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 '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 '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. '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 '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 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. '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 '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 '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 '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 '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, '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, 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 '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 '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-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 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,