Vinegar Hill

[supapapa]

What is the meaning of the many Vinegar Hills around the country?

[Mamyalynne]

At a guess they may reference the Battle...


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vinegar_Hill

[Jackdaw33]

it's a chain store name.

[Mamyalynne]

Ah I've misunderstood the question again haven't I?

[supapapa]

No Mamylynne you are on the right track

[Mamyalynne]

It's late, I'm easily muddled.

[Mamyalynne]

//Vinegar Hill

Vinegar Hill – view from Enniscorthy.
Vinegar Hill (Cnoc Fhiodh na gCaor in Irish which translates as hill of the berry-tree), a pudding-shaped hill overlooking the town, was the largest camp and headquarters of the rebels of 1798 who controlled County Wexford for thirty days against vastly superior forces.//


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enniscorthy#Vinegar_Hill

[Jackdaw33]

Nothing definite comes up on Google. pure speculation, but might the name have something to do with illicit distilling activities carried out in the hills?

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds like sour grapes to me.

[Mamyalynne]

Found a little more info on the actual reason it is said as it is 'Vinegar Hill'

//Phonetic pronunciation of Irish can result in some apparently odd names.

How for example did Vinegar Hill, famous for an important battle fought there in 1798, get its name?

Its Irish name is Cnoc Fiodh na gCaor, understandably something of a mouthful for a non native.

The first part, Cnoc, means hill, so that much is a translation. The second part, Fiodh na gCaor, would phonetically sound like fee-na-gare, so that’s where the Vinegar bit comes from. The Irish name actually translates as “Hill of the wood of the berries”, a much more palatable title!//


Nice little site here.

http://www.dochara.com/the-irish/place-names/irish-place-names/

[Lie-in King]

I like that, ta Mamya :-)

[Jackdaw33]

...but that does not explain why there are so many. Good research, though.

[Mamyalynne]

Most of them back reference the Battle Jackdaw wherever they are - there may be exceptions of course

I imagine there are many Waterloos etc and other historic battles that have lead on to be place names.

[Mamyalynne]

eg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar_Hill,_Brooklyn

[Jackdaw33]

True. I always remember in my RAF days of having to get a train to Waterlooville, Hants.

[Mamyalynne]

This one is not as cut and dried but look at the early settlers names.


http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/neighborhood-development-services/historic-preservation-and-design-review/historic-resources-committee/historic-markers/vinegar-hill