welcome

Alloway [AYR] the birth-place of the bard has a tenous
link with the Coel Hen dynasty (see Kyle Page). Kirk-
Alloway is reputed to be dedicated to St. Mungo or
Kentigern, and indeed St. Mungo is said to be the patron
saint of Alloway [1]. Mungo was the son of Owen ap
Urien (and therefore grandson of Urien of Rheged, Coel
Hen's illustrious descendant) and St.Enoch (better
known as the patron saint of Glasgow). Mungo's Well
in Rabbie's epic 'Tam O' Shanter' is now known as St.
Mungo's Well. The juxtaposition of the pagan (thorn)
and Christian (well) elements, is worthy of note, and is
often found in place-names analysis. A fine example is
Gowkthorn Well [NEW CUMNOCK] which combines
the Scots gowk ' cuckoo', thorn and , well. The cuckoo
too was important in Celtic mythology and often
associated with the thorn, and in some parts of Scotland
the haws (the berries of the thorn) are known as
cuckoo beads. Of course, Rabbie was well acquainted
with Trysting Thorns throughout the county, many of
which now carry personal names, - the 18th century
equivalent of the back row of the Odeon !

As for the name Alloway, Auleway 1324, Alwa K.
1654), W.J Watson considers it to be equivalent in origin
to the modern day Clackmannan shire towns of Alloa,
Alva and from G. allmaigh 'rocky-plain' [2].