As a footnote to a recent discussion about St Darerca, the ridge post and
sacred trees, I have just noticed the following in Watson's 'History of the
Celtic Placenames of Scotland'
>The earliest trace of the Celtic Church in this region is found in the
legend of Darerca or Moninne or Sárbile, whose death is recorded in 517 or
519 (AU). This lady is styled 'of Cell Sléibhe Cuilinn' in Co. Armagh, and
according to some accounts she came to Britain, accompanied by her maidens,
and founded seven churches, including one on Dunpelder, now Traprain Law, in
Haddingtonshire, and another on Dunedene, now the Rock of Edinburgh. The only
trace left of her mission, or rather of the tradition of it, is the name
Castra Puellarum, Castellum Puellarum, 'the Maidens' Castle,' applied at one
time to Edinburgh Castle.<
It is the hypocoristic 'Sárbile' which is intriguing here. It would appear to
mean quite simply 'Excellent (Sacred-)Tree'.
Henry Gough-Cooper.
visit the Scottish Place-Name Society website at
http://www.st-and.ac.uk/institutes/sassi/spns/index.htm
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