PREFACE
The first volume of this book was publishod forty-four years ago, and the second a couple of years later. These two volumes were the first ever written on the subject of Irish Place-Names. They were well received, so that they have, in the interim, passed through many editions, and they still command a steady sale.
For nearly forty years after the appearance of these volumes, no other book was issued on the subject, though there were some pamphlets and short articles. The long spell of silence was broken at last by the Rev. P. Power, who published, in 1907, an important book, " The Place-Names of Decies," dealing with the local names of the two Decies baronies, including a large part of the county Water-ford, with a margin extending into other parts of the county and into South Tipperary. The author, an Irish speaker, went through this district, examined the places for himself, and took down the names as he heard them pronounced by the native Irish speakers. So that here we have a book resting on solid ground. I have sometimes quoted from this book—always with acknowledgment.
I have good reason to hope that before long the place-names of South Cork will be similarly dealt with by a competent native scholar.
The sources from which the Irish forms and the meanings of the names in this third volume have been obtained, are much the same as for the first two, which will be found fully set forth in the first chapter of Volume I. They are of three main classes :—
(1) The pronunciation of the Irish names by
natives, mostly Irish-speaking, taken down by myself. These natives also often helped in determining the meanings ; but here the investigator has to move with much caution. See on this point, vol. i. p. 5.
(2) The determination of the Irish forms and the meanings as written by O'Donovan in the Field Name Books. See this set forth in vol. i. p. 7. This reference, with a glance at his editions of the " Four Masters " and the numerous other works of Irish literature edited by him, with their profusion of learned notes and illustrative extracts, will give the reader some idea of what we owe to O'Donovan, The topographical work done by two other distinguished Irishmen, Colgan and Lynch, nearly three centuries ago, was amazing for scholarship ; but it remained incomplete— i.e. it did not extend to all Ireland, chiefly from want of time. Their work was completed and further extended by O'Donovan. He recovered Irish historical topography, which but for him, would have been in a great measure lost for ever.
(3) The old forms and interpretations of the names given in written authorities, either printed or in manuscript.
In regard to the first of these three it is to be observed that my own collection of notes is now many times larger than it was forty-five years ago, when I began the preliminary work of writing on this subject. I have made it a point at every opportunity, during the last fifty years or so, to get the natives, especially the Irish-speaking itatives, to give the old pronunciation of the names, which I noted down on each occasion. This was done partly on the spot when meeting with the people in my journeys through the country, and partly in Dublin from natives of the several districts. I may mention that this work of collecting place-names was concurrent with that of collecting Irish nuisic and songs, finding expression in the publication of four volumes on this subject, which, like the first two volumes of Irish names, still hold tluMr place on the market.
And here let me acknowledge how much I am indebted to the Queen's scholars who passed under my hands in the Marlborough St. Training College, in which I was Principal and Professor—that is to say, young national teachers from all parts of Ireland passing through their course of training, many of them Irish speaking. Here were a number of young persons, all very intelligent as well as able and willing to give information. The information obtained from
