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MIXED MESSAGES.

Using signs, advertisements and messages as the inspiration for observation and comment - enlightened and otherwise

BLOG

Goodhand

7/9/2016

5 Comments

 
Picture
The annual Irish Times list of most common children’s names tends not to change much – but below the top twenty, I suspect that there are a few names plummeting or even disappearing.

I do not think I know of someone called Gobnait, Concepta, or Attracta (shortened to Tracta) who is under the age of fifty.

I have a recollection of there being very many by the names of Mary, Finbarr, Noreen and Margaret when growing up – but I do not think that I have heard anyone in school with or playing with our ten year old by any of those names. Even extending the search to friends of neighbours, nephews and nieces does not hit a match with those names.

Even Patrick and Michael are 16th and 8th on the Irish Times list. They are definitely not as often encountered as they were when I was younger. Out of 120 pupils in my year, we could probably have had a full team made up of just Mike, Micheal, Padraig and all derivatives of Michael and Patrick – all children of the mid-sixties.

Recently
visiting St . Mary’s Cemetery at Fanlobbus in Dunmanway, I spotted this headstone to Goodhand Clarke. My first thought was that it was a name more likely to be heard on The Little House on the Prairie or in a film about the Amish community – not one in West Cork.

I do like the name – both the sound and the message.

I am not sure our society is creating very many Goodhand’s.


5 Comments
Finola Finlay
10/9/2016 15:59:24

Was there recently too - a new discovery. Lovely place!

Reply
Mixed Messages link
11/9/2016 21:01:28

On my visit, church was closed but well maintained graveyard did provide a few minutes chill-out.

Reply
Tom Higgins
6/12/2016 16:01:48

The Clarkes of Dunmanway are numbered among my maternal ancestors. They came to the Dunmanway area from England about 300 years ago.Goodhand was a common forename among several generations and can be found at least as far back as Goodhand Clarke of Inch townland (1764-1837). It is possible that the name was associated with his marksmanship ability locally. He was a farmer who also spent some time in the British navy.The name was also taken by Clarke emigrants from Dunmanway to the New World.

Reply
Mixed Messages link
6/12/2016 18:34:56

Tom,

Very many thanks for dropping by and those nuggets of information.

I had not considered the option of a good shot. It adds even more intrigue to the name.

Thanks again

T

Reply
Jan Butchart
11/2/2019 18:25:15

I’m also a descendant of the Clarke’s of Cork. Another version of the origin of Goodhand has to do with his naval career. It’s said he went overboard in a storm but grabbed ahold of something and saved himself—-thus good hand. When the Kingstons married Clarkes they began naming their sons Goodhand also.

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