placenamesBealadangan
Béal an Daingin
Béal an Daingin’s history follows the movement of boats through a narrow passage, the construction of road links to the islands and the career of Diarmuid Mac an Adhastair.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Béal an Daingin · Irish · main form · validated name
- Bealadangan · English · main form
Place & story
Opening the passage to working boats
A 2012 study by John Bhaba Jeaic Ó Confhaola records work begun in 1833 to blast obstructing rocks from the passage at Béal an Daingin. The intended improvement served fishing boats and vessels carrying turf to Aran and County Clare, offering an alternative to the difficult and dangerous route around Ceann Gólaim. [2]
The causeway to Annaghvaan
The architectural inventory dates the curving causeway and bridge at Bealadangan to about 1895. Drystone construction carries the road towards Annaghvaan, with a two-span concrete bridge and an additional opening assisting tidal drainage. Rubble parapets, iron railings and conical sea marks form part of the recorded structure. The inventory identifies its wider purpose as improving communications and trade for Annaghvaan, Lettermore and Gorumna, linking island communities to the mainland. [3]
Diarmuid Mac an Adhastair and Tí Derby
The actor Diarmuid Mac an Adhastair came from Béal an Daingin and owned the local public house Tí Derby. He became widely known as Séamus Mhicil Tom in the Irish-language television drama Ros na Rún, following an earlier stage career. RTÉ's report of his funeral in July 2015 also remembered him as a skilled woodworker. His association with the village combined a working business, craftsmanship and a career in Irish-language performance. [4]
Geographic information
- Place type
- Population centre
- County
- Galway
- Barony
- Moycullen
- Civil parish
- Killannin
- Within
- Bealadangan
- Coordinates
- 53.31826, -9.62081 (approximate)
- Logainm ID
- 1413454 ↗
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Bealadangan. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Tuairisc Iascaireachta Bhéal an Daingin,PL2012A03 · John Bhaba Jeaic Ó Confhaola,Pléaráca;University of Galway archive
- Droichead an Daingin,registration30407804 · National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
- Sochraid curtha ar Dhiarmuid Mac an Adhastair,14July2015 · RTÉ Nuacht
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2021-03-11. How this page was prepared.