A Whitebeam is a small deciduous tree. Its name in Latin is Sorbus Alia. It translates into Irish as Fionncholl – except when it is used in a streetname. Whitbeam Road is off Clashduv Road in Cork . I suspect that the translator of the streetname may not have had an interest in plants and horticulture. A space has been introduced to create a translation of ‘White Beam’. According to Logainm.ie, Whitebeam Road/Avenue exist also in Dublin and Athlone – and they all have introduced the gap in translation. “Bíoma” appears to relate to a beam for a ship or construction whereas a beam of light appears to be “léas” or “ga”. After mentally reconciling all of this theory, I came across Foclóir.ie which has “Bíoma bán” for “Whitebeam” – another hurdle to be crossed in attempts to improve one’s Irish. I wonder if this inclusion in Foclóir.ie prompted the translations of the streets or whether it was a legitimisation of them…….. | “bán adjective “1 noun piece of wood, metal etcbíoma masc4 c m usail fem2 c m uwooden beam bíoma adhmaid “bíoma, m. (gs. ~, pl. ~í). 1. Beam. ~ meá, bar of balance. ~ trasna, cross-beam. H-, I-, T-, bhíoma, H-, I-, T-, beam. Nau: An ghaoth ar a ~, the wind on her beam. ~ fir, huge, tall, man. 2. Bot: ~ bán, whitebeam.” |