Dr Frances Kane
@drfranceskane.bsky.social
Linguist interested in Syntax, Multilingualism, Onomastics and Digital Humanities. Gaeilgeoir and occasional triathlete. QCAP Research Fellow.
Loved every word of @drfranceskane.bsky.social talk at Lisburn Museum! I'm a fan! 'What's in a name? Exploring the stories behind our local place-names.' Fact I learnt: Lambeg from Lann Bheag 'little church'. A mistake was made - the 'nn' was joined together to make an 'm' when it was anglicised!
We are now recruiting participants for Mapping the Mournes, a series of workshops taking place from summer to winter celebrating the past and future of Irish, Ulster Scots and the languages of the mountains, with Kitabna and local artists. Please share within your networks! lnkd.in/edTwdd_t
I’m looking forward to giving a heritage talk on The Stories Behind Place Names at Home Church in Donegall Pass on Wednesday 5 August, from 7.00–8.30pm. Thanks to Donegall Pass Community Enterprises for the invitation! Contact them on info@dpce.org.uk to reserve a spot!
When the unsolicited snail mail hits you in the feels 🥺
We are looking for someone to help with recruitment for a small PEACEPLUS project we are running this summer in the Mournes. Please share! www.kitabna.org/jobs.html
Jobs
kitabna.org
Finally got my hands on this years must-read! And a sneaky impulse buy on the way to the till at No Alibis 🫢just need to book a holiday now….
Professor Dominic Bryan believes those involved in disorder feel ‘empowered’ by their actions
Migrants as well as nationalists now targets for working class loyalists, says academic
Professor Dominic Bryan believes those involved in disorder feel ‘empowered’ by their actions
ereader.irishnews.com
The secret history of Medieval Ireland's laws for bees. www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
The secret history of Medieval Ireland's laws for bees
Bechbretha or bee-judgments were the part of Brehon law which set out the rights and responsibilities associated with beekeeping
rte.ie
There’s been a lot said recently about place-names, but this piece focuses on what first drew many of us to the work: the research, the stories, and understanding the landscapes around us. Huge thanks to @dmarshall.bsky.social at the View for taking the time to explore the subject properly.
Bluesky
todmarshall.bsky.social
Darran Marshall@dmarshall.bsky.social · 3mo agoBally… comes from the irish word ‘baile’ meaning farm, home, settlement Knock… comes from an irish word for hill Drum... has its origins in an Irish word for ‘back’ Dr Frances Kane explains the influence the Irish language has on our many of our place names today.
Bally… comes from the irish word ‘baile’ meaning farm, home, settlement Knock… comes from an irish word for hill Drum... has its origins in an Irish word for ‘back’ Dr Frances Kane explains the influence the Irish language has on our many of our place names today.
Dr Frances Kane explains the influence of Scottish & English language on place names in Northern Ireland. 🏴 Some word to look out for include; burn (the word for a river), brae (hill), and kirk (church) Watch more on BBC The View on BBC iPlayer www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
"Open Learning at Queen’s today offers a precious opportunity for both students and tutors to (re)discover the timeless, profoundly human pleasure of learning."—Prof Katy Hayward and Dr Cathal McManus , Queen's University Belfast. ▶️175 years of Open Learning at Queen's: https://go.qub.ac.uk/OLat175
Some spots left on our Open Learning Course 'Opening up the Map' qubuk.estore.flywire.com/products/OLE...
QUBstaff@qubstaff.bsky.social · 3mo ago"There remain few better ways to find relief of mind than by opening it." Our latest Staff Blog, by Prof @katyhayward.bsky.social and Dr @cathalpmc.bsky.social, on 175 years of Open Learning at @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social. 👉 Read the blog: go.qub.ac.uk/OLat175 #LoveQUBstaff #lifelonglearning
"There remain few better ways to find relief of mind than by opening it." Our latest Staff Blog, by Prof @katyhayward.bsky.social and Dr @cathalpmc.bsky.social, on 175 years of Open Learning at @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social. 👉 Read the blog: go.qub.ac.uk/OLat175 #LoveQUBstaff #lifelonglearning
BLOG: 175 years of Open Learning at Queen's
2026 marks the 175th anniversary of Queen’s provision of extramural courses, i.e., provision ‘outside the walls’ of the University.
go.qub.ac.uk
Cutting through some of the noise today with a little reminder of how we do what we do at The Northern Ireland Place-Name Project franceskane.wordpress.com/2026/04/14/w...
When Not to Translate: Irish Street Names and the Limits of Meaning
Irish-language street names are becoming an increasingly visible part of our everyday landscape, appearing across new developments and established neighbourhoods alike. With that visibility comes i…
franceskane.wordpress.com
After (almost) 10 wonderful years with NIPNP, I’ll be stepping away as our funding comes to an end and moving on to an exciting new role elsewhere in QUB. It’s been quite the ride! Obviously I'll be continuing my work on place-names in new places and new spaces. More details coming soon!
The Northern Ireland Place-Name Project@placenamesni.bsky.social · 3mo agoNIPNP has now reached the end of its current funding period. As a result, the team is in the process of winding down activities. We regret that we are no longer in a position to respond to requests for information or translations. We appreciate your understanding as we conclude this phase of work.
Read more here: Beltany: A Name Lit by Fire franceskane.wordpress.com/2026/05/01/b...
Beltany: A Name Lit by Fire
There are a number of townlands across Ireland called Beltany, from the Irish Bealtaine, meaning May or May Day, the point in the year that marked the beginning of summer and one of the key seasona…
franceskane.wordpress.com
Dr Frances Kane@drfranceskane.bsky.social · 3mo agoThere are a number of townlands named Beltany, from Bealtaine (May) marking the beginning of summer. In early Ireland the year was divided into 2 halves, a distinction captured in the tale of Cú Chulainn’s wooing of Emer, where it is said that summer ran from Bealtaine to Samhain.
Beltany: A Name Lit by Fire franceskane.wordpress.com/2026/05/01/b...
Beltany: A Name Lit by Fire
There are a number of townlands across Ireland called Beltany, from the Irish Bealtaine, meaning May or May Day, the point in the year that marked the beginning of summer and one of the key seasona…
franceskane.wordpress.com
Roger Casement is remembered as a revolutionary & humanitarian, but new research reveals a surprising side to him- a lifelong passion for zoology. He even has a hawkmoth named after him (Gnathothlibus casementi). Dr Aidan O’Hanlon’s new @rtebrainstorm.bsky.social piece www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
There are a number of townlands named Beltany, from Bealtaine (May) marking the beginning of summer. In early Ireland the year was divided into 2 halves, a distinction captured in the tale of Cú Chulainn’s wooing of Emer, where it is said that summer ran from Bealtaine to Samhain.
a cat is peeking out of a window with flowers in the background
ALT: a cat is peeking out of a window with flowers in the background
media.tenor.com
NIPNP has now reached the end of its current funding period. As a result, the team is in the process of winding down activities. We regret that we are no longer in a position to respond to requests for information or translations. We appreciate your understanding as we conclude this phase of work.
Just a month to go to our CPD event ‘Opening up the map’. Spaces are limited so get in touch quickly to secure a spot!
Today's name story is 'Tūn: From rustic fence to urban sprawl'. It is written by Nigel Suffield-Jones and Diana Whaley. For more information, see www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...
Tūn: From rustic fence to urban sprawl - SNSBI
This story explores the ways in which Old English tūn was used in place-names and traces how tūn developed from a word meaning 'enclosure' or 'fence' to become the most commonly used element in Englis...
snsbi.org.uk
