Talk:Lough Swilly

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BetacommandBot 22:37, 6 November 2007 (UTC)

"Known" fjords?

Now, I understand that Lough Swilly is one of three fjords in Ireland, but do we really need the "known" part? It is my understanding that Ireland has been thoroughly explored by now and it is, thus, unlikely that any further fjords are to be discovered.--172.190.6.89 (talk) 01:41, 25 October 2012 (UTC)

Etymology

Isn't "Loch Súilí" simply 'loch of the river Swilly (An tSúileach)'? Then the etymology of the river would need to be checked. 46.186.34.99 (talk) 23:05, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

I agree entirely and the etymology offered for the River is far more likely. I see this comment has lain here for over 9 years. So I will give it a very short time when, failing any further comment, I will change this one which is manifestly silly. Gary Quinn (the source cited) clearly has little expertise in the matter (it is in any case a throwaway remark). Freuchie (talk) 15:52, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

Hi. While I would also question the derivation (and the use of that "throwaway remark" in a travelogue as the sole source), I would note that Mills (2011) pg 446 has an entry which reads: "Swilly (Súileach) ( river ) Donegal. Suileach 1258. 'Seeing one'. The name probably has supernatural connotations". I would also, in all honesty, have some reservations of relying entirely on this as a singular source. But I wonder if, based on the availability of potentially differing sources, a short note (perhaps a footnote) acknowledging the existence of these sources, is worthwhile. (Also note, that the Logainm entry for the River Swilly (specifically one of the archival records) gives that the river may be named for the lough. Rather than the other way around. 1654: "the river of Logh [Swilly]". While this @placenamesni post says the opposite. That "Lough Swilly takes its name from the Swilly River in Donegal. It has its origins in the Irish name An tSúileach 'the one with eyes'". Given these potentially conflicting sources I think a note/footnote is probably appropriate. My two cents FWIW.) Guliolopez (talk) 17:33, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

See also "A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology" (Oxford Press) entry: "Suileach [..] Multi-eyed, eponymous sea-monster of Lough Swilly (Co. Donegal) thought to have been dispatched by St Colum Cille (521–95)". Or Donegal County Council leaflet: "The River Swilly [..] takes its name from Suileach (sharp sighted), a man eating water monster known for its many eyes and immense size". Guliolopez (talk) 17:44, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

Also: The origin and history of Irish names of places (1900) Patrick Weston Joyce (p.440): "In some parts of the country it [súil] is applied to a whirlpool in a river ; and in this sense it has given name to the river Swilly in Donegal, which is called in the Annals, suileach, i. e. abounding in eyes or whirlpools. The river gave name to Lough Swilly.". Guliolopez (talk) 17:58, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

Given that no thoughts/input (on the sources and their content) has been forthcoming, I've gone ahead and created a "Name" section. Based on the sources/etc above. As noted, and given some inconsistencies in the sources, I have not indicated whether the name of the lough or the river influenced the other. Just that they have the "same derivation". Guliolopez (talk) 17:37, 22 December 2023 (UTC)