User:Fgaff/sandbox

The name Gaffney comes from an ancient Gaelic/Norse word that started of life as 'Gaffed Knee'. This term 'Gaffed Knee' has it's origin in the story of the great Norse/Gaelic warrior 'Gaffer the Invincible'. He was the first Gaffney. Legend has it he was the illegitimate son of a "meeting !!" between Queen Maeve of Connaught & legendary Viking descendant, Halgrad the Impregnator. He got the name 'Gaffed Knee' while in battle defending against an Anglosaxon raid from Great Britian on the tiny hamlet of Geevagh in county Sligo. The story goes that while on a patrol with his men who numbered 50, they came across a large company of Anglosaxon invaders numbering in the hundreds. A battle ensued with 'Gaffer the Invincible' leading from the front. Legend says that when the battle finished Gaffer was responsible for single handedly vanquishing at least 50 of the enemy. But during one particular fight he was injured in his left knee. One of the Anglosaxon's had a long pole with a large curved hook at one end. This weapon was known as a 'pikehook' or locally a 'gaff', a term we all know today from fishing. Gaffer the Invincible was struck with one of these gaffs & it managed to enter his knee from behind & portrude through the front of his kneecap. From then on he walked with a pronounced limp & was forever known until death as "Gaffed Knee". Over the years he & his family became known as "Gaffed Knees". Over the future years the name changed to "Gaff Kneed" & "Gaffknee" before finally becoming the name proudly bourne today by his descendants......Gaffney...