The placenames and landscape of the Parish of Claregalway

The placenames and Landscape of the Parish of Claregalway

On Sunday, August 25 2024, Claregalway Historical and Cultural Society launched their new book on the placenames of the parish of Claregalway. 

This new publication concerning the placenames of the parish of Claregalway, is the culmination of three years of hard work for the Claregalway Historical and Cultural Society. During that time they have undertaken a granular study of every townland in the parish, going door-to-door to collect the fieldnames and minor placenames previously known only to the people of the parish. That work has now been edited and collated, and is presented to the parish in the form of this new book and E-publication.

With a short foreword, by RTÉ’s John Creedon, the book is supplemented with maps, illustrations and photographs, and examines every townland in detail. Almost 450 fieldnames and placenames were recorded during the survey. The sheer density of bilingual placenames that were identified in the survey, reveal a whole universe of meaning and significance that has developed over time within the confines of just one parish.

Having spent the past three years gathering, collating and organising, the Claregalway Historical and Cultural Society are now proud to present back to the community, the fruits of their work . It is hoped that this work will help everyone in the parish understand the deep imprint that countless generations of people in Claregalway have left on the landscape, and foster a deeper sense of connection to our history and environment.

Physical copies of the book are available at the local shops in Claregalway village. If you would like to order a physical copy, please email: [email protected] for details. The book is also available in E-pub format at the link here