Cattle-fold of Christmas: Only one example of the word Nollaig (‘Christmas’) as a placename element has come to our attention i.e. Buaile na Nollag / Boleynanollag, the name of a townland in south-east Co. Galway (Ballynakill parish). However, there are examples in different parts of the country of placenames based on festivals or specific times of the year.

It is interesting to note that there is a placename in the same parish as Buaile na Nollag containing the word Cáisc (‘Easter’), i.e. Buaile na Cásca / Easterfield; the same placename occurs in the south-east of Co. Clare (Buaile na Cásca / Boolanacausk, Killeely parish). In north-west Co. Cavan we find the townland of Droim Cásca / Drumcask (Kinawley parish) and the townland Mullach na Cásca / Mullanacask (Errigal Trough parish) is located in north Co. Monaghan.

There are also references to ancient festivals of Celtic origin in placenames. Bealtaine is not an uncommon placename element — note for instance the village of Tamhnaigh Bhealtaine / Laurelvale in Co. Armagh (Kilmore parish) and the townland Lios Bealtaine / Lisbalting in Co. Tipperary (Kilcash parish) — and there are even some examples of this word as a simplex, in other words a placename in itself, e.g. An Bhealtaine / Beltany in Co. Tyrone (Clogher parish). It would appear that the festival of Samhain is referred to in the names Cnoc Samhna / Knocksouna in Co. Limerick (Tankardstown parish), Cnoc na Samhna / Knocknasawna in south Co. Leitrim (Kiltoghert parish), and Doire Shamhna / Derryhawna in south-west Co. Mayo (Oughaval parish).

As regards the names of the seasons, the Irish word Earrach (‘Spring’) occurs in Gleann an Earraigh / Glananarig and Cnoc an Earraigh/Knockanarrig in Co. Cork (Clondrohid & Mogeely parishes) and in Faiche an Earraigh/Fawnarry in Co. Leitrim (Drumlease parish); the words Fómhar (‘Autumn’) and Geimhreadh (‘Winter’) are only recorded, it appears, in the names Cnoc an Fhómhair / Knockanore Mountain in the northern extremity of Co. Kerry and Coldwinters / Buaile an Gheimhridh in Co. Dublin (Finglas & Lusk parishes) respectively. Among the placenames in which the word Samhradh (‘Summer’) is preserved, we may note Bóthar an tSamhraidh / Summerslane in south Co. Kilkenny (Coolaghmore parish) and Macha an tSamhraidh / Maughantoorig in east Co. Kerry (Kilcummin parish), as well as the names of minor features such as Sruthán Log an tSamhraidh / Sruffaunluggatoora in Glencoaghan in west Co. Galway (Moyrus parish).