Cathal
Cathal is a common given name in Ireland. The name is derived from two Celtic elements: the first, cath, means "battle"; the second element, val, means "rule". There is no feminine form of Cathal. The Gaelic name has several anglicised forms, such as Cathel, Cahal, Cahill and Kathel. It has also been anglicised as Charles, although this name is of an entirely different origin as it is derived from a Germanic element, karl, meaning "free man".
As is evident from the list below, the name was, in medieval times, most popular in Ireland's two western provinces, Munster and Connacht.
People with the name
Pre-19th century
- St. Cathal of Taranto, archbishop
- Cathal mac Áedo, king of Munster
- Cathal Cú-cen-máthair, king of Munster
- Cathal mac Muiredaig, king of Connacht
- Cathal mac Finguine, king of Munster
- Cathal mac Murchadh, king of Uí Maine
- Cathal mac Conchobair, king of Connacht
- Cathal mac Tadg, king of Connacht
- Cathal mac Donnubáin, king of Uí Chairpre Áebda
- Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair, king of Connacht
- Cathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua Conchobair, king of Connacht
- Cathal mac Domhnall Ua Conchobair, king of Connacht
- Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa, main compiler of the Annals of Ulster
- Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna, poet
Later
- Cathal Barrett, Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary
- Cathal Berry, Irish Independent politician, former Irish Army officer and medical doctor who has been a Teachta Dála for the Kildare South
- Cathal Black, Irish film director, writer, and producer
- Cathal Breslin, concert pianist from Northern Ireland
- Cathal Brugha, revolutionary
- Cahal Carvill, Northern Irish hurler
- Cathal Coughlan (musician), singer and musician with the bands Microdisney and the Fatima Mansions
- Cathal Casey, Irish retired hurler
- Cathal Corey, Gaelic football manager and former player
- Cathal Crowe,, Irish Fianna Fáil politician
- Cahal Daly, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland from 1990 to 1996
- Cathal Daniels, Irish eventing rider.
- Cathal J. Dodd, singer and voice actor
- Cathal Dunbar, Irish hurler who plays for Wexford Senior Championship
- Cathal Dunne, singer, represented Ireland in Eurovision Song Contest 1979
- Cathal Gannon, Irish harpsichord maker, a fortepiano restorer and an amateur horologist
- Cathal Óg Greene, Gaelic footballer for London
- Cathal Hayden, Northern Irish fiddle and banjo player of note.
- Cathal Magee, Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive in Ireland
- Cathal Mannion, Irish hurler who plays for Galway Senior Championship
- Cathal Mac Coille, retired Irish broadcaster, researcher and journalist
- Cathal MacSwiney Brugha, Irish decision scientist, the Emeritus Professor of Decision Analytics at University College Dublin's College of Business
- Cathal McCabe
- Cathal McCarron, All Ireland Winning Gaelic footballer for Tyrone.
- Cathal McCarthy, Irish footballer for UCD and Hull City
- Cathal McConnell, musician and singer
- Cathal McInerney, Irish sportsperson
- Cathal Naughton, Irish retired hurler who played for Cork Senior Championship
- Cathal Kelly, Canadian writer
- Cathal O'Connell, Irish hurler who plays as a forward for the Clare senior team.
- Cathal Ó Murchadha, born Charles Murphy, Irish politician and republican
- Cathal Ó Searcaigh, poet
- Cathal Ó Sándair, born Charles Saunders was one of the most prolific Irish language authors of the 20th century
- Cathal O'Shannon, Irish journalist and television presenter
- Cathal Parlon, Irish hurler
- Cathal Pendred, retired mixed martial artist*
- Cathal Ryan, Gaelic footballer from County Laois.
- Cathal Smyth, singer and songwriter, better known as Chas Smash of the British band Madness
Places
- Cathal Brugha Street, street on the northside of Dublin, Ireland.
- Cathal Brugha Barracks, Irish Army barracks in Rathmines, Dublin