lain 
is  merely  a  secondary  application.  There  is  a  well- 
known  mountain  over  the  Killeries  in  Connemara, 
called  Muilrea  ;  and  this  name  characterizes  its  out- 
line, compared  with  that  of  the  surrounding  hills, 
when  seen  from  a  moderate  distance : — Mael-reidh, 
smooth  flat  mountain  (see  Mael,  j).  382).  Rehill  is 
the  name  of  some  places  in  Kerry  and  Tipperary, 
which  are  called  in  Irish,  Reidh-cJwill,  smooth  or 
clear  wood,  probably  indicating  that  the  woods  to 
which  the  name  was  originally  applied  were  less 
dense  or  tangled,  or  more  easy  to  j^ass  through,  than 
others  in  the  same  neighbomiood. 

Clar  is  literally  a  board,  and  occurs  in  this  sense  in 
the  Zeuss  MSS.  in  the  old  form  claar,  w^hich  glosses 
tabula.  It  is  applied  locally  to  a  flat  piece  of  land  ; 
and  in  this  sense  it  gives  name  to  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  places.  Ballyclare  is  the  name  of  a  town  in 
Antrim,  and  of  half  a  dozen  townlands  in  Eoscommon 
and  the  Leinster  counties ;  and  Ballinclare  is  also  often 
met  with  in  Leinster  and  Munster  ;  both  names  sig- 
nify the  town  of  the  plain.  Tliere  is  a  place  in  Gralway 
which  was  formerly  called  by  this  name,  where  a  great 
abbey  was  founded  in  the  thiiieenth  century,  and  a 
castle  in  the  sixteenth,  both  of  which  are  still  to  be 


414  Physical  Features.  [part  iy. 

seen  in  ruins  ;  the.  place  is  mentioned  by  the  Four 
Masters,  who  call  it  Baile-an-chlair,  but  it  retains  only 
a  part  of  this  old  name,  being  now  called  Clare-Gral- 
way,  to  distinguish  it  from  other  Clares. 

Clare  is  by  itself  the  name  of  many  places,  some  of 
which  are  found  in  each  of  the  four  provinces.  The 
county  of  Clare  was  so  called  from  the  village  of  the 
same  name  ;  and  the  tradition  of  the  joeople  is,  that  it 
was  called  Clare  from  a  board  formerly  placed  across 
tlie  river  Fergus  to  serve  as  a  bridge.  Yery  often 
the  Irish  form  clay  is  preserved  unchanged  :  as  in 
Clarcarricknagun  near  Donegal,  the  plain  of  the 
rock  of  the  hounds  ;  Clarbane  in  Armagh,  white 
plain  ;  Clarderry  in  Monaghan,  level  oak  wood. 
Clarkill  in  Armagh,  Do^tl,  and  Tipperary,  and  Clare- 
hill  in  Derry,  are  not  much  changed  from  the  origi- 
nal, Clar-choill^  level  wood.  In  the  three  last  names 
clar  is  used  as  an  adjective. 

The  form  Claragh,  signifying  the  same  as  clar  itself 
— a  level  place — is  much  used  as  a  toTVTiland  name  ; 
Claraghatlea  in  the  parish  of  Brisbane  in  Cork,  the 
plain  of  (i.  e.  near)  the  mountain.  Sometimes  this  is 
smoothed  down  to  Clara,  which  is  the  name  of  a  vil- 
lage in  King's  County,  and  of  several  other  places ; 
Clarashinnagh  near  Mohill  in  Leitrim,  the  plain  of 
the  foxes.  And  lastly,  there  are  several  places  called 
Clareen,  little  plain. 

The  word  gleann  [pron.^/o?/w  in  the  south,  glan  else- 
where] ,  has  exactly  the  same  signification  as  the  Eng- 
lish word  glen.  Though  they  are  nearly  identical  in 
form,  it  does  not  appear  that  one  has  been  derived 
from  the  other,  for  the  English  word  exists  in  the 
Ang. -Saxon,  and  on  the  other  hand,  gleann  is  used 
in  Irish  MSS.  much  older  than  the  Anglo-Norman 
invasion. 


CHAP.  II.]    Plains,  Valleys^  Hollows,  and  Caves.     415 

The  word  Glen  forms  or  begins  the  names  of  more 
than  600  places,  all  of  them,  with  an  occasional  ex- 
ception, purely  Irish ;  and  they  are  sprinkled  through 
every  county  in  Ireland.  The  most  important  of  these 
are  explained  in  other  parts  of  this  hook,  and  a  very 
fewillustraj^ionswillhe  sufficient  here.  Grlennamaddy, 
the  name  of  a  village  in  Gralway,  is  called  in  Irish, 
Gleann-na-niadaighe,  the  valley  of  the  dogs  ;  Grlenna- 
gross  near  Limerick,  of  the  crosses  ;  &lenmullion 
near  the  town  of  Antrim,  the  glen  of  the  mill ;  Grlen- 
dine  and  Grlandine,  the  name  of  several  places  in  the 
Munster  andLeinster  counties,  Gleann-doimhin,  deep 
glen  ;  and  the  same  name,  in  the  form  of  Grlendowan, 
is  now  applied  to  a  fine  range  of  mountains  in  Done- 
gal, which  must  have  been  so  called  from  one  of  the 
"  deep  valleys"  they  enclose. 

In  the  south  the  word  is  often  made  glan,  and  this 
syllable  begins  about  120  names,  all,  with  very  few 
exceptions,  in  Munster.  Grlanmire,  the  name  of  a 
beautiful  valley  near  Cork,  represents  exactly  the 
sound  of  the  Irish  Gleann-niaghair  (Four  Masters). 
The  word  maghar  is  interpreted  by  Teige  O'Rody  to 
mean  a  little  fish,  and  John  O'Mulconry  uses  it  in 
this  sense  (O'Donovau,  App.  to  O'Eeilly's  Diet,  voce 
magar)  ;  Glanmire,  therefore,  signifies  the  valley  of 
the  little  fishes. 

Sometimes  it  is  made  Glin,  of  which  one  of  the  best 
known  examples  is  Glin  on  the  Shannon,  in  Limerick, 
from  which  a  branch  of  the  Fitzgeralds  derives  the 
title  of  the  Knight  of  Glin.  The  full  name  of  the 
place,  as  given  by  the  Four  Masters,  is  Glcann-Cor- 
braighe  [Corbry],  Corbrach's  or  Corbry's  VaUey. 
And  occasionally  we  find  it  Glyn  or  Glynn,  of  which 
we  have  a  characteristic  example  in  the  village  and 
parish  of  Glj^nn  in  Antrim.     The  genitive  of  glean n 


416  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

is  gleanna  [glanna],  and  sometimes  glinn^  the  former 
of  whicli  is  represented  by  glanna  in  the  end  of 
names ;  as  in  Ballinglanna  in  Cork,  Kerry,  and  Tip- 
per ary,  the  town  of  the  glen  ;  the  same  as  Ballinglen 
in  other  counties. 

There  are  two  diminutives  in  common  use  ;  the 
one,  gleanndn,  is  found  in  the  northern  counties  in  the 
form  of  Grlennan,  while  inGralwayit  is  madeGrlennaun. 
The  other,  gleanntdn,  is  very  much  used  in  the  south 
and  west,  and  gives  names  to  several  places  now  called 
Grlantane,  Glantaun,  Grlentane,  and  Glentaun — all 
from  a  "  little  glen." 

The  plural  of  gleann  is  gleannta  or  gleanntaidhe 
[glanta,  glenty],  the  latter  of  which,  with  the  Eng- 
lish plural  superadded  to  the  Irish  (p.  32),  gives 
name  to  the  village  of  Grlenties  in  Donegal ;  and  it  is 
so  called  from  two  fine  glens  at  the  head  of  which  it 
stands,  viz.  the  glen  of  Stracashel  (the  river  holm  of 
the  cashel  or  stone  fort),  and  Glenfada-na-sealga,  or 
the  long  valley  of  the  hunting. 

When  this  word  occurs  in  the  end  of  names,  the  g 
is  sometimes  aspirated,  in  which  case  it  disappears 
altogether  both  in  writing  and  pronunciation.  Old- 
Leighlin  in  Carlow,  a  place  once  very  much  cele- 
brated as  an  ecclesiastical  establishment,  is  called  in 
the  Annals,  Leith-ghlioun  [Lehlin],  half  glen,  a  name 
derived  from  some  peculiarity  of  configuration  in  the 
little  river  bed.  Crumlin  is  the  name  of  a  village  near 
Dublin,  and  of  another  in  Antrim  ;  there  are  also 
eighteen  townlands  of  this  name  in  difi'erent  counties 
through  the  four  provinces,  besides  Crimlin  in  Fer- 
managh, and  Cromlin  in  Leitrim.  In  every  one  of 
these  places  there  is  a  winding  glen,  and  in  the  An- 
trim Crumlin,  the  glen  is  traversed  by  a  riv^r,  whose 
name  corresponds  with  that  of  the  glen,  viz.  Camline, 


CHAP.  II.]  Plains,  Valleys,  Hollows,  and  Caves,      417 

wliicli  literally  signifies  crooked  line.  The  Four 
Masters,  in  mentioning  Crumlin  near  Dublin,  give  the 
true  Irish  form  of  the  names  of  all  those  places,  Cniuti- 
ghlinn,  curved  glen,  the  sound  of  which  is  exactly 
conveyed  by  Cramlin.  Sometimes  in  pronouncing 
this  compound,  a  short  vowel  sound  is  inserted  be- 
tween the  two  root  words,  which  preserves  the  g  from 
aspiration  ;  and  in  this  manner  was  formed  Croma- 
glan,  the  name  of  the  semicircularly  curved  glen  tra- 
versed by  the  Crinnagh  river,  which  falls  into  the 
upper  lake  of  Killarney.  From  this,  the  fine  hill 
rising  immediately  over  the  stream,  and  overlooking 
the  upper  lake,  borrowed  the  name  of  Cromaglan  ;  and 
it  is  now  hardly  necessary  to  add  that  this  name  does 
not  mean  "  di'ooping  mountain,^^  as  the  guide  books 
absurdly  translate  it.  There  is  a  townland  of  the 
same  name  in  the  parish  of  TuUylease  in  Cork,  now 
called  Cromagloun. 

Lug  or  lag  signifies  a  hollow ;  when  used  topo- 
graphically, it  is  almost  always  applied  to  a  hollow  in 
a  hill ;  and  lag,  lig,  and  lag  are  its  most  common  forms, 
the  first  two  being  more  usual  in  Ulster,  and  the  last 
in  Leinster  and  Connaught.  The  word  is  not  so 
much  used  in  Munster  as  in  the  other  provinces. 

There  is  a  place  near  Strabane,  called  Lagnagiillog- 
lagh,  the  hollow  of  the  galloglasses  or  heavy  armed 
soldiers  ;  Lagnaviddoge  in  Mayo,  signifies  the  hoUow 
of  the  plovers.  Leg  begins  the  names  of  about  lOO 
townlands,  almost  all  of  them  in  the  northern  half  of 
Ireland.  The  places  called  Legacurry,  Legachory, 
and  Lagacurry,  of  which  there  are  about  a  dozen,  are 
all  so  called  from  a  caldron-like  pit  or  hollow,  the 
name  being  in  Irish,  Lag -a^ -choir e,  the  hollow  of  the 
caldron.  When  the  word  terminates  names  it  takes 
several  forms,  none  differing  much  from  lug ;  sui^h  as 
2  E 


418  PJtT/sical  Features.  [part  iv. 

Ballinlig,  Ballinlug,  Ballinluig,  Ballylig,  and  Bal- 
jylug,  all  common  townland  names,  signifying  the 
town  of  the  lug  or  hollow. 

As  this  word  was  ap23lied  to  a  hollow  in  a  mountain, 
it  occasionally  happened  that  the  name  of  the  hollow 
was  extended  to  the  mountain  itself,  as  in  case  of  Lug- 
duff  over  Grlendalough  in  Wicklow,  black  hollow  ;  and 
Lugnaquillia,  the  highest  of  the  Wicklow  mountains, 
which  the  few  old  people  who  still  speak  Irish  in  that 
district,  call  Lucj-na-gcoiUeack,  the  hollow  of  the  cocks, 
i.  e.  grouse. 

The  diminutives  Lagan  and  Legan  occur  very  often 
as  townland  names,  hut  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to 
separate  the  latter  from  h'agan,  a  pillar  stone.  The 
river  Lagan,  or  Logan,  as  it  is  called  in  the  map  of 
escheated  estates,  1609,  may  have  taken  its  name 
from  a  "  little  hollow"  on  some  part  of  its  course  ; 
there  is  a  lake  in  Roscommon  called  Lough  Lagan, 
the  lake  of  the  little  hollow  ;  and  the  townland  of 
Leggandorragh  near  Raphoe  in  Donegal,  is  called 
in  Irish  Lagan-dorcha,  dark  hollow. 

Cum  [coom]  a  hollow ;  a  nook,  glen,  or  dell  in  a 
mountain ;  a  valley  enclosed,  except  on  one  side,  by 
mountains ;  corresponding  accurately  with  the  Welsh 
cum,  and  English  comb.  The  Coombe  in  Dublin  is 
a  good  illustration,  being,  as  the  name  implies,  a 
hollow  place. 

This  word  is  used  very  often  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Killarney  to  designate  the  deep  glens  of  the  sur- 
rounding mountains  ;  as  in  case  of  Coomnagoppul 
under  Mangerton,  whose  name  originated  in  the 
practice  of  sending  horses  to  graze  in  it  at  certain 
seasons — Cum-na-gcapall,  the  glen  of  the  horses; 
and  there  is  another  place  of  the  same  name  in 
Water  ford. 


CHAP.  II.]     Plains,  Valleys,  Holloios,  and  Caves.     419 

The  most  usual  forms  are  coom  and  coum,  which 
form  part  of  many  names  in  the  Munster  counties, 
especially  in  Cork  and  Kerry  :  thus  Coomacheo  in 
Cork,  the  valley  of  the  fog ;  Coomnahorna  in  Kerry, 
the  valley  of  the  barley  ;  Coomnagun  near  Killaloe, 
of  the  hounds.  Lackenacoombe  in  Tipperary — the 
hill  side  of  the  hollow — exhibits  the  word  as  a  ter- 
mination. Commaun,  Commeen,  and  Cummeen, 
little  hollow,  are  also  often  met  with  ;  but  as  the  two 
latter  are  sometimes  used  to  express  a  "  common," 
the  investigator  must  be  careful  not  to  pronounce 
too  decidedly  on  their  meaning,  without  obtaining 
some  knowledge  of  the  particular  case. 

Beam  or  hearna  [barn,  barna],  a  gap  ;  it  is  usually 
applied  to  a  gap  in  a  mountain  or  through  high  land ; 
and  in  this  sense  it  is  very  generally  applied  in  local 
nomenclature,  commonly  in  the  form  of  Barna,  which 
is  the  name  of  about  a  dozen  townlands,  and  enters 
into  the  formation  of  a  very  large  number.  Barna- 
geehy  and  Barnanageehy,  the  gap  of  the  wind,  is  a 
name  very  often  given  to  high  and  bleak  passes  be- 
tween hills  ;  and  the  mountain  rising  over  Ballyor- 
gan  in  Limerick,  is  called  Barnageeha,  from  a  pass 
of  this  kind  on  its  western  side.  Yery  often  it  is 
translated  Windy-gap  :  there  is,  for  instance,  a  re- 
markable gap  with  this  name  in  the  parish  of  Adder- 
goole.  Mayo,  which  the  Four  Masters  call  by  its 
proper  Irish  name,  Bearna-na-gaeithe.  Ballinabarny, 
Ballybarney,  BaUynabarna,  Ballynabarny,  Ballyna- 
bearna,  and  Ballynaberny,  all  signify  the  town  of 
the  gap. 

There   are   several   places   in   different   counties, 
called  by  the  Irish  name,  Bearna-dhearg  [Barna-yar- 
rig],  red  gap,  and  anglicised  Barnadarrig  and  Bar- 
2e2 


420  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

naderg.  The  most  remarkable  of  these  for  its  his- 
toric associations  is  Beania-dheary  between  the  two 
hills  of  Knockea  and  Carrigeenamronetj,  on  the 
road  from  Kilmallock  in  Limerick  to  Kildorrerj  in 
Cork.  It  is  now  called  in  English,  Eedchair  or 
Richchair,  whicli  is  an  old  translation  of  the  Irish 
name,  Shedrd  being  a  West-English  term  for  a  gap. 
This  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  the  inhabitants  of 
the  baronies  of  Forth  and  Bargy  in  Wexford,  accord- 
ing to  the  Glossary  quoted  at  page  44,  sujyra,  call 
a  gap  in  the  mountain  of  Forth  by  the  name  of 
Reed-shearde,  i.  e.  red  gap. 

This  word  takes  other  forms,  especially  in  the 
northern  counties,  where  it  is  pretty  common  ;  it  is 
made  harnet  in  several  cases,  as  in  Drumbarnet,  the 
ridge  of  the  gap,  the  name  of  some  places  in  Donegal 
and  Monaghan  ;  Lisbarnet  in  Down,  the  fort  of  the 
gap.  There  is  another  Irish  form  used  in  the  north — 
namely,  bearnas ;  it  has  the  authority  of  the  Annals, 
in  which  this  term  is  always  used  to  designate  the 
great  gap  of  Barnismore  near  Donegal ;  and  in  the 
forms  Barnes  and  Barnish,  it  gives  names  to  several 
places  in  Antrim,  Donegal,  and  Tyrone.  All  the 
preceding  modifications  are  liable  to  have  the  b 
changed  to  v  by  aspiration  (p.  19),  as  in  Ardvarness 
in  Derry,  Ardvarney  and  Ardvarna  in  several  other 
counties,  high  gap  ;  Ballyvarnet  near  Bangor  in 
Down,  the  town  of  the  gap. 

The  diminutive  Bearncui  is  the  real  name  of  the 
remarkable  gap  in  the  mountain  now  called  tlie  De- 
vil's bit  in  Tipper ary,  whose  contour  is  so  familiar 
to  travellers  on  the  Great  Southern  and  Western 
Railway ;  and  it  gives  name  to  the  parish  of  Bar- 
nane-Ely,  i.  e.  the  little  gap  of  Eiky  the  ancient  ter- 
ritory in  which  it  was  situated. 


CHAP.  II.]    Plains,  Valleys,  Holloivs,  and  Caves.       421 

A  scealp  [scalp]  is  a  cleft  or  cliasm  ;  the  word  is 
much  in  use  among  the  English-speaking  peasantry 
of  the  south,  who  call  a  piece  of  anything  cut  off  by 
a  knife  or  hatchet,  a  six  el  p.  The  well-known  moun- 
tain chasm  called  the  Scalp  south  of  Dublin  near 
Enniskerry,  affords  the  best  known  and  the  most 
characteristic  application  of  the  term  ;  and  there  are 
other  i^laces  of  the  same  name  in  the  counties  of 
Clare,  Gralway,  DubliD,  and  Wicklow.  Scalpnagown 
in  Clare  is  the  cleft  of  the  calves ;  Moneyscalp  in 
Down,  the  shrubbery  of  the  chasm. 

Poll,  a  hole,  of  any  kind  ;  Welsh  jnrll ;  Msmxpoivll; 
'BretoTLpoull ;  Coigiish  790/ ;  Old  High  Germaii  pful ; 
English  pool.  Topographically  it  is  applied  to  holes, 
pits,  or  caverns  in  the  earth,  deep  small  pools  of 
water,  very  deep  spots  in  rivers  or  lakes,  &c.  ;  in  the 
beginning  of  anglicised  names  it  is  always  made^o//, 
potd,  or  pull;  and  as  a  termination  it  is  commonly 
changed  to /c?//^,  phuill,  or  p/iu II,  by  the  aspiration 
of  the  p  (p.  20),  and  by  the  genitive  inflexion ;  all 
which  forms  are  exhibited  in  Ballinfoyle,  Ballin- 
phuill,  and  Ballinphull,  the  town  of  the  hole,  w^iich 
are  the  names  of  many  places  all  over  the  country. 
Often  the  p  is  eclipsed  by  b  (p.  22)  as  inBallynabolI 
and  Ballynaboul,  Baile-na-hp)oll,  the  town  of  the 
holes. 

The  origin  of  the  name  Poolbeg,  now  applied  to 
the  lighthouse  at  the  extremity  of  the  South  Wall  in 
Dublin  bay,  may  be  gathered  from  a  passage  in 
Boate's  Natural  History  of  Ireland,  written,  it  must 
be  remembered,  long  before  the  two  great  walls, 
now  called  the  Bull  Wall  and  the  South  Wall,  were 
built.  He  states : — "  This  haven  almost  all  over 
falleth  dry  with  the  ebbe,  as  well  below  Eings-end 
as  above  it,   so  as  you  may  go  dry  foot  round  about 


422  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

the  ships  which  lye  at  an  anchor  there,  except  in 
two  places,  one  at  the  north  side,  and  the  other  at 
the  south  side,  not  far  from  it.  In  these  two  little 
creeks  (whereof  the  one  is  called  the  pool  of  Clon- 
tarf,  and  the  other  Poolbeg)  it  never  falleth  dry, 
but  the  ships  which  ride  at  an  anchor  remain  ever 
afloat."  (Chap.  III.,  Sect.  ii).  The  "  Pool  of  Clon- 
tarf"  is  still  called  "  The  Pool ;"  and  the  other  (near 
which  the  lighthouse  was  built)  as  being  the  smaller 
of  the  two,  was  called  PoU-heag,  little  pool. 

There  is  a  place  near  Arklow  called  Pollahoney, 
or  in  Irish,  PoU-a^-chonaidh,  the  hole  of  the  fire- 
wood ;  PoUnaranny  in  Donegal,  Pollrane  in  Wex- 
ford, and  Pollranny  in  Eoscommon  and  Mayo,  all 
signify  the  hole  of  the  ferns  ;  Polldorragha  near 
Tuam,  dark  hole;  Pollaginnive  in  Fermanagh,  sand- 
pit ;  Polfore  near  Dromore,  Tyrone,  cold  hole.  So 
also  Pooldine  in  Tipperary,  deep  hole  ;  Poulacul- 
leare  near  Whitechurch,  same  county,  and  Pollacul- 
laire  in  Gahvay,  the  quarry  hole. 

The  diminutive  in  various  forms  is  also  pretty  ge- 
neral. The  Pullens  (little  caverns)  near  Donegal, 
"  is  a  deep  ravine  through  which  a  mountain  torrent 
leaps  joyously,  then  suddenly  plunges  through  a  cleft 
in  the  rock  of  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  in  depth,"  and 
after  about  half  a  mile  "  it  loses  itself  again  in  a  dark 
chasm  some  sixty  feet  deep,  from  which  it  emerges 
under  a  natural  bridge."  (The  Donegal  Highlands, 
p.  68).  There  are  some  very  fine  sea  caves  a  little 
west  of  Castletown  Bearhaven  in  Cork,  which,  as 
w^ell  as  the  little  harbour,  are  well  known  by  the 
name  of  Pulleen,  little  hole  or  cavern  ;  and  this  is  the 
name  of  some  other  places  in  Cork  and  Kerry.  We 
have  Pullans  near  Coleraine  in  Derry,  and  in  the 
parish  of  Clontibret,  Monaghan ;  Pollans  in  Donegal ; 


CHAP.  II.]     Plains,  Valleys,  Hollows,  and  Caves.    423 

and  PoUeens  and  PoUeeny  in  Galway,  all  signifying 
little  holes  or  caverns.  The  adjective  form  pollack  is 
applied  to  land  full  of  pits  or  holes,  and  it  has  given 
name  to  about  thirty-five  townlands  in  the  three 
southern  provinces,  in  the  forms  Pollagh  and  Pul- 
lagh. 

We  have  several  words  in  Irish  for  a  cave.  Some- 
times, as  we  have  seen,  the  term  poll  wt.s  used,  and 
the  combination  poll-ialmlian  (hole  of  the  earth)  was 
occasionally  employed  in  a  distinctive  term  for  a  ca- 
vern, gi\ing  name,  in  this  sense,  to  PoUtalloon  in 
Galw^ay,  and  to  Poultalloon  near  Fedamore  in  Lime- 
rick. 

Dearc  or  derc  [derk]  signifies  a  cave  or  grotto,  and 
also  the  eye.  The  latter  is  the  primary  meaning, 
corresponding  withGr.  derlo,  I  see  ;  and  its  application 
to  a  cave  is  figm-ative  and  secondary.  The  word  is 
often  found  in  the  old  MSS. ;  as,  for  instance,  in  case 
of  Be  re- fe  ma  (cave  of  alders),  which  was  the  ancient 
name  of  the  cave  of  Dunmore  near  Kilkenny  ;  and 
which  is  still  applied  to  it  by  those  speaking  Irish. 
In  the  parish  of  Eathkenny  in  Meath,  is  a  place 
called  Dimderk,  the  fortress  of  the  cave  ;  so  named, 
probably,  from  an  artificial  cave  in  connexion  with 
the  dun ;  there  are  several  places  called  Derk  and 
Dirk,  both  meaning  sim23ly  a  cave  ;  and  Aghadark 
in  Leitrim,  is  the  field  of  the  cavern. 

Cuas  is  another  term  for  a  cave,  which  has  also 
given  names  to  a  considerable  number  of  places  : 
Coos  and  Coose  are  the  names  of  some  townlands  in 
Down,  Monaghan,  and  Galw^ay ;  there  is  a  remark- 
able cavern  near  Cong  called  Cooslughoga,  the  cave 
of  mice  ;  and  it  is  very  likely  that  Cozies  in  the 
parish  of  Billy,  Antrim,  is  merely  the  English  plural 
of  cuas,  meaning   "  caves."     Clooncoose,  Clooncose, 


424  Physical  Features.  [part  iy. 

Clooncous,  Cloncose,  and  Cloncouse,  are  the  names 
of  fourteen  townlands  spread  over  the  four  provinces  ; 
the  Irish  form  is  Cluain-cuas  (Four  Masters),  the 
meadow  of  the  caves.  Sometimes  the  c  is  changed 
to  h  bj  aspiration,  as  in  Corrahoash  in  Cavan,  the 
round  hill  of  the  cave  ;  and  often  we  find  it  eclipsed 
by  g  (p.  22),  as  in  Drumgoose  and  Drumgose,  the 
names  of  some  places  in  Armagh,  Tyrone,  and 
Monaghan,  which  represent  the  Irish  JDruim-gcuas, 
cave  ridge.  There  are  several  places  called  Coosan, 
Coosane,  Coosaun,  and  Coosheen,  all  signifying  little 
cave,  Hound  the  coasts  of  Cork  and  Kerry,  and 
perhaps  in  other  counties,  cuas  or  coos  is  applied  to  a 
small  sea  inlet  or  cove,  and  in  these  places  the  word 
must  be  interpreted  accordingly. 

There  is  yet  another  word  for  a  cave  in  very  gene- 
ral use,  which  I  find  spelled  in  good  authorities  in 
three  diff'erent  ways,  nagh,  naimh^  and  uath  [ooa]  ; 
for  all  these  are  very  probably  nothing  more  than 
modifications  of  the  same  original.  There  is  a  class 
of  romantic  tales  in  Irish  "  respecting  various  occur- 
rences in  caves  ;  sometimes  the  taking  of  a  cave, 
Avhen  the  place  has  been  used  as  a  place  of  refuge  or 
habitation  ;  sometimes  the  narrative  of  some  adven- 
ture in  a  cave  ;  sometimes  of  a  plunder  of  a  cave  ; 
and  so  on"  (O'CmTy,  Lect.,  p.  283).  A  tale  of 
this  kind  was  called  tiatJt,  i.  e.  cave. 

The  second  form  nahnh  is  the  one  in  most  general 
use,  and  its  genitive  is  either  uamha  or  uamham 
[ooa,  ooan] ,  both  of  which  we  find  in  the  Annals. 
Cloyne  in  Cork,  has  retained  only  a  part  of  its  ancient 
name,  Cluain-uamha,  as  it  is  written  in  the  Book  of 
Leinster  and  many  other  authorities,  i.  e.  the  meadow 
of  the  cave  ;  this  was  the  old  pagan  name,  which 
8t.  Colman  Mac  Lenin,  adopted  when  he  founded  his 


CHAP.  II.]     Plains,  Valleys,  Hollows,  and  Caves.    425 

monastery  there  in  the  beginning  of  the  seventh  cen- 
tury ;  and  the  cave  from  which  the  place  was  named 
so  many  hundred  years  ago,  is  still  to  be  seen  there. 
At  A.  M.  3501,  the  Four  Masters  record  the  erec- 
tion by  Emhear,  oiRath-uamhain,  i.  e.  the  fort  of  the 
cave  (O'Donovan^s  Four  Masters,  I.,  27),  which  ex- 
hibits the  second  form. 

Both  of  these  genitives  are  represented  in  oui' 
present  names.  The  first  very  often  forms  the  ter- 
mination oe  or  00,  or  with  the  article,  nahoe  or  nahoo; 
as  Drumnahoe  in  Antrim  and  Tyrone,  and  Drum- 
ahoe  in  Derry,  i.  e.  Druim-na-huamha,  the  ridge  of 
the  cave  ;  Farnahoe  near  Inishannon  in  Cork  {Far ran, 
land)  ;  Grlennoo  near  Clogher  in  T}- rone,  and  Grlen- 
nahoo  in  Kerry,  the  glen  of  the  cave.  And  occa- 
sionally the  T  sound  of  the  aspirated  m  comes  clearly 
out,  as  in  Cornahoova  in  Meath,  and  Cornahove  in 
Armagh,  the  round  hill  of  the  cave ;  the  same  as 
Cornahoe  in  Monaghan  and  Longford. 

The  other  genitive,  nanihain  [ooan],  is  also  very 
often  used,  and  generally  appears  in  the  end  of  names 
in  the  form  of  one  or  oon,  or  with  the  article,  nahone 
or  nahoon  ;  in  this  manner  we  have  Midlenahone  in 
Kilkenny,  and  Mullinahone  in  Tipperary,  Muilenn- 
na-huanihain,  the  mill  of  the  cave,  the  latter  so  called 
from  a  cave  near  the  village  through  which  the  little 
river  runs  ;  Knockeennahone  in  Kerry  (little  hill)  ; 
and  Lisnahoon  in  Eoscommon,  so  called,  no  doubt, 
from  the  artificial  cave  in  the  Us  or  fort.  Both  forms 
are  represented  in  Grortnahoo  in  Tipperary,  and  Gror- 
nahoon  in  G-alway,  the  field  of  the  cave  ;  and  in 
Knocknahoe  in  Kerry  and  SKgo,  and  Knocknahooan 
in  Clare,  cave  hill. 

Occasionally  we  find  this  last  genitive  form  used 
as  a  nominative  (p.  33),  for,  according  to  O'Donovan 


426  Physical  Features,  [part  iv. 

(App.  to  O'Eeilly's  Diet.),  "  TJamhainn  is  used  in 
Thomond  to  express  a  natural  or  artificial  cave." 
Nooaff  and  Nooan  are  the  names  of  some  places  in 
Clare  ;  tliey  are  formed  by  the  attraction  of  the  article 
(p.  23),  the  former  representing  n''uaim/i,  and  the 
latter  n''uamhainn,  and  both  signifying  "  the  cave." 
The  Irish  name  of  Owenbristy  near  Ardrahan  in 
Gralway,  is  Uamhainn-hinsde,  broken  cave. 

TJamhainn  with  the  mh  sounded,  would  be  pro- 
nounced oomn  ;  and  this  by  a  slight  change,  effected 
under  the  coiTupting  influence  noticed  at  j)age  38, 
has  given  name  to  "  The  Ovens,"  a  small  village  on 
the  river  Bride,  two  miles  west  of  BallincoUig  in 
Cork.  For  in  this  place  "  is  a  most  remarkable  cave, 
large  and  long,  with  many  branches  crossing  each 
other"  (Smith's  Cork,  I.,  212),  which  the  people 
say  runs  as  far  as  Gill  Abbey  near  Cork  ;  and  by 
an  ingenious  alteration,  they  have  converted  their 
fine  caves  or  oovans  into  ovens  !  The  ford  at  the 
village  was  anciently  called  Ath- n-uamhain  [Ath- 
nooan],  the  ford  of  the  cave,  and  this  with  the  v 
sound  suppressed  has  given  the  name  of  Athnowen 
to  the  parish. 


CHAPTEE  III. 

ISLANDS,  PENINSULAS,  AND  STRANDS. 

The  most  common  word  for  an  island  is  inis^  cognate 
with  Welsh  ynya^  Arm.  enes^  and  Lat.  insula.  It  is 
also  applied  in  all  parts  of  Ireland  to  the  holm,  or  low 
flat  meadow  along  a  river  ;  and  a  meadow  of  this  kind 
is  generally  called  an  inch  among  the  English-speak- 


CHAP.  III.]     Islands,  Peninsulas,  and  Strands.         427 

ing  people,  especially  in  tlie  south.  This,  however, 
is  obviously  a  secondary  application,  and  the  word 
must  have  been  originally  applied  to  islands  formed 
by  the  branching  of  rivers ;  but  while  many  of  these, 
by  gradual  changes  in  the  river  course,  lost  the  cha- 
racter of  islands,  they  retained  the  name.  It  is  not 
difficult  to  understand  how,  in  course  of  ages,  the 
word  iiiis  would  in  this  manner  gradually  come  to  be 
applied  to  river  meadows  in  general,  without  any 
reference  to  actual  insulation. 

The  principal  modern  forms  of  this  word  are  Inis, 
Inish,  Ennis,  and  Inch,  which  give  names  to  a  vast 
number  of  places  in  every  part  of  Ireland  ;  but  whe- 
ther, in  any  individual  case,  the  word  means  an  island 
or  a  river-holm,  must  be  determined  by  the  physical 
configuration  of  the  place.  In  many  instances  places 
that  were  insulated  when  the  names  were  imposed 
are  now  no  longer  so,  in  consequence  of  the  drainage 
of  the  surrounding  marshes  or  lakes ;  as  in  case  of 
Inishargy  (p.  397). 

Inis  and  Inish  are  the  forms  most  generally  used, 
and  they  are  the  common  appellations  of  the  islands 
round  the  coast,  and  in  the  lakes  and  rivers ;  they 
are  also  applied,  like  inc/t,  to  river  meadows.  There 
is  an  island  in  Lough  Erne,  containing  the  ruins  of 
an  ancient  church,  which  the  annalists  often  mention 
by  the  name  of  Inis-niuighe-samh  [moy-sauv],  the 
island  of  the  plain  of  the  sorrel ;  this  island  is  now, 
by  a  very  gross  mispronunciation,  called  Inish- 
macsaint,  and  has  given  name  to  the  parish  on  the 
mainland. 

Near  the  town  of  Ennis  in  Clare,  is  a  townland 
called  Clonroad,  which  preserves  pretty  well  the 
sound  of  the  name  as  we  find  it  in  the  Annals,  Clnain- 
ranifhoda,    the    meadow   of  the   long   rowing  :    the 


428  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

spot  where  Ennis  now  stands  must  have  been  origi- 
nally connected  in  some  way  with  this  townland,  for 
the  Annals  nsnally  mention  it  by  the  name  of  IniS' 
Cluana-ramfhoda^  i.  e.  the  river  meadow  of  Clon- 
road.  Inishnagor  in  Donegal  and  Sligo,  is  a  very 
descriptive  name,  signifying  the  river  meadow  of 
the  corrs  or  cranes  ;  there  are  several  places  in  both 
north  and  south,  called  Enniskeen  and  Inishkeen,  in 
\-n.^  Inis-caein  (FonrMast.),  beautiful  island  or  river 
holm.  Inistioge  in  Kilkenny  is  written  Inis-Teoc  in 
the  Book  of  Leinster,  Teoc's  island  ;  and  Ennistimon 
in  Clare  is  called  by  the  Four  Masters  Inis-Diomain, 
Diaman's  river  meadow. 

This  word  very  often  occiu^s  in  the  end  of  names, 
usually  forming  with  the  article  the  termination  na- 
Jiinch,  as  in  Coolnahinch,  the  corner  or  angle  of  the 
island  or  river  meadow.  Sometimes  it  is  contracted, 
as  we  see  in  Cleenish,  an  island  near  Enniskillen, 
giving  name  to  a  j^arish,  which  ought  to  have  been 
called  Cleeuiuish ;  for  the  Irish  name,  according  to 
the  Four  Masters,  is  Claen-inis,  i.  e.  sloping  island. 

Oilcan  or  oilcn  is  another  word  for  an  island  which 
is  still  used  in  the  spoken  language,  and  enters  pretty 
extensively  into  names.  It  is  commonly  anglicised 
Ulan  and  Illaun,  and  these  words  give  names  to 
places  all  over  the  country,  but  far  more  numerously 
in  Connaught  than  elsewhere.  Thus  Illananummera 
in  Tipperary,  the  island  of  the  ridge,  so  called  no 
doubt  from  its  shape ;  Illanfad  in  Donegal,  long 
island,  the  same  as  Illaunfadda  in  Galway ;  Illaun- 
inagh  near  Inchigeelagh  in  Cork,  ivy  island  ;  and 
there  are  several  little  islets  off  the  coast  of  Galway 
and  Mayo,  called  Hoeillaun,  red  island. 

A  peninsula  is  designated  by  the  compound  IcitJi- 
insi  [lehinshi] ,  literally  half  island ;   and  this  word 


CHAP.  111.]     Islands,  Peninsulas^  and  Strands.        429 

gives  name  to  all  places  now  called  LeMucli  or  La- 
hincli,  of  which,  besides  a  village  in  Clare  (which  is 
mentioned  by  the  Fom-  Masters) ,  there  are  several  in 
other  parts  of  Ireland.  The  word  is  shortened  in 
Loughl}Tich  in  the  parish  of  Billy,  Antrim,  which 
ought  to  have  been  called  Lough/ehinc/i,  as  it  is  writ- 
ten in  the  Four  Masters  Loch-Ieithinnsi,  the  lake  of 
the  peninsula  ;  for  a  lake  existed  there  down  to  a  re- 
cent period. 

The  word  ros  signifies,  first,  a  promontory  or  pen- 
insula ;  secondly,  a  wood ;  and  it  has  other  signifi- 
cations which  need  not  be  noticed  here.  Colgan 
translates  it  nemiis  in  Act.  SS.,  p.  791^,  n.  15  ;  and 
in  Tr.  Th.  p.  383  a,  n.  17,  it  is  rendered  peninsula. 
By  some  accident  of  custom,  the  two  meanings  are 
now  restricted  in  point  of  locality  ;  for  in  the  south- 
ern half  of  Ireland,  ros  is  generally  understood 
only  in  the  sense  ©f  wood,  while  in  the  north,  this 
application  is  lost,  and  it  means  only  a  peninsula. 

Yet  there  are  many  instances  of  the  application  of 
this  term  to  a  peninsula  in  the  south,  showing  that 
it  was  formerly  so  understood  there.  A  well-known 
example  is  Boss  castle  on  the  lower  lake  of  Killarney, 
so  called  from  the  little  ros  or  point  on  which  it  was 
built.  Between  the'  middle  and  lower  lakes  is  the 
peninsula  of  Muckross,  so  celebrated  for  the  beauty 
of  its  scenery,  and  for  its  abbey ;  its  Irish  name  is 
Muc-ros,  the  peninsula  of  the  pigs  ;  which  is  also  the 
name  of  a  precipitous  head-land  near  Killybegs  in 
Donegal,  and  of  several  other  places.  And  west  of 
Killarnej^,  near  the  head  of  Dingle  bay,  is  a  remark- 
able peninsula  called  Rossbehy  or  Rossbegh,  the  lat- 
ter part  of  which  indicates  that  it  was  formerly 
covered  with  birch  trees  : — birchy  point. 

There  is  a  parish  in  Leitrim  called  Rossinver,  which 


430  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

takes  its  name  from  a  point  of  land  running  into  the 
south  part  of  Lough  Mel vin — jRosinbkir,  the  penin- 
sula of  the  iiiver  or  river  mouth  ;  and  Bossory  near 
Enniskillen  is  called  in  the  Four  Masters,  Ros-airthh\ 
eastern  peninsula,  of  which  the  modem  name  is  a 
corruption.  Portrush  in  Antrim  affords  an  excellent 
illustration  of  the  use  of  this  word  ;  it  takes  its  name 
from  the  well-knoT\Ti  point  of  basaltic  rock  which  juts 
into  the  sea  : — Port-ruis,  the  landing  place  of  the 
peninsula.  The  district  between  the  Bays  of  Gwee- 
barra  and  Grweedore  in  Donegal,  is  called  by  the 
truly  descriptive  name.  The  Eosses,  i.  e.  the  penin- 
sulas. 

While  it  is  often  difficult  to  know  which  of  the 
two  meanings  we  should  assign  to  ros,  the  natiu-e  of 
the  place  not  unfrequently  determines  the  matter. 
Rush  north  of  Dublin,  is  called  in  Irish  authorities 
Ros-eo  [Rush-6],  from  which  the  present  name  has 
been  shortened ;  and  as  the  village  is  situated  on  a 
projection  of  land  three-fourths  surrounded  by  the 
sea,  we  can  have  no  hesitation  about  the  meaning  of 
the  first  syllable  ;  the  whole  name  therefore  signifies 
the  peninsula  of  the  yew  trees. 

Traigh  or  iracht  [tra,  traght]  signifies  a  strand;  it 
is  found  in  the  Zeuss  MSS.,  and  corresponds  with 
Lat.  ^/Y*'C'?'«s,  Welsh  tradh^  and  Cornish  trait.  The  first 
form  is  that  always  adopted  in  modern  names,  audit 
is  generally  represented  by  tra,  traiv,  or  tray.  One 
of  the  best  known  examples  of  its  use  is  Tralee  in 
Kerry  ;  the  Four  Masters  call  it  Traigh- Li,  and  the 
name  is  translated  in  the  Life  of  St.  Brendan,  Littus 
Ly,  the  shore  or  strand  of  the  Lee,  a  little  river  which 
runs  into  the  sea  there,  but  which  is  now  covered  over. 
Tralee  in  the  parish  of  Ardtrea,  Deny,  has  a  different 
origin,  the  Irish  name  being  Traigh-liath ,  grey  strand. 


CHAP.  IV.]  Water,  Lakes,  and  Springs.  431 

Tramore   near  Waterford,  great   strand  ;    Trawna- 
maddree  in  Cork,  the  strand  of  the  dogs. 

Ballintra,  when  it  occiu's  on  the  coast,  means  the 
town  of  the  strand  ;  as,  for  instance,  near  Diinkice  in 
Antrim,  w^here  the  name  is  slightly  changed  to  Bal- 
lintrae  ;  but  inland,  it  is  from  Baile-an-tsratha,  the 
town  of  the  srath  or  river  holm.  Baltray,  strand- 
town,  is  the  name  of  a  village  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Boyne ;  and  there  is  a  place  called  Ballynatray,  a 
name  having  the  same  meaning,  on  the  Blackwater, 
a  little  above  Youghal.  There  is  a  beautiful  white 
strand  at  Yentry  in  Kerry,  from  which  the  place  got 
the  name  of  Fionn-traigh  [Fintra :  Fiona,  white]  ; 
Hanmer  calls  it  rentra,  which  is  an  intermediate  step 
between  the  ancient  and  modern  forms. 


CHAPTEE  lY. 

WATER,  LAKES,  AND  SPRI^iGS. 

The  common  Irish  word  for  water  is  nisce  [iska]  ;  it 
occm^s  in  the  Zeuss  MSS.,  where  it  glosses  aqua,  with 
which  it  is  also  cognate.  It  is  pretty  extensively  used 
in  local  names,  and  it  has  some  derivatives,  which 
give  it  a  wider  circulation.  It  occiu-s  occasionally  in 
the  beginning  of  names,  but  generally  in  the  end,  and 
its  usual  forms  are  isha,  isky,  and  isl\  Whiskey  is  called 
in  Irish  xmce-heatha  [iska-baha],  or  as  it  is  often  an- 
glicised, usquehaugh,  which  has  exactly  the  same 
meaning  as  the  Latin  aqua  ritce,  and  the  French  eau- 
de-vie,  water  of  life  ;  and  the  first  part  of  the  com- 
pound, slightly  altered,  now  passes  current  as  an 
English  word — whiskey. 

At  A.  D.  465,  the  Four  Masters  record  that  Owen, 


432  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

son  of  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages  (see  p.  133,  supra)  ^ 
died  of  grief  for  his  brother  Conall  Grulban,  and  that 
he  was  buried  at  Uisce-chaein,  whose  name  signifies 
beautiful  water.  This  place  is  now  called  Eskaheen, 
preserving  very  nearly  the  old  sound  ;  it  is  situated 
near  Muff  in  Inishowen,  and  it  received  its  name  from 
a  fine  spring,  where,  according  to  Colgan,  there  an- 
ciently existed  a  monastery.  No  tradition  of  Owen 
is  preserved  there  now.  (See  O'Don.  Four  Mast. 
I.,  146.) 

Knockaniska,  the  name  of  some  places  in  Water- 
ford,  is  the  hill  of  the  water ;  there  is  a  parish  in 
Wicklow,  called  Killiskey,  the  church  of  the  water, 
and  the  little  stream  that  gave  it  the  name  still 
runs  by  the  old  church  ruin  ;  the  same  name  exists 
in  Wexford,  shortened  to  Xillisk,  and  in  King's 
County  it  is  made  Killiskea.  Balliniska  and  Bally- 
nisky,  are  the  names  of  two  townlands  in  Limerick, 
both  signifying  the  town  of  the  water ;  and  the  vil- 
lage of  Ballisk  near  Donabate  in  Dublin,  has  the 
same  name,  only  without  the  article.  Ballj^hisky  in 
Tipperary  is  a  different  name,  viz.,  Bealach-uisce^ 
the  road  of  the  water,  the  Ji  in  the  present  name 
representing  the  ch  of  healach. 

According  to  Cormac's  Grlossary,  esc  is  another  an- 
cient Irish  word  for  water — '^esc,  i.  e.  uisce:''  its  origi- 
nal application  is  lost,  but  in  some  parts  of  Ireland, 
especially  in  the  south,  it  is  applied  to  the  track  of 
a  stream  or  a  channel  cut  by  water,  either  inland  or 
on  the  strand.  It  has  given  name  to  some  town- 
lands  called  Esk  in  Kerry ;  and  to  Eskenacartan  in 
Cork,  the  stream-track  of  the  forge.  The  glen  under 
the  south  slope  of  Cromaglan  mountain  at  Killarney 
is  called  Esknamucky,  the  stream-track  of  the  pig  ; 
and  this  is  also  the  name  of  a  townland  in  Cork. 


CHAP.  IV.]        Water,  Lalies,  and  Springs.  433 

Loch  signifies  a  lake,  cognate  with  Lat.  lacus,  Eng- 
lish lake,  &G.  The  word  is  applied  both  in  Ireland 
and  Scotland,  not  only  to  lakes,  but  to  arms  of  the 
sea,  of  which  there  are  hundreds  of  examples  round 
the  coasts  of  both  countries.  The  almost  universal 
anglicised  form  in  this  country  is  lough,  but  in  Scot- 
land they  have  preserved  the  original  loch  unchanged. 
As  the  7\^ord  is  well  known,  and  seldom  disguised  in 
obscure  forms,  a  few  examples  of  its  use  will  be  suffi- 
cient here. 

The  lake  names  of  Ireland  are  generally  made  up 
of  this  word  followed  by  some  limiting  term,  such  as 
a  man's  name,  an  adjective,  &c.  Thus  the  lakes  of 
Killarney  were  anciently,  and  are  often  still,  called 
collectively,  Lough  Leane ;  and  according  to  the 
Dinnsenchus,  they  received  that  name  from  Lean  of 
the  white  teeth,  a  celebrated  artificer,  who  had  his 
forge  on  the  shore.  Lough  Conn  in  Mayo  is  called 
in  the  Book  of  Ballymote  and  other  authorities,  Loch- 
Con,  literally  the  lake  of  the  hound  ;  but  it  is  pro- 
bable that  Con,  or  as  it  would  stand  in  the  nomi- 
native, Cu,  is  here  also  a  man's  name.  Loughrea  in 
Q-alway  is  called  in  the  Annals  Loch-riahhach,  grey 
lake. 

Grreat  numbers  of  townlands,  villages,  and  parishes, 
take  their  names  from  small  lakes,  as  in  the  widely 
extended  name,  Ballinlough  or  Ballylough,  the 
town  of  the  lake.  In  numerous  cases  the  lakes  have 
been  dried  up,  either  by  natural  or  artificial  drain- 
age, leaving  no  trace  of  their  existence  except  the 
names. 

The  town  of  Carlow  is  called  in  Irish  authorities, 

Cethcrloch,  quadruple  lake  ;  and  the  tradition  is  that 

the  Barrow  anciently  formed  four  lakes  there,    of 

which,  however,  there  is  now  no  trace.      The  Irish 

2f 


434  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

name  is  pronounced  Caherlough,  which  was  easily 
softened  down  to  the  present  name.  By  early  Eng- 
lish writers,  it  is  generally  called  Catherlogh  or 
Katherlagh,  which  is  almost  identical  with  the 
Irish ;  Boate  calls  it  *'  Catherlogh  or  Carlow,"  show- 
ing that  in  his  time  the  present  form  was  beginning 
to  be  developed. 

The  diminutive  lochan  is  of  very  general  occurrence 
in  the  anglicised  forms  Loughan,  Loughane,  and 
Loughaun,  all  names  of  places,  which  were  so  called 
from  "  small  lakes."  There  is  a  place  in  Westmeath, 
near  Athlone,  called  Loughanaskin,  whose  Irish  name 
is  Lochdn-easgann^  the  little  lake  of  the  eels  ;  in  the 
county  Clare  is  a  townland  called  Loughaunaweel- 
aun,  Lochdn-na-hhfaeiledny  the  little  lake  of  the  sea- 
gulls; Loughanreagh  near  Coleraine  in  London- 
derry, grey  lakelet ;  and  Loughanstown,  the  name  of 
several  places  in  Limerick,  Meath,  and  Westmeath, 
is  a  translation  from  Baile-an-Iochdin,  the  town  of  the 
little  lake  ;  which  is  retained  in  the  untranslated 
forms  Ballinloughan,  .'Ballyloughan,  and  Bally- 
loughaun,  in  other  counties. 

Turlough  is  a  term  very  much  used  in  the  west  of 
Ireland  ;  and  it  is  applied  to  a  lake  which  dries  up  in 
summer,  exhibiting  generally,  at  that  season,  a  coarse 
scrubby,  marshy,  sui-face,  which  is  often  used  for 
pasture.  It  gives  name  to  several  places  in  the  coun- 
ties west  of  the  Shannon  (including  Clare),  a  few  of 
which  are  mentioned  by  the  Four  Masters,  who  write 
the  word  turlach. 

"Wells  have  been  at  all  times  hel(?  in  veneration  in 
Ireland.  It  appears  from  the  most  ancient  Lives  of 
St.  Patrick,  and  from  other  authorities,  that  before 
the  introduction  of  Christianity,  they  were  not  only 
venerated,  but  actually  worshipped,  both  in  Ireland 


CHAP.  IV.]         Wafer,  Lakes,  and  Springs.  435 

and  Scotland.  Thus  in  Adamnan's  Life  of  St.  Co- 
lumba  we  read  : — "Another  time,  remaining  for  some 
days  in  the  country  of  the  Picts,  the  holy  man  (Co- 
lumba)  heard  of  a  fountain  famous  amongst  this  hea- 
then peojole,  which  foolish  men,  blinded  by  the  devil, 
worshipped  as  a  divinity The  pagans,  se- 
duced by  these  things,  paid  divine  honour  to  the 
fountain  "  (Lib.  11.  Cap.  xi).  Some  of  the  well  cus- 
toms that  have  descended  even  to  our  own  day, 
seem  to  be  undoubted  vestiges  of  this  pagan  adora- 
tion. 

After  the  general  spread  of  the  Faith,  the  people's 
affection  for  wells  was  not  only  retained  but  intensi- 
fied ;  for  most  of  the  early  preachers  of  the  Grospel 
established  their  humble  foundations — many  of  them 
destined  to  grow  in  after  years  into  great  religious 
and  educational  institutions — beside  those  fountains, 
whose  waters  at  the  same  time  supplied  the  daily 
wants  of  the  little  communities,  and  served  for  the 
baptism  of  converts.  In  this  manner  most  of  oui- 
early  saints  became  associated  with  wells,  hundreds 
of  which  still  retain  the  names  of  these  holy  men, 
who  converted  and  baptized  the  pagan  multitudes 
on  their  margins. 

The  most  common  Lish  word  for  a  well  is  tohar ; 
it  enters  into  names  all  over  Ireland,  and  it  is  sub- 
ject to  very  little  alteration  from  its  original  form. 
Tober  is  the  name  of  about  a  dozen  townlands,  and 
begins  those  of  more  than  130  others,  all  of  them 
called  from  wells,  and  many  from  wells  associated 
with  the  memory  of  patron  saints.  The  following 
are  a  few  characteristic  examples.  At  Ballintober  in 
Mayo,  there  was  a  holy  well  called  Tober  Stingle, 
which  was  blessed  by  St.  Patrick ;  and  the  place  was 
therefore  called  Ballintober  Patrick,  the  town  of  St. 
2f2 


436  Physical  Features,  [part  it. 

Patrick's  well,  which  is  its  general  name  in  the 
Annals.  It  was  also  called  Baile-na-craihhi  [Bally- 
nacreeva:  Book  of  Lecan],  the  town  of  the  branchy 
tree,  which  is  stiU  partly  retained  in  the  name  of  the 
adjacent  townland  of  Creevagh.  This  well  has  quite 
lost  its  venerable  associations  ;  for  it  is  called  merely 
Tobermore  (great  well),  and  is  not  esteemed  holy. 
The  place  is  now  chiefly  remarkable  for  the  fine 
ruins  of  the  abbey  erected  by  Cathal  of  the  red  hand, 
king  of  Connaught,  in  the  year  1216.  (See  O'Don. 
in  "  Hy  Fiachrach,"  p.  191.)  Ballintober  and 
Ballytober  (the  town  of  the  well),  are  the  names  of 
about  twenty-four  townlands  distributed  through  the 
four  provinces  (see  p.  254,  supra). 

Tobercurry  in  Sligo  is  called  in  Irish,  and  written 
by  Mac  Firbis,  Tohar-an-cJwire,  the  well  of  the  cal- 
dron, from  its  shape.  Carrowntober,  the  name  of 
many  to^Tilands,  signifies  the  quarter-land  of  the 
well.  Toberbunny  near  Cloughran  in  Dublin  signi- 
fies the  well  of  the  milk  (Tobar-bainne),  and  Tober- 
lownagh  in  Wicklow  has  nearly  the  same  meaning 
[Tober-Ieamhnachfa)  ;  both  being  so  called  probably 
from  the  softness  of  their  waters.  Some  wells  take 
their  names  from  the  picturesque  old  trees  that  over- 
shadow them,  and  which  are  preserved  by  the  people 
with  great  veneration ;  such  as  Toberbilly  in  Antrim, 
Tobar-bile^  the  well  of  the  ancient  tree ;  the  same 
name  as  Toberavilla  north-east  of  Moate  in  West- 
meath. 

In  case  of  some  holy  wells,  it  was  the  custom  to 
visit  them  and  perform  devotions,  on  particular  days 
of  the  week;  and  this  has  been  commemorated  by 
such  names  as  Toberaheena,  which  is  that  of  a  well 
and  village  in  Tipperary,  signifying  the  well  of  Friday. 
A  great  many  wells  in  different  parts  of  the  country 


CHAP.  lY.]         Wafer,  Lakes,  and  Sjnings.  437 

are  called  Tohar-rkjh-an-domhnaigh  [Toberreendow- 
ney],  literally  tlie  well  of  the  King  of  Sunday  (i.  e.  of 
Grod)  ;  one  of  which  gave  name  to  the  village  of 
Toberreendoney  in  Gralway.  It  is  probable  that  these 
were  visited  on  Sundays,  and  they  are  generally 
called  in  English,  Sunday's  Well,  as  in  case  of  the 
place  of  that  name  near  Cork. 

Sometimes  tohar  takes  the  form  of  Tipper,  which  is 
the  name  of  a  parish  in  Kildare,  and  of  two  townlands 
in  Longford  ;  Tipperstown  in  Dublin  and  Kildare,  is 
only  a  half  translation  from.  Baile-an-tohair,  the  town 
of  the  well ;  Tipperkevin,  St.  Kevin's  well.  Of  simi- 
lar formation  is  Tibberaghny,  the  name  of  a  townland 
and  parish  in  Kilkenny,  which  the  annalists  write 
Tiohraid-Fachfmi  [Tibbradaghna],  St.  Faghna's  well. 

In  Cormae's  Grlossary  we  find  another  form  of  this 
word,  namely,  tipra,  whose  genitive  is  tiprat,  and 
dative  tiprait.  In  accordance  with  the  principle 
noticed  at  p.  33,  supra,  the  dative  tiprait,  or  as  it  is 
written  in  the  later  Irish  writings,  tiobraid  [tubbrid], 
gives  name  to  sixteen  to^iVTilands  scattered  through 
the  four  provinces,  now  called  Tubbrid.  G-eoifrey 
Keating  the  historian  was  parish  priest  of  Tubbrid 
near  Cahir  in  Tipperary,  where  he  died  about  the 
year  1650,  and  was  buried  in  the  churchyard.  The 
word  takes  other  modem  forms,  as  we  find  in  Clon- 
tibret  in  Monaghan,  which  the  annalists  ^Tite  Cluaiu- 
tiohrat,  the  meadow  of  the  spring.  The  well  that 
gave  name  to  the  town  of  Tipperary,  and  thence  to 
the  county,  was  situated  near  the  Main-street,  but  it 
is  now  closed  up  ;  it  is  called  in  all  the  Irish  authori- 
ties, Tiohraid-Arann,^^^^)!  of  Ara  {Ara,  gen.  Arann), 
the  ancient  territory  in  which  it  was  situated.  Other 
forms  are  exhibited  in  Aghatubrid  in  Donegal,  Cork, 
and  Kerry,  the  field  of  the  well ;  in  Ballintubbert 


438  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

and  Ballintubbrid,  tlie  same  as  BallintolDer  ;  and  in 
Kiltubbrid,  the  same  name  as  Kiltober,  the  cburch 
of  the  well. 

Varan  ovfuaran  is  explained  by  Colgan,  "  a  living 
fountain,  or  fresh  or  cold  water  springing  from  the 
earth."  It  is  not  easy  to  say  whether  the  initial /is 
radical  or  not ;  if  it  be,  the  word  is  obviously  de- 
rived from/?f«r,  cold  ;  if  not,  it  comes  from  ur,  fresh  ; 
and  Colgan's  explanation  leaves  the  question  unde- 
cided. 

This  word  gives  name  to  Oranmore  in  Gralway, 
which  the  Four  Masters  call  Uaran-mor,  great  spring. 
Oran  in  Eoscommon  was  once  a  place  of  great  con- 
sequence, and  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the  Annals  ; 
it  contains  the  ruins  of  a  church  and  round  tower ; 
and  the  original  iiaran  or  spring  is  a  holy  well,  which 
to  this  day  is  much  frequented  by  pilgrims. 

Oran  occurs  pretty  often  in  names,  such  as  Knock- 
anoran  (JinoeJ:,  a  hill),  in  Queen's  County  and  Cork  ; 
Ballinoran  andBallynoran  {Bally ^  a  town),  the  names 
of  many  townlands  through  the  four  provinces ;  Tin- 
oran  in  Wicklow,  Tigh-an-uarain,  the  house  of  the 
spring ;  Carrickanoran  in  Kilkenny  and  Monaghan 
(Carrick,  a  rock) ;  and  Lickoran,  the  name  of  a  parish 
in  Waterford,  the  flag-stone  of  the  cold  spring. 


CHAPTEE  V. 

RIVERS,  STREAMLETS,  AND  WATERFALLS. 

The  Irish  language  has  two  principal  words  for  a 
river — ahh  or  abha  [aw  or  ow],  and  ahhainn,  which 
are  identified  in  meaning  in  Cormac's  Glossary,  in 


CHAP,  v.]     Rivers^  Streamlets,  and  Waterfalls.      439 

the  following  short  passage  : — "  Ahh,  i.  e.  ahhainnr 
There  are  many  streamlets  in  Ireland  designated  by 
abh  ;  and  it  also  enters  into  the  names  of  numerous 
townlands  and  villages,  which  have  a  stream  flow- 
ing through  or  by  them.  So  far  as  I  have  yet 
observed,  I  find  that  ahli  is  used  only  in  the  southern 
half  of  Ireland. 

The  word  is  used  simply  as  the  name  of  a  small 
river  in  Wicklow,  the  Ow,  i.  e.  the  river,  rising  on  the 
south-eastern  slope  of  Lugnaquillia ;  AwbegorOwbeg, 
little  river,  is  the  name  of  many  streams,  so  called  to 
distinguish  them  from  larger  rivers  near  them,  or  to 
which  they  are  tributary.  The  Ounageeragh,  the 
river  of  the  sheep,  is  a  tributary  of  the  Funcheon  in 
Cork  ;  Finnow  is  the  name  of  several  small  streams, 
signifying  white  or  transparent  river  ;  there  is  a  place 
a  few  miles  east  of  Tipperary,  called  Cahervillahowe, 
the  stone  fort  of  the  old  tree  {l)Ue)  of  the  river ;  and 
Ballynahow,  the  town  of  the  river,  is  a  townland 
name  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Munster,  but  not 
found  elsewhere. 

Ahhainn  [owen] ,  which  corresponds  with  the  Sanscr. 
avani,  is  in  much  more  general  use  than  ahh  ;  and  it 
is  the  common  appellative  in  the  spoken  language  for 
a  river.  It  is  generally  anglicised  avon  or  oiven,  and 
there  are  great  numbers  of  river  names  through  the 
country  formed  from  these  words.  Ahhainn-mdr, 
great  river,  is  the  name  of  many  rivers  in  Ireland, 
now  generally  called  Avonmore  or  Owenmore  ;  this 
was,  and  is  still,  the  Irish  name  of  the  Blackwater  in 
Cork  (often  called  Broadwater  by  early  Anglo-Irish 
writers),  and  also  of  the  Blackwater  in  Ulster,  flow- 
ing into  Lough  Neagh  by  Charlemont. 

The  word  ahhainn  has  three  different  forms  in  the 
genitive,  viz.  ahliann,  ahhanna^  and  aibhne  [oun,  ouna. 


440  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

iyne],  which  are  illustrated  in  the  very  coramon 
names  Ballynahown,  Ballynahone,  Ballynahowna, 
and  Ballynahivnia,  all  signifying  the  to^Ti  of  the 
river. 

Ahhnach  [ounagh]  is  an  adjective  formation  from 
ahhainn,  signifying  literally  ''  abounding  in  rivers," 
but  applied  to  a  marshy  or  watery  place ;  and  it  gives 
name  to  Ounagh  in  Sligo ;  and  to  Onagh  in  Wick- 
low.  The  name  of  Grlanworth  in  Cork  has  been 
only  recently  changed  from  the  ancient  form  Gleann- 
amhnach  [Glanounagh  :  Book  of  Rights],  i.  e.  the 
watery  or  marshy  glen.  The  parish  of  Boy  ounagh 
in  Gralway  takes  its  name  from  the  original  church, 
which  is  situated  in  a  bog,  and  which  the  Four 
Masters  call  Buidheamhnach  [Bweeounagh],  i.  e. 
yellow  marsh  ;  and  the  same  name  exists  in  Meath, 
shortened  to  Boynagh. 

Glaise  or  glais  or  gla^  [glasha,  glash,  glas,]  signi- 
fies a  small  stream,  a  rivulet ;  it  is  very  often  used  to 
give  names  to  streams,  and  thence  to  townlands,  all 
over  Ireland,  and  its  usual  anglicised  forms  are  glanha, 
glash,  and  glush.  Griashawee  and  Glashaboy,  yellow 
streamlet,  are  the  names  of  several  little  rivers  and 
to^mlands  in  Cork  ;  and  there  is  a  place  near  Ard- 
straw  in  Tyrone,  called  Grienglush,  the  glen  of  the 
streamlet.  The  little  stream  flowing  into  the  sea  at 
Grlasthule  near  Kingstown  in  Dublin,  has  given  the 
village  the  name : — Glas-Tuathail,  Thoohal's  or 
Toole's  streamlet.  Douglas  is  very  common  both  as 
a  river  and  townland  designation  all  over  the  coun- 
try, and  it  is  also  well  known  in  Scotland ;  its  Irish 
form  is  Duhhghlaise,  black  stream. 

There  is  a  little  streamlet  at  Griasnevin  near  Dub- 
lin, which  winds  in  a  pretty  glen  through  the  classic 
grounds  of  Delville,  and  joins  the  Tolka  at  the  bridge. 


CHAP,  v.]     Rivers,  Streamlets,  and  Waterfalls.      441 

In  far  remote  ages,  beyond  the  view  of  history,  long 
before  St.  Mobhi  established  his  monastery  there  in 
the  sixth  centurj^,  some  old  pagan  chief  named 
Naeidhe  [Nee]  must  have  resided  on  its  banks  ;  from 
him  it  was  called  Glas-Naeidhen  [Griasneean  :  Four 
Mast.],  i.  e.  Naeidhe's  streamlet ;  and  the  name  gra- 
dually extended  to  the  village,  while  its  original  ap- 
plication is  quite  forgotten.  This  ancient  name  is 
modernized  to  Griasnevin  by  the  change  of  dh  to  v 
(see  p.  50,  supra). 

The  diminutive  G-lasheen  is  also  in  frequent  use  as 
a  territorial  designation  ;  Grlasheenaulin  near  Castle- 
haven  in  Cork,  signifies  literally  beautiful  little 
streamlet;  G-lasheena  or  G-lashina  is  "a  place  abound- 
ing in  little  streams  ;"  and  Ardglushin  in  Cavan, 
signifies  the  height  of  the  little  ri^oilet. 

Sruth  [sruh]  means  a  stream,  and  is  in  very  com- 
mon use  both  in  the  spoken  and  written  language.  It 
is  an  ancient  and  primitive  word  in  Irish,  being  found 
in  the  Wb.  MS.  of  Zeuss,  where  it  glosses  ftmnen, 
rk-us ;  it  is  almost  identical  with  Sansc.  srota,  a  river  ; 
and  its  cognates  exist  in  several  other  languages, 
such  as  Welsh />-2^f,  Cornish /ro?f,  Slavonic  striija,  0\di 
High  German  stroum,  Eng.  stream  (Ebel). 

Sridh  occurs  pretty  often  in  names,  and  its  various 
derivatives,  especially  the  diminutives,  have  also  im- 
pressed themselves  extensively  on  the  nomenclatui-e 
of  the  country.  In  its  simple  form  it  gives  names  to 
Srue  in  G-alway ;  to  Sruh  in  Waterford ;  and  to 
Shrough  in  Tipperary  :  Ballystrew  near  Downpatrick 
is  the  town  of  the  stream. 

Sruthair  [sruhar],  a  derivative  from  sruth,  is  in 
still  more  general  use,  and  signifies  also  a  stream  ;  it 
undergoes  various  modern  modifications,  of  which  the 
commonest  is  the  change  of  the  final  r  to  /  (see  p. 


442  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

47) .  Abbeyskrule  in  Longford  was  anciently  called 
Srufhair,  i.e.  the  stream,  and  it  took  its  present  name 
from  a  monastery  founded  there  by  one  of  the  O'Far- 
rells.  Abbeystrowry  in  Cork  is  the  same  name,  and 
it  was  so  called  from  the  stream  that  also  gives  name 
to  Bealnashi^ura  (ford-mouth  of  the  stream),  a  village 
situated  at  an  ancient  ford.  Struell  near  Down- 
patrick  is  written  StrohiU  in  the  Taxation  of  1306, 
showing  that  the  change  from  r  to  /  took  place  before 
that  early  period ;  but  the  r  is  retained  in  a  grant  of 
about  the  year  1178,  in  which  the  place  is  called 
Tircstruther,  the  land  of  the  streamlet.  The  cele- 
brated wells  of  St.  Patrick  are  situated  here,  which  in 
former  times  were  frequented  by  persons  from  all 
quarters  ;  and  the  stream  flowing  from  them  must 
have  given  the  place  its  name  (see  Eeeves's  Eccl. 
Ant.,  pp.  42,  43).  The  change  of  r  to  I  aj)pearsalso 
in  Sroolane  and  Srooleen,  which  are  often  applied  to 
little  streams  in  the  south,  and  which  are  the  names 
of  some  townlands. 

Snithan  [sruhaun],  the  diminutive  ofsnifh,  enters 
very  often  into  local  names  in  every  part  of  Ireland  ; 
and  it  is  peculiarly  liable  to  alteration,  both  by  cor- 
ruption and  by  grammatical  inflexion,  so  that  it  is 
often  completely  disguised  in  modem  names.  In  its 
simple  form  it  gives  name  to  Sroughan  in  Wicklow  ; 
and  with  a  t  inserted  (p.  55) ,  and  the  aspirate  omitted, 
to  Stroan  in  Antrim,  Kilkenny,  and  Cavan.  The 
sound  of  t/i  in  this  word  is  often  changed  to  that  of/ 
(p.  50),  converting  it  to  srujfan  or  sruffaiin,  a  term  in 
common  use  in  some  parts  of  Ireland,  especially  in 
Galway,  for  a  small  stream.  This  change  and  the 
insertion  of  t  are  both  seen  in  Straffan,  a  village  in 
Kildare  and  a  station  on  the  Great  Southern  and  West- 
ern Railway.     And  lastly,   the  substitution  of  t  for  s 


CHAP,  v.]      Rivers,  Streamlets,  and  Waterfalls      443 

by  eclipse  (p.  22)  leads  to  still  furtlier  alteration, 
which  is  exemplified  in  Killeenatrnan  in  Longford, 
Cillin-cC-fsndhain,  the  little  church  of  the  stream ; 
Carntrone  in  Fermanagh,  the  monumental  heap  of 
the  streamlet. 

Feadan  [faddaun]  is  a  common  word  for  a  brook, 
and  it  enters  largely  into  local  names ;  it  is  a  dimi- 
nutive of  fcad  [fad],  and  the  literal  meaning  of 
both  is  a  pipe,  tube,  or  whistle ;  whence  in  a  se- 
condary sense,  they  came  to  be  applied  to  those  little 
brooks  whose  channels  are  narrow  and  deep,  like  a 
tube. 

From  this  word  we  get  such  names  as  Faddan, 
Feddan,  Fiddan,  Fiddane,  &c.  ;  Fiddaunnageeroge 
near  Crossmolina  in  Mayo,  is  the  little  brook  of  the 
keeroges  or  chafers.  With  the  /  sound  suppressed 
under  the  influence  of  the  article  (p.  27),  we  have 
Ballyneddan  in  Down  and  Ballineddan  in  Wicklow, 
Baile-an-fheadain,  the  town  of  the  streamlet.  Fedany 
in  Down,  is  from  the  Irish  Feadanach,  which  signifies 
a  streamy  place. 

Inhhear  [inver],  old  Irish  inhir  (Cor.  GL),  means 
the  mouth  of  a  river ;  "  a  bay  into  which  a  river  runs, 
or  a  long  narrow  neck  of  the  sea,  resembling  a  river" 
(Dr.  Todd).  The  word  is  pretty  common  in  Ireland, 
and  equally  so  in  Scotland,  generally  in  the  form  of 
inTer,  but  it  is  occasionally  obscured  by  modern  con- 
traction. At  A.  D.  639,  the  Four  Masters  record  the 
death  of  St.  Dagan  oi luhhear-DaeUe  [Invereela],  i.  e. 
the  mouth  of  the  river  Deel ;  this  place,  which  lies  in 
Wicklow,  four  miles  north  from  Arklow,  retains  the 
old  name,  modernized  to  Ennereilly,  though  the  river 
is  no  longer  called  the  Deel,  but  the  Penny comequick. 
The  townland  of  Dromineer  in  Tipperary,  which 
gives  name  to  a  parish,  is  situated  where  the  Ne- 


4-±4  PJii/sical  Features.  [part  iv. 

nagh  river  enters  Loiigli  Derg ;  and  hence  it  is 
called  in  Irish  Drmm-inbhir,  the  ridge  of  the  river 
mouth. 

It  would  appear  that  waterfalls  were  objects  of 
special  notice  among  the  early  inhabitants  of  this 
country,  for  almost  every  fall  of  any  consequence  in 
our  rivers  has  a  legend  of  its  own,  and  has  impressed 
its  name  on  the  place  in  which  it  is  situated.  The 
most  common  Irish  word  for  a  waterfall  is  ea^ 
[ass]  or  ess,  gen.  easa  [assa]  ;  and  the  usual  mod- 
ern forms  are,  for  the  nominative,  ass  and  ess,  and 
often  for  the  genitive,  assa  and  assj/,  but  sometimes 
ass  or  ess. 

Doonass  near  Castleconnell  was  so  called  from  the 
great  rapid  on  the  Shannon,  the  Irish  name  being 
Diin-easa,  the  fortress  of  the  cataract ;  but  its  ancient 
nEiiRewsiS  Fas-I)a}H(in)ie  [Ass-Danniny  :  Four  Mast.], 
the  cataract  of  Danann  (for  whom  see  p.  157,  supra). 
The  old  name  of  the  fall  at  Caherass  near  Groom  in 
Limerick, was ^.s.s-il/r//r//^^  [Ass-Ma:  BookofLeinster], 
i.  e.  the  waterfall  of  the  river  Maigue  ;  and  the  name 
Caherass  was  derived,  like  Doonass,  from  a  fort  built 
on  its  margin.  There  is  a  fall  on  the  river  that 
flows  through  Mountmellick  in  Queen's  County, 
which  has  given  to  the  stream  the  name  of  Owenass  ; 
in  Griendalough  is  a  well-kno^m  place  where  a  rivulet 
falls  from  a  rock  into  a  deep  pool,  hence  called  Pollan- 
ass,  the  pool  of  the  waterfall ;  and  the  same  name  in 
another  form,  Poulanassy,  occurs  in  the  parish  of 
Kilmacow,  Kilkenny. 

The  Avonbeg  forms  the  Ess  fall,  at  the  head  of 
Grlenmalure  in  Wicklow ;  and  the  Yartry  as  it  enters 
the  Devil's  Grien,  is  precipitated  over  a  series  of  rocky 
ledges,  from  which  the  place  is  called  Bonanass,  a 
local  corruption  of  Ballynanass,  the  townland  of  the 


CHAP.  VI.]  Marshes  and  Bogs.  445 

cataracts.  Ballyness,  the  town  of  the  waterfall,  is  the 
name  of  seven  townlands  in  the  northern  counties ; 
and  the  diminutives  Assan,  Assaun,  Essan,  and  Es- 
saun,  are  also  very  common. 

The  beautiful  rapid  on  the  Owenmore  river  at 
Ballysadare  in  Sligo,  has  given  name  to  the  village. 
It  was  originally  called  Easdara  [Assdarra],  the 
cataract  of  the  oak ;  or  according  to  an  ancient 
legend,  the  cataract  of  Eed  Dara,  a  Fomorian  druid 
who  was  slain  there  by  Lewy  of  the  long  hand  (see 
pp.  155, 194).  It  afterwards  took  the  name  oiBaile- 
easa-Dara  [Bally assadarra  :  Foiu'  Mast.],  the  town  of 
Dara's  cataract,  which  has  been  shortened  to  the 
present  name. 


CHAPTEE  YI. 


MARSHES    AND    BOGS. 


There  are  several  words  in  Irish  to  denote  a  marsh, 
all  used  in  the  formation  of  names ;  but  in  thousands 
of  cases  the  marshes  have  been  drained,  and  the  land 
placed  under  cultivation,  the  names  alone  remaining 
to  attest  the  existence  of  swamps  in  days  long  past. 
One  of  these  words,  eanach  [annagh],  signifies  lite- 
rally a  watery  place,  and  is  derived  from  ean,  water. 
In  some  parts  of  the  country  it  is  applied  to  a  cut- 
out bog,  an  application  easily  reconcilable  with  the 
original  signification.  It  appears  generally  in  the 
forms  Annagh,  Anna,  and  Anny,  and  these,  either 
simply  or  in  combination,  give  names  to  great  num- 
bers of  places  in  every  part  of  the  country. 

Annaduff  in  Leitrim  is  called  by  the  Four  Masters, 


446  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

Eanach-duhk,  black  marsh. ;  Annabella  near  Mallow- 
has  an  English  look ;  but  it  is  the  Irish  Eanach-hUe^ 
the  marsh  of  the  bile  or  old  tree  ;  Annaghaskin  in 
Dublin,  near  Bray,  the  morass  of  the  eels.  As  a 
termination  this  word  usually  becomes  -anny  or  -enny^ 
in  accordance  with  the  sound  of  the  genitive  mw«'/^A; 
as  in  Gortananny  in  Gralw^ay,  the  field  of  the  marsh  ; 
Inchenny  in  Tyrone,  which  the  Four  Masters  call 
Inis-eanaigJi,  the  island  or  river  holm  of  the  marsh. 
There  are  several  places  in  Munster  called  Rathanny, 
the  fort  of  the  marsh  ;  and  Legananny,  the  lug  or 
hollow  of  the  marsh,  is  the  name  of  two  townlands 
in  DowTQ.  In  some  of  the  northern  counties,  this 
form  is  adopted  in  the  beginning  of  names  (p.  33) , 
as  in  Annyalty  in  Monaghan,  the  marsh  of  the  flocks 
{ealta). 

Corcach,  a  marsh — low  swampy  ground :  it  is  used 
in  every  paH  of  Ireland,  and  assumes  various  forms, 
which  will  be  best  understood  from  the  following 
examples. 

After  St.  Finbar,  in  the  sixth  century,  had  spent 
some  years  in  the  wild  solitude  oiLoch  Ire,  now  Groug- 
ane  Barra  at  the  source  of  the  Lee,  he  changed  his 
residence,  and  founded  a  monastery  on  the  edge  of  a 
marsh  near  the  mouth  of  the  same  river,  round  which 
a  great  city  subsequently  grew  up.  This  swampy 
place  was  known  for  many  hundred  years  afterwards 
by  the  name  of  Corcach-nior  or  Corcach-mor-Mumhan 
[Mooan],  the  great  marsh  of  Munster ;  of  which  only 
the  first  part  has  been  retained,  and  even  that  short- 
ened to  one  syllable  in  the  j)resent  name  Cork.  The 
city  is  still,  however,  universally  called  Corcach  by 
those  who  speak  Irish. 

Corkagh  is  the  name  of  several  places  in  other 
counties ;  while  in  the  form  of  Corkey  it  is  found  in 


CHAP.  Yi.]  Marshes  and  Bogs.  447 

Antrim  and  Donegal.  And  we  often  meet  with  the 
diminutives,  Curkeen,  Curkin,  and  Corcaghan,  little 
marsh.  Corcas,  another  form  of  the  word,  is  also  very 
common,  and  early  English  topographical  writers  on 
Ireland,  often  speak  of  the  corcasses  or  marshes  as 
very  numerous.  It  has  given  names  to  many  places 
in  the  northern  counties,  now  called  Corkish,  Curkish, 
Corcashy,  Corkashy,  &c. 

Cmrreach,  or  as  it  is  written  in  modern  Irish,  cin^- 
rach,  has  two  meanings,  a  race  course,  and  a  morass. 
In  its  first  sense  it  gives  name  to  the  Curragh  of  Kil- 
dare,  which  has  bean  used  as  a  race  course  from  the 
most  remote  ages.*  In  the  second  sense,  which  is  the 
more  general,  it  enters  into  names  in  the  forms  Curra, 
Curragh,  and  Curry,  which  are  very  common  through 
the  four  provinces.  Curraghmore,  great  morass,  is 
the  name  of  nearly  thirty  townlands  scattered  OA^er 
the  country  ;  CuiTahaha  and  Cun^aheha,  the  marsh  of 
the  bii'ch  trees.  There  are  more  than  thirty  places, 
all  in  Munster,  called  Curraheen,  little  marsh,  and 
this  name  is  sometimes  met  with  in  the  forms  Currin 
and  Curreen. 

Sescenn,  a  quagmire,  a  marshy,  boggy,  or  sedgy 
place  ;  it  occurs  in  Cormac's  Griossary,  where  it  is 
given  as  the  equivalent  of  cmrreach.  It  is  used  in 
giving  names  to  places  throughout  the  four  provinces ; 
and  its  usual  modern  forms  are  Sheskin  and  Seskin. 
Seskinrea  in  Carlow,  grey  marsh  ;  Sheskinatawy  in 
the  parish  of  Inver,  Donegal,  Sescenn-a^-tsamhaidh, 
the  marsh  of  the  sorrel.  When  it  comes  in  as  a  termi- 
nation, the  initial  s  is  often  eclipsed  by  ^  (p.  22) ;  as 
we  see  in  Ballinteskin,  the  name  of  several  places  in 

*  See  Mr.  Hennessy's  interesting  paper  "  On  the  Curragh  of 
Kildare,"  Proc.  R.  I.  A. 


448  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

Leinster,  in  Irish  Baile-an-tsescinn,  the  town  of  the 
quagmire. 

Biasg  or  riasc  [reesk]  signifies  a  moor,  marsh,  or 
fen.  There  are  twenty-two  townlands  scattered 
through  the  four  provinces,  called  Eiesk,  Beisk, 
Risk,  and  Reask ;  and  near  Finglas  in  Dublin,  is  a 
place  called  Kilreisk,  the  church  of  the  morass.  Utisg 
is  another  form  of  the  same  word,  which  is  much  used 
in  local  nomenclature,  though  it  is  not  given  in  the 
dictionaries ;  occurring  commonly  as  Eoosk  and  Rusk. 
The  old  church  that  gave  name  to  the  parish  of  Tul- 
lyrusk  in  Antrim,  stood  in  the  present  graveyard, 
which  occupies  the  summit  of  a  gentle  hill,  rising  from 
marshy  ground :  hence  the  name,  which  Colgan  writes 
Tulach-niisc,  the  hill  of  the  morass  (Reeves,  Eccl. 
Ant.,  p.  6).  The  adjective  forms  rusgach  and  rus- 
gaidh  [roosky],  are  in  still  more  general  use;  they 
give  names  to  all  those  places  called  Roosky,  Roosk- 
agh,  Roosca,  Rousky,  and  Rusky,.  of  which  there  are 
about  fifty  in  the  four  provinces,  all  of  which  were 
originally  fenny  or  marshy  places ;  Ballyroosky  in 
Donegal,  the  town  of  the  marsh. 

Cala  or  caladh  [calla]  has  two  distinct  meanings, 
reconcilable,  however,  with  each  other :  1.  In  some 
parts  of  Ireland  it  means  a  ferry,  or  a  landing  place  for 
boats  ;  2.  In  Longford,  Westmeath,  Roscommon,  Gal- 
way,  &c.,  and  especially  along  the  course  of  the  Shan- 
non, it  is  used  to  signify  a  low  marshy  meadow  along 
a  river  or  lake,  which  is  often  fiooded  in  winter,  but 
always  grassy  in  summer.  Callow,  the  modernized 
form,  is  quite  current  as  an  English  word  in  those 
parts  of  the  country,  a  *'  callow  meadow"  being  a 
very  usual  exj)ression  ;  and  it  forms  part  of  the  names 
of  a  great  many  places. 

There  is  a  parish  in  Tipperary  called  Templea- 


CHAP.  VI.]  Marshes  and  Bogs.  449 

ctially,  the  eliurch  of  the  callow.  Ballinchalla  is  now 
the  name  of  a  parish  verging  on  Lough  Mask  in 
Mayo.  The  Four  Masters  call  it  the  Port  of  Lough 
Mask,  and  it  is  also  called  in  Lish  the  Cala  of  Lough 
Mask,  both  meaning  the  landing  place  of  Lough 
Mask  :  the  present  name  is  anglicised  from  the  Irish 
Baile-an-chala^  the  town  of  the  callow  or  landing- 
place. 

Maethail  [mwajhill]  signifies  soft  or  spongy  land, 
from  the  root  maeth  [mway]  soft.  The  best  known 
example  of  its  use  is  Mohill  in  the  county  Leitrim, 
which  is  called  inLish  anthoYities,  Maethail-Manchcihi, 
from  St.  Manchan  or  Monaghan,  who  founded  a 
monastery  there  in  the  seventh  century,  and  who  is 
still  remembered.  The  parish  of  Mothel  in  Water- 
ford  is  called  Maethail-Bhrogain  in  O'Clery's  Calen- 
dar, from  St.  Brogan,  the  patron,  who  founded  a 
monastery  there  ;  and  there  is  another  parish  in  Kil- 
kenny called  Mothell ;  in  both  of  which  the  aspirated 
t  is  restored  (see  p.  42).  We  find  the  word  also  in 
other  names,  such  as  Cahermohill  or  Cahermoyle  in 
Limerick,  the  stone  fort  of  the  soft  land ;  Knockme- 
hill  in  Tipperary,  the  soft  surfaced  hill ;  and  Cor- 
raweehill  in  Leitrim,  the  round  hill  of  the  wet  land* 
(See  Dr.  Eeeves'  learned  essay  "  On  the  Culdees,'* 
Trans.  E.  I.  A.,  XXIY.,  175.) 

Imleacli  [imlagh]  denotes  land  bordering  on  a  lake, 
and  hence  a  marshy  or  swampy  place ;  the  root  ap- 
pears to  be  imcal,  a  border  or  edge.  It  is  a  term  in 
pretty  common  use  in  names,  principally  in  the  forms 
Emlagh  and  Emly.  The  most  remarkable  place 
whose  name  is  derived  from  this  word,  is  the  village 
of  Emly  in  Tipperary,  well  known  as  the  ancient  see 
of  St.  Ailbhe,  one  of  the  primitive  Irish  saints. 
In  the  Book  of  Lismore,  and  indeed  in  all  the  Irish 
2g 


450  Physical  Features,  [part  iv. 

authorities,  it  is  called  Lnleach-iohhair,  the  lake-marsh 
of  the  yew  tree.  The  lake,  on  the  margin  of  which 
St.  Ailbhe  selected  the  site  for  his  establishment, 
does  not  now  exist,  bnt  it  is  only  a  few  years  since 
the  last  vestige  of  it  was  drained. 

Milhic  is  applied  to  low  marshy  ground,  or  to  land 
bordering  on  a  lake  or  river,  and  seems  synonymous 
with  imleach.  It  occurs  in  Leinster,  Munster,  and 
Ulster,  but  is  much  more  general  in  Oonnaught  than 
in  the  other  provinces ;  and  in  the  form  Meelick,  it 
is  the  name  of  about  30  townlands.  The  old  angli- 
cised name  of  Mountmellick  in  Queen's  County, 
which  is  even  still  occasionally  heard  among  the 
people,  is  Montiaghmeeliclx,  i.  e.  the  bogs  or  boggy 
land  of  the  meelick  or  marsh  ;  and  the  latter  part  of 
the  name  is  still  retained  by  the  neighbouring  town- 
land  of  Meelick. 

Murhhach  [Murvagh],  a  flat  piece  of  land  extend- 
ing along  the  sea ;  a  salt  marsh.  The  word  occurs 
as  a  general  term  in  Cormac's  Griossary  {voce  "  tond"), 
where  the  sea  waves  are  said  to  "  shave  the  grass  from 
off  the  murhhach. "^^  In  the  Book  of  Eights  it  is 
spelled  murmhagh^  which  points  to  the  etymology : 
' — midr^  the  sea,  and  magh^  a  plain — miirmhagh,  sea- 
plain. 

The  name  occurs  once  in  the  Four  Masters,  when 
they  mention  Murhhach  in  Donegal,  which  is  situated 
near  Bally  shannon,  and  is  now  called  Murvagh.  In 
that  county  the  word  is  still  well  understood,  and 
pretty  often  used  to  give  names  to  places.  In  other 
counties  it  is  changed  to  Murvey,  MmTagh,  and 
MmTcagh  ;  and  it  is  still  fm^ther  softened  in  the 
''  Murrow  of  Wicklow,"  which  is  now  a  beautiful 
grassy  sward,  and  affords  a  good  illustration  of  the 
use  of  the  word.     There  is  a  small  plain  called  Mur- 


CHAP.  VI.]  Marshes  and  Bogs.  451 

hhach,  in  the  north-west  end  of  the  great  island  of 
Aran,  from  which  the  island  itself  is  called  in  "  Hy 
Fiachrach,"  Am  of  the  plain  of  Miirhhach ;  and  the 
name  still  lives  as  part  of  the  compound  CiU-Miiy- 
bhaigh,  the  church  of  the  sea-plain,  now  anglicised 
Kilmurvy. 

Miiirisc  [murrisk]  is  a  sea-shore  marsh,  and  is 
nearly  synonymous  with  murhhach.  Two  places  in 
Connaught  of  this  name,  are  mentioned  in  the 
Annals:— one  is  a  district  in  the  north  of  Sligo, 
lying  to  the  east  of  the  river  Easky  ;  and  the 
other  a  narrow  plain  between  Croagh  Patrick  and 
the  sea,  where  an  abbey  was  erected  on  the  mar- 
gin of  the  bay,  which  was  called  the  abbey  of 
Murrisk,  and  which  in  its  turn  gave  name  to  the 
barony. 

jloin  [mone],  a  bog,  corresponds  with  Lat.  mom, 
a  mountain,  and  the  Irish  word  is  sometimes  under- 
stood in  this  sense.  As  may  be  expected  from  the 
former  and  present  abundance  of  bogs  in  Ireland,  we 
have  a  vast  number  of  places  named  from  them  in 
every  part  of  the  country ;  but  in  numerous  cases  the 
bogs  are  cut  away,  and  the  land  cultivated.  The 
syllable  rnon,  which  begins  a  great  number  of  names, 
is  generally  to  be  referred  to  this  word ;  but  there 
are  many  exceptions,  which,  however,  are  in  general 
easy  to  be  distinguished. 

Monabraher  near  Limerick,  is  called  by  the  Four 
•Masters,  Moin-na-mbrathar,  the  bog  of  the  friars  ;  and 
there  are  two  townlands  in  Cork,  one  in  Gralway,  and 
another  in  Waterford,  of  the  same  name,  but  spelled 
a  little  differently  ;  the  two  latter,  Monambraher  and 
Monamraher,  respectively.  Monalour  near  Lismore, 
signifies  the  bog  of  the  lepers ;  Monamintra,  a  pariah 
in  Waterford,  is  angliGisGd  from.  Mom-na~?nbaintreabh~ 
2g2 


452  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

nigh  [Monamointree] ,  the  bog  of  the  widows; 
Monanearla  near  Thurles,  the  earl's  bog ;  Moanmore, 
Monmore,  and  Monvore,  great  bog. 

As  a  termination,  this  word  often  takes  the  form 
of  mona,  as  is  seen  in  Ballynamona  and  Ballina- 
mona,  the  town  of  the  bog,  the  names  of  a  great 
many  places  in  Leinster,  Connaught,  and  Munster : 
Knocknamona,  the  hill  of  the  bog.  Sometimes  the 
m  of  this  termination  is  asj^irated  (p.  19),  as  in  Ard- 
Yone  near  Ardagh  in  Limerick,  which  is  in  Irish 
Ard-iiihoin,  high  bog. 

The  diminutive  Moneen  is  also  very  much  used, 
being  the  name  of  more  than  twenty  townlands  in 
all  the  four  provinces.  Moneenagunnell  in  King's 
County,  is  the  little  bog  of  the  candles  ;  Moneena- 
brone  in  Cavan,  the  little  bog  of  the  quern ;  Bally- 
moneen,  the  town  of  the  little  bog.  The  adjective 
mointeach  signifies  a  boggy  place,  and  it  gives  name 
to  several  places  now  called  Montiagh  and  Mon- 
tiaghs. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


ANIMALS. 

All  our  native  animals,  without  a  single  exception, 
have  been  commemorated  in  names  of  places.  In  the 
course  of  long  ages,  human  agency  effects  vast  changes 
in  the  distribution  of  animals,  as  well  as  in  the  other 
physical  conditions  of  the  country  ;  some  are  encou- 
raged and  increased  ;  some  are  banished  to  remote 
and  hilly  districts ;  and  others  become  altogether  ex- 


CHAP.  VII.]  Animals.  453 

tinct.  But  by  a  study  of  local  names  we  can  tell 
what  animals  formerly  abounded,  and  we  are  able  to 
identify  the  very  spots  resorted  to  by  each  particular 
kind. 

Some  writers  have  attempted  to  show  that  certain 
animals  were  formerly  worshipped  in  Ireland,  so  that 
the  literary  public  have  lately  become  quite  familia- 
rized with  such  terms  as  "bovine  cultus,"  "porcine 
cultus,"  &c. ;  and  the  main  argument  advanced  is, 
that  the  names  of  those  animals  are  interwoven  with 
our  local  nomenclature.  But  if  this  argument  be 
allowed,  it  will  prove  that  our  forefathers  had  the  most 
extensive  pantheon  of  any  people  on  the  face  of  the 
earth  : — they  must  have  adored  all  kinds  of  animals 
indiscriminately — not  only  cows  and  pigs,  but  also 
geese,  sea-gulls,  and  robin-redbreasts,  and  even  pis- 
mires, midges,  and  fleas.*  I  instance  this,  not  so 
much  to  illustrate  the  subject  I  have  in  hands,  as  to 
show  to  v/hat  uses  the  study  of  local  names  may  be 
turned,  when  not  ballasted  by  sufficient  knowledge, 
and  du^ected  by  sound  philosophy. 

The  cow.  From  the  most  remote  ages,  cows  formed 
one  of  the  principal  articles  of  wealth  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  this  country ;  they  were  in  fact  the  standard 
of  value,  as  money  is  at  the  present  day  ;  and  prices, 
wages,  and  marriage  portions,  were  estimated  in  cows 
by  our  ancestors.  Of  all  the  animals  known  in  Ire- 
land, the  cow  is,  accordingly,  the  most  extensively 
commemorated  in  local  names. 

*  We  have  many  names  from  all  these : — Coumshingaun,  a 
well-known  valley  and  lake  i  i  the  Cummeragh  mountains,  south- 
east of  Clonmel,  the  glen  of  the  pismires  ;  Cloonnameeltoge  in 
the  parish  of  Kilraainemore  ISIayo,  the  meadow  of  the  midges  ; 
and  in  the  parish  of  Rath,  <  ounty  Clare,  is  a  hill  called  Knock - 
aunnadrankady,  the  little  hill  of  the  fleas. 


454  Physical  Features,  [part  iv. 

The  most  general  Irish  word  for  a  cow  is  ho,  not 
only  at  the  present  day,  but  in  the  oldest  MSS.  :  in 
the  Sg.  MS.  of  Zeuss  it  glosses  hos,  with  which  it  is 
also  cognate.  It  is  most  commonly  found  in  our 
present  names  in  the  simple  form  ho,  which,  when  it 
is  a  termination,  is  usually  translated  ''  of  the  cow,'* 
though  it  might  he  a,lso  "  of  the  cows." 

Aghahoe  in  Queen's  County,  where  St.  Canice  of 
Kilkenny  had  his  principal  church,  is  mentioned  by 
many  Irish  authorities,  the  most  ancient  of  whom  is 
Adamnan,  who  has  the  following  passage  in  Yit.  Col., 
II.  13,  which  settles  the  meaning : — "  St.  Canice  being 
in  the  monastery  which  is  called  in  Latin  Campulus 
hovis  (i.  e.  the  field  of  the  cow),  but  in  Irish  Ached- 
hou.^''  This  was  the  name  of  the  place  before  the 
time  of  St.  Canice,  who  adopted  it  unchanged.  The 
parish  of  Drumbo  in  Down,  is  called  Dndmho  by  the 
Four  Masters,  that  is,  the  cow's  ridge  ;  Dunboe  in 
Londonderry,  and  Arboe  in  Tyrone,  the  fortress 
and  the  height  of  the  cow. 

When  the  word  occurs  in  the  end  of  names  in  the 
genitive  plural,  the  h  is  often  eclipsed  by  m  (p.  22), 
forming  the  termination  -namoc,  of  the  cows  ;  as  in 
Annamoe  in  Wicklow,  which  would  be  written  *  i 
Irish,  Af/i-na-mho,  the  ford  of  the  cows,  indicating 
that  the  old  ford,  now  spanned  by  a  bridge  at  the 
village,  was  the  usual  crossing  place  for  the  cows  of 
the  neighbourhood.  At  Carrigeennamoe  near  Mid- 
dleton  in  Cork,  the  people  were  probably  in  the  habit 
of  collecting  their  cows  to  be  milked,  for  the  name 
signifies  the  little  rock  of  the  cows. 

Laegh  [lea]  means  a  calf ;  it  enters  into  names  ge- 
nerally in  the  form  of  lee ;  and  this,  and  the  articled 
terminations,  -nalee  and  -nalea,  are  of  fi^equent  occur- 
rence,  signifying    "of  the   calves."     Ballinalee   in 


CHAP.  VII.]  Animals.  455 

Longford  and  Wicklow,  is  properly  written  in  Irish, 
Bel-atha-na-Iaefjh^ihQ  ford-mouth  of  the  calves,  a  name 
derived  like  Annamoe  ;  Clonleigh  near  Lifford,  is 
called  by  the  Four  Masters,  Cluainlaecjh^  the  calves' 
meadow  ;  in  Wexford  there  is  a  parish  of  the  same 
name,  and  in  Clare  another,  which  is  called  Clonlea. 

Another  Irish  word  for  a  calf  is  gamhan  [go wan], 
or  in  old  Irish  ganmm  (Cor.  GrL),  which  is  also  much 
used  in  the  formation  of  names,  as  in  Clonygowan  in 
King's  County,  which  the  annalists  ^^ite  Cluain'na- 
ngamhan,  the  meadow  of  the  calves.  This  word  must 
not  be  confounded  with  its  derivative,  gamhnach 
[gownah],  which,  according  to  Cormac's  Glossary, 
means  "  a  milking  cow  with  a  calf  a  year  old ;"  but 
which  in  modern  Irish  is  used  to  signify  simply  a 
milk-giving  cow  or  dripper.  Moygawnagh  is  the 
name  of  a  parish  in  Mayo  ;  we  find  it  written  in  an 
old  poem  in  the  Book  ojp  Lecan,  Ma gh- gamhnach, 
which  Colgan  translates  "  Campus  fcetarum  sire 
lactescentium  vaccarum^''  the  plain  of  the  milch  cows. 
In  anglicised  names  it  is  hard  to  distinguish  between 
gamhan  and  gamhnach,  when  no  authoritative  or- 
thography of  the  name  is  accessible. 

A  bull  is  called  in  Irish  tarhh,  a  word  which  exists 
in  cognate  fonns  in  many  languages ;  in  the  three 
Celtic  families — Old  Irish,  Welsh,  and  Cornish — it  is 
found  in  the  respective  forms  of  iarh,  tarn,  and  tarow, 
while  the  old  Graulish  is  tarvos ;  and  all  these  are 
little  different  from  the  Grr.  tauros  and  Lat.  taiirus.  A 
great  number  of  places  in  every  part  of  Ireland  have 
taken  their  names  from  bulls,  and  the  word  tarhh  is 
in  general  easily  recognized  in  all  its  modem  forms. 

There  are  several  mountains  in  different  counties 
called  Knockaterriff,  Knockatarriv,  and  Knockatarry, 
all  signifying  the  hill  of  the  bull.     Monatarriv  near 


456  Fhifsical  Features.  [part  iv. 

Lismore  in  Waterford,  the  bulFs  bog.  Sometimes 
the  t  is  aspirated  to  /^  (p.  21),  as  in  Drumherriif  and 
Druniharriff,  a  townland  name  common  in  the  Ulster 
counties  and  in  Leitrim,  the  ridge  of  the  bull.  Clon- 
tarf  near  Dublin,  is  called  in  all  the  Irish  authorities 
Cluaintarhh,  the  meadow  of  the  bulls,  and  there  are 
several  similar  names  through  the  country,  such  as 
Cloontariff  in  Mayo,  and  Cloontamv  in  Kerry. 

JDamli  [dauv],  an  ox;  evidently  cognate  withLat. 
dama,  a  deer.  How  it  came  to  pass  that  the  same 
word  signifies  in  Irish  an  ox,  and  in  Latin  a  deer,  I 
am  unable  to  explain.*  Devenish  island  near  Ennis- 
killen,  celebrated  in  ancient  times  for  St.  Molaise's 
great  establishment,  and  at  present  for  its  round 
tower  and  other  ecclesiastical  ruins,  is  called  in  all 
the  Irish  authorities  Daimh-inis  [Da-sdnish],  which,  in 
the  Life  of  St.  Aldus,  is  translated  the  island  of  the 
oxen  ;  and  there  are  three  other  islands  of  the  same 
name  in  Mayo,  Eoscommon,  and  Galway.  There  is 
a  peninsula  west  of  Ardara  in  Donegal,  called  Dawros 
head,  the  Irish  name  of  which  is  Damh-ros,  the  head- 
land of  the  oxen  ;  and  there  are  several  other  places 
of  the  same  name  in  Gralway,  Sligo,  and  Kerry.  We 
find  the  w^ord  also  in  such  names  as  Dooghcloon, 
Doughcloyne,  and  Doughloon,  which  are  modern 
forms  of  Damli-chluain  (Hy  Fiachrach),  ox-meadow. 

In  the  end  of  names  this  word  undergoes  a  variety 
of  transformations.     It  is   often  changed  to  -duff^  or 

*  The  transfer  of  a  name  from  one  species  of  animals  or 
plants  to  another,  is  a  curious  phenomenon,  and  not  unfrequently 
met  with.  The  Greek  phegos  signifies  an  oak,  while  the  corre- 
sponding Latin,  Gothic,  and  English  terms— /o^?/5,  huka,  and 
beech — are  applied  to  the  beech-tree  ;  and  I  might  cite  several 
other  instances.  See  this  question  curiously  discussed  in  Max 
Miiller's  Lectures,  2nd  Series,  p.  222. 


CHAP,  vii.]  Animals.  457 

some  siicli  form,  as  in  Clonduff  in  Down,  which  is 
called  in  O'Cleiy's  Calendar  Cluain-dcfijnh,  the  mea- 
dow of  the  ox  (see  Reeves,  Eccles.  Ant.,  p.  115)  ; 
Legadnff  in  Fermanagh,  and  Derrindiff  in  Longford, 
the  hollow,  and  the  oak-wood  of  the  ox.  In  other 
cases  the  d  disappears  under  the  influence  of  aspira- 
tion (p.  20)  as  in  Cloonaff,  Clonuif,  Cloniff,  and 
Clooniff,  all  the  same  names  as  Clonduff.  And  often 
the  d  is  eclipsed  by  n  (p.  22),  as  in  Coolnanav  near 
Dungarvan  in  Waterford,  Cuil-na-ndamh,  the  corner 
of  the  oxen ;  Derrynanaff  in  Mayo,  and  DeiTynan- 
amph  in  Monaghan,  the  oak  grove  of  the  oxen. 

The  sheep.  A  sheep  is  called  in  Irish  caera  [kaira], 
gen.  caeraeh,  which  are  the  forms  given  in  the  Zeuss 
MSS.  The  word  seems  to  have  originally  denoted 
cattle  in  general,  for  we  find  that  Irish  caerachd 
denotes  cattle,  and  in  Sanscrit,  caratha  signifies^^^c^^s. 

It  is  found  most  commonly  in  the  end  of  names, 
forming  the  termination  -nageeragh,  or  without  the 
article,  -Jiserngh,  ''  of  the  sheep,"  as  in  Ballyna- 
geeragh,  the  town  of  the  sheep  ;  Meenkeeragh,  the 
ineen  or  mountain  pasture  of  the  sheep.  The  village 
of  Grlenagarey  near  Kingstown  in  Dublin,  took  its 
name  from  a  Little  dell,  which  was  called  in  Irish, 
Gleann-na-gcaerach^  the  glen  of  the  sheep,  and  Grlenna- 
geeragh  near  Clogher  in  Tyrone,  is  the  same  name 
in  a  more  correct  form.  There  are  several  islands 
round  the  coast  called  Inishkeeragh,  the  island  of 
sheep,  or  mutton  island,  as  it  is  sometimes  translated, 
which  must  have  been  so  called  from  the  custom  of 
sending  over  sheep  to  graze  on  them  in  spring  and 
summer. 

The  horse.  We  have  several  Irish  words  for  a 
horse,  the  most  common  of  which  are  each  and  cajKiU. 
Each  [agh],  is  found  in  several  families  of  languages  ; 


458  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

the  old  Irish  form  is  ech ;  and  it  is  the  same  word  as 
the  Sansc.  agva,  Grr.  hippos  (Eol.  iJi/ws),  Lat.  equus, 
and  Old  Sax.  ehii.  Each  is  very  often  found  in  the 
beginning  of  names,  contrary  to  the  usual  Irish  order, 
and  in  this  case  it  generally  takes  the  modern  form 
of  a  ugh.  At  A.  D,  598,  the  Four  Masters  mention 
Aughris  head  in  the  north  of  Sligo,  west  of  Sligo  bay, 
as  the  scene  of  a  battle,  and  they  call  it  Each-ros,  the 
ros  or  peninsula  of  the  horses ;  there  is  another  place 
of  the  same  name,  west  of  Ballymote,  same  county  ; 
and  a  little  promontory  north-west  fi'om  Clifden  in 
Galway,  is  called  Aughrus,  which  is  the  same  name. 
Aughinish  and  Aughnish  are  the  names  of  several 
places  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  and  are  an- 
glicised from  Each-inis  (Four  Mast.),  horse  island. 
They  must  have  been  so  called  because  they  were 
favourite  horse  pastures,  like  "  The  Squince,"  and 
Horse  Island,  near  Grlandore,  "  which  produce  a 
wonderful  sort  of  herbage  that  recovers  and  fattens 
diseased  horses  to  admiration."  (Smith,  Hist,  of 
Cork,  I.  271.) 

In  the  end  of  names  it  commonly  forms  the  postfix 
-ach ;  as  in  Eussagh  in  Westmeath,  which  the  Four 
Masters  write  Eos-each^  the  wood  of  horses ;  Bellan- 
anagh  in  Cavan,  Bel-atha-na-neach^  the  ford-mouth 
of  the  horses  ;  Cloonagh  and  Clonagh,  horse  meadow. 
Sometimes  it  is  in  the  genitive  singular,  as  in  Kin- 
neigh  near  Iniskeen  in  Cork,  ceann-ech  (Four  Mast.), 
the  head  or  hill  of  the  horse ;  the  same  name  as 
Kineigh  in  Kerry,  Kineagh  near  Kilcullen  in  Kil- 
dare,  and  Kinnea  in  Cavan  and  Donegal. 

Cajxill,  the  other  word  for  a  horse,  is  the  same  as 
Grr.  kahalleSy  Lat.  cahaUiis,  and  Rus.  kohyla.  It  is 
pretty  common  in  the  end  of  names  in  the  form  of 
capple^  or  with  the  article,   -nagappul  or  -nagapple^  as 


CHAP.  VII. J  Animals.  459 

in  Gortnagappul  in  Cork  and  Kerry,  the  field  of  the 
horses ;  Pollacappiil  and  Poulacappul,  the  hole  of 
the  horse. 

Ldrach  [lawragh]  signifies  a  mare,  and  it  is  found 
pretty  often  forming  a  part  of  names.  Cloonlara,  the 
mare's  meadow,  is  the  name  of  a  village  in  Clare, 
and  of  half  a  dozen  townlands  in  Connanght  and 
Munster  ;  Grprtnalaragh,  the  field  of  the  mares. 

The  goaf.  The  word  gahhar  [gower],  a  goat,  is 
common  to  the  Celtic,  Latin,  and  Teutonic  lan- 
guages ;  the  old  Irish  form  is  gahar,  which  corre- 
sponds with  Welsh  gafa}\  Corn,  gavar,  Lat.  caper, 
Ang.-Sax.  haefer.  This  word  very  often  takes  the 
form  of  goiver,  gotir,  or  gore  in  anglicised  names,  as  in 
Grlenagower  in  Limerick,  Gleann-na-ngabhar,  the  glen 
of  the  goats  ;  Ballynagore,  goats'  town. 

The  word  gahar,  according  to  the  best  authorities, 
was  anciently  applied  to  a  horse  as  well  as  to  a  goat. 
In  Cormac's  Grlossary  it  is  stated  that  gahiir  is  a  goat, 
and  gohio',  a  horse  ;  but  the  distinction  was  not  kept 
up,  for  we  find  gabiir  applied  to  a  horse  in  several 
very  ancient  authorities,  such  as  the  Leabhar  na 
hUidhre,  the  Book  of  Rights,  &c.  Colgan  remarks 
that  gahhur  is  an  ancient  Irish  and  British  word  for 
a  horse;  and  accordingly  the  name  Loch-gahhra, 
which  occurs  in  the  Life  of  St.  Aldus,  published  by 
him,  is  translated  Stagnu?)i-equi,  the  lake  of  the  horse. 
This  place  is  situated  near  Dunshaughlin  in  Meath, 
and  it  is  now  called  Lagore  ;  the  lake  has  been  long 
dried  up,  and  many  curious  antiquities  have  been 
found  in  its  bed. 

The  deer.  Ireland  formerly  abounded  in  deer  ; 
they  were  chased  with  greyhounds,  and  stru.ck  down 
by  spears  and  arrows  ;  and  in  our  ancient  writings — 
in  poems,  tales,  and  romances — deer,  stags,  does,  and 


460  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

fawns,  figure  conspicuously.  They  are,  as  might  be 
expected,  commemorated  in  great  numbers  of  local 
names,  and  in  every  part  of  the  country.  The  word 
fiadh  [fee]  originally  meant  any  wild  animal,  and 
hence  we  have  the  adjective  fiadhan  [feean],  wild ; 
but  its  meaning  has  been  gradually  narrowed,  and  in 
Irish  writings  it  is  almost  universally  aj^plied  to  a 
deer.  It  is  generally  much  disguised  ia  local  names, 
so  that  it  is  often  not  easy  to  distinguish  its  modern 
forms  from  those  oi  fiach,  a  raven,  and  each,  a  horse. 
The  /  often  disappears  under  the  influence  of  the 
article  (p.  27),  as  will  be  seen  in  the  following  ex- 
amples : — 

The  well-known  pass  of  Keimaneigh,  on  the  road 
from  Inchigeelagh  to  G-lengarriff  in  Cork,  is  called 
in  Irish,  Ceim-an-fhiaidh,  the  pass  of  the  deer;  Drum- 
anee  in  Derry,  and  Knockanee  in  Limerick  and 
Westmeath,  both  signify  the  deer's  hill.  In  some 
parts  of  the  south  the  final  g  is  sounded,  as  in  Knock- 
aneag  in  Cork,  the  same  as  the  last  name.  When 
the /is  eclipsed  in  the  genitive  plural,  (see  p.  22),  it 
usually  forms  some  such  termination  as  uarcigh : 
Grortnaveigh  in  Tipperary,  and  Gortnavea  in  Gal- 
way,  are  both  written  in  Irish,  Gort-na-hhfiadh,  the 
field  of  the  deer  ;  Annaveagh  in  Monaghan,  Ath-na- 
hhfiadh,  deer  ford. 

Os  signifies  a  fawn.  The  celebrated  Irish  bard  and 
warrior,  who  lived  in  the  thii^d  century  of  the  Christian 
era,  and  whose  name  has  been  changed  to  Ossian  by 
Macpherson,  is  called  in  Irish  MSS.,  Oisin  [Osheen], 
which  signifies  a  lit';le  fawn  ;  and  the  name  is  ex- 
plained by  a  Fenian  legend. 

In  the  end  of  nam  es,  when  the  word  occurs  in  the 
genitive  plural,  it  is  usually  made  -nanuss,  while  in 
the  singular,  it  is  anglicised  kh,  or  with  the  article. 


CHAP.  A^i.]  Animals.  461 


-anish.  Glenish  in  the  parish  of  Currin,  Monaghan, 
is  written  in  Irish  G/eiwis,  the  fawn's  glen  ;  and  there 
is  a  conspicuous  mountain  north  of  Macroom  in  Cork, 
called  Mullaghanish,  the  summit  of  the  fawn.  Not 
far  from  Buttevant,  in  the  county  of  Cork,  is  a  hill 
called  Knocknanuss — Cnoc-ua-nos,  the  hill  of  the 
fawns — where  a  bloody  battle  was  fought  in  No- 
vember, 1647  :  in  this  battle  was  slain  the  celebrated 
Mac-Colkitto,  Alasdrum  More,  or  Alexander  Mac- 
donnell,  the  ancestor  of  the  Macdonnells  of  the  Grlens 
of  Antrim,  whose  present  chief  is  the  Right  Ho- 
nourable Alexander  Macdonnell,  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation. 

Eilit,  gen.  eilte  [ellit,  elte]  is  a  doe ;  Grr.  ellos,  a 
fawn  ;  0.  H.  Grer.  elah  ;  Ang.  Sax.  eJch.  The  word 
occurs  in  Irish  names  generally  in  the  forms  eify,  ilty, 
elt,  or  ilt ;  Clonelty  in  Limerick  and  Fermanagh, 
and  Cloonelt  in  Roscommon,  the  meadow  of  the  doe  ; 
Rahelty  in  Kilkenny  and  Tipperary  {mth,  a  fort)  ; 
Annahilt  in  Down,  Eanach-eilte^  the  doe's  marsh. 

The  pig.  If  Ireland  has  obtained  some  celebrity 
in  modern  times  for  its  abundance  of  pigs,  the  great 
numbers  of  local  names  in  which  the  animal  is  com- 
memorated show  that  they  aboimded  no  less  in  the 
days  of  our  ancestors.  The  Irish  language  has  se- 
veral words  for  a  pig,  but  the  most  usual  is  rmic., 
which  corresponds  with  the  Welsh  moch^  and  Cornish 
mok.  The  general  anglicised  form  of  the  word  is 
muck;  and  -namuck  is  a  termination  of  frequent  oc- 
currence, signifying  "of  the  pigs."  There  is  a  well- 
known  hill  near  the  Galties  in  Tipperary,  called 
Slievenamuck,  the  mountain  of  the  pigs.  Ballyna- 
muck,  a  usual  townland  name,  signifies  pig-town ; 
Tinamuck  in  King's  County,  a  house  {tigh)  for  pigs. 
In  Lough  Derg  on  the  Shannon,  is  a  small  island, 


462  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

much  celebrated  for  an  ecclesiastical  establishment ; 
it  is  called  in  the  Annals,  Muic-inis,  hog  island,  or 
Muic-inis-Riagail,  from  St.  Eiagal  or  Eegulus,  a 
contemporary  of  St.  Columkille.  This  name  would 
be  anglicised  Muckinish,  and  there  are  several  other 
islands  of  the  name  in  different  parts  of  Ireland. 

In  early  times,  when  woods  of  oak  and  beech 
abounded  in  this  country,  it  was  customary  for  kings 
and  chieftains  to  keep  great  herds  of  swine,  which 
fed  in  the  woods  on  masts,  and  were  tended  by  swine- 
herds. St.  Patrick,  it  is  well  known,  was  a  swine- 
herd in  his  youth  to  Milcho,  king  of  Dalaradia ;  and 
numerous  examples  might  be  quoted  from  our  ancient 
histories,  romances,  and  poems,  to  show  the  pre- 
valence of  this  custom. 

There  are  several  words  in  Irish  to  denote  a  place 
where  swine  were  fed,  or  where  they  resorted  or  slept ; 
the  most  common  of  which  is  imiclach,  which  is  much 
used  in  the  formation  of  names.  Mucklagh,  its  most 
usual  form,  is  the  name  of  many  places  in  Leinster, 
Ulster,  and  Connaught ;  and  scattered  over  the  same 
provinces,  there  are  about  twenty-eight  townlands 
called  Cornamucklagh,  the  round  hill  of  the  pig- 
geries. Muiceannach  also  signifies  a  swine  haunt, 
and  it  gives  names  to  about  nineteen  townlands  in 
the  four  provinces,  now  called  Muckanagh,  Muck- 
enagh,  and  Mucknagh.  Muckelty,  Mucker,  Muckera, 
and  Muckery,  all  townland  names,  signify  still  the 
same  thing — a  place  frequented  by  swine  for  feeding 
or  sleeping. 

Tore  [turk]  signifies  a  boar ;  it  is  found  in  the  Sg. 
MS.  of  Zeuss,  as  a  gloss  on  a2:)er.  Wild  boars  for- 
merly abounded  in  Ireland ;  they  are  often  mentioned 
in  old  poems  and  tales ;  and  hunting  the  boar  was 
one  of  the  favourite  amusements  of  the  people.     Turk, 


CHAP.  Yii.]  Animals.  463 

the  usual  modern  form  of  tore,  is  found  in  great  num- 
bers of  names.  Kantui'k  in  Cork  is  written  by  the 
Four  Masters,  Ceann-tidrc,  the  head  or  hill  of  the 
boar ;  the  name  shov/s  that  the  little  hill  near  the  town 
must  have  been  formerly  a  resort  of  one  or  more  of 
these  animals  ;  and  we  may  draw  the  same  conclusion 
regarding  the  well-known  Tore  mountain  at  Killar- 
ney  ;  and  Inishturk,  an  island  outside  Clew  bay  in 
Mayo,  which  is  called  in  "  Hy  Fiachraeh  "  Inis-tuirc, 
the  boar's  island,  a  name  which  also  belongs  to  several 
other  islands. 

By  the  aspiration  of  the  t,  the  genitive  form,  tuirc 
becomes  hirk ;  as  in  Drumhirk,  a  name  of  frequent 
occurrence  in  Ulster,  which  represents  the  Irish, 
Dvuimthuirc,  the  boar's  ridge.  And  when  the  t  is 
changed  to  d  by  eclipse  (p.  23),  the  termination 
durk  or  nadurk  is  formed ;  as  in  Edendurk  in  Tyrone, 
the  hill  brow  of  the  boars. 

The  dog.  There  are  two  words  in  common  use  for 
a  dog,  eu  and  madadh  or  madradh  [madda,  maddra], 
which  enter  extensively  into  local  names.  Of  the  two 
forms  of  the  latter,  madradh  is  more  usual  in  the 
south,  and  madadh  in  the  rest  of  Ireland  ;  they  often 
form  the  terminations  -namaddy,  -namaddoo,  and  -na- 
maddra,  of  the  dogs ;  as  in  Ballynamaddoo  in  Cavan, 
Ballynamaddree  in  Cork,  and  Ballynamaddy  in  An- 
trim, the  town  of  the  dogs  :  or  if  in  the  genitive  sin- 
gular, -avaddy,  -avaddoo,  and  -avaddra,  of  the  dog  ; 
as  in  Knockavaddra,  Knockavaddy,  Knockawaddra, 
and  Knockawaddy,  the  dog's  hill. 

The  other  word,  cu,  is  in  the  modern  language 
always  applied  to  a  greyhound,  but  according  to 
O'Brien,  it  anciently  signified  any  fierce  dog.  It  is 
found  in  many  other  languages  as  well  as  Irish,  as 
for  example,  in  Greek,  kuOn ;  Latin,  cank  ;  Welsh,  ci; 


464  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

Grothic,  hunds ;  English,  hound ;  all  different  forms  of 
the  same  primitive  word.  This  term  is  often  found 
in  the  beginning  of  names.  The  parish  of  Connor  in 
Antrim  appears  in  Irish  records  in  the  various  forms, 
Condeire,  Condaire,  Condere,  &c. ;  and  the  usual  substi- 
tution of  modem  nn  for  the  ancient  nd  (seep.  59), 
changed  the  name  to  Conneire  and  Connor.  In  a 
marginal  gloss  in  the  Martyrology  of  Aengus,  at  the 
3rd  Sept.  the  name  is  explained  as  '•'' Doire-na-con,  the 
oak-wood  in  which  were  wild  dogs  formerly,  and  she 
wolves  used  to  dw^ell  therein"  (^See  Eeeves's  Eccl. 
Ant.,  p.  85). 

Conlig  in  Down  signifies  the  stone  of  the  hounds ; 
Convoy  in  Donegal,  and  Conva  in  Cork,  both  from 
Con-mhagh,  hound-plain.  And  as  a  termination  it 
usually  assumes  the  same  form,  as  in  Clooncon  and 
Cloncon,  the  hound's  meadow  ;  except  when  the  c  is 
eclipsed  (p.  22),  as  we  find  in  Coolnagun  in  Tippe- 
rary  and  Westmeath,  the  corner  of  the  hounds. 

The  rabbit.  It  is  curious  that  the  Irish  appear  to 
have  grouped  the  rabbit  and  the  hare  with  two  very 
different  kinds  of  animals — the  former  with  the  dog, 
and  the  latter  with  the  deer.  Coimn  [cunneen],  the 
Irish  word  for  a  rabbit,  is  a  diminutive  of  cu,  and 
means  literally  a  little  hound  ;  the  corresponding 
Latin  word,  cunicuhis,  is  also  a  diminutive  ;  and 
the  Scandinavian  kanina,  Danish  hcnin,  and  English 
coney,  all  belong  to  the  same  family. 

The  word  coinin  is  in  general  easily  recognized  in 
names  ;  for  it  commonly  forms  one  of  the  termina- 
tions, -coneen,  -nagoneen,  or  -nagoneeny,  as  in  Kyle- 
nagoneeny  in  Limerick,  Coill-na-gcoininidhe,  the  wood 
of  the  rabbits  ;  Camckconeen  in  Tipperary,  rabbit 
rock.  The  termination  is  varied  in  Lisnagunnion  in 
Monaghan,  the  fort  of  the  rabbits. 


CHAP,  vii.]  Animals.  465 

A  rabbit  warren  is  denotedhj  coin  ice r  [cunnickere], 
which  occults  in  all  the  provinces  under  several  forms 
— generally,  however,  easily  recognized.  In  Carlow 
it  is  made  Coneykeare ;  in  Gralway,  Conicar ;  in 
Limerick,  Conigar ;  and  in  King's  County,  Conicker. 
It  is  Connigar  and  Connigare  in  Kerry  ;  Cunnaker  in 
Mayo  ;  Cunnicar  in  Louth ;  Cunnigar  in  Waterford  ; 
and  Kinnegar  in  Donegal.  In  the  pronunciation  of 
the  original  the  c  and  n  coalesce  very  closely  (like  c 
and  n  in  cnoc,  p.  368),  and  the  former  is  often  only 
faintly  heard.  In  consequence  of  this,  the  c  some- 
times disappears  altogether  from  anglicised  names, 
of  which  Nicker  in  Limerick,  and  Nickeres  (rabbit 
warrens)  in  Tipperary,  afford  characteristic  ex- 
amples. 

T/ic  icolf.  This  island,  like  Grreat  Britain,  was  for- 
merly much  infested  with  wolves  ;  they  were  chased 
like  the  wild  boar,  partly  for  sport,  and  partly  with 
the  object  of  exterminating  them  ;  and  large  dogs  of 
a  particular  race,  called  wolfdogs,  which  have  only 
very  recently  become  extinct,  were  kept  and  trained 
for  the  purpose.  After  the  great  war  in  the  seven- 
teenth centiuy,  wolves  increased  to  such  an  extent, 
and  their  ravages  became  so  great,  as  to  call  for  state 
interference,  and  wolf-hunters  were  appointed  in  va- 
rious parts  of  Ireland.  The  last  wolf  was  killed 
only  about  160  years  ago. 

In  Irish  there  are  two  distinct  original  words  for  a 
wolf, /r^^/ and  breach.  Fael,  though  often  found  in 
old  writings,  is  not  used  by  itself  in  the  modern  lan- 
guage, the  general  word  for  a  wolf  now  hQmgfaelcJm, 
formed  by  adding  cu,  a  hound,  to  the  original.  There 
is  a  little  rocky  hill  near  Swords  in  Dublin,  called 
Feltrim,  the  name  of  which  indicates  that  it  must 
have  been  formerly  a  retreat  of  wolves ;  in  a  gloss  in 
2  H 


460  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

the  Felire  of  Aengus,  it  is  written  Faeldruim,  [Fail- 
drum],  i.  e.  wolf-hill. 

The  other  term  hreach  is  more  frequently  found  in 
local  names,  especially  in  one  particular  compound, 
written  by  the  Four  Masters  Breach-mhagh  [breagh- 
vah],  wolf-field,  which,  in  various  modern  forms  gives 
names  to  about  twenty  townlands.  In  Clare,  it  oc- 
curs eight  times,  and  it  is  ang-licised  Breaghva,  ex- 
cept in  one  instance  where  it  is  made  Breaffy ;  in 
Donegal,  Longford,  and  Armagh,  it  is  Breaghy ;  in 
Sligo  and  Mayo,  Breaghwy  ;  while  in  Fermanagh 
(near  Enniskillen)  it  becomes  Breagho,  and  in  Kerry, 
Breahig.  In  Cork,  it  is  still  further  corrupted  to 
Britway,  the  name  of  a  parish,  which  in  Pope  Ni- 
cholas's Taxation,  is  written  Breghmagk. 

There  is  still  another  term — though  not  an  original 
one — for  a  wolf — namely,  mac- tire  [macteera],  which 
is  given  as  the  equivalent  of  hrech  in  a  gloss  on  an 
ancient  p»oem  in  the  Book  of  Leinster ;  it  literally 
signifies  "son  of  the  country,"  in  allusion  to  the  lonely 
haunts  of  the  animal.  By  this  name  he  is  comme- 
morated in  Knockaunvicteera,  the  little  hill  of  the 
wolf,  a  townland  in  the  parish  of  Kilmoon,  Clare, 
where,  no  doubt,  some  old  wolf  long  baffled  the 
huntsman's  spear  and  the  wolfdog's  fang. 

The  fox.  Sionnach  [shinnagh]  is  the  Irish  word 
for  a  fox — genitive  sionnaigh  [shinny]  ;  it  often  occurs 
in  the  end  of  names,  in  the  forms  -sJiimiy  and  -shin- 
nagh ;  as  in  Monashinnagh  in  Limerick,  the  bog  of 
the  foxes ;  Coolnashinnagh  in  Tipperary  and  Cool- 
nashinny  in  Cavan,  the  foxes'  comer. 

The  badger.  These  animals,  like  many  others,  must 
have  been  much  more  common  formerly  than  now,  as 
there  are  numbers  of  places  all  over  Ireland  deriving 
their  names  from  them.    The  Irish  word  for  a  badger 


CHAP.  VII.]  Animals.  467 

is  hroc  [briick]  ;  it  is  usually  anglicised  brock,  and  it 
is  verj  often  found  as  a  termination  in  the  forms 
-hrock,  -nahrock,  and  -nmnrock,  all  signifying  "  of  the 
badgers."  Clonbrock  in  Gralway,  the  seat  of  Lord 
Clonbrock,  is  called  in  Irish,  Cluam-broc,  the  meadow 
of  the  badgers  ;  and  the  same  name  occurs  in  King's 
and  Queen's  Counties,  while  it  takes  the  form  of 
Cloonbrock  in  Longford;  Meenabrock  in  Donegal, 
the  mee)t  or  mountain-meadow  of  the  badgers. 

Brocaeh  signifies  a  haunt  of  badgers — a  badger 
warren,  and  gives  names  to  a  great  many  townlands 
in  the  four  provinces,  now  called  Brockagh,  Brocka, 
and  Brockey.  In  Cormac's  Gflossary  the  form  used 
is  hroiceannach,  which  is  represented  by  Bruckana  in 
Kilkenny,  and  by  Brockna  in  Wicklow.  There  are 
several  Irish  modifications  of  this  word  in  different 
parts  of  the  country,  which  have  given  rise  to  cor- 
responding varieties  in  anglicised  names ;  such  as 
Brockernagh  in  King's  County,  Brocklagh  in  Long- 
ford ;  Brockley  in  Cavan ;  Brockraau  J  Brockry  in 
Queen's  County  ;  all  meaning  a  badger  warren. 

Birds.  Among  the  animals  whose  names  are  found 
impressed  on  oiu^  local  nomenclature,  birds  hold  a 
prominent  place,  almost  all  our  native  species  being 
commemorated.  En  [ain]  is  the  Irish  for  a  bird  at 
the  present  day  as  well  as  from  the  most  remote  anti- 
quity, the  word  being  found  in  the  Sg.  MS.  of  Zeuss, 
as  a  gloss  on  avis.  It  appears  under  various  modifi- 
cations in  considerable  numbers  of  names,  often  form- 
ing the  termination  'Uaneane,  of  the  birds  ;  as  in 
Eathnaneane  and  Ardnaneane  in  Limerick,  the  fort, 
and  the  height,  of  the  birds. 

The  eagle.     In  several  wild  mountainous  districts  ^ 
formerly  the  haunts  of  eagles,  these  birds  are  remem- 
bered in  local  names,     lolar  [iller]  is  the  common 
2h2 


468  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

Irish  word  for  an  eagle,  and  in  anglicised  names  it 
usually  forms  the  terminations,  -iller,  -ilra^  and  -idra; 
as  in  Slieveaniba,  the  eagle's  mountain,  in  Clare ; 
and  Coumaniller,  the  eagle's  hollow,  on  the  side  of 
Keeper  Hill  in  Tipperary,  under  a  rocky  precipice. 
The  word  assumes  other  forms — as  for  example,  in 
Drumillard,  the  name  of  four  townlands  in  Mon- 
aghan,  which  is  the  same  as  Drumiller  in  Cavan,  the 
ri  Ige  of  the  eagle. 

Seahliac  [shouk  or  shoke],  old  Irish  seboc,  means  a 
hawk,  and  is  cognate  with  the  Welsh  hehawg,  Ang.- 
Sax.  hafok,  and  Eng.  Junck.  It  forms  part  of  the 
name  of  Carrickshock,  a  well-known  place  near 
Knocktopher  in  Kilkenny,  which  is  called  in  Irish, 
Carraig-seahhai(\  the  hawk's  rock,  nearly  the  sam^e 
name  as  Carricknashoke  in  Cavan.  The  initial  s  is 
often  eclipsed  hy  t,  as  in  Craigatuke  in  Tyrone, 
Craig-a^ -tseahhaic,  the  same  name  as  Carrickshock. 

Croivs.  The  different  species  of  the  crow  kind  are 
very  well  distinguished  in  Irish,  and  the  correspond- 
ing terms  are  often  found  in  local  names.  Preachdn 
[prehaun]  is  a  generic  term,  standing  for  any 
ravenous  kind  of  bird,  the  various  species  being  de- 
signated by  qualifying  terms :  standing  by  itself, 
however,  it  usually  signifies  a  crow,  and  as  such  oc- 
curs in  Ardnapreaghaun  in  Limerick,  ^rr/-??r/-^79rmr7H 
an,  the  hill  of  the  crows ;  Knockaphreaghaun  in 
Cork,  Clare,  and  Gralway,  the  crow's  hill. 

Feannog  [fannoge]  signifies  a  royston  or  scald 
crow :  we  find  it  in  Tirfinnog  near  Monaghan,  the 
district  of  the  scald  crows  ;  in  Carnfunnock  in  An- 
trim, where  there  must  have  been  an  old  monumental 
heap,  frequented  by  these  birds ;  and  Toberfinnick 
in  Wexford,  the  scald  crows'  well.  Buffanoky  in 
Limerick  represents  the  Irish  Both-fionnoice,  the  hut 


CHAP.  VII.]  Animals.  469 

or  tent  of  the  royston  crow.  Yery  often  the  /  is 
eclipsed  (p.  22),  as  in  MuUanavannog  in  Monaghan, 
MuUach-na-hh/eannog,  the  scald  crows'  hill. 

A  raven  is  designated  by  the  word  fiach  [feeagh] , 
which,  in  anglicised  names,  it  is  often  difficult  to  dis- 
tinguish from  fiadh,  a  deer.  There  is  a  remarkable 
rock  over  the  Barrow,  near  Grraigiienamanagh,  called 
Benaneha,  or  in  Irish  Beann-cui-fheiche,  the  cliff  of 
the  raven ;  Lissaneigh  in  Sligo  is  the  raven's  fort ; 
Carrickaneagh  in  Tipperary,  and  Carrickanee  in 
Donegal,  the  raven's  rock.  The  genitive  plural  with 
an  eclipse  (p.  22)  is  seen  in  Mulnaveagh  near  Lif- 
ford,  and  MuUynaveagh  in  Tyrone,  the  hill  of  the 
ravens. 

Bran  is  another  word  for  a  raven :  it  is  given  in 
Zeuss  (Grram.  Celt.,  p.  46)  as  the  equivalent  oicon-uti, 
and  it  is  explained  fiach  in  Cormac's  Griossary. 
Brankill,  the  name  of  some  places  in  Oavan,  signifies 
raven  wood ;  Brannish  in  Fermanagh,  a  contraction 
for  Bmti'inis,  raven  island ;  and  Eathbranagh  near 
Croom  in  Limerick,  the  fort  of  the  ravens. 

The  seagull.  This  bird  is  denoted  by  the  two 
diminutives,  faeiledn  and  faeileog  [feelaim,  feeloge] ; 
and  both  are  reproduced  in  modernized  names,  often 
forming  the  terminations  -naweelaiin,  -naweeloge,  and 
-eelati.  Carrownaweelaun  in  Clare,  represents  the 
sound  of  the  Irish  Ceathramhadh-na-hhfaeilcdn^  the 
quarter-land  of  the  sea-gulls ;  Loughnaweeloge  and 
Loughaunnaweelaun,  the  names  of  some  lakes  and 
townlands  in  different  counties,  signify  the  sea-gulls' 
lake ;  and  the  same  name  is  reduced  to  Lough 
Wheelion  in  King's  County  ;  Ardeelan  in  Donegal, 
the  height  of  the  sea-gulls. 

The  2)lover.  Feadog  [faddoge],  a  plover  ;  derived  I 
suppose  from  fead,  a  whistle,  from,  the  peculiar  note 


470  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

uttered  by  the  bii'd,  Feadog  generally  occurs  in  the  end 
of  names  in  the  foims  -viddoge,  -vaddoge,  -faddock^  &c.  ; 
as  in  Ballynavaddog  in  Meath,  and  Balfeddock  in 
Louth,  the  townland  of  the  plovers  ;  Barranafaddock 
near  Lismore,  the  plovers'  hill-top  ;  Moanaviddoge 
near  Oola  in  Limerick,  the  bog  of  the  plovers. 

The  crane.  Corr  means  any  bird  of  the  crane 
kind,  the  different  species  being  distinguished  by 
qualifying  terms.  Standing  alone,  however,  it  is  al- 
ways understood  to  mean  a  heron — generally  called 
a  crane  in  Ireland ;  and  it  is  used  very  extensively 
in  forming  names,  especially  in  marshy  or  lake  dis- 
tricts, commonly  in  the  forms  cor,  gov,  and  go7r. 
Loughanagore  near  Kilbeggan  in  Westmeath,  in 
Irish  Lochan-na-gcor}\  signifies  the  little  lake  of  the 
cranes  ;  the  same  as  Corlough,  the  name  of  several 
lakes  and  townlands  in  different  counties.  Edenagor 
in  Donegal,  Annagor  in  Meath,  and  Monagor  in 
Monaghan,  signify  respectively  the  hill-brow,  the 
ford,  and  the  bog  of  the  cranes. 

The  corncrake.  Tradhnach  or  fraenach  means  a  corn- 
crake ;  it  is  pronounced  tryna  in  the  south  and  west, 
but  traina  elsewhere,  and  anglicised  accordingly. 
Cloonatreane  in  Fermanagh  signifies  the  meadow  of 
the  corncrakes ;  Lugatryna  in  Wicklow,  the  corn- 
crake's hollow. 

The  goose.  The  Irish  word  gedh  [gay],  a  goose, 
has  its  cognates  in  many  languages  : — Sanscr.  hansa  ; 
Grr.  chen  ;  Lat.  anser ;  0.  H.  Ger.  hans  ;  Ang-Sax. 
gos  and  gandra  ;  Eng.  goose  and  gander.  It  occui^s  in 
names  almost  always  in  the  form  gay  ;  as  in  Monagay, 
a  parish  in  Limerick,  which  is  called  in  Irish,  Moin- 
a^-ghcdh,,  the  bog  of  the  goose,  probably  from  being 
frequented  by  flocks  of  wild  geese  :  it  is  not  easy  to 
conjecture  what  gave  origin  to  the  singular  name, 


CHAP.  VII.]  Animals.  471 

Ballingayrour,  i.  e.  Baile-an-ghedh-reamhair,  the  town 
of  the  fat  goose,  which  we  meet  with  in  the  same 
county,  but  it  might  have  been  from  the  fact,  that  the 
place  was  considered  a  good  pasture  for  fattening 
geese.  Gray  island  in  Fermanagh  is  not  an  English 
name,  as  it  looks  ;  it  is  a  half  translation  from  Inis- 
na-ngedk^  i.  e.  goose  island. 

The  duck.  The  word  lacha^  gen.  Jachan,  a  duck,  is 
occasionally,  though  not  often,  found  in  names  ;  the 
townland  of  Loughloughan  in  the  parish  of  Skeny, 
Antrim,  took  its  name  from  a  little  lake  called  Loch- 
lachan,  the  lake  of  the  ducks  ;  and  this  and  Loughna- 
loughan  are  the  names  of  several  other  lakelets  and 
pools  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

In  the  west  of  Ireland,  the  word  cadhan  [coin]  is 
in  common  use  to  denote  a  barnacle  duck  ;  we  find  it 
in  Gortnagoyne,  i.  e.  GoH-na-gcadhan,  the  name  of  a 
townland  in  Gralway,  and  of  another  in  Roscommon  ; 
and  there  is  a  lake  in  the  parish  of  Burriscarra,  Mayo, 
called  Loughnagoyne — these  two  names  meaning, 
respectively,  the  field  and  the  lake  of  the  barnacle 
ducks. 

The  ciicTxOO — Irish  cuach  [coogh].  From  the  great 
number  of  places  all  over  the  country  containing  this 
word,  it  is  evident  that  the  bird  must  have  been  a 
general  favourite.  The  following  names  include  all 
the  principal  changes  in  the  word  : — Derrycoogh  in 
Tipperary  is  in  Irish  Boire-cuach,  the  oak-grove  of 
the  cuckoos ;  Cloncough  in  Queen's  county,  the 
cuckoos'  meadow.  The  word  occui's  in  the  gen.  sin- 
gular in  Cloncoohy  in  Fermanagh,  the  meadow  of 
the  cuckoo  ;  and  in  Drumnacooha  in  Longford,  the 
cuckoo's  ridge.  It  appears  in  the  gen.  plural  with  an 
eclipse  (p.  22)  in  Knocknagoogh  in  Tipperary,  and 
Boleynagoaghin  Galway,  the  hill,  and  the  dairy  place 


472  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

of  the  cuckoos.  And  it  is  still  farther  softened  down 
in  Clontycoe  in  Queen's  county,  and  Clontycoo  in 
Cavan,  the  cuckoos'  meadows  ;  and  in  Ballynacoy  in 
Antrim,  the  town  of  the  cuckoo. 

The  woodcock.  Creabhar  [crour]  means  a  wood- 
cock, and  is  in  general  easy  to  be  distinguished  in 
names,  as  it  is  usually  made  either  -crour  or  -grour, 
the  g  taking  the  place  of  c  in  the  latter,  by  eclipse 
(p.  22).  Lackanagrour  near  Bruree  in  Limerick,  is 
written  in  Irish  Leaca-na-gcrec(hhcn\  the  hill-side  of 
the  woodcocks ;  Grortnagrour  in  Limerick  ( Gort^  a 
field)  ;  Coolnagrower  in  King's  County  and  Tip- 
perary,  the  woodcocks'  corner. 

The  hlackhird.  The  Irish  word  for  a  blackbird  is 
Ion  or  loncluhh,  and  the  former  is  found,  though  not 
often,  in  names.  The  Four  Masters  mention  a  place 
in  Tyrone,  called  Coill-na-lon,  the  wood  of  the  black- 
birds ;  and  this  same  name  occurs  in  Meath  in  the 
modernized  form,  Kilnalun. 

The  thrush.  Smol  or  Smolach  [smole,  smolagh]  is 
a  thrush.  The  best  known  name  containing  the  word 
is  Gleann-na-smdl,  the  valley  of  the  thrushes,  the  scene 
of  a  celebrated  Irish  poem,  which  is  believed  to  be 
the  same  place  as  Grlenasmole,  a  fine  valley  near  Tal- 
laght,  Dublin,  where  the  river  Dodder  rises.  Near 
Liffbrd  in  Donegal,  is  a  to^Tiland  called  Griensmoil, 
which  represents  the  Irish  (T/eff^m-«'-.s?wo//,  the  thrush's 
glen. 

The  shj  lurli.  Fuiseog  [fwishoge]  is  a  lark.  It 
occurs  in  Eathnafushoge  in  Carlow,  the  fort  of  the 
larks ;  in  Knocknawhishoge  in  Sligo,  lark-hill ;  and 
in  Kilnahushoge  near  Clogher  in  Tyrone,  the  wood 
of  the  larks. 

Birds^  nests.  The  word  ncad  [nad]  signifies  a 
nest ;  in  Cormac's  Glossary  it  is  given  in  the  old  Irish 


CHAP.  VIII.]  Plants.  473 

form  net ;  Welsh,  nyth ;  Cornish,  neid ;  Breton,  neiz  ; 
Manx,  edd.  It  is  of  very  frequent  occurrence  in 
names,  generally  in  the  forms  nad,  ned,  and  nid. 
There  are  three  townlancls  in  Cavan,  Fermanagh, 
and  Deny,  called  Ned ;  Nedeen,  little  nest,  is  the 
name  of  the  spot  on  which  Kenmare  stands,  and  the 
town  itself  is  often  called  by  that  name.  There  are 
many  high  cliffs  in  mountainous  districts,  the  resorts 
9f  eagles  in  times  gone  by,  which  still  retain  the  name 
of  NadanuUer,  the  eagle's  nest,  and  they  have  in 
some  cases  given  names  to  townlands.  NadDaveagh 
in  Roscommon,  and  Nadneagh  in  King's  County, 
signify — the  first,  the  nest  of  the  ravens,  the  second, 
of  the  raven.  Athnid,  the  ford  of  the  nest,  is  a  parish 
in  Tipperary ;  Drumnid  is  a  townland  near  Mohill 
inLeitrim,  and  there  is  another  in  the  parish  of  Magh- 
eravally,  Down,  called  Drumneth,  both  meaning  the 
ridge  of  the  nests ;  Derrynaned  in  Mayo,  the  oak- 
wood  of  the  birds'  nests. 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

PLANTS. 

As  with  the  animal  world,  so  it  is  with  the  vegetable : — 
all  the  principal  native  species  of  plants  are  comme- 
morated in  local  names,  from  forest  trees  down  to  the 
smallest  shrubs  and  grasses ;  and  where  cultivation 
has  not  interfered  with  the  course  of  nature,  there  are 
still  to  be  found  many  places,  that  to  this  day  pro- 
duce in  great  abundance,  the  very  species  that  gave 
them  names  many  hundreds  of  years  ago. 

Woods,     All  our  histories,  both  native  and  Eng- 


474  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

lish,  concur  in  stating  that  Ireland  formerly  abounded 
in  woods,  which  covered  the  country  down  to  a  com- 
paratively recent  period  ;  and  this  statement  is  fully 
borne  out  by  the  vast  numbers  of  names  that  are 
formed  from  words  signifying  woods  and  trees  of 
various  kinds.  Accordiag  to  our  historians  one  of 
the  bardic  names  of  Ireland  was  Inis-na-hhfiodh- 
Mff/fZ/i  [Inish-na-veevy],  woody  island.  If  a  wood 
were  now  to  spring  up  in  every  place  bearing  a  name 
of  this  kind,  the  country  would  become  once  more 
clothed  with  an  almost  uninterrupted  succession  of 
forests. 

There  are  several  words  in  Irish  for  a  wood,  the 
principal  of  which  are  coill,  ajidfdh.  Coill  is  repre- 
sented by  various  modern  forms,  the  most  common 
being  kil  and  hyle  ;  and  as  these  also  are  the  usual 
anglicised  representatives  of  c///,  a  church,  it  is  often 
difficult,  and  not  unfrequently  impossible,  to  distin- 
guish them.  Whether  the  syllables  Ml  and  Ixyle,  mean 
church  or  wood,  we  can  ascertain  only  by  hearing  the 
names  pronounced  in  Irish — for  the  sounds  of  cill  and. 
coill  are  quite  distinct — or  by  finding  them  written  in 
some  Irish  document  of  authority. 

I  have  abeady  conjectured  (p.  302)  that  about  a 
fifth  of  the  kils  and  kills  that  begin  names  are  woods  : 
the  following  are  a  few  examples  : — Kilnamanagh,  a 
barony  in  Tipperary,  the  ancient  patrimony  of  the 
O'Dwyers,  is  called  by  the  Four  Masters,  Coill- 
na-manach,  the  wood  of  the  monks.  The  barony  of 
Kilmore  near  Charleville  in  Cork,  whose  great  forest 
was  celebrated  in  the  wars  of  Elizabeth,  is  called 
Coill-mhor,  great  wood,  in  the  Annals ;  but  the  vast 
majority  of  the  Kilmores,  of  which  there  are  about 
eighty — are  from  CiU-mor,  great  church.  O'Meyey, 
who  killed  Hugh  de  Lacy  at  Duitow,  fled,  according 


CHAP.  VIII.]  Plants.  475 

to  the  Four  Masters,  ''to  the  wood  of  Coill-an-chlair^' 
(the  wood  of  the  plain) ;  this  wood  is  gone,  but  it 
was  situated  near  Tullamore,  and  the  place  is  still 
knoY\Ti  by  the  name  of  Kilclare.  The  word  Kjde, 
which  very  often  stands  for  cill,  in  many  cases  also 
means  a  wood  ;  as  in  Kylemore  (lake) ,  great  wood, 
near  the  Twelve  Pins  in  Connemara. 

Coin  assumes  other  forms,  however,  in  which  it  is 
quite  distinguishable  from  cill ;  as  in  Bamacullia,  a 
hamlet  on  the  eastern  face  of  the  Three  Eock  moun- 
tain near  Dublin,  Barr-na-coiUe^  the  top  of  the  wood ; 
and  this  wood  is  still  in  existence  ;  Lisnacullia  in 
Limerick,  wood-fort ;  Ballynakillew,  the  town  of  the 
wood.  The  diminutive  coiUin  gives  names  to  several 
places,  now  often  called  either  in  whole  or  part,  Cul- 
leen  ;  Ardakillen  in  the  parish  of  Killukin,  Eoscom- 
mon,  is  called  by  the  Four  Masters,  Ard-a)i-choillin, 
the  height  of  the  little  wood;  and  coilltean  [kyle- 
tawn],  which  is  sometimes  applied  to  a  growth  of 
underwood,  sometimes  to  a  "little  wood,"  is  re- 
presented by  Kyletaun  near  Eathkeale  in  Limerick. 

The  plural  of  coillis  coillte  [coiltha],  which  is  often 
found  in  some  of  the  Connaught  counties  in  the  forms 
of  cuilti/,  cuiltia,  and  cultia;  as  in  Cuiltybo  in  Mayo 
and  Eoscommon,  the  woods  of  the  cows.  In  Clare 
there  are  some  places  called  Quilty,  which  is  the  same 
word ;  and  we  also  find  Keelty  and  Keelties,  as  the 
names  of  several  townlands.  But  its  most  common 
form  is  I'ilty,  except  in  Munster,  where  it  is  not  much 
used;  this  begins  the  names  of  about  forty  townlands, 
chiefly  in  the  western  and  north-western  counties, 
several,  however,  occuiTing  in  Longford;  Kilty  clogher 
and  Kiltyclogh  in  Leitrim,  Longford,  and  Tyrone, 
signify  stony  woods;  Kiltybegs  in  Longford  and 
Monaghan,  Httle  woods ;  Kiltynashinnagh  in  Leitrim, 


476  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

the  woods  of  the  shinnaghs  or  foxes.  CoiUldh  [quilly] 
is  a  derivative  of  coillm  common  use  to  signify  wood- 
land ;  it  is  found  frequently  in  the  form  of  Cully — as, 
for  example,  Cullycapple  in  Londonderry,  the  wood- 
land of  the  horses ;  and  it  is  very  often  made  Quilly, 
which  is  the  name  of  some  places  in  Derry,  Water- 
ford,  and  Down. 

Fidh  or  ^fiodh  [fih],  the  other  term  for  wood,  is 
found  in  both  the  Celtic  and  Teutonic  languages.  The 
old  Irish  form  is  /c/,  which  glosses  arbor  in  Sg.  (Zeuss, 
p.  60)  ;  and  it  corresponds  with  the  Graulish  vidu^ 
Welsh  guid,  0.  H.  Grerman  witu,  Ang.-Saxon  vudii, 
English  wood.  Its  most  usual  modern  forms  are  fee, 
fi,SLnd.feigh;  thus  Feebane,  white  wood,  near  Mo- 
naghan  ;  Feebeg  and  Feemore  (little  and  great)  near 
Borrisokane  ;  and  it  is  occasionally  made/o^,  but  this 
may  be  also  a  modern  form  oi/aithche,  a  play-green 
(see  p.  286) .  At  the  mouth  of  the  river  Fergusin  Clare, 
there  is  an  island  called  Feenish,  a  name  shortened 
from  Fidh-inis,  woody  island ;  we  find  the  same  name 
in  the  form  of  Finish  in  (jalway ;  while  it  is  made 
Finnis  in  Cork  and  Down.  The  parish  of  Feighcul- 
len  in  Kildare  is  mentioned  by  the  Four  Masters, 
who  call  it  Fiodh-Chuilbm^  Cullen's  wood  ;  and  Fid- 
down  in  Kilkenny,  they  write  Fidh-duin,  the  wood 
of  the  fortress. 

Sometimes  the  aspirated  d  in  the  end  is  restored 
(p.  42),  as  we  find  in  Fethard,  a  small  town  in  Tip- 
perary,  which  the  annalists  write  Ftodh-ard,  high 
wood  ;  there  is  also  a  village  in  Wexford  of  the  same 
name  ;  and  Feeard  in  the  parish  of  Kilballyowen  in 
Clare,  exhibits  the  same  compound,  with  the  d  aspi- 
rated. So  also  in  Kilfithmone  in  Tipperary,  the 
church  of  the  wood  of  the  bog. 

There  are  two  baronies    in  Armagh  called  Fews, 


CHAP,  Yiii.]  Plants.  477 

which  are  mentioned  in  the  Four  Masters  at  A.D. 
1452,  by  the  name  ofFeacUm  [Fa],  i.  e.  woods  ;  which 
is  modernized  by  the  adoption  of  the  English  plural 
form  (p.  32)  ;  and  Fews,  the  name  of  a  parish  in 
Waterford,  has  the  same  origin.  There  was  a  dis- 
trict in  Eoscommon,  west  of  Athlone,  which  in  the 
Annals  is  also  called  Feadha ;  but  it  is  now  commonly 
called  The  Faes  (i.  e.  the  woods)  of  Athlone. 

This  word  has  some  derivatives,  which  also  con- 
tribute to  the  formation  of  names.  Fiodhach  [feeagh] 
signifies  a  woody  place,  and  all  those  townlands  now 
called  Feagh  and  Feeagh,  which  are  found  distributed 
over  the  four  provinces,  derive  their  names  from  it. 
Fiodhnach  [Feenagh],  which  has  exactly  the  same 
meaning,  was  the  old  name  of  Fenagh  in  Leitrim 
(Four  Masters)  ;  and  though  now  bare  of  trees,  it  w^as 
wooded  so  late  as  the  seventeenth  century.  There 
are  several  other  places  called  Fenagh  and  Feenagh, 
which  have  the  same  original  name.  Feevagh  in 
Roscommon  is  called  in  Irish,  Fiodhbhach,  which  also 
signifies  a  place  covered  with  wood. 

Ros,  as  I  have  already  stated,  has  several  mean- 
ings, one  of  which  is  a  wood  ;  and  in  this  sense  we 
often  find  it  in  names,  especially  in  the  south.  There 
is  a  place  called  Rosserk  near  Killala  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Moy  in  Mayo.  It  is  called  in  Irish  Ros- 
Serce  (Scare's  wood),  and  we  learn  from  Mac  Firbis 
(Hy  Fiachrach,  p.  51)  that  "it  is  so  called  from  Scare, 
the  daughter  of  Carbery,  son  of  Awley  (see  p.  132, 
supjYi) ,  who  blessed  the  village  and  the  wood  which 
is  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Moy."  The  original 
chiu-ch  founded  by  the  virgin  saint  Searc  in  the  sixth 
century,  has  long  since  disappeared ;  but  the  place 
contains  the  ruins  of  a  beautiful  little  abbey.  Ros- 
crea  in  Tipperary  is  written  in  the  Book  of  Leinster 


478  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

HoS'Cre,  Ore's  wood.  Eoskeen,  the  name  of  several 
places,  represents  the  Irish  Ros-caein,  beautiful  wood ; 
Eossnamanniff  near  Templemore  in  Tipperarj,  the 
wood  of  the  honnives  or  young  pigs  {h  eclipsed,  see 
p.  22). 

New  Boss  in  Wexford,  notwithstanding  its  name, 
is  an  old  place ;  for  Dermot  Mao  Murrough  built  a 
city  there  in  the  twelfth  century,  the  ruins  of  which 
yet  remain.  It  is  called  in  the  Annals,  Hos-mic- 
Treoin  [Rosmictrone] ,  the  wood  of  the  son  of  Treun, 
a  man's  name  ;  the  people  still  use  this  name  cor- 
rupted to  Rosemacrone ;  and  they  think  the  town 
was  so  called  from  a  woman  named  Rose  Macrone, 
about  whom  they  tell  a  nonsensical  story.  St.  Co- 
man,  from  whom  was  named  Eoscommon  (Coman's 
wood),  founded  a  monastery  there,  and  died,  accord- 
ing to  the  Four  Masters,  in  746  or  747,  but  other 
authorities  place  him  much  earlier.  Eoss  Carbery  in 
Cork,  was  formerly  a  place  of  great  ecclesiastical 
eminence  ;  and  it  was  "  so  famous  for  the  crowds  of 
students  and  monks  flocking  to  it,  that  it  was  dis- 
tinguished by  the  name  of  Ros-ailithir^^  [allihir : 
Four  Masters] ,  the  wood  of  the  pilgrims.  Eusheen, 
a  diminutive,  and  the  plural  Eusheens,  are  the  names 
of  a  great  many  townlands  in  Munster  and  Con- 
naught  ;  the  v/ord  is  often  applied  to  a  growth  of 
small  bushy  trees  or  underwood,  as  well  as  to  a  wood 
small  in  extent. 

Fdsach  [faussagh],  a  very  expressive  word,  derived 
from/«s,  growth,  signifies  a  wilderness  or  an  un- 
cultivated place.  It  gives  names  to  some  townlands 
now  called  Fasagh  and  Fassagh  ;  the  territory  along 
the  river  Dinin  in  Kilkenny,  which  now  forms  a  ba- 
rony, is  called  Fassadinin,  the  wilderness  of  the 
Dinin  :  Fassaroe  in  Wicklow,  red  wilderness. 


CHAP.  VIII.]  Plants.  479 

Scairt  [scart],  denotes  a  cluster  of  bushes,  a  thicket, 
a  bushy  place.  In  the  form  Soart,  with  the  diminu- 
tive Scarteen,  it  gives  names  to  numerous  places,  but 
only  in  the  Munster  counties  and  Kilkenny.  Scart- 
lea,  grey  thicket,  is  the  name  of  a  village  in  Cork, 
and  of  some  townlands  in  Waterford  and  Kerry  ; 
Scartaglin  near  Castleisland,  the  thicket  of  the  glen  ; 
Ballinascarty  in  the  parish  of  Kilmaloda,  Cork,  the 
town  of  the  thicket. 

Muine  [munny],  a  brake  or  shrubbery.  It  occurs 
frequently  in  names,  generally  in  the  form  of  money, 
which  constitutes  or  begins  about  170  townland 
names  through  the  four  provinces.  The  word  is  also 
sometimes  applied  to  a  hill,  so  that  its  signification 
is  occasionally  doubtful ;  this  last  appears  to  be  its 
proper  sense  in  the  name  of  Monaghan,  which  is 
called  in  Irish  Miiineac/idii,  (Four  Mast.),  a  place  full 
of  little  hills.  There  are  three  townlands  in  Down 
called  Moneydorragh,  i.  e.  Muhie-dorcha,  dark  shrub- 
bery ;  Ballymoney,  the  town  of  the  shrubbery,  is  the 
name  of  many  places  through  the  country  ;  Maghe- 
raculmoney  in  Fermanagh,  the  plain  of  the  back  of 
the  shrubbery ;  Monivea  in  (ralway  is  called  in 
Irish  authorities  Muine-an-mheadha.,  [Money-an-va  : 
Four  Mast.],  the  shrubbery  of  the  mead,  very  pro- 
bably because  the  drink  was  brewed  there. 

The  compound  Liathmkuine  [Leewinny],  grey 
shrubbery,  is  often  used  to  form  names,  and  is  va- 
riously modified ;  such  as  we  see  in  Leafi'ony  in 
Sligo,  Leafin  in  Meath,  Liafin  and  Lefinn  in 
Donegal,  and  Leighmoney  in  Cork ;  Cloghleafin 
near  Mitchelstown  in  Cork,  the  castle  of  the  grey 
thicket. 

Gaertha  [gairha],  is  used  in  the  south  to  denote  a 
woodland  along  a  river,  overgrown  with. small  trees, 


480  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

bushes,  or  underwood  ;  it  is  almost  confined  to  Cork 
and  Kerry,  and  generally  appears  in  the  forms  of 
Grearha  and  G-earagh ;  and  occasionally  Geeragh 
and  G-airha.  There  is  a  well-known  place  of  this 
kind  near  Macroom,  where  a  dense  growth  of  under- 
wood extends  for  thi^ee  or  four  miles  along  the  Lee, 
and  it  is  universally  known  by  the  name  of  Grearha, 
Tourists  who  have  seen  Coomiduff  near  Killamey, 
will  remember  the  Grearhameen  river,  which  flows 
through  it  into  the  upper  lake  of  Killarney ;  the 
postfix  meen^  Irish  m'ln,  signifies  literally,  smooth, 
fine,  or  small,  indicating  that  this  gearha  was  com- 
posed of  a  growth  of  small  delicate  bushes.  There 
is  aiso  a  (xearhameen  west  of  Bantry  in  Cork. 

Garrdn  is  a  shrubbery.  There  are  a  great  many 
places  in  Munster  and  Connaught  called  Grarran, 
Grarrane,  and  Gra^rraun,  all  derived  from  this  word. 
It  is  also  found  in  Leinster,  but  not  often,  except  in 
Kilkenny  ;  and  it  occm\s  half-a-dozen  times  in  Mon- 
aghan,  but  I  have  not  found  it  elsewhere  in  Ulster. 
G-arranamanagh,  the  name  of  a  parish  in  Kilkenny, 
signifies  the  shrubbery  of  the  monks ;  and  there  is 
another  parish  in  Cork  called  G-arranekinnefeake,  the 
shrubbery  of  Kinnefeake,  a  family  name.  Ballin- 
garrane,  Ballygarran,  Ballygarrane,  and  Ballygar- 
raun,  all  townland  names,  signify  the  town  of  the 
shrubbery. 

A  tree.  The  common  word  for  a  tree  is  crann^  and 
it  has  retained  this  form  unchanged  from  the  earliest 
ages,  for  crann  occurs  in  the  Zeuss  MSS.  as  a  gloss 
on  arbor  :  Welsh  j^ren ;  Armoric  prenn.  This  word 
forms  part  of  the  names  of  many  j^laces,  in  every  one 
of  which  there  must  have  once  stood  a  remarkable 
tree,  and  for  a  time  sufficiently  long  to  impress  the 
name. 


CHAP.  Yiii.]  Plants.  481 

In  the  nominative,  it  generally  takes  the  forms 
Crann  and  Cran,  which  are  the  names  of  townlands 
in  Armagh,  Cavan,  and  Fermanagh  ;  and  constitute 
the  beginning  of  many  names,  such  as  Crandaniel 
in  Waterford,  Daniel's  tree  ;  Crancam  in  Roscom- 
mon and  Longford,  crooked  tree ;  Cranlome in  Tyrone, 
bare  tree  ;  Cranacrower  in  Wexford,  the  woodcocks' 
tree. 

The  genitive  case,  crainn,  is  usually  pronounced 
crin  or  creen,  and  the  form  is  modified  accordingly 
when  it  occui's  as  a  termination  :  Crossmacrin  in 
Gralway  is  written  in  Irish,  Cross-maighe-crainn,  the 
cross  of  the  plain  of  the  tree  ;  Drominacreen  in  Lime- 
rick, the  little  hill  of  the  tree  ;  Corcrain  in  Armagh 
iCo}\  a  round  hill) ;  and  Carrowcrin,  the  name  of 
several  places,  the  quarter-land  of  the  tree.  "With 
the  c  eclipsed,  the  termination  is  usually  -nagran^  as 
in  Ballynagran,  a  common  to^mland  name,  Baile^ 
jm-gcrann,  the  town  of  the  trees.  The  adjective  cran- 
nach  signifies  arboreous — a  place  full  of  trees  ;  and 
from  this  a  great  many  townlands  and  rivers,  now 
called  Crannagh,  have  received  their  names. 

Bile  [billa]  signifies  a  large  tree  ;  it  seems  connect- 
ed with  Sanscr.  hala^  a  leaf,  the  more  so  as  hileog,  the 
diminutive  of  the  Irish  word,  also  denotes  a  leaf.  Bile 
was  generally  applied  to  a  large  tree,  which,  for  any 
reason,  was  held  in  veneration  by  the  people  ;  for  in- 
stance one  under  which  their  chiefs  used  to  be  inau- 
gurated, or  periodical  games  celebrated. 

Trees  of  this  kind  were  regarded  with  intense 
reverence  and  affection  ;  one  of  the  greatest  triumphs 
that  a  tribe  could  achieve  over  their  enemies,  was  to 
cut  down  their  inaugui-ation  tree,  and  no  outrage  was 
more  keenly  resented,  or  when  possible,  visited  with 
2t 


482  Phydcal  Features.  [part  iv. 

sharper  retribution.  Our  Annals  often  record  their 
destruction  as  events  of  importance  ;  at  981  for  ex- 
ample, we  read  in  the  Four  Masters,  that  the  bile  of 
Magh-adhar  [Mah-ire]  in  Clare— the  great  tree  under 
which  the  O'Briens  were  inaugurated — was  rooted 
out  of  the  earth  and  cut  up,  by  Malachy,  king  of  Ire- 
land; and  at  1111,  that  the  IJlidians  led  an  army  to 
TuUaghoge,  the  inauguration  place  of  the  O'Neills, 
and  cut  down  the  old  trees  ;  for  which  Niall  O'Lough- 
lin  afterwards  exacted  a  retribution  of  3000  cows. 

These  trees  were  pretty  common  in  past  times  ; 
some  of  them  remain  to  this  day,  and  are  often  called 
Bell  trees,  or  Bellow  trees,  an  echo  of  the  old  word 
hile.  In  most  cases,  however,  they  have  long  since 
disappeared,  but  their  names  remain  on  many  places 
to  attest  their  former  existence.  The  word  hile 
would  be  correctly  anglicised  hilla,  as  we  find  it  in 
Lisnabilla  in  Antrim,  the  fort  of  the  ancient  tree. 

As  a  termination  it  assumes  several  forms  ;  and  it 
is  in  some  places  used  in  the  masculine,  and  in  others 
in  the  feminine  (see  p.  501).  It  is  very  often  made 
-villa,  in  which  case  it  is  likely  to  be  mistaken  for  the 
English  word  inlla.  The  well-known  song  "  Lovely 
Kate  of  Grarnavilla,"  will  be  in  the  recollection  of 
many  people ;  the  home  of  the  celebrated  beauty 
lies  near  the  town  of  Caher  in  Tipperary,  and  its 
Irish  name  is  Garran-ci'-hhile,  the  shrubbery  of  the 
ancient  tree.  Grortavella  and  Grortavilly  are  the 
names  of  two  townlands  in  Cork  and  Tyrone  ( Gort, 
a  field)  ;  Knockavilla  in  several  counties  (hioeh, 
a  hill)  ;  and  there  are  many  places  called  Agha- 
villa,  Aghaville,  and  Aghavilly,  the  field  (aehaclh) 
of  the  old  tree.  At  Rathvilly  in  Carlow,  one  of 
these  trees  must  have,  at  some  former  time,  fiourished 


CHAP.  VIII.]  Plants.  483 

on  or  near  an  ancient  fort,  for  it  is  written  by  the 
annalists  Rath-hile ;  and  in  the  King's  County,  there 
is  a  place  of  the  same  name,  but  spelled  Bath  villa. 

In  some  parts  of  Ireland,  especially  in  the  south, 
the  word  is  pronounced  hella^  as  if  spelled  heile^  and 
this  form  is  perpetuated  in  the  names  of  many  places  ; 
for  instance  Bellia,  a  village  in  Clare,  and  Belle w  in 
Meath  ;  Ballinvella  in  Waterford,  the  town  of  the 
old  tree,  the  same  as  Ballinvilla,  the  name  of  places 
in  various  counties.  Near  the  entrance  to  Cork  har- 
bour there  is  a  small  peninsula  called  Eingabella,  the 
rinn  or  point  of  the  ancient  tree,  which  has  given 
name  to  the  little  bay  near  it.  The  word  is  cor- 
rupted in  the  name  of  the  parish  of  Emlygrennan, 
east  of  Kilmallock  in  Limerick,  which  ought  to  have 
been  called  Billagrennan  ;  for  the  Irish  name  is  Bile- 
Ghroidhnin,  Grrynan's  or  Grrennan's  ancient  tree. 

Craebh  [crave]  signifies  either  a  branch  or  a  large 
wide-spreading  tree.  This  name,  like  hile^  was  given 
to  large  trees,  under  whose  shadow  games  or  religious 
rites  were  celebrated,  or  chiefs  inaugurated ;  and  we 
may  conclude  that  one  of  these  trees  formerly  grew 
wherever  we  find  the  word  perpetuated  in  a  name. 
Creeve,  the  most  usual  modern  form,  is  the  name  of 
a»great  many  places.  There  is  a  ^^arish  in  Limerick 
called  Crecora,  an  uncommonly  pretty  name  when 
restored  to  its  original  form  : — O'Heeren  calls  it 
Craehh-cumhraidhe  [crave-coory],  which  signifies  the 
sweet-scented  branchy  tree. 

In  several  cases,  the  hh  is  represented  by  ?r,  chang- 
ing the  word  to  Crew,  which  is  the  name  of  ten  or 
twelve  places  in  the  northern  counties.  Crewhill  in 
Kildare,  is  merely  the  phonetic  representation  of 
Craehh-choiU,  branchy  wood,  or  a  wood  of  branchy 
trees;  Loughcrew,  a  small  lake  in  Meath,  giving 
2x2 


484  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

name  to  a  parish,  is  called  in  Irish,  Loch-craeihhe,  the 
lake  of  the  branchy  tree  ;  and  the  village  of  Mnlla- 
crew  in  Louth  is  MuIIach-craeihhe,  the  hill  of  the  tree. 
There  are  more  than  thu^ty  townlands  called  Creev- 
agh,  i.  e.  "branchy  or  bushy  land ;  and  Creevy, 
which  is  a  modification  of  the  same  word,  is  the 
name  of  about  twenty  others :  in  Monaghan  and 
Tyrone  we  find  some  places  called  Derrycreevy, 
which  signifies  branchy  dcrry  or  oak  wood.  Near 
the  town  of  Antrim,  is  a  townland  called  Creevery, 
and  another  in  Donegal  called  Creevary;  both  of 
which  are  from  the  Irish  Craehhaire,  a  branchy 
place. 

The  oak.  We  know  as  a  historical  fact,  that  this 
country  formerly  abounded  in  forests  of  oak,  and 
that  for  many  ages  the  timber  continued  to  be  ex- 
ported to  England  ;  it  appears  to  have  been  the 
most  plentiful  of  all  Irish  trees,  and  we  find  it  com- 
memorated in  local  names  to  a  greater  extent  than 
any  other  vegetable  production. 

Dair  [dar],  the  common  Irish  word  for  oak,  is 
found  in  many  of  the  Indo-E-uropean  languages  ;  the 
Sansc.  dru  is  a  tree  in  general,  which  is  probably  the 
primary  meaning,  whence  it  came  to  signify  "  oak," 
which  is  the  meaning  of  the  Ghreek  drus ;  Welsh  da§ ; 
and  Armoric  dero. 

The  old  Irish  form  of  the  word,  as  found  in  the 
Zeuss  MSS.,  is  daur,  and  this  is  preserved  nearly  in 
its  pmity  in  the  name  of  the  Daar,  a  little  river  flow- 
ing by  Newcastle  in  Limerick,  which  the  people  call 
Abhainn-na-ddrach,  the  river  of  the  oak.  There  is  a 
place  near  Foynes  in  the  Shannon,  called  Dui-nish  ; 
Dernish  is  the  name  of  three  islands  in  Clare,  Fer- 
managh, and  Sligo ;  and  we  have  also  Derinch  and 
Derinish ;    all  of  which  are  from  Dair-inis,  as  we 


CHAP.  Yiii.]  Plants.  485 

find  it  wiitten  in  "Wars  of  GrGr.,"  signifying  oak 
island. 

The  genitive  of  dair  is  da  rack  or  dara,  which  is 
very  common  in  the  end  of  names,  in  the  forms  of 
-darragh,  -darra,  and  -dare.  Adare  in  Limerick  is 
always  called  in  Irish  documents,  Ath-dam,  the  ford 
of  the  oak  tree,  a  name  which  shows  that  a  great  oak 
must  have  for  many  generations  shaded  the  ford 
which  in  ancient  times  crossed  the  Maigue.  There 
is  a  place  of  the  same  Irish  name  near  Dromore  in 
Tyrone,  but  now  called  Aghadarragh  ;  and  we  have 
Clondarragh  in  Wexford,  the  meadow  of  the  oak : 
Lisnadarragh,  the  fort  of  the  oak.  Barach,  an  ad- 
jective formation,  signifies  a  place  full  of  oaks  ;  the 
ancient  form  is  dau ranch,  which  in  the  Zeuss  MSS., 
glosses  quercefam,  i.  e.  an  oak  grove.  It  gives  name 
to  Darragh,  a  parish  in  the  south-east  of  Limerick, 
where  oaks  still  grow ;  and  there  are  places  of  the 
same  name  in  Down  and  Clare. 

Boire  or  daire  [derry]  is  an  oak  wood,  and  is 
almost  always  represented  in  anglicised  names  by 
derry  or  derri.  Derrylahan,  a  very  usual  name,  sig- 
nifies broad  oak-wood  ;  the  wood  still  remains  on  the 
side  of  a  hill  at  Grlendalough  in  Wicklow,  that  gave 
it  the  name  of  Derrybawn  (ban,  whitish),  and  this  is 
also  the  name  of  other  places ;  Derrykeighan,  a 
parish  in  Antrim,  is  called  in  Irish,  Doire-Chaeckain 
(Four  Mast.) ,  Caechan's  or  Keeghan's  grove.  When 
doire  is  joined  with  the  gen.  masc.  of  the  article,  it 
becomes  in  English  derrin,  which  begins  many  names. 
Thus  Derrinlaur,  a  townland  in  which  are  the  ruins 
of  a  castle,  in  Waterford,  not  far  from  Clonmel,  is 
mentioned  by  the  Four  Masters,  who  write  the  name 
Doire-an-lair,  middle  derry.  And  sometimes  it  is 
contracted  to  der,  as  in  Dernagree  in  Cork,  the  same 


486  Physiccd  Features.  [part  iv. 

as  Derrynagree  in  other  places,  the  wood  of  the  cat- 
tle ;  Deri\acld  in  Westmeath,  and  Derrada  in  the 
Connaught  counties,  which  are  the  same  as  DeiTjadd 
in  the  middle  and  north  of  Ireland,  Derrjadda  in 
Mayo,  and  Derrj^fadda  in  the  south  and  west — all 
from  Doire-fhada,  long  oak-wood,  the/being  aspirated 
and  omitted  in  some  (see  p.  20). 

The  most  ancient  name  of  Londonderry,  according 
to  all  our  authorities,  was  Daire-Calgaich  [Derry- 
Calgagh]  ;  Adamnan,  in  one  place,  uses  this  name, 
and  elsewhere  he  translates  it  Rohoretum-Calgachi, 
the  oak  w^ood  of  Calgach.  Calgach  was  a  man's  name 
common  among  the  ancient  Irish,  signifying  "  fierce 
warrior;"  and  in  the  Latinized  form  of  Gfalgacus, 
readers  of  Tacitus  will  recognise  it,  as  the  name  of 
the  hero  who  led  the  Caledonians  at  the  battle  of  the 
Grrampians. 

Daire  Calgaich  was  the  old  pagan  name  used  for 
ages  before  St.  Columba  erected  his  monastery  there 
in  546  ;  it  was  retained  till  the  tenth  or  eleventh  cen- 
tury, when  the  name  Derry-Columkille  began  to  pre- 
vail, in  memory  of  its  great  patron,  and  continued 
doTvn  till  the  time  of  James  L,  whose  charter,  granted 
to  a  company  of  London  merchants,  imposed  the 
name  ^^ Londonderry.'^ 

We  have  several  interesting  notices  of  the  deny, 
or  oak  wood,  that  gave  name  to  this  place  ;  we  find 
it  in  existence  more  than  600  years  after  the  time  of 
St.  Columba;  for  the  Four  Masters,  at  1178,  record: — 
"A  violent  Avind- storm  occuiTed  this  year ;  it  caused 
a  great  destruction  of  trees.  It  j)rostrated  oaks.  It 
prostrated  one  hundred  and  twenty  trees  in  Derry- 
Columkille." 

The  word  doire  is  one  of  the  most  prolific  roots  in 
Irish  names  ;  and  if  we  recollect  that  wherever  it  oc- 


CHAP.  VIII.]  Plants.  487 

curs  an  oak  wood  once  flourished,  we  shall  have  a 
good  idea  of  the  great  abundance  of  this  tree  in  past 
ages.  Over  1300  names  begin  with  the  word  in  its 
various  forms,  and  there  are  innumerable  places 
whose  names  contain  it  as  a  termination.  Derreen, 
little  oak  wood,  is  also  of  very  frequent  occurrence, 
chiefly  in  Munster  and  Connaught,  and  occasionally 
in  Leinster  and  Ulster  ;  Derreenataggart  in  Cork,  the 
little  oak  grove  of  the  sagart  or  priest.  We  have  at 
least  one  example  of  the  diminutive  in  «;?,  in  Derrane 
in  Roscommon,  which  is  mentioned  by  the  Four 
Masters  under  the  name  of  Doiredn. 

There  is  yet  another  derivative  of  dair  in  pretty 
common  use,  namely  dairbhre,  which  is  now  univer- 
sally pronounced  darrery^  the  aspu"ated  h  being  wholly 
sunk.  According  to  O'Reilly,  it  sometimes  means 
an  oak  ;  but  it  is  generally  used  to  signify  an  oak  forest 
or  a  place  abounding  in  oaks.  Yalentia  island  is  well 
known  in  our  ancient  literature  by  the  name  of  Bair- 
hhre,  as  the  principality  of  the  great  di^uid,  Mogh- 
Ruith,  who  played  so  important  a  part  at  the  siege 
of  Knocklong  (see  p.  97).  The  island  is  now  always 
called  Darrery  in  Irish,  by  the  people  of  Munster — 
a  conclusive  proof  that  the  word  darrery  in  the  mo- 
dem language,  is  identical  with  the  ancient  dair- 
hhre. 

There  are  two  townlands  in  Galway,  one  in  Cork, 
and  one  in  Limerick  called  Darrery ;  we  find  Darra- 
ragh  in  Mayo,  and  Darrary  in  Cork  and  Oalway ; 
Dorrery  occm-s  near  Carrick- on- Shannon ;  and  this 
same  form  is  preserved  in  Kildorrery,  the  church  of 
the  oaks,  a  village  in  the  north  of  the  county  Cork, 
where  the  ruins  of  an  old  church  are  still  to  be  seen. 
We  have  one  notable  example  of  the  preservation  of 
the  full  ancient  pronunciation  in  Lough  Derravara  in 


488  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

"Westmeath,  whose  Irish  name,  as  used  in  the  Annals 
is  Loch  Dairhhreach,  the  lake  of  the  oaks. 

Rail  or  rdl  [rawl]  is  another  term  for  an  oak,  which 
we  find  used  in  the  best  authorities ;  and  it  often  oc- 
curs in  names,  but  nearly  always  in  the  genitive  form, 
rdlach  [rawlagh].  Drumralla  near  Newtown  Butler 
in  Fermanagh  is  written  by  the  Four  Masters,  Draim- 
rdlach,  the  ridge  of  the  oak.  There  is  a  place  in 
Queen's  County  called  Ballinrally,  the  town  of  the 
oak;  another  near  Athlone,  called  Cloonrollagh 
(meadow)  ;  and  a  third  in  Cork,  called  Ardraly 
(height).  Ealaghan,  the  name  of  some  townlands  in 
Cavan  and  Monaghan  ;  and  Eallagh  near  Banagher 
in  Derry,  both  signify  a  place  of  oaks. 

There  is  yet  another  word  for  an  oak,  namely  omna; 
it  occurs  in  Cormac's  Glossary  and  in  the  Book  of 
Armagh,  but  it  is  less  used  in  names  than  the  others ; 
and  as  it  is  not  liable  to  corruption,  it  is  plainly  dis- 
cernible when  it  occurs.  It  forms  part  of  the  name 
of  Portumna,  a  little  town  on  the  (jralwaj^  side  of  the 
Shannon,  which  the  Four  Masters  write  Port-omna, 
the  port  or  landing  place  of  the  oak  ;  and  it  is  also 
seen  in  (jortnahomna  nea.r  Castlemartyr  in  Cork,  the 
field  of  the  oak. 

The  ash.  In  the  south  and  west  of  Ireland  there 
are  three  names  for  the  common  ash — all  modifica- 
tions of  the  same  original,  viz.  '.—fuinnse^fuinnseann, 
and  fuiitiiseog  [funsha,  funshan,  funshoge]  ;  the  last, 
which  is  the  most  modern,  is  almost  universally  used, 
and  the  others  are  nearly  forgotten.  In  the  north 
the /is  omitted  (see  p.  27),  and  the  word  always  em- 
ployed is  uinnseann  [unshan]. 

The  name  of  the  river  Funcheon  in  Cork,  the  ash- 
producing  river — preserves  one  of  the  old  forms ;  and 
we  find  it  also  in  Funshin  and  Funshinagh,  the  names 


CHAP.  VIII.]  Plants.  489 

of  several  places  in  Connauglit ;  while  the  northern 
form  appears  in  Unshinagh  and  Inshinagh,  which 
are  common  townland  names  : — all  these  mean  land 
abounding  in  ash  trees.  Funchoge,  which  has  the 
same  signification,  occurs  in  Wexford,  and  we  find 
this  form  as  far  north  as  Louth ;  while  without  the  f\ 
it  becomes  Unshog  in  the  parish  of  Tynan,  Armagh, 
and  Hinchoge  near  Eaheny  in  Dublin. 

The  birch.  Beifh  [beh],  the  birch  tree  ;  cognate  with 
the  first  syllable  of  the  Latin  hefula^  which  is  a  diminu- 
tive. Grreat  numbers  of  places  have  received  their 
names  from  this  tree  ;  and  some  of  the  most  common 
derivatives  are  Beagh,  Behagh,  Bahah,  Behy,  and 
Beaghy ;  which  are  all  modifications  oi  Beifhcach  and 
Beithigh,  birch  land,  and  are  found  in  every  part  of 
Ireland.  We  find  several  other  place*  called  Behanagh, 
Beheenagh,  and  Behernagh — all  meaning  a  place 
abounding  in  birch.  The  village  of  Kilbeheny  in 
Tipperary,  near  Mitchelstown,  is  called  in  the  Four 
Masters,  Coill-heithne,  birch-wood ;  and  this  inter- 
pretation is  corroborated  by  the  fact,  that  the  place 
is  situated  at  the  point  where  the  little  river  Beh- 
anagh (birch-producing  river)  joins  the  Funcheon. 

In  the  end  of  names,  the  word  takes  various  forms, 
the  most  common  of  which  is  behy ;  as  we  fimd  in 
Ballaghbehy  in  Limerick,  and  Ballaghnabehy  in  Lei- 
trim,  the  birchy  road.  Other  forms  are  seen  in  the 
following  : — the  Irish  name  of  Ballybay  in  Mona- 
ghan,  is  BeUatha-beiihe  [Bellabehy],  the  ford-mouth 
of  the  birch  ;  and  they  still  show  the  ford,  on  which  a 
few  birches  grow,  or  grew  until  recently,  that  gave 
name  to  the  town.  Aghavea  in  Fermanagh  is  always 
called  in  the  Annals,  Achadh-beifhe  (Four  Masters), 
birch-field,  the  same  name  as  Aghaveagh  in  Donegal 
and  Tyrone.  Coolavehy  near  Bally  organ  in  Limerick, 


'iOO  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

the  corner  of  the  birch  ;  Kilbaha  in  Kerry  and  Clare, 
birch  wood. 

The  elm.  This  tree  is  denoted  by  leamh  [lav], 
which  has  relatives  in  several  other  languages,  such 
as  Latin  ulmtis,  Ang.-Sax.  elhn,,  Eng.  elm,  &c.  The 
simple  Irish  form  is  hardly  ever  heard  in  the  present 
spoken  language,  the  diminutive  Icamhan  [lavaun] 
being  used  in  the  south,  and  sleamhan  [slavan]  in  the 
north.  These  words  enter  largely  into  names,  and 
are  subject  to  some  curious  transformations  ;  but  the 
most  general  recognisable  forms  are  levan,  lee  van,  and 
levaun,  which  are  generally  termiaations,  and  signify 
abounding  in  elms. 

In  the  parish  of  Inishmacsaint  in  Fermanagh,  there 
is  a  place  called  Grlenlevan,  elm  glen  ;  Ballylevin,  the 
town  of  elms,  in  JCing's  County  and  Donegal ;  Lis- 
levane,  elm  fort,  in  the  parish  of  Abbey  mahon,  Cork  ; 
Drumleevan  in  Leitrim,  and  Drumalivaun  near 
Tarbert  in  Kerry,  elm  ridge.  The  form  with  an 
initial  s  is  often  found  in  the  northern  counties  ;  as 
in  Carrickslavan  in  Leitrim,  the  rock  of  the  elms ; 
MuUantlavan  in  the  parish  of  Magheracloone,  Mona- 
ghan,  elm  hill,  the  6-  being  eclipsed — MuT -an-tsleamh- 
aiii  (see  j).  22). 

The  river  Laune,  flowing  from  the  lower  lake  of 
Killarney,  is  called  Leamhain  in  the  Irish  annals,  i.  e. 
the  elm  river  ;  and  this  is  its  Irish  name  at  the  pre- 
sent day,  for  the  nasal  sound  of  the  aspirated  m 
is  distinctly  heard  in  the  pronunciation.  Leamhain 
[Lavin]  is  also  the  original  name  of  the  river  Leven 
in  Scotland,  for  so  we  find  it  wiitten  in  Irish  docu- 
ments, such  as  the  Irish  version  of  Nennius,  &c.  ;  and 
the  river  has  given  name  to  the  territory  of  Lennox, 
which  is  merely  a  modern  corruption  of  its  old  name 
Leamhna  (Eeeves'  Adamnan,  p.  379). 


CHAP.  VIII.]  Plants.  491 

As  a  termination,  the  simple  form  leamh  is  seen  in 
Drumlamph,  elm  ridge,  near  Maghera  in  DeiTy. 
There  is  a  derivative  term,  leamhraidhe  [lavree], 
signifying  elm  land,  which  is  anglicised  Lowery  in 
Fermanagh,  and  which  also  gives  name  to  Mnllana- 
lamphry,  a  townland  near  Donegal  town,  the  little 
hill  of  the  elms.  Lavagh,  the  English  form  oi  Leamh' 
ach,  a  place  of  elms,  is  the  name  of  some  townlands 
in  the  midland  and  western  counties.  The  oblique 
form  Leamliaidh  (see  p.  33),  is  very  correctly  angli- 
cised Lavey,  the  name  of  a  parish  in  Cavan  ;  and  with 
the  aspirated  m  restored  (see  p.  42),  we  see  the  same 
word  in  Lammy,  the  name  of  some  townlands  in 
Tyrone  and  Fermanagh. 

An  elm  wood  was  called  LeamhcJwill  [lavrs^hill], 
and  this  compound,  subject  to  various  alterations, 
exists  at  the  present  day,  showing  where  these  woods 
formerly  flourished.  The  usual  anglicised  forms  are 
Laughil,  Laghil,  Laghile,  Loghill,  and  Loughill — 
the  names  of  many  places  in  the  middle,  south,  and 
west  of  Ireland  ;  Cloonlaughil  in  Leitrim  and  Sligo, 
the  meadow  of  the  elm  wood.  But  the  most  curious 
transformation  is  Longfield  (for  which  see  p.  39) ;  in 
Tyrone,  near  Lough  Neagh,  occm-s  a  kind  of  meta- 
morphic  form  in  Magheralamfield,  the  plain  of  the 
elm  wood. 

The  yew.  Of  all  European  trees,  the  yew  is  be- 
lieved to  attain  the  greatest  age ;  there  are  several 
individual  yews  in  England  which  are  imdoubtedly 
as  old  as  the  Christian  era,  and  some  are  believed  to 
be  much  older.  We  have  some  very  old  yews  in 
Ireland  also  ;  one,  for  instance,  at  Clontarf,  has  pro- 
bably reached  the  age  of  six  or  seven  hundred  years  ; 
and  at  the  ruined  castle  of  Aughnanin-e  (field  of  the 
yews)  near  Oughterard  in  G-alway,  there  is  yet  to  be 


492  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

seen  one  venerable  solitary  yew,  the  sole  survivor  of 
those  that  gave  name  to  the  place,  which  cannot  be 
less  than  1000  years  old. 

We  have  two  words  for  the  yew  tree,  e\ddently  of 
the  same  origin,  and  both  very  common  in  names, 
viz.  eo  [6  or  yo]  and  iuhhar  [oor  or  yure].  E6  is 
common  to  the  Celtic,  Teutonic,  and  Classical  lan- 
guages : — Low  Lat.  iV^^s,  Fr.  ?/,  Welsh  ?/^r,  Arm.  itin  ; 
Ang-Sax.  ii\  Eng.  yew.  "  As  the  yew  is  distin- 
guished by  its  remarkable  longe^dty,  one  may  con- 
jecture a  connexion  of  the  0.  H.  Grerman  iwa  with 
eiva  eternity,  Grr.  aion,  Lat.  (eviim,  Groth.  aM^  [Eng. 
age  and  everl  (Pictet,  "Origines").  Cormac  mac 
Cullenan  made  the  same  observation  a  thousand  years 
ago  in  his  Glossary,  when  he  derived  iuhhar  from  eo, 
ever,  and  han%  top,  ''  because  it  never  loses  its  top  ; 
i.  e.  it  is  ever-green." 

In  the  seventh  century,  St.  Colman,  an  Irish  monk, 
having  retired  from  the  see  of  Lindisfarne,  returned 
to  his  native  country,  and  erected  a  monastery  at  a 
place  called  Magh-eo  or  Mageo  (Bede),  the  plain  of 
the  yews,  in  which  he  settled  a  number  of  English 
monks  whom  he  had  brought  over  with  him.  For 
many  ages  afterwards,  this  monastery  was  constantly 
resorted  to  by  monks  from  Britain,  and  hence  it  is 
generally  called  in  the  Annals  Magheo-na-SaxaUy 
i.  e.  Mayo  of  the  Saxons.  The  ruins  of  the  old  abbey 
still  remain  at  the  village ;  and  from  this  place  the 
county  Mayo  derives  its  name.  Mayo  is  also  the 
name  of  several  other  places,  and  in  all  cases,  it  has 
the  same  signification.  There  is  a  parish  in  Clare, 
taking  its  name  from  an  old  chui^ch,  called  in  the 
Annals  Magh-neo,  now  Moyno,  which  is  the  same 
name  as  Mayo,  only  with  the  addition  of  the  n  of  the 
old  genitive  plural.     The  word  eo  is  very  often  re- 


CHAP.  VIII.]  Plants.  493 

presented  by  o  or  oe  as  a  termination,  as  in  Killoe  in 
Longford,  Cill-ed  (O'CL  Cal.),  the  church  of  the 
yews  :  Grleno  and  Glanoe,  yew  glen. 

The  compound  ^0(?Aff?7/[oliill] ,  signifying  yew  wood, 
in  various  modern  forms  gives  name  to  a  great  many 
places.  The  best  known  is  Youghal  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Blackwater  (JEochaiU ;  Four  Mast.),  which  was 
so  called  from  an  ancient  yew  wood  that  grew  on  the 
hill  slope  where  the  town  now  stands ;  and  even  yet 
some  of  the  old  yews  remain  there.  The  term  is 
more  common,  however,  in  the  form  Oghill,  which  is 
the  name  of  about  twenty  townlands  in  various  coun- 
ties. It  occurs  in  Tipperary  as  Aughall,  and  in 
Deny  as  Aughil ;  the  plural  forms  Oghilly,  Oghly, 
and  Aghilly  (yew  woods),  are  found  in  Galway  and 
Donegal ;  and  the  English  plural  Aughils  and  Agh- 
ills  in  Kerry  and  Cork.  Donohill  in  Tipperary,  the 
fortress  of  the  yew  wood  ;  the  parish  of  Cloonoghill  in 
Sligo  is  called  in  "Hy  Fiachrach"  CJuain-eochaille, 
the  meadow  of  the  yew  wood  ;  and  there  is  another 
place  of  the  same  name  in  Roscommon,  while  the 
form  Clonoghill  is  found  in  King's  and  Queen's 
County. 

The  other  term,  iubhar,  is  the  word  now  used  in 
the  spoken  language,  and  it  is  still  more  common  in 
local  nomenclature  than  eo.  As  a  termination  it 
occurs  in  the  form  of  -itre,  or  with  the  article,  -nure, 
in  great  numbers  of  names  all  over  the  country. 
Terenure  is  a  place  near  Dublin,  whose  name  signi- 
fies the  land  of  the  yew ;  Ballynure  and  Ballinure, 
the  name  of  a  great  many  places,  yew-town ;  Aha- 
nure,  the  ford  of  the  yew.  In  the  parish  of  Killelagh, 
Londonderry,  there  is  a  townland  called  Gfortinure, 
which  the  Four  Masters  call  Gort-an-iubhair,  the 
field  of  the  yew  ;  and  this  is  als^o  the  name  of  several 


494  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

other  townlands.  There  are  raany  old  churches 
giving  names  to  townlands  and  parishes,  called 
Killure  and  Killannre,  the  church  of  the  yew,  no 
doubt  from  the  common  practice  of  planting  yew 
trees  near  churches.  The  townland  and  parish  of 
Uregare  in  Limerick,  must  have  received  the  name 
from  some  remarkable  yew  tree,  for  the  name  is 
Tuhhar-ghearr,  short  yew. 

Newry  in  Down,  was  anciently  called  luhhar-cinn- 
tragha  [Yure-kintraw],  the  yew  tree  at  the  head  of 
the  strand,  of  which  the  oldest  form  is  found  in  the 
Leabhar  na  hUidhre,  viz.,  Ihur-cind-trachfa.  It  ap- 
pears by  a  curious  entry  in  the  Four  Masters  to  have 
derived  its  name  from  a  tree  planted  by  St.  Patrick, 
and  which  continued  to  flourish  for  700  years  after 
him  : — "A.  D.  1162.  The  monastery  of  the  monks  at 
lubhar-cinn-tragha  was  burned,  with  all  its  furniture 
and  books,  and  also  the  yew  which  St.  Patrick  him- 
self had  planted."  The  tree  must  have  been  situated 
near  the  highest  point  to  which  the  tide  rises,  for  this 
is  what  the  word  ceann  tragha,  strand-head,  denotes. 
In  after  ages,  the  full  name  was  shortened  to  Iuhha)% 
which,  by  prefixing  the  article  (p.  23),  and  making 
some  other  alterations,  was  reduced  to  the  present 
name. 

We  have  also  other  places  called  Newry ;  and  the 
shortened  form,  Nure,  is  the  name  of  several  town- 
lands.  Uragh,  a  place  abounding  in  yews,  is  some- 
times met  with,  and  the  same  name,  by  the  attraction 
of  the  article  (p.  23),  becomes  Newragh,  which,  in 
many  cases,  especially  in  the  Leinster  counties,  is 
corrupted  to  Newrath. 

The  quicken  tree.  Caerthainn  [cairhan  or  caurhan] 
is  the  Irish  word  for  the  quicken  tree,  mountain  ash, 
or  rowan  tree.     It  enters  into  names  very  often,  in 


CHAP.  VIII.]  Plants.  495 

tlie  form  Keeran,  which,  is  the  name  of  several  town- 
lands  ;  but  it  undergoes  many  other  modifications, 
such  as  Keerhan  in  Louth ;  Keeraun  and  Keerhaun 
in  Gralwaj  ;  Carhan  in  Kerry  ;  Kerane  and  Keraun 
in  Tipperary  and  King's  County  : — all  these  places 
must  have  produced  this  tree  in  abundance,  for  the 
names  mean  simply  mountain  ash.  Drumkeeran,  the 
ridge  of  the  quicken  tree,  is  the  name  of  a  village  in 
Leitrim,  of  a  parish  in  Fermanagh,  and  of  several 
townlands  in  the  northern  counties. 

The  holly.  This  tree  is  denoted  by  Cuillionn  [cul- 
lion],  which,  as  a  root  word,  is  very  widely  diffused 
over  the  country,  and  is  in  general  very  easily  recog- 
nised. There  are  fifteen  townlands,  all  in  the  Ul- 
ster counties,  called  Cullion,  signifying  holly  or  holly 
land  ;  another  form,  Cullen,  is  the  name  of  a  parish 
in  Cork,  and  of  some  townlands  in  other  counties. 
Cullen  in  Tipperary  is  called  by  the  Four  Masters, 
Cuilleann-0-gCuanach  [0-goonagh],  from  the  old 
territory  of  Coonagh,  to  which  it  must  have  formerly 
belonged.  This  word  enters  into  numerous  com- 
pounds, but  generally  in  the  form  cullen,  as  in  Drum- 
cullen  in  King's  County,  Druim-ctdllinn  (Four  Mast.), 
holly  ridge ;  Moycullen  in  Gralway,  the  plain  of 
holly ;  KnockacuUen,  holly  hill.  There  are  two 
derivatives,  Cullenagh  and  Cullentragh  or  Cullentra, 
which  give  names  to  about  sixty  townlands  and  vil- 
lages ;  the  former  is  more  usual  in  the  south,  and  the 
latter  in  the  north  ;  and  both  were  originally  applied 
to  a  place  abounding  in  holly. 

The  hazel.  This  tree  was  formerly  held  in  great 
estimation  in  Ireland :  we  are  told  that  Mac  Cuill 
(literally  "  son  of  the  hazel,")  one  of  the  three  last 
kings  of  the  Tuatha  De  Dananns,  was  so  called  be- 
cause he  worshipped  the  hazel.    When  the  old  writers 


496  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

record,  as  they  frequently  do,  that  the  country  pros- 
pered under  the  benign  rule  of  a  good  king,  they 
usually  state,  as  one  of  the  indications  of  plenty,  that 
the  hazels  bended  with  abundance  of  nuts ;  and 
the  salmon  that  ate  the  nuts  which  fell  from  the 
nine  hazel  trees  growing  round  certain  great  river 
fountains,  became  a  "salmon  of  knowledge ; "  for 
whoever  took  and  ate  one  of  these  fish,  became  im- 
mediately inspired  with  the  spirit  of  poetry. 

Coll  is  the  Irish  word  for  a  hazel,  corresponding 
with  Lat.  corylus.  It  is  often  difficult  to  distinguish 
the  modern  forms  of  this  word  from  those  of  several 
others ;  in  the  beginning  of  names  it  is  usually  re- 
presented by  coll^  col,  cole,  cull,  and  cul,  but  some  of 
these  syllables  are  often  of  doubtful  signification. 
Cullane  and  CuUaun  are  the  names  of  some  townlands 
in  Kilkenny  and  the  Munster  counties ;  CuUan 
occurs  in  Mayo ;  and  CoUon  is  a  village  and  parish 
in  Louth : — all  these  signify  a  place  where  hazels 
grow.  Collchoill  [culhill],  hazel  wood,  like  leatnh- 
choill  (p.  491)  is  subject  to  considerable  varia- 
tions of  form :  as  Cullahill,  we  find  it  in  Tipperary 
and  Queen's  County ;  Colehill  in  Donegal,  King's 
County,  Longford,  and  Meath ;  and  Callowhill  in 
Fermanagh,  Leitrim,  Monaghan,  and  Wicklow. 

As  a  termination,  the  word  coll  takes  the  different 
forms,  -hjle,  -quill,  and  -coyle,  all  representing  the 
genitive,  cuill ;  Barnakyle  near  Mungret  in  Lime- 
rick, and  Barnacoyle  in  Wicklow,  hazel  gap  ;  Mona- 
quill  in  Tipperary,  Carnquill  in  Monaghan,  and 
Lisaquill  in  Longford  and  Monaghan,  the  bog,  the 
cam,  and  the  fort  of  the  hazel. 

The   alder.     This   tree   is  called  fearn   [farn]   in 
Irish ;  but  in  the  present  spoken  language  the  dimi 
nuiiy  Q  fear  nog  (farnoge)   is  always  used.     The  syl-. 


I 


CHAP,  viii.]  Plants.  497 

lables  fani  and  fern^  which  are  found  in  names  in 
every  part  of  Ireland,  indicate  the  prevalence  of  this 
tree :  thus  we  have  several  places  called  Farnagh, 
Femagh,  and  Ferney,  denoting  a  place  producing 
alders ;  and  Farnane  and  Famoge  are  used  in  the 
same  sense.  Ferns  in  Wexford  is  well  known  in 
ecclesiastical  and  other  records,  by  the  name  of 
Fearna — i.  e.  alders,  or  a  place  abounding  in  alders. 
Grlenfarne,  a  beautiful  valley  near  Manor-hamilton, 
is  called  by  the  Four  Masters  Gleann-feania,  the 
alder  glen.  "WTien  the /is  eclipsed  (p.  22),  the  ter- 
minations, -nararn,  -navern,  -navarna,  &c.,  are  formed  : 
Grortnavern  in  Donegal,  and  Grortnavarnoge  in  Tip- 
perary,  alder  field ;  Lecknavarna  in  Galway,  the 
flagstone  of  the  alders. 

The  celebrated  territory  of  Farney  in  Monaghan 
is  called  Fearnmhagh  [Famvah]  in  the  Book  of 
Eights  and  other  Irish  documents,  which  was  softened 
down  to  the  present  form  by  the  aspiration  of  the  m 
and  g.  This  name  signifies  alder  plain  ;  and  even 
so  late  as  the  seventeenth  centmy,  the  alder  woods 
remained  in  considerable  abundance  (see  Mr.  E.  P. 
Shuiey's  work  on  the  barony  of  Farney). 

The  apple  tree.  Ahhall  or  uhhall  signifies  both  an 
apple  and  an  apple  tree  : — pronounced  owl  or  ool,  and 
sometimes  arel.  The  ancient  Irish  form,  as  found  in 
the  Zeuss  MSS.,  is  abally  which  corresponds  with  the 
Ang.-Sax.  appel,  Eng.  apple. 

This  word  enters  largely  into  local  names,  and 
very  often  assumes  the  forms,  oicl,  ool,  o?cle,  &g. 
Agliowle  in  Wicklow  is  called  in  Irish  documents, 
Achadh-abhla,  the  field  of  the  aj^ple  trees  ;  the  same 
name  is  found  in  Fermanagh,  in  the  slightly  diff'erent 
form  Aghyowle  ;  and  in  Leitrim  Aghyowla.  Bally- 
hooly  on  the  Blackwater,  below  Mallow,  is  called  in 
2  k 


498  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

the  Book  of  Lismore,  Ath-uhhla  [Ahoola],  the  ford 
of  the  apples  ;  and  the  present  name  was  formed  by 
prefixing  Bally: — Baila-atha-uhhla  (now  pronounced 
Blaa-hoola),  the  town  of  the  apple  ford. 

In  many  places,  and  especially  in  some  parts  of  the 
north,  the  word  ahhall  is  used  in  the  sense  of  ''  or- 
chard;" as  for  instance,  in  Avalreagh  in  Monaghan, 
grey  orchard;  Annahavil  in  Londonderry  and  Ty- 
rone, the  marsh  of  the  orchard.  Very  much  the  same 
meaning  has  Oola  on  the  Limerick  and  Waterford 
railway,  which  preserves  exactly  the  sound  of  the 
Irish  name,  Uhhla,  i.  e.  apple  trees,  or  a  place  of 
apples. 

The  proper  and  usual  word  for  an  orchard,  how- 
ever, is  ahhalghort  [oulart],  literally  apple-garden, 
which  is  of  pretty  frequent  occurrence,  subject  to 
some  variations  of  spelling.  The  most  common  form 
is  Oulart,  the  name  of  several  places  in  Wexford ; 
Ballinoulart  in  Wexford  and  King's  County,  and  Bal- 
lywhollart  in  Down,  both  signify  the  town  of  the 
orchard.  Another  form  appears  in  Knockullard  in 
Carlow,  orchard  hill ;  but  IJllard  in  Kilkenny  has  a 
different  origin. 

The  elder  tree.  The  elder  or  boortree  is  called  tromm 
or  trom,  gen.  truim  [trim].  The  best  known  place 
named  from  this  tree  is  Trim  in  Meath,  which  was 
so  called  from  the  elder  trees  that  grew  near  the 
old  ford  across  the  Boyne  :  it  is  called  in  the  Book  of 
Armagh,  Vadum-  Truimm,.,  a  half  translation  of  its 
Irish  name,  Ath-truim,  the  ford  of  the  boortrees,  of 
which  only  the  latter  part  has  been  retained.  We 
have  numerous  names  terminating  in  -trim  and  trime^ 
which  always  represent  the  genitive  of  trom ;  Gral- 
trim  in  Meath,  once  a  place  of  some  importance,  is 
called  in  the  Annals,  Cala-truim,  the  calloiv  or  holm 


i 


CHAP.  VIII.]  Plants.  499 

of  the  elder ;  Grortvunatrime  near  Emly  in  Tipperary, 
the  field  of  the  bottom  land  of  the  elder. 

A  place  where  elders  grow  is  often  called  tromaire 
[trummera] ,  from  which  Trummery  in  Antrim  de- 
rives its  name  ;  it  is  shortened  to  Trummer,  as  the 
name  of  a  little  island  in  the  Clare  part  of  the  Shan- 
non ;  and  in  Wexford  it  takes  the  form  of  Trimmer. 
Tromdn,  a  diminutive  of  tromm,  meaning  either  the 
elder  tree  or  a  place  producing  elder,  has  given  name 
to  Tromaun  in  E-oscommon,  to  Tromman  in  Meath, 
and  to  Trumman  in  Donegal. 

The  hlackthorn.  Dmcigheaii  [dreean]  is  the  black- 
thorn or  sloe-bush ;  the  old  Irish  form  as  given  in 
Cormac's  Grlossary,  is  droigen ;  Welsh  dmen ;  Cornish 
drain.  The  simple  word  gives  names  to  several 
places  in  Antrim,  Derry,  and  Tyrone,  now  called 
Dreen,  Drain,  and  Drains,  i.  e.  black-thorn.  Drinan 
near  Kinsaley  in  Dublin,  is  called  Draighnen  by  the 
Four  Masters,  i.  e.  a  place  producing  black- thorns. 
This  diminutive  form  is  much  more  common  than  the 
primitive,  and  in  most  parts  of  Ireland,  the  sloe-bush 
is  called  drinan,  or  drinan-donn  (brown).  It  gives 
names  to  various  places  now  called  Dreenan,  Drin- 
ane,  and  Drinaun.  The  adjective  form,  draeighn- 
each,  and  its  diminutive,  draeighneachdn,  are  also  very 
common  as  townland  names,  in  the  modern  forms, 
Dreenagh,  Drinagh,  Driny,  and  Drinaghan — signi- 
fying a  place  abounding  in  sloe-bushes  ;  Aghadreen- 
agh,  Aghadreenan,  Aghadrinagh,  and  Aghadreen, 
are  the  names  of  townlands  in  various  counties,  all 
meaning  the  field  of  the  sloe  bushes. 

The  sloe  is   designated  by  the  Irish  word  airne 

[arny],  which  is  found  pretty  often  in  the   end    of 

names,  in  the  form  of  -arney.     For  the  original  name 

of  Killarney  in  Kerry,  we  have  not,  as  far  as  I  am 

2k2 


500  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

aware,  any  written  authority  ;  but  I  see  no  reason 
to  question  the  opinion  already  adyancecl  by  others, 
that  the  Irish  name  is  CiU-airneadh,  the  church  of  the 
sloes.  This  opinion  is  corroborated  by  the  frequency 
of  the  same  termination  :  thus  we  have  a  Killamey  in 
Kilkenny,  another  in  Eoscommon,  and  a  third  near 
Bray  in  Wicklow.  Near  Clones,  there  is  a  townland 
called  Magherarny,  the  plain  of  the  sloes ;  Clonamey 
in  Westmeath  and  Cavan,  sloe-meadow ;  MuUarney 
in  Kildare,  the  summit  of  the  sloes,  &c. 

The  white  thorn  or  haw  tree — Irish,  sceach  [skagh]. 
From  these  thorn  bushes,  so  plentifully  diffused  over 
the  whole  country,  a  vast  number  of  places  have  re- 
ceived their  names.  There  are  numerous  townlands 
called  Skagh,  Skea,  and  Skeagh,  i.  e.  simply  a  thorn 
bush ;  and  these,  along  with  the  shorter  form,  Ske, 
begin  the  names  of  many  others,  such  as  Skeagh- 
anore  in  Cork,  the  bush  of  the  gold,  and  Skenarget 
in  Tyrone,  of  the  silver  —  both  probably  so  called 
because  the  bushes  marked  the  spots  where  the  pea- 
santry dreamed  of,  and  dug  for  money. 

As  a  termination,  the  word  takes  these  same  forms, 
in  addition  to  several  others,  such  as  -she,  -sheha, 
-skehy,  &c.  ;  as  in  Grortnaskeagh,  Gortnaskehy,  and 
Gortnaskey,  all  which  are  the  names  of  townlands, 
and  signify  the  field  of  the  white-thorns  ;  Tullyna- 
skeagh,  and  Knocknaskeagh,  both  signifying  white- 
thorn hill ;  Baunskeha  in  Kilkenny,  the  green  field 
of  the  bush ;  Aghnaskea,  Aghnaskeagh,  and  Aghna- 
skew,  bushy  field  (achadh)  ;  Clonskeagh  in  Dublin, 
and  Cloonskeagh  in  Mayo,  the  cloon  or  meadow  of  the 
white-thorn  bushes.  Lisnaskea  in  Fermanagh  (the 
fort  of  the  bush),  took  its  name  from  the  celebrated 
tree  called  Sceath-ghahhra,  under  which  the  Maguire 
used  to  be  inaugurated.     There  are  some  places  in 


CHAP.  VIII.]  Plants.  501 

Donegal,  Fermanagli,  and  Tyrone,  called  Skeoge, 
and  we  have  several  townlands  with  the  name  of 
Skeheen,  both  these  signifying  a  little  bush,  or  a 
little  bushy  brake.  Skehanagh  and  Skahanagh,  a 
bushy  place,  are  the  names  of  townlands  in  every 
part  of  Ireland,  except  Ulster. 

The  furze.  Aiteami  [attan]  is  our  word  for  the 
furze  ;  old  Irish  aittemi  (Cor.  GrL),  Welsh  eithin ;  and 
it  is  found  chiefly  as  a  termination  in  two  different 
forms,  -attin^  and  -attuia.  The  first  is  seen  in  Cool- 
attin,  the  name  of.  some  places  in  Limerick,  Wick- 
low,  and  Wexford,  signifying  the  corner  of  the 
furze ;  and  the  second  in  Ballynahattina  in  G-alway, 
the  same  as  Ballynahatten  in  Down  and  Louth,  and 
Ballinattin  in  Waterford  and  Tipperary,  the  town 
of  the  furze.  The  Irish  scholar  will  remark  that  in 
these  names  the  word  is  used  in  the  masculine  in  the 
south,  and  in  the  feminine  in  the  north  and  west ; 
and  I  may  remark  here,  once  for  all,  that  I  have  also 
observed  this  difference  of  gender  inflexion  according 
to  locality,  in  case  of  the  names  of  some  other  natural 
productions. 

The  heath.  The  common  heath — erica  vulgaris — 
is  denoted  by  the  word  fraech ;  as  may  be  expected, 
it  enters  extensively  into  names,  and  oftener  as  a  ter- 
mination than  otherwise.  In  the  beginning  of  names, 
and  when  it  stands  alone,  it  is  usually  represented  by 
Freagh  and  Freugh ;  thus  Freaghillaun  is  the  name 
of  several  little  islands  round  various  parts  of  the 
coast,  signifying  heathy  island ;  Freaghmore  in  West- 
meath,  and  Freughmore  in  Tyrone,  great  heath.  We 
find,  however,  Freeduff — black  heath — in  Armagh 
and  Cavan,  the  same  as  Freaghduff  in  Tipperary. 

As  a  termination  it  takes  the  form  -free,  which 
exactly  represents  the  pronunciation  of  the  genitive, 


502  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

fmeigh.  Inishfree,  a  little  islafid  in  Lough  Gill,  is 
called  by  the  Four  Masters,  Inisfraeich^  heathy  is- 
land ;  and  there  are  islands  of  the  same  name  off  the 
coast  of  Donegal,  and  elsewhere.  Coolfree,  heathy 
corner,  is  a  townland  near  Bally  organ  in  Limerick. 
When  the  article  is  used,  the  /  disappears  by  aspira- 
tion (p.  20),  and  the  word  becomes  -ree ;  but  then 
this  syllable  is  often  also  the  modern  form  of  righ,  a 
king  : — thus  Ballinree,  which  is  the  name  of  about  a 
dozen  townlands,  might  represent  either  Baile-an- 
rigk,  the  town  of  the  king,  or  Baile-an-fhraeigh,  of 
the  heather. 

The  diminutives  fraechdn  and  fracchog — but  prin- 
cipalty  the  former — are  used  to  denote  the  bilberry, 
or  whortleberry,  or  "hurt,"  as  it  is  called  over  a 
great  part  of  Munster,  a  contraction  of  "  hurtle  "  or 
"  whortle,"  In  other  parts  of  Ireland,  these  berries 
get  their  proper  Irish  name,  and  the  citizens  of  Dub- 
lin are  well  accustomed  to  see  "fraughans"  exposed 
for  sale  in  baskets,  by  women  who  pick  them  on 
the  neighbouring  hills.  Freahanes  and  Frehans,  i.  e. 
whortleberries,  are  the  names  of  two  townlands,  one 
near  Eoss  Carberry,  the  other  in  Tipperary  ;  and  by 
a  change  of  ch  to/ (p.  50),  it  becomes  Freffans  in 
Meath.  On  the  northern  side  of  Seefin  mountain 
over  Grienosheen  in  Limerick,  there  is  a  deep  glen 
called  Lyrenafreaghaun,  which  represents  the  Irish 
Ladhar-na-hhfraeehcin,ihQ  river-branch  of  the  whortle- 
berries ;  and  it  produces  them  as  plentifully  to-day  as 
when  it  got  the  name.  Kilnafrehan  in  Waterford, 
and  Kylefreaghane  in  Tipperary,  bilberry  wood ; 
Binnafreaghan  in  Tyrone,  the  peak  of  the  whortle- 
berries. 

The  inj.  The  different  kinds  of  ivy  are  denoted  by 
the  term  eidhnedn  [ine-aun],  which  is  a  diminutive  of 


CHAP.  IX.]  Shape  and  Position.  503 

the  older  form  eden,  as  given  in  Cormac's  Grlossary  ; 
Welsh  eiddew.  In  its  simple  form  it  gives  name 
to  Inan  in  Meath,  and  to  Inane  in  Cork  and  Tip- 
perary,  both  meaning  an  ivy-covered  place.  The 
adjective  form  eidhneach  [inagh],  abounding  in  ivy, 
is,  however,  much  more  common,  and  it  occurs  in 
MSS.  of  authority.  There  is  a  river  in  Clare  called 
Inagh,  fi^om  which  a  parish  takes  name,  and  also  a 
river  in  Donegal,  flowing  into  Inver  Bay,  called 
Eany  (which  gives  name  to  Grleneany,  through 
which  it  flows),  both  of  which  the  Four  Masters 
mention  by  the  name  of  Eidhneach,  i.  e.  the  ivy- 
producing  river. 

The  celebrated  monastery  of  Clonenagh  in  Queen's 
County  was  founded  by  St.  Fintan  in  the  middle  of 
the  sixth  century.  It  is  called  in  O'Clery's  Calendar 
and  other  Irish  documents,  Cluain-eidhnech,  which,  in 
the  Latin  Life  of  the  founder,  is  translated  Latihulum 
hederosum,  the  retreat  (i.  e.  the  cloon)  of  the  ivy.  It 
is  interesting  to  observe  that  this  epithet  is  as  appli- 
cable to-day  as  it  was  in  the  time  of  St.  Fintan ;  for 
the  place  produces  a  luxuriant  growth  of  ivy,  which 
clothes  the  gable  of  the  old  church,  and  all  the  trees 
in  the  neighbourhood. 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

SHAPE    AND    POSITION. 


A  REAL  or  fancied  resemblance  to  diJfferent  parts  of 
the  human  body,  has  originated  a  great  variety  of 
topographical  names  all  over  the  country.  Most  of 
the  bodily  members  have  been  turned  to  account  in 


50-i  Physical  Features,  [part  iv. 

tliis  manner ;  and  the  natural  features  compared  with, 
and  named  from  them,  are  generally,  but  not  always, 
hills. 

The  head.  The  word  ceann  [can],  a  head,  is  used 
much  in  the  same  way  as  the  English  word,  to  denote 
the  head,  front,  or  highest  part  of  anything  ;  and  it 
commonly  appears  in  anglicised  names,  in  the  forms 
can,  ken,  kin.  There  is  a  place  near  Callan  in  Kil- 
kenny called  Cannafahy,  whose  Irish  name  is  Ceann- 
na-faithche,  the  head  of  the  exercise-green ;  Kincon 
in  Mayo  and  Armagh,  the  hound's  head,  so  called 
from  some  peculiarity  of  shape  ;  Kinard,  high  head 
or  hill ;  Kinturk,  the  head  or  hill  of  the  boar. 

The  highest  point  reached  by  the  tide  in  a  river, 
was  sometimes  designated  by  the  term  eeann-mara, 
i.  e.  the  head  of  the  sea ;  froni  a  spot  of  this  kind  on 
the  river  Eoughty,  the  town  of  Kenmare  in  Kerry 
received  its  name ;  and  Kinvarra  in  Gralway  origi- 
nated in  the  same  way,  for  the  Four  Masters  call  it 
Ceannmhara.  Another  compound,  ceannsaile  [can- 
sauly],  also  used  to  express  the  same  idea,  means 
literally  the  head  of  the  brine,  and  from  this 
we  have  the  name  of  Kinsale  in  Cork,  of  Kinsale- 
beg  in  Waterford  {peg,  little,  to  distinguish  it  from 
the  preceding) ,  and  of  Kinsaley,  a  parish  north  of 
Dublin. 

The  forehead  is  denoted  in  Irish  by  the  word  eudan 
[edan],  which  is  used  topographically  to  signify  a 
hill  brow.  There  is  a  small  town  in  King's  County, 
another  in  Antrim,  and  half  a  dozen  townlands  in 
several  counties,  caUed  Edenderry  ;  all  of  which  are 
from  the  Irish,  Eudan-daire,  the  hill  brow  of  the  oak 
wood.  This  word,  Eden — always  with  the  same 
meaning — is  much  used  in  the  northern  and  north- 
western counties  in  local  nomenclature ;   it  is  itself 


CHAP.  IX.]  Sha2)e  and  Position.  505 

tlie  name  of  about  a  dozen  places ;  and  it  forms  the 
beginning  of  more  than  100  other  names.  It  is  occa- 
sionally contracted ;  as  in  Ednashanlaght  in  Tyrone, 
the  hill  brow  of  the  old  sepulchre. 

The  nose.  Sron  [srone],  the  nose,  is  often  applied 
to  prominent  points  of  hills,  or  abrupt  promontories  ; 
and  in  this  sense  we  sometimes  find  it  in  townland 
names  ;  as  in  Sroankeeragh  in  Roscommon,  the  sheep's 
nose  ;  Shronebeha  in  Cork,  the  nose  or  point  of  the 
birch. 

The  throat.  The  word  hraghad  [brand],  which 
literally  signifies  the  gullet  or  windpipe,  is  locally 
applied  to  a  gorge  or  deeply-cut  glen ;  and  of  this 
application,  the  river  and  valley  of  the  Braid  near 
Ballymena  in  Antrim,  form  a  very  characteristic 
example.  The  diminutive  Bradoge,  little  gorge,  is 
the  name  of  the  small  stream  flowing  by  Grrange- 
gorman  into  the  Liff'ey  on  the  north  side  of  Dublin  ; 
and  the  same  word  gives  name  to  a  townland  in 
Monaghan,  now  called  Braddocks.  Scornach  is  ano- 
ther term  for  the  windpipe,  and  in  one  instance  it  is 
applied  to  a  remarkable  glen  cut  through  the  hills 
near  Tallaght  in  Dublin,  now  called  the  gap  of 
Ballinascorney,  i.  e.  the  town  of  the  gorge. 

The  shoulder.  Guala  or  guaJann  [goola,  goolan] 
signifies  the  shoulder,  and  was  often  applied  to  a  hill. 
The  village  of  Shanagolden  in  Limerick  is  called  in 
Irish  authorities,  Seangualann^  old  shoulder  or  hill, 
and  this  is  also  the  Irish  name  still  in  use. 

The  hack.  The  literal  meaning  of  the  word  druim 
[drum]  is  a  back,  exactly  the  same  as  the  Latin  dor- 
sum, with  which  it  is  also  cognate.  In  its  local  ap- 
plication, it  signifies  a  long  low  hill  or  ridge ;  and  in 
this  sense  also,  it  is  often  translated  by  dor  stun.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  common  of  all  root  words  in  Irish 


506  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

names;  its  most  usual  anglicised  forms  are  dnim^drow^ 
and  clrim ;  and  these  syllables  begin  about  2400 
names  of  townlands,  towns,  and  villages,  besides  the 
countless  names  that  contain  this  very  prolific  root 
otherwise  combined.  In  Munster  it  is  very  generally 
pronounced  dromn,  and  in  many  names  it  is  modern- 
ized accordingly. 

There  are  several  places  in  the  southern  and  west- 
ern counties,  called  Dromada  and  Dromadda,  the 
Irish  name  of  which  is  Dririm-fhada,  long  ridge,  the 
sound  of/ being  wholly  sunk  by  asj^iration  (p.  20)  ; 
in  some  of  the  northern  counties  the /is  retained,  and 
the  name  becomes  Drumfad.  Drumagh  in  Queen's 
County,  Drimagh  in  Wexford,  and  Dromagh  in 
Cork,  signify  ridged  land,  a  place  full  of  drums  or 
ridges. 

In  many  combinations  of  this  word,  the  d  sound  is 
lost  by  aspiration.  Aughrim  near  Ballinasloe  in 
Gralway,  the  scene  of  the  battle  of  1691,  has  its  name 
formed  in  this  way ;  it  is  called  in  Irish  authorities, 
Each-dhruim,  which  Colgan  translates  eqid-tnons,  i.  e. 
horse-hill,  and  the  pronunciation  of  the  ancient  name 
is  well  preserved  in  the  modern.  There  are,  besides 
this,  about  twenty  Aughrims  in  Ireland.  Sometimes 
the  d  sound  is  changed  to  that  of  t,  as  in  Leitrim,  the 
name  of  one  of  the  counties,  and  of  more  than  forty 
townlands  scattered  over  Ireland  : — Liafh-dhrnim 
(Four  Mast.),  grey  ridge  (see  Sheetrim,  p.  178). 

The  diminutive  Druunin  [Drimmeen],  has  given 
names  to  various  places  now  called  Drimeen,  Dro- 
meen,  and  Drummeen.  Dromainn  [di'umin],  which 
is  perhaps  a  diminutive,  also  means  a  ridge,  much 
the  same  as  druim  itself,  and  this  word  is  the  original 
of  all  those  places  called  Dromin,  Drummin,  and 
Drummans ;  in  the  northern  counties  it  is  often  cor- 


CHAP.  Tx.]  SJiajie  and  Position.  507 

riipted  to  Driimmond  (p.  57),  which  is  the  name  of 
about  twenty  townlands.  Another  development  of 
druifu  is  druimneach  or  druimne,  meaning  ridges  or 
ridged  land,  originating  a  new  growth  of  names. 
For  example,  Drimnagh  castle  and  parish,  three 
miles  south- west  from  Dublin,  took  the  name  from 
the  little  sand-ridges  now  called  the  Grreen  Hills. 
Drimna,  Dromnagh,  and  Drumina,  the  names  of 
places  in  various  parts  of  Ireland,  are  all  different 
forms  of  this  word. 

The  Irish  word  ton  [thone]  signifies  the  hacJisidey 
exactly  the  same  as  the  Latin  podex.  It  was  very 
often  used  to  designate  hills,  and  also  low-lying  or 
bottom  lands  ;  and  it  usually  retains  the  original  form, 
ton ;  as  we  see  in  Tonduif,  Tonbaun,  and  Tonroe, 
black,  white,  and  red,  backside,  respectively  ;  Toneel, 
in  Fermanagh,  the  bottom  land  of  the  lime. 

One  particular  compound,  Ton-Ie-gaeith,  which  lite- 
rally signifies  "  backside  to  the  wind,"  seems  to  have 
been  a  favourite  term ;  for  there  are  a  great  many 
hills  all  through  the  country  with  this  name,  which 
are  now  called  Tonlegee.  Sometimes  the  preposition 
re  is  used  instead  of  le — both  having  the  same  mean- 
ing— and  the  name  in  this  case  becomes  Tonregee. 
In  this  last,  o,  dis,  often  inserted  after  the  n  (p.  57), 
and  this,  with  one  or  two  other  trifling  changes,  has 
developed  the  form  Tanderagee,  the  name  of  a  little 
town  in  Armagh,  and  of  ten  townlands,  all  in  the 
Ulster  counties,  except  one  in  Meath,  and  one  in 
Kildare. 

The  side  /—Irish  taehh  [teev].  This,  like  the  cor- 
responding English  word,  is  applied  to  the  side  of  a 
hill ;  and  its  usual  anglicised  forms  are  tieve  and  teer. 
Tievenavarnoge  in  Fermanagh  rej)resents  the  Irish, 


508  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

Taebh-na-hhfearnog,  the  hill  side  of  the  alders  ;  Teev- 
nabinnia  in  Mayo,  the  side  of  the  pinnacle. 

The  thigh.  The  word  mas  [mance]  the  thigh,  is 
locally  applied  to  a  long  low  lull.  It  gives  name  to 
several  places  in  the  western  counties,  now  called 
Mace  ;  Masreagh  in  Sligo,  Massreagh  in  Donegal, 
and  Mausrevagh  in  Galway,  grey  hill :  Mansrower 
in  Kerry,  fat  or  thick  hill.  There  is  a  castle  near 
Antrim  town  called  Massereene,  giving  name  to  two 
baronies  ;  this  name,  which  originally  belonged  to  a 
small  friary  of  Franciscans,  founded  about  the  year 
1500  by  one  of  the  O'Neills,  is  written  in  O'Mellan's 
Journal  of  Phelim  O'Neill,  Masareghna,  which  is 
little  different  from  the  correct  Irish  form,  Mds- 
a^~rioghna,  the  queen's  hill  (Eeeves,  Eccl.  Ant. 
p.  389). 

The  shin : — Irish,  lurga  or  lurgan.  This  word, 
like  the  last,  was  often  applied  to  a  long  low  ridge. 
From  the  first  form,  some  townlands  chiefly  in  the 
south,  are  called  Lurraga.  The  second  form  was 
much  used  in  the  northern  and  western  counties,  in 
which  there  are  about  thirty  places  called  Lurgan, 
and  more  than  sixty  others  of  whose  names  it  forms 
a  part. 

The  foot.  The  word  cos  [cuss],  a  foot,  is  used 
locally  to  express  the  foot,  or  bottom,  or  lower  end 
of  any  thing  ;  the  form  found  in  anglicised  names  is 
generally  cmh,  which  represents,  not  the  nominative 
but  the  dative  {cois^  pron.  c?f.s//),of  the  original  word, 
(p.  33).  Gush  and  Cuss,  i.  e.  foot,  are  the  names  of 
some  places  in  the  middle  and  southern  counties. 
Cushendun  in  Antrim,  is  called  by  the  Four  Masters, 
Bun-ahhann-Duine,  the  foot,  i.  e.  the  mouth  of  the 
river  Dun;   this  was  afterwards  changed  to   Cois- 


CHAP.  IX.]  Sliaj^e  and  Position.  509 

ahhann-Diiine  [Cush-oim-duiiny],  whicli  has  the  same 
meaning,  and  which  has  been  gradually  compressed 
into  the  present  name.  Cushendall  was  in  like 
manner  contracted  from  Cois-ahhann-Dkalla,  the/oo^ 
or  termination  of  the  river  Dall  (Eeeves,  Eccl.  Ant., 
pp.  83,  283).  In  the  Ordnance  Memoir  of  the 
parish  of  Templemore  (p.  213),  it  is  conjectured  that 
the  stream  which  flows  by  Coshquin  near  London- 
derry, was  anciently  called  Caein  [keen],  i.e.  beau- 
tiful ;  whence  the  place  got  the  name  of  Cois-Caeine, 
the  end  of  the  river  Caein,  now  shortened  to  Cosh- 
quin. 

The  barony  of  Coshlea  in  Limerick,  was  so  called 
from  its  position  with  respect  to  the  Galty  mountains, 
its  Irish  name  being  Cois-sJeihhe  [Cushleva],  i.  e.  (at) 
the  foot  of  the  mountain ;  and  this  signification  is 
still  preserved  in  the  name  of  a  place,  now  called 
Mountain-foot,  situated  at  the  base  of  this  fine  range. 
Sometimes  the  word  cois  (which  is  in  this  case  a  rem- 
nant of  the  compound  preposition,  a-gcois  or  a-cois) , 
is  used  to  express  contiguity  or  nearness;  in  this 
sense  it  appears  in  the  name  of  the  barony  of  Coshma 
in  Limerick,  Cois-Maighe  (the  district)  near  or  along 
the  river  Maigue  ;  and  in  that  of  Coshbride  in  Water- 
ford,  the  territory  by  the  river  Bride. 

Besides  the  names  enumerated  in  the  preceding 
part  of  this  chapter,  many  others  are  derived  from 
their  resemblance  to  various  objects,  natural  or  arti- 
ficial ;  and  many  from  their  position,  or  from  their 
direction  with  respect  to  other  places.  Of  these  the 
following  mil  be  a  sufficient  specimen. 

Bun  means  the  bottom  or  end  of  anything  ;  Bun- 
talloon  near  Tralee,  represents  perfectly  the  pronun- 
ciation of  the  iTi^h.,  Bun -tahnhan^ih.^  end  of  the  earth 
or  land  :  Bunlahy  in  Longford,  the  end  of  the  Jahagh 


510  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

or  sloTigh.  It  is  very  often  applied  to  the  end,  that  is, 
the  mouth  of  a  river,  and  many  places  situated  at 
river  mouths  have  in  this  manner  received  their 
names ;  as  Buncrana  in  Donegal,  the  mouth  of  the 
river  Crana ;  Bunratty  in  Clare,  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  formerly  called  the  Eatty,  but  now  the  Owen 
Ogarney,  because  it  flows  through  the  ancient  terri- 
tory of  the  O'Carneys. 

Bdrr  [baui']  is  the  top  of  anything.  Barmona  in 
Wexford,  the  top  of  the  bog ;  Barravore  in  Wick- 
low,  great  top  ;  Barmeen  in  Antrim,  smooth  top  : 
Barreragh  in  Cork,  western  top.  In  some  of  the 
northern  counties,  the  harr  of  a  townland  means  the 
high  or  hilly  part ;  and  from  this  we  derive  such 
names  as  the  Barr  of  Slawin  in  Fermanagh,  i.  e.  the 
top  or  highest  part  of  the  townland  of  Slawin. 

Gahhal  [goul,  gowal,  and  gole],  a  fork  ;  old  Irish 
fjahul,  from  the  verb  gah  to  take.  It  is  a  word  in  very 
extensive  local  use  in  every  part  of  Ireland,  being 
generally,  though  not  always,  applied  to  river  forks  ; 
and  it  assumes  a  variety  of  forms,  in  accordance  with 
different  modes  of  pronunciation.  The  simple  word 
is  seen  in  such  names  as  Grole,  Growel,  and  Groul ;  and 
the  plural  Grola  (forks)  is  pretty  common  in  the 
northern  counties. 

The  land  enclosed  by  two  branches  of  a  river  was 
often  designated  by  the  GOTOH^ownd Fadar-dha-ghabhal 
[Adragoul],  or  Eadar-ghabhal  [Addergoul],  i.  e.  (a 
place)  between  two  (river)  prongs ;  and  this  has 
given  names  to  many  places,  in  the  various  forms, 
Addergoole,  Adderagool,  Addrigoole,  Adrigole,  Ad- 
rigool,  Edergole,  and  Edergoole. 

The  diminutives  are  still  more  widely  spread  than 
the  original ;  and  they  give  names  to  those  places 
calledGrolan,G-oleen,Groulaun,Growlan,  Growlane,  and 


CHAP.  IX.]  Shape  and  Position.  511 

Growlaun,  all  signifying  a  little  fork,  commonly  a  fork 
formed  by  rivers.  At  the  village  of  Grolden  in  Tip- 
perary,  the  river  Suir  divides  for  a  short  distance, 
and  encloses  a  small  island  ;  this  little  bifurcation 
was,  and  is  still,  called  in  Irish,  Gahhailin  [gouleen], 
which  has  been  corrupted  to  the  present  name  of  the 
village,  Grolden. 

In  some  parts  of  the  south,  this  word  is  pronounced 
gyle,  and  hence  we  have  Gryleen,  the  name  of  a  village 
near  Trabolgan,  just  outside  Cork  harbour.  There 
are  two  conical  mountains  a  little  west  of  Gflengariff 
in  Cork,  between  which  ran  the  old  road  to  Castle- 
town Bearhaven  ;  they  stand  up  somewhat  like  the 
prongs  of  a  fork,  and  hence  they  are  called  Goul- 
more  and  Goulbeg,  great  and  little  fork ;  but  the 
former  is  now  better  known  by  the  name  of  Sugar- 
loaf.  This  very  remarkable  mountain  is  also  often 
called  8liahh-na-gaihhle,  the  mountain  of  the  fork, 
which  is  pronounced  Slieve-na-goila ;  and  many 
people  now  believe  that  this  signifies  the  mountain  of 
the  wild  men  ! 

Another  word  for  a  fork  is  ladhar  [pron.  lyre  in 
the  south,  lear  in  the  north] ,  which  is  also  much  used 
in  forming  names,  and  like  gahhal,  is  applied  to  a 
fork  formed  by  streams  or  glens.  There  are  many 
places  in  the  south  called  Lyre,  and  others  in  the 
north  called  Lear,  both  of  which  are  anglicised  forms 
of  this  word ;  and  the  diminutives  Lyreen,  Lyrane, 
and  Lyranes  (little  river  forks),  are  the  names  of 
some  places  in  Cork,  Kerry,  and  Waterford.  Near 
Inchigeela  in  Cork,  there  is  a  townland  called,  from 
its  exposed  situation,  Lyrenageeha,  the  fork  of  the 
wind ;  Lyranearla  in  Waterford,  near  Clonmel,  the 
earl's  river-fork.  On  the  southern  side  of  Seefin 
mountain,  three  miles  south  of  IQlfinnane  in  Lime- 


512  Physical  Features.  [part  iv. 

rick,  is  a  briglit  little  valley  traversed  by  a  sparkling 
streamlet ;  which,  from  its  warm,  sunny  aspect,  is 
called  Lyrenagreana,  in  Irish  Ladhar-na-greine,  the 
river-branch  of  the  sun. 

Cuil  [cooil]  is  a  corner  or  angle  ;  it  is  very  exten- 
sively used  in  forming  local  names,  generally  in  the 
forms  of  cool  and  cole^  but  it  is  often  difficult  to 
tell  whether  these  syllables,  especially  the  first, 
represent  cidl,  a  corner,  or  ciil  [cool],  a  back.  There 
is  a  place  in  King's  County  called  Coleraine  ;  Cool- 
rain  is  the  name  of  a  village  and  of  some  town- 
lands  in  Queen's  County  ;  and  w^e  find  Coobainey 
in  Wexford,  Coolrahnee  near  Askeaton,  and  Cool- 
raine  near  Limerick  city.  All  these  names  are  ori- 
ginally the  same  as  that  of  Coleraine  in  Londonderry, 
which  is  explained  in  an  interesting  passage  in  the 
Tripartite  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  When  the  saint, 
in  his  journey  through  the  north,  arrived  in  this 
neighbourhood,  he  was  received  with  great  honour, 
and  hospitably  entertained,  by  a  chieftain  named 
Nadslua,  who  also  ofi'ered  him  a  piece  of  ground 
on  which  to  build  a  church.  And  when  the  saint 
inquired  where  the  place  was,  it  was  pointed  out  to 
him  on  the  bank  of  the  river  Bann  :  it  was  a  spot 
overgrown  with  ferns  ;  and  some  boys  were  at  the 
moment,  amusing  themselves  by  setting  them  on 
fire.  From  this  circumstance  the  place  received  the 
name  of  Cuil-rathain  [Coolrahen],  translated  by  Col- 
gan,  Secessus  filicis,  the  corner  of  the  ferns,  which  it 
retains  to  this  day,  with  very  little  alteration. 


INDEX    OF     NAMES. 


N.  B.— Many  names  that  do  not  occur  in  the  hody  of  the  work  are  explained  in 
this  Index. 


Abbeyfeale,        .     .     .     . 
Abbeygormacan,  the  abbey 

of  the  O'Cormacans. 
Abbeylara,       .     . 
Abbeyleix, 
Abbey shriile.  .     . 
Abbeystrowry,     . 
Achonry,    .     . 
Aclare,  Ath-an-chlair    the 

ford  of  the  plain. 

Adare, 

Addergoole,  Addragool, 

Aderavoher, 

Aderrig,  red  ford. 
Adrigole,  Adrigoole,      .     . 

Adrivale, 

Affane, 

Agha, 

Aghabeg;  little  field. 

Aghaboe, 

Aghaboy ;  yellow  field, 
Aghabrack ;  speckled  field. 
Aghabulloge ;   the  field  of 

the  bullocks. 
Aghacrew;  Ath-a'-cru,  the 

ford  of  the  blood. 
Aghacross, 


PAGE  PAGE 

160       Aghada  near  Cork  ;  Ath- 
fhada,  long  ford. 

Aghadachor, 247 

299       Aghadark, 423 

123       Aghadarragh,        ....     485 

442       Aghadaugh, 248 

442       AghadaToyle,        ....     249 
223       Aghaderg;  red  ford. 

Aghaderry ;  the  field  of  the 
oak  wood. 

485       Aghadoe, 242 

510       Aghadowey       in       Durry  ; 
242  Achadh-Buhhthaigh{Q'Q. 

(kl.),  Dufi"y's  field. 
510       Aghadown  ;  the  field  of  the 
53  dan  or  fort. 

343       Aghadreen, 493 

223       Aghadreenagh 499 

Aghadreenan,       ....     499 
454       Aghadrinagh,     .       ...     49  ^ 

Aghagallon, 331 

Aghagower, 71 

Aghalurcher ;    Achadh-ur- 
chair     (Four     Masters), 
the  field  of  the  cast  (see 
page  161.) 
316   '   Aghamacart, 223 


514 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Aghamore;  great  field. 

Aghanloo, 344 

Aghatubrid ;  spring-field. 

Aghavannagh,      ,     .     .     .  370 

Aghavea, 489 

Aghaveagh, 489 

Aghavilla,  Aghaville,    .     .  482 

Aghavilly, 482 

Aghaviller,      ....     48,  50 

Agliawillin, 363 

Aghawoney, 223 

Aghilly, 493 

Aghinagh ;  field  of  the  ivy. 

Aghindaiagh,       ....  247 

Aghindarragh,     ....  223 

Aghintain, 181 

Aghintamy, 223 

Aghinver, 223 

Aghmacart, 223 

Aghnahily, 396 

Aghnamullen,      .     .     .     .  363 

Aghnaskea,  Aghnaskeagh,  600 

Aghnaskew, 500 

Aghowle, 497 

Aghyowla, 497 

Aghyowle, 497 

Aglish, 305 

Aglishclogliane,    ....  305 

Aglishcormick,     .     .     .     .  305 

Aglishdiinagh,     ....  305 

Agolagh, 43 

Ahabeg, 28 

Ahagaltaun, 166 

Ahane, 344 

Ahanure, 493 

Ahaphiica, 182 

Ahascragh, 389 

Ahaun ;  see  Ahane. 

Aille, 396 

Aillenaveagb, 28 

AUagower, 396 

Alleen,  Alleen  Hogan,  Al- 

leen  Ryan, 396 

Allen,  Hill  of,      ...     .  86 

Allow  river, 410 

Alt, 374 


PAGE 

AltachiiUion,  .     .     .     .     .  374 

Altan, 374 

Altanagh, 374 

Allans, 374 

Altaturk  ;  glen  side  of  the  boar. 

Alta  villa, 374 

Altawark, 205 

Altinure, 374 

Altmore  ;  great  glen-side. 

Altnaveagh, 22 

Altore,   . 114 

Alts, 374 

Anna, 445 

Annabella,       .     .  -.     .     .  446 
Annaelone  ;  Eanach-chiana^ 

the  marsh  of  the  meadow. 

Annacotty,       .          .     .     .  217 

Annacramph, 60 

Annaduff, 445 

Annagassan, 360 

Annagh, 445 

Aunaghaskin,       ....  446 
Annaghbeg ;  little  marsh. 
Annaghmore ;  great  marsh. 

Annagor, 470 

Annahagh, 364 

Annahaia,        364 

Annahavil, 498 

Annahilt, 461 

Annakisha, 349 

Annalong  in  Down,       .     .  216 

Annamoe, 454 

Annaveagh, 460 

Annayalla, 20 

Anny, 445 

Annyalty, 446 

Anveyerg, 23 

Arboe, 454 

Ardagh, 223 

Ardaghy, .223 

Ardakillen, 475 

Ardan, 373 

Ardanaffi-in, 113 

Ardane, 373 

Ardaneaning, 198 

Ardanreagh, 373 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE. 

Ardara, 265 

Ardataggle,  Arclateggle ;  the 

heigM  of  the  rye. 

Ardatrave, 353 

Ardaim, 373 

Ardavagga, 203 

Ardbane,  Ardhaun ;  white 

height. 

Ai'dbeg, 373 

Ardbraccan, 140 

ArdcaiTi ;  the  height  of  the 

cam. 

Ardcath, 110 

Ardee, 122 

Ardee  river, 360 

Ardeelan, 469 

Ardeen, 373 

Ardeevin ;    A  rd  -  aeibhinyi, 

beautiful  height. 

ArdeUy, 283 

Arderin, 373 

Ardfert, .142 

Ardfinnan, 148 

Ardgeeha ;  windy  height. 

Ardgivna, 214 

Ardglass, 373 

Ardglushin, 441 

Ardgoul ;  high  fork. 

Ardgraigue, 340 

Ardgregane, 340 

Ardinawark, 205 

Ardingary, 203 

Ardkeen, 373 

Ardkeenagh ;  mossy  hill. 
Ardkill ;  high  church  or  wood. 
Ardlougher  ;  rushy  height. 
Ardmayle    in    Tipperary ; 

Ard-Mcdlle  (Four  Mast.), 

Malley's  height. 
Ardmeen ;  smooth  height. 

Ardmore, 373 

Ardmulchan ;  Ard-Maelehon 

(Four  Mast.),  Maelchon's 

height. 

Ardnacrohy, 211 

Ardnacrusha,  Ardnacrushy,    816 

2 


360 


212 
202 
467 
468 
99 
161 


Ardnagassan,  Ardnagassane, 
Ardnageeha,  Ardnageehy ; 

the  height  of  the  wind. 
Ardnagroghery,    .     . 
Ardnamoghill, 
Ardnaneane,    .     .     . 
Ardnapreaghaun, 
Ardnarea,    .... 
Ardnurcher,     .     .     . 
Ai'dpatrick ;    St.    Patrick's 

height. 
Ardrahan ;  ferny  height. 

Ardraly, 488 

Ardskeagh;  bushy  height. 

ArdsoUus, 209 

Ardstraw, 57 

Ardvally, 19 

Ardvarna,  Ardvarness,  .     .     420 

Ardvarney, 420 

Ardvone, 452 

Argyle, 82 

Arklow, 101 

Arless  in  Queen's  County  ; 

Ard-Iios,  high  fort. 

Armagh, 

Ai-moy  in  Antrim;  Airthir- 

Maighe\_A.vh.vc-v[ioj;  Four 

Mast.],  eastern  plain. 

Artiferrall, 

Artimacormick,    .... 
Artrea  in  Derry ;  Ard-Trea 

(Mart.     Taml.),     Trea's 

height.     The  virgin  St. 

Trea,  5th  cent. 

Askeaton, 

Assan, 445 

Assaroe, 176 

Assaun, 445 

Assey, 344 

Assolus, 210 

Athenry,  43 


73 


373 
373 


70 


Athgoe, 


214 


Athlacca, 343 

Athleague, 342 

Athlone, 342 

Athlunkard, 289 

l2 


516 


Index  of  N(i?ncs. 


PAGE. 

Athneasy  in  Limerick,  .     .  343 

Atbnid, 473 

Athnowen, 426 

AthsoUis, 210 

Athy, 123 

Attacotti, 96 

Attanagh  ;  a  fiirzy  place. 

Atshanbo, 290 

Attatantee, 290 

Attavally, 291 

Attidavock, 248 

Attidermot, 2?0 

Attiduff, 290 

Attykit, 290 

Augliadanove,      ....  248 

AiighaU, 493 

Aughil, 493 

AughHs, 493 

Aughinisli, 458 

Aughnacloy, 399 

Aughnagomaun.  ....  206 

Aughnahoy, 364 

Aughnanure, 491 

Aughnish, 458 

Aughrim, 506 

Aughris, 458 

Aughnis, 458 

Aughsullish  stream,      .     .  210 

Aughvolyshane,  ....  280 

Avalbane, 30 

Avalreagh, 498 

Avonmore  river,  .     .     .     .  439 

Awbeg  river,  .     .     .      379,  439 

Ayle, 396 

Ayleacotty, 217 

Babagh, 489 

Bahana ;  see  Behanagh. 

Bailey  ligMhouse,    .     .     .  335 

Balbriggan,     .     .     .     .     .  338 

Baldoyle, 338 

Balfeddock, 470 

Balgeeth, 43 

BaKef, 52 

Balla, 70 

Ballagh, 359 


PAGE. 

359 
489 
359 
359 
359 
359 
359 
489 
202 
284 


Ballaghaderreen 
Ballagbbeby,  . 
Ballaghboy,     . 
Ballagbkeen,   . 
Ballagbkeeran, 
Ballaghmoone, 
Ballaghmore,  . 
Ballagbnabeliy, 
Ballagboge, 
Ballabantouragh, 
Ballard ;  high  to\m. 

BaUee, 344 

BaUeen, 338 

Ballina, 99,  346 

Ballinabarny, 419 

BalKnaboy  ;  Bel-  an-atha- 
biiidhe,  mouth  of  the  yel- 
low ford. 

Ballinaclogh, 399 

Ballinacor, 354 

Balluiacur, 354 

Ballinacurra, 354 


Ballinafad, 

Ballinagar ;    Bel  -  atha-  na 

gcan\  the  ford-mouth  of 

the  cars. 

Ballinahuich, 

Ballinakill ;    the   town    of 

the  church  or  wood. 
Ballinalack, 
Ballinalee, 


346 


338 


404 
454 
110 
452 
346 


Ballina  mara, 
Ballinamona, 
Ballraamore, 
Ballinamought  near  Cork 

town  of  the  poor  people. 
Ballinard ;  the  town  of  the 

height. 
Ballinascarty,       ....     479 
Ballinascorney,     .     .     .'    .     505 

BaUinasloe, 200 

Ballinaspick,    Ballinaspig  ; 

the  town  of  the  bishop. 
Ballinastraw ;  the  town  of 

the  river-holm. 
Ballinattin,      .....     501 


Index  of  Names. 


517 


town  of 


149,  356 


PAGE. 

Ballinclialla, 449 

Ballinclare, 413 

Ballmcloghan,      ....     352 

Ballincollig, 31 

Ballincurra, 327 

Ballincurrig, 327 

Ballincurry, 327 

Ballindaggan,      ....     296 

Ballindagny, 296 

Ballindangan,       ....     296 

Ballinderry, 339 

Ballindine, 296 

Ballindinis ;    the 

the  black  island 
BallindoUaghan, 
Ballindoolin,    . 
Ballindrait, 
Ballindrehid,   . 
Ballineanig, 
Ballineddan,    . 
Ballinenagh,    . 
Ballinfoyle, 
Ballingaddy  in   Limerick ; 

the   town   of  the   thief, 

i.    e.    the    Black    thief, 

O'Dwane. 
Ballingarrane, 
Ballingarry, 
Ballingayi'our. 
BalUngeary, 

BaUinglanna,  BalHnglen, 
Ballingowan,  .     . 
Ballinguile,     .     . 
Balliniska,       .     . 
Ballinla,  Ballinlaw 
Ballinlass,  Ballinlassa,  Bal 

linlassy, 
Ballinlig,    .     . 
Ballinliss,  .     . 
Ballinlough,     . 
Ballinloughan, 
Ballinlug,  . 
BaUinluig, 
Ballinlyna;    the   town  of 

the  Leinsterman. 
Ballinoran, 438 


186 
851 
35( 
356 
198 
443 
198 
20,  421 


480 
220 
471 

70 
4J6 
213 

93 
432 
378 


262,  263 
417 

262 
433 
434 
418 
418 


town. 


of 


PAGE 

498 
421 
488 
502 
204 
837 


town. 


43 


407 


23 
31 

180 
215 
149 


Ballinoulart,    , 
Ballinphmll,  Ballinphull 
Ballinrally, 
Ballinree,    .... 
Ballinrink,       .     .     . 
Ballini'obe,      .     .     . 
Ballinrostig ;  Roche's 
Ballinskelligs  bay,    . 
BaUinspittle ;  the  tow 

the  spited  or  hospital 
Ballintaggart,       .     . 
Ballintannig,  .     .     . 
Ballintarsna ;  cross  io^m. 
Ballinteean,    . 
Ballinteer,  .... 
Ballintemple, 
Ballinteosig ;  Joyce's 
Ballinteskin,    .     .     . 
Ballintine,  .... 
Ballintlea,  .... 
Ballintleva,  Ballintlevy 
Ballintlieve,    .     .     . 
Ballintober,     .     .     . 
Ballintogher,  .     .     . 
Ballintoy  in  Antrim, 
Ballintra,  Ballintrae, 
Ballintra  bridge, 
Ballintrofaun, 
Ballintruer,     . 
Ballintry,  . 
Ballintubbert, 
Ballintubbrid, 
Ballinrdty  ;  the  town  of  the 

Ulsterman. 

Ballinure, 493 

Ballinyallig,  Ballinvally,    .     360 

Ballinvana, 19 

Ballinvarrig,  Ballinvarry ; 

Barry's  town. 
Ballinvella,  Ballinvilla,     .     483 

Ballinyoher, 858 

Ballinvreena, 279 

Ballinwillin, 363 

Ballinwtuly, 19 

Ballisk, 432 

BaUitore, 227 


447 
181 
367 
367 
367 
5,  436 
361 

20 
431 
353 

63 
253 
253 
437 
438 


518 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Bally  agran, 18 

Ballyard ;  high  town. 
Ballybane,   Ballybaun  ; 

white  town. 

BaUybatter, 44 

Ballybay, 489 

Ballybeg ;  small  town. 
Ballyblagh,    Ballyblaugh  ; 

the  town  of  the  flowers. 

Ballyboe, 235 

Ballybofey, 337 

Ballyboggan ;    O'Bogan's 

town. 
Ballyboghil  in  Co.  Dublin ; 

the  town  of  St.  Patrick's 

crozier. 

Ballyboley, 230 

Ballyboro, 347 

Ballybough, 16 

BaUyboughlin,     ....       16 

Bally  bought, 16 

Ballyboy, 344 

Ballybrack ;  speckled  town. 
Bally  branagh,    BaUybran- 

nagh ;  Walsh's  town. 
Bally bunnion ;    Bunnion's 

town. 
Ballycahan,   Ballycahane ; 

O'Cahan's  town. 
Ballycahill ;  Cahill's  town. 

Bally  carton, 215 

Ballycastle, 276 

Bally  clare, 413 

Ballyclerahan  ;     O'Clera- 

han's  town. 

Bally  clogh, 399 

Ballycloghan, 352 

Ballyclohy, 399 

Ballyclug ;    town    of  the 

bell. 
Ballycolla  ;  CoUa's  town. 
Ballyconnell,  .....     153 
Ballycormick ;  Cormac's 

town. 
Ballycroghan,      ....     375 
Ballycrogue, 375 


PAGE 

Ballycullane  ;    O'Collins's 

town. 

BaUycushlane,      ....  295 

Ballydavock, 248 

Ballydehob, 243 

BaUydrehid, 356 

Ballyduff ;  black  town. 
Bally ea  ;  O'Hea's  town. 

Ballyederown,      ....  241 
Ballyeighter ;  lower-town. 

Ballyfoile,  Ballyfoyle,  .     .  396 

BaUygaU, 93 

Ballygammon,      .     .     .     .  206 

Ballygarran,  Ballygarrane,  480 

Ballygarraun,       ....  480 

Ballygassoon, 202 

Ballyglass ;  green  town. 

BaUygow, 213 

Ballygowan, 213 

Ballyguile, 93 

BaUyheige, 337 

Ballyhisky, 432 

BaUyhooly, 497 

BaUyhoos, 8 

Ballykeel ;  narrow  town. 

Ballyknick, 368 

Ballyknock, 36& 

Ballyknockan,      .     .     .     .  368 

Bally  knockane,    .     .     .     .  868 

^Ballyknockan  moat,       .     .  89 

Ballylahan, 344 

BaUylanders,        ....  337 

BaUyleague, 343 

Ballylegan, 332 

Bally  lesson, 263 

Ballylevin, 490 

Ballylicky,       ....  347 

Ballylig, 418 

BaUylongford,      ....  4 

Ballylosky,      .     .     .     .     :  229 

Ballylough, 433 

Ballyloughan,      ....  434 

Ballyloughaun     ....  434 

Ballylug, 418 

Ballylusk, 229 

Ballylusky, 229 


Index  of  Names. 


519 


PAGE 

Ballymago^\'an,  ....  10 
Ballymena,  Ballymenagh, .  51 
Ballymoneen,  .....     452 

Ballymoney, 479 

Ballymore  ;  great  town ; 

sometimes  the  mouth  of 

the  great  ford  {Bel-atha- 

moi)-). 

Ballymote, 280 

Ballynaas,        200 

Ballynabama,  Ballynahar- 

ny,  Ballynabearna,     .     .419 

Ballynaboley 230 

Ballynaboll,  Ballynaboul,  .  421 
Ballynaboola,  .  .  .  .  230 
Ballynabooley,  ....  230 
Ballynacaheragh ;  the  town 

of  the  stone  fort. 

Bally  nacaird, 214 

Ballynacally ;  the  town  of 

the  hag. 

Ballynacard, 214 

Ballynacarrick,  Ballynacar- 

rig,  Ballynacarriga,  Bal- 

lynacarrigy;  the  town  of 

the  rock. 
Ballynaclogh,      .....     399 
Ballynacloghy,     ....     399 
Ballynacorra,        ....     354 
Ballynacourty  ;  the  town  of 

the  court  or  mansion 

BaUynacoy, 472 

Bally nadoUy,  ....  23 

Ballynafagh 286 

Ballynafarsid,  ....  348 
Ballynafaima ;  the  town  of 

the  declivity. 

Ballynafeigh, 286 

BaUynafey, 286 

Ballynafie, 286 

Ballynafoy,  .....  286 
Ballynafnnshin ;  the  town 

of  the  ash. 

Bally  nagall, 93 

Ballynagarde,  ....  214 
Ballynagarrick,  ....     397 


Ballynagaul,    .     . 

PAGE 

93 

Ballynagee,     .     . 

. 

43 

Ballynageeha, 

. 

43 

Ballynageeragh, ' 

457 

BaUynaglogh,       . 

338 

Ballynagore,    .     . 

. 

459 

Ballynagowan,     . 

213 

Ballynagran,  . 

481 

Bally  nab  aglish,    . 

. 

305 

Ballynahaha, 

364 

Ballynahaia,   .     . 

. 

364 

Ballynahatten,      . 

. 

501 

Ballynahattina,    . 

501 

Ballynahiach, 

'  288,338 

Ballynahivnia,     . 

. 

440 

Ballynahone, 

.     30,440 

Ballynahow,    .     . 

. 

439 

Ballynahown,        Ballyna- 

howna,      .     .     . 

.     .  30,440 

Ballynakill,     BallynakiUa, 

Ballynakilly ;    the  town 

of  the  church  or  -w 

-ood. 

Ballynakillew,     . 

475 

Ballynalackan, 

404 

Ballynalahessery, 

233 

Ballynamaddoo,   . 

463 

Ballynamaddree, 

463 

Ballynamaddy,     . 

463 

Ballynamona, 

452 

Ballynamountain, 

40 

Ballynamuck, 

461 

Baliynamuddagh ; 

Baile- 

na-vibodack,  the   t 

own  of 

the  bodaclis  or  chu 

rls. 

Ballynanass,    .     . 

. 

444 

Ballynaraha;  the  to 

wn  of 

the  rath  or  fort. 

Ballynarea,      .     . 

412 

Ballynarooga,      .     . 

110 

Ballynascarry,     .     . 

348 

Ballynashallog,    .     . 

205 

Ballynashee,    .     .     . 

179 

Ballynasheeoge,  . 

179. 

Ballynasollus, 

209 

Ballynatona,  Ballyn 

ito 

ne ; 

the 

town  of  the  bacTcside  or  hill. 


520 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Ballynatray, 431 

Ballynavaddog,     ....  470 

Ballyneddan, 443 

Bally  neety, 337 

Ballyness,         444 

Ballynew  ;  new  town. 

Bally  nisky, 432 

Ballynoe ;  new  town. 

Ballynoran, 438 

Ballynm-e, 493 

Ballyorgan, 337 

Ballyragget  in  Eilk.    Bel- 

atha-Eaghat  (Four  Mast.), 

Eagat's  ford-naoutli. 
Ballyroe  ;  red  town. 

Ballyroosky, 448 

Ballysadare, 445 

Ballysaggart,        ....  23 

Ballysakeery, 49 

Bally sallagh ;  dirty  town. 
Bally shane ;  John's  town. 
Ballyshannon,       .     .     .  176,346 

Ballystrew, 441 

Bally  sugagh, 203 

Bally tarsna,  Bally tarsney,  338 
Ballyteige;  O'Teige's  town. 
Ballytober,      ....  254,436 

Ballytrasna, 338 

BaUyTaghan      in      Clare ; 

Baile-ui-  Bheachain, 

O'Behan's  town. 

Bally  vally, 360 

Ballyvangour,       ....  371 

Bally  varnet, 420 

Ballyvool, 230 

Ballyvooley, 230 

Ballywater, 40 

Ballywaternioy,    ....  40 

Bally  whoUart,      .     .     •     .  498 

Bally  willen, 363 

Balur's  Castle  and  Prison,  156 

Balrath, 338 

Balrathboyne,       ....  144 

Balrothery, 18 

Balscaddan  at  Howth,  the 

town  of  the   herrings. 


PAGE 

Balteen, 338 

Balteenhrack,       ....  338 

Baltinglass, 71 

Baltrasna,        338 

Baltray, 481 

Baltyboys, 338 

Baltydaniel, 338 

Baltylum, 338 

Banagh,  barony  of,  .     .     .  134 

Banagher,  .          ....  372 
Banemore ;  great  green  field. 

Bangor,       .'" 372 

Banna 370 

Bannagh, 370 

Bannaghbane,      .     .     .     .  370 

Bannaghroe,         ....  370 

Bannamore, 370 

Bannow, 103 

Bansha ;  Bainseach,  a  level 

place. 
Banteer ;  Bdn-th',  lea  land. 

Bantry, 120 

Barnieen, 610 

Barmona, 510 

Barna, 419 

Barnaboy ;  yellow  gap. 

Barnacoyle, 496 

Barnacullia 475 

Barnadarrig,  Barnaderg,    .  419 

Barnageeha,  Baraageehy,  .  419 

Barnagrotty, 385 

Barnakyle, 496 

Barnanageehy,    .      .     .     .  419 

Barnane-Ely,       ....  420 

Barnes, 420 

Barnish, 420 

Barnismore, 420 

Barr, 510 

Barranafaddock,  ....  470 

Ban-avore, 510 

Barreragh, 510 

Barroe  ;  red  top. 

Barr  of  Slawin,    .     .     .     .  510 

Barrow  river,       ....  75 

Baslick, 312 

Baslickane 312 


Index  of  Names. 


521 


PAGE. 

Eattertjohn, 44 

Batterstown, 44 

Baunatlea, 367 

Baunmore ;  great  green  field. 
Baunoge  ;  little  green  field. 
Baunreagh  ;  grey  field. 

Baunskeha, oOO 

Bauraneag, 20 

Baurstookeen,      .     .     .     .  395 

Bauville, 338 

Bavan, 297 

Bawn, 298 

Bawnboy;  yellow  field. 

Bawnfoun, 30 

Bawnfune, 30 

Bawnmore ;  great  field. 

Bawnoges, 33 

Beagh, 489 

Beaghy, 489 

Bealnasliriu'a,       ....  442 

Bear,  barony, 128 

Bear  Island, 128 

Bearhaven, 128 

Beglieve, 366 

Behagh, 489 

Bebanagh, 489 

Bebeenagh, 489 

Behernagh, 489 

Beby, 489 

Belan, 311 

Belclare, 345 

Belderg;  red  ford- moutb. 

Belfarsad, 348 

Belfast, 348 

Bellagby, 345 

Bellanacargy,       ....  345 

Bellanagare, 345 

Bellanalack, 347 

Bellananagh, 458 

BeUaiigb, 344 

BeUeek, 403,  404 

Bellew, 483 

Bellia 483 

Bellow-tree,  Bell-tree,  .     .  482 

Belra, 265 

Belragb, 265 


PAGE. 

Belraugb, 265 

Beltany, 194 

Beltra;  strand-moiitb. 

Ben, 369 

Benagb, 370 

Benamore, 370 

Benaneba, 469 

Benbo, 370 

Benburb,     ......  370 

Bengore  bead,      ....  370 

Bengorni ;  blue  peak. 

Ben  of  Fore, 370 

Big  Dog, 248 

Bignion, 371 

Billy, 40 

BiUywood, 208 

Binbulbin, 134 

Binnafreagban,    ....  502 

Binnion, 371 

Blackvalley, 68 

Blackwater  river,      .     .     .  439 
Boa  island,      .     .     .     297,  note. 

Bodoney, 293 

Bogagb,  Boggagb,  Boggan, 

Boggaun  ;   a   boggy 

place. 

Bobaboy, 293 

Bobanboy, 294 

Bobann, 294 

Bober, 357 

Boberard ;  bigb  road. 

Boberbdy, 3 

Bohercuill, 358 

Boherduff*, 20 

Bobereen, 357 

Bobereenkyle,      ....  358 

Boberkm,  Boberkyle,    .     .  358 
Bobermeen ;  smooth  road. 

Bobernabreena,    ....  279 

Boberqnill, 358 

Boberroe ;  red  road. 

Bobo, 293 

Boboge, 294 

Bobola, 293 

Bobullion, 294 

Boley, 230 


522 


Index  of  Names. 


TAGE 

Boleylug, 230 

Boleynagoagh,      ,     .     .     .  471 

Boleyneendiirrish,     .     .     .  254 

Bonanass, 444 

Boola, 230 

BooladuiTaglia,     .     .     .     .  230 

Booldurragh, 230 

Booley, 230 

Boolteens, 231 

Boolteeny, 231 

Boolyglass, 230 

Booterstown, 46 

Borderreen, 358 

Borheen, 357 

Borleagh, 358 

Bornacourtia,       ....  358 

Boro  river, 347 

Borris, 340 

Borris-in-Ossory,      .     .     .  340 

Borrisokane, 340 

Borrisoleigh, 340 

Bough, 293 

Boula 230 

Boulabally, 230 

Boultypatrick,      ....  230 

Bourney, 406 

Bovevagh, 293 

Boyhill, 40 

Boylagh,  barony  of,      .     .  134 

Boynagh, 440 

Boyounagh, 440 

Boyne  river, 75 

Boystown, 338 

Braade ;  see  Braid. 
Brackagh,  Brackenagli,  Brack- 
ernagh,  Bracklagh;  a  speck- 
led place. 

BrackHn, 226 

Brackloon, 226 

Braddocks, 505 

Bradoge  stream,  ....  505 

Braid,  The, 605 

Brandon  hiU, 142 

Brankill, 469 

Brannish, 469 

Brannock  island,       .     .     .  247 


PAGE. 

Bray,  Bray  head,      .     .     .  377 

Breafiy, 466 

Breagho, 466 

Breaghva, 466 

Breaghwy, 466 

Breaghy, 466 

Breahig, 466 

Breandrum ;  stinking  ridge. 

Bree, 377 

Breen,    .......  279 

Breenagh, 280 

Breenaun, 279 

Breeoge, 280 

Bremore, 146 

Bricklieve, 366 

Brigh, 377 

Brigown, 377 

Brittas ;  speckled  land. 

Britway, 466 

Brockagh,  Brocka,    .     .     .  467 

Brockernagh, 467 

Brockey, 467 

Brocklagh, 467 

Brockly, 467 

Brockna, 467 

Brockra,  Brockry,     .     .     .  467 

Bronagh, 364 

Bruce, 278 

Bruckana, 467 

Brughas, 278 

Bruis, 278 

Bruff, 277,  278 

Bruree, 277 

Bruse, 278 

Bruslee, 358 

Bryanbeg,  Bryanmore,       .  279 

Buffanoky, 468 

Bullaun  :  a  well  in  a  rock. 

Bull,  Cow,  and  Calf,     .     .  158 

Buncrana, 510 

Bunlahy, 509 

Bunnatreesruhan,     .     .     .  254 

Bunratty, 610 

Bunskellig, 408 

Buntalloon, 609 

Surges, 340 


Index  of  Names. 


523 


PAGE. 

Burnew, 405 

Burren,        405 

Burrenrea,  Burrenreagh.,    .  405 

Bnrris, 340 

Burrisearra, 340 

Biirrishoole, 340 

Burrisnafarney,    ....  340 

Buttevant, 379 

Cabragh ;  bad  land. 

Caddagb, 378 

Cadian, 378 

Cady, 878 

Caber, 273,  274 

Caberagb  ;   full   of  stone 

forts. 

Caherass 444 

Caberbarnagb,      .     .     .     .  272 

Caberconlisb,        ....  274 

Cabercorcaun,       .     .     .     .  397 
Caberduggan ;  Duggan's 

stone  fort. 

Cabereen, 275 

Caberelly, 283 

Cabergal, 274 

Caberkeen ;  beautiful  stone 

fort. 

Caherlarbig, 298 

Caberlustraun,     .     .     .     .  228 

Cabermoyle, 449 

Oabermurpby,      ....  274 

Cabersiveen, 274 

Cabervillahowe,  .     .     .     .  439 

Cabii-acon, 247 

Cabirconree     in    Kerry  ; 

Curee's   fort,    i.  e.   tbe 

great  cbief,  Curoi-mac- 

I) aire— 1st  cent. 

Calary, 119 

Caldragb, 305 

Callow 448 

Callowbill, 496 

Calluragb,       ...       304,  305 

Calry, 118,  119 

Caltragb,  Caltra,       .     .     .  305 
Camas ;  see  Camus. 


PAGE 

Camline, 416 

Camlougb ;  crooked  lake. 
Camus  ;     anything    that 
winds ;  a  winding  stream. 

Canbo, 176 

CanguUia, 331 

Cannafaby, 504 

Cannaway, 411 

Cannawee, 411 

Cape  Clear  island,     .     .     .  143 

Cappa, 219 

Cappadavock,   .  .  .  .  248 

Cappagh, 219 

Cappagbcreen,      .     .     .     .  219 

Cappagbmore,  Cappamore,  219 

Cappagbwbite,     ....  219 

Cappanacreba,      ....  211 

Cappanageeragb,       .     .     .  219 

Cappanalarabaun,     .     .     .  219 

Cappanctir, 16 

Cappanouk, 312 

Capparoe ;  red  plot. 

Cappateemore,      .     .     .     .  219 

Cappog,  Cappoge,      .     .     .  219 

Cappoquin, 219 

Cappy, 219 

Cappydonnell,      ....  219 

Caran,  Caraun,     ....  406 

Carbury  barony,        .     .     .  135 

CarcuUion, 406 

Cargagb, 398 

Cargan, 398 

Cargin, 398 

Cargygray, 37 

Carba, 331 

Carban, 495 

Carbeen, 40() 

Carbeens,  Carbeeny,      .     .  406 

Carboo, 234 

Carboon, 34 

Carlingford,     .     .     .       101,  102 

Carlow, 433 

Carma^-y, 322 

Carn, 321 

Carnacally, 322 

Carnagat, 322 


524 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Carnalbanagh ;  the  Scotch- 
man's cam. 

Carnalughoge,      ....  322 

Carn-Amhalgaidh,    .     .     .  196 

Carnane,  Carnaim,    .     .     .  322 
Carnbane ;  white  earn. 

Carn  Clanhugh,  ....  321 

Carndonagh, 322 

Camearny, 104 

Carnew, 322 

Carney, 322 

Carnfunnock, 468 

Carnfyan, 88 

Carnglass ;  green  carn. 

Camgranny, 323 

Carnkenny, 322 

Carnlea, 321 

Cammore ;  great  carn,  .     .  154 

Carnquill, 496 

Carnsore  Point,    .     .       101,102 

Carnteel, 321 

Carn  Tierna, 321 

Carntrone, 448 

Camtogher  hills,       ...  321 

Carntruer  hill,      ....  253 

Carr, 406 

Carra, 331 

Carragh ;    rongh  or   rocky 
land. 

Carran, 406 

Carrantuohill, 6 

Carraun, 406 

Carrick,      ....       396,  397 

Carrickaneagh,     ....  469 

Carrickanee, 469 

Carrickaness, \5 

Carrickanoran,     ....  438 
Carrickbeg ;  little  rock. 

Carrickconeen,      ....  464 

Carrickcroppan,    ....  386 
Carrickduff ;  black  rock. 
Carrickfergus ;  Fergus's 

rock. 

Carrickhawna,      .     .     .     .  196 
Carrickmore ;  great  rock. 

Carricknadarriff,  ....  2 


PAGE 

Carricknashoke,  .     .     . 

468 

Carrick- on- Shannon,     . 

3 

Carrick-on-Suir,        .     . 

3 

Carrickshock,       .     .     . 

438 

Can-ickslavan,      .     .     . 

490 

Carrig,        ....       396,  897 

Carrigadrohid,      .     .     . 

356 

Carrigafoyle,        .     .     . 

397 

Carrigagh,        .... 

398 

Carrigaholt,     .... 

216 

Carrigahowly,      .     •     . 

216 

Carrigaline  in   Cork;    the 

rock  of  O'Lehane. 

Carrigallen,      .... 

.     397 

Carrigan, 

.     398 

Carriganaffrin,      .     .     . 

114 

Carriganass,    .... 

15 

Carrigane, 

.     397 

Carrigans,        .... 

32 

Carrigaphooca,     .     .     . 

182 

Carrigatna,      .... 

353 

Carrigaun,        .... 

398 

Carrigcleena,  .... 

.     188 

Carrigdownane,  Downan'. 

3 

or  Downing's  rock. 

Carrigeen,        .... 

.     397 

Carrigeenamron  ety , 

.     364 

Carrigeennamoe,        .     . 

.     454 

Carrigeens,      .... 

33 

Carrigleamleary,        .     . 

.     164 

Carrignacurra,      .     .     . 

.     355 

Carrignavar,    .... 

.       22 

Carrigogunnell,    .     .     . 

5 

Carrive, 

.     234 

CaiTogs, 

406 

CaiTon, 

322 

Carron  hill,     .... 

821 

Carronadayderg,  .     .     . 

.     322 

Carrow, 

.     234 

Carroward ;  high  quai'ter. 

Carrowbaue,  Carrowbaun, 

234 

Carrowbeg,      .... 

.     234 

Carrowblagh ;  the  quarter 

land  of  the  flowers. 

Carrowcrin,     .... 

.     481 

Corrowduff ;  black  quartei 

Index  of  Names. 


525 


PAGE 

Carrowgarriff,       ....     234 
Carrowgarve,       ....     234 

Carrowkeel, 234 

CarroTrmanagla ;         middle 

quarter-land. 
Carrowmore,    .     . 
Carrownaglogh,    . 
Carrownagiiivna, 
CaiTOwnaltore,     . 
Carrownam  addoo, 
Carrownamaddy, 
Carrownaweelaim 
Carrowntober, 
Carrowreagh,     Carrowrev- 

agh ;  grey  quarter-land, 
Carrowroe ;  red  quarter. 

Carsan,        

Cartron, 

Cartonagilta, 236 

Cartronbore, 358 

Cartronganny,      .     .     .     .     236 
Cartronrathroe,    .     .     .     .     236 

Casey  glebe, 850 

Cashel, 178,275 


234 
399 
214 
114 
31 
31 
469 
436 


360 
236 


Cashelfean, 

Cashelfinoge, 

Cashelnavean,      .     .     .     . 

Cashen  river, 

Cashlan, 

Cashlancran, 

Cashlaimawogga,      .     . 
Cashlaundarragh,      .     .     . 

Cassagb, 

Cassan, 

Castlebane,     Castlebaim ; 

white  castle. 
Castlebar  in  Mayo,  .     .     . 
Castlecomer ;  the  castle  of 

the  river  confliience. 
Castleconnell, 
Castledargan,  . 
Castledermot,  . 
Castledillon,  . 
Castlegarde,  . 
Castle- Garden, 
Castlehollis,     . 


276 
276 
276 
360 
295 
295 
203 
295 
350 
360 


295 


48 
276 
314 
314 
214 
220 
211 


PAGE 

Castlekeeran, 314 

Castleknock, 87 

Castlelyons, IbO 

Castlemoyle, 382 

Castlepook, 183 

Castlerahan;  the  castle  of 

the  little  rath  or  fort. 

Castlereagh, 294 

Castleruddery ;    the   castle 

of  the  knight. 

Castleterra, 8 

Castle  ventry,        ....  36 

Cavan, 388 

Cavanacaw, 388 

Cavanagh, 388 

Cavanaleck, 388 

Cavanreagh ;  grey  hill. 

Cavantreeduff,      .     .     .     .  253 

Cavany 388 

Cave  of  Dunmore,     .     .     .  423 

Celbridge, 356 

Charlemont, 245 

Cheek  Point, 179 

Church  Island,     ....  148 

Cladowen, 31 

Claggan ;    Claigeann,    the 

skull ;  a  round  hill. 

Clahernagh, 402 

Clananeese, 116 

Clanhugh  Demesne,       .     .  116 

Clankee,  barony  of,    .     .     .  116 

Clanmaurice,  barony  of,     .  116 

Clanwilliam,  barony  of,     .  116 

Clara 414 

Claragh, 414 

Claraghatlea, 414 

Clarashinnagh,     .     .     .     .  414 

Clarbane, 414 

Clarcarricknagun,     .     .     .  414 

Clarderry, 414 

Clare, 414 

Clareen, 414 

Claregalway, 414 

Clarehill,    ". 414 

ClarkiU 414 

Clash ;  Clais^  a  trench. 


526 


Index  of  Names. 


I'AGE 

Clashanaffi-in,       .     .     .     .  113 

Claslianiskera,      ....  389 
ClashdufF;  black  trench. 
Clashganniff,  Clashganniv, 

Clashganny;  sand  pit. 
Clashmore ;  great  trench, 

Clawinch, 31 

Cleenish, 428 

Cleggan;  see  Claargan. 

Cleghile,     .     .    r    .     .     .  Ill 

Cleighran, 402 

Cleraun, 402 

Clerhaun, 402 

Clerragh, 402 

CleiTan 402 

Clifden, 52 

CHffsofMoher,    ....  287 

Clinty, 226 

Clintycracken,      .          .     .  226 

Clogh, 398 

Cloghan, 351 

Cloghanaskaw,     .     .     .     .  351 

Cloghane, 351 

Cloghanenagleragh,  .     .     .  352 

Clogharinka,    .     .     .     .     ,  204 

Cloghastookeen,  ....  395 

Cloghaun, 351 

Cloghaunnatinny,     .     .     .  208 

Cloghbally, 398 

Cloghboley, 398 

Cloghboola, 398 

Cloghbrack ;  speckled  stone. 
Cloghcor ;  rough  stone. 

Clogheen, 399 

Clogher, 400 

Cloghera, 402 

Clogherane, 402 

Clogherbrien ;  Braen's 

stony  place. 

Cloghereen, 402 

Cloghermore ;  great  stony 

place. 

Cloghernagh, 402 

Clogherny, 402 

Cloghfin;  white  stone  or 

stone  castle. 


PAGE 

Cloghineely, 156 

Cloghleafin, 479 

Cloghnagalt, 166 

Cloghoge, 399 

Cloghogle,        330 

Cloghpook, 183 

Cloghran, 402 

Cloghtogle, 330 

Cloghvally, 398 

Cloghvoley, 398 

Cloghroola,  Cloghvoolia,  .  399 

Cloghvoula, 399 

Cloghy ;  a  stony  place. 

Clogrennan,     .     .     .     .     .  281 

Clohecn, 399 

Clohernagh, 402 

Clohoge, 399 

Clomantagh, 399 

Clomoney, 399 

Clonad ;  long  meadow. 

Clonagb, 458 

Clonallan, 225 

Clonal  vy, 242 

Clonamery, 381 

Clonard,      ...         .       224,  225 

Clonamey, 500 

Clonaslee, 858 

Clonbeg ;  little  meadow. 

Clonbrock, 467 

Clonbrone, 363 

Cloncon, 464 

Cloncoohy, 471 

Cloncose, 424 

Cloncough, 471 

Cloncouse,        424 

Cloncrew    in    Liuicrick ; 
Cluain  -  creamha,    wild 
garlick  meadow. 
CloncuUen ;  holly  meadow. 

Cloncurry, 10 

Clondagad 249 

Clondalee, 249 

Clondalkin ;  Chiain-Dolcain, 
Dolcan's  meadow. 

ClondaUow, 186 

Clondarragh, 485 


Index  of  Names. 


527 


PAGE 

Clonderalaw, 378 

Clondougias ;  the  meadow 

of  the  black  stream. 

Clondiiff, 457 

Clone ;  Cluain,  a  meadow. 
Cloneen ;  little  meadow. 

Clonegall, 93 

Clonelty, 461 

Clonenagh, 503 

Clones, 224 

Clonfad,    Clonfadda  ;    long 

meadow. 
Clonfeacle  ;   Cluain  -  Jiacla 

(Book  ofL.),  the  meadow 

of  the  tooth, 

Clonfert, 142 

Clongall, 93 

ClongiU, 93 

Clongowes,      .     .     .     .     .     214 

Cloniff, 457 

Clonkeen, 226 

Clonlea, 455 

Clonleigh, 455 

Clonliff;   Cliiain-luibh,  the 

meadow  of  the  herbs. 
Clonmacnoise,       ....       69 
Clonmeen ;  smooth  meadow. 
Clonmel,     ....       225,  22G 

Clonmellon, 225 

Clonmelsh ;  sweet  meadow. 
Clonmore ;  great  meadow. 

Clonmiillin, 363 

Clonmult, 226 

Clonoghil, 493 

Clononey  in   King's    Co. ; 

Cluain  -  Damhna    (Four 

Mast.),  Damhan's  or  Ba- 
vin's meadow. 
Clonoulty    in    Tipperary ; 

the  Ulstennan's  meadow. 
Clonroad,    ....       259,  427 
Clonroosk ;  the  meadow  of 

the  marsh. 
Clonshire ;  western  meadow. 
Clonsilla  ;    Cluain-saileach, 

the  meadow  of  sallows. 


PAGE 

Clonskeagh, 500 

Clontarf, 456 

Clontibret, 437 

Clontinteen, 209 

Clontinty, 208 

Clontui'k ;  the  boar's  meadow. 
Clontuskert ;  see  p.  226. 

Clonty, 226 

Clontycoe,  Clontycoo,  .  .  472 

Clonuff, 457 

Glonygowan, 455 

Clonyhurk, 248 

Cloon, 223 

Cloonacaltry, 305 

Cloonaff, 458 

Cloonagh, 457 

Cloonard, 225 

Cloonascoffagh,    ....  53 

Cloonatreane,       ....  470 

Cloonawillen,       ....  363 
Cloonbeg  ;  little  meadow. 

Cloonbrock, 467 

Cloonbrone, 363 

Cloonbiirren, 405 

Clooncah ;  battle  meadow. 

Clooncon, 464 

Clooncoose, 423 

Clooncose, 423 

Clooncous, 424 

Clooncraff;  Cluain-creamha 
(Four  Mast.),  wild  gar- 
lick  meadow. 
Clooncunna,     Clooncunnig, 
Clooncunny ;  the  meadow 
of  the  firewood. 
Cloondacarra 
Cloondacon, 
Cloondadauv, 


Cloondaff,   . 
Cloondanagh, 
Cloondara, 
Cloondelara, 
Cloonderavalley 
Cloonederowen, 
Cloonee  ;  meadow  land 
Clooneen,    .     .     .     . 


245 
248 
248 
20 
248 
243 
248 
242 
241 

226 


528  Index 

C^»^^*    -  PAGE 

Cloonelt, 461 

Clooney ;  see  Cloonee. 
Cloonfad  ;  long  meadow. 
Clooniinlougli ;  the  meadow 

of  the  clear  lake. 

Cloongowan, 214 

Clooniff, 457 

Cloonkeen, 226 

Cloonlara 459 

Cloonlaughil, 491 

Cloonlee ;  see  Clonlea. 

Cloonlogher, 226 

Cloonmore ;  great  meadow. 

CloonmuUin, 363 

Cloonnafiuneela,  .     .     .     •  HI 

Cloonnagashel,     ....  22 
Cloonnameeltoge,      .     453,  note. 

Cloonoghill, 493 

Cloonrollagh,       .     .     .     •  488 
Cloonshannagh,  Cloonshin- 

nagh ;  fox-meadow. 

Cloonshee, 179 

Cloonsillagh ;  the  meadow 

of  the  sallows. 

Cloonskeagh, 600 

Cloontabonniv,     ....  226 

Cloontakilla, 226 

CloontakiUew,      ....  226 

Cloontarriff,  Cloontarriv,  .  456 

Cloonteen, 226 

Cloonties,    ....        33,226 
Cloontubbrid ;  the  meadow 

of  the  well. 
Cloonturk ;  boar's  meadow. 

Cloontuskert,        .     .     .     •  226 

Cloonty, 33,  226 

Cloontycommade,     .     .     .  206 

Cloran,        402 

Clorane, 402 

Clorhane,  Clorhaun,      .     .  402 

Clorusk, 399 

Clough, 398 

Cloverhill, 35 

Cloyne,       424 

Clyduff, 31 

Colehill, 496 


of  Names. 


PAGE 

Coleraine,  Colerain,      .     .  .512 

Collon,        496 

Colp, 158 

Comber, 59 

Commaun, 419 

Commeen, 419 

Coney  keare, 465 

Conicar,  Conieker,    .     .     .  465 

Conigar, 465 

ConUg,        464 

Connaught, 75 

Connello, 131 

Connemara, 121 

Connigar, 465 

Connigare, 465 

Connor, 464 

Conva, 464 

Convoy, 464 

ConwaU, 25 

Cooga,        235 

Coogaquid, 235 

Coogue, 235 

Coolattin, 501 

Coolavehy, 489 

Coolavin, 121 

Coolballow, 338 

Coolbally, 338 

Coolballyogan,     ....  338 

Coolballyshane,    ....  338 

Coolbanagher,      ....  372 
Coolcashin ;     Cuil-caissine, 

C ashen' s  corner. 
Coolbane,  Coolbaun ;  white 

back,  or  white  corner. 
Coolboy ;   yellow   back  or 

corner. 

Coolcronoge, 288 

Cooldao, 243 

Coolderry ;  back  oak-wood. 
Coole ;  a  corner  or  a  back. 
Cooleen ;  little  corner. 
Coleeny ;  little  corners. 
Cooleeshal,  Coolishal;    low 

comer. 

Cooley  hills, 159 

Coolfree, 502 


Index  of  Names. 


529 


PAGE 

Coolgreany ;  sunny  corner 

or  back. 

CoolliiU, 40 

Coolkeenaght,      ....  129 
Coolkill ;  back  wood. 

Coolmountain,      ....  40 

Coolnabrone 363 

Coolnacart, 214 

Coolnacartan, 215 

Coolnagro^rer,      ....  472 

Coolnagun, 464 

Coolnahincli, 428 

Coolnanav, 457 

Coolnanoglagh,     .     .     .     .  202 

Coolnashinnagb,  ....  466 

Coolnashinny,       ....  466 
Coolnasmear ;  the  corner  of 

the  blackberries. 
Coolock,    Coologe ;    cuUg, 

little  corner. 

Coolrahnee, 512 

Coolrain,  Coolraine,      .    .  612 

Coolrainey, 512 

Coolroe  ;  red  corner  or  back. 

Coom, 418 

Coomacheo, 419 

Coomadavallig  lake,      .     .  245 

Coombe  in  Dublin,  .     .     .  418 

Coomdeeween,      ....  203 

Coomnagoppul  at  Killarney,  418 

Coomnagun, 419 

Coomnahorna,      ....  419 

Coomyduff  near  Killarney,  68 

Coos, 423 

Coosan, 424 

Coosane,  Coosaun,    .     .     .  424 

Coose, 423 

Coosheen, 424 

Cooslughoga, 423 

Cor,  Corr, 384 

Coracow, 241 

Corballis ;  odd-town. 
Corbally ;  odd-town. 

Corbeagli, 384 

Corcagban, 447 

Corcashy, 447 

2 


PAGE 

Corcobaskin, 126 

Corcomobide, 116 

Corconu-oe,  barony  of,    .     .  121 

Corcrain, 481 

Corcreevy ;  branchy  hill. 

Cordalea, 250 

Cordangan ;  fortified  hill. 
Cordarragh  ;  hill  of  the  oak. 
C  or  duff ;  black  round -hill. 
Corgarve ;  rough  round-hill. 
Corglass ;  green  round-hill. 

Corhawnagh, 222 

Corhawny, 222 

Corhelshinagh,     ....  209 
Corick  ;  meeting  of  rivers. 

Cork, 446 

Corkagh, 446 

Corkaguiny,  barony  of,      .  126 

Corkaree,  barony  of,      .     .  128 

Corkashy,        447 

Corkeeran, 384 

Corkey, 446 

Corkish, 447 

Corlatt, 326 

Corlea ;  grey  round  hill. 

Corlough, 470 

Cormeen ;  smooth  hill. 

Cornabaste, 22 

Cornacreeve ;     the    round 
hill  of  the  branchy  tree. 

Cornadarum, 244 

Cornagee,  Cornageeha,  .     .  384 

Comahoe, 425 

Cornahoova, 425 

Cornahove, 425 

Cornakessagh,      ....  350 

Cornmucklagh,    .     .     .     .  462 

Cornasleehan,      ....  358 

Cornaveagh, 384 

Corrabofin, 161 

Corracramph;    the  round- 
hill  of  the  wild  garlick. 

Corradeverrid,      .     .     .     .  244 

Corradoo, 325 

Corradooa, 325 

Corradooey, 325 

M 


530 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Corraffrin,  ,...••  113 

Corragunt, 266 

Corrahoash, 424 

Corrakeeran ;      the    round 
hill  of  the  quicken  trees. 
Corratoher ;     the     round- 
hill  of  the  well. 

Corraweehil, 449 

Corray,       265 

Correen, 384 

Correenfeeradda,  .     .     .     .  384 

Corrinenty,      .     .     .     •     •  254 
Corrinshigo,  Corrinshigagh ; 
the  hill  of  the  ash  trees. 

Corrofin, 354 

Corrog,  Corroge,  .     .     .     .  384 
Corskeagh ;  the  roiind-hill 

of  the  white  thorns. 

Coshhride  harony,     .     .     .  609 

Coshlea  harony,  ....  509 

Coshma  barony,  ....  509 

Coshquin, 609 

Cossaun,     ...>..  360 

Coumanare, Ill 

Coumaniller  on  Keeper-hill.  468 
Coumshingane,    .     453,  note. 

Cozies, 423 

Craan,  Craane,    '.     -     .     .  407 

Crag, 396 

Craggy kerrivan,  .     .     .     .  397 

Craglea, 189 

Craig, 396,  397 

Craigatempin,      .     .     .     .  390 

Craigatuke, 468 

Craigavad, 397 

Craigmore ;  great  rock. 

Cran, 481 

Cranacrower, 481 

Crancam, 481 

Crandaniel, 481 

Crane, 407 

Cranfield, 39 

Cranlome, 481 

Crann,  Crannagh,     .     .     .  481 

Crannaghtown,    ....  37 

Crannoge, 288 


PAGE 

Crannogeboy,      ....  288 

Crannoge  island,       .     .     .  288 
Cranny  ;  same  as  Crannagh. 

Crappagh, 386 

Cratlie, 367 

Cratloe ;  saUow  wood. 
Craughwell ;    Creamh-c?ioill, 

wild  garlick  wood. 

Crecora, 483 

Creevagh,  ....   436,  484 

Creevary, 484 

Creeve, 483 

Creeveroe, 86 

Creevery, 484 

Creevy, 484 

Creg, 396,  397 

Cregduff ;  black  rock. 

Gregg, 397 

Creggan, 398 

Creggane,  Creggaun,     .     .  398 

Cremome  barony,     .     .     .  131 

Crew, 483 

CrewhiU, 483 

Crickaun, 369 

Crickeen, 369 

Crimlin, 416 

Crinkill ;  withered  wood. 

Crippaun, 386 

Crit, 385 

Croagh, 374 

Croaghan,  Croaghaun,  .     .  376 

Croaghpatrick,     ....  190 
Croaghrim ;  Cruach-dhruim, 

round  ridge. 

Crockac  apple,       ....  369 

Crockada, 242 

Crockanure, 369 

Crockatanty, 292 

Crockaun,  Crockeen,     .     .  369 

Crocknagapple,     ....  369 

Crockshane, 369 

Crogh, 374 

Croghan,  Croghanhill,  .     .  375 

Crohane, 51,  375 

Cromaglan,  Cromagloun,  .  417 
Cromkill ;  stooping  wood. 


Index  of  Names. 


531 


PAGE 

Cromlin, 416 

Cromwell, 40 

Cronoge, 288 

Crosh, 316 

Crosheen, 316 

Cross, 315 

Crossakeel;  slender  crosses. 

Crossan,  Crossane,  Crossaun,  316 
Crossard ;  high  cross. 

Crossboyne, 145 

Crossderry  ;  cross  or  trans- 
verse oak-wood. 

Crosserlongh, 315 

Crossery, 316 

Crossfarnoge, 316 

Crossgar, 316 

Crossmacrin, 481 

Crossmaglen  ;  Cros  -  meg  - 
Fhloinn,  the  cross  of 
Flann's  son. 

Crossmolina, 315 

Crossoge, 316 

Crossreagh ;  grey  cross. 

Crotlie, 367 

Crott, 385 

Crotta, 385 

Crottan, 385 

Crottees, 385 

Cruagh, 375 

Cruit, 385 

Crumlin, 416 

Crusheen, 316 

Crusheeny, 316 

Crushybracken,    .     .     .     .  316 

Crussera, 316 

Crutt, 385 

Crutta, 385 

Cuilbeg ;  little  wood. 
Cuilleen ;  little  wood. 

Cuilleendaeagh,    ....  247 
Cuilmore ;  great  wood. 

Cuilsheeghary,     ....  179 

Cuiltybo, 475 

Culdaff;  Culdahhach  [Cul- 
davagh],  the  back  of  the 
flax-dam  or  pool. 

2 


PAGE 

Culfeightrin, 29 

CuUahill, 40,  496 

Cullan,  CuUane,  CuUaun,  ,  496 

Culleen, 475 

Cullen, 495 

Cullenagh, 495 

CuUentra,  Cullentragh,      .  495 
Cullen waine;  Cuil-0-nLnbh- 
ain  (Four  IMast.),  the  cor- 
ner of  the  O'Duanes. 

Cullion, 495 

Cully, 476 

Cullycapple, 476 

Culmullen ;    the   angle  of 
the  mill. 

Cumber, 69 

Cummeen, 419 

Cunnagavale, 25 

Cunnaker,  Cunnicar,     .     .  465 

Cunnigar,  Cunnigare,    .     .  465 

Curkeen, 447 

Curkin, 447 

Curkish, 447 

Curra, 447 

Currabaha,  Currabeha,       .  447 

Curragh, 447 

Curraghanearla ;  the  earl's 

marsh. 
Curraghbeg ;  little  marsh. 
Curraghboy ;  yellow  marsh. 

Curraghbridge,     ....  37 
Curraghduff ;  black  marsh. 
Curraghglass ;  green  marsh. 
Curraghlahan,  Curraghlane ; 

broad  marsh. 

Curraghmore,       ....  447 

Curragh  of  Kildare,       .     .  447 

Curraghnadimpaun,       .     .  390 

Curraheen, 447 

Curran  near  Larne,  .     .     .  393 

Curreen, 447 

Currin, 447 

Curry, 447 

Cush, 508 

Cushendall, 509 

Cushendun, 508 

m2 


532 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Cuss, 508 

Cussafoor, 28 

Cussan,  Cussana,      .     .     .  360 
Cutteen ;  a  commonage. 

Daar  river, 484 

Daars, 33 

DadreeB, 243 

Dalaradia, 95 

Dalkey  Island,     .     .      101,  107 

Dalriada, 83 

Damma, 243 

Dangan, 295 

Dangandargan ;  Dargan's 

fortress. 

Darragh, 485 

Darraragh, 487 

Darrary,  Darrery,     .     .     .  487 

Davillaun,        43 

Dawross,  Dawros  head,      .  456 

Decomet, 207 

Deechomade, 207 

Deehommed,        ....  207 
Deelis,  Deelish ;  Duibhlios, 

black  fort. 
Deenish  ;  same  as  Dinish. 

Dehomad, 207 

DelviUe, 440 

Delvin,        130 

Derdaoil  or  Dariel,  .     .     .  242 

Derinch,  Derinish,    .     .     .  484 

Dark, 423 

Derlett, 325 

Dernagree,       .     .     .     .     .  485 

Dernish, 484 

Derrada,  Derradd,     .     .     .  486 
Derragh  ;  a  place  of  oaks. 

Derrane, 487 

Derreen, 487 

Derreenataggart,       .     .     .  487 

Derreens, 33 

Berries ;  oak  \roods. 
Derrin ;  little  oak  wood. 

Derrindiff, 457 

Dcrrinlaur  in  "Waterford,  .  485 

Derry, 485 


PAGE 

Derryad,  Derryadda,     .     .     486 
Derry  alien  ;  beautiful  oak- 
wood. 
Derry  bane,  Derrybawn,     .     485 
Derry  beg  ;  little  oak-wood. 

Derrycaw, 410 

Derrycoogh,  .      .     .     •     .     471 

Derrycreevy, 484 

Derry  dampb,        ....       60 
Derry  dorr  agb,      Derrydor- 

ragby;  dark  oak-wood. 
Derryduff ;      black      oak- 
wood. 

Derryfadda, 486 

Derrygarriff,  Derry  gar- 
riv,  Derrygarve ;  rugged 
oak-wood. 

Derrygraney, 323 

Derrybaw, 110 

Derry  ha  wlagh,    .     .     .     .     155 
Derrybillagb ;  the  oak-wood 

abounding  in  sallows. 
Derrybirk;    the   oak-wood 

of  the  boar. 
DeiTyhowlaght,    .     .     .     .     155 
Derrykeadgi'an,         .     .     .     254 
DeiTykeighan,     ....     485 
Derrylahan,  Derrylane,      .     485 

Derrylahard, 373 

Derry  lard, 374 

Derrylea :  grey  oak-wood. 
Derrymore  ;  great  oak-wood. 
Derrynacaheragh,     .     .     .     275 
Derrynahinch  ;  the  oak-wood 

of  the  river  meadow 
Derry  nafeana, 
Derrynagree, 


Derry nanaff,    . 
Derrynanamph, 
Derrynane, 
Derrynaned,    . 
Derrynanool,   . 
Derrynaseer,    . 
Derrynashallog, 
Derryness     in 


Donegal ; 


88 
486 
457 
457 
148 
473 

30 
215 
205 


Doir-inis,  oak-island, 


Index  of  Names, 


533 


PAGE 

Deny  vullan ;  Boire-Mael- 
ain  (Four  Mast.),  Mael- 
an's  oak-wood. 
Derry  willow,        .     .     .     .     339 

Derrywinny, 8 

Desert, 312 

Desertcreat, 244 

Desertegny;  Egnagh's  her- 
mitage. 
Desertmartia,       .     .     .     .     313 
Desertoghill ;  the  hermitage 
of  the  yew  wood. 

Desertserges, 313 

Deune  castle,       ....     192 

Devenish, 456 

Devil's  bit  mountain,    .     .     420 

Devlin,       351 

Diamor  in  Meath ;  Biamar 
(Dinn),  a  solitude. 

Dian, 296 

Dingin, 295 

Dinginavanty,       .     .         .295 

Dingle,        295 

Dinish,    Buibh-inis,   black 
island. 

Dinn  Righ, 88 

Dirk, 423 

Disert 312 

Doe,  The,  in  Donegal,  .     .     118 
Dog,  Big,  and  Little,     .     .     248 

Donabate, 217 

Donacarney ;    see   Donny- 

carney. 
Donagh,      ....      243,  307 

Donaghanie, 307 

Donaghcloney  in  Down ; 
Bomknach-chluana,  the 
church  of  the  meadow. 
Donaghcumper  in  Kildare ; 
the  chiu-ch  of  the  cum- 
mer or  confluence. 
Donaghedy  in  Tyrone ; 
Bomhnach-chaeide,  Kee- 
dy's  or  Caidoc's  church. 
St.  Caidoc,  a  companion 
of  St.  Columbanus. 


TAGE 

Donaghmore,        .     .     .     .307 

Donaghmoyne,  ...       .  307 
Donard  ;  high  dim  or  fort. 

Donegal, 92 

Doneraile,        268 

Donnybrook ;     Bomhnach- 

Broc,  St.  Broc's  Church. 

Donnycarney,      ....  308 

Donohill, 493 

Donore ;  Bun-iibhair  (Four 

Mast.),  the  fort  of  pride. 

Dooey, 325 

Doogary ;  Bubh-dhoire,  black 

oak-wood. 

Dooghcloon, 456 

Doogort ;  black  field. 

Doohallat,  Doohamlat,  .     .  155 
Dooletter ;  black  hill-side. 

Doolin, 351 

Doon, 267 

Doonally, 269 

Doonan,  Doonane,    .     .     .  270 

Doonans, 270 

Doonard ;  high  fort. 

Doonass, 444 

Doonbeg ;  small  fort. 

Dooncaha,        110 

Doondonnell ;  Donall's  fort. 

Dooneen,  Dooneens,      .     .  270 
Doonfeeny ;  Finna's  fort. 

Doonisky, 272 

Doonooney ;  Una's  fort. 

Dorrery, 487 

Doughcloyne, 456 

Doughloon, 456 

Douglas, 440 

Dowling, 351 

Down, 270 

Downamona, 270 

Downeen, 270 

Downing, 270 

Downings, 270 

Downpatrick,  .     .     .      249,  269 

Downs, 270 

Drain,  Drains,     ....  499 

Dreen, 499 


534 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Dreenagh, 499 

Dreenan,  Dreenaan,      .     .     499 

Drehid, 356 

Drehidtarsna,       .     .     .     .     356 

Dressoge,    Dressogagh ;    a 

briary  or  branchy  place. 

Drestemagh,    Drester  an, 

Dristernan ;      same     as 

Dressoge. 

Drimagb, 506 

Drimeen,  Drimmeen,    .     .     506 

Drimna, 607 

Drimnagh, 507 

Drinagh, 499 

Drinaghan, 499 

Drinan, 499 

Drinane,  Drinaun,    .     .     .     499 

Driny, 499 

Drishaghaiin;  same  as  Dres- 
soge. 
Drishane  ;  same  as  Dressoge. 
Drisboge ;  same  as  Dressoge. 

Drogbed, 356 

Drogbeda,       355 

Drom, 506 

Dromacummer,  Dromcum- 
mer;    the   ridge   of  tbe 
river-  confluence. 
Dromada,  Dromadda,    .     .     506 

Dromagb, 606 

Dromaleague,      ....     248 
Dromard ;  bigb  ridge. 
Drombeg ;  small  ridge. 
Drombofinny,       .     .     .     .     161 
Dromcolliber,       ....       49 
Dromdaleague,     ....     243 

Dromeen, 506 

Dromgarriff ;  rough  ridge. 

Dromin, 506 

Drominacreen,     ....     481 
Dromina,  Drominagh;  see  p.  507 

Dromineer, 443 

Dromkeen ;  beautiful  ridge. 

Drommoher, 287 

Dromnagh, 507 

Dr  omore  ;  great  ridge. 


PAGE 

Dromtrasna ;  cross-ridge. 

Drum, 500 

Drumaa, 343 

Drumacrittin,  Drumacruttin,  385 
Drumad ;  long  ridge. 
Drumadoon ;  the  ridge   of 

tbe  fort. 
Drumadrehid,      .     .     .     .     356 

Drumadried, 356 

Drumagb, 506 

Drumahaire,   .     .     .       187,  249 

Drumaheglis,       .     .     .     .     305 

Drumaboe, 

Drumalivaun, 

Drumanaffirin, 

Drumanallig, 

Drumanee, 

Drumanure;  yew-ridge. 

Drumany ;  ridges  or  ridged 

land. 

Drumar, Ill 

Drumard  ;  high  ridge. 
Drumarraght,       .... 
Drumasbellig,      .... 
Drumatemple ;  the  ridge  of 

the  church. 
Drumballyroney ;  the  ridge 

of  O'Rooney's  town. 
Drumbanagher,   .... 
Drumbane,     Drumbaun  ; 

white  ridge. 

Drumbarnet, 420 

Drumbeg ;  small  ridge. 
Drumbo,  Drumboe,  .     .     .     454 
Drumbrugbas,      ....     278 
Drumcanon;  the   ridge  of 

the  white-faced  cow. 

Drumcar, 354 

Drumcaw, 244 

Drumcliff  in  Sligo  ;  Druim- 

chliabh  (Four  Mast.);  the 

ridge  of  the  baskets. 
Drumcolumb;   St.  Colum- 

ba's  ridge. 
Drumcondra ;  Conra's  ridge. 
Drumcovet, 206 


425 
490 
113 
283 
460 


187 
205 


372 


Index  of  Names. 


535 


PAGE 

Drumcrin ;  the  ridge  of  the 

tree. 
Drumcroohen,      ....       95 
Drumcroon,     .     .     .     .     .       95 
Drumcrow;    the   ridge   of 

the  cattle  sheds. 
Drumcullen,  Druracullion,     495 
Drumdeeveen,      ....     203 

Drumdeevin, 203 

Drumderaown,     .     .     .     .     241 
Drumderg ;  red  ridge. 
Drumdirao-wen,    ....     241 
Dnimduff;  hlack  ridge. 
Drumderalena,     .     .     .     .     242 
Drumederglass,    ....     242 

Drumfad, 606 

Drumgallan, 331 

Drumgil ;  the  ridge  of  the 

Gall,  or  foreigner. 
Drumgonnelly,    ....       55 

Drumgoose, 424 

Drumgose, 424 

Drumgow^na,     Drumgow- 

nagh  ;   the  ridge  of  the 

heifers. 

Drumhalry, 119 

Drumhaman, 196 

Drumharriff, 456 

Drumhawan, 196 

Drumherriff, 456 

DrumhiUagh, 21 

Drumhirk, 463 

Drumhome, 14 

Drumhuskert,      ....       21 

Drumillard, 468 

Drumiller, 468 

Drumina, 507 

Drumkeen ;  beautiful  ridge. 

Drumkeeran, 495 

Drumlamph, 491 

Drurolane ;  Druim-Ieathan 

(Four Mast.), broad  ridge. 
Drumlease ;  Drum-lias,  the 

ridge  of  the  huts. 

DruEoleevan, 490 

Drumline ;  flax  ridge. 


PAGE 

Drumlish,  ......  262 

Drumlougher ;  rushy  ridge. 

Drumman,  Drummans,      .  506 
Drummany ;  see  Drumany. 

Drummeen, 506 

Drummin, 506 

Drummoher, 287 

Drummond, 507 

Drummuck, 18 

Drummully  ;  the  ridge  of 

the  summit. 

Drumnacarra,      ....  331 

Drumnacooha,     ....  471 
Drumnacross ;  the  ridge  of 

the  cross. 

Drumnafinnela,    .     .     .     .  Ill 

Drumnagah, 110 

Drumnaheark,      ....  205 

Drumnahoe, 425 

Drumnahunshin ;  the  ridge 

of  the  ash. 

Drumnanaliv,       .     .     .     .  186 

Drumnascamph,   ....  60 

Drumnashaloge,  ....  204 

Drumnasole, 209 

Drumneen ;  little  ridge. 

Drumneth, 473 

Drumnid, 473 

DrumquLu ;  Con's  ridge. 

Drumragh, 265 

Drumraine,    Drumraney ; 

ferny  ridge. 

Drumralla, 488 

Drumreagh ;  grey  ridge. 
Drumroe ;  red  ridge. 

Drumroosk,  Drumrusk,      .  3 

Drumsamney,  .     .     ^     .     •  196 

Drumsastry, 232 

Drumsaul, 108 

Drumsawna, 196 

Drumshallon,       .     .     .     .  212 

Drumshanbo,        ....  293 

Drumsheaver,      .     .     .     .  183 

DrumsHlagh, 21 

Prumsna, 353 

Drumsnauv, 353 


536 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Drumsum ;    the   ridge    of 

the  furnace. 

Drumurcher, 161 

Duagh  In  Kerry ;  Lubh-ath, 

black   ford ;    from  a  ford 

on  the  Feale. 

Duarrigle, 308 

Dublin, 75,  350 

Dulierin  barony,       .     .     .     233 

Duhallow, 410 

Dulane, 64 

Duleek  in  Meath  ;  Daimh- 

liag   (O'C.    Cal.),    stone 

house  or  church. 

Dullowbush, 186 

Dunaghy, 268 

Dunamase, 268 

Dunamon, 267 

Dunboe, 454 

Dunboyne, 145 

Duncannon;  Conan's  fort. 
Duncla  near  Granard,    .     .     266 
Duncormick ;  Cormac's  for- 
tress. 
Duncriffan  at  Howth,  .     .     335 

Duncrun, 95 

Dundalk, 267 

Dundareirke, 245 

Dundaryark, 245 

Dunderk, 423 

Dundermot ;  Diarmad's  fort. 

Dunderrow, 14 

Dundonald, 267 

Dundonnell, 267 

Dundrum,  ......     269 

Duneane, 246 

Duneight, 268 

Dunfanaghy ;    Dun-Fionn- 

chon,  Finnchu's  fort. 

Dungall, 93 

Dungannon     in     Tyrone ; 

Dtin  -  Geanainn      (Four 

Mast.),  Geanan's  fort. 

Dungarvan, 18 

Dunglow, 352 

Dunhill, 269 


PAGE 

Dunisky, 272 

Dunkineely    in    Donegal ; 
Dun-mhic-  Chionnfhael- 
aidh,  Mackineely's  fort. 
Dunkit ;  Ceat's  fortress. 

Dunleary, 133 

Dunleer, 311 

Dunlewy ;  Lughaidh's  fort. 

Dunluce, 266 

Dunmanway,       ....  871 
Dunmore ;  great  fort. 

Dunmore  cave,     ....  423 
Dunmoylan ;  Moylan's  fort. 

Dunmoyle, 382 

Dunmurry  ;  Bun-Muireadh- 
aigh.,  Murray's  fort. 

Dunnalong, 216 

Dunnaman, 371 

Dunnamark, 216 

Dunnavenny, 371 

Dunquin  in  Kerry ;  Duncaein 
(Four  Mast.),  beautiful  fort. 

Dunseverick, 286 

Dunshanghlin,     ....  307 

Duntinny, 208 

Duntryleague,      ....  252 

Durha, 14 

Durless, 263 

Durnish, 484 

Durra, 14 

Durrow, 13 

Dyan, 296 

Dysart, 312 

Dysartenos, 152 

Dysert, 812 

Eantybeg,  Eantymore,      .  198 

Eany  river  in  Donegal,      .  603 
Easky  in  Sligo ;  from  the 
river  : — lascach,  fishy. 

Eden, 504 

Edenagor, 470 

Edenamohill, 202 

Edenderry, 504 

Edendurk, 463 

Edentiroory  in  Down,  .    .  292 


Index  of  Names. 


537 


PAGE 

Edentrillick  near  Dromore,  253 

Ederdacxuragh,    ....  242 

Ederdaglass, 242 

Edergole,  Edergoole,     .     .  510 
Edemish ;  central  island. 

Ednashanlaght,    ....  505 

Ednego, .214 

Effrinagh, 114 

Eglish, 305 

Eighter,  lower. 
Eighterard;  lower  height. 

Elagh, 283 

Elaghbeg,  Elaghmore,  .     .  282 

Eliogarty, 130 

EUagh, 283 

Elphin, 109 

Ely,  , 130 

Emania,  palace  of,    .     .     .  84 

Emlagh,      ....      109,  449 

Emly, 449 

Emlygrennan,       ....  483 

Enagh, 197 

Ennereilly, 443 

Ennis, 427 

Ennisboyne, 145 

Enniskeen, 428 

Enniskerry, 348 

Enniskillen, 156 

Ennistimon, 428 

Errigal, 149,  308 

Errigal  Keerogue,     .     .     .  308 

Errigal  Trough,    ....  308 

Esk, 432 

Eskaheen, 432 

Eskenacartan,       ....  432 

Esker, 388 

Eskeragh, 389 

Esker  Eiada, 389 

Esknamucky, 432 

Eskragh, 389 

Ess  waterfall, 444 

Essan,  Essaun,      ....  445 

Estersnow, 313 

Faddan, 443 

Faes  of  Athlone,  .     .     .     .  477 


PAGE 

Faha, 285 

Fahan, 28,  286 

Fahanasoodry,      ....  286 

Fahane, 286 

Faheens, 286 

Faheeran, 286 

Fahy, 285 

Fahykeen, 286 

Faiafannan, 286 

Falleendatha, 395 

Eardrum, 56 

Fargrim, 55 

Farnagh, 497 

Farnaght, 387 

Famahoe, 425 

Farnamurray, 8 

Famane, 497 

Famey, 497 

Famoge, 497 

Farra, 199 

Farragh, 199 

Farraghroe, 199 

Farranacardy,       ....  215 

Farranholey, 230 

Farranseer,      .     .     .     ...  215 

Farrow, 199 

Farsetmore, 349 

Fareid, 348 

Farta,    .......  333 

Fartagh, 333 

Fartha, 333 

Fary, 199 

Fasagh, 478 

Fassadinin, 478 

Fassagh, 478 

Fassaroe, 478 

Feagh, 477 

Feale  river, 159 

Fearmore;   great  grass  or 
grassy  place. 

Fedany, 443 

Feddan, 443 

Feeagh, 477 

Feeard, 476 

Feebane, 476 

Feebeg, 476 


538 


Index  of  Names, 


PAGE 

Feemore, 476 

Feenagh, 477 

Feenisli, 476 

Feevagh, 477 

Feigh, 286 

Feighcullen, 476 

Feltrim, 465 

Fenagh, 477 

Fennor ;  Finnabhair  (Four 
Mast.),  wliite  field. 

Fermanagh, 125 

Fermoy, 118 

Fermoyle, 384 

Femagh, 497 

Ferney, 497 

Ferns, 497 

Ferrard, 129 

Ferta, 333 

Fertagh, 333 

Fethard, 476 

Fews, 476,  477 

Fiddan,  Fiddane,  Fiddaun,  443 

Fiddaunnageeroge,  .     .     .  443 

Fiddown, 476 

Fidorfe, 52 

Fihoges, 287 

Findrum, 30 

FingaU, 92 

Finglas ;  clear  stream. 

Finish,        476 

Finisk, 42 

FinHff, 866 

Finn  river  and  lake,      .     .  167 

Finnahy, 30 

Finnea, 343 

Finnis,       476 

Finnow  stream,  ....  439 

Fintona, 43 

Foildufi', 28 

Foilnaman, 395 

Foilycleara, 395 

Foorkill, 61 

Forenaglits, 387 

Formal, 384 

Formil, 384 

Formoyle, 384 


PAGE 

Formweel, 384 

Fornaght, 387 

Forramoyle, 199 

Forth  baronies,    .     .     .     .  126 

Foy,  Foyagh,       ....  286 

Foybeg, 286 

Foyduff, 286 

Foyfin, 286 

Foygh, 286 

Foyle, 395 

Foylatalure, 28 

Foymore, 286 

Foyoges, 287 

Freagh, 501 

Freaghduff, 501 

FreaghiLlaun, 501 

Freaghmore, 501 

Freahanes, 502 

Freeduff, 501 

Freffans, 502 

Frehans, 502 

Freshford, 36 

Freugh, 501 

Freughmore, 501 

Fuarchosach, 28 

Funcheon  river,     ....  488 

Funshin,  Fiinshinagh,  .     .  488 

Funshoge, 488 

Furrow, 199 

Fyagh, 286 

Gairha, 480 

Galbally, 9.3 

Galboley, 94 

Galboola,  Galbooly,  ...  94 

GaUagh, 331 

Gallan, 331 

Gallane,  Gallanes,     ...  331 

GallavaUy, 93 

Gallen, 129 

Gallon, 236 

Gallonnamraher,  .     .     .     .  236 

GaUow, 332 

Galtrim, 498 

Galvally, 93 

Galwally, 93 


Index  of  Names. 


539 


Galwolie,      .... 

PAGE 

.     .       94 

Gardi'um,     .... 

.     .       55 

Gargrim,      .... 

.     .       55 

GarnaTilla  near  Caher, 

.     .     482 

Garracloon ;  rough  meadow. 

Garran,  Garrane,  .     . 

.     .     480 

Garranamanagh,    .     . 

.     .     480 

Garranbane,  Garranbaun ; 

white  shrubbery. 

Garranekinnefeake,  . 

.     .     480 

Garranes ;  shrubberies. 

Garranmore ;  great  shrubbery. 

Garraun,       .... 

.     .     480 

Garrisker,     .... 

.     .     389 

Garry, 

.     .     220 

Garryard ;  high  garden. 

Garrycastle,      ,     .     . 

.     .     220 

Garry  duff;  black  garder 

Garrymore ;  great  garden. 

Garry  0  wen,      .     .     , 

.     .     220 

Garrysallagh,   .     .     . 

.     .     220 

Garryspellane  ;  Spillane's 

garden. 

Garryvicleheen,    .     . 

.     220 

Gartan, 

.     221 

Garvagh ;  rough  land. 

Garvaghy ;  rough  field. 

Garvary  ;  rough  land. 

Gaulstown,  .... 

.       93 

Gay  island,       .     .     . 

.     471 

Gearagh,  Gearha,  .     . 

.     .     480 

Gearhameen  river,     . 

.     480 

Geeragh,      .... 

.     480 

Giant's  Causeway,     . 

.     157 

Girly  in  Meath ;    Grea 

l- 

lack,  a  miry  place. 

Glack;  a  hollow. 

Glanatnaw,       .     .     . 

.     353 

Glanbehy  ;  birchy  glen 

Glandaeagh,      .     .     . 

.     247 

Glandine,     .... 

.     415 

Glandore,     .... 

.     188 

Glanmire  near  Cork, 

.     415 

Glannagalt  in  Kerry, 

.     165 

Glanoe, 

.     493 

Glantane,  Glantaun, 

.     416 

PAGE 

Glanworth, 440 

Glascloon ;  green  meadow. 
Glasdrumman,  Glasdrum- 
mond ;  green  ridge. 

Glashaboy, 440 

Glashare, Ill 

Glashawee, 440 

Glasheen,  Glasheena,     .     .  441 

Glasheenaulin,      ....  441 

Glashina, 411 

Glasmullagh ;  green  summit. 

Glasnevin, 440 

Glassan ;  a  green  place. 

Glassavullaun,      .     .     .     .  380 

Glasthule, 440 

Glen, 415 

Glenacroghery,     .     .     .     .  212 

Glenagarey  in  Co.  Dublin,  457 

Glenagower, 459 

Glenanaffrin, 114 

Glenanair  in  Limerick,      .  Ill 

Glenasmole, 472 

Glenavy, 311 

Glenbane ;  white  glen. 
Glenbeg ;  little  glen. 

Glencar,       330 

Glencovet, 206 

Glencullen ;  holly  glen. 

Glendaduff, 250 

Glendahork, 248 

Glendalough, 244 

Glendavagh, 244 

Glendavock, 248 

Glendavoolagh,    ....  243 

Glendine 415 

Glendowan  mountains,       .  415 
Glenduff ;  black  glen. 

Gleneany  in  Donegal,    .     .  503 

Glenfada-na-sealga,       .     .  416 

Glenfarne,        497 

Glengarriff ;  rugged  glen. 

Glenglush, 440 

Gleninagh ;  the  ivy  glen. 

Glenish, 461 

Gleenkeen ;  beautiful  glen. 

Glenlevan, 490 


540 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Glenmore ;  great  glen. 

Glenmullion, 415 

Glennageeragh,    ....  457 

Glennagross, 415 

Glennahaglish,     ....  305 

Glennahoo, 425 

Glennahulla, 327 

Glenamaddy, 415 

Glennan,          416 

Glennanog, 202 

Glennasheevar,    ....  183 

Glennaun, 416 

Glennawoo, 187 

Glennoo, 425 

Gleno, 493 

Glenofaush, 159 

Glen  of  the  Downs.       .     .  270 
Glenogra ;  Ogi-a's  glen. 

Glenosheen  in  Limerick,    .  87 

Glenquin,   .     .          ...  50 
Glenreagh,      Glenrevagh ; 

grey  glen. 
Glenroe ;  red  glen. 

Gienscoheen, 159 

Glensmoil, 472 

Glensoushka  in  Kerry,       .  160 

Glentane,  Glentaun,      .     .  416 

Glenties  in  Donegal,      .     .  416 

Glenwhirry  in  Antrim,      .  51 

Glin, 398,  415 

Glynn, 415 

Gneeve,  Gneeves,     .     .     .  235 

Gola, •     .  510 

Golan,         510 

Golden  in  Tipperary,     .     .  511 

Gole, 510 

Goleen, 510 

Gort, 220,  221 

Gortaganniff,  Gortaganny ,  220,221 

Gortahar, 406 

Gortahork,  Gortachurk  ;  the 

field  of  the  oats. 

Gortalassa 2  62 

Gortananny, 446 

Gortanure, 221 

Gortayella,  Gortavilly,  .     .  482 


PAGE 

Gortbofinna, 161 

Gortboy  :  yellow  field. 
Gortbrack ;  speckled  field. 

Gorteen,      , 221 

Gortfad,   Gortfadda ;   long 

field. 
Gortgranagh ;  grain  field. 

Gortia, 221 

Gortinagin, 213 

Gortinlieve, 366 

Gortinure, 493 

Gortmarrahafineen,  ...     112 

Gortmillish, 220 

Gortmore  ;  great  field. 

Gortnaboul, 22 

Gortnadiha ,  Gortnadihy ; 

the  field  of  the  caldron 

or  hollow. 
Gortnadullagh,      ....       23 

Gortnafurra, 199 

Gortnagappul, 459 

Gortnagarde, 214 

Gortnaglogh, 220 

Gortnagoyne, 471 

Gortnagross 316 

Gortnagrour, 472 

Gortnahaha, 364 

Gortnahey, 364 

Gortnahomna, 488 

Gortnahoo,  Gortnahoon,     .     426 

Gortnalaragh, 459 

Gortnamona ;  bog  field. 
Gortnamucklagh ;  the  field 

of  the  piggeries ;  see  p.  462, 
GortnasiUagh ;  the  field  of 

the  sallows. 
Gortnaskeagh,       ....     500 

Gortnaskehy, 600 

Gortnaskey, 500 

Gortnavarnoge,     ....     497 

Gortnavem, 497 

Gortnavea 460 

Gortnaveigh, 460 

Gortreagh;  grey  field. 
Gortroe ;  red  field. 
Gortvunatrime,      ....     499 


Index  of  Names. 


541 


PAGB 

Gougane  Barra ;  St.  Barra's 

or  Finbar's  rock  cleft, 
Goul,  .     .     . 
Goulaun, 
Goulbeg, 
Gouldavoher, 
Goulmore,    . 
Gowel,     .     . 
Gowlan,  Gowlane 
Gowlaun,     .     . 
Graffa,  Graffee, 
Graffan,  Graffin, 
Graffoge,  Graffy, 
Gragan,  Gragane, 
Grageen,  Graigeen, 
Graigue,  .... 
Graiguealug,     .     . 
Graiguefrahane,     . 
Graiguen  am  anagh , 
Graiguenaspiddoge, 
Grallagh  ;  same  as  Girly. 
Granagh,     Granaghan 

place  producing  grain, 
Graney  river, 

Grangegeeth ;  windy  grange, 
Granny's  grave,    .... 
Gransha ;  a  grange,  a  place 

for  grain. 
Greagh  ;  a  moory  level  spot 

among  hills. 
Greaghnaroog,       .... 
Great  Bear  island,      .     .     . 

Great  Connell, 25 

Greenan,  Greenane,  .     .     .     281 
Greenan-Ely,    .     .113,281,282 

Greenaun, 281 

Greenbatter, 44 

Greenoge, 282 

Grenanstown, 281 

Grennan, 281 

Grillagh,  Grellagh;  same  as 

Girley. 

Gubbacrock, 245 

Gurteen, 221 

Gurteenasowna,    .     .     .     .     196 
Gurteenroe  ;  red  little  field. 


446 
510 
510 
511 
242 
511 
510 
510 
511 
228 
228 
228 
340 
340 
340 
340 
340 
340 
340 


323 


324 


110 

128 


PAGE 

Guilcagh   in  "Waterford ;   a 

place  producing  broom. 

Gyleen, 511 

Heagles, 305 

Hill  of  Lloyd, 380 

Hinchoge, 489 

Horse  island, 458 

Howth,    ....     76,  101,  335 

I  drone  baronies,   .     .     .     .  124 

Ikeathy  barony,    .     .     .     .  124 

Ulan,  Illane,  Illaun,      .     .  428 

lUananummera,    ....  428 

lUanfad, 428 

lUaunfadda, 428 

Illauninagh, 428 

Illaunslee, 366 

Imaile  in  Wicklow,  .     .     .  117 

Inagh, 503 

Inan,  Inane, 503 

Inch,   67,427 

Inchagoill, 90 

Inchenny, 446 

Inchideraille, 242 

Inclmiore ;  great  island. 

Inis, 427 

Inish, 427 

Inishannon, 14 

Inishargy, 397 

Inishbofin,  ...     66,  160,  161 

Inishdadroum,      ....  244 

Inishdauwee, 249 

Inishdavar, 244 

Inisbdaweel, 249 

Inisbfree, 602 

Inisbkeen, 428 

Inishkeeragb, 457 

Inisblounagbt ;    tbe  island 
of  new  milk  ;  see  p.  436. 
Inisbmaan ;  middle  island. 

Inishmacsaint,      ....  427 
Inisbmore ;  great  island. 

Inisbnagor, 428 

Inishowen, 134 


542 


Index  of  Nmnes. 


PAGE 

Inisliriisli;  the  island  of  the 
peninsula. 

Inishtiirk, 463 

Inistioge, 428 

Innisfallen,      ...      104,  148 

Inshinagh, 489 

In ver  in  Antrim,  .  .  .  119 
Inver  in  Donegal,  .  .  .  139 
Ireland's  Eye,      .    76,  101,  104 

Isertkelly, 313 

Isertkieran, 313 

Ishartmon, 314 

Islafalcon, 41 

Island  Magee,      .     .     .75,  392 

Isle  of  Man, 157 

Iveleary, 117 

I verk  barony, 117 

Iveruss, 117 

Kanturk, 463 

Keadagh, 378 

Keadeen  hill, 378 

Keadew, 378 

Keady, 378 

Keadydrinagh,  .  .  .  .  378 
Keale,  Keel;  a  narrow  place, 

valley,  or  river. 

Keeldra, 305 

Keeldrum ;  narrow  ridge. 
Keeloge,  Keeloges,   ...       32 
Keelty,  Keelties,  .     .     .     .     475 
Keenagh,    Keenaghan 

mossy  place. 
Keenaght  barony, 
Keeran,  Keeraun,     . 
Keerhan,  Keerhaun, 
Keimaneigh,  Pass  of, 
Kenmare,    .     . 
Kenmare  bay, 
Kerane,  Keraun 
Kernan 
Kerry 


Kerrykyle,  . 
Kesh,      .     . 
Keshcarrigan, 
Kevit :  see  p.  206, 


129 
495 
495 
460 
504 
158 
495 
322 
121 
254 
349 
349 


PAGE 

Kilbaha, 490 

Kilbarron ;    St.    Barran's 

church. 
Kilbarry  in  TVaterford  and 

Cork;  from  St.  Barra  or 

Finbar  of  Cork :  see  p.  446. 
Kilbeg ;    small   church  or 

wood. 
Kilbeggan ;  Beccan's  church. 

Kilbeheny, 489 

Kilbreedy, 303 

Kilbride., 303 

Kilbroney  in   Down;     St. 

Bronach,  Virgin,  patron. 

Kilcanavee, 411 

Kilcanway, 411 

Kilcaragh    in  Kerry    and 

"Waterford ;    the  church 

of  St.  Carthach  of  Lis- 

more:  see  p.  261, 
Kilcavan      in     "Wexford  ; 

church  dedicated  to  St. 

Keyin  of  Glendalough. 

Kilclare, 475 

Knclay, 302 

Kilcleagh, 302 

Kilclief  in  Down,     ...     301 

Kilcolman, 303 

Kilcommon ;    St.    Coman's 

church. 

KUcruaig, 375 

Kilcruit, 385 

Kilcullen, 303 

Kildalkey, 268 

Kildare, 109 

Kildaree, 249 

Kildimo ;  St.  Dima's  church. 

Kildorrery, 487 

Kildrought, 356 

Kilduff;   black  church   or 

wood. 
Kilfinnane,       .     .     .     .  97,  148 

Kilfithmone, 476 

Kilflyn  ;  Flann's  church. 
Kilgarriff,  Kilgarve ;  rough 

chiu-ch  or  wood. 


Lidex  of  Names. 


543 


Kilgarvan;    St.  Garbhan's 

church. 

KilguUane, 331 

Kilkee  in  Clare;  St.  Caeidhe's 

or  Kee's  church. 
Kilkeedy    in     Clare     and 

Limerick;   St.  Caeide's 

or  Keedy's  church. 
Kilkeel ;  narrow  church, 

Kilkenny, 303 

Kilkieran, 143 

Killadangan, 296 

Killadrown, 241 


Killadysert, 

Killaloe  in  Clare  and  Kil- 
kenny ;  Cill-dalua  (O'C. 
CaL),  the  church  of  St. 
Dalua  or  Molua — flou- 
rished, 6th  cent. 

Killanummery, 

Killanure,    .     . 

Killarney,   .     . 

Killarney  lakes, 

Killashandra,  . 

Killashee,    .     . 

Killaspugbrone, 


313 


.  381 

.  494 

499,  500 

.  433 

.  58 

.  179 

.  79 


Killaspuglonane ;  the  church 

of  bishop  Flannan. 

Killavil 30 

KiUawillin, 363 

Killea;  Aedh's  or  Hugh's 

church. 

Killederdaowen,  .     .     .     .  241 
Killeany;   the  church  of  St. 

Endeus  of  Aran — 5th  cent. 

Killeedy, 141 

Killeen, 304 

Killeenatruan,      ....  443 

Killeenerk, 205 

Killeennagallive,       .     .     .  186 

KiUeens, 304 

Killeentierna,        ."  .     .     .  304 

Killeeny, 304 

KiUeigh, 803 

Killenaule, 139 

Killery  harbour,  ....  49 


PAGE 

Killevy, 366 

Killinardan, 373 

Killiney  in  Dublin;    Cill- 

Inghen,   or    Cill-Inghen- 

Leinin,    the   church    of 

Lenin's  daughters. 
Killiney   in   Kerry ;   same 

saint  as  Killeany. 
Killisk,  Killiskea,     ...     432 

Killiskey, 432 

Killoe, 493 

KOlonan, 150 

Killure, 494 

Killulla, 327 

Killursa  in  Galway ;    St. 

Fursa — 6th  century. 

KiUybegs, 33 

Killycrappin, 386 

Killygordon ;  Coill-na-gcuir- 

idin   (Four    Mast.),    the 

wood  of  the  parsnips. 

Killynamph, 22 

Killyon, 143 

Kilmacanoge  in  Wicklow ; 

the   church  of  St.   Mo- 

chonog,  a  primitive  saint. 

Kilmacrenan, 49 

Kilmainham, 50 

Kilmallock, 147 

Kilmanagh, 139 

Kilmeedy, 141 

Kilmihil ;  the   church  of 

Michael  the  Archangel. 

Kilminfoyle, 16 

Kilmore, 474 

Kilmore-Moy,       ....       99 

Kilmountain, 40 

Kilmoyle, 382 

Kilmurry, 303 

Kilmurvy, 451 

Kilnafrehan, 502 

Kilnahuila, 327 

Kilnahushoge,      ....     472 
Kilnaleck ;    the    wood    of 

the  flag-surfaced  land. 
Kilnalxin, 472 


544 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Kilnamanagh, 474 

Kilnamarve, 110 

Kilnamona, 187 

Kilpatrick;     St.  Patrick's 

church, 
Kilquane ;  St.  Cuan's  church. 

KUreisk, 448 

Kilroot  in  Antrim;   Cill- 

ruadh^  red  church. 
KiLrush  ;  the  church  of  the 

•wood  or  peninsula. 
Bolskeer  in  Meath ;  the  Vir- 
gin St  Scire— 6th  century. 

Kiltenan, 23 

Kiitenanlea, 23 

Kiltinny, 208 

Kiltober, 438 

Kiltubbrid, 438 

Kiltullagh, 376 

KiltybegB, 475 

Kiltyclogh,  Kilty clogher,  .  475 

Kiltynashinnagh,       .     .     .  475 

Kilwatermoy, 40 

Kinalea  barony,    .     .     .     .  116 

Kinalmeaky  barony,      -     .  71 

Kinard, 504 

Kinawly, 139 

Kincon, 504 

Kincora, 354 

Kineagh, 458 

Kinego, 214 

Kineigh, 458 

Kingstown, 133 

Kinlough ;  head  of  the  lake. 

Kinnea, 458 

Kinnegar, 465 

Kinneigh, 458 

Kinnitty, 148 

Kinsale, 604 

Kinsalebeg, 504 

Kinsaley, 504 

Kinturk, 504 

Kinure  ;  head  of  the  yew. 

Kinvarra, 504 

Kippagh ;    a  place  full  of 
stumps  of  trees. 


PAGE 

Kish, 349 

Kisha, 350 

Kishaboy, 350 

Kish  light  in  Dublin  bay,  349 

Kishoge, 350 

Knappagh, 385 

Knappoge, 385 

Knawhill, Ill 

Knickeen, 368 

Knock, 368 

Knockacullen,       .     .     .     .  495 
Knockaderry ;  the   hill   of 

the  oak-wood. 

Knockadoo, 325 

Knockadreet, 356 

Knockadrehid,      ....  356 

Knockagallane,     ....  331 
Knockagh  ;  a  hilly  place. 

Knockahorrea,      .     .     .     .  331 
Knockainy    in    Limerick ; 

the  hill  of  Aine,  a  cele- 
brated banshee. 

Knockalassa, 262 

Knockalegan, 332 

Knockalisheen ;  the  hill  of 

the  little  lis  or  fort. 
Knockalough;  the   hill   of 

the  lake. 

Knockaluskraun,       .     .     .  228 

Knockan,  Knockane,      .     .  368 

Knockanaffrin,      .     .     .     .  113 
Knockanare ;    the   hill    of 

the  slaughter. 

Knockanaryark,    ....  207 

Knockaneag, 460 

Knockanee, 460 

Knockanemomey,      .     .     .  406 

Knockanenabohilly,    .    201,  202 

Knockanevin, 368 

Knockanglass,    Knockane- 

glass  ;  green  little  hill. 

Knockaniska, 432 

Knockannamohilly,  .     .     .  201 

Knockannavlyman,   .     .     .  203 

Knockanoran, 438 

Knockanree, 20 


Index  of  Names. 


545 


Knockanroe,  Knockaneroe; 

PAGE 

Knockea, 

PAGE 

.     368 

red  little  hill. 

Knockeen, 

.     368 

Knockanully, 

327 

Knockeeunahone,      .     . 

.     425 

Knockanure ;  yew  hill. 

Knockerk, 

.     205 

Knockaphreaghaun,  .     .     . 

468 

Knockfierna,    .... 

.     368 

Knockataggart :  priest's  hill 

Knockglass  ;  green  hill. 

Knockatancashlane,  .     .     . 

23 

Knockgorm ;  blue  hill. 

Knockatarriv, 

455 

Knockgraffon,      .     .     . 

.     184 

Knockatarry, 

455 

Knocklayd  in  Antrim,  . 

.     368 

Knockatemple ;  the  hill  of 

Knocklofty  in  Tipperary 

• 

the  churcb. 

Cnoc-Iochta,  the  lofted  or 

Knockaterriff, 

45o 

shelving  hill. 

Knockatinnole,      .... 

199 

Knocklong  in  Limerick, 

.       96 

Knockatloe, 

200 

Knockloskeraun,       .     . 

.     228 

Knockatlowig,       .... 

200 

Knockma  near  Tuam,    . 

.     176 

Knockatoher ;  the  hill  of 

Knockmanagh  ;  middle  hill. 

the  well. 

Knockmealdown  mountains ; 

Knockatoor ;  the  hill  of  the 

Cnoc-  3IaeIdomhna  igh, 

bleach-green. 

Maeldowney's  hill. 

Knockatotaun,      .... 

229 

Knockmehill,  .... 

.     449 

Knockaun, 

368 

Knockmore ;  great  hill. 

Knockaunavogga,      .     .     . 

203 

Knockmoyle,   .... 

.     382 

Knockaiinbaun,     .... 

3 

Knockmu'llin ;    the  hill  of 

Knockaimeevin,    .... 

368 

the  mill. 

Knock aunnacli'ankady,  453, 

note. 

Knocknabeast,      .     .     , 

.     191 

Knockaunnagoun,     .     .    . 

213 

Knocknaboha,       .     .     . 

.     293 

Knockauntouragh,     .     .     . 

284 

Knocknabohilly,  .     .     . 

.     201 

Knockaimvicteera,    .     .     . 

466 

Knocknaboley,    Kncckna 

Knockavaddra,      .... 

463 

boola,      Knocknabooly 

Knockavaddy,      .... 

463 

hill  of  the  dairy  ;  see  p 

!     229 

Knockavilla,"^  Knockavilly ; 

Knocknaclogha,   .     .     . 

203 

hill  of  the  old  tree  ;  see  p 

481 

Knocknacrohy,     .     .     . 

211 

Knocka\'oe, 

176 

Knocknafeadalea,      .     . 

.     185 

Knockawaddra,      .... 

463 

Knocknafreeny,    .     .     . 

113 

Knockawaddy 

463 

Knocknagapple,    .     .     . 

.     369 

Knockbane,    Knockbaun, 

Knocknagappul,    .     .     . 

.     369 

white  hiU. 

Knocknagaul  in  Limerick 

Knockbine, 

371 

the  hill  of  the  Gauls  oi 

Knockboha, 

294 

foreigners. 

Knockboy  ;  yellow  hill. 

Knocknageeha ;  windy  hill 

Knockbrack  ;  speckled  hill. 

Knocknagin,    .... 

212 

Knockbroad, 

40 

Knocknagiogh ;  the  hiU  o 

f 

Knockcroghery,    .... 

212 

the  stones. 

Knoc.kdoo,        

20 

Knocknagore 

.       22 

Knockdown, 

41 

Knocknagoogb,    .     .     . 

471 

KnockduflF, 

20 

Knocknagower,    .     .     . 

22 

546 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Knocknagown,  .  .  .  .  213 
Knocknagree  ;  the  hill  of 

the  cattle. 
Knockaguilliagh,      ...       22 

Knocknahoe, 425 

Knocknahooan,  .  .  .  .  425 
Ejiocknahorna  ;  the  hill  of 

the  barley. 
Knocknalooricaun,    .     .     .     184 

Knocknamoe, 22 

Knocknamohill,  ....  201 
Knocknamona,  ....  452 
KnockBamuck ;  the  hill  of 

the  pigs  ;  see  p.  461. 
Knocknanuss,       .... 
Knocknarea  near  Sligo;  the 

hill   of    the   executions. 

See  Ardnarea. 
Knocknasawna,  . 
Knocknasheega,  . 
Knocknaskagh,  . 
Knocknawhishoge, 
Knockninny,  .  . 
Knockpatrick;  Patrick's  hill. 
Knockraha,  Knocknaraha ; 

hill  of  the  fort ;  see  p.  263 

Knockramer, 

KJnockranny ;  ferny  hill. 
Knockrath ;  the  hill  of  the 

rath  or  fort ;  see  p.  263. 
Ejiockra'wer ;  the  same  as 

Knockramer. 
Knockreagh ;  grey  hill. 
Kjiockroe  ;  red  hill. 
Knockrower,  Knockrour,    . 
Knockshanbally  ;    the  hill 

of  the  old  town. 
Knocksouna,    .     .     .       195,  252 
Knocktemple;    the  hill  of 

the  church. 

Knocktopher, 52 

Knockullard, 498 

Knoppoge, 385 

Kyle, 304 

Kyleheg  ;   small  church  or 

wood. 


461 


195 
179 
500 
472 
145 


20 


20 


PAGE 

Kylefreaghane,     ....  502 

Kylemore, 475 

Kylenagoneeny,  ....  464 

Kyletaun,        475 

Lahasheeda 329 

Labbacallee, 329 

Labbadermody,    ....  329 

Labba  Iscur, 328 

Labbamolaga, 146 

Labby,  . 329 

Labbyeslin, 329 

Lack 403 

Lacka, 405 

Lackabane,  Lackabaun,      .  405 

Lackagh, 404 

Lackamore ;  great  hill  side, 
Lackan,       ....       404,  405 

Lackanagrour,      ....  472 

Lackanascany,     ....  348 

Lackanadarra,      ....  404 
Lackareagh  ;  grey  hill  side. 
Lackaroe  ;  red  hiU  side. 

Lackaun, 4  04 

Lackeen, 403 

Lacken, 404 

Lackenacoombe,   .     .     .     .  419 

Lackendarragh,    ....  404 

LagacuiTy, 417 

Lagan, 75,418 

Laganeany, 194 

Laghil,  Laghile,  ....  491 

Laght, 325 

Laghta, 325 

Laghtagalla, 325 

Lagbtane, 325 

Laghy  ;  a  miry  place. 

Lagnagalloglagh,      .     .     .  417 

Lagnaviddoge,      .     .     .     .  417 

Lagore, 459 

Laharan, 233 

Lahard, 373 

Lahardan,  Lahardane,  .     .  373 

Lahardaun, 373 

Lahcen ;  a  little  lahagh,  or 
miry  place. 


Index  of  Names. 


547 


PAGE 

Laheratanvally,    .     .     .     .  298 

Lahertidaly, 298 

Lahesheragh, 232 

Lahesseragh, 233 

Lahinch, 429 

Lakyle ;  half  wood. 

Lambay  island,    .     .       101,  105 

Lambeecher, 146 

Lammy, 491 

Lanaglug, 311 

Landahussy, 311 

Landbrock, 311 

Landmore, 311 

Lanny  hussy, 311 

Lara, 299 

Laragh,       ....       298,  299 

LaraghlDryan, 298 

Laraghleas, 298 

Laiaghshankill,    .     .     .     .  298 

Lareen, 298 

Largan, 390 

Larganreagh, 390 

Largy, 390 

Largynagreana,    .     .     .     .  390 

Largysillagh, 390 

Lame  in  Antrim,      .     .     .  119 

Lame  river, 326 

Larrycortnick,       ....  41 
Lateeve  ;  half-side,  i,  e.  one 
side  of  a  hill ;  see  p.  232. 

Latt, 325 

Latteragh, 391 

Lattery, 891 

LaugW, 491 

Laune  river, 490 

Laiiragh, 298 

Lavagh, 491 

Lavally 233 

Lavey, 491 

Laxweir  near  Limerick,     .  101 

LeajfFony, 479 

Leafin, 479 

Leagh ;  a  grey  place. 
Leamcon ;  the  hound's  leap. 

Leamirlea, 164 

Leamlara  ;  the  mare's  leap. 


PAGE 

Leamybrien, 164 

Leamydoody, 164 

Leamyglissan,      .     .     .     .     164 

Leap  castle, 164 

Lear, 611 

Lecale  barony,     .     .     .     .     233 

Lecarrow, 234 

Leek, 403 

Leckan,  Leckaun,      .     .     .     404 
Lecknavarna,        .     .     .     .     497 
Leckpatrick ;  Patrick's  flag- 
stone. 

Leeg, 403 

Leegane, 332 

Leek,  Leeke, 403 

Lefin, 479 

Legacurry,  Legachory,      .     417 

Legaduff, 457 

Legan, 332,  418 

Legananny, 446 

Legane,  Legaun,      .     .     .     322 
Legandorragh,     .     .     .     .     418 
Legland;  same  as  Leighlin. 
Legnabraid;  the  hollow  of 

the  gorge;  see  p.  505. 
Legnawly  Glebe,      .     .     .     139 

Legvoy, 403 

Lehinch, 429 

Leighlin, 416 

Leighmoney, 479 

Leinster, 88,  107 

Leitrim, 506 

Leix, 122 

Leixlip,      ....      101,  103 

Lemanaghan  in  King's  Co., 

Liath- Manchain        (Four 

Mast.),     St.     Manchan's 

grey  land. 

Lemnalary  in  Antrim ;  the 

mare's  leap. 
Lenaboy ;  yellow  wet-mea- 
dow. 
Lenamore  ;  great  wet-mea- 
dow. 
Leny ;  a  wet  meadow. 
Lennox  in  Scotland,      .     .     490 


2  n2 


548 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Lerhin, 299 

Lerrig  in  Kerry ;  a  hill-side. 

Lessanny, 263 

Lessans, 263 

Letfem, 325 

Letter, 391 

Lettera,  Letteragh,  .     .     .  391 

Letteran, 391 

Letterbrick, 391 

Letterbrock, 391 

Letterfad ;  long  hill-side. 

Lettergeeragh,      ....  391 

Letterkeen, 391 

Letterkenny, 135 

Letterlicky, 391 

Lettermacaward,       .     .     .  392 
Lettermore ;.  great  wet  hill- 
side. 

LettermuUan,  .     ...»  391 
Lettershanbo  ;  the  wet  hill- 
side of  the  old  tent ;  see  p.  293 

Letter shendony,  .     .     .     .  391 

Lettery, 391 

Lettreen, 391 

Levally 233 

Levallyreagh ;    grey  half- 
town  ;  see  p.  233. 

Leven  in  Scotland,  .    .     .  490 
Lewagh  near  Thmies;  land 
producing  marsh  mallows. 

Leyny  barony,     .         .     .  12  9 

Liafin, 479 

Lick, 403 

Lickane, 404 

Lickbla, 159 

Lickeen, 403 

Lickfinn ;  white  flag-stone. 

Lickmolassy, 403 

Lickoran,    ...          .     .  438 

Lifford, 69 

Liggins, 332 

Lightford  bridge  in  Mayo,  210 

Lignapeiste, 191 

Limerick, 48 

Lisadian, 296 

Lisalbanagh, 262 


PAGE 

Lisanisk, 272 

Lisanisky, 272 

Lisaquill, 496 

Lisarearke, 207 

Lisata^gart, 262 

Lisavaddy ;    fort    of    the 

dog. 

Lisbalting, 194 

Lisbane,   Lisbaun ;    white 

fort. 

Lisbaniet, 420 

Lisbellaw, 345 

Lisboduff, 161 

Lisbofin, 161 

Lisboy ;  yellow  fort. 

Liscahane, 262 

Liscahill;  Cahill's  fort. 
Liscannor  ;  Canar's  fort. 

LiscarroU, 262 

Liscartan  ;  the  fort  of  the 

forge. 
Lisclogher;  stony  fort;  see  p. 400 

Liscunnell, 185 

Lisdachon, 248 

Lisdarush, 245 

Lisdaulan,        247 

Lisdavock, 248 

Lisdavraher, 249 

Lisdavuck, 248 

Lisdoo ;  black  fort. 

Lisdoonan, 272 

Lisdoonvarna,       ,     .     .     .     271 

Lisdown, 272 

Lisdowney    in    Kilkenny ; 

Downey's  fort. 
LisdufF ;  black  fort. 
Lisduggan ;  Duggan's  fort. 
Lisfarbegnagommaun,   .     .     184 

Lisfennell, Ill 

Lisgarriff;  rough  fort. 

Lisgonnell, 185 

Lisheen, 263 

Lisheenaleen;  the  little  fort 

of  the  flax. 

Lislarheen, 299 

Lislea ;  grey  fort. 


Index  of  Names. 


549 


PAGE 

Lisle  vane, 490 

Lismore, 261 

Lismoyle, 382 

Lismullin ;  the  fort  of  the 
mill. 

Lisnabantry, 202 

Lisnabilla, 482 

Lisnacroppan,      .     .     .     .  386 

Lisnacullia, 475 

Lisnadarragh, 485 

Lisnadurk, 23 

Lisnafeddaly, 185 

Lisnafifiy, 52 

Lisnaiinelly, Ill 

Lisnafulla, 110 

Lisnagannell, 185 

Lisnagat ;  fort  of  the  cats. 

Lisnageenly, 185 

Lisnageeragh,      .     .     .     .  273 

Lisnagonnell, 185 

Lisnagore, 30 

Lisnagowan, 273 

Lisnagower, 30 

Lisnagree, 273 

Lisnagry, 273 

Lisnagunnell,       .     .     .     .  185 

Lisnagunnion,      .     .     .     .  464 

Lisnahall, 396 

Lisnahay, 364 

Lisnahirka,      .....  205 

Lisnahoon, 425 

Lisnalee, 20 

Lisnamuck;  fort  of  the  pigs. 

Lisnapaste, 191 

Lisnaskea, 500 

Lisnanees,        3 

Lisnascragh, 185 

Lisnatreeclee, 254 

Lisnaveane, 88 

Lisnaviddoge,       ....  22 

Lisnisk,  Lisnisky,     .     .     ,  272 

Lispopple, 201 

Lisrathdine, 281 

Lissadill, 262 

Lissadoill, 262 

Lissakeole, 185 


FAGB 

Lissan, 263 

LissanafFrin, 114 

Lissanalta, 374 

Lissane, 263 

Lissaneena,  Lissaneeny,     .  198 

Lissaneigh, 469 

Lissanearla, 262 

Lissaniska,  Lissanisky,      .  272 

Lissaphuca,      .....  182 
Lissard ;  high  fort. 

Lissarinka, 184 

Lissen  Hall, 263 

Listowel, 262 

Lissonuffy, 262 

Little  Dog, 248 

Lixnaw, 352 

Lloyd  hill, 380 

Loghill, 491 

Lonart, 289 

Londonderry, 486 

Longfield, 39,  491 

Longford, 289 

Loop  Head, 163 

Lorum, 19 

Loskeran, 228 

Lough, 433 

Loughan, 434 

Loughanagore,     ....  470 

Loughanaskin,      ....  434 

Loughandoul, 192 

Loughane,  Loughaun,  .     .  434 

Loughanreagh,     ....  434 

Loughanstown,    ....  434 

Loughaiinnaweelaun ,     434,  469 

Lough  Avaul, 4 

Loughbanagher,   ....  372 
Loughbeg ;  little  lake. 

Lough  Boderg,     .     .     ,     .  161 

Lough  Bofin,  .     .     .      160,  161 

Loughbollard,       ....  338 

Lough  Bray, 377 

Loughbrickland,  ....  48 

Lough  Conn, 433 

Lough  Corrib,      ....  158 

Loughcrew, 483 

Loughcrot, 385 


550 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

247 
164 
487 
169 


Lougli  Dagea,  .  .  . 
Lough  Derg,  .... 
Lougli  DeiTavara,  .  , 
Lough  Erne,  .... 
Loughfad ;  long  lake. 
Lough  Finn  in  Donegal 
Lough  Foyhin,  .  .  . 
Lough  Gillagancan,  .  . 
Lough  Gillaganleny,  . 
Lough  Graney,  .  .  . 
Lough  Guitane,   .     .     . 

Loughill, 

Lough  Lagan,  .  .  . 
Lough  Leane  at  Killamey 
Loughloug'han,  .  .  . 
Loughlynch,  .... 
Lough  Melvin,  .  .  . 
Loughmuck,  .... 
Loughnagin,  .... 
Loughnagoyne,  .  .  . 
Loughnahinch,  .  .  . 
Loughnaloughan,  .  . 
Loughnapiast,  .  .  . 
Loughnasollis ;   the  lake  of 

the  light ;  see  p.  209. 
Loughnaweeloge,      .     .     . 
Lough  Neagh,     .... 
Lough  Oughter ;  upper  lake 

Loughrea, 

Loughwheelion,  .... 

Lowery, 491 

Luffany, 52 

Lugalustran, 228 

Lugatryna, 470 

Lugduff  mountain,    .     .     .     418 

Lugganaffrin, 113 

Luggelaw, 378 

Lughanagh, 28 

Lughinny, 28 

Lugmore ;  great  hollow. 

Lugnademon, 190 

Lugnamuddagh,  ....  22 
Lugnaquillia  mountain,  .  418 
Lumcloon ;  bare  meadow. 

Lurgan, 508 

Lurraga, 508 


167 

287 
187 
187 
323 
217 
491 
418 
433 
471 
429 
52 
168 
213 
471 
288 
471 
191 


469 
170 


433 
469 


Lusk ;  Lusca,  a  cave. 
Lusmagh  in  King's  County ; 

the  plain  of  herbs. 
Lynally,  .  .  . 
Lynn,  .... 
Lyrane,  Lyi-anes, 
Lyranearla,  .  . 
Lyre,  Lyreen, 
Lyrenafreaghaun, 
Lyrenageeha,  .  . 
Lyrenagreana, 


310 
311 
511 
511 
511 
502 
511 
512 

508 


Mace, 

Mackan,  Mackanagh,  Mack- 

nagh,  Mackney;    a  place 

producing  parsnips. 

Macosquin, 409 

Madame, 43 

Magh-Breagh,      ....     409 

Maghera, 412 

Maghera  in  Deny,  .  .  .  139 
Maghera  in  Down,  .  .  .  138 
Magherabane,     Maghera- 

baun ;  white  plain. 
Magherabeg ;  small  plain. 
Magheraboy ;  yellow  plain. 
Magheracloone ;    the  plain 

of  the  meadow. 
Magheracidmoney,  .  .  .  479 
Magheradrool,  .  .  .  .  412 
Magherahamlet,  ....  155 
Magherahoney,  ....  40 
Magheralamfield,  .  .  .  491 
Magheramenagh ;    middle 

plain. 
Magheramore  ;  great  plain. 
Magherareagh ;  grey  plain. 

Magherarny, 500 

Maghery, 412 

Magunihy  barony,  .  .  .  410 
Mahee  Island,      .     .     .     .     137 

Maigue  river, 31 

Maine,  Mayne,  .  .  .  .  412 
Malahide  river,    ....       94 

Mallow, 410 

Man,  Isle  of, 157 


Index  of  Names, 


551 


Manulla  in  Mayo; 

Maqh- 

Fhionnalbha    (Hy     F.), 

Finalva's  plain. 

Masreagh, 508 

Massereene,     .     . 

508 

Massbrook,      .     .     . 

114 

Massreagh,      .     . 

508 

Masteragwee,       .     . 

43 

Mastergeeha,  Master 

gee 

^1 

43 

Maulagh,    .     .     . 

381 

Maulane,     .     .     . 
Maulanimerish,    . 

381 
881 

Maulashangarry, 
Maulnahorna,  .     . 

381 
881 

Maulnarouga, 

110 

Maum,  .... 

169 

Maumakeogli, 

169 

Maum  Hotel,  .     . 

169 

Maumnahaltora,  . 

169 

Maumnaman,  .     .     . 

169 

Maumturk,      .     . 
Mausrevagh,    .     . 

169 

508 

MausroTrer,     . 

508 

Maw,     .... 

411 

Mawillian,       .     . 

363 

Maws,    .... 

411 

Maynooth,  .     .     . 

128 

Mayo,     .... 

492 

Mealougli,       .     . 

383 

Meelaghans,     .     . 

383 

Meeldrum,       .     . 

383 

Meeleen,     .     .     , 

383 

Meelgarrow,    .     . 

883 

Meelick,      .     .     . 

450 

Meelon,       .     .     . 

383 

Meelshane,      .     . 

383 

Meenabrock,    .     . 

467 

Meenadreen;  mountain-mea- 

dow  of  the  blackthorns. 

Meenagorp, 110 

Meenawullaghan, 

.     380 

Meenanall,       .     . 

.     168 

Meenavanaghan,  . 

.     371 

Meenavean,      .     . 

. 

.       88 

Meenawullaghan, 

.     380 

Meeudacalliagh,  . 

.     250 

PAGE 

Meenkeeragh,       ....  457 

Mellison, 263 

Middlethird, 233 

Milane, 383 

MiUeen, 381 

Milleenahoma,     ....  381 

Milleeny, 32 

Milligan,  Milligans,      .     .  383 

Milltown, 363 

Moanaviddoge,     ....  470 
Moanduff ;  black  bog. 

Moanmore, 452 

Moanroe ;  red  bog. 
Moanvane,     Moanvaun ; 

white  bog. 

Moat, 280 

Moate, 280 

Mocollop ;  the  plain  of  the 

coUops  or  cattle  ;  see  p.  408. 
Modeshill ;  southern  plain. 

Mogeely, 411 

Mogh, 242 

Mogher ;  Moher  Cliffs,       .  287 

Mohera, 287 

Moheracreevy,     ....  287 

Moheragh, 287 

Moheranea, 287 

Mohereen, 287 

Mohill, 449 

Moig,  Moigh, 411 

Moira;  Magh-rath,ih.e^\a.ia. 

of  the  forts ;  see  p.  263. 

Molly, 40 

Mollynadinta,       ....  208 

Molosky, 229 

Monabraher, 451 

Monagay, 470 

Monaghan, 479 

Monagilleeny,       ....  304 

Monagor, 470 

Monaloiir, 451 

Monambraher,      ....  451 

Monamintra, 451 

Monamraher, 451 

Monanearla, 452 

Monaquill, 496 


552 


Index  of  Names, 


PAGE 

Monard  ;  high  hog  ;  see  p.     450 
Monashinnagh,    .     .     .     .     466 
Monasteranenagh,    .     .-     .     197 
Monasterboice  ;  the  monas- 
tery of  St.  Boethius  or 
Buite,  the  founder— 6th 
century. 
Monasterevin  ;    from    St. 
Evin,  the  founder,  a  con- 
temporary of  St.  Patrick. 
Monasteroris    in     King's 
county  ;  the  monastery 
of  Mac  Feorais  or  Ber- 
mingham,  the  founder — 
A.  D.  1325. 

Monatarriv, 455 

Monatore, 227 

Monearmore ;  great  meadow. 

Moneen, 452 

Moneenabrone,     ....     452 
Moneenagunnel,  .     .     .     .     452 

Money, 479 

Money  dorragh,     ....     479 
Money  duff;  black  shrub- 
bery. 

Moneygall, 93 

Moneygorm ;  blue  shrubbery. 
Moneymore ;  great  shrubbery. 

Money  scalp, 421 

Money teige  ;  Teige's  shrub- 
bery. 

Monivea, 479 

Monmore, 452 

Monroe ;  red  bog. 

Montanavoe, 293 

Montiagh,  Montiaghs,  .     .     452 

Monvore, 452 

Mooretown, 37 

Morgallion, 130 

Mostragee, 43 

Mota, 280 

Mothel,  Mothell,       ...     449 
Mountain-foot,     ....     509 

Mountgarret, 280 

Mountmellick 450 

Mountsion, 41 


PAGE 

Moume  mountains,  .     .     .     132 

Movanagher, 372 

Movilla, 409 

Moville, 410 

Moy -       410,  411 

Moyacomb,      ....    50,  247 
Moyaliff     in     Tipperary ; 

Magh  -  Ailbhe      (Four 

Mast.),  Alva's  plain. 
Moyard ;  high  plain. 
Moyarget ;    the    plain    of 

silver. 

Moyarta, 333 

Moycullen, 495 

Moy  do  w, 324 

Moydrum  ;    the    plain    of 

the  ridge. 
Moygawnagh,      ....     455 
Moyglass ;  green  plain. 
Moy goish  barony,     .     .     .     131 
Moylan,  Moylaun,    .     .     .     383 

Moyle, ,     .     382 

Moyleen, 383 

Moyles, 382 

Moylish 262 

Moylisha, 262 

Moyliss, 262 

Moylough ;  the  plain  of  the 

lake. 

Moymlough, 169 

Moymore ;  great  plain. 

Moynalty, 411 

Moyne, 412 

Moynoe, 492 

Moynure ;  plain  of  the  yew. 
Moyrus ;  the  plain  of  the 

promontory. 

Moys, 410 

Moyvally, 360 

Muckamore    in     Antrim  ; 

Magh-comair  (Four  Mast.), 

the  plain  of  the  confluence 

(of  the  Six  mile  "Water  and 

L.  Neagh). 

Muckanagh, 462 

Muckelty 462 


Index  of  Names. 


553 


PAGE 

Muckenagh, 462 

Mucker,  Muckera,     .     .     .     462 

Muckery, 462 

Muckinish, 462 

Mucklagh, 462 

Mucklin, 226 

Mucklone, 226 

Muckloon, 226 

Mucknagh, 462 

Muckno, 353 

Muckross, 429 

Mucksna  near  Kenmare,    .     354 

Muff, 52,  53,  411 

Muilrea  mountain,    .     .     .     413 
Muing ;  a  sedgy  place. 
Muingaphuca ;  the  pooka's 

sedge. 
Muingrevagh ;  grey  sedge, 
Muingyautia ;  the  drowned 
or  overflown  sedge. 

Mul, 379 

Mulboy, 380 

Muldowney  at  Malahide,  .       94 

Mulkaun, 380 

Mulkeeragh, 380 

Mulla, 378 

Mullacrew, 484 

Mullafan-y  in  Mayo,  .  .  199 
Mullagh,  ....  378,  379 
Mullaghanish  mountain,  .  461 
Mullaghareirk  mountains,      207 

Mullaghattin, 380 

Mullaghbane,         Mullagh- 

bawn  ;  white  summit. 
MullaghlDoy ;  yellow  sum- 
mit. 
Mullaghbrack,  Mullabrack ; 

speckled  summit. 
MuUaghcarton,    .     .     .     .     215 
MuUaghcroghery,     .     .     .     212 
Mullaghdoo,  Mullaghduff; 

black  summit. 
Mullagbglass ;  green  summit. 
Mullaghraeen,      ....     380 
Mullaghmore;  great  summit. 
Mullaghnamoyagh,  ...       22 


PAGE 

Mullaghroe;  red  summit. 

Mullaghselsana,  ....  209 

Mullaghshee, 176 

Mullaghsillogagh,     .     .     .  380 

Mullaghtinny, 208 

Mullan, 380 

Mullanaffrin, 113 

Mullanagore,  Mullanagower,  380 

Mullanalamphry,       .     .     .  491 

Mullananallog, '    ....  22 

Mullanavannog,    ....  469 

MuUans, 33,  380 

Mullantlavan, 490 

Mulla  river, 379 

MuUarney, 500 

Mullaun, 380 

Mullauns, 33,  380 

Mullen, 362 

Mullenahone  in  Kilkenny,  425 

Mullenaranky,      ....  204 

Mullenlupraghaun,  .     .     .  184 
MuUenmore ;  great  mill. 

Mullennakill, 362 

Mullin, 362 

Mullinahone  in  Tipperary,  425 

Mullin  a  vat, 362 

Mull  of  Cantire,   ....  383 

Mull  of  Galloway,     ...  383 

Mully, 378 

Mullycagh, 110 

Mully  CO  vet, 206 

Mully  kivet, 206 

I  Mullynaveagh,     ....  469 

i  Mulnasheefrog,     ....  179 

I  Mulnaveagh, 469 

Multyfarnham     in    "West- 
1      meath ;  Farannan's  mills. 

Munster, 107 

Muntei-mellan,     .     .     .     .  116 

Munterneese, 116 

Munterowen, 116 

Miuiougb, 139 

Murragh, 450 

Murreagh, 450 

Murrisk, 451 

Murrow  of  Wicklow,     .     .  450 


554 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE. 

MuTvagh, 450 

Murvey, 450 

Muskerry  baronies,  .     .     .  126 

Mweelahoma,      .     ,     .     .  383 

Mweelaun, 383 

Mweelbane, 383 

Mweeleen, 383 

Mweeling, 383 

Mysball;  Mui(/h-iseal,  low 
plain. 

Naan, 24 

Naas, 199 

NadanuUer, 473 

Nadnaveagii, 473 

Nadneagh, 473 

Nafarty, 333 

jS'antinan ;    Neantandn,    a 
place  of  nettles. 

Nappagh, 386 

Nappan, 386 

Nart, 24 

Nash, 200 

Naul, 23,  24 

Navan  Fort, 85 

Ned, 473 

Neddaiagh, 247 

Neddans 24 

Nedeen, 473 

Nenagh, 66,  197 

Nenagh  river,      ....  66 

Nendi-um, 137 

Newragh, 494 

Newrath, 494 

New  Eoss, 478 

Newry, 494 

Nicker,  Nickeres,      .     .     .  465 

Ninch, 24 

Nobber, 24 

Noboval, 25 

Nooaff,  .......  426 

Nooan, 426 

Nore  river,      ....     24,  27 

Noughaval, 25 

Nuenna  river,      ....  24 

Nurchossy, 28 


PAGE 

Nure, 494 

Nurnev, 309 

Nutfieid, 36 

Offaly, 124 

Offerlane, 117 

Ogbill, 493 

Oghilly, 493 

Oghly, 493 

Oil,  the, 24 

OldLeighlin, 416 

Oltore, 114 

Onagh, 440 

Onan's  rock,    .     .     .     .     .  145 

OneiUand, 132 

Oola, 498 

Oran, 438 

Oranmore, 438 

Oughaval, 25 

Oughteragh, 260 

Oughterard ;  upper  height. 

Oulart, 498 

Ounageeragh  river,  .     .     .  439 

Ounagh, 440 

Ovens,  The, 426 

Ovoca  river, 75 

Ow  river, 439 

Owbeg  river,         ....  439 

Owenass  river,     ....  444 
Owenboy  ;  yellow  river. 

Owenbristy, 426 

Owencloghy ;  stony  river. 

Owendalulagh  river,      .     .  239 
Owenduff;  black  river. 

Owenmore, 439 

Owennafeana  river,  ...  88 

Owen  0' Coffey  river,    .     .  66 

Owen  O'Garney  river,  .     .  510 
Owenreagh ;  grey  river. 

Oxmantown,   .     .     .      101,  107 

Ox  mountains,      ....  55 

Paps,  The,       .     .     .     157,  249 
Parkatluggera ;      Pairc-a*- 

tslogaire^  the  field  of  the 

swallowing  hole. 


Index  of  Names. 


555 


PAGE 

Parkatotaun, 229 

Parkmore ;  great  field. 

Phale, 345 

Philipstowu, 295 

Phoenix  Park,       ....  41 

Phoenixtown, 37 

Ploopluck, 183 

Pobble  O'Keeffe, ....  201 

Polfore, 422 

Pollacappul, 459 

PoUacxillaire, 422 

Polladaossan, 243 

Pollagh, 423 

Pollaginnive, 422 

PoUahoney, 422 

Pollakeel, 236 

Pollamore, 236 

PoUanass  at  Glendalough,  444 

Pollans, 422 

Pollaphuca, 181 

PoU-da-fhiacli,     ....  247 

Polldorragha, 422 

Polleens, 428 

Polleeny, 423 

Pollnaranny, 422 

Polb-ane, 422 

PoUranny, 422 

Pellrone  in  Kilkenny  ;  Poll- 

Euadhain,  Euan's  hole. 
Pollsillagh ;  the  hole  of  the 
sallows. 

PoUtalloon, 423 

Poolbeg, 421 

Pooldine, 422 

Portlaw, 378 

Portmarnock ;  St.  Memoc's 

bank  or  landing-place. 
Portnashangan ;  the  bank  or 
landing-place  of  the  pis- 
mires. 

Portnasnow, 352 

Portnatrynod,       ....  253 

Portraine, 106 

Portrush  in  Antrim,      .     .  430 

Portumna, 488 

Pottle, 236 


PAGE 

Pottlebane, 236 

Pottleboy 236 

Poulacappul, 459 

Poulaculleare,      ....  422 

Pouladown, 192 

Poulaluppercadaun,       .     .  184 

Poulanassv, 444 

Poultalloon 423 

Preban,  Prebaun,  Pribbaun ; 
Freaban,  a  patch. 

Pubble, 201 

Pubblebrien, 201 

Piickstown, 182 

Pullagh, 423 

Pullans, 422 

Pulleen  bay  and  caves,      .  422 

Pullens  in  Donegal,       .     .  422 


Quilcagh  mountain, 
Quilly,  .... 
Quilty,  .... 


6 

476 

476 


Racavan ;     Bath  -  cahhain^ 

the  fort  of  the  hollow. 
Rahan  in  King's  County ; 

Raithin^  a  ferny  place. 
Rahaniska,  Eahanisky, 
Eahard ;  high  fort. 
Eaharney,  .     . 
Eaheanbo,  . 
Eaheen, 
Eaheenacrehy, 
Eaheenaniska, 
Eaheenanisky, 
E  ah  e  enduff ;    black 

fort. 
Eaheenroe,       .     . 

Eahelty, 461 

Eaheny, 265 

Eahinnane, 148 

Eahugh    in    Westmeath ; 

the  fort  of  St.  Aedh  or 

Hugh,  the  son  of  Brec  : 

built   church  in  the  old 

rath  in  6th  cent. 
Eaigh, 265 


little 


272 

265 
254 
265 
212 

272 
272 


265 


556 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Eakeeragh, 273 

Ralaghan,        488 

Eallagh,      ......     488 

Ramoan  in  Antrim  ;  Rath- 

Modhain,  Modan's  fort. 

Eanacroghy, 211 

Eanaghan ;  a  ferny  place. 

Eandown, 392 

Eannagh ;  a  ferny  place. 

Eaphoe, 149,  293 

Earkanillan, 207 

Easharkin  ;    Eos  -  Earcain 

(Four    Mast.),  Earcan's 

or  Erkan's  promontory. 

Eashee, 179 

Eatass ;    Ratli-teas,  south- 
ern fort. 

Eath, 264 

Eathangan, 50 

Eathaniska, 272 

Eathanny, 446 

Eathanure  ;  fort  of  the  yew. 
Eathaspick ;  the  fort  of  the 

bishop. 
Eathbane,  Eathbaun ;  white 

rath. 

Eathbama, 272 

Eathbeg ;  small  fort. 

Eathbomey, 405 

Eathbranagh, 469 

Eathcoole, 87 

Eathcormack  ;     Cormac's 

fort. 

Eathdowney, 222 

Eathdrum,  .....     264 
Eathduff;  black  fort. 

Eathfryland, 58 

Eathfeigh  in   Meath;   the 

fort  of  ihefaha  or  green. 
Eathglass  ;  green  fort. 
Eathkeale  ;     Rath-Gaela, 

Gaela's  fort. 
Eathkenny ;   Rath-  CJiean- 

naigh^  Ceannach's  fort. 

Eathkieran, 143 

Eathleary  at  Tara,    .     .     .     133 


PAGE 

Eathlin  island,     .     .     .    75,  106 

Eathmore 264 

Eathmoyle, 382 

Eathmullan ;    Rath  -Mael- 

ain  (Four  Mast.),  Mael- 

ain's  rath. 

Eathnacarton,       ....  215 

Eathnafushoge,    ....  472 

Eathnageeragh,   .     .     .     .  273 

Eathnaneane,       ....  467 

Eathnaseer, 215 

Eathnew, 264 

Eathpoge,        182 

Eathpooca, 182 

Eathreagh ;  grey  fort. 
Eathroe ;  red  fort. 
Eathronan ;  Eonan's  fort. 
Eathsallagh ;  dirty  fort. 

Eathtrillick, 253 

Eathurd, 264 

Eathurles, 263 

Eath  villa, 483 

Eathvilly 482 

Eattoo ;     Rath  -  tuaidh, 

northern  fort. 

Eaw,  Eaws, 265 

Eawes,        32 

'Ra.j, 265 

Eea, 412 

Eeadoty 412 

Eeanabobul, 201 

Eeanabrone, 20 

Eeanadimpan,       ....  390 

Eeanagishagh,      .     .     .     .  412 
Eeanascreena  ;  the  plain  of 

the  shrine. 

Eeask, 448 

Eedchair  or  Eichchair,      .  420 

Eed  city, 36 

Eeen, 392,  394 

Eeenadisert, 393 

Eeenydonagan,    ....  393 

Eehill, 413 

Eehy, 413 

Eeilig-na-Eiogh,       .     .     .  333 

Eeisk, 448 


Index  of  Names. 


557 


PAGE 

Relagh, 413 

Relick, 333 

Relickmurry, 333 

Remeen, 412 

Revallagh, 360 

Riesk, 448 

Rin, 392,  394 

Rinanagh, 392 

RinanBy, 392 

Rinawade, 217 

Rine,        392,  394 

Rineanna, 392 

Rinecaha, 394 

Ring, 392,  393 

Ringabella, 483 

Ringacoltig, 216 

Ringaphuca;   the  pooka's 

point. 

Ringagonagh,       .     .     .     .  393 

Ringaskiddy, 393 

Ringbane,  Ringbaun;  white 

point. 

Ringcurran, 393 

Ringfad, 394 

Ringhaddy, 394 

Ringrone, 393 

Ringsend  at  Dublin,       .     .  393 

Ringvilla,  Ringville,      .     .  393 

Rinn, 392,  394 

Rinneen, 394 

Rinrainy  island,    ....  394 

Rinville  in  Galway,       .     .  394 

Risk,       448 

Roeillaun, 428 

Roemore, 265 

Rooaim,  Rooghan,  Roogh- 

aun ;  reddish  land. 

Roosca, 448 

Roosk,  Rooska,  Rooskagh,  448 

Roosky,        448 

Roscommon, 478 

Roscrea, 477 

Roselick  (-beg,  -more),      .  334 
Roshin ;  little  promontory. 

Roskeen, 478 

Ross, 429,  477 


PAGE 

Rossbegh  or  Rossbehy,       .     429 

Rossbeg;    small    wood    or 

promontory. 

Rossbenchuir, 

.     .     372 

Ross  Carbery, 

.     .     478 

Ross  Castle,     . 

.     .     429 

Rossdagamph, 

.   56,  248 

Rossdama,   .     . 

.     .     244 

Rossdanean, 

.     .     .     247 

Rosserk, 

.    .     477 

Rosses,  The, 

.     .     .     430 

Rossinver,  . 

.     .     430 

Rossmore ;    great  wood  or 

peninsula. 

Rossnamanniff,     . 

.     .     478 

Rossolus,     .     .     . 

.     .     .     209 

Rossory,       .     .     . 

.     .     430 

Rostollus,    .     .     . 

.     .     209 

Roughan ;  see  Roouan. 

Rousky,       .     .     . 

.     .     448 

Ruan ;  see  Rooaun. 

Route,     .... 

.     .    •.       83 

Rush,      .... 

.     430 

Rusheen,  Rusheens, 

.     .     478 

Russagh,      .     .     . 

.     .     .     458 

Rusk,      .... 

.     .     .     448 

Ruskey, 

.     .     .     448 

Saggart, 150 

Saintfield, 221 

Saint  John's, 392 

Saint  MuUins,      .     .     .     ,  151 

Salmon  leap  on  the  Liffey,  103 

Salt,  baronies,       ....  104 
Santry ;    Sentreibh  (Mart. 
Taml.),  old  tribe. 

Saul,       108 

Saval, 108 

Sawel  mountain,       .     .     .  108 

Scalp, 421 

Scalpnagoun, 421 

Scarawalsh  in  "Wexford,     .  37 
Scardan,  Scardaun ;  a  cata- 
ract. 

Scarnageeragh,     ....  347 

Scarragh,  Skarragh,       .     .  348 


558 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Scarriff, 347 

Scarriffhollis, 211 

Scart, 479 

Scartaglin, 479 

Scarteen, 479 

Scartlea, 479 

Scarva, 347 

Scarvy, 348 

Scaryhill, 40 

Scota's  grave, 159 

Scotland, 83 

Seadavog, 299 

Seagoe, 299 

Seapatrick ;  Patrick's  seat. 

See, 299 

Seeaghanbane,      .     .     .     .  300 

Seeaghandoo, 300 

Seecongias, 300 

Seefin, 87 

Seeghane, 300 

Seehanes, 300 

Seein, 87 

Seeoran, 300 

Seirkieran, 143 

Saltan ;  a  place  of  sallows. 

Seskin, 447 

Seskinrea, 447 

Sess, 235 

Sessia, 235 

Sessiagh, 235 

Shallany, 212 

Shallon, 212 

Shanaclogh, 399 

Shanacloon ;  old  meadow. 
Shanagarry ;  old  garden. 

Shanagolden, 505 

Shanakill ;  old  church. 
Shanavally ;  old  town. 
Shanbally ;  old  town. 

Shanbo, 292 

Shanboe, 293 

Shanbogh, 293 

Shanclogh, 399 

Shandon, 271 

Shandrum ;  old  ridge. 

Shane,  Shanes,     .     .     .     .  180 


PAGE 

Shangarry ;  old  garden. 

Shankill, 303 

Shanlongford, 21 

ShanmuUagh ;  old  summit. 

Shannon, 271 

Shannon  river,     ....  75 
Shantallow ;  Seantalamh,  old 

land. 
Shanvally ;  old  town. 

Shean, ISO 

Sheean, 180 

Sheeana, 180 

Sheeaun, 180 

Sheegorey,       178 

Sheegys, 179 

Sheehaun, 180 

Shee  hills 178 

Sheehys,  The,       ....  178 

Sheena, 180 

Sheeny, 180 

Sheerevagh, 178 

Sheeroe ;  red  fairy-hill. 

Sheetrim,     .     .     i     .     .     .  178 

Shelburne, 117 

ShelmaKere, 117 

Shesharoe, 235 

Shesheraghkeale,  ....  232 

Shesheraghmore,  ....  232 

Shesheraghscanlan,  .     .     .  232 

Sheshia, 235 

Sheshiv, 235 

Sheshodonnell,      ....  235 

Sheskin, 447 

Sheskinatawy,      ....  447 

Shillelagh, 117 

Shinganagh,   Shingannagh ; 

a  place,  abounding  in  sean- 

gans  or  pismires. 

Shinrone, 300 

Shronacarton,       .     .     .     .  215 

Shrone, 505 

Shroncbeha, 505 

Shronedarragh,     ....  57 

Shrough, 57,441 

Shruel, '     .  48 

Shrule, •     .  48 


Index  of  Names. 


559 


PAGE 

Sileshaun, 209 

Sion, 180 

Sistrakeel, 232 

Skagh, 500 

Skahanagli, 501 

500 

500 

Skeaghanore, 5C0 

Skeanaveane, 88 

Skehanagh, 501 

Skeheen, 501 

Skeheenarinky,     ....  204 

Skelgagh, 408 

Skellig  rocks, 407 

Skenarget, 600 

Skeoge, 501 

Skephixbble, 201 

Skerriff, 347 

Skerries, 407 

Skerry, 407 

Skerry  whirry,      ....  51 

Skinstown, 36 

Skreen, 150,  309 

Skrine, 309 

Slaghtaverty,       .     .     .     .  319 

Slaghtfreeden,     ....  61 

Slaghtmanus, 61 

Slaghtneill, 61 

Slaghtybogy, 61 

Slane, S32 

Slanore  in  Cavan,     ...  12 

Sleamaine, 366 

Sleaty, 367 

Slee, 358 

Sleehaun, 358 

Sleemanagh, 358 

Slemish  mountain,    .     .     .  367 

Sleveen,  Slevin,  ....  367 

Slevinagee, 367 

Slieve  Anierin,     .     .     .     .  366 

Slieveanilra, 468 

Slieveatrue, 253 

Slieve  Augbty,     .     .     .     .  239 
Slievebane,     Slievebaun ; 

white  mountain. 

Slieyebeagh, 154 


.  247 

132,  137 

.  50 

.  159 

.  119 

.  403 

.  121 

.  124 

.  367 


PAGE 

Slievebernagh,      .     .     .     .     366 

Slievebloom, 159 

Slieveboy ;  yellow  hill. 
Slieve  Bregh,       .     .       129,  409 
Slieve  Carbery,    ....     135 
Slieve  Commedagh,       .     .     206 
Slieve   Corragh ;    rugged 

mountain. 
Slieve  Daeane,     . 
Slieve  Donard,     . 
Slieve  Eelim,  .     . 
Slieve  Fuad,    .     , 
Slieve  Golry,  .     . 
Slieve  League, 
Slieve  Lougher,    . 
Slieve  Margy, 
Slieve  Mish,    .     . 
Slievenacallee  ;  the  moun- 
tain of  the  hag. 
Slievemore ;  great  mountain. 
Slievenagriddle,   ....     330 

Slievenamon, 178 

Slievenomuck,      ....     461 
Slieve  OTlynn,  ....     384 

Slievereagh, 97 

Slieveroe ;  red  moxmtain. 

Slievesnaght, S66 

Sligo;  named  from  the  river  : 
Sligeach,  shelly  river. 

Sliguff, 55 

Sluggara,     Sluggary ;     a 

swallow-hole. 
Slyne  Head,    .     .     .     .    77,  164 

Snamh-da-en, 246 

Snave-bridge  near  Bantry,      352 
Solloghod ;   Solchoid  (Four 
Mast.),  sallow-wood. 

Sollus, 209 

Sonnagh ;  a  mound  or  ram- 
part. 

Spelgagh, 408 

Spellickanee, 408 

Spink, 408 

Spinkan, 408 

Sragh,  Srah ;  a  river-holm. 
Srahatloe, 200 


560 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Srahan,  Sraliaun,  Sraheen ; 

little  river-holm. 

Srananny, 57 

Sraud ;  a  street. 

Sroaukeeragh,       .     .     .     .  505 

SrooMll, 48 

Sroolane, 442 

Srooleen, 442 

Sroughan, 442 

Sroughmore ;  great  streamlet. 

Srue,  Sruh, 441 

SrufFaun, 442 

Srugreana,       57 

Stabannon, 61 

Staekallen, 61 

Staokumny, 61 

Staholmock, 292 

Stakally, 61 

Stalleen 61 

Stamullin, 292 

Stang ;  a  measure  of  land. 

Stapolin, 61 

Stillorgan, 61 

Stirue, 61 

Stonecarthy;  Stumn-Charth- 

aigh,    Carthach's  stang  or 

measure  of  land. 

Stonybatter  in  Dublin,       .  44 

Stook, 395 

Stookan, 395 

Stookans, 395 

Stookeen,  Stookeens,     .     .  395 

Straeasbel  in  Donegal,       .  416 

Stradavoher, 339 

Stradbally, 339 

Stradbrook, 339 

Strade, 336 

Stradeen, 339 

Stradone, 57 

Stradowan, 57 

Stradreagh, 339 

Straduff ;  black  river-holm. 

Straffan, 442 

Straid, 339 

Stralustrin, 228 

Strancally, 57 


PAGE 

Strangford  Lough,    .       101,  102 

Stroan, 442 

Strokestown, 36 

Struell,       48,  442 

Sugar  Loaf  mountain,   .     .  471 

Sunday's  Well,     ....  437 
Sylaun  ;  a  place  of  sallows. 

Syonan, 150 

Syunchin, 300 

Taduff, 289 

Taghadoe, 291 

Taghboy, 289 

Taghboyne, 144 

Tagheen, 289 

Taghmon, 291 

Tallaght, 155 

Tallow,       376 

Tamlaght, 155 

Tamlat,        155 

Tamnaficarbet,     ....  222 

Tamnafiglassan,   ....  222 

Tamnagh, 221 

Tamnaghbane,      ....  222 

Tamnaghvelton,   ....  194 

Tamny, 221 

Tamnyagan, 43 

Tamnymartin,      ....  222 

Tanderagee, 507 

Tara, 283,  284 

Tardree, 29 

Tarmon ;  see  Termon. 

Tartan, 387 

Tassan, 29 

Tattanafinnell,     .     .     .     .  Ill 

Tattendillur, 236 

Tattentlieve, 236 

Tattygare ;   short  tate  or 

land-measure. 

Tattj^nagceragh,  ....  236 

Taughbovne, 144 

Taurbeg,' Taurmore,        284,285 

Tavanagh 222 

Tavanaskea, 222 

Tavnaghdrissagh,      .     .     .  222 

Tavraun, 285 


Index  of  Names. 


561 


PAGE 

Tawlaght,  .    .     .     .     .     .  155 

Tawnagh, 221 

Tawnaghaknaff,  .     .     .     .  222 
Tawnaghbeg ;  little  field. 

Tawnaghlahan,    ....  222 
Tawnaghmore ;  great  field. 

Tawnakeel, 222 

Tawny, 221 

Tawnybrack, 222 

Tawnyeely, 222 

Tawran, 285 

Tecolm;   Tigh-Choluim,  St. 

Columba's  house. 

Teebane, 290 

Teemore, 290 

Teevnabinnia,      ....  508 

Teltown,     ....      159,  193 

Tempanroe, 390 

Templeachally,    ,     .     .448,  449 

Templebredon,     ....  306 
Templebreedy ;  St.  Brigid's 

church. 

Templecarn, 306 

Temple-etney,      ....  306 

Templemichael,   ....  306 

Templemolaga,    ....  146 

Templemore, 306 

Teraplemoyle, 382 

Templenacarriga;  the  church 

of  the  rock. 

Templenahurney,      .     .     .  309 

Templenaskellig,      .     .     .  408 
Templenoe,     Templenew ; 

new  church. 

Templepatrick,     ....  91 
Templeport;  the  church  of 

the  port  or  bank. 

Templeshanbo,     .     .     .     .  292 

Templetogher,      ....  361 

Templetuohy, 306 

Tempo, 29 

Tennies, 209 

Tennyphohble,     ....  208 

Tents, 208 

Terenure, 493 

Termon ;  church  land. 


PAGE 

Termonfeckin ;  St.  Fechin's 

church-land. 

Terry  glass, 238 

Terryland, 58 

Tethmoy, 244 

Tevrin, 285 

The  Braid, 505 

The  Faes  of  Athlone,    .     .  477 

TheMoy, 411 

The  Oil, 24 

The  Ovens  near  Cork,  .     .  426 

The  Bosses, 430 

The  Sheehys, 178 

The  Squince, 458 

Three  Gneeves,    .     .     .     .  235 

Thurles, 263 

Tiaquin, 291 

Tibberaghny  in  Kilkenny,  437 

Tibohine, 144 

Tibraddan, 290 

Ticknick, 369 

Ticknock, 369 

Tievebrack  ;  speckled  hillside. 

Tievedeevan, 203 

Tievenavarnoge,  ....  507 
Tiglin    in  "Wicklow;    the 

house  of  the  glen. 

Tikincor, 354 

Tiknock, 369 

Timahoe, 291 

Timogue  in  Queen's  Co.,  St. 

Mogue's  house. 

Timoleague, 147 

Timolin, 151 

Timpan,  Timpaun,  .  .  .  389 

Timpany, 390 

Tinamuck, 461 

Tincurragh, 290 

Tincurry, 290 

Tinnahinch,     .     .     .     .     .  290 
Tinnakill,  Tinnakilly ;  the 

house  of  the  church  or  wood. 

Tinnascart,  Tiunascarty,  .  290 

Tinnick, 369 

Tinoran, 438 

Tintore, 227 

O 


562 


Index  of  Names, 


PAGE 

Tipper, 

437 

Tipperary, 

437 

Tipperkevin, 

437 

Tipperstown, 

437 

Tiranaseragh, 

389 

Tirawly  barony,  .     .     .     . 

J  33 

Tirconnell, 

134 

Tireragh  barony, .... 

183 

Tirerrill  barony,  .     .     .     . 

133 

Tirfinnog, 

468 

Tirkeeran  barony,     .     .     . 

131 

Tisaran, 

35 

Tisaxon  ;  the  bouse  of  the 

Saxon  or  Englishman. 

1 

Tiscoffin, 

53 

Tithewer, 

227 

Tlaghtga, 

195 

Tober, 

435 

Toberaheena, 

436 

Toberatasha, 

187 

Toberavilla, 

436 

Toberawnaun,      .     .     .     . 

150 

Toberbilly, 

436 

Toberbunny,  .     .     .     .     , 

436 

Toberburr, 

48 

Tober  Canvore,    .     .     .     . 

98 

Tobercurry,     .... 

436 

Tobereevil, 

189 

Toberfinnick,  .... 

468 

Toberloona, 

91 

Toberlownagh,     .     .     . 

436 

Tobermolaga,  .... 

146 

Tobermore,     .... 

436 

Tobernabrone,      .     .     . 

363 

Tobernagalt,    .... 

.     166 

Tobernapeasta,     .     .     . 

192 

Tobernooan,    .... 

313 

Toberreendoney,       .     . 

.     437 

Togher, 

.     361 

Tomcoyle, 

.       41 

Tomdeely, 

.     324 

Tomfinlough,  .... 

.     324 

Tomgraney,     .... 

.     323 

Tomies  mountain,     .     . 

.     324 

Tomnahulla,    .... 

.     327 

Tomregan,      .... 

41 

PAGK 

Tonagh, 221 

Tonaghmore, 221 

Tonaghneeve, 221 

Tonanilt, 374 

Tonbaun,    ....           .  507 

Tonduff, 607 

Toneel,        507 

Tonlegee, 507 

Tonnagh ;  a  mound  or  ram- 
part. 

Tonregee,  .     .     .     .     .     .  507 

Tonrevagh ;  grey  bottom. 

Tonroe, 507 

Tonn-Cleena, 188 

Tooman, 324 

Toombeola,      .....  370 

Toome, 323 

Toomog, 324 

Toomona, 324 

Toomore,  Toomour,  .      249,  250 

Toomyvara, 324 

Toor, 227 

Tooraleagan, 332 

Toorard  ;  high  bleach- green. 

Tooreen, 227 

Tooreennablauha,     .     .     .  227 

Tooreennagrena, ....  227 

Toorfune,    ......  227 

Toormorej  great  bleach-green. 

Toornageeha, 227 

Toortane,    ......  387 

Toralt, 38S 

Tore  mountain,    .     .     .     .  463 

Tormore, 386 

Tornaroy, 386 

Tory  Island,    .     .     .       156,  38 G 

Touaghty, 96 

Tourin 227 

Towerbeg,  Towermore,      .  .  284 

Towlaght, 155 

Towlott, 155 

Trakieran, 143 

Tralee, 430 

Tralong, 216 

Tramore, 431 

Trawnamaddi-ee,       .     .     .  431 


Index  of  Names, 


563 


PAGE 

Trean, 234 

Treanamullin,      ....  234 

Treanfohanaun,    ....  234 

Treaiilaur, 234 

Treanmanagh,     ....  234 

Trevet, 127 

Trien, 234 

Trienaltenagh,     ....  234 

Trillick,      ......  252 

Trillickaciirrv,     ....  253 

TriUickatemple,  ....  253 

Trim, 498 

Trimmer, 499 

Tromaun, 499 

Trough, 232 

True, 232 

Trumman,  ......  499 

Trummer, 499 

Trummery, 499 

Tuam, 244 

Tubbrid, 437 

Tiilach-min, 146 

Tulla, 375 

Tullagh, 375 

Tullaghacullion,  .     .     .     .  375 

Tullaghan, 376 

Tullaghans, 376 

Tullaghaun 376 

Tullaghcullion,     ....  376 
Tullaghmelan  in  Tipperary ; 

Movlan's  hill. 

Tullaghoge,     .     .     .      202,  282 
TuUaha;   TuJcha,  hills. 

Tiillahaught, 254 

Tullamore  ;  great  hill. 
Tullanaciimat ;  wheat  hill. 

Tullanavert, 375 

Tullans 376 

Tullantanty, 202 

Tiillantintin, 209 

Tullen, 376 

TuUig, 376 

TuUin, 376 

Tullintloy, 200 

TuUow,       ....       125,  375 

Tullowphelim,      .     .     .     .  125 

2 


PAGE 

Tully, 875,  376 

Tullyallen, 34 

Tullyard;  high  hill. 
Tullybane,  TuUybaun ; 

white  hill. 
Tullvbeg  -,  small  hill. 
Tullycorbet ;  the  hill  of  the 

chariot. 

Tully  cullion, 376 

Tullyglass ;  green  hill. 
Tullyhaw  barony,     .     .     .     117 
Tullyhog  in  Tyrone,     .     .     202 

Tullyland, 58 

Tullylease ;       Tulach-lias, 

the  hill  of  the  huts. 
Tullyloughdaugh,     ...     248 
Tullymongan  at  Cavan,     .     376 
Tullymore  ;  great  hill. 
Tullynacross ;    the   hill  of 

the  cross. 
Tully  nagardy,      .     .     .     .     215 

Tullynagrow, 49 

Tiillynahearka,    ....     205 
Tully  naskeagh,    ....     500 
TuUynure ;  hill  of  the  yew. 
Tully  roe ;  red  hill. 

Tullyrusk, 448 

Tullytrasna ;  cross-hill. 

TullyuUagh, 327 

Tunimery, 29 

Tumna, 324 

Tuosist  ;   Tnfah-0''Siosta, 

O'Siosta's  territory. 

Turagh, 29 

Ture ;  an  tiubhar  ;  the  yew. 

See  pp.  29,  493 

Turlough, 434 

Turtane,    - 387 

Twelve  Pins, 370 

Two  Gneeves,      ....     235 
Tyfarnham  in  Westmeath  ; 

Farannan's  or  Arannan's 

house     (see    Multyfarn- 

hara). 

Tymon, 291 

Tyone, 290 

o2 


564 


Index  of  Names. 


PAGE 

Tyrella,      .....  61 

Tyrone, 134 

inianes,  UUauns,      ...  327 

Ulster, 107 

Ulusker 327 

Ummera, 381 

TJmmeraboy, 381 

Ummeracam,  Umrycam,    .  381 

Ummerafree, 380 

Ummery,  Umry,       .     .     .  381 

Unsliinagh, 489 

Unshog, 489 

Upperthird, 233 

Uragh, 494 

Urbal ;  a  tail,  from  shape. 
Urbalshmny ;      the     fox's 
tail. 

Urcher, 161 

Uregare, 494 

TJmey,  Umy,       .     .     .29,  309 


PAGE 

Usnaghhill 193 

Valentia  island,     .     .       97,  487 

Vartry  river, 118 

Velvet  strand,      ....     329 

Ventry, 431 

Ventry  Harbour,      .     .     .     166 

Ward,  HiUof,      ....  195 
Wateresk ;  upper  channel. 

WatergrasshiU,    ....  35 

"Waterford, 101 

"Wexford, 101 

Wicklow,    ....      101,  103 

Windy-gap, 419 

Winetavern-street,  .     .     .  339 

Witter,  Uachdar^  upper. 

Wood  of  0, 38 

Yellow  Batter,     ....       44 
Youghal, 493 


INDEX  OF  BOOT  WOEDS, 

WITH  PRONUNCIATION,  MEANING,  AND  REFERENCE. 


Abh,  [aw  or  ow],  a  river,  438. 
Abhainn,  [owen],  a  river,  438. 
Abhall,  [owl,  ool,  or  aval],  an 

apple,  an  apple  tree,  497. 
Achadli  [aha],  a  field,  223. 
Adharc    [eye-ark,    aw- ark],     a 

horn,  205. 
Aebhell  [Eevel],  the  fairy  queen 

of  North  Munster,  189. 
Aen  [aiu],  one,  254. 
Aenach  [enagh],  a  fair,  196. 
Aiflfrionn  [Affrin],  the  Mass,  59, 

113. 
Aileach  [ellagh],  a  circular  stone 

fortress,  282. 
Aill  [awil],  a  cliff,  395. 
Aireagal  [arrigle],  a  habitation, 

308. 
Airne  [amey],  a  sloe,  499. 
Ait  [aut],  a  place  or  site,  290. 
Aiteann  [attan],  furze,  501. 
Aith  [ah],  a  kiln,  364. 
Aitheach-Tuatha     [Ahathooha], 

the  plebeian  races  or  Attacots, 

96. 
Alt,  a  cliff  or  glen  side,  374. 
Altoir  [altore],  an  altar,  114. 
Amhra     [awra],     a     laudatory 

poem,  225. 
An,  the  Irish  article,  23. 
Ar  [awr],  slaughter,  111, 


Ard,  high,  a  height,  372. 

Arracht,  a  spectre,  187. 

Ath  [ah],  a  ford,  43,  342. 

Bad  [baud],  a  boat,  217- 

Badhun  [bawn],  a  bawn,  a  cow 
fortress,  296. 

Baile  [bally],  a  town  or  town- 
land,  334. 

Baile-biataigh  [bally-beety],  a 
victualler's  townland,  231. 

Baisleac  [bauslack],  a  basilica  or 
church,  312. 

Bare,  a  bark  or  boat,  216. 

Barr  [baur],  the  top,  510. 

Bealach  [ballagh],  a  road,  358. 

Bealltaine  [beltany],  the  first  day 
of  May,  193. 

Beann  [ban],  a  peak  or  pinna- 
cle, 369. 

Beannchar  [banagher],  horns, 
gables,  or  peaks,  371. 

Beannaighthe  [bannihe]  blessed, 
103. 

Beam,  bearna  [barn,  barna],  a 
gap,  418. 

Beamach  [bamagh],  gapped,271. 

Beith  [beh],  the  birch  tree,  489. 

Bel  or  beul  [bale],  a  mouth,  an 
entrance,  a  ford,  344. 

Bile  [billa],  an  ancient  tree,  481. 

Biorar  [birrer],  watercress,  48. 


566 


Index  of  Root  Words 


Bladlimann  [blawman]  boasting, 
203. 

Bo,  a  cow,  454. 

Boireann  [burren],  a  large  rock, 
a  rocky  district,  405. 

Botli  [boll],  a  tent  or  hut,  292. 

Bothar  [boher],  a  road,  43,  357. 

Bouchail  [booHl],  a  boy,  201. 

Braghad  [braud],  the  throat,  a 
gorge,  605. 

Bran,  a  ravan,  469. 

Breach  [breagh],  a  wolf,  466. 

Bri  [bree],  a  hill,  376. 

Bro,  a  quern,  a  mill-stone,  363. 

Broc  [bruck],  a  badger,  466. 

Brocach  [bruckagh],  a  badger 
warren,  467. 

Brugh  [bru],  a  mansion,  276. 

Bruighean  [breean],  a  mansion, 
a  fairy  palace,   278. 

Buaile  [booUa],  a  booley,  a  feed- 
ing or  milking  place  for  cows, 
229. 

Buirghes  [burris],  a  burgage  or 
borough,  339. 

Bun,  the  end  or  bottom  of  any- 
thing, 509. 

Cabhan  [cavan],  a  hollow,  a 
round  hill,  387. 

Cadhan  [coin],  a  barnacle  duck, 
471. 

Caech  [kay],  blind,  purblind,  116. 

Caera  [kaira],  a  sheep,  457. 

Caerthainn  [kairhan],  the  quicken 
tree,  494. 

Cairthe  [carha],  apillar-stone,330 

Caiseal  [cashel],  a  circular  stone 
fort,  275. 

Caislean  [cashlaun],a  castle,294. 

Gala,  a  marshy  meadow,  a  land- 
ing place  for  boats,  448. 

Capall,  a  horse,  458. 

Cam,  a  monumental  heap  of 
stones,  320. 

Carr,  a  rock,  rocky  land,  406. 

Carraig  [carrig],  a  rock,  396. 

Cartron,  a  quarter  of  land>  236. 


Casan  [cassaun],  a  path,   3  60. 
Cath  [cah] ,  a  battle,  110. 
Cathair  [caher],  a  circular  stone 
fort,  a  city,  273. 

Ceallurach    [calloorah],   an   old 
burial  ground,  304. 

Cealtrach     [caltragh],     an     old 
burial  ground,  305. 

Ceann  [can],  the  head,  212,  504. 

Ceapach   [cappa],  a  tillage   plot, 
219. 

Ceard  [card],  an  artificer,  214. 

Ceardcha  [cardha],  a  workshop, 
214. 

Ceathramhadh  [carhoo],  a  quar- 
ter, 234. 

Ceide  [keady],  378. 

Ceis     [kesh],     a     wicker-work 
bridge  or  causeway,   349. 

Ceol-sithe       [coleshee],       fairy 
music,  185. 

CiU  [kill],  a  church,  302. 

Cinel    [kinel],    kindred;    race, 
116. 

Cladh  [cly  or  claw],  a  ditch,  31. 

Clann,  children;  a  tribe,  116. 

Clar,  a  board;  a  plain,  413. 

Clais  [clash],  a  trench,  113. 

Cliath  [clee],  a  hurdle,  350. 

Cliodhna     [Cleena],     the     fairy 
queen  of  South  Munster,  188. 

Cloch,  a  stone ;   a   stone  castle, 
398. 

Clochan,  a  row  of  stepping  stones 
across  a  river,  351. 

Cluain  [cloon],  an  insulated  mea- 
dow, 223. 

Cluiche  [cluha],  a  game,  203. 

Cluricane,  a  kind  of  fairy,  183. 

Cnap   [knap,   k  pronounced],  a 
knob  ;  a  little  hill,  385. 

Cnoc    [knoc,   k  pronounced],   a 
hill,  49,  368. 

Cobhlach  [cowlagh],  a  fleet,  215. 

Coigeadh  [coga],  a  fifth  part ;  a 
province,  234. 

Colli,  a  wood,  474. 


Index  of  Root  Words. 


567 


Coimhead    [covade],    watcliing, 

guarding,  206. 
Coiuicer   [cunnikere],    a  rabbit 

warren,  465. 
Coinin  [ciinneen],  a  rabbit,  .464. 
Coirthe  [corba]  ;  see  Cairtbe. 
Coll,  tbe  bazel,  496. 
Coman  [cuiriraaun],  tbe  curved 

stick  used  in  burling,  205. 
Congbbail  [congwall],  a  babita- 

tion,  25. 
Cor,  a  round  bill,  &c.,  384. 
Cora,    Coradb    [corra],   a   weir, 

354. 
Core,  Corca,  race  ;  progeny,  116. 
Corcacb  [corkagh],  a  marsb,  446. 
Corr,  a  crane,  470. 
Cos  [cuss],  a  foot,  508. 
Cot,  a  small  boat,  217. 
Craebh  [crave],  a  brancb ;  a  large 

brancby  tree,  483. 
Craig  [crag],  a  rock,  396. 
Crann,  a  tree,  480. 
Crannog,  an  artificial  island  or 

lake-dwelling,  287. 
Creabbar  [crour],  a  wood-cock, 

472. 
Crocb,  a  cross  ;  a  gallows,  211. 
Crocbaire  [crobera],  a  bangman, 

212. 
Cromlecb,   a   sepulcbral    monu- 
ment, 327. 
Cros,  a  cross,  3 1 4. 
Cruacb,    a  rick ;    a   round  bill, 

374. 
Cruit    [crit],   a  hump;  a  round 

little  bill,  385. 
Cruitbne    [Crubne],   tbe   Picts, 

95. 
Cu,  a  fierce  dog ;  a  bound,  463. 
Cuacb  [coogb],  a  cuckoo,  471- 
Cuas   [coose],   a  cave;    a  cove, 

423. 
Cuil  [cooilj,  a  corner,  512. 
Cuillionn  [cullion],  bolly,  495. 
Ctxm  [coom],  a  hollow,  418. 
Curracb,  a  marsh,  447. 


Da  [daw],  two,  237,  238. 
Daingeau   [dangan],   a  fortress, 

295. 
Dair  [darl.  an  oak,  484. 
Dairbbre    [darrery],    a  place   of 

oaks,  487. 
DairQhOr  doire'  [derry],   an  oak 

grore,  484, 
Dal  [daul],  apart;  a  tribe,  82, 

121. 
Dalian  [dallaun]  ;  see  gallan. 
Damb  [dauv],  an  ox,  43,  456. 
Dealbb  [dalliv],  a  shape;  a  spec- 
tre, 186. 
Deamban  [down],  a  demon,  192. 
Dearc,  Derc  [derk],  a  cave,  423. 
Dearmbagb  [darwah],  oak-plain, 

13. 
Diabbal  [deeal],  tbe  devil,  192. 
Diombaein  [deeveeu],  idle  ;  vain, 

203. 
Disert,  a  desert;  a  hermitage,  312. 
Dorabnacb  [downagb],  a  church, 

306. 
Draeighean  [dreean],  tbe  black- 

tborn,  499. 
Droichead    [drohed],    a  bridge, 

355. 
Druim  [drum],  tbe  back;  a  hill- 
ridge,  505. 
Dullaghan,  a  kind  of  spectre,  186. 
Dumba  [dooa],  a  burial  mound, 

324. 
Dun  [doon],a  fortified  residence, 

75,  256. 
Dur,  strong,  263. 
Each  [agh],  a  horse,  457. 
Eaglais  [aglisb],  a  church,  305. 
Eanacb  [annaghl,  a  marsh,  446. 
Earracb  [arragb],  spring,  192. 
Eas  [ass],  ess,  a  waterfall,  444. 
Eas,  easog  [ass,  assogel,  a  weasel, 

26. 
Eascu,  eascan  [asscu,  asskan],  an 

eel,  26. 
Edar,  between,  241. 
Eidhne^n  [eynaun],  ivy,  502, 


568 


Index  of  Root  Words. 


Eilit  [elUt],  a  doe,  461. 

Eisc  [esk],  a  -water  channel,  432. 

Eiscir  [esker],  a  sand-hill,  388. 

En  [ain],  a  bird,  467. 

E6  [6],  a  yew-tree,  492. 

Eoehaill  [ohill],  a  yew  wood,  493. 

Eudan  [edan],  the  forehead;   a 

hill  brow,  504.  » 

Ey  (Danish),  an  island,  100,  104. 
Fael  [fan],  a  wolf,  495. 
Faeilean  [fweelaun],  a  sea  gull, 

469. 
Faeileog  [fweeloge],  a  sea  gull, 

469. 
Fail!  [foyle],  a  cliff,  395. 
Faithche  [faha],  an  exercise  green, 

285. 
Farrach  [farra],  a  place  of  meet- 
ing, 198. 
Fasach  [faussagh],  a  wilderness, 

478. 
Fead&,n  [faddaim],  a  streamlet, 

443. 
Feadog  [faddoge],  a  plover,  469. 
Feannog   [fannoge],    a    royston 

crow,  468. 
Feara  [farra],  men,  118. 
Fearann  [farran],  land,  233. 
Fearn,  Fearnog  [farn,  famoge], 

the  alder,  496. 
Fearsad  [farsadj,  a  sand-bank,  348 
Fert,  ferta,  a  trench;   a  grave, 

332. 
Fiach  [feeagh],  a  raven,  469. 
Fiadh  [feea],  a  deer,  460. 
Fidh  [fih],  a  wood,  476. 
Fionghal  [finnal],  the  murder  of 

a  relative,  111. 
Fir,  men,  118. 

Foghmhar  [fower],  harvest,  119. 
Ford  (Danish),  100,  101. 
Fomocht  [forenaght],  a  bare  hill, 

387. 
Forrach,  a  meeting  place,  198. 
Fraech  [freagh],  heath,  501. 
Fuaran  [fooran],  a  cold  spring, 
438. 


Fuath  [fooa],  a  spectre,  187. 
Fuinnse,  Fuinnseann,  Fuinnseog 

[funsha,    funshan,   funshoge], 

the  ash  tree>  488. 
Fuiseog  [fwishoge],  a  lark,  472. 
Gabhal  [gowl],  a  fork,  510. 
Gabhar  [gower],  a  goat,  459. 
Gaertha  [gairha],  a  thicket  along 

a  river,  479. 
Gaire  [gaurya],  laughter,  shout- 
ing, 203. 
Gall,  a  foreigner,  a  standing  stone, 

89,  331. 
Gallan    [gallaun],     a     standing 

stone,  331. 
Gallon,  a  measure  of  land,  236. 
Gaeth  [gwee],  wind,  43. 
Gamhan  [gowan],  a  calf,  455. 
Gamhnach  [gownagh],  a  milking 

cow,  455. 
Garran  [garraun],  a  shrubberv, 

480. 
Garrdha  [gaura],  a  garden,  219. 
Gealt  [gait],  a  lunatic,  166. 
Gedh  [gay],  a  goose,  470. 
Geimhridh      [gevrih],      winter, 

192. 
Glaise,  glais,  glas  [glasha,  glash, 

glas],  a  streamlet,  440. 
Gleann  [glan],  a  glen,  414. 
Gniomh  [gneeve],  a  measure  of 

land,  235. 
Gobha  [gow],  a  smith,  213. 
Gort,  a  field,  220. 
Graf  an   [graffaun],    a  grubbing 

axe,  227. 
Graig,  a  village,  340. 
Grian[greean],  the  sun,  281,  323. 
Grianan   [greenan],    a    summer 

house;  a  palace,  281. 
Guala  [goola],  the  shoulder ;  a 

hill,  505. 
Imlcach  [imlagh],  a  marsh,  449. 
Inbhear  [inver],  a  river-mouth, 

443. 
Inis,  an  island,  426. 
lolar  [iller],  an  eagle,  467. 


Index  of  Root  Words. 


569 


lomaire  [iimmera],  a  ridge  or 
hill,  380. 

Iompodh[impo]  turningroiind,29. 

Tubhar  [ure],  the  yew  tree,  492. 

Lacha,  a  duck,  471. 

Ladhar  [lyre,  lear],  a  fork;  a 
river-fork,  511. 

Laegh  [lay],  a  calf,  454. 

Lag,  a  hollow  in  a  mountain,  417. 

Lagh  [law],  a  hill,  377. 

Lann,  a  house ;  a  church,  309. 

Larach  [lauragh],  a  mare,  459. 

Lathair,  lathrach  [lauher,  lau- 
ragh], a  site,  298. 

Lax  (Danish),  a  salmon,  103, 104. 

Leaba,  leabaidh  [labba,  labby],  a 
bed,  328. 

Leac  [lack],  a  flag-stone,  402. 

Leaca,  leac  an  [lacka,  lackan],  a 
hill-side,  404. 

Leacht  [laght],  a  monumental 
heap,  60,  325. 

Leamh,  leamhan  [lav,  lavaun], 
the  elm,  490. 

Leamhchoill  [lavwhill],  an  elm- 
wood,  491. 

Learg  [larg],  a  hill-side,  390. 

Leath  [lah],  half,  232. 

Leathard  [lahard],  a  gentle  hill, 
373. 

Leim  [lame],  a  leap,  163. 

Leithinnsi  [lehinshi],  a  penin- 
sula, 428. 

Leitir  [letter],  a  wet  hill-side,  390 

Leprechan,  a  kind  of  fairy,  183. 

Liag  [leeg],  a  flag-stone,  402. 

Liagan  [legaun],  a  pillar-stone, 
332. 

Liathmhuine  [leewinny],  a  grey 
shrubbery,  479. 

Lie  [lick],  a  flag-stone,  402. 

Lios  [liss],  a  circular  earthen 
fort,  260. 

Loch,  a  lake,  433. 

Loisgre^n  [luskraun],  com  burnt 
in  the  ear,  228. 

Loisgthe  [luska],  burnt,  228. 


Lon,  londubh  [londuv],  a  black- 
bird, 472. 

Long,  a  ship,  216. 

Longphort  [longfort],  a  fortress, 
288. 

Loughiyman,  a  kind  of  fairy,  183. 

Luchorpan  [loohorpaun],  a  kind 
of  fairy,  183. 

Lug,  a  hollow  in  a  mountain,  41 7- 

Lughnasadh  [loonasa],  the  first 
of  August,  194. 

Luppercadan,  luprachan,  a  kind 
of  fairy,  183. 

Lurga,  lurgan,  the  shin ;  a  long 
hiU,  508. 

Lurican,  lurrigadan,  a  kind  of 
fairy,  183. 

Machaire  [maghera],  aplain,412. 

Mac-tire  [macteera],  a  wolf,  466. 

Madadh,  madradh  [madda,  mad- 
dra],  a  dog,  463. 

Madhm  [maum],  a  high  moun- 
tain pass,  169. 

IVIael  [mwail],  bald;  a  hornless 
cow  ;  a  bald  hill,  382. 

Maethail  [mwayhil],  soft  land, 
449. 

IVIagadh  [mogga],  joking,  203. 

Magh  [maw],  a  plain,  52, 53, 408. 

Mant,  the  gum,  103. 

Mantan,  mantach,  a  toothless  per- 
son, 103. 

Mas  [mauce],  the  thigh ;  a  long 
hill,  508. 

Meall  [mal],  a  lump ;  a  little  hill, 
381. 

Miliuc  [meelick],  low  marshy 
land,  450. 

Moin  [raonel,  a  bog,  450. 

Mointean,  mointin  [moanthaun, 
moantheen], a  little  bog;  boggy 
land,  40. 

Mota,  a  moat,  280. 

Mothar  [moher],  a  ruined  fort, 
287. 

Muc,  a  pig,  461. 

Muilenn  [mullen],  a  mill,  362. 


570 


Index  of  Root  Words, 


Muine  [money],  a  brake,  479, 
Muintir  [munter],  a  family,  116. 
Muirisc    [murrisk],    a    sea-side 

marsh,  451. 
Mullach,  a  summit,  378. 
Murbholg  [murvolg],  a  sea  inlet, 

138. 
Murbhach  [murvah],  a  salt  marsh, 

450. 
Nks  [nawce],  an  assembly  place, 

199. 
Nathir  [nahir],  a  snake,  26. 
Nead  [nad],  a  bird's  nest,  472. 
Og  [oge],  young,  202. 
Oglach,  a  yoiitb,  202.      . 
Oilean,  an  island,  428. 
Orana,  an  oak,  488. 
Ore  (Danish),  a  sandy  point,  100, 

102. 
Os,  a  fawTi,  460. 
Piast  [peeast],  a  beast,  191. 
Pobul  [pubble],  people,  200. 
Poll,  a  hole,  236,  421. 
Pottle,  a  measure  of  land.  236. 
Preachan  [prehaun],  a  crow,  468. 
Puca  [pooka],  a  kind  of  fairy,  181 . 
Radharc   [ryark],   sight ;    view, 

207. 
Raidhe  free],  descendants,  118. 
Rail,  ral  [rawl],  an  oak,  488. 
Rath  [raw],  a  circular  fort,  259, 

263. 
R^idh  [ray],  a  mountain-flat,  412. 
Reilig  [reilig],  a  cemetery,  333. 
Riasc  [reesk],  a  marsh,  448. 
Rince,  rinceadh  [rinkal,  dance, 

204. 
Sabhall  [saul],  a  barn,  108. 
Saer  [sair]  a  carpenter,  215. 
Samhradh  [sowra],  summer,  192. 
Samhuin  [savin,  or  sowan],  the 

first  of  November,  193. 
Scairbh  [scarriff],  a  shallow  ford, 

347. 
Scairt  [scart],  a  thicket,  479. 
Sceaoh  [skagh],    a  white-thorn, 

oOO. 


Scealp  [skalp],  a  cleft,  421. 
Sceilig  [skellig],  a  rock,  407. 
Sceir  [sker],  a  shaip  rock,  407. 
Serin  [skreen],  a  shrine,  309. 
Seabhac  [skouk],  a  hawk,  468. 
Seal^n  [shallaun],   a  hangman's 

rope,  212. 
Sealg  [shallog],  hunting,  205. 
Seiseadh  [shesha],  a  sixth  part, 

235. 
Seisreach  [shesheragh] ,  a  measure 

of  land,  231,  232. 
Seiscenn  [sheskin],  a  marsh,  447. 
Siabhra  [sheevra],  a  fairy,  183. 
Sidh    [shee],     a     fairy  hill;    a 

fairy,  172,  177. 
Sidhean  [sheeaun],  a  fairy  mount, 

180. 
Sidheog  [sheeoge],  a  fairy,  177. 
Siol  [sheel],  seed ;  descendants, 

117. 
Sionnach  [shinnagh],  a  fox,  466. 
Sleamhan  [slavan],  the  elm,  490, 
Sliabh     [sleeve],     a     mountain, 

366. 
Slidhe  [slee],  a  road,  358. 
Sluagh  [sloo],  a  host,  200. 
Smdl,  smolach  [smole,  smolagh], 

a  thrush,  472. 
Snamh   [snauv],    swimming;    a 

swimming  ford,  352. 
Soillse  [soilsha],  light,  209. 
Soillsean  [soilshaun],  light,  209. 
Solas  [sullus],  light,  208,  209. 
Speilic     [spellic],     a    splintery 

rock,  408. 
Spine    [spink],     a    sharp   rock, 

408. 
Sradbhaile    [sradvally],   an.    un- 
fortified village  of  one  street, 
339. 
Sraid  [sraud],  a  street,  339. 
Sron  [srone],  the  nose,  505. 
Sruth  [sruh],  a  stream,  441. 
Sruthair  [sruhar],  a  stream,  441, 
Sruthan  [sruhaun],  a  stream, 442. 
Ster  (Danish),  a  place,  100,  107. 


Index  of  Root  Words. 


571 


Stuaic    [stook],    a  pointed   pin- 
nacle, 394. 
Sugach,  merry,  203. 
Suidhe  [see],  a  seat,  299. 
Taebh  [tave],  the  side,  507. 
Taimhleacht  [tavlaght],  a  plague 

grave,  155. 
Taise  [thasha],  a  fetch  or  ghost, 

187. 
Tamlmach    [tawnagh],   a    field, 

43,  221. 
Tarbh  [tarriv],  a  bull,  455. 
Tate,  tatb,   a  measure   of  land, 

236. 
Teach  [tah],  a  house,  34,  60,  289. 
Tealach  [tallagh],  a  hill,  117. 
Teamhair  [tawer],  a  high  place 

with  a  wide  view,  283. 
Teampull    [tampul],    a  church, 

306. 
Teine  [tinna],  fire,  208. 
Tedtan  [totaun],  a  burning,  229. 
Tigh  [tee]  ;  see  teach. 
Tiompan  [timpaun],  a  standing 

stone  ;  a  little  hill,  389. 
Tipra ;  see  tobar. 
Tobar,  a  well,  435. 
Tdchar    [togher],    a    causeway, 

361. 
Ton  [thone],  the  backside  ;  a  hill ; 

bottom  land,  507. 
Tor,  a  tower ;  a  tower-like  rock, 

386. 


Tore  [turk],  a  boar,  462, 

Tradhnach  [trynagh],  a  corn- 
crake, 470. 

Traigh  [tra],  a  strand,  430. 

Tri  [three],  three,  251. 

Trian  [treean],  a  third  part,  233. 

Tricha  [triha],  a  cantred,  231, 
232. 

Tromm,  the  elder  tree,  498. 

Tuaim  [toom],  a  tumulus  or 
mound,  322. 

Tuar  [toor],  a  bleach  green,  227. 

Tuath  [tua],  a  district,  118. 

Tulach  [tullagh],  a  little  hill, 
34,  375. 

Turlach,  a  lake  that  dries  in  sum- 
mer, 434. 

Ua,  a  grandson;  a  descendant, 
117. 

Uagh,  uaimh  [ooa,  ooiv],  a  cave, 
424. 

Uaran  ;  see  Fuaran. 

Ubhall;  see  abhall. 

Uisce  [iska],  water,  431. 

Uinnseann ;  see  fuinnse. 

Uladh  [ulla],  a  tomb ;  a  peni- 
tential station,  326. 

Urchur  [m-ker],  a  cast  or  throw, 
161. 

Urnaidhe  [urny],  a  prayer ;  an 
oratory,  308. 


THE    END. 


OPINIONS  OF  THE  PRESS. 


Mr.  Joyce's  work  is  eminently  calculated  to  make  every  Irish  reader 

wish  to  know  more  of  his  country No  work  of 

its  size  yet  published  furnishes  so  much  sound  and  interesting  infor- 
mation about  the  passed-away  things  of  Ireland — The  Dublin 
University  Magazine. 

The  work,  although  necessarily  didactic,  has  been  written  in  a 
clear,  concise,  and  correct  style.     Every  page  is  replete  with  sound 

information Altogether  it  may  be  said  the  volume  of 

Mr.  Joyce  is  not  only  readable  throughout,  but  it  is,  moreover,  filled 
with  curious  and  recondite  information. — The  Dublin  Evening  Post. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  author  confines  himself  to  the 
mere  explanation  of  the  local  names.  The  book  is  a  repertory  of 
archaeological,  historical,  legendary,  topographical,  and  even 
grammatical  information. — The  "Warder. 

"We  can  recommend  the  book  to  everybody.  It  is  a  learned  yet 
popular  history,  a  series  of  separate  yet  skilfully  combined  stories, 
and  the  by-ways  of  many  an  ancient  narrative  are  here  lighted  up 
and  illumined  by  the  geniality  and  sympathy  of  an  earnest  student 
and  an  accurate  scholar. — The  Freeman's  Journal. 

Mr.  Joyce  devotes  a  chapter  to  this  subject  ("  Faries,  Demons, 
Goblins,  and  Ghosts").  It  is  one  of  the  most  agreeable  pieces  of 
reading  that  has  fallen  in  our  way  for  many  a  day.  The  extent  of 
fairy  mythology  in  Ireland,  the  names  it  has  given  to  townland  and 
borough,  to  mountain  peak  and  way-side  well,  are  all  most  learnedly 
sought  out  from  stores  of  our  ancient  MSS.,  and  are  very  graphically 
narrated. — The  Nation. 

"We  have  already  indicated  the  care  with  which  the  materials  of 
this  book  have  been  investigated,  and  have  only  to  add  that  it  is  the 
most  important  and  valuable  work  on  Irish  local  names  ever  pub- 
lished. It  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  student  of  Irish  history  ; 
and  while  from  its  highly  interesting  general  character  we  anticipate 
for  it  a  wide  circulation,  it  seems  likely  to  become  one  of  the  insepa- 
rable companions  of  the  tourist  in  Ireland. — The  Irishman, 

"With  an  exhibition  of  complete  mastership  of  the  subject,  the  most 
extensive  learning,  and  widest  research,  are  interwoven  a  vein  of 
legendary  and  historical  lore  that  would  render  what  would  otherwise 
be  a  dry  and — except  to  the  student — uninviting  topic,  one  of  the  most 


Opinions  of  the  Press. 

interesting  and  valuable "We  have  no  hesitation 

in  most  strongly  recommending  the  work  to  the  attention  of  all  Irish- 
men, and  tourists  who  may  visit  this  country  would  do  well  to  make 
it  the  companion  of  their  journey The  Saunders'  News-lettek. 

A  timely  and  welcome  contribution  to  our  national  literature.  It 
as  a  class-book  to  the  student  of  Irish  history.  It  is  a  dictionary  to 
the  topographical  nomenclature  of  the  country.  The  author  is,  in  the 
fullest  sense  of  the  word,  a  true  Irish  antiquarian,  deeply  versed  in 
the  history,  the  literature,  the  language,  the  legends,  the  super- 
stitions, &c.,  of  ancient  Ireland.  His  vocabulary  is  vigorous,  terse, 
and  graphic,  embellishing  with  lively  interest  even  the  driest  points 
in  his  subject. — The  Eilkexny  Journal. 

This  is  a  truly  valuable  and  interesting  work,  and  creditable  alike 
to  the  scholarship  and  the  patriotism  of  the  author.  .  .  The  form 
of  a  mere  dry  catalogue  is  avoided  by  the  illustrations  afforded  from 
history  and  tradition,  evincing  archseological  research  and  information 
of  the  most  varied,  profound,  and  really  wonderful  extent. —The 
Kilkenny  Moderator. 

It  is  a  work  that  to  the  historian  and  the  topographer,  or  to  the 
simply  curious  who  seeks  for  derivatives  merely  to  gratify  a  peciQiar 

craving,  must  become  a  hand-book We  have  looked 

through  its  pages  with  the  deepest  possible  interest,  and  there  is  not 
a  sentence  in  them  with  which  we  have  not  been  well  pleased. — 
The  Limerick  Reporter  and  Tipperary  Advocate. 

Mr.  Joyce's  book  is  unique,  at  least  we  have  never  seen,  heard 
of,  or  read  of  anything  like  it.  It  is  deeply  interesting  fi'om  the 
curious  and  valuable  information  that  it  gives.  It  is  remarkable  for 
the  Irish  knowledge  it  displays,  and  the  labour  and  research  that  must 
have  been  required  to  bring  so  much  information  together. — The 
Enniskillen  Advertiser. 

In  its  range  and  execution  it  is  most  successful,  admirably  con- 
ceived, lucidly  arranged,  neither  too  diffuse  nor  too  succinct,  every 
page  proves  that  its  author  thoroughly  understands  his  subject,  and 
shows  as  he  says  in  his  preface,  that  "the  work  of  collection,  ar- 
rangement, and  composition  was  to  him  a  never-failing  source  of 
pleasure  ;  and  if  ever  it  involved  labour,  it  was  really  and  truly  a 

labour  of  love. " "We  cordially  recommend  the  work 

to  our  readers,  as  one  which  every  student  of  Irish  history  should' 
possess. — The  Northern  Star. 

One  of  the  most  recent,  as  it  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  contri- 
butions to  the  literature  of  our  ancient  land,  well  worthy  the  patron- 
age of  Irishmen  of  every  creed  and  class.  It  is  the  first  book  ever 
written  on  the  subject,  and  it  contains  ample  evidence  of  extensive 
research,  great  familiarity  with  the  genius  of  the  Iri«h  language,  and 
great  perseverance  and  pains-taking. — The  Belfast  Kews-Letter. 


Ojnmons  of  the  Press. 

The  book  is  a  valuable  contribution  to  our  literature  ;  philosophi- 
cal and  accurate  in  its  method  of  treatment,  and  at  the  same  time 
amusing  to  all  who  love  the  history  and  legends  of  our  country. — 
The  Gal  way  Vindicator. 

A  most  interesting  and  valuable  book,  which  cannot  fail  to  enhst 
the  warmest  sympathies  of  the  admirers  of  Celtic  literature  and 
history,  both  at  home  and  on  the  Continent  of  Europe  .  .  .  The 
book  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  student  of  the  history  of  Ire- 
land. For  the  traveller  and  tourist  it  will  awaken  a  still  deeper 
interest,  not  only  in  its  natm-al  beauties,  but  still  more  in  its  histori- 
cal recollections. — The  Ikish  Ecclesiastical  Eecoed. 

It  is,  however,  to  the  class  of  readers  who  have  no  special  knowledge 
of  languages  in  general,  nor  of  the  Irish  language  in  particular,  but 
who  can  appreciate  information  on  such  subjects  wben  conveyed  in 
a  pleasing  shape  and  in  a  manner  not  demanding  too  great  an  effort 
of  the  mind,  that  this  work  will  prove  most  acceptable. — The  Ikish 
Teacher's  Journal. 

The  subject  is  novel  and  interesting ;  the  author  is,  as  is  abun- 
dantly shown  in  the  pages  of  this  volume,  thoroughly  qualified  to 
treat  it  successfully  ;  the  printer  and  the  binder  have  done  their 
work  admirably  ;  and  the  publishers  deserve  great  credit  for  the 
courage  and  patriotism  they  have  shown  in  issuing  such  a  volume  to 
the  public. — The  Tralee  Chronicle  and  Killarney  Echo. 

To  the  Irish  philologist  this  volume  will  prove  exceedingly  in- 
teresting J  and  even  English  readers  familiar  with  the  names  of 
places  in  Ireland  will  find  much  in  it  to  excite  attention  and  to  in- 
crease their  stock  of  rare  and  curious  information  especially  about 
fairies,  goblins,  and  the  numerous  family  of  spectres  and  apparitions 
which  formerly  so  abounded  in  Ireland,  and  which  have  bequeathed 
their  names  to  the  local  theatres  of  their  midnight  exploits. — The 
Ulster  Examiner. 

A  work  unpretending  in  name  and  modest  in  its  size  and  garni- 
ture, but  containing  an  amount  of  valuable  information  unobtainable 

from  quartos  and  folios Mr,  Joyce's  book  is  not 

a  dry  topographical  or  philological  work ;  it  is  really  and  truly  an 
interesting  and  readable  volume  to  any  person,  full  of  pleasant  infor- 
mation, and  without  a  trace  of  the  pedant. — The  Cork  Examiner. 

A  work  which  will  be  welcomed  by  all  students  of  Irish  history 
and  antiquities.  Mr.  Joyce  has  brought  to  his  inteiesting  search 
the  highest  qualifications,  combined  with  unusual  industry  and  inde- 
fatigable perseverance,  and  the  result  is  a  volume  of  the  highest 
value,  whether  estimated  from  an  historical,  philological,  or  anti- 
quarian point  of  view.  The  style  is  clear  and  fresh,  and  the  subject 
in  Mr.  Joyce's  hands  never  becomes  dry  or  uninteresting.— Public 
Opinion. 


Opinions  of  the  Press. 

Mr.  Joyce's  work  reminds  us  that  there  are  two  kinds  of  popular 
■writers.  The  one  knows  barely  enough  to  enable  him  to  write  his 
book ;  he  has  no  surplus  of  knowledge.  The  other  is  the  man  of 
extensive  scholarship,  who  makes  clear  the  more  abstruse  parts  of 
his  knowledge  for  the  benefit  of  the  less  learned.  His  work,  though 
sometimes  heavy,  is  always  accurate.  Mr.  Joyce  belongs  to  this 
latter  class  ;  but  in  his  case,  notwithstanding  the  difiiculties  of  his 
subject,  his  arrangement  is  so  admirable,  and  his  explanations  are  so 
lucid,  that  his  book  never  becomes  dull.  It  will  be  studied  with 
satisfaction  by  those  who  know  Ireland,  and  may  be  read  with 
interest  even  by  those  who  have  never  seen  her  green  hills  and 
pleasant  meadows. — The  Athenjeum. 

Learned  and  ctirious. — The  Daily  News. 

There  is  perhaps  no  country  in  Europe  which  has  so  systematic  a 
topographical  nomenclature,  or  possesses  such  ample  means  of  in- 
vestigating the  meaning  and  origin  of  the  names  of  its  places  as  Ire- 
land ;  and  they  have  found  in  Mr.  Joyce  an  explorer  who  has  en- 
thusiasm for  his  subject,  and  many  qualities  to  fit  him  for  the  task 
The  book  is  full  of  interest,  and  is  a  real  contri- 
bution to  Irish,  as  also  to  Scottish,  topographical  nomenclature. — 
The  North  British  Eeview. 

If  any  one  wishes  to  have  a  notion  how  many  pitfalls  beset  the 
path  of  the  topographical  etymologist,  and  what  an  amount  of  col- 
lateral knowledge  and  of  cautious  criticism  is  requisite  to  avoid  them, 
he  cannot  do  better  than  study  this  book  of  Mr.  Joyce's,  which  if  we 
mistake  not,  will  make  an  era  in  this  branch  of  antiquarianism  . 
.  .  .  .  These  specimens  will  give  our  readers  an  idea  of  what  an 
instructive  and  entertaining  commentary  Mr,  Joyce's  book  furnishes 
on  the  history  and  geography  of  Ireland. — The  Scotsman. 

Mr,  Joyce  is  in  everything  a  member  of  the  rational  school.  His 
whole  method  is  scientific ;  there  is  no  guess  work  about  him.  To 
work  out  the  local  nomenclature  of  any  country,  a  man  must  have  a 
good  stock  alike  of  sound  scholarship  and  of  sound  sense  ;  and  Mr. 

Joyce  seems  to  have  no  lack  of  either Mr,  Joyce 

goes  most  thoroughly  through  the  various  classes  of  names,  and  the 
various  kinds  of  objects,  persons,  and  events,  after  which  places  are 
called  ....  We  can  heartily  recommend  Mr,  Joyce's  book 
as  interesting  and  instructive  to  all  who  care  for  the  study  of 
language  and  nomenclature,  whether  they  boast  of  any  special  Irish  ' 
scholarship  or  not. — The  Saturday  Review,