252 



which, was originally the name, not of the territory, but of the tribe 

 that inhabited it, and " means the descendants (cinel) of Bece," who was 

 the ancestor of the O'Mahonys.*' 



In Seward's Topographical Dictionary, it is stated that Baltinglass 

 (in "Wicklow) " is derived from Beal-tinne-glas, or the fire of BeaVs 

 mysteries, the fires being lighted there by the Druids in honour of the 

 sun;" and the writer of a Guide to "Wicklow (Curry, Dublin, 1834), 

 says that it is " Bal-teach-na-glass, or the town of the grey houses" and 

 he adds, " certainly the appearance of them bears us out in this." This 

 is all pure invention ; neither of the original forms here given is the 

 correct one, and even if it were, it would not bear the meaning assigned, 

 nor indeed any meaning at all. In ancient documents, the name is 

 always given Bealach-Chonglais, which means the pass or road of Cuglas, 

 who was a historical personage connected with the locality. 



Carnsore Point, in Wexford, is called by Ptolemy, Hieron Akron, 

 e., the Sacred Promontory; and Camden ("Britannia," Ed. 1594, 

 p. 659), in stating this fact, says, he has no doubt but that the native 

 Irish name bore the same meaning. This conjecture seems fair enough, 

 but the reason he gives for his conviction is a very unfortunate one. 

 He states that the name of Bannow, a town situated not far from the 

 promontory, where the English made their first descent, signifies 

 " sacred" in the Irish language. The Irish verb t>earmui§ means 

 " to bless," and its participle is becmnuigce, " blessed :" but this has 

 no connexion in meaning with Bannow, which is nothing more than 

 the anglicised form of bcmb, a sucking pig. The harbour where Bobert 

 Eitzstephen landed, was called in Irish Cuan-cm-bamb, i. e. the har- 

 bour of the bonnive, or young pig, and Bannow has perpetuated the 

 latter part of the name. 



These examples may serve as a specimen of what some years ago 

 passed as learning. There was a time, and that not far distant, when 

 whole theories regarding the social condition or religious belief of the 

 early inhabitants of this country were built upon, or mainly supported 

 by fanciful and silly etymologies. This practice has done much mis- 

 chief, by helping to impress the scholars of other countries, and even of 

 our own, with the belief that Irish Archaeology was a worthless and 

 unprofitable study — a mass of fable and conjecture, without any solid 

 historical basis. 



It will not be denied, I hope, that the subject of Irish topographical 

 names is worthy the attention, not only of the Irish scholar, but also 

 of the general student of language ; that it requires to be dealt with 

 cautiously, and precludes all indulgence in mere fancy or conjecture ; 

 and that, if prosecuted on sound historical and philological prin- 

 ciples, it is a study that will fully repay the labour of investigation. 



* This example has been borrowed from Dr. Todd. 



