M is for Maggieknockater

We've reached the halfway point of the A to Z blogging challenge and I wonder how many of us are needing to seek professional help, or just up the coffee and chocolate intake to get us through the second half.

Todays post is short but sweet. Maggieknockater is a small hamlet which is 40 miles away from us.

There are lots of other M's that I could have done but I just love this place name so much. The mind can conjure up all sorts of reasons for the name, most of them involving a woman called Maggie. Sorry to disappoint, but according to several sources, it's nothing to do with a woman, but derived from a gaelic word that means "plain of the hilly ridge".

There is a traditional Scottish dance called the Bees of Maggieknockater which recalls the fact that there used to be an apiary in the hamlet. Here's a video of the dance:

So, A to M done and dusted. The second half has all sorts of exciting things in store, including an island, alcohol, and the home of Hamish Macbeth. Before you go, why don't you pop over to the A to Z blog to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with - click HERE to visit.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and do you know the reason for any strange place names near you.

Pamela & Ken
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