The origin of Lough Derg's name

The origin of Lough Derg's name

Lough Derg--Folklore--Etymology--Place Name

"There are two different opinions to account for the meaning of the denomination, Lough Derg..."

Daniel O'Connor, 1843-1919

Daniel O’Connor, Lough Derg and Its Pilgrimages: With Map and Illustrations, pp. 21-3

J. Dollard, Dublin

1879

Digitised by archive.org, sponsored by Harvard University

Public domain

Monograph

English

Pilgrim handbook

Text

DD_0035

54.616218, -7.876212

http://archive.org/details/loughdergandits00ocogoog

"There are two different opinions to account for the meaning of the denomination, Lough Derg. The first is founded on a legend, which goes on to say that a frightful serpent inhabited this locality, and spread terror and destruction far and wide ; that St. Patrick, being come into the district, put the serpent to death ; that the waters of the lake were dyed of a reddish colour by its blood ; and thus the name of the lake, which was hitherto called fionn, fair or clear, came to be called dearg, which signifies red. This legend, though in substance the same, is differently told by O'Donnellan, in the notes to his edition of the Four Masters; by Dr. O'Donovan, in his Donegal Letters preserved in the Royal Irish Academy ; and by Mr. Wakeman, in a short notice and sketch of Lough Derg, published in the Pictorial World, August 28th, 1875.

This derivation of the name is not admitted by O'Donovan, who pronounces himself quite incredulous as to these legends and local traditions. He says : ‘I am quite satisfied the name of the lake is not Loch-Dearg i.e. Red Lough, but Loch-Deirc which means the Lough of the Cave.’ This opinion is greatly sustained from the way in which it is found written in early notices of it. It is called Loch Gere and Logh Gerg, and the district in which it lay was called Glinn Deirg. This construction, also, is that adopted by the Rev. John Francis Shearman of Howth, in his Loca Fatriciana.

That the waters of Lough Derg bear a reddish tinge to this very day is beyond all doubt, which, if it be not attributable to the legend aforesaid, is easily accounted for by reason of its waters flowing over a boggy or heathy surface. When agitated by a storm the water of the lake becomes very muddy ; but when the lake becomes calm again, the water is clear, and very palatable. The colour of the water, as also its agreeable taste when taken in a warm state, gave rise to its receiving by a very appropriate fiction, the name of ‘wine.’ Formerly this ‘wine’ was the only beverage taken by the pilgrims while they remained 'on station.’ Till recently the large copper, in which this ‘wine’ was boiled, lay rusting in a comer of the island, the modern innovation of boarding-houses and tea-kettles having discarded its occupation. Being such a useful relic to the past, it has been dignified with being marked on the Ordnance Survey Map of the place ; and hence, though there is now no trace of it to be seen, its memory is not destined soon to perish."

Monograph