Information about Omey

Information from O'Donovan's Field Name Books

Standard Name:
Omey
Irish Form of Name:
Iomaith
Translation:
a bed
Civil Parish:
Omey
View all place names in this civil parish.
Other Forms of the Name with authority source (if provided) in italics:
Omey
Iomaith
Omey Island B. S.
Omey Island County Map
Omey Island John D’Arcy, Esq.
Omey Island Rev. P. Fitzmaurice, P.P.
Omey Island Walter Bodkin of Omey
Comment:
Iomadh, competition – 4 Masters I maith, the good island
Description:
Thomas Martin, Esq. and John D’Arcy, Esq.
Situation:
In the Atlantic Ocean, about ¼ of a mile W. of the centre of the W. boundary of the parish, a mile and quarter N. of Eeshul Island and 1 do. N. and W. from Innishturk.
Information from the Ordnance Survey Letters:
The Ordnance Survey Letters are letters between John O'Donovan and his supervisor, Thomas Larcom, regarding the work of compiling the Field Books. These letters provide further discussion on many of the places listed in the Field Books.
References to this place can be found in the following letter.
  • Volume 3 page 75

Information From Joyce's Place Names

Translation according to P. W. Joyce:
Omey Island in Galway; called in the Records Iomhaidh Feichin, which is believed to mean Feichin's bed or seat. For St. Fechin is patron, and lived on the island, where a church was built over his bed. See Emy [reproduced below].
Emy, the first and proper name of Emy Vale in Monaghan. The Irish Iomaidh [Eemy] means a bed or couch, and it was sometimes applied to a church erected in veneration over the little apartment, where, during life, a saint was accustomed to sleep. For example, there was a church at Clonmacnoise called Iomdhaigh-Chiarain, the bed of St. Ciaran or Kieran, the founder. See Omey.

Townland Information

What is a townland?:
A townland is one of the smallest land divisions in Ireland. They range in size from a few acres to thousands of acres. Many are Gaelic in origin, but some came into existence after the Norman invasion of 1169
Townland:
Omey is in Claddaghduff townland.
If you notice any inaccuracies with any of the above, please e-mail us.
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