Coolsaragh (locally [ˌkulˈsɑrə], from Irish Cúil Sáráin, meaning 'Sárán's recess'[2]) is a townland lying within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies in the south of the parish on the boundary with the civil parish of Desertmartin, and it is bounded by the townlands of: Annagh & Moneysterlinn, Cloughfin, Gortahurk, Keenaght, Killynumber, Killytoney, Longfield, and Tullyroan. It was apportioned to the Drapers company.[3]
Coolsaragh | |
|---|---|
| Irish transcription(s) | |
| • Derivation: | Cúil Sáráin |
| • Meaning: | "Sárán's recess" |
 | |
  Coolsaragh Coolsaragh shown within Northern Ireland  Coolsaragh Coolsaragh (the United Kingdom) | |
| Coordinates: 54°46′59″N 6°41′56″W / 54.783°N 6.699°W | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| County | County Londonderry |
| Barony | Loughinsholin |
| Civil parish | Kilcronaghan |
| Plantation grant | Drapers Company |
| First recorded | 1609 |
| Government | |
| • Council | Mid Ulster District |
| • Ward | Tobermore |
| Area | |
• Total | 535.89 acres (216.87 ha) |
| Irish grid ref | H838936 |
The townland was part of the Tobermore electoral ward of the former Magherafelt District Council, however in 1901 and 1926 it was part of Iniscarn district electoral division as part of the Draperstown dispensary (registrar's) district of Magherafelt Rural District.[4][5] It was also part of the historic barony of Loughinsholin.[3]
Etymology
editCoolsaragh, despite the various different spellings, many of which contain erroneous letters, such as h for r and f for s, appears to derive from something like Culsaran or Coolsaran. The loss of the n at the end of the word, whilst not common in Irish placenames, has occasionally occurred elsewhere.[2]
The "saran" could possibly be derived from the Irish word során, which means "wireworm", a kind of insect that is a considerable pest for farmers, eating the roots of tuberous plants. This would give the derivation of Cúil Során, meaning "recess of the wireworms". This however is unlikely to be the origin of Coolsaragh as it doesn't contain an article meaning "of the". The lack of this article suggests either a personal name or a now obsolete noun. The personal name Sárán is used in the townlands of Kilsaran and Tisaran, and was the name of several saints and an early king of Ulster, and is quite possibly the meaning of "saran" in Culsaran or Coolsaran.[2]
History
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Northern Ireland Environment Agency. "NIEA Map Viewer". Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d Toner, Gregory: Place-Names of Northern Ireland, page 118-119. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, ISBN 0-85389-613-5
- ^ a b Notes on the Place Names of the Parishes and Townlands of the County of Londonderry, 1925, Alfred Moore Munn, Clerk of the Crown and Peace of the City and County of Londonderry
- ^ a b c d HistPop; Area, houses, and population, Vol. III [Part 2], Ireland, 1901 Page 34
- ^ a b c d HistPop; County and County Borough of Londonderry, 1926, page 24
- ^ a b c d e f HistPop; Area, population and number of houses, Vol. III, Ireland, 1881, page 698
- ^ HistPop; County of Londonderry, 1851, page 241
- ^ Place Names NI - Coolsaragh