Crosses

Pictured here is Coolroe Cross where the word ‘Cross’ is a common term in rural Ireland for any meeting of roads. Coolroe Cross is a ‘three way’ cross i.e. a T Junction. But it’s a very flexible term, you’ll find many ‘four way’ crosses but also ‘five way’ crosses or even ‘six way’ crosses. A ‘four way’ cross is a conventional crossroad.

To avoid confusion among the uninitiated, we’ve generally used the long form ‘crossroad’ on our maps. So as people are not searching about for some sort of stone or iron monument. This does however take up extra text space on a map and is not reflective of local use. So on our next edition of the Blackstairs & Mount Leinster map, these are being brought back to the short form. We will have Coolroe Cross rather than Coolroe Crossroad and so on.

Two further points are of interest: firstly many crosses will be named after some local family e.g. Whelans Cross. Sometimes this will change when that family dies out or moves away but as often as not, the name persists and sticks even though no Whelan may have lived nearby in many decades. Secondly if there is a turn off a road up a cul de sac, this will often be called a ‘turn’ So if the Whelan family lived up this lane, it’ll be as likely called Whelans Turn.

#eastwestmapping #irishhistory #blackstairs