When the Ordnance Survey Memoirs for the parishes of Carncastle and Killyglen were published in Volume 11 of The Glynns, a number of people expressed the wish that the meanings of the placenames in these parishes be included in a future issue. These two parishes are situated on the east coast of Antrim in the Barony of upper Glenarm between Glenarm and Larne and roughly the same distance from each.
Carncastle is bounded on the east by the sea; on the north and north-west by the parish of Tickmacrevan; on the south-west by the parish of Kilwaughter and on the south by the parish of Killyglen. The latter parish is bounded on the south and west by the parish of Kilwaughter and on the south-east by the parish of Larne.
Parish of Carncastle
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Carncastle |
Carn caisleain |
The cairn or rock of the castle. The O. S. Memoirs record that “the castle was built by some daring freebooter who forcibly carried off the daughter of a neighbouring chieftain and confined her in this castle for along time; hence the ruin to this day … is called ‘the Ward’.” |
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Ballygalley |
Baile gallaidhe |
Townland of the flatterer. Some old documents give this name as Ballygelly which could come from Baile gealaighe meaning “bright townland.” |
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Ballycoos |
Baile cuais |
Townland of the cave |
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Ballygawn |
Baile gabhann |
Townland of the cattle-pen or pound. |
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Ballygilbert |
Baile Giollbairt |
Gilbert’s townland. Probably named after Duncan FitzGilbert who was given a grant of all the lands in the vicinity by king John. |
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Ballyhackett |
Baile na h-acaid |
Townland of the disease or plague |
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Ballyruther |
Baile ridiere |
Townland of the attack or charge |
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Ballytober |
Baile tobair |
Townland of the well |
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Ballywillin |
Baile mhuillin |
Townland of the mill |
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Camfunnock |
Carn feannoga |
Cairn of the scald crow |
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Corkermain |
Carcair meadhon |
Middle slope |
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Drains Bog |
Droighean bog |
Bog of the blackthorn |
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Droagh |
Droch |
Bad land |
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Drumnagreagh |
Druim na gcreach |
Hill ridge of the plundering |
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Four-score Acre |
Twenty acres seem to have been a standard measurement hence four score or four twenties. |
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Linford |
Ath na pol |
Ford of the pools. |
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Lisnahay |
Lios na h-aithe |
Fort of the kiln — either a limekiln or more likely a corn-kiln |
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Lisnahay south |
As above |
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Loughduff |
Loch dubh / Black lough |
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Minnis North |
Magh inise |
Plain of the river holm or strath |
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Minnis South |
As above |
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Saint Cunning |
Cill Conadhain |
Church of St. Cunning. This small townland was given by Duncan FitzGilbert to the Abbey of Muckamore. The festival of St. Cunning is celebrated on 23rd September. |
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Sallagh |
Salach |
Dirty or mirey place |
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Slievebane |
Sliabh ban |
White mountain |
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Solar |
Sailchair |
Place of sally bushes |
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Grange of Killyglen |
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Ballymullock |
Baile mullach |
Townland of the summit |
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Drains |
Droighean |
Blackthorns or sloe bushes |
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Dromain |
Druim meadhon |
Middle hill-ridge |
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Killyglen |
Coille gleanna |
Wood of the glen |
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Parish of Kilwaughter |
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Kilwaughter |
Cill uachtair |
Upper church |
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Ballyedward |
Baile Eadbhaird |
Edward’s townland |
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Ballyhampton |
Baile Hamtain |
Hampton’s townland |
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Ballykeel |
Baile caol |
Narrow townland |
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Boydstown |
No explanation needed |
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Capanagh |
Ceapanach |
Tillage plots |
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Craiginorne |
Carraig an eornan |
Rock of the barley |
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Desmesne |
Landlord’s private land |
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Drumadonaghy |
Druim O’Donchadha |
O’Donaghy’s hill-ridge |
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Drumnahoe |
Druim na h-uaimhe |
Hill-ridge of the cave |
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Glebe |
Church land |
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Headwood |
No explanation needed |
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Hightown |
No explanation needed |
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Lealies |
Leath lios |
Half fort |
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Lowtown |
No explanation needed |
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Moordyke |
Boundary on the moor |
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Mullaghsandall
Old Freehold
Rory’s Glen
Sherriffs Land
Skeagh
Parish of Larne
Antiville
Ballyboley
Ballycraigy
Ballyloran
Blackcave North
Blackcave South
Curran
Drumaliss
Glebe
Greenland
Townparks
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Mullach Sandell
No explanation needed No explanation needed No explanation needed
Sceagh
An tigh bhile
Baile buaile
Baile craigeach
Baile lobhrain
No explanation needed
No explanation needed
Corran
Druiman lios Druim alluis
Church land
No explanation needed
Generally the land belonging to the townspeople
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Sandall’s summit or hill. Derived its name from de Sandell one of the early Norman occupiers of this part of County Antrim.
White-thorns
The house of the sacred tree
Townland of the “booleying” or summer dairy. Under the run-rig system of farming the land was held in common and when the crops were planted in the ‘in-field’ it was necessary to move all the farm animals to the upland pasture. The animals remained all summer in this area which was known as the “booley” and there is evidence of the existence of boolies in many parts of the Glens.
Stony townland
Townland of the leper. Leprosy was quite common in Ireland at one time.
A sickle or reaping hook, referring to the shape of the land at Larne.
Hill-ridge of the fort Hill-ridge of the sweat-house
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