106 [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



over the sea for that help from their kindred which was sure 

 to come when there was any looting to be done. The other 

 Danish names remaining to us are, Olderfleet at Larne, which 

 is a corruption of Wulfrichford, and was applied to the water 

 opposite the Corran (so called from its shape, resembling a 

 sickle or reaping hook). Strangford tells its own meaning, and 

 anyone who tried to cross this ford on an ebb tide would feel it 

 as well. There is an ancient river running down the centre of 

 High Street called the Farset, a word meaning a sandy bar or 

 mouth of a river and descriptive of the condition of the river in 

 early times where it joned the Lagan. The name of our city is 

 derived from it Beul-a — mouth, and Farset a sandy beach ; 

 Beulfarset or Belfast. The Lagan, known to Ptolemy as the 

 Logia, is so called from a hollow in its course, whilst its tribu- 

 tary the Blackstaff rejoices in the euphonious Irish name of 

 Owenvarra — the English name being a translation of the 

 ancient one. This, river was doubtless once staked in or had 

 a ford of stakes blackened by time or peaty water. The districts 

 surrounding the Owenvarra is called Cromac, meaning a sloping 

 of bending place, and probably refers to the old crooked course 

 of the river. The river Owen O'Cork may be an old name 

 also and mean the river of the rough lands. 



There is a townland between the Antrim Road and Carn- 

 money Church-yard called Drumnadrough, meaning the ridge 

 of the Druids. There is still a fort in the centre of it. The 

 townland upon which the Throne Hospital stands is called 

 Ballygolan, or the place between two rivers. This is quite 

 correct, but the rivers are small ; the one at the Cavehill side 

 divides the parishes of Shankill and Carnmoney. Above 

 Carnmoney Church — Carnmoney means the earn on the 

 mountain, the remains of which were recently removed — there 

 is a fine ring fort called Dunanney, the fort of the golden chain 

 or collar, referring doubtless to some long-forgotten event in 

 its history. Near to this is Glengormley, which may mean the 

 dark blue glen, or more likely refers to the Clan Gormlaithe 

 (Gormley) which sprung from Muireadhach, whose son 



