Slievenagriddle

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Sliabh na Gridille 'mountain of the griddle'

The earliest recorded spellings of Slievenagriddle show no evidence of the letter -d- (e.g. Ballynegreyley als Slyvenegroley 1549, Ballingrely or Slivengrely 1603, Ballynegrille al. Slewnegrille 1662) which may suggest that the final element of the place-name is a form of griollach 'marsh, puddle'. However, the absence of -d- in these related sources seems to be a scribal error and the most satisfactory interpretation of Slievenagriddle appears to be Sliabh na Gridille 'mountain of the griddle' as suggested by spellings such as Slewnegridell which are recorded from c.1659 onwards and by the local informant John McGreevy in the Ordnance Survey Name Book. In the name of this townland the term 'griddle' is used figuratively to refer to a megalithic portal grave which stands on the summit of the townland, overlooking Lough Money (NISMR sh. 38).

References

Old Forms

Ballynegreyley al. Slyvenegroley - Ex. Inq. (Dn), Car. l (RJH),
(?)Mons Grelia - Lythe Map, ,
(?)Slew Nogrel - Mercator's Ulst., , 1595
Ballingrely or Slivengrely - CPR Jas I, 38b,
Ballynegrellye al Slevenagrellie - Kinge's Letter (OSNB), , 1612
Ballingreley al Slyvengrely - Lodge RR, Chas II ii 292, 1684
Ballinegrellie al Slevenegrellie - Lodge RR, Chas II ii 292, 1684
Slewnegridell West - Census 1659, 79, 1659c
Ballynegrille al Slewnegrille - Inq. Ult. (Down), §1 Jac. I,
Slevnegridle - Sub. Roll Down, 276, 1663
Slewnagriddle - Descr. D'patrick, , 1700c
Slewnagriddle - Sur. D'patrick, fol. 22, 1708
Slevengridle - Reg. Deeds (DF), vol. ?,
Slewnagirdle - Reg. Deeds (DF), vol. ?,
Slewnagridle - Reg. Deeds (DF), vol. ?,
(?)Slewnagredle - Map Ld de Clifford (OSNB), , 1710
Slewnagredle - Manr Downpatrick, , 1710
Slewnagridle - Southwell Estate Papers, , 1710
Slievenagridal - Wm. Map (OSNB), , 1810
Slievengriddle - Bnd. Sur. (OSNB), OSNB no., 1830c
Sliabh na greidle "Mountain of the Griddle" - OSNB Inf., , 1834c
Slievenagriddle - J O'D (OSNB), , 1834c
Sliabh na Gridille "mountain of the griddle" - HMC replies, KM/CL, 1999