1893-94] i°9 



Colin Glen is in the townland of Poleglass, the green hollow, 

 an apt description, whilst near to this there is Aughrim, or the 

 horse hill, and beyond is Mullaghlass, or the green summit. 

 Above Hannahstown is Slievenagravery, or the gray mountain 

 field, and beyond it is Slievenacloy, the hill of the rampart, 

 upon which there is a monument called Sibs stone. 



Ciose to the Antrim Road before you reach the Castle is the 

 townland bearing the name Ballyaghagan, which may mean the 

 place of the poor fields, or, perhaps, refers to Eochaidh, a pro- 

 genitor of Madadhan, whilst along the hills above it is Bally- 

 sillan, or the place of the wild cherries. 



One of the most wonderful and interesting sights in our 

 neighbourhood is the Giant's Ring, which is situated at Bally- 

 lesson — this may be Bally lis Owen, the place of the fort or lis of 

 Owen. Can this refer to the great circle with the cromleac, 

 or to the fort on the neighbouring eminence ? If so, it may 

 throw some light upon entirely forgotten history. 



Ballyrecoolgalgie was an old name for the centre of Belfast, 

 and it has been a puzzle for a long time. I can express no 

 opinion upon it, but I will give you what the authorities state. 

 Strange to say the late Bishop Reeves, who was the authority 

 on these matters, passes it over. Robert MacAdam thinks it 

 means Bally, the town ; re, at ; cool, back of; galge, a gallows ; 

 and this is supported by James O'Neill, M.A. P. J. O'Shea 

 thinks it means the town with the back or support of champions, 

 considering galgie as representing galgad valiant. Dr. Joyce, 

 the editor of Irish names of places, in a letter to Lavens M. 

 Ewart, M.R.I.A, states, " If any man in the world could make 

 out the meaning of Ballyrecoolgalgie, Dr. Reeves was that man ; 

 and you may be sure he would not have passed it by if he had 

 been able to interpret it. I will give you a guess, but remember 

 it is only a guess, had I known the meaning with certainty I 

 would gladly have put it into myjjbook. I think there can be no 

 doubt of the meaning of three of the four elements of which it 

 is composed, Bally-re-coole-Galgie. Bally we all know is a 

 townland ; Coole is either a back or a corner, pretty certainly 



