is an
Gaelic (Irish) word meaning 'sanctuary, boundary'. Other spellings include '','' and . It denotes land belonging to Irish
early Christian monasteries and churches on which
right of sanctuary prevailed.
The word is common in many place names in Ireland.
Etymology
It is derived from
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
meaning 'goal, end point or boundary'. In ancient Rome,
Terminus
Terminus may refer to:
* Bus terminus, a bus station serving as an end destination
* Terminal train station or terminus, a railway station serving as an end destination
Geography
*Terminus, the unofficial original name of Atlanta, Georgia, United ...
was the name of the deity who presided over boundaries and landmarks. The placement of ''s'' in the Irish landscape suggests they were also associated with transit at boundaries across rivers and bays. Cattle and other moveable forms of wealth were often gathered in them, as mentions of raids on ''s'' attest.
''s'' were often marked by stone boundary markers. A famous example is
Cross Inneenboy at Roughan Hill near Kilfenora in county Clare.
Description
''s'' were usually on good land and were farmed by the ''
comharba'' or ''
airchinnech'' (lay administrator of ecclesiastical land) of the monastery and his (extended family). This was a position passed down in a family. Termonn land was exempt from secular taxation. The was expected to maintain a guesthouse (''
bruiden'') in exchange for his privileges. The land was often divided into strips called columns ().
For example, in an agreement drawn up in 1568 between members of the family of Dysert it is recorded that: "each freeholder of the sept or lineage of the O'Deas living on the eighteen columns of the said Termon of Dishert must come and build their own houses and keep their respective residences" etc.
Examples
*
Termon
Termon () is a village in the north of County Donegal, Ireland.
Geography
Termon is located eight miles from Letterkenny, Donegal's main town and seven miles from Creeslough. Termon is made up of many townlands including Currin, Doon, Drumlau ...
, the sanctuary, County Donegal
*
Tarmonbarry, the sanctuary of
(Saint) Berach, County Roscommon
*
Termonfeckin
Termonfeckin or Termonfechin () is a small village and townland in County Louth, Ireland. It is within the parish of the same name, and lies north-east of Drogheda. The population of the village tripled in the 20 years between the 1996 and 201 ...
, the sanctuary of
(Saint) Feichín
* Termmonmaguirk, the sanctuary of the McGurks,
Carrickmore
Carrickmore () is a village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated in the historic barony of Omagh East, the civil parish of Termonmaguirk and the Roman Catholic Parish of Termonmaguirc between Cookstown, Dungannon and Omagh. ...
, County Tyrone
* Ardtermon, the high sanctuary, originally in the
túath
''Túath'' (plural ''túatha'') is the Old Irish term for the basic political and jurisdictional unit of Gaelic Ireland. ''Túath'' can refer to both a geographical territory as well the people who lived in that territory.
Social structure
In ...
of
Cairbre Drom Cliabh
Cairbre Drom Cliabh (meaning "Ui Cairbre (the descendants of Cairbre) of Drumcliff"), was an Irish ''túath'' in the ancient confederation of Íochtar Connacht (Lower Connacht), now County Sligo in the west of Ireland. It is now represented by t ...
, now in
County Sligo
County Sligo ( , gle, Contae Shligigh) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the Border Region and is part of the province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the an ...
*
Tarmon, County Clare
* Abbey of Tarmon, Drumkeeran, County Leitrim
References
{{Authority control
Irish words and phrases