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A selection of common themes in Irish placenames. These short, informative pieces are published on an ongoing basis.

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Púca in placenames, a researcher’s nightmare (2)
Cloghpook/Cloch an Phúcaigh
(logainm.ie #26982)

Date: 26/10/2026

In last week’s note we saw that despite the frequency of Irish púca ‘sprite … ghost … bogey-man’ in placenames, anglicized spellings such as -fook, -pooka, puck(s)-, etc., can also represent Irish forms of the surname Puck/Pook or the given name Foulke introduced by the Anglo-Normans. One definite example of the name Foulke is found in Foulksmill/Muileann Fúca (logainm.ie #131844) in Co. Wexford. The surname Puck (var. Pook) appears in many others, as in the name of the townland Puckstown (logainm.ie #56008) in north Dublin (now the modern estates of Grace Park and Celtic Park either side of Collins Avenue) which is of English-language origin. (Baile Phúca, the official Irish name, is a translation.)

Sometimes name-forms recorded in Irish during Ordnance Survey fieldwork in the 19th century might at first be understood to contain the common noun púca ‘sprite’, only for earlier historical forms to point to English origin. The reason for the confusion is quite simple. As discussed in earlier notes, the substantivized adjectival form of the gaelicized surname Púc (< Puck/Pook) gives Irish An Púcach. In the genitive case, Irish gen. sg. an Phúcaigh ‘of the person surnamed Puck’ is very close in speech in most dialects to gen. sg. an phúca ‘of the pooka’; and the similarities of both forms with Irish Fúca – the traditional gaelicization of the unrelated given name Foulke – are obvious.

To confuse matters further, we find indications that Foulke was also gaelicized as Púca (compare the variation of P-/F- in Piaras/Feoras < AN Piers). Even in the case of the well-attested Foulkstown/Baile Fúca (#47474) in Co. Tipperary, where the overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates Irish Fúca (< Foulke), e.g. ‘Bally Ffowky’ (1508), ‘Fulckstown’ (1525), ‘Fowkyston’ (1539), we find one exceptional 17th-century form ‘Pookestowne’ (1659), where P- represents the radical (unlenited) initial of Irish Púca (? ≈ Fúca < Foulke). A clearer example of reinterpretation within the Irish language is found in ‘baile an phúca’ (1838), the local Irish form of Foulkstown (logainm.ie #27009) in Co. Kilkenny. The consistent historical spellings Foulkes-, Fowkes-, Fouks-, etc. (1584–1838) show that in that case, Baile an Phúcaigh ‘the town(land) of An Púcach’, derives ultimately from the given name Foulke. (It is at least possible that the name originally contained the related surname Foulkes, et var., though it does not appear to have been at all common among the Anglo-Normans in Ireland.)

This is not the only instance of such ambiguity. For example, Cloghpook (logainm.ie #26982), also in Co. Kilkenny, is attested as ‘cloch a’ phúca’ (1838), which on the face of it appears to be another collocation of the common noun púca with a topographical generic, i.e. Cloch an Phúca “stone”. But again, earlier written forms of the name and secondary historical evidence clearly point to an eponym of Anglo-Norman origin. The element cloch ‘stone’ often refers to stone structures in Irish placenames (“a construction of stone, esp. fortress, stronghold, castle” eDIL s.v. cloch [sense (f)]; cf. FGB s.v. cloch (5)). In this case a castle named ‘The Clofowke’ is depicted on the Down Survey barony map of c 1655 (“in good repair”) and the field in which it was located was still called Shanachushlawn [An Seanchaisleán] (‘the old castle’) by elderly Irish speakers at the turn of the 20th century, as recorded by Corrigan (History and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory (1905) III 456). Corrigan also mentions that the owners of castle were the de Freynes (cf. Freneystown/Baile na bhFréineach (#27081) [‘Ballinevrenagh’ (1623)] 8km to the south), a family with a fondness for the given name Foulke (e.g. Fulk de la Frene †1349, son of Fulk de la Freigne †1320). It is evident that here we have another case of the personal name Foulke reinterpreted in Irish as An Púcach ‘the person surnamed Púca/Fúca(?), i.e., Foulke), whence the official Irish form Cloghpook/Cloch an Phúcaigh. Many similar examples are discussed in Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill’s essay ‘An púca i logainmeacha’ in Ainm 1987.

The word púca is unattested in Irish literature or placenames until the arrival of the Anglo-Normans, and seems to be a borrowing from Middle English: see Middle English Dictionary s.v. pŏuk(e) ‘from OE pūca; also cp. OI pūki … An evil spirit, a devil, goblin’. It is noteworthy – with regard to the Irish collocation of the púca with the element poll ‘hole, pool, cave’ discussed last week – that the same dictionary entry quotes early attestations of English placenames such as Pukpole (1232) and toponymic surnames such as de Pukehole (1296). (See also Survey of English Place-Names s.nn. Pucks Hole [Gloucestershire], Puckpool [Gloucestershire], Pug’s Hole [Dorset]; cf. Ox. Dict. Fam. Names s.n. Puckle (2).) It seems likely that the first púca arrived in Ireland during the Anglo-Norman invasion, along with the first Foulkes and Pooks.

(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)

Púca in placenames, a researcher’s nightmare
Inch or Inchaphuca/Inse an Phúcaigh
(logainm.ie #3600).

Date: 19/10/2026

Many of us of a certain vintage will know the meaning of Hiberno-English pooka ‘a sprite; a ghost; a bogey-man’, a rendering of Irish púca. In Irish tradition it is these spiteful little characters who are, amongst other things, responsible for rendering the sweet sméara dubha ‘blackberries’ (discussed in earlier notes) entirely inedible after Oíche Shamhna or Halloween. (See e.g. Schools’ Folklore Collection: Co. Mayo, Co. Wexford and Co. Dublin; cf. FGB s.v. púca na sméar; T. P. Dolan, púca.) As we reach the beginning of the Irish winter, we can discuss the tricky issue of the identification of the púca in townland names and other toponyms.

Possibly the most well-known example is Pollaphuca/Poll an Phúca ‘the hole, pool, cave of the pooka’ (logainm.ie #113024) in Co. Wicklow (variant English spelling Poulaphouca), familiar today as the name of a massive reservoir also sometimes called the Blessington Lake(s). The reservoir took its name from the waterfall at Pollaphuca Bridge on the River Liffey. Although greatly enfeebled by the construction of the reservoir dam in 1939, this was once a magnificent natural feature: “a mighty fall called by the Natives Pullagh Fuckagh […] reported to be the greatest in Ireland” The Civil Survey [c 1654] Vol. VII, p. 288; “Poolapooka a remarkable Cataract” Noble & Keenan Map (Co. Kildare) (1752), etc. It is very unusual to find the generic poll referring to a waterfall (eDIL s.v. poll): the placename may have been transferred from the pool underneath, or – given its qualification by the element púca (eDIL s.v. púca) – a more figurative sense such as ‘foreboding place’ may have been intended from the beginning (FGB s.v. poll (8)).

We have many other examples of the placename Poll an Phúca ‘the hole, pool, cave of the pooka’. Another, less well-known instance in Co. Wicklow is the name of the townland Pollaphuca/Poll an Phúca (logainm.ie #55309) near Arklow. In that case it appears that the name originally referred to the source of a spring on the parish boundary in the southeast corner of the townland, where a well is marked Pollaphuca on early editions of the Ordnance Survey 6ʺ map. Note the following description in the Namebook: “‘Pucks Hole’ at which a stream rises and runs southwards” (1839). (Irish was no longer spoken in this district at this time.)

In the west of Ireland, there are two separate townlands called Pollaphuca/Poll an Phúca in Co. Galway (logainm.ie #21453; #21627) and another in County Clare (logainm.ie #6921). We can almost certainly count the townland name Pollaphuca (logainm.ie #43687) in Co. Roscommon as another example, even though research has not been completed on the townland names of that county. (John O’Donovan wrote ‘Poll a’ phúca’ in the Namebook after spending the day with a local seanchaí: “O’Flyn […] knows every bush in the parish of Kiltullagh, the names of which he pronounced for me [while we examined] the Namebooks” (Ordnance Survey Letters (Roscommon) I 146 (5/7/1837).) In the north, we find that the English townland name Puckstown in Co. Louth is a pseudotranslation of original Irish Poll an Phúca (logainm.ie #33597).

Clearly, there was a tendency in Irish placenames to collocate the two elements poll ‘pool, hole, cave’ and púca. Dr. Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill, former Chief Placenames Officer, noted a total of 19 instances of Poll an Phúca in his important and comprehensive essay ‘An púca i logainmeacha’ [The púca in placenames], Ainm Vol. 2 (1987) pp. 96–113.

Examples among minor names include two instances of Poll an Phúca in Co. Waterford (logainm.ie #1421672; #1421028). One of these, in the Waterford Gaeltacht, is also known as Clais an Phúca ‘the trench of the pooka’ and simply An Gleann ‘the glen’ (#1421028). We find Clais an Phúca as a townland name in Cos. Kerry (#24499) and Tipperary (#1436889); and we find Gleann an Phúca ‘the glen of the pooka’ in Cos. Cork (#12339; #12966), Tipperary (#67204) and Waterford (#49075). In a similar semantic vein we find two historical examples of Log an Phúca ‘the hollow of the pooka’ in the Dublin Mountains – one of which possibly referred to a treacherous waterfall on a mountain stream (Mionlogainmneacha de bhunús Gaeilge i ngleannta Chontae Bhaile Átha Cliath [Minor placenames of Irish-language origin in the glens of Co. Dublin] p.153) – and Tóin an Phúca ‘the bottom(land) of the pooka’ in Flemingtown South or Tonaphuca (#25719) not far away in Co. Kildare. It would seem that in the Irish folk mind it was in little valleys and hollows like these – places called clais, gleann, log or in particular poll – that you were most likely to meet a púca, if you were so unlucky!

Given the frequency of references to the púca in placenames, you would be forgiven for thinking that Irish placenames rendered in anglicized spellings such as -fook, -pooka, -phucka, -phuca, puck(s)-, etc., are very straightforward to analyse. In fact this is where the placename researcher’s nightmare often begins. As Ó Cearbhaill (1987) discusses, these anglicized spellings can sometime represent the surname Pook/Puck or the given name Foulke, both of which are attested among the Anglo-Normans in Ireland (e.g. Fulke Furlang of Co. Wexford [anno 1395], Memoranda roll, 19–20 Richard II, membrane 7). Take for instance Inchaphuca (logainm.ie #3600) in Co. Carlow. At first glance, it would be reasonable to suspect that the original Irish name was Inse an Phúca ‘the holm of the pooka’. (Of course the standard anglicized spelling was chosen in 1839 precisely in order to reflect that supposed derivation.) However, the overall evidence actually reflects Inse an Phúcaigh ‘the holm of An Púcach’ (e.g. ‘Inchnefowkie’ (1593)), containing a gaelicized version of the Anglo-Norman surname of the type discussed in recent notes (An Púcach < Púc, a phonetic adaptation of English Pook/Puck).

Finally, having mentioned anglicized spellings, we should draw attention to the fact that the Ordnance Survey form of placenames whose local Irish name appeared to contain púca were in almost every instance standardized to -phuca (rather than -phooka, -fooka, etc.). This spelling derives from a very early decision made by John O’Donovan concerning a minor placename which was to be engraved on the maps in the townland of An Sián/Shean (#60574), Co. Fermanagh: “PollaPhuca, as in the Irish” (Ordnance Survey Memoranda (Fermanagh) p.163 (16/2/1835)). Rather exceptionally, this “Irish” spelling Pollaphuca was established as the standard anglicized form for all examples of the placename, except when the Survey progressed into Irish-speaking districts where the local pronunciation required rendering the first element as Poul-.

Not for the first time (and probably not for the last) we must point out that O’Donovan and his fellow scholars in the Topographical Department of the Ordnance Survey had grown up steeped in Irish culture and Irish-language placenames all their lives, and were far more sensitive to that heritage than their portrayal in the play Translations would have us believe.

(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)

Coill na Sián/Kilnashane
“the wood of the fairy mounds"
(see logainm.ie #27773)

Date: 12/10/2026

In contrast to the sióga/fairies of Clonnasheeoge/Cluain na Sióg "the pasture of the fairies"and Páirc na Sióg "the park of the fairies" in Wexford along with Ballynasheeoge/Baile na Sióg "the (town)land of the fairies" in Galway, which are rarely specifically mentioned in townland names, the related element sián (< síodhán) "(little) fairy mound" is actually quite common in townland names such as Kilnashane/Coill na Sián "the wood of the fairy mounds" in Laois (see logainm.ie: #27773). An Sián "the fairy mound" is the precursor to Shean in Waterford and Cork; Shean in Armagh an Fermanagh; Sheean in Kildare, Limerick, Westmeath, Roscommon and Carlow; Sheeaun in Clare and Galway; Sheehaun in Roscommon. It is also behind Sheeanmore/An Sián Mór "the big fairy mound"in Mayo and Sligo, a name which demonstrates that sián "(little) fairy mound" had lost its diminutive function. At the other end of the spectrum we have An Sián Beag "the little fairy mound", the forerunner to anglicised Shanbeg in Laois. On the other hand, Shean Beg/An Sián Beag "the fairy mound, little"and Shean More/An Sián Mór"the fairy mound, big", neighbouring townlandsin Waterford do not appear to refer to the size of different fairy mounds, but to subdivisions of what was originally a single townland called An Sián "the fairy mound". The anglicised name Golashane in Meath is very deceiving as it is actually made up of two separate names, Gabhla and An Sián "the fairy mound". Sián "fairy mound" is also found in many townland names such as Carrickateane/Carraig an tSiáin "the rock of the fairy mound" in Leitrim, in which sián occurs in the genitive case meaning "of the fairy mound". It is truly amazing that we can have so many townland names referring to the sián "fairy mound" and yet the native tradition of the sióga/fairies is now so poorly understood and perhaps even ridiculed in Ireland.

(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)

Mountoven / Cnocán an Bhácúis
‘the hillock of the oven, bakehouse’ (logainm.ie #24606)

Date: 06/10/2026

Now that we find ourselves in October, Deireadh Fómhair in Irish, which literally means ‘end of autumn; end of harvest’, it is a good time to address some of the placenames that allude to post-harvest cereal-processing practices in Gaelic Ireland.
Firstly, the occurrences of Baile an Mhuilinn ‘the town(land) of (at) the mill’ among Irish townland names is so common that they are simply too numerous to outline here. It is sometimes found as anglicized Ballymullen or similar, as in the case of Ballymullen (logainm.ie #42090) in Co. Offaly; Ballinwillin (logainm.ie #10197) in Co. Cork, and Ballinvullin (logainm.ie #31884) in Co. Limerick. However, more often than not such townland names are actually realized as translated Milltown, which completely hides their original Irish origin. For example, Milltown (logainm.ie #3301) near Myshall in Co. Carlow is actually first attested as ‘Ballymollen’ (1552) and later ‘Ballyvullen als. Milltowne’ (1631) which clearly reflects an original Baile an Mhuilinn ‘the town(land) of (at) the mill’. Similarly, Milltown (logainm.ie #21909) near Tuam in Co. Galway (‘Balleyvollen’; 1574); and Milltown (logainm.ie #52208) near Ferns in Co. Wexford (‘Ballynmollin’; 1597), etc. That said, it is quite likely that some of the locations called Milltown were indeed coined in English during the early days of the Anglo-Norman colony, as in the case of Milltown (logainm.ie #25811) near Newbridge in County Kildare, which is first attested as ‘Mylton’ (1329), but later also as ‘Ballemuillyn’ (c.1629), i.e. Baile an Mhuilinn, doubtless due to gaelicization of the English colony. Another probable example is Milltown (logainm.ie #53596) near Ballycullane in Co. Wexford, a possession of the Anglo-Norman abbey of Tintern at Saltmills, which is also attested as ‘ballymolyn’ (1628) and ‘Ballywoollen’ (1654), again pointing to gaelicization of the colony — things are rarely simple when it comes to placenames!

As well as muileann ‘mill’ occurring as a qualifier in placenames, as in Baile an Mhuilinn ‘the town(land) of (at) the mill’, we also have quite a number of townland names in which it is found as the generic (initial) element, as in Mullinavat / Muileann an Bhata ‘the mill of the stick, cudgel’ (the type of stick to which bata refers is unclear) (logainm.ie #1411898) in Co. Kilkenny; Mullandrait / Muileann an Droichid ‘the mill of (at) the bridge’ (logainm.ie #16561) in Co. Donegal; and Mullinaveige / Muileann an Mheidhg ‘the mill of the whey’ (logainm.ie #55717) in Co. Wicklow. There are of course also a number of other placenames containing mill that have been generated in English in the post-1600 period, such as Sinnottsmill / Muileann an tSionóidigh (logainm.ie #53657) in Co. Wexford and Arundelsmills / Muileann Arundel (logainm.ie #9161) in Co. Cork. Just as the milling of grain didn’t stop with the destruction of Gaelic Ireland in the seventeenth century, the coining of new placenames in reference to mills continued.

However, the topic of this month’s theme is not actually mills at all, but largely processes undertaken to separate and dry grain in Gaelic Ireland before it even made it to the mill, along with a brief mention of the outcome after milling. In this regard, Fergus Kelly’s Early Irish Farming informs us that threshing of grain generally occurred in the drying kiln itself, which helps explain the dearth of references to locations for threshing in Irish townland names. (There is a minor name in County Cork that appears to refer to threshers themselves, namely Thrasherstown, evidently a translation of Baile na mBuailteoirí (logainm.ie #1410361).) On the other hand, references to the áith ‘drying-kiln (for grain)’ (see dil.ie s.v. áith) are well represented among townland names of all four provinces. For example, Achadh na hÁithe ‘the field of the kiln’ is forerunner of Aghnahaha (logainm.ie #29747) in Co. Leitrim; Annahaia (logainm.ie #39292; #39716) in Co. Monaghan; and Aughnahoy (logainm.ie #62914) in Co. Antrim. We also have Annahagh / Áth na hÁithe ‘the ford of (at) the kiln’ (logainm.ie #40480) in Co. Monaghan; Carrigeenahaha / Carraigín na hÁithe ‘the (little) rock of (at) the kiln’ (logainm.ie #49837) in Co. Waterford; Gortnahaha / Gort na hÁithe ‘the field of the kiln’ in Cos. Tipperary (logainm.ie #47172) and Clare (logainm.ie #6967); while Cnoc na hÁithe ‘the hill of the kiln’ is the forerunner to Knocknahaha (logainm.ie #24508) in Co. Kerry and Knocknahaw (logainm.ie #18037) in Co. Galway. There are, in fact, like muileann ‘mill’, simply too many examples of townland names containing áith to outline here. However, before proceeding we should probably note that the feminine noun (an) áith ‘(the) kiln’, genitive sg. (na h)áithe, is also attested in the genitive singular as (na h)átha ‘of (the) kiln’, so that in placenames which do not contain the definite article, it can be sometimes confused with the genitive singular of the masculine (an t-)áth ‘(the) ford’, namely (an) átha ‘of (the) ford’. That said, the difference in gender between áth ‘ford’ (a masculine noun) and áith (a feminine noun), at least, allows us to be sure of the meaning of the following examples: Coolnaha / Cúil na hÁtha ‘the nook, recess of (at) the kiln’ (logainm.ie #1373986) in Co. Mayo versus Coole (earlier ‘Coulinaghsalligh’) / Cúil an Átha Salaigh ‘the recess, corner of (at) the dirty ford’ (logainm.ie #52571; in Co. Wexford); or Drumnaha / Droim na hÁtha ‘the ridge of (at) the kiln’ (logainm.ie #14703) versus Druminaw / Droim an Átha ‘the ridge of (at) the ford’ (logainm.ie #16218), both in Co. Donegal.

Another process highlighted in Early Irish Farming (EIF) that could contribute to the drying or partial drying of grain was the practice of separating the ear from the stem by a method called ‘loiscreán (loistreán) in later Irish’. As stated by Kelly: ‘this involves the careful burning of each ear of corn so that the glumes and chaff are burnt away, leaving the grains. This method is particularly suitable for small-scale cereal-growing, and has the advantage that the grains are partially dried by the flames’ (EIF p. 240). Notably, this practice was clearly still observed in the seventeenth century, as it was forbidden by statute under the new post-1601 English regime in Ireland in 1634 (EIF p. 23). Given that the singeing of grain could doubtless alter the flavour, aroma and texture of flour produced from it, we can be sure that forbidding loiscreán resulted in the loss to general Irish cuisine of a host of unique flavours and aromas associated with it.

Be that as it may, the word loiscreán is explained in Ó Dónaill’s Irish-English dictionary as meaning ‘fire for singeing’ and ‘singed corn’, and he provides arán loiscreáin ‘bread made from singed and ground oats’ (FGB s.vv. loiscreán, loistreán), as an example, which hints at continuation of the practice into more recent times, in some areas at least. In the Dictionary of the Irish Language, which is dedicated to the early language, the word is explained as ‘singed grain’ (dil.ie s.v. loiscreán), while in the 1927 edition of Dinneen’s Foclóir Gaedhilge is Béarla it is explained among other things as ‘corn burnt off the ear instead of being threshed’ and ‘a prepared cooking-place or fire for drying corn’. Thus it seems that where we find the word loiscreán or its variant loistreán in placenames we can generally understand it to be associated with the location of a ‘fire for singeing’, i.e. removing the ear of corn, or a ‘fire for drying corn’ in which case one can justifiably use the loose translation ‘the place for corn-singeing, corn drying’. For example, we might translate Carrowlustraun / Ceathrú an Loistreáin (logainm.ie #18861) in Co. Galway as ‘the quarter of the (place for) corn-singeing, corn drying’. That said, Dinneen’s Irish-English Dictionary also includes ‘burning, destruction’ among his explanations of the word (s.v. loiscreán), so we can never rule these out from such explanations here.

Although townland names containing loiscreán ‘(place for) corn-singeing, corn drying’ are not particularly common, there are certainly enough to indicate that the practice was once geographically widespread. In Co. Clare both Knockaluskraun (logainm.ie #6467) and Knockloskeraun (logainm.ie #6836) are from Cnoc an Loiscreáin ‘the hill of the (place for) corn-singeing, corn drying; the hill of the burning’. Ballystrane (logainm.ie #16968) in Co. Dublin is evidently from Baile Loistreáin ‘town(land) of (the place for) corn-singeing, corn drying; town(land) of (the) burning’. Lugalustran (logainm.ie #29982) in Co. Leitrim is from Log an Loistreáin ‘the hollow of the (place for) corn-singeing, corn drying; the hollow of the burning’, while in neighbouring Co. Sligo we have Toorlestraun / Tuar Loistreáin (logainm.ie #45567) ‘lea-(field); bleaching-green of (the place for) corn-singeing, corn drying; lea-(field); bleaching-green of burning’. Lackalustraun (logainm.ie #34404) in Co. Mayo is from Leac an Loistreáin ‘the flat stone, flagstone of the (place for) corn-singeing, corn drying; the flat stone, flagstone of the burning’, while the well-known village of Caherlistrane (logainm.ie #1413456) in Co. Galway derives its name from the nearby townland of Caherlustraun / Cathair Loistreáin (logainm.ie #21711) ‘circular stone fort of (the place for) corn-singeing, corn drying; circular stone fort of (the) burning’. The location of the cathair ‘circular stone fort’ in question is, however, unclear.

Mountbell (logainm.ie #13661) in Co. Cork would seem to have little to do with the Gaelic Irish practice of loiscreán at first sight, but the original name of this townland is evidently Cnoc an Loiscreáin ‘the hill of the (place for) corn-singeing, corn drying; the hill of the burning’. The English name Mountbell is a much later addition to that area’s toponomy, a reference to the Big House that sits in this townland. The same is true for Tottenhamgreen (logainm.ie #53425) in Co. Wexford, which contains the surname Tottenham. This townland came into that family’s possession after its initial grant to the Cromwellian ‘Charles Collins’ [recte Collis], subsequent to dispossession of the family of ‘James ffurlong, Ir. Papist’ who held it in 1641 (Civil Survey IX: Wexford, p. 87). In fact, it seems to have been in the Furlongs’ possession for generations (cf. 1573, ‘Mathew ffurlonge of Ballelostram [Tottenhamgreen]’, History of the Town and County of Wexford VI, p. 386). Be that as it may, the original Irish name of this location also undoubtedly contained another reference to loiscreán, namely Baile an Loiscreáin ‘the town(land) of (the place for) corn-singeing, corn drying; the town(land) of the burning’ (see Logainmneacha na hÉireann IV: Townland Names of Co. Wexford).

Although probably unrealistic, it would be attractive to imagine that grain processed at Baile an Loiscreáin (now Tottenhamgreen) might have been brought to nearby Foulkesmill / Muileann Fúca ‘the mill of Foulk (an Anglo-Norman personal name)’ (logainm.ie #131844) for milling, where ‘Brannah mc James of Pucksmill … miller’ was recorded in 1642 (1641 Depositions: MS 818, fol. 101v). Somewhat intriguingly, Foulksmill / Muileann Fúca is not too far from ‘Ballinvacus’ (Civil Survey IX, p. 90; also attested as ‘Ballinbakehouse orse. Ballenbackhouse’ CGn. 405.338.266143), i.e. Baile an Bhácúis ‘the town(land) of the bakehouse, bakery’, a now-defunct townland in neighbouring Clongeen parish. This example of Baile an Bhácúis ‘the town(land) of the bakehouse, bakery’ is particularly interesting, as bácús ‘bakehouse’ is a borrowing into Irish from Anglo-Norman English – essentially it probably represents the introduction of new processes into the Gaelic Irish bread-making world, whence the borrowing of ‘bakehouse’ as bácús in Irish. In any case, this bácús is also found in Coolavacoose / Cúil an Bhácúis ‘the recess, nook of the bakehouse, bakery’ (logainm.ie #25504) in Co. Kildare; Gortavacoosh / Gort an Bhácúis ‘the field of the bakehouse, bakery’ (logainm.ie #31135) in Co. Limerick and Tinvaucoosh / Tigh an Bhácúis ‘the house of (at) the bakehouse, bakery’ (logainm.ie #27562) in Co. Kilkenny. The anglicized form of all of these names is quite close in shape to their original Irish precursors, unlike our last example, namely Mountoven (logainm.ie #24606) in Corca Dhuibhne, Co. Kerry. The underlying Irish name is doubtless Cnocán an Bhácúis, but Dinneen’s dictionary actually translates bácús as both ‘a bakery’ (Dinneen s.v.) and an ‘oven’, while Ó Dónaill gives the translation ‘bakehouse; pot-oven’ (Ó Dónaill s.v.), so while we might translate it as ‘the hillock of the bakehouse, bakery’ here, Mountoven really isn’t too far off the mark!

Finally, we hope that this month’s ‘morsel’ provides a sufficient taster to awaken interest among food archaeologists to perhaps experiment with the Gaelic Irish process of loiscreán in order to rediscover some of the long lost flavours that our ancestors doubtless enjoyed in their breads.

(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich, Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill & Justin Ó Gliasáin)

Ceapach na hEorna
“the tillage plot of the barley”
(logainm.ie #27806)

Date: 05/10/2026

Cappaghnahoran/Ceapach na hEorna “the tillage plot of the barley” in Laois is just one of a number of Irish townland names that refer to eorna “barley”. The alternative English name Windsor is evidently an eighteenth-century English creation.

Like coirce “oats”, the word eorna “barley” is far more common in Irish townland names than cruithneacht “wheat”, thereby reflecting the importance of eorna “wheat” in the native Irish diet (see logainm.ie #27806. Geographically it is found north, south, east and west, and it is therefore difficult to determine where there may have been a particular concentration of cultivation. We have Craiginorne/Creag na hEorna “the stony ground of the barley” in Antrim, Carricknahorna/Carraig na hEorna “the rock of the barley” in Sligo and Creggaunnahorna/Creagán na hEorna “the stony ground of the barley” in Mayo. Notably, like coirce “oats” many of the placenames with eorna “barley” refer to elevated locations such as Barleyhill in Cork which is actually a translation of Cnoc na hEorna “the hill of the barley”. Cnoc na hEorna is also behind Knocknahorn in Tyrone, Knocknahorna in Donegal and Mayo, but Knocknahorna in Offaly is from Cnocán na hEorna “the little hill of barley”. Elevated ground is also referred to in Maulnahorna in Cork and Kerry which is from Meall na hEorna “the mound of the barley”, and the diminutive Millín na hEorna “the little mound of barley” is behind Milleennahorna, the name of two further townlands in Cork. Cronyhorn/Corrán na hEorna “the rounded-hill, edge, projecting point of the barley” in Wicklow also refers to an elevated location, but we also, though less frequently, find it in a com “hollow”, as in Coomnahorna/Com na hEorna “the hollow of the barley”.

(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)

Ard an tSeagail/Ardataggle
“the height of the rye”
(logainm.ie #7553)

Date: 28/09/2026

Although not as common as eorna “barley” in townland names seagal “rye” also occurs more frequently than cruithneacht “wheat” in such names. Ard an tSeagail “the height of the rye” is behind anglicised Ardataggle (#28812) in Laois and Clare (#7553). The placename Knockataggle/Cnoc an tSeagail “the hill of the rye”(#21888) also refers to elevated ground, but in general seagal “rye” does not appear to occur nearly as often as eorna “barley” in placenames referring to hills or hillocks. In fact, we also have Pollataggle in Galway (#19254) and Poulataggle (#5904) which are both from Poll an tSeagail “the hole or pool of the rye”. Low ground is also implied in the name Srahataggle/Sraith an tSeagail “the river-meadow, holm of the rye” in Mayo (#35429). A number of townland names with seagal “rye” also refer to the fields in which it was grown, such as Cappataggle/Ceapaigh an tSeagail “the tillage field of the rye” in Galway (#17864), and Gortataggle/Gort an tSeagail “the field of the rye” in Leitrim (#29111). Ryefield in Cork is a translation of Gort an tSeagail, but Ryefield in Cavan is a translation of Achadh an tSeagail “the field of the rye”. However, one of the oddest townland names containing seagal “rye” is doubtless Ballyguileataggle in Limerick which is evidently from Baile Gaill an tSeagail “the town of Gall an tSeagail (i.e. of the foreigner of the rye)”.

(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)

Gort an Choirce
“the field of the oats”
(logainm.ie #17566)

Date: 21/09/2026

Continuing on the theme of harvest in the month of September, or Meán Fómhair in Irish, literally “the middle of harvest(-time)”, one of the best known placenames referring to coirce “oats” is surely Gort an Choirce “the field of oats”, where so many spent time in the Donegal Gaeltacht during their youth (see logainm.ie: #14446). Exactly the same name is behind anglicised Gortahork and Gortacorka (#29695) in Leitrim as well as translated Oatfield (#7390) in Clare. Aghincurk/Achadh an Choirce (#56311) in Armagh also means “the field of the oats”. Oatfield in Galway is a mistranslation of Corr an Choirce (#18022) “the round hill of the oats”, which also happens to be the original Irish form of Corrycorka (#32512) in Longford. Both Knockhurka (#44689) in Sligo and Knockaquirk (#55744) in Wicklow are from Cnoc an Choirce “the hill of the oats”, while Taobh an Choirce/Tiveachorky (#13932) “the hillside of the oats” in Donegal also refers to the frequent cultivation of oats on elevated ground as, apparently, does Tomacork/Tom an Choirce (#55830) “the bush, hillock of the oats” in Wicklow. However, this is not always the case, as we also have Inchincurka/Inse an Choirce (#9831) “the holm of the oats” in Cork. In Wicklow we have Coolacork/Cúil an Choirce (#55410) “the nook, recess of the oats”, and there is also Tirchorka/Tír an Choirce “the land of the oats” (#38244) in Meath.

(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)

Light and clear water
Lightford/Áthán Solais
(logainm.ie #35733).

Date: 14/09/2026

As we move into the second half of autumn, we have probably already begun to bemoan the shortening of the evenings and later sunrises. Some people at least live in townlands containing the word solas in their Irish names to keep their spirits up during winter! While in the modern language solas is almost exclusively used as a noun denoting ‘light’ in various senses (see FGB s.v. solas), that does not seem to be how it tends to be used in Irish placenames.
Solas “light” is not particularly common in townland names. We find two anglicized versions of Áth Solas in final unpalatalized (“broad”) -s, which in the modern era would usually be interpreted as a genitive plural noun and translated ‘ford of (the) lights’, namely Ardsollus in County Clare (logainm.ie #6185) and Assolas in County Cork (logainm.ie #10624). It may be noted in passing that the standardized English form Ardsollus in County Clare is a reminder of the danger of reliance on a single anglicized form of a placename, as it wrongly gives the impression that the underlying generic is Irish ard ‘height, hillock’. The original word is confirmed in the Irish references ‘áth solas’ (c.1350), ‘Áth s[.]l[.]is’ (1839). A defunct historical placename, ‘Aghsolish’ (Civil Survey IX, p. 262), referring to a ford on the Mine River at the townland of Aska More in County Wexford, reflecting Áth Solais with palatalized (slender) -s. The same name, but with a diminutive form of the generic element, occurs as Áthán Solais (#35733) in County Mayo, meaning ‘(little) ford of (the) light’. The official English version of the name is the translation Lightford.
The collocation of áth and solas in placenames (i.e., the frequent occurrence of those two elements together) is quite striking. Why so many references to a ‘ford of (the) light(s)’? One suggestion formerly proposed was that such names referred to a practice of keeping flames lit at these crossing-points — similar to those kept near dark alleys in urban areas — from which travellers could light their “links” to guide themselves. But it is more likely that these placenames preserve the Old Irish use of solas as an adjective meaning ‘bright, clear, light-giving’ (eDIL s.v. solus). In the earlier period, the placename Áth Solas would be understood as ‘clear ford’, probably referring to the water. Furthermore, as the substantive form of the Old Irish adjective solus also had the meaning ‘clarity’ as well as ‘light’, even the genitive noun in Áth Solais could refer to the quality of the water, as if ‘ford of (water-)clarity’. This interpretation of solas could then be carried over to other townland names such as Loughsollish/Loch Solais (#26260) in County Kilkenny, and Loughnasollis/Loch an tSolais (#50286) in County Waterford, which could both be translated as ‘(the) lake of (water-)clarity’.
There are two townland names containing solas in which reference to water is not immediately from their generics, however, namely Magherasollus/Machaire Solas (#16378) in County Donegal and Rossollus/Ros Solas (logainm.ie #39837) in County Monaghan. The first name, Machaire Solas, in which the generic is machaire ‘field, plain’, is difficult to interpret in the context of the discussion above: it could be a later coinage meaning ‘field, plain of (the) lights’ (of course we haven’t even mentioned Will o’ the Wisp yet!) or it could be an early coinage in which solas, as an adjective, is ascribing some unascertainable quality of clarity to this stretch of level land. However, it may be salient that the small townland adjoining Magherasollus to the south is called Magheraboy/An Machaire Buí (#16494) ‘the yellow field, plain’, possibly in contrast to Machaire Solas ‘the clear(?) field, plain’. In the case of Rossollus — apparently from Ros Solas ‘clear wood, (wooded) height’ or ‘wood, (wooded) height of (the) lights’ — some of the early evidence, e.g. ‘Shraghsollus’ (though not from impeccable sources) might imply original derivation from Srath Solas in which srath means ‘low-lying land along a river’. This would be valid topographically: Rossollus is bound by streams on three sides and a ford crosses into the adjoining townland in the northeast.

(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)

Briars, cranks and Strawberryhill
Lisnadrish/Lios na Drise
(logainm.ie #19957)

Date: 07/09/2026

Building on last week’s theme of the sméar “(black)berry” in townland names, it is particularly interesting to note how often we find derivatives of dris “briar”, the name of the bush on which blackberries grow. In fact, they are way too numerous to outline here, so we shall have to confine ourselves to brief samples thereof.
Firstly, in comparison with its many derivatives, the word dris “briar, bramble” is itself relatively rare in townland names. It appears to occur in the forerunner to anglicized Carrowndrisha (logainm.ie #44253) in County Roscommon, which John O’Donovan, famous toponymist of the Ordnance Survey, considered to be from ‘Ceathramhadh na drise’ [Ceathrú na Drise] “the quarter of the brambles” — further research is required to confirm this. However, it is certainly found in Lisnadrisha/Lios na Drise “the ring-fort of the briar” (logainm.ie #19957) in County Galway.
A variant of dris “briar” in unpalatalized -s, namely dreas, occurs a number of townland names such as Ardrass/Ard Dreas “height of (the) briars” (logainm.ie #25298; #25299) in County Kildare; Kiltrassy/Cill Dreasa “church of (the) briar” (logainm.ie #26301) in County Kilkenny; Kildress/Cill Dreas “church of (the) briars” (logainm.ie #64346; see also placenamesni.org) in County Tyrone; Cooldross/Cúil Dreas “corner, recess of (the) briars” (logainm.ie #55546) in County Wicklow; and Gortnadrass/Gort na Dreasa “the field of the briar” (logainm.ie #45594) in County Sligo. (It may be noted in passing that the definite article is only found in the last example, possibly implying that the other names are a lot older.) A derivative of dreas is found in the place name Dreastarnach, itself is a variant of dreasarnach “briary place” (FGB s.v. dreasarnach), which is the forerunner to anglicized Dresternagh (logainm.ie #4911) in County Cavan. A slightly different derivative is also behind Dristernaun and Dristernan (logainm.ie #29207; #29230) in County Leitrim, namely Dreastarnán “briary place”, also found with palatalized -s- as Dristernan/Dristearnán “briary place” (logainm.ie #15212) in County Donegal.
In fact the variety of suffixes found with the root word dris in placenames is quite impressive. One commonly-heard derivative of dris is driseog. The suffix -óg/-eog usually signifies a diminutive (“little X”), but it can also have a collective meaning in placenames (“place abounding in X”). Therefore driseog can refer either to a particular briar or briars, as in Ballynadrishoge/Baile na nDriseog “the town(land) of the briars” (logainm.ie #52228) in County Wexford, or to an area in which these bushes grew, as in Driseog “place abounding in briars”, which is the forerunner to anglicized Drisoge in County Carlow (logainm.ie #3144); Drissoge in County Meath (logainm.ie #39163); and Drishoge in Counties Dublin (logainm.ie #16741; #57137), Leitrim (logainm.ie #29229) and Tipperary (logainm.ie #48318).
We also have Knockdrislagh/Cnoc Drisleach “hill of the briars” in Cork (logainm.ie #11837) which contains the derivative drisleach, a collective noun meaning “brambles, briars” (FGB s.v. drisleach). A similar derivative is found in Dresnagh/Drisneach “briary (place)” (logainm.ie #16588) in County Donegal and in the well-disguised Bohernagrisna, a corruption of Buaile na nDrisneach “the cattle-fold, summer pasture of the briary places” (logainm.ie #41951) in County Offaly. In County Mayo we have an adjectival form in Corradrishy/An Chorr Dhriseach “the briary round-hill” (logainm.ie #34164). Developing from this adjective driseach “briary” we have Driseachán “briary place”, which is the forerunner to townlands called Drishaghaun in Counties Galway (logainm.ie #20692), Mayo (logainm.ie #35225), and Roscommon (logainm.ie #42966) — the last example possibly with the definite article (An Driseachán). An Driseachán, with the article, is the official name of the village in County Galway known in English by the half-translation Brierfield (logainm.ie #1413455). Remarkably, derivatives of dris don’t stop with the examples above — we also have Driseán “place of briars” as a forerunner to Drishane in Counties Clare (logainm.ie #6900) and Tipperary (logainm.ie #48934), as well as three examples with the definite article in County Cork, i.e., An Driseán “the place of briars” (logainm.ie #566; #13045; #13437).

We should mention here some unusual examples in which placenames containing dris in Irish have been replaced by the names of other berries or fruits in English. Driseog (logainm.ie #41203) in County Offaly has the name Drishoge or Strawberryhill in English, and a townland in County Roscommon which in Irish appears to have been called Driseachán “briary place” (logainm.ie #44012) was given the English name Cherryfield or Drishagan! These appear to be coincidences, but research on the second name is as yet incomplete and there are many examples of very curious half-translations in the anglicized placenames in County Roscommon and adjoining areas.
Finally, in regard to placenames such as Lisnadrish/Lios na Drise “the ring-fort of the briar” in County Galway or Ballynadrishog/Baile na nDriseog “town(land) of the briars” in County Wexford, it is worth noting that the word dris and its derivative driseog not only refer to a briar, but they can also refer to a person with the characteristics of a briar, i.e. “a prickly or cantankerous person” — indeed the English word briar is still used in this sense in County Clare and other parts of Ireland, similar to the usage of cancrán in Irish. Therefore Lios na Drise might, at a stretch, be translated as “ring-fort of the cantankerous person”. Certainly the underlying Irish form of Ballydrisheen, namely Baile Dhrisín, seems to contain the nickname or personal name Drisín “a cantankerous person(?)” (cf. ‘Drisin mac Arga a quo Hui Drisin’ in Ó Corráin, ‘The families of Corcomroe’, North Munster Antiquarian Journal 17 (1975): 26), which would explain the lenition (séimhiú) of D- is reflected in early historical forms (logainm.ie #23712).

Of course the anglicized word drisheen (Ir. drisín) has a different meaning today, referring to the black pudding most associated with County Cork. Etymologically, that word is related to the meaning given in modern dictionaries under the Irish word driseachán — but we are quite sure that that is not what driseachán means in placenames!

(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)

Shesheraghmore / An tSeisreach Mhór
“the big ploughland” (logainm.ie #45859)

Date: 01/09/2026

In September 2025 our Monthly Morsel dealt with the placename Screggan / An Screagán ‘the rough, rocky, stony ground’ (logainm.ie #1166663), site of the National Ploughing Competition, and it was highlighted that that particular placename does not apparently refer to the quality of the land in that townland, but to a rocky outcrop situated just over the townland boundary in neighbouring Mucklagh / An Mhuclach ‘the place of pigs; piggery’ (logainm.ie #42264). In any case, neither of these placenames have anything to do with ploughs or ploughing, but there is indeed a number of Irish townland names in the country that refer either to plough-land, ploughing or specifically to the plough (or a part thereof), although, as usual, some of the placenames in question are not quite what they seem at first sight.

Should we begin in Co. Mayo, the underlying Irish form of Cornageaghta, namely Corr na gCéachta ‘the round hill of the ploughs’ (logainm.ie #36465), doubtless refers to the small round hill situated in that townland (see: Fiachra Mac Gabhann (2014), Logainmneacha Mhaigh Eo, vol. 10, p. 72). The subsoil here consists of sand and gravel as well as limestone till (epa.ie), the latter of which is no doubt quite amenable to the plough. The name of a further townland in County Mayo, namely Drumkeaghta, which is from Droim Céachta, may be a further reference to the plough, meaning ‘ridge of (the) plough’ (ibid. vol. 6, p. 202). Here there is a ridge located in the south-eastern corner of this townland where one also finds limestone till subsoil, which very much contrasts with the remainder of this townland that is dominated by cutover peat. However, Céacht is also attested as a relatively rare personal name (see dil.ie s.v. Cécht; see also Leabhar Mór na nGenealach, ed. Nollaig Ó Muraíle), in which case this townland name could also be interpreted as signifying ‘the ridge of Céacht (a personal name)’. This might be deemed unlikely given that the name Céacht seems not to have been popular in the post-Anglo-Norman invasion period, essentially for almost one thousand years, but, notably, it wouldn’t be the only placename containing the personal name Céacht. In the Co. Donegal Gaeltacht there is a minor toponym off the coast of Na Clocha Corra (logainm.ie #14530) on the island of Árainn Mhór (logainm.ie #14527), namely Carraig Mhic Céachta ‘the rock of the son of Céacht’ (logainm.ie #1395581), in which the personal name is utterly unambiguous (compare also the the mythological character Mac Céacht in early tales such as Togail Bruidne Da Derga). Returning to the plough (céachta), however, it is without doubt also found in the forerunner of Coolakay near Enniskerry in Co. Wicklow, namely Cúil an Chéachta ‘the recess, nook of the plough’ (logainm.ie #55110). Early historical anglicized forms of the name such as ‘Cowle-Keight’ (1603: CPR) together with some later forms such as ‘Coolekeaghta’ (1761: Powerscourt Papers) leave absolutely no doubt about the underlying Irish form of the name, but for whatever reason the anglicized name ultimately morphed to a most misleading Coolakay! In any case, most of the subsoil in this townland is sand and gravel, which is very likely the arable soil alluded to by the name of this townland, which itself is sandwiched between a large area of rock to the southeast and the Dargle River on the townland’s southern, western and north-western boundaries (see: epa.ie).

Céacht(a) is of course not the only word in Irish that refers to a plough or a portion thereof. In Co. Sligo we have Cloonaraher, which is from Cluain Arathair ‘meadow, pasture of ploughing, (the) plough’ (logainm.ie #45718). A second Cluain Arathair is mentioned in early Irish martyrologies, but its location is unknown (see DIAS Onomasticon). In any case, both of these placenames contain the relatively rare word arathar ‘ploughing equipment, plough; ploughing’ (FGB s.v. arathar), which is uncommon in placenames, but is also found in another defunct historical placename, Druim Arathair ‘ridge of (the) ploughing, plough’ (see DIAS Onomasticon), the location of which is also unknown. In the case of Cloonaraher in Co. Sligo, we find a portion of sandstone till type subsoil, a soil type very much suited to ploughing, in contrast to the surrounding cutover peat soil (see: epa.ie).

Another word connected with ploughing that found much more frequently than those mentioned above is seisreach, which can refer to a ‘plough-team’, ‘plough’ (see FGB s.v. seisreach) or ‘plough-land (as much land as a six-horse plough could plough in a year)’ (see dil.ie s.v. seisrech). Notably, examples of this word in placenames are very much confined to the province of Munster (see map below). Moreover, it is particularly noteworthy that seisreach ‘ploughland’ undoubtedly occurs as the generic element overwhelmingly in Co. Tipperary. Thus, we have Sheseraghkeale / An tSeisreach Chaol ‘the narrow ploughland’ (logainm.ie #46740); Shesheraghmore / An tSeisreach Mhór ‘the big ploughland’ (logainm.ie #45859); Shesharoe / An tSeisreach Rua ‘the red ploughland’ (logainm.ie #46363); and Shesheraghscanlan / Seisreach Scanláin ‘the ploughland of Scanlán (a personal name)’ (logainm.ie #45949).

image

(Distribution of seisreach “plough-team; plough; plough-land” in townland names.)

Remaining in Co. Tipperary, seisreach occurs as a qualifier in Rathsasseragh / Ráth na Seisreach ‘the ring-fort of the ploughlands’ (logainm.ie #49035) which lies on the edge of Tipperary town. As it happens no ring-fort is recorded here, but the name may refer to one of the enclosures just over the townland boundary in Corrogemore / Corróg Mhór (logainm.ie #49033). A number of townlands in the county also derive their name from An Leathsheisreach “the half-ploughland” (logainm.ie #46002; # 46582; #46812) which was generally anglicised Lahesseragh in the county, but in one instance it was replaced by Landsdown (logainm.ie #46357), a name that refers to the big house at that location. Interestingly, the English name Middleplough (logainm.ie #46530) is also quite well attested as a townland name in Tipperary, and it is, at first sight, unclear whether it is a translation of an original Irish name or an English creation. However, there is evidence that the likes of An Leathsheisreach Chrua “the hard half-ploughland” were translated as ‘Hardplow orse Leisreaghcrua’ (CPR, p. 303), or similar, in which case the presumption that Middleplough is a likely translation of An tSeisreach Láir is wholly unproblematic. Indeed, placenames such as Middleplough don’t appear to be a feature of English toponomy, in which case we can be reasonably confident that it is indeed a translation from Irish in this instance.

Elsewhere, Lahesheragh North & South (logainm.ie #24233; #24234) in Co. Kerry are also undoubtedly from An Leathsheisreach “the half-ploughland”. Seisreach ‘plough, plough-team; ploughland”’ or leathsheisreach ‘half-ploughland’ is also reasonably common as a qualifier in Co. Tipperary placenames (we have already noted Rathsasseragh / Ráth na Seisreach), as in the case of Fearann na Leathsheisrí ‘the land of the half-ploughland’, the forerunner to both Farranlahassery (logainm.ie #48114) near Cahir, and Farran (logainm.ie #48790) near Emly, but they are by no means all confined to Co. Tipperary. Thus, Farranalahesery (loganm.ie #49769) in Co. Waterford is also from Fearann na Leathsheisrí ‘the land of the half-ploughland’, as are Farranlaheshery East and West (logainm.ie #10002; #10166) in Co. Cork, while Ballynalahessery / Baile na Leathsheisrí ‘the town(land) of the half-ploughland’ (logainm.ie #49377; #49376) is also located in Co. Waterford. The English name of Currymount (logainm.ie #11728) near Buttevant in north Cork is from the Big House located there, but its original Irish name was Currach na Leathsheisrí ‘the marsh of the half-ploughland’ (‘Currymount [otherwise] Curraghnalahesery’ CGn. 345.594.235308). In this instance Curry is probably derived from the initial element, but -mount was most likely generated by the erstwhile fashion that caused it to be found in numerous names of big houses throughout the country. To cap off our examples of seisreach as a qualifier in placenames we also have Farrannasheshery / Fearann na Seisrí ‘the land of the plough(land)’ (logainm.ie #8120) in Co. Cork, while two wells named Tobernashesree / Tobar na Seisrí ‘the well of the ploughland’ (logainm.ie #1415346; #1415466) are located in Co. Limerick.

There are no doubt other examples of elements referring to ploughing and the plough or parts thereof in further townland names around the country, take for example coltar (gen. sg. coltair; var. coiltir; cf. dil.ie s.v. coltar) as in Slievecoiltia / Sliabh Coiltir ‘mountain of (the) coltar’ (logainm.ie #53617) in Co. Wexford; or soc ‘a snout; a ploughshare’ as in Tiratick / Tír an tSoic ‘the land of the snout, or ploughshare’ (logainm.ie #45002) in Co. Sligo, but in any case the examples given in this month’s Monthly Morsel suffice to show that references to the plough, ploughing and ploughland are not at all rare in Irish townland names. Indeed, for information on ploughing in the Gaelic Irish tradition one can recommend no better book that Fergus Kelly’s Early Irish Farming, where one can find a host of valuable information on the matter in early Ireland. We can therefore celebrate this month’s National Ploughing Championship in full knowledge that ‘The Ploughing’ continues a practice found in the earliest records of Irish agricultural practice from well over one thousands years ago.

(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Justin Ó Gliasáin)

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