Place names in Ireland


The vast majority of placenames in Ireland are anglicisations of Irish language names; that is, adaptations of the Irish names to English phonology and spelling. However, some names come directly from the English language, and a handful come from Old Norse and Scots. The study of placenames in Ireland unveils features of the country's history and geography, and the development of the Irish language. The name of Ireland itself comes from the Irish name Éire, added to the Germanic word land. In mythology, Éire was an Irish goddess of the land and of sovereignty.
In some cases, the official English or anglicised name is wholly different from the official Irish language name. An example is Dublin. Its name is derived from the Irish dubh linn, but its official Irish name is Baile Átha Cliath.

Etymology

Names of Irish Gaelic origin

For most of the "Gaelic period", there were very few towns or large settlements in Ireland. Hence, most places were named after noteworthy features of the landscape, such as hills, rocks, valleys, lakes, islands, and harbours. As time went on, more places were named after man-made features, such as churches, castles, and bridges. Some of the most common elements found ino Irish placenames are shown in the table below. The differences in spelling are often due to differences in pronunciation.
Anglicised spellingIrishEnglish translationExample
agha, aghy, aghey, aughaachadhfieldAghalee, Aughagower
ardardhigh/heightArdglass
atháthfordAthlone
ballybailehomestead/settlementBallymena
bally, balla, bellabealachpass/passageBallyclare, Ballaghmore
bane, baun, bainbánwhiteStrabane, Cregganbaun, Kinbain
begbeagsmallCarrickbeg
bel, bellbéalmouth/rivermouthBelfast
ben, binbinn/beannpeakBenbaun, Binevenagh
boybuíyellowBawnboy
brackbreacmottledMullaghbrack
bunbunriver's bottom/foot/mouthBundoran
cashelcaisealstone ring-fortCashel, Cashel
cappaceapachplot/tillageCappamore, Cappagh
carncarncairnCarnmoney
carrow, carryceathrúquarterCarrowdore, Carryduff
carrig, carrick, craigcarraig/creigrock/rocky outcropCarrigaline, Carrickfergus, Craigarogan
cahir, cahercathairstone ring-fortCahircon, Caherdaniel
clarecláir level landCooraclare
clough, cloghclochrockCloughjordan, Clogheen
clon, clone, clooncluainmeadowClonmel, Cloondara
coomcomhollowCoomkeen
corcorrsmall round hillCorblonog
corry, currycoirecorrieRockcorry, Tubbercurry
croaghcruachstackCroaghgorm
cul, coolcúlbackCoolmine, Cultra
cul, coolcúilnook/cornerCoolock
derrydoiregrove/oak-groveDerry
donadomhnachchurchDonaghadee, Donabate
droghed, drohed, drohiddroicheadbridgeDrogheda, Clondrohid
drum, dromdruim/droimback, ridgeDromore, Drumshanbo
duff, duvdubhblackCladdaghduff, Cloughduv
dun, doondúnstronghold/fortDungannon, Doonbeg
ennisinisislandEnniskillen
esk, eisheiscireskerEskra
fin, finnfionnclear/white/fairFinglas
freagh, frackfraochheatherLetterfrack
garvgarbhroughGarvaghey
glas, glassglasstreamGlasnevin
glen, glangleannvalleyGlenties, Glanmire
gormgormblueGlengormley
gortgortfieldGortnahoe
illan, illaunoileánislandIllaunmaistir
inish, innish, innisinisislandInniskeen, Inishmaan
kil, killcillchurchyard or graveyardKildare
kil, killcoillwoodlandKilcogy
kin, kencionn/ceannheadKinallen, Kenmare
knockcnochillKnockcloghrim
lealiathgreyKillylea
letterleitirhillsideLetterkenny
lisliosearthen ring-fortLiscannor
loughlochlakeLoughgall
lurganlorgalong ridgeLurgan
maum, maammámmountain passMaum, Maam Cross
magh, may, moy, moimaigh/machaireplainMagherafelt, Maynooth, Moycullen
mona, moneymóna/monaidhpeatland/turfCornamona, Ballymoney
mullamullachsummitMullaghbawn
mullinmuileannmillMullingar
moremórbig/greatTullamore
noenuanewBallynoe
owenabhainnriverOwenbeg
poll, poulpollholePollagh, Poulaphouca
portportstronghold/fortPortlaoise
portportlanding placePortadown
rath, rahráthearthen ring-fortRathfarnham, Raheny
rea, revariabhachbrindled/speckledMoneyreagh, Cloonsheerevagh
roeruaredCarraroe
ros, rosh, rus, rushroswooded promontoryRoscrea, Kilrush
sall, salla, sallysailwillowBallysally, Sallins
shanseanoldShandon
sheskinseascannmarsh/quagmireSheskin
ske, skey, skay, skeasceachhawthornSkeheenarinky, Ballyskeagh
sragh, strasrathfloodplainStranorlar, Sragh
slievesliabhmountainSlieve Donard
termontearmannrefuge/sanctuaryTermonfeckin
tievetaobhhillsideTievebulliagh
tyr, tirtírterritoryTyrone, Tirconnell
tober, tubbertobarwater wellTobermore, Tubberclare
tratrábeach/strandTramore
tuam, toomtuaimburial moundTuam, Toomevara
tully, tullatulachhillock/mound/heapTullyhogue, Tullamore
orla, urlarurlárfloor/flat landStranorlar, Urlar
vea, veibheithe birchBallyveagh

Names of Norse origin

During the 800s and 900s, Vikings from Scandinavia raided monasteries along Ireland's coasts and waterways. The Vikings spoke the Old Norse language and are also called Norsemen. They set up small coastal camps called longphorts — these were used as bases for their raiding parties and as shelters during the winter. Eventually some longphorts grew into Norse settlements and trading ports. The biggest of these were Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick. Over time, the Norsemen embraced Gaelic language and culture, becoming known as the Norse-Gaels.
Placenames derived from Old Norse:
EnglishOld Norse
Old Norse
translated		Irish
Notes
ArklowArkells-lágArkell's low placean tInbhear MórThe Irish was historically anglicised as Invermore.
CarlingfordKerling-fjǫrðrold woman fjordCairlinn
Dalkey——DeilginisThe name is a meld of deilg + ey.
DurseyÞjórrs-eybull islandBaoi Bhéarra or Oileán Baoi
FastnetHvasstǫnn-eysharp-tooth islandCarraig Aonair—
HaulbowlineÁl-bolingeel dwellingInis Sionnach—
HelvickHellavik, Helgavíkbright bay, healthy bay, safe bay, holy bayHeilbhicThe Irish is a Gaelicisation of the Old Norse. Hellvik, Norway probably has the same root.
HowthHǫfuðheadBinn Éadair—
Keyser's Lanekeisa?bendCúlán ChaosairStreet name found in Drogheda, Dublin, Waterford, Wexford and Cork. Believed to derive from Old Norse, perhaps keisa or keisari. Other sources give "ship wharf."
LambayLamb-eylamb islandReachrainn—
LeixlipLax Hlaupsalmon leapLéim an BhradáinThe Irish is a translation of the Old Norse.
The English is an Anglicisation of the Old Norse.
Oxmantown--Baile LochlannachScandinavian homestead.
SalteeSalt-eysalt islandNa SailtíThe Irish is a Gaelicisation of the Old Norse.
The English is an Anglicisation of the Old Norse.
SelskarSelr-skarseal skerrySeilsceir
SmerwickSmjǫr-víkbutter bayArd na Caithne
StrangfordStrangr-fjǫrðrstrict or narrow fjordLoch Cuan—
SkerriesSkeriskerriesNa SceiríThe Irish is a Gaelicisation of the Old Norse.
The English is an Anglicisation of the Old Norse.
The SkerriesSkeriskerriesNa SceiríLocated in County Antrim.
WaterfordVeðra-fjǫrðrram or wether fjordPort LáirgeThe English name is a folk etymology.
WexfordVeisa-fjǫrðrmuddy fjordLoch GarmanThe Irish was historically anglicised as Loughgarman.
WicklowVíkinga-lágVikings' low placeCill MhantáinThe Irish was historically anglicised as Kilmantan.

Names of English origin

After the Norman invasion of Ireland, which began in 1169, Anglo-Norman and English language placenames emerged in the areas under Anglo-Norman control. Most of these are within the bounds of "The Pale" — the area that stayed under direct English control for the longest, and where English language and culture held sway. It stretched along the east coast from Dundalk in the north to Dalkey in the south.
Between 1556 and 1641, during its "conquest of Ireland", the English colonised parts of the country with settlers from Great Britain. This is known as the "Plantations of Ireland". After the 1601 Battle of Kinsale defeat in which the Gaelic aristocracy fled to continental Europe the northern province of Ulster was the most heavily colonised. Those who settled as part of the "Plantation of Ulster" were required to be English speaking made up mostly of Lowland Scots and some northern English. The result is that northeast Ulster also has a great number of English-derived placenames.
Such placenames often refer to buildings and other manmade features. They often include forms such as ', ', ', ', ', ', ', ', ', ', etc. However, forms such as ', ', ', ', ', ' etc. are not uncommon.
Some placenames that seem to come from English are in fact anglicized Irish names modified by folk etymology. Examples include Longford, Upperland and Forkhill.

Names of Scots origin

The Lowland Scots who settled during the Plantation of Ulster also contributed to place-names in the north of Ireland, particularly in the Ulster Scots areas. The Scots influence can be seen in places such as Burnside, Calheme from 'Cauldhame', Corby Knowe Glarryford from 'glaurie', Gowks Hill and Loanends in County Antrim, Crawtree, Whaup Island and Whinny Hill from 'whin' in County Down and the frequent elements burn, brae, dyke, gate, knowe, moss, sheuch or sheugh and vennel. Other Scots elements may be obscured due to their being rendered in Standard English orthography.

Names of other origins

Some places in Ireland bear names from beyond Gaelic, Norse or English.
One reason for this is because foreign names can be perceived as more fashionable than native ones. Particularly in middle-class areas, names of Italian origin have been used because of this perception and many roads and housing estates have obtained their names in this way. More rarely, this has led to the naming of whole suburbs. Portobello, Dublin was named in celebration of the British victory at the 1739 Battle of Porto Bello.
Another source of place names is from Anglo-Norman. Considering the number of surnames of Norman origin in Ireland, these are surprisingly rare. Nevertheless, some examples do exist, such as the town of Buttevant and the village of Brittas. Others exist in portmanteau with words of Irish or English origin, such as Castletownroche, which combines the English Castletown and the French Roche, meaning rock. Most widespread is the term Pallas which appears in over 20 place names, including the towns Pallasgreen and Pallaskenry.
A further source of place names of other origin is places names after religious sites outside Ireland. Examples are Lourdes Road in Dublin and Pic du Jer Park in Cork.
The baronies of North Salt and South Salt are derived from Saltus Salmonis, a Latin calque of the town name of Leixlip.

Republic of Ireland

In the Republic of Ireland, both Irish and English names have equal status and are displayed on roadsigns. However, in the Gaeltacht, the English/anglicized names have no official status and do not appear on roadsigns.
During and after the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922, some English names were returned to their Irish form. In most cases, the Irish Gaelic name became the only official one. In other cases, the English name was changed for another. Although most of the changes were accepted by the wider public, some did not catch on and were eventually undone. The Local Government Act 1946 allowed locals to petition for a name change.
The following places were officially renamed:
Pursuant to the Official Languages Act, 2003 and the advice of the Coimisiún Logainmneacha, the Placenames Order 2005 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 fewer 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.
Beyond the Gaeltacht, only English placenames were officially recognised. But further placenames orders have been passed to enable both the English and Irish placenames to be used. An example of present inconsistency is the village of Straffan, designated variously as An Srafáin, An Cluainíní and Teach Strafáin. In the 1830s John O'Donovan listed it as "Srufáin". The nearby village of Kilteel was "Cill tSíle" for centuries, meaning "The church of Saint Síle", but since 2000 it has been shown as "Cill Chéile", which does not carry the same meaning.
Irish vehicle registration plates are bilingual: the county of registration is shown in Irish above the plate number as a kind of surtitle, and is encoded from English within the plate number. For example, a Dublin plate is subtitled Baile Átha Cliath and the plate number includes D.

Northern Ireland

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. Some towns in Fermanagh, Strabane and Derry, Omagh, Armagh, Moyle, Magherafelt, Newry and Mourne and Cookstown council areas display bilingual names on some welcome signs.
Irish-language street signs may be erected at the request of locals, provided there is enough support.

Names of provinces

There are four provinces in Ireland, three of which derive their English name from a mixture of their ancient Irish provincial name with the Old Norse term for land/territory/place; staðr.
In Irish the provinces are known as cúigí, the singular of which is cúige. The word cúige originally meant "a fifth", as in one-fifth part of Ireland. This is because 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.

Names of counties

In Irish, the counties are known as contaetha, the singular of which is contae. Irish versions of county names only have official status in the Republic of Ireland.
Most of the counties were named after a town in that county ; usually an administrative centre. Some of these towns, such as Louth, have declined into small villages or have lost their county town status to other towns.
Counties named after their present or former county towns: Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow. The county of Londonderry is named after the city of the same name, though its county town was Coleraine until 1972 when counties were abolished as administrative units in Northern Ireland and replaced with unitary councils.
Some counties derive their names from ancient Irish túatha, kingdoms or people:
Some counties derive their names from geographic descriptions
In 1994, County Dublin was abolished as an administrative unit and replaced with three new administrative counties:
Many streets and roads in Ireland derive their name from that of the townland, settlement or parish it goes through or heads towards, many of which are of Irish origin. Other streets and roads derive their names from local buildings, manufacturies or people etc.
In Irish, a street is ', a road is ', a lane is lána, and an avenue is ascaill. A linear village is called a sráidbhaile —this has been anglicised as Stradbally, which is the name of a number of villages on the island. Whilst Irish forms only have official status in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland district councils are allowed to erect bilingual roadsigns.
Origins of some streets and roads in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Origins of some streets and roads in Dublin, Republic of Ireland