Machaire na Gé/Magheranagay
"the plain, stretch of level ground, field of the goose".
See logainm #35800
Date: 01/12/2025
While the main Christmas dish in Ireland has doubtless been the imported turkey in relatively recent years, it was formerly goose that occupied that honoured position. In this regard, it is notable that references to birds are not uncommon in townland names, which include the odd reference to the goose. Hence in Mayo we find Magheranagay/Machaire na Gé "the plain, stretch of level ground, field of the goose" which is found as translated 'Goose Park' in the Tithe Applotment Book from 1830 (see logainm.ie: #35800). In Cork we have Lackenagea/Leacain na Gé "the hillside of the goose" and in Leitrim Lisnagea/Lios na Gé "the ringfort of the goose". It is interesting to note that livestock is often referred to in placenames containing lios, ráth and ráithín, all essentially meaning "ringfort", which suggests that these structures were often 'recycled' after their original use, e.g. Lisnagore/Lios na nGabhar "the ringfort of the goats"; Lisnamoe/Lios na mBó "the ringfort of the cows"; Lisnamuck/Lios na Muc "the ringfort of the pigs"; Lisnageeragh/Lios na gCaorach "the ringfort of the sheep"; Lisnagoneeny/Lios na gCoinníní "the ringfort of the rabbits"; Lisnagree/Lios na Graí "ringfort of the horses"; Lissaneagh/Lios an Eich "the ringfort of the horse"; Rathnabo/Ráth na Bó "the ringfort of the cow"; Rathnageeragh/Ráth na gCaorach "the ringfort of the sheep"; Rathnaconeen/Ráth na gCoinín "the ringfort of the rabbits"; Rathanally/Ráth an Eallaigh "the ringfort of the livestock, stock".
(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)