Slievenabawnoge

Could a mountain be named after baskets? Here at Slievenabawnoge, that’s the peculiar tale we unravel. Slievenabawnoge, nestled in the Dublin Mountains, boasts a name shrouded in mystery and misinterpretation. Its Irish name, Sliabh na mbánóg, translates to “mountain of the panniers or baskets.” This curious name has sparked debate and confusion throughout history. Old maps, like Rocque’s map from 1760, labeled it “Sleh ne Bordoge,” while Duncan’s 1821 map called it “Slieve na Murdoge.” The Ordnance Survey, in 1837, gathered the name “Sliebh-na-burdogh” from locals. Later that year, variations like “Sliabh na Bardoge” and “Slieve na Bardóg” emerged from a local Irish speaker. One theory suggests a link to the herb “burdock,” influenced by the English language. However, “bardóg,” a form of “pardóg,” typically means “pannier” or “basket,” similar to the Donegal placename Loch na bPardóg. It remains unclear if Slievenabawnoge refers to a separate hill or if it’s a distorted version of “Slievenabardoge.” This linguistic puzzle adds to the intrigue of Slievenabawnoge, a place where the landscape and language intertwine to create a captivating enigma. As you stand here, gazing at its slopes, ponder the mystery of the mountain’s name. Did ancient travelers leave their baskets here? Or does the name hold a different, yet undiscovered meaning? Slievenabawnoge invites you to embrace its ambiguity and explore the stories etched into its very name.