PLACE NAMES

Extract from the "Know your Clane" series

Last month we listed ten place names mentioned in an 18th century deed dealt with by Gary Maguire in his December article. We asked for suggestions as to their meaning. The list is repeated below together with the context in which they were mentioned.

1.	Coolemucks	..."the lands and premises following, that is to say, the two Coolemucks containing 23 acres,
2.	Aughnacrew	? Aughnacrew containing 28 acres,
3.	Aughamore	Aughamore and
4.	Loughanboy	Loughanboy containing 40 acres,
5.	Aughasanterness	? Aughasanterness containing32 acres, part of the...
6.	Maudlins	Maudlins and the...
7.	Keilogues	Keilogues containing 26 acres,
8.	Carigeen	Carigeen and the Cow Boy's House and garden containing 31 acres,
9.	Park Bartle	Park Bartle and the Four Acres containing ?? acres, and a house in Clane and the...
10.	Church Park	church park, all of which said lands and premises are situated in or near Clane in the County of Kildare."

We could have wished for more suggestions but out of the process the following suggestions are put forward. We would like to hear from anyone who may have further suggestions and perhaps even local knowledge.

1. Coolemucks

The site of the Elms Apartments has continued to be known as this name down until recent times. The reference is to the "two Coolmucks" containing 23 acres. The site of the Elms is only around two acres. Dinneen's Dictionary gives mucos as word for rose hips. Another version is mucóir or mugóir a word which occurs in the old children's rhyme associated with rose hips.

"I'll tell you a story about Johnny Magory. First I'll begin it. That's all that's in it."

An interesting fact, which, of course, may have no relevence, is that the vertical bank of 10 - 12 feet which drops into the adjoining site of College Grove and faces south to the warm sun, is covered with wild roses and blackthorn. This might suggest a translation to "the corner (place) of the rose hips". If it is nothing as romantic as this it comes back to the "place of the pigs".

2. Aughnacrew

"Achadh" translates as "field" and "cró" as a "shed, fold, enclosure". It could also relate to the verb "crú" - to milk. "Field of the sheds"?

3. Aughmore

Translates as "Achadh Mór", the big field?

4. Loughanboy

Translates as "Lochán Buídhe", - the dirty little pond? According to Dinneen, buídhe, which normally means yellow, can mean dirty (sour)? A small pond of this description used to exist on the Ballinagappa Road at roughly the pedestrian entrance to Hillview. It dried up when the sewage pipes were laid down the Ballinagappa Road. It was known as "Lochán".

5. Aughasanterness

There are no good suggestions here, apart from"Achadh" and possibly sean meaning old, teir meaning haunted and neas meaning a hill or fortified place. The Moat?

6. Maudlins

This is the old name for the area behind Dr. Flanagan's new surgery. It is marked on old maps as Maudlin Newtown and was confiscated from the Franciscans in 1541. The same name occurs in Naas and is derived from Magdeline. It always indicates a refuge or charitable instritution.

7. Keilogues

probably from coill óg, a small wood(s). Dinneen extends the meaning of young to small.

8. Carigeen

Carraigín translates as little rock. The townland of Carrigeen starts at the entrance to Moat Commons (An Crocán Estate) on the Naas Road and extends back to the Liffey. It was called after a Cromlech, known locally as "St. Bridgid's Table, Chair and Thimble", three rocks which marked a Neolithic burial site but which were bulldosed by Kildare Co. Council when they operated a dump there a few decades back.

9. Park Bartle

"Pairc Bartle" has to be Bartley's Field.

10. Church Park

This is undoubtedly the area where the estates of Central Park and Churchfield are now located. It was previously known as the Church Parks. The church in question is the old C.of I. Church of St. Michael's or the Abbey. The first Catholic church dates from just 1804.

Reproduced from "Le Chéile" by kind permission

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