Clare Island Survey — Place- Names and Family Names. 3 3 



largely, if not mainly, representing racial elements older in western Europe 

 than the Celts. We have also evidence, in Clare Island and the adjoining 

 mainland districts, of almost incessant streams of immigration during many 

 centuries, and these streams can be traced to many parts, not of Ireland 

 alone, but of the continent of Europe, not in legend but in fully authenticated 

 history. So far as I know, there is no evidence of any colony of Norsemen 

 in or near the island during the period of the Norse migrations ; but the 

 surnames bear witness to the presence in some degree of a later-coming 

 Hebridean element which is largely of Norse descent. 



Some of the place-names will be seen to reflect bygone conditions of 

 agriculture. Tuar Mor, the name of what remains of the most westerly 

 village, means " the great bleachgreen." Another place is called na Tuartha, 

 " the bleachgreens." The present generation in Clare Island has never seen 

 a field of growing flax ; much less has it had any experience of the spinning of 

 linen thread or the weaving and bleaching of the linen fabric. Yet these 

 things were familiar to every generation from the Great Famine back to a 

 time much earlier than the first appearance of the Norsemen on the Irish coast. 

 The " Parliamentary Gazetteer " of 1845, in the article on Westport, gives the 

 following information on the authority of Mr. Inglis, who wrote in 1834 with 

 reference to the linen industry : — 



" The linen trade in this district, and most probably in other districts, is the 

 source of all the extras which are obtained beyond the absolute necessaries of 

 life. The land is let in very small portions ; 7 or 8 acres is about the usual size 

 of a " take." Potatoes are raised for the family consumption ; grain, to pay 

 the rent ; and the flax is destined for clothing and extras. The decline of the 

 linen trade has produced great want of employment ; and the condition of 



the agriculturists throughout these districts has very much deteriorated 



The linen trade was extensively carried on here; and eight years ago as 

 many as 900 pieces were measured and sold on a market-day. Now the 

 quantity scarcely averages 100 pieces. Taking the whole district, including 

 Westport, Castlebar, Newportpratt, 1 and JBallinrobe, about 500 pieces are 

 sold weekly ; and about 30,000 persons are supposed to be more or less 

 employed in the trade. No trade gives such universal employment as this ; 

 not fewer than 60 persons are employed, from first to last, in preparing a web 

 of linen." 



The word govt, " a cornfield," is of frequent occurrence among the place- 

 names in the more cultivated parts of the island. The "Parliamentary 

 Gazetteer " says of Clare Island : " Much grain is shipped for Westport ; 

 large quantities of sea-manure are landed; and about 340 men and boys 



1 Newport, Co. Mayo. 

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