Islands of Ireland: Crying wolf on Lough Gill

Wolf Island, Lough Gill, Co Sligo, would have been a perfect lair for wolves as it was untouched by humans. There would have been sufficient protection for a pack to rear its young. There would have been ample food supply in the availability of everything from nuts and berries to rabbits, deer, fish and carrion.
Picture: Dan MacCarthy

This column has identified many islands named after animals: rabbit, cow, fox, gull, to name a few. Never a wolf. In his seminal study on wolves in Ireland, UCC geography lecturer Kieran Hickey identified Wolf Islands in counties Armagh, Derry, Down and Sligo.

In ‘Wolves in Ireland’ he writes that there are a considerable number of Irish placenames with lupine etymology. The vast majority are embedded in placenames: the townland of Isknamacteera (mac tire) in Co Kerry; and Feltrim Hill (faolchu), Co Dublin. There are also numerous place names containing breagh (wolf field) and its variations, such as Breagh in Drumcree, Co Armagh. The naming of the above four probably trace their Anglo names to the post-Plantation period.