Townland Signs
A team has been set up under the direction of Eleanor de Eyto to locate and refurbish the townland signs around Newport, and to replace those that have gone missing over the years.
These signs - 81 in all - were made in 1986 by Foróige members as a tourism project, using rejected teak door panels. This wonderful restoration initiative will keep the townland names in everyday use - if you know the location of any of the original signs, please get in touch and we will pass the information on to the project team.
Eleanor writes
"Since the publication of my article entitled 'Missing Townland Signs – Operation Recovery' published in Vol. 01 December 2013 of the Burrishoole Parish Magazine, six months have passed and I am able to report significant progress. To date 18 of the 81 signs have been found and several of those have already been restored and re-erected. Below is a list of those traced.
We are very grateful to everybody who has helped with the project so far and thank them for their continuing volunteering. We hope that more of the old signs will be located and reiterate that they be photographed in their present location and in their current condition BEFORE being removed for restoration. I am making a photographic inventory of these signs for the records. Wonderful stories are being recorded at the same time.
The Men’s Shed in Newport is doing great work in making new signs to replace those that are missing and to date have made roughly 13 signs which will be erected in due course. Sister Immaculata is totally amazed and delighted to see this project getting an update. We are all understanding and appreciating more and more our native language and anybody interested is encouraged to log onto www.logainm.ie to research placenames - what a wonderful resource !"
Map Ref | Townland | Irish Name | Translation | Status |
1 | Carrowkeel | An Cheathrú Chaol | Narrow Quarter | On the wall adjacent Burrishoole 7 arch bridge, in good condition |
2 | Treenbeg | Trianbeag | Little third | Currently being restored |
3 | Rosclave | Ros Cléibh | Point of land of the basket | Safely up on pole |
4 | Shanvalleyhugh | Sheanbhaile Aodha | Hugh's Oldtown | Restored very recently |
5 | Derrygarve | Doire Garbh | Rough oak wood | Restored and re-erected |
6 | Callowbrack | An Caladh Breac | Dappled harbour | Restored and re-erected |
7 | Acres | Acraí Féaranna na h-Eaglaise | Churchlands | Restored and re-erected |
8 | Kiltarnagh | Cill Tarnacht | Tarnacht's church | Recently restored |
9 | Knocknatinnyweel | Cnoc na Tine Aoil | Little (lime) kiln hill | In great condition up an E.S.B. pole! |
10 | Carheenbreac | Coirthín Breac | Speckled rocky land | Saved from the road widening - in good condition |
11 | Derrada | Doire Fhada | Long derry or oak grove | Well restored |
12 | Derryhillagh | Doire Shaileach | wood of the sallows (willows) | Restored and re-erected |
13 | Inishower | Inis Odhar | Grey island and Nixon's island | Found – to be restored |
14 | Roslynagh Island | Ros Laighneach | Wooded promontory of the Leinstermen | There but in poor condition. To be restored |
15 | Milcum | Ros na mBráthar | Point of the Friars | Being restored. Great original condition |
16 | Teevemore | An Taobh Mór | Great (hill)side | Being restored. Great condition |
17 | Tawnawoggaun | Tamhnaigh an Bhogáin | Field of the bog | Restored |
18 | Carrow More | An Cheathrú Mhór | Great quarter | Restored. In great condition |
19 | Drumbrasle | Droim Breastail Thoir | Oakwood | Being restored |

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