Irish-Language

Dinnseanchas agus seanfhocal - an Irish place-name and a proverb

DINNSEANCHAS

Ballytaggart - Baile an tSagairt - townland of the priest

The townland of Ballytaggart in Co. Antrim derives from Baile an tSagairt in Irish, ‘townland of the priest’. The form Ballintaggart is much more frequent and is found throughout the four provinces 

The word sagart is well attested in other place-names also such as Ceathrú an tSagairt ‘quarter(land) of the priest’ (Carrintaggart, Co. Down) and Mullaigh na Sagart ‘hilltop of the priests’ (Mullanasaggart, Co. Fermanagh). The surname Mac an tSagairt ‘son of the priest’ is common in Ulster and may appear in English as McEnteggart, McIntaggart, McTaggart, and Taggart. 

The townland name of Island Taggart in Co. Down is derived from the Irish Inis Mhic an tSagairt ‘McIntaggart’s island’ and Ballymacataggart in Fermanagh from Baile Mhic an tSagairt ‘McIntaggart’s townland’.

SEANFHOCAL

Am fear is fhaide chaidh bho’n bhaile, Chual e’n ceòl bu mhilse leis nuair thill e dhachaidh

The man who farthest away did roam, heard the sweetest music on returning home

This is a proverb in Scottish Gaelic and will appeal to home birds everywhere.

In 2019, the Bluffer was away from home ten times, from long weekend city breaks to three weeks in South-east Asia and had a ball during each and every one of them.

But there is nothing like getting home to your own bed, your own familiar surroundings and seeing old familiar faces. It’s great to get away but it’s also great to get back home again and with stories to tell.