Gort an Choirce
“the field of the oats”
(logainm.ie #17566)
Date: 13/09/2025
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 in Leitrim as well as translated Oatfield in Clare. Aghincurk/Achadh an Choirce in Antrim also means “the field of the oats”. Oatfield in Galway is a mistranslation of Corr an Choirce “the round hill of the oats”, which also happens to be the original Irish form of Corrycorka in Longford. Both Knockhurka in Sligo and Knockaquirk in Wicklow are from Cnoc an Choirce “the hill of the oats”, while Taobh an Choirce/Tiveachorky “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 “the bush, hillock of the oats” in Wicklow. However, this is not always the case, as we also have Inchincurka/Inse an Choirce “the holm of the oats” in Cork. In Wicklow we have Coolacork/Cúil an Choirce “the nook, recess of the oats”, and there is also Tirchorka/Tír an Choirce “the land of the oats” in Meath.
(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)