12 pilation, did not supply the desired information.
It was my intention to have presented these books to the Academy as a work of public reference in topographical inquiry; but I lately learned that a similar index, containing all my items, and.
farther supplying the areas, with a reference under each name to the sheet or sheets where it appeared on the Ordnance Survey, had been compiled from the Census of 1851, to which it was designed to serve as an alphabetical reference, and that it was likely, within a short time, to be published, and, of course, find its way to our library.
It appeared to me, therefore, that it would be of no advantage to occupy a place in our shelves, with an inferior production.
It has, for several years, however, done good service, not only to the compiler, but some of his literary friends, who, in their difficulties, sought counsel of the "monster Index."
The printed Index will form an in valuable book of reference, and I hope that its appearance will promote investigations into the interesting topography of our island: certainly the Census list of 1851, with its admirable details, and this Index to follow it, will prove a rich treasury of topographical illustration ; and ere long I hope to see the series on our shelves divested of their blue wrappers, and recommended to notice by a becoming exterior.
It is impossible to over-estimate the importance of such a work as this to the topogiapher.
Not only is he enabled hereby to trace to its proper position the site of an ancient church, or the field oi a distant encounter, or the subject of an early grant, but he lias also materials for the correction of etymolog-ical fallacies, and the establish¬ ment of a true standard of interpretation.
Endless are the curious applications and combinations of Irish words which such an Index presents to view.
What a boon to Irish topography would the forthcoming compilation be, if it had kit one column more, namely, an etymological one.
There is no member of society, from the great landed proprietor down to the humblest anti¬ quarian student, who would not welcome with delight the appearance of such a work.
In some words considerable difficulty would attend the interpretation; but the majority could be surely ascertained and safely expounded ; for it would be found that certain prevailing elements of composition pervaded the names to a great extent; in which, as has already been observed, Bally, is so frequent; Kill, the first syllable of 2,890 names, representing, according to the combination, eithei Cill "cella," " church," or Caillc, "sylva,"' "a wood;" Drum, "dorsum," "a ridge," introduces.
2,000 names ; Knock, "a hill," 1,600 ; Lis, "
au enclosed abode," now called "
a fort," 1,380; Derry, "an oak wood," 1,310; Cluain, "a meadow," 756, in the form Clon, and 924 in that of Cloon.
The etymologicon, however, to he complete, would require a careful comparison of the old forms of the townland names, as found in Inquisitions, Patents, and kindred records, which were much purer than those now in use, as approaching nearer to the fountain head, and as current at a time when the Irish language was comparatively uninfluenced by foreign influence or intermixture.
I have thus indicated some of the various sources of information on this interesting subject, in the hope that those who have leisure will refer to the original documents; and that by continued research the history which lies enshrined in local names may yet be preserved to the country, and rendered accessible to the public.
It is proper here to add, that since the publication of the first edition of the Ordnance Maps, power has been vested in the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council to change the names and boundaries of townlancls when the straightening of river courses, reclamation from the sea, or other circumstances, have rendered it necessary.
The cases, however, will not be numerous, and no inconvenience or error from tins cause need 'arise, if all the precautions required by the Acts of Parliament be, as they doubtless will be, duly observed.
I have the honour to be,
Your Excellency's very faithful servant,
Wiliiam Donnelly,
liegistra r-General.
Henry "Wilkie,
Chief Clerk
Agricultural and Emigration Statistics Office,
Vltli December, 1861.
