The study of placenames can deliver valuable information about an area. Diverse details concerning many aspects can all be obtained from placenames. Examples of information to be gained include the following; land divisions, land use, crops, shape and quality of the land, common birds and animals, local industry and occupations, farming practices, customs, religious practices, poitin making, legends, family names, names of people gone before, even events such as drowning.

Dowygillin - lost in sandhills

Rosmagh - Kinnea and Tullagh (1767)

Dunally - Binnion, Gaddyduff, Adderville and Meendoran - now only a minor name in Gort

Land divisions can be split down into many levels, i.e., County, barony, parish, townlands. To gain information on placenames local people are usually the best source but researchers should also look to the following list of sources;

The following is a list of some of the sources from which this information has been obtained.

Acerage of Townlands Inishowen Map of Placenames

Thanks to Brother Tom Connelly for providing us with his notes on the history of the Clonmany placenames. Brother Tom Connelly was a guest speaker at the first annual McGlinchey Summer School in 1998.