For the first townland of 2023 I went to Duneight.

Green Road took me through some green countryside, to a green hill that gives the townland its name.

According to the website of the Northern Ireland Place-Name Project, the name Duneight comes from the Irish Dún Eachdach meaning ‘Eochaidh’s fort’. The fortress is gone – burned a thousand years ago – but the mound survives. I’m impressed, even as someone who went to school beside Dundonald Moat in the townland of Church Quarter. Below the mound is the Ravernet river, a tributary of the Lagan forming the southern boundary of this townland.

In this part of the world, where there’s a river, there is usually a linen mill.

The mill buildings survive, but they have been converted into accommodation. I wonder if they are connected to the electricity grid or if everything still runs on a water wheel?

Local friends tell me the townland is pronounced ‘Dun-ate’ with the stress on ‘ate’. Not ‘done it’ like I suggested. And sometimes it is spelled ‘Deneight’, as on this old gravestone for the Dawson family.

I hope to explore more townlands in the Lagan Valley this year.

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MORE INFORMATION

Here is a link to the government department information on visiting the Duneight Motte.

Which county is Duneight in? County Down

Which civil parish is Duneight in?  Blaris

Which townlands border Duneight?  Largymore, Lisnastrean, Legacurry, Cabragh, Ballyhomra, Lisnoe, Taghnabrick

And finally, click here to see a map of Duneight and to read about the townland’s name on my usual source – PLACENAMESNI.ORG.