Scanlon

Article summary

Scanlon is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Scannláin, meaning "descendant of Scannlán", and is a variant of the name Ó Scannail derived from the Irish word scannal, originally meaning quarrel, contention, fight, and later, scandal. There are three quite distinct septs or clans, the first and primary sept being the Ó Scannail (Scannell) (originally Scannal), who belong to West Munster and specifically the Counties of Kerry, Cork, and Limerick. The other two septs derived from Ó Scannail, and their descendants are now known as Scanlan and Scanlon. One sept is O'Scannlain of Munster and the other is McScannlain of Oriel, County Louth, neither of which has retained the prefix O or Mc in modern times. The latter are perpetuated in the placename Ballymacscanlon near Dundalk. The widespread distribution of these names is indicated by the fact that there are six Ballyscanlans in Ireland as well as a Scanlansland and a Scanlan's Island. Two of these are in County Clare and one in Mayo, which lends colour to the statement that there was also a North Connacht Sept of O'Scanlan.…

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1983 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of birth: 1983 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of birth: 1833 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. date of birth: 1940 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1983". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of birth is "1983". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of birth is "1833". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the date of birth is "1940". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
7. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360439889