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 (see Ériu).

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 (meaning "black pool"), but its Irish name is Baile Átha Cliath (meaning "town of the hurdled ford").

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 in Irish placenames are shown in the table below. The differences in spelling are often due to differences in pronunciation.

Anglicised spelling	Irish	English translation	Example(s)
agha, aghy, aghey, augha	achadh	field	Aghalee, Aughagower
ard	ard	high, height, hill	Ardcroney, Ardfert, Ardglass
ard, at, ath	áth	ford	Ardsallis, Attymass, Athlone, Athenry, Athy
bal, balli, bally, bel	baile	homestead, settlement	Balbriggan, Ballinagree, Ballycastle, Ballyjamesduff, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Belcarra
balli, ballina, bally, bella, bellana, ballaghna	béal (an) átha (an/na)	ford-mouth (see béal and áth)	Ballinhassig, Ballinasloe, Ballybay, Bellagowan, Bellavary, Bellanagare, Ballaghnatrillick
bally, balla(gh), bella(gh)	bealach	pass, passage	Ballybofey, Ballyclare, Ballaghaderreen, Ballaghmore
bane, bain, baun	bán	white	Strabane, Kinbain, Cregganbaun
beg	beag	small	Bunbeg, Carrickbeg
bel, bell	béal	mouth, rivermouth	Belclare, Belgooly, Belmullet, Belfast, Belturbet
ben, bin	binn, beann	peak	Benbaun, Binevenagh
boher, bar	bóthar	road, path, boreen	Boherbue, Bohernabreena, Bohernaglogh
borris	buiríos	borough, burgage	Borris, Borrisokane, Borrisoleigh
boy, bue	buí	yellow	Bawnboy, Curraghboy, Boherbue
brack	breac	mottled, speckled	Ballybrack, Mullaghbrack
bun	bun	river bottom, foot, mouth	Bunbeg, Buncrana, Bundoran
cashel	caiseal	stone ringfort	Cashel, Cashelore
cappa(gh)	ceapach	plot, tillage	Cappagh, Cappamore, Cappawhite
carn	carn	cairn	Carndonagh, Carnmoney
carrow, carry, carhoo, caherna	ceathrú	quarter	Carrowdore, Carrowteige, Carryduff
carrig, carrick, craig	carraig, creig	rock, rocky outcrop	Carrigaline, Carrick, Carrickfergus, Carrickmacross, Craigarogan
cahir, caher	cathair	stone ringfort	Cahir, Cahircon, Caherdaniel
clare	clár	plateau, (of) level land	Clarecastle, Claremorris, Belclare, Cooraclare
clo(gh), clough	cloch, cloich	rock	Clonakilty, Clogheen, Clogher, Cloughjordan
clon, clone, cloon	cluain	meadow	Clondalkin, Clonmel, Cloondara
coom	com	hollow	Coomkeen
cor	corr	small round hill	Cornafulla, Corblonog
corry, curry	coire	corrie	Rockcorry, Tubbercurry
crogh, croagh	cruach	stack, pile	Croghan, Croaghgorm
cross	cros, crois	cross	Crossbarry, Crossmaglen, Crossmolina
cul, cool	cúl	back, behind	Cultra, Coolafancy, Coolderry
cul, cool, cole	cúil	nook, corner	Culdaff, Coleraine, Coolrain, Cloonacool
der, derry, dor, dore	doire	grove, oak-grove	Derry, Edenderry, Glandore, Kildorrery, Ballaghaderreen
dona(gh)	domhnach	church	Donaghadee, Donabate, Carndonagh
droghed, drohed, drohid	droichead	bridge	Drogheda, Carrigadrohid, Clondrohid
drom, drum, drim	druim, droim	back, ridge	Dromod, Dromore, Drumcondra, Drumshanbo, Drimoleague
dub, duff, duv	dubh	black	Dublin, Claddaghduff, Cloughduv
dun, doon, down, downe	dún	stronghold, fort	Dunboyne, Dungannon, Dungarvan, Doonbeg, Downpatrick, Lansdowne
ennis, inch, innis, innish, inish	inis	island	Ennis, Enniscorthy, Enniskillen, Inch, Inniskeen, Inishcrone
esk, eish	eiscir	esker	Eskra
fer	fear, fir	men	Fermanagh, Fermoy
fin, finn, ven	fionn	clear, white, fair	Finglas, Ballyfin, Ventry
freagh, frack	fraoch	heather	Letterfrack
garv, gorv	garbh	rough	Garvagh, Garvaghey, Gorvagh
gee, gwee	gaoth	estuary	Geesala, Gweedore
glas, glass	glas	stream	Glasnevin, Douglas, Finglas
glen, glan	gleann	valley	Glencullen, Glenties, Glenveagh, Glanmire, Glanworth
gorm	gorm	blue	Galgorm, Ben Gorm
gort	gort	field	Gort, Gorteen, Gortnahoe
illan, illaun, island	oileán	island	Illanmaster, Islandeady
inver, ineer, enner	inbhear, inbhir	river mouth, estuary	Inver, Rossinver, Dromineer
kil, kill	cill	churchyard or graveyard	Kill, Kildare, Kilkenny, Killiney, Kilrush
kil, kill	coill	woodland^[1]	Kilbehenny, Kilcogy, Killycollie, Kilmacthomas
kin, ken, con, can, carn	cionn, ceann	head	Kinallen, Kinlough, Kinsale, Kenmare, Conavalla
knock	cnoc	hill	Knockbridge, Knockcloghrim, Knocklyon
lea	liath	grey	Killylea
letter	leitir	hillside	Letterfrack, Letterkenny, Lettermore
lis, liss	lios	earthen ringfort	Liscannor, Lismore, Lisnaskea, Listowel, Lisselton, Lissycasey
lough	loch	lake	Loughgall, Loughrea, Loughshinny
lurgan	lorga(n)	long ridge	Lurgan, Ballynalurgan
maum, maam	mám	mountain pass	Maum, Maam
magh, may, moy, moi(gh)	maigh, machaire	plain	Magherafelt, Maynooth, Mayo, Moycullen
mona, money	móna, monadh	moor, turf, peatland	Cornamona, Ballymoney
mona, money, winga, winna, winny, vinna, vinny, vunnia, bonni, bunny	muine	thicket	Moneygall, Carrowmoney, Kilmoney, Ballywinna, Ballinvinny, Bonniconlon
monaster	mainistir	abbey, monastery	Monasteraden, Monasterevin
more	mór	big, great	Ballymore, Baltimore, Kilmore, Oranmore, Tullamore
mulla(gh), mulh	mullach	summit	Mullagh, Mullaghmore, Mullaghbawn, Mulhuddart
mullin	muileann	mill	Mullinahone, Mullinavat, Mullingar, Bellanamullia
noe	nua	new	Ballynoe, Templenoe
owen	abhainn	river	Owenbeg
poll, poul	poll	hole	Pollagh, Poulaphouca, Poulpeasty
port	port	stronghold, fort	Portlaoise
port	port	port, harbour, landing place	Portadown, Portmarnock
rath, rah	ráth	earthen ringfort	Rathdrum, Rathfarnham, Rathmines, Raheen, Raheny
rea(gh), reva(gh)	riabhach	brindled, speckled	Loughrea, Moneyreagh, Cloonsheerevagh
roe	rua	red	Carraroe, Murroe, Portroe
ros, ross, rosh, rus, rush	ros	wood, wooded promontory	Roscommon, Roscrea, Rush, Kilrush, New Ross, Carrickmacross
sall, salla, sally	sail(each)	willow(s)	Ballysally, Sallins
shan	sean	old	Shanballymore, Shandon, Shankill
sheskin	seascann	marsh, quagmire	Sheskin
ske, skey, skay, skea(gh)	sceach	(thorn) bush, hawthorn	Skehana, Skeheenarinky, Ballyskeagh, Clonskeagh
skreen, skrine, skryne	scrín	shrine	Skreen, Skryne
slieve	sliabh	mountain	Slievenamon, Slieve Donard
sra(gh), srah, stra, strad, strath, straw	srath, sraith	floodplain	Sragh, Stranorlar, Stradone, Strathfoyle, Straw
ta(gh), taugh, te, tee, ti(gh)	teach	house	Taney, Taghadoe, Taghmaconnell, Taughboyne, Templeogue, Timoleague, Tydavnet
temple	teampall	church	Templemore, Templenoe, Ballintemple
ter, tir, tyr	tír	territory	Terenure, Terryglass, Tirconaill, Tyrone
termon	tearmann	refuge, sanctuary	Termon, Termonfeckin
tieve	taobh	hillside	Tievebulliagh
tober, tubber	tobar	water well	Ballintober, Tobermore, Tubberclare, Tubbercurry
tra, try	trá, tráigh	beach, strand	Tragumna, Tralee, Tramore, Ventry
tuam, tom, toom	tuaim	burial mound	Tuam, Tuamgraney, Toomevara
tulla(gh), tully, tullow	tulach	hillock, mound, heap	Tullamore, Tullyallen, Tullyhogue, Tullow
turlough, turlagh	turlach	turlough	Turlough, Turloughmore, Turlaghmore
orlar, urlar, urlaur	urlár	floor, flat land	Stranorlar, Urlar
vea(gh), vei(gh)	bheithe	(of) birch	Ballyveagh, Glenveagh

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 (which became a Norse-Gaelic kingdom), Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick. Over time, the Norsemen embraced Gaelic language and culture, becoming known as the Norse-Gaels (Gall-Ghaeil in Modern Irish, Gall-Gaidhel in Old Irish).

Placenames derived from Old Norse:

English	Old Norse (approximation)	Old Norse translated	Irish (modern)	Notes
Arklow	Arkells-lág	Arkell's low place	an tInbhear Mór	The Irish was historically anglicised as Invermore.
Blasket	Brasker	sharp reef	Blascaod	Unclear origin, first recorded as Brascher, Braschet, Brasquei.^[2]
Carlingford	Kerling-fjǫrðr	old woman fjord	Cairlinn
Copeland Islands	Kaupmanneyjar	merchants' island	Oileáin Chóplainn	The Norse name appears in Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar (1230). Later influenced by the Norman surname de Coupland, Copeland.^[3]^[4]
Dalkey	—	—	Deilginis	The name is a meld of deilg (Irish) + ey (Norse).
Dursey	Þjórrs-ey	bull island	Baoi Bhéarra or Oileán Baoi
Fastnet	Hvasstǫnn-ey	sharp-tooth island	Carraig Aonair	—
Fota	Fódr-øy	Foot island	Fóite	Uncertain etymology, possible means "foot" as it is at the mouth of the River Lee.^[5]
Haulbowline	Ál-boling	eel dwelling	Inis Sionnach	—
Helvick	Hellavik, Helgavík	bright bay, healthy bay, safe bay, holy bay	Heilbhic	The Irish is a Gaelicisation of the Old Norse. Hellvik, Norway probably has the same root.^[6]
Howth	Hǫfuð	head	Binn Éadair	—
Ireland's Eye	Ireland's øy	Ireland's island	Inis Mac Neasáin	Originally called Eria's Island; this was later confused and it became "Erin's Island"; the Norse word øy ("island") was added, and this was later confused with English "eye."^[7]^[8]
Keyser's Lane	keisa?	bend	Cúlán Chaosair	Street name found in Drogheda, Dublin, Waterford, Wexford and Cork. Believed to derive from Old Norse, perhaps keisa ("bend") or keisari ("emperor").^[9] Other sources give "ship wharf."^[10]
Lambay	Lamb-ey	lamb island	Reachrainn	— Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Place_names_in_Ireland Text je dostupný za podmienok Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0 Unported; prípadne za ďalších podmienok. Podrobnejšie informácie nájdete na stránke Podmienky použitia. Navigácia: Veda > Analytika Antropológia Aplikované vedy Bibliometria Dejiny vedy Encyklopédie Filozofia vedy Forenzné vedy Humanitné vedy Knižničná veda Kryogenika Kryptológia Kulturológia Literárna veda Medzidisciplinárne oblasti Metódy kvantitatívnej analýzy Metavedy Metodika Metodológia vedy Náboženstvo a veda Náučná literatúra Podvody vo vede Popularizácia vedy Potravinárstvo Prírodné vedy Pseudoveda Scientometria Spoločenské vedy Teórie Teatrológia Technické vedy Technika Terminológia Umenie Výskum Veda Veda a technika podľa štátu Veda a technika podľa kontinentu Veda a technika podľa roka Veda v kozme Vedci Vedecká literatúra Vedecké databázy Vedecké experimenty Vedecké konferencie Vedecké metódy Vedecké ocenenia Vedecké organizácie Vedecké parky Vedeckí spisovatelia Vzdelávanie Záhady Príbuzné výrazy: Text je dostupný za podmienok Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0 Unported; prípadne za ďalších podmienok. Podrobnejšie informácie nájdete na stránke Podmienky použitia. www.astronomia.sk \| www.biologia.sk \| www.botanika.sk \| www.dejiny.sk \| www.economy.sk \| www.elektrotechnika.sk \| www.estetika.sk \| www.farmakologia.sk \| www.filozofia.sk \| Fyzika \| www.futurologia.sk \| www.genetika.sk \| www.chemia.sk \| www.lingvistika.sk \| www.politologia.sk \| www.psychologia.sk \| www.sexuologia.sk \| www.sociologia.sk \| www.veda.sk I www.zoologia.sk

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