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Archiver > DONEGALEIRE > 2000-10 > 0970405801
From: <>
Subject: Re: [DONEGAL] Definitions of those pesky land divisions
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 09:10:01 -0400
Thanks Lindel for an informative post. Seeing all the definitions in
one place is very helpful.
In talking with my older cousin in Donegal a few years back he told
me this. "Some people say the townland is the smallest division of
land in Donegal, but it is not." "It is the field and each field has its
own name." He then went on to name the fields in the area we
were. The names were very strange and gaelic sounding. He
knew each of the fields and how good the soil and productivity was
in them. I found it fascinating that he would have this intimate
knowledge of each and every field. When I asked him the origins of
the names he had not idea where they came from, as that was just
what they have always been called.
Now these field names, of course, are not legal divisions, such as
are Baronies and Townlands, but I am sure if he still knows these
names today, they were probably much used in times gone by
when people were more reliant of the land for food. I have often
wondered when researchers have a location name that has been
passed down through aural or even written family legend and they
are unable to locate that name anywhere, if indeed, that name
might be one of these field names.
Terry
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