Place names in Ireland: Difference between revisions

Many place names in Ireland in the English language are either anglicisations of those in the Irish language, or completely different, such as the name for the capital of the Republic of Ireland, which in English is Dublin, but in Irish is Baile Átha Cliath. The former means black hole/pool (anglicised from dubh and linn) and the latter means town of the hurdle ford. After the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922, some names were changed including Kingstown in County Dublin, which became Dún Laoghaire (pronounced /dʌn ˈlɪəri/ by English speakers, and /duːn ˈɫeːrʲə/ by Irish speakers) and Queenstown in County Cork reverted to Cóbh (pronounced /koːv/). King's County and Queen's County were renamed County Laois and County Offaly in 1921.

Pursuant to the Place-Names (Irish Forms) (No. 1) (Postal Towns) Act 1973 [1] and the advise of the Coimisiún Logainmneacha (Place-Names Commission), the statutory instrument Place-Names (Irish Forms) (No. 1) (Postal Towns) Order, 1975 was issued listing the equivalent in the Irish language of place-names specified in the Order with its English form. The Irish words then had the same meaning and same force and effect as the place-name. This order lists a little less than 2,000 place-names, many of which were changed from the Irish form used since independence, e.g. Bray went from Brí Chualann to Bré and Naas changed from Nás na Rí to An Nás.

In the Republic, both Irish and English names have equal status and are displayed on road and signs, although postmarks are only in Irish. In Northern Ireland, the new recognition of the status of the Irish language does not extend to bilingual roadsigns - it is down to individual district councils to decide to place them. At the moment, only Fermanagh has Irish language roadsigns, and is this case, it is only on indicative signs and not directional ones.

The name of Ireland itself comes from the Irish name, Éire, affixed to the Germanic root, '-land'. According to mythology, Éire was an ancient Celtic princess (see Ériu).

Common words found in Irish place names include:

Ard- ard - 'high'
Ath- átha - 'ford'
Bally- baile - 'town'
Bel- béal - 'mouth'
Carry/Carrick- carraig - 'rock'
Clon- Cluain - a meadow
Dun- dún - 'fort'
Glas- glas - 'green'
Glen- Gleann - a valley
Kil- cill - church
Knock- cnoc - 'hill'
Rath- rath - 'fort'

Not all English names have simple Irish derivations. As an example, the name of the Donegal town of Ballyshannon, at first glance, derives from something like Baile an Shionainn, that is 'Town of the Shannon'. In fact the Irish name is Béal Átha Seanaigh which means 'Mouth of Seanach's Fort'.

The four provinces (cúigí - singular: cúige) are known as:

• Connacht - Connacht(a) / Cúige Chonnacht - meaning "Conn's land"
• Munster - An Mhumhain / Cúige Mumhan - meaning "Land of Mumha's men"
• Leinster - Laighin / Cúige Laighean - meaning "Land of Broad Spears"
• Ulster - Ulaidh / Cúige Uladh - meaning "Land of Ulaid's men"

The word cúige originally meant 'a fifth', as in one-fifth part of Ireland, and comes from the fact that Meath, as seat of the High King of Ireland, was once a province in its own right, incorporating modern counties Meath, Westmeath and parts of surrounding counties. Meath was later absorbed into Leinster.

All the counties were named after a town in that county (although some, such as Louth, have dwindled to a small village) with the exception of County Clare, County Fermanagh County Kerry and County Westmeath. The 32 counties (contaetha - singular: contae) of Ireland are known as:

• County Antrim - Aontroim / Co. Aontroma - meaning "Solitary Farm"
• County Armagh - Ard Mhacha / Co. Ard Mhacha - meaning "Macha's Height"
• County Carlow - Ceatharlach / Co. Cheatharlaigh - meaning "Abounding in cattle", not "four lakes" as some might assume
• County Cavan - An Cabhán / Co. an Chabháin - meaning "The Hollow"
• County Clare - An Clár / Co. an Chláir - meaning "Level Land"
• County Cork - Corcaigh / Co. Chorcaí - meaning "Marsh"
• County Derry - Doire / Co. Dhoire - meaning "Oak Wood"
• County Donegal - Dún na nGall / Co. Dhún na nGall - meaning "Fort of the Foreigners" (Vikings)
• County Down - An Dún / Co. an Dúin - meaning "The Fort"
• County Dublin - Áth Cliath / Co. Átha Cliath - meaning "Town by the Hurdle ford"
• County Fermanagh - Fear Manach / Co. Fhear Manach - meaning "Men (tribe) of Monach"
• County Galway - Gaillimh / Co. na Gaillimhe - meaning "Rocky/Stony River"
• County Kerry - Ciarraí / Co. Chiarraí - the descendants of (tribe) of Ciar
• County Kildare - Cill Dara / Co. Chill Dara - meaning "Church by the Oak"
• County Kilkenny - Cill Chainnigh / Co. Chill Chainnigh - meaning "Canice's Church"
• County Laois - Laois / Co. Laoise - named after Lughaidh Laeighseach, a chieftain

C* County Leitrim - Liatroim / Co. Liatroma - meaning "Grey Ridge"

• County Limerick - Luimneach / Co. Luimnigh - meaning "Bare Land"
• County Longford - Longfort / Co. Longfoirt - meaning "Fortress"
• County Louth - Lú / Co. Lú - originally Lughbhadh, which was named after the Celtic god Lugh. Does not mean "smallest".
• County Mayo - Maigh Eo / Co. Mhaigh Eo - meaning "Plain of the Yews"
• County Meath - An Mhí / Co. na Mí - meaning "Middle", beacuse it was the middle province
• County Monaghan - Muineachán / Co. Mhuineacháin - meaning "Place of Thickets"
• County Offaly - Uibh Fhailí / Co. Uibh Fhailí - meaning "Descendants of Ros of the Rings"
• County Roscommon - Ros Comáin / Co. Ros Comáin - meaning "Corman's wood"
• County Sligo - Sligeach / Co. Shligigh - meaning "Shell-river"
• County Tipperary - Tiobraid Árainn / Co. Thiobraid Árainn - meaning "House of the Well of Ara"
• County Tyrone - Tír Eoghain / Co. Thír Eoghain - meaning "Eoghan's Land"
• County Waterford - Port Láirge / Co. Phort Láirge - "Waterford" comes from the Viking "Vadre fjord"
• ounty Westmeath - An Iarmhí / Co. na hIarmhí - the western part of the old Meath
• County Wexford - Loch Garman / Co. Loch Garman - "Wexford" comes from the Viking "Weiss fjord" meaning "white fjord". Loch Garman/Loch Gorman/Loch gCorman means Gorman's Lake
• County Wicklow - Cill Mhantáin / Co. Chill Mhantáin - meaning "Mantan's Church"; "Wicklow" comes from the Viking "Wykinglo"

• Belfast - Béal Feirste
• Cork - Corcaigh
• Derry - Doire (Choilm Chille)
• Dublin - Baile Átha Cliath
• Galway - Gaillimh
• Kilkenny - Cill Chainnigh
• Limerick - Luimneach
• Lisburn - Lios na gCearrbhach
• Newry - Iúr Chinn Trá or an tIúr
• Waterford - Port Láirge

• Abbeyleix - Mainistir Laoise
• Antrim - Aontraim
• Ardee - Baile Átha Fhirdhia
• Arklow - An tInbhear Mór
• Armagh - Ard Mhacha
• Athlone - Baile Átha Luain
• Athenry - Baile Átha an Rí
• Balbriggan - Baile Brigín
• Ballina - Béal an Átha or Béal Átha an Fheadha
• Ballymena - An Baile Meánach
• Bangor - Beannchar
• Belmullet - Béal an Mhuirthead
• Blackrock - Carraig Dhubh
• Borris - Buiríos Uí Léigh
• Borris-in-Ossory - Buiríos Osraí
• Bray - Brí Chualann
• Cahersiveen - Cathair Saidhbhín
• Cahir - Cathair Dún Iascaigh
• Carlow - Ceatharlach
• Carrickfergus - Carraig Fhearghais
• Carrigaline - Carraig Uí Leighin
• Castlebar - Caisleán an Bharraigh
• Castlederg - Caisleán na Deirge
• Castletownbere - Baile Chaisleáin Bhéara
• Cavan - an Cábhán
• Celbridge - Cill Droichid
• Claremorris - Clár Chlainne Mhuiris
• Clifden - An Clochán
• Clonmel - Cluain Meala
• Cloughjordan - Cloch Shiurdáin
• Cobh - An Cóbh
• Coleraine - Cúil Raithne
• Cookstown - An Chorr Chríochach
• Dalkey - Deilginis
• Dingle - Daingean (Uí Chúis)
• Donegal - (Baile) D(h)ún na nGall
• Downpatrick - Dún Phádraig
• Drogheda - Droichead Átha
• Dundalk - Dún Dealgan
• Dungannon - Dún Geanainn
• Dungarvan - Dún Garbháin
• Dunmanway - Dún Maonmhuí
• Ennis - Inis
• Enniscorthy - Inis Córthaidh
• Enniskillen - Inis Ceathlainn
• Fermoy - Mainistir Fhear Maí
• Foynes - Faing
• Foxford - Béal Easa
• Glasnevin - Glas Naíon
• Gorey - Guaire
• Gort - Gort Inse Guaire
• Greystones - Na Clocha Liatha
• Kanturk - Ceann Toirc
• Kilcock - Cill Coca
• Kildare - Cill Dara
• Kilmainham - Cill Mhaighneann
• Killala - Cill Ala
• Killarney - Cill Áirne
• Killiney - Cill Iníon Léinín
• Killybegs - Na Cealla Beaga
• Kinsale - Ceann tSáile
• Leixlip - Léim an Bhradáin
• Letterkenny - Leitir Ceanainn
• Lifford - Leifear
• Lisdoonvarna - Lios Dún Bhearna
• Loughrea - Baile Locha Riach
• Lucan - Leamhcán
• Lurgan - An Lorgain
• Malahide - Mullach Íde
• Mallow - Maigh Ealla (preferred and historical) or Mala
• Maynooth - Maigh Nuad
• Milltown Malbay - Sráid na Cathrach
• Millstreet - Sráid an Mhuilinn
• Monaghan - Muineachán
• Mullingar - An Muileann gCearr
• Mulranny - Maoil Raithne
• Naas - Nás na Rí
• Navan - An Uaimh
• Nenagh - an tAonach or Aonach Urmhumhan
• Newbridge - An Droichead Nua
• Newport (Co. Mayo) - Baile Uí Fhiacháin
• New Ross - Ros Mhic Triúin
• Newtownabbey - Baile na Mainistreach
• Newtownards - Baile Nua na hArda
• Omagh - An Ómaigh
• Portadown - Port an Dúnáin
• Roscommon - Ros Comáin
• Rosslare - Ros Láir
• Shankill - Sean Chill
• Skerries - Na Sceirí
• Sligo - Sligeach
• Spiddal - An Spidéal
• Swords - Sórd
• Tallaght - Tamhlacht or Tamhlacht na Lobhar
• Thurles - Dúrlas Éile
• Tipperary - Tiobrad Árann
• Tralee - Trá Lí
• Tramore -Trá Mhór ( The Big Strand)
• Tullamore - an Tulach Mhór
• Westport - Cathair na Mart
• Wexford - Loch Garman
• Wicklow - Cill Mhantáin
• Youghal - Eochaill

• Shankill Road - Bóthar na Seanchille
• Falls Road - Bóthar na bhFál
• O'Connell Street - Sráid Uí Chonaill
• Grand Parade (Cork) - Sráid an Capaill Buí
• Patrick Street - Sráid Páidraig

• Australia - An Astráil
• Austria - An Ostair
• Bosnia-Herzegovina - An Bhoisniá Heirseagaivéin
• Brazil - An Bhrasaíl
• Brittany- An Bhriotáin
• Bulgaria- An Bhulgáir
• Cambodia - An Chambóid
• Canada - Ceanada
  • Newfoundland - Talamh an Éisc
  • Nova Scotia - Albain Nua
• Channel Islands - Oileáin Mhuir nIocht
• Chile - An tSile
• China - An tSín
• Cornwall - Corn na Breataine
• Cuba - Cúba
• Cyprus - An Chipir
• Denmark - An Danmhairg
• East Timor - An Tíomór Thoir
• Egypt - An Éigipt
• England - Sasana
• Finland - An Fhionlainn
• France - An Fhrainc
• Gambia - An Ghaimbia
• Germany - An Ghearmáin
• Ghana - Gána
• Gibraltar - Giobráltar
• Greece - An Ghréig
• Greenland - An Ghraonlainn
• Guinea - An Ghuine
• Hungary - An Ungáir
• Iceland - An Íoslainn
• India - An Ind
• Indonesia - An Indinéis
• Isle of Man - Oileán Mhanann
• Israel - Iosrael
• Iran - An Iaráin
• Iraq - An Iaráic
• Italy - An Iodáil
• Japan - An tSeapáin
• Jordan - an Iordáin
• Korea - An Chóiré
• Lebanon - An Liobáin
• Luxembourg - Lucsamburg
• Malaysia - Malaeisia
• Malta - Málta
• Mexico - Meicsiceo
• Monaco - Monacó
• Morocco - Maracó
• Netherlands - An Ísiltír
• New Zealand - An Nua-Shéalainn
• Nigeria - An Nigéir
• Northern Ireland - Tuaisceart Éireann
• Norway - An Iorua
• Pakistan - An Phacastáin
• Palestine - An Phalaistín
• Poland - An Pholainn
• Portugal - An Phortaingéil
• Republic of Ireland - Poblacht na hÉireann
• Romania - An Rómáin
• Russia - An Rúis
• Saudi Arabia - An Araib Shádach
• Scotland - Alba
• Singapore - Singeapór
• South Africa - An Afraic Theas
• Spain - An Spáinn
• Sweden - An tSualainn
• Switzerland - An Eilvéis
• Syria - An tSiria
• Tunisia - An Túinéis
• Turkey - An Tuirc
• United Arab Emirates - Aontas na nÉimíríochtaí Arabacha
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Ríocht Aontaithe na Breataine Móire agus Thuaisceart Éireann
• United States of America (U.S.A.) - Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá (S.A.M.)
  States are as in English, except as follows:
  • Alaska - Alasca
  • Hawaii - Habháí
  • New Mexico - Nua-Mheicsiceo
  • New York - Nua-Eabhrac
  • North Carolina - Carolina Thuaidh
  • North Dakota - Dakota Thuaidh
  • Rhode Island - Oileán Rhode
  • South Carolina - Carolina Theas
  • South Dakota - Dakota Theas
  • West Virginia - Virginia Thiar
• Vatican City - Cathair na Vatacáine
• Venezuela - Veiniséala
• Vietnam - Vítneam
• Wales - An Bhreatain Bheag (lit. Little Britain)
• Yemen - An Éimin
• Zimbabwe - An tSiombáib

• Wikipedia:Manual of Style (Ireland-related articles)

• Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs - The Placenames Branch
• List of Irish Placenames
• Irish Placenames Explained by P.W. Joyce
• Placenames in the North of Ireland
• Place-names (Irish Forms) Act, 1973 statutory instrument, retrieved March 8, 2006