is an

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

(Irish) word meaning 'sanctuary, boundary'. Other spellings include '','' and . It denotes land belonging to Irish

early Christian Early Christianity (up to the First Council of Nicaea in 325) spread from the Levant, across the Roman Empire, and beyond. Originally, this progression was closely connected to already established Jewish centers in the Holy Land and the Jewish d ...

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 The Inneenboy cross (Irish: ''Cros Iníne Baoith'' or "cross of the daughter of Baoth") or the Roughan Hill Tau Cross is a stone tau cross located in County Clare, Ireland. It is a National Monument. Location The cross formerly stood on a large ...

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 Gaelic Ireland, a ''bruiden'' was a building offering shelter, drink and food, often translated as " hostel", "banqueting hall" or "inn." A description in The Tale of Mac Da Thó's Pig (c. AD 800) describes one ''bruiden'': "There were seven ...

'') 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, Drumlaur ...

, the sanctuary, County Donegal *

Tarmonbarry Tarmonbarry, officially Termonbarry (), is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located where the N5 National primary route crosses the River Shannon. East of the bridge, part of the village lies in County Longford. As of the 2016 c ...

, the sanctuary of (Saint) Berach, County Roscommon *

Termonfeckin Termonfeckin or Termonfechin () is a small village and townland in County Louth, Republic of Ireland, 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 betw ...

, 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 ...

Cairbre Drom Cliabh Cairbre Drom Cliabh (meaning "Ui Cairbre (the descendants of Cairbre mac Néill, 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 no ...

, 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 of Connacht. Sligo is the administrative capital and largest town in the county. Sligo County Council is the local ...

Tarmon Tarmon () is an electoral division south of Tarbert in County Kerry, Ireland. It is in the municipal district of Listowel, barony of Iraghticonnor and civil parish of Kilnaughtin, and the former rural district of Listowel and dispensary dist ...

, County Clare * Abbey of Tarmon, Drumkeeran, County Leitrim

References

{{Authority control Irish words and phrases