What’s in a placename?

What do townland names reveal about an area? That’s the fascinating topic of a talk local gaelgeoir Seán Ó hUltacháin is set to give as part of Heritage Week.

A little bit of Irish and/or knowledge of folklore can help reveal place names’ full significance. And Seán is a great guide for both.

Anyone with an interest in Irish language, but has yet to learn their native tongue could be either put to shame by Seán or inspired by him. Seán would hope it’s the latter.

He recalls his level of Irish as “very basic” before Covid, then during lockdown he decided to translate all his own poetry and writings on nature and history from English into Irish. He was working as a fisheries office by day, amateur translator by night.

“I had to search the dictionary for nearly every word and every phrase,” he recalls, prompting the Celt to suggest that must have been painstaking.

“I actually loved it,” he confesses with a laugh acknowledging it wouldn’t be everyone’s idea of fun.

“I’d come home from work with the fisheries and be mad to write Irish, translate some of the work - I had a hunger for it.”

His efforts paid off.

“After 20,000 words I was fluent,” says Seán matter of factly.

He’s further developing this passion through an online course - a level 9 diploma in Irish Translation hosted by Coláiste na hEireann.

Using his knowledge of Irish, and his grá for research he’s pored over the national database for placenames ‘Logainm an lae’ and specifically delved into Cavan townlands.

“I’ll be going through the general themes and results of my research, and interesting stories I found,” he explains of his talk - expected to last around 50 minutes - which will be held in Cavan County Museum, Ballyjamesduff.

The second half of the talk will see Seán discuss the Dinnseanchas records.

“They are poetry by the bards to remember the lore of local placenames,” Seán explains.

He breaks down the word for us “‘dinn’ is an important place and ‘seanchas’ is folkore relating to that place.”

“It opens up the folklore, history and mythology and landscape,” he says of the logainm.

He gives an example: “The name Ballyconnell is named after Conaill Cearnach, one of the Fianna. He was being chased by the men from Connacht. They killed him at Ballyconnell and it was named after him: Béal Átha Conaill.”

Sean’s homeplace of Lisduff (black ringfort) is close to Lough Sheelin, which has a colourful folktale connected to it, where Síle, one of the Tuatha De Dannan opened the well at Crover and forgot to close it.

“She walked to Finea and a man cutting corn with a sickle cut the legs from under her and killed her. The water stopped there and that’s how Lough Sheelin was formed,” Seán regales.

Given his affinity to Lough Sheelin, he borrowed it for the name of Irish language courses he gives - Scoil Síleann. Classes meet in Súil Eile on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings catering for four different levels (two beginner; two intermediate).

He wears a Scoil Síleann t-shirt featuring a pig which he designed himself in a Celtic style of art and script. It’s a natural blending of his favourite past times - art and language.

A major influence on his art was his aunt Pauline Halton, a much-loved local artist with her own truly unique style. The pair even held a joint exhibition together in Dublin in 2019.

When the Celt meets Seán, he’s wearing a butterfly broach pinned to his t-shirt. He bought it for Pauline as a birthday present after she was diagnosed with cancer, and she wore it when she travelled to receive treatment.

“It’s just to keep her memory alive,” says Seán of the butterfly. “I called her my other mother - I had two mammies,” he quips.

His actual mother, Geraldine, is becoming immersed in the language through Seán.

“I talk in Irish every day to her. She says I’m sick with Irish - Tá tinneas gaelge orm,” relays Sean, delighted with his mam’s saying.

He’s also wearing a wristband and a keffiyeh in support of the besieged Palestinians, as, like many, he’s appalled by what’s happening. He feels the use of starvation as a weapon resonates with our own past.

“There’s very strong parallels between the two,” he says noting the great hunger coincided with the rapid decline of the Irish language.

Seán attributes his strong sense of justice and pride in being a Gael to his father, Tom.

Since April Sean has hosted ‘Siúlóidí Gaeilge sa Dúlra’ nature walks in beauty spots around the county each Sunday.

“All levels are welcome on the walks,” encourages Seán. “You come along and speak Irish and go for a walk for an hour or two. Because it is out in woodland it’s far more relaxed than in a classroom, it’s lovely.”

The numbers he’s had join him on the walks “varies greatly” with 22 the most, but usually it’s single figures. “As someone said, ‘Is leor beirt’, which means two people is enough,” says Seán when it comes to speaking Irish.

He’s currently reading a book on Seanfhocla Uladh - the old sayings of Ulster. There’s thousands from across the province, but sadly only 15 recorded from County Cavan.

“There’s a lot of wisdom in some of them,” he remarks.

Asked for a Cavan favourite he opts for, “Éist le turas na hAbhna agus b’fhéidir go ngeobhaidh tú bréac’.

“It means listen to the passage of the river and maybe you’ll get a trout. It’s ironic because you have to do more than listen to get a trout - you have to be proactive and do something.”

It struck a chord with the former fisheries officer in him.

For this reporter it means maybe going to Irish classes rather than just talking about it. I know just the class to go to.

Seán’s love for the Irish language and gaelic culture, is matched only by his drive to share it.

“I want to make it accessible to everyone, whether you are a pig farmer or TD or refugee it belongs to everyone.”