Recording unofficial placenames in my local area

Ó Dochartaigh, Caitríona; Mac Cathmhaoil, Nioclás

Recording unofficial placenames in my local area

Files

Recording Unofficial Placenames in my Local Area.pdf(1.49 MB)

Published Version

Date

2025

Authors

Ó Dochartaigh, Caitríona

Mac Cathmhaoil, Nioclás

Publisher

Ultonia Project

Abstract

An overlooked area of placename research is unofficial, minor, local names. These can be alternative names for official names, historical sites, laneways, crossroads, the names of individual fields, or landscape features etc. Unfortunately, knowledge of these names is quickly being forgotten. You would do a great service to your area if you were able to record some of them before they are lost forever. Sometimes accompanying these names is a rich an ancient ‘placename-lore’, or dinnsheanchas, detailing aetiological accounts of how the names came into being: whether as the haunts of ghosts and other supernatural beings, like the Bean Sí (Banshee) or Cailleach Bhéarra (Old Hag of Beare); or as areas once frequented by Irish heroes, like Cú Chulainn, Fionn, Diarmuid and Gráinne. Some other places are linked with tales of local disputes, murder, treachery, love and tragedy. You never know what names and stories you might encounter.

Keywords

Placename research , Ireland , Alternative names , Local Placename Record Form , Local placenames , Meitheal Project , Logainm.ie

Citation

Ó Dochartaigh, C. and Mac Cathmhaoil, N. (2025) 'Recording unofficial placenames in my local area', Ultonia Project.