Date: 29/04/2024

As the onset of May brings with it the summer, according to the traditional Irish calendar, we have the pleasure of discussing townland names that at least appear to refer to the Irish season of samhradh. As usual with Irish placenames, however, all is not what it seems. For example, as well as the common noun samhradh referring to summer, Samhradh was also used as a personal name. Nevertheless, placenames such Maughantoorig/Macha an tSamhraidh “the cattle-fold of summer” (#23290) in County Kerry and Mullenataura/Móinín an tSamhraidh “the (little) bog of summer” (#10279) in County Cork contain relatively certain references to summer itself, as they include the definite article. The numerous examples of Summerhill found throughout the country can also be presumed to refer to the season, and these are almost always of English origin (see logainm.ie). For instance, the village of Summerhill (#1416752) in south Meath was only renamed as such in the seventeenth century — it was originally known in Irish as Cnoc an Línsigh “Lynch’s hill”. On the other hand, Summerhill (#37641) near Nobber in the north of the same county is a loose English translation of Droim Samhraidh “the ridge of summer” or “Samhradh’s ridge” (as the Irish placename does not contain the article, either sense may be understood). In yet another part of Meath, this time near Oldcastle, exactly the same name Droim Samhraidh was translated as Summerbank (#38868). This last Irish placename is attested as early as 830 AD in a reference to a cleric called Morónóg, whose feast-day was on 22nd July. The ruins of his ecclesiastical foundation are recorded in this townland, but his memory seems to have long since been forgotten in the area.

(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)

• Móinín an tSamhraidh/Mullenataura
• Macha an tSamhraidh/Maughantoorig
• Droim Samhraidh Uachtarach/Summerhill Upper
• Droim Samhraidh/Drumsawry or Summerbank
• Cnoc an Línsigh/Summerhill

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