Marfach/Marfagh

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Hierarchy

townland

Marfach

genitive: Mharfaí

non-validated name (What is this?)

(Irish)

Marfagh

(English)

Capitalise

Hierarchy

county

Dún na nGall/Donegal

barony

Cill Mhic Réanáin/Kilmacrenan

municipal district

Na Gleannta/Glenties

civil parish

Cluain Dá Chorcach/Clondahorky

electoral division

Dún Fionnachaidh/Dunfanaghy

Explanatory note

Gaeilge

deadly place?

D’fhéadfaí muirbheach “a level strip of land along the sea-coast” (DIL) a léamh ar chuid de na tagairtí luatha. Ní go ró-mhaith a réiteodh sé sin le topagrafaíocht an bhaile fearainn seo áfach agus aillte ar feadh an chósta ann. (JÓG, 08 Eanáir 2026)
English

deadly place?

Some of the earlier references could be understood to represent muirbheach “a level strip of land along the sea-coast” (DIL). This would not be consistent with the topography of this townland however, as there are cliffs along its coastline. (JÓG, 08 January 2026)

Centrepoint

55.1884, -8.01896latitude, longitude

Irish Grid (with letter)

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Irish Grid (without letter)

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Irish Transverse Mercator (ITM)

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Archival records

Historical references

1600	Varvagh	F Leathanach: 6382 Fiants: Calendar to Fiants of reign of Henry VIII. 1510-47...of Queen Elizabeth. 1558-1603'. In RDK (1875-90) Nóta eolais: Tagraítear d'uimhir ailt (ó am go chéile, nuair a théann an t-alt thar bhreis agus leathanach amháin, tagraítear d'alt agus do leathanach) / Reference to article number (occasionally, when the article extends over more than one page, the article and page number are given)., Áit foilsithe: London, Bliain foilsithe: 1875-90
1655c	Murvagh, Morvagh 'This Morvagh is a very remarkable place in wch is a great concave in the rocks out of which the sea at full tide throughes up stoanes & water yt makes soe greate a noyse that it may be heared ten or twelve miles.	DS (P, TCD) #29276 [DS (par. TCD)] Down Survey Parish Maps-(Leagan ar líne atá ag Coláiste na Trionóide)/Down Survey Parish Maps-(Online copy by Trinity College)
1660c	Murvaghie Bissp Lands	BSD (DG) Books of Survey and Distribution (Co. Donegal)
1762	Marvagh	CGn. 219.496.144468: Stewart to Stewart Clárlann na nGníomhas/Registry of Deeds Nóta: Tagraítear d'imleabhar, leathanach, gníomhas./Reference to volume, page, deed.
1835	Murvagh	BS:AL Boundary Surveyor c. 1830 as AL / Ordnance Survey Parish Namebooks. Bliain: 1830
1835	"Mac Swine's gun is called Marbhthach or destructive from the terror of her report which is heard at the Giant's causeway." "This MacSwines Gun is the celebrated Tonn Tuatha (wave of Doe of Irish writers O Thonn Chliodhna go Tonn Tuatha)	OD:AL O'Donovan (leagan Gaeilge de logainm nó nóta agus é scríofa le dúch; John O’Donovan / Seán Ó Donnabháin a scríobh de ghnáth), ex AL. A note or an Irish form of a placename in the Ordnance Survey Parish Namebooks, usually written by John O'Donovan. Bliain: 1830-40, Bliain: 1835, Bliain: 1838
1835	Marbhthach 'destructive'	OD:AL O'Donovan (leagan Gaeilge de logainm nó nóta agus é scríofa le dúch; John O’Donovan / Seán Ó Donnabháin a scríobh de ghnáth), ex AL. A note or an Irish form of a placename in the Ordnance Survey Parish Namebooks, usually written by John O'Donovan. Bliain: 1830-40, Bliain: 1835, Bliain: 1838
1835	Muirbach 'defence of the water'	Ogilby, A.:AL (DG) Ogilby, Alex, faisnéiseoir in AL, Cluain Dá Chorcach, Cill Mhic Réanáin, Co. Dhún na nGall/informant in Ordnance Survey Parish Namebooks, Clondahorky, Kilmacrenan, Co. Donegal.
1937/38	Marbhach	Ainm. Áit. CDH Míniú ar Ainmneacha Áiteach sa Pharóiste (Cluain Dá Chorcach) Bailiúchán na Scol: 1077, Leathanach 283 Mír san imleabhar do Dhún Fionnachaidh i mBailiúchán na Scol ina dtugtar leaganacha Gaeilge agus iarrachtaí ar mhíniúcháin ar logainmneacha i bparóiste Chluain Dá Chorcach. Is cosúil gurb é an múinteoir, Éamonn Ó Canainn, a rinne an liosta. Ní léir cén cúlra a bhí aige siúd. Níl an sloinne Ó Canainn róchoitianta sa cheantar.

Please note: Some of the documentation from the archives of the Placenames Branch is available here. It indicates the range of research contributions undertaken by the Branch on this placename over the years. It may not constitute a complete record, and evidence may not be sequenced on the basis of validity. It is on this basis that this material is made available to the public.

Archival and research material provided on this site may be used, subject to acknowledgement. Issues regarding republication or other permissions or copyright should be addressed to logainm@dcu.ie.

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