Logainmneacha - Gleann Tornáin

Gleann Tornáin

Tormán ón uisce. Noise created by the sound of the waterfall.

Gleann ina raibh Naomh d'arbh ainm Tornán ina chonaí ann.

From the Duchas Schools collection, written by james McBride, teacher in Dunlewey school in 1935.

Many people believe that this town got its name from the saint Tornán who lived in Sraith na Cille in Upper Dunlewey.  I sometimes look for another explanation. In the stories of the Fiannaidheachta we are told that Fionn and the Fianna spent some time hunting on the mountains of Tirconaill.  The name may have come from Fionn.  It seems to me that this word is similar to Glentor Tóir nFinn.  This name would inform us that (1) that Fionn was popular in this Valley or (2) that it was Fionn who was doing the yielding.

Adjacent to this valley is an island located in the lake where Diarmuid and Gráinne spent time and as Diarmuid and Fionn were not friendly with each other during this time, there may be some uncertainty in the "popularity"

There is a small rock near the Gaoth Dobhair coast called Carrick Finn and it is said that this island was named after Rig na Féinne, because he slept there one night.  Answering his men that evening, Fionn said "I intend to sleep tonight, with my back to the sea and my face to the sea”.