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Mistakes of
Stanihurst.
206 THE SCANDINAVIANS, AND
KXDIX. whether the derivation very generally given of the ancient
name of Dublin might not be erroneous.
Almost without exception every published history of
fore the name. Dublin asserts that the Irish name "
Bally-Ath-Cliath, or
Camden.
Speed.
Ware.
the town on the ford of hurdles," originated in pecularities
of the site on which the city was found, and that it had no
reference to a ford or passage across the Liffey.
Stanihurst, writing in 1570, says that "the Irish called
Dublin '
Bally-Ath-Cliath,' that is a town planted upon
hurdels, for the common opinion is that the plot upon which
the city is builded hath been a marsh ground, and that
by the art or invention of the first founder, the water
could not be voided and he was forced to fasten the
them to build the
quakemire with hurdels and upon
Citie," and adds " I heard ot some that came of building of
houses to this foundation." 1
Nearly the same derivation is given by Camden ; who
states that " the Irish call it the town on the Ford of
Hurdles, for so they think the foundation lies, the ground
being soft and quaggy like Sevile in Spain, that is said by
Isidore to be so called because it stood upon piles fastened
in the ground which WPS loose and fenny." 2
Speed says that the Irish name was " the Ford of
Hurdles " for it is reported that the place being fennish
and moorish when it first began to be builded the foundation
was laid upon hurdles." 3
That great authority on Irish History, Sir James Ware,
says it was called " the town on the ford of hurdles because
being on a marshy or boggy soil the town was first raised
on hurdles." 4
1
Stanihurst, Ibid, p. 21.
2 '
Camden, Britannia,' vol. ii.,
p. 1366, London, 1733.
8 Theatre of the Empire of
Great Britain, by John Speed,
London, folio, 1676, b. iv., chap. 3,
p. 141.
4
Disquisitions upon Ireland and
its antiquities, by Sir James Ware.
'Of places of Ancient Ireland
mentioned by Ptolemy, chap, x."
"Second edition, London, 1658.
Reprinted among a collection of
tracts illustrative of Ireland prior
to the present century," by
Alexander Thorn, 2 vols., 8vo,
Dublin, 1860, p. 193.