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Why is the town of Buttevant called Buttevant?

In this episode, we uncover the story behind one of Ireland's most unusual place names—tracing its origins from the Irish Cill na Mullach ("the church of the hilltops") to the Norman French Boutez en avant ("push forward").

But this isn't just a story about a name.

It's a story about how language, power, and place intersect—and how Ireland fits into a wider global pattern of colonisation.

Drawing on the work of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and the writings of Edmund Spenser, we explore how language can be used not just to describe the world—but to reshape it.

• The meaning of An Abhainn Bheag (the Awbeg River)
• The original Irish name: Cill na Mullach
• The Norman origins of Buttevant (Boutez en avant)
• The role of the Barry family in shaping the town
• The survival of the motto at Fota Island Resort
• Edmund Spenser's connection to north Cork and his writings
• A breakdown of his poem Colin Clouts Come Home Againe
• How A View of the Present State of Ireland outlines a strategy of cultural colonisation
• How Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's ideas help us understand what's happening in Ireland

• The Bata Scóir and Its International Reach
• https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/an-bata-sc%C3%B3ir-and-its-international-reach/id1813637585?i=1000710662443
• How One Town with Four Names Maps Different Irelands
• https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-one-town-with-four-names-maps-different-irelands/id1813637585?i=1000757733061

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If you found this episode interesting, share it with someone who loves Irish history, language, or place names—it really helps the podcast grow.