Meaning Of Tandragee

Sir, - Last week in "Where's That" Flann O Riann gave, as a translation of Toin re Gaoth (Tandragee), "bottom, or end, to the…

Sir, - Last week in "Where's That" Flann O Riann gave, as a translation of Toin re Gaoth (Tandragee), "bottom, or end, to the sea inlet".

While I hesitate to argue with an expert I would suggest that there's another more appropriate translation.

While Niall O Donaill's Focloir Gaeilge-Bearla gives "sea inlet" as one meaning for gaoth (as well as wind) he also gives "an exposed place" for `toin le gaoth'. Ua Duinnin translates toin le gaoth as "unbottomed" in the sense of letting in the wind.

With the wind blowing along the valley of the Cusher River as it flows past Tandragee in Co Armagh I would suggest that "windy bottomland" is as good a meaning (not mine) as you could get. But I'll bow to Flann's superior argument, if forthcoming.

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I would, however, have to ask about the sea inlet. There's none within 17 miles of Tandragee.

Ar aon nos, fad saol ort, a Fhlann, agus ar do scribhinn morluachhach. - Is mise,

P.E. O hAnluain, "Tanderagree", Na Baitri, Ath Luain.