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 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 in 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, height, hillArdcroney, Ardfert, Ardglass
ard, at, atháthfordArdsallis, Attymass, Athlone, Athenry, Athy
bal, balli, bally, belbailehomestead, settlementBalbriggan, Ballinagree, Ballycastle, Ballyjamesduff, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Belcarra
balli, ballina, bally, bella, bellana, ballaghnabéal átha ford-mouth Ballinhassig, Ballinasloe, Ballybay, Bellagowan, Bellavary, Bellanagare, Ballaghnatrillick
bally, balla, bellabealachpass, passageBallybofey, Ballyclare, Ballaghaderreen, Ballaghmore
bane, bain, baunbánwhiteStrabane, Kinbain, Cregganbaun
begbeagsmallBunbeg, Carrickbeg
bel, bellbéalmouth, rivermouthBelclare, Belgooly, Belmullet, Belfast, Belturbet
ben, binbinn, beannpeakBenbaun, Binevenagh
boher, barbótharroad, path, boreenBoherbue, Bohernabreena, Bohernaglogh
borrisbuiríosborough, burgageBorris, Borrisokane, Borrisoleigh
boy, buebuíyellowBawnboy, Curraghboy, Boherbue
brackbreacmottled, speckledBallybrack, Mullaghbrack
bunbunriver bottom, foot, mouthBunbeg, Buncrana, Bundoran
cashelcaisealstone ringfortCashel, Cashelore
cappaceapachplot, tillageCappagh, Cappamore, Cappawhite
carncarncairnCarndonagh, Carnmoney
carrow, carry, carhoo, cahernaceathrúquarterCarrowdore, Carrowteige, Carryduff
carrig, carrick, craigcarraig, creigrock, rocky outcropCarrigaline, Carrick, Carrickfergus, Carrickmacross, Craigarogan
cahir, cahercathairstone ringfortCahir, Cahircon, Caherdaniel
clareclárplateau, level landClarecastle, Claremorris, Belclare, Cooraclare
clo, cloughcloch, cloichrockClonakilty, Clogheen, Clogher, Cloughjordan
clon, clone, clooncluainmeadowClondalkin, Clonmel, Cloondara
coomcomhollowCoomkeen
corcorrsmall round hillCornafulla, Corblonog
corry, currycoirecorrieRockcorry, Tubbercurry
crogh, croaghcruachstack, pileCroghan, Croaghgorm
crosscros, croiscrossCrossbarry, Crossmaglen, Crossmolina
cul, coolcúlback, behindCultra, Coolafancy, Coolderry
cul, cool, colecúilnook, cornerCuldaff, Coleraine, Coolrain, Cloonacool
der, derry, dor, doredoiregrove, oak-groveDerry, Edenderry, Glandore, Kildorrery, Ballaghaderreen
donadomhnachchurchDonaghadee, Donabate, Carndonagh
droghed, drohed, drohiddroicheadbridgeDrogheda, Carrigadrohid, Clondrohid
drom, drum, drimdruim, droimback, ridgeDromod, Dromore, Drumcondra, Drumshanbo, Drimoleague
dub, duff, duvdubhblackDublin, Claddaghduff, Cloughduv
dun, doon, down, downedúnstronghold, fortDunboyne, Dungannon, Dungarvan, Doonbeg, Downpatrick, Lansdowne
ennis, inch, innis, innish, inishinisislandEnnis, Enniscorthy, Enniskillen, Inch, Inniskeen, Inishcrone
esk, eisheiscireskerEskra
ferfear, firmenFermanagh, Fermoy
fin, finn, venfionnclear, white, fairFinglas, Ballyfin, Ventry
freagh, frackfraochheatherLetterfrack
garv, gorvgarbhroughGarvagh, Garvaghey, Gorvagh
gee, gweegaothestuaryGeesala, Gweedore
glas, glassglasstreamGlasnevin, Douglas, Finglas
glen, glangleannvalleyGlencullen, Glenties, Glenveagh, Glanmire, Glanworth
gormgormblueGalgorm, Ben Gorm
gortgortfieldGort, Gorteen, Gortnahoe
illan, illaun, islandoileánislandIllanmaster, Islandeady
inver, ineer, ennerinbhear, inbhirriver mouth, estuaryInver, Rossinver, Dromineer
kil, killcillchurchyard or graveyardKill, Kildare, Kilkenny, Killiney, Kilrush
kil, killcoillwoodlandKilbehenny, Kilcogy, Killycollie, Kilmacthomas
kin, ken, con, can, carncionn, ceannheadKinallen, Kinlough, Kinsale, Kenmare, Conavalla
knockcnochillKnockbridge, Knockcloghrim, Knocklyon
lealiathgreyKillylea
letterleitirhillsideLetterfrack, Letterkenny, Lettermore
lis, lissliosearthen ringfortLiscannor, Lismore, Lisnaskea, Listowel, Lisselton, Lissycasey
loughlochlakeLoughgall, Loughrea, Loughshinny
lurganlorgalong ridgeLurgan, Ballynalurgan
maum, maammámmountain passMaum, Maam
magh, may, moy, moimaigh, machaireplainMagherafelt, Maynooth, Mayo, Moycullen
mona, moneymóna, monadhmoor, turf, peatlandCornamona, Ballymoney
mona, money, winga, winna, winny, vinna, vinny, vunnia, bonni, bunnymuinethicketMoneygall, Carrowmoney, Kilmoney, Ballywinna, Ballinvinny, Bonniconlon
monastermainistirabbey, monasteryMonasteraden, Monasterevin
moremórbig, greatBallymore, Baltimore, Kilmore, Oranmore, Tullamore
mulla, mulhmullachsummitMullagh, Mullaghmore, Mullaghbawn, Mulhuddart
mullinmuileannmillMullinahone, Mullinavat, Mullingar, Bellanamullia
noenuanewBallynoe, Templenoe
owenabhainnriverOwenbeg
poll, poulpollholePollagh, Poulaphouca, Poulpeasty
portportstronghold, fortPortlaoise
portportport, harbour, landing placePortadown, Portmarnock
rath, rahráthearthen ringfortRathdrum, Rathfarnham, Rathmines, Raheen, Raheny
rea, revariabhachbrindled, speckledLoughrea, Moneyreagh, Cloonsheerevagh
roeruaredCarraroe, Murroe, Portroe
ros, ross, rosh, rus, rushroswood, wooded promontoryRoscommon, Roscrea, Rush, Kilrush, New Ross, Carrickmacross
sall, salla, sallysailwillowBallysally, Sallins
shanseanoldShanballymore, Shandon, Shankill
sheskinseascannmarsh, quagmireSheskin
ske, skey, skay, skeasceach bush, hawthornSkehana, Skeheenarinky, Ballyskeagh, Clonskeagh
skreen, skrine, skrynescrínshrineSkreen, Skryne
slievesliabhmountainSlievenamon, Slieve Donard
sra, srah, stra, strad, strath, strawsrath, sraithfloodplainSragh, Stranorlar, Stradone, Strathfoyle, Straw
ta, taugh, te, tee, titeachhouseTaney, Taghadoe, Taghmaconnell, Taughboyne, Templeogue, Timoleague, Tydavnet
templeteampallchurchTemplemore, Templenoe, Ballintemple
ter, tir, tyrtírterritoryTerenure, Terryglass, Tirconaill, Tyrone
termontearmannrefuge, sanctuaryTermon, Termonfeckin
tievetaobhhillsideTievebulliagh
tober, tubbertobarwater wellBallintober, Tobermore, Tubberclare, Tubbercurry
tra, trytrá, tráighbeach, strandTragumna, Tralee, Tramore, Ventry
tuam, tom, toomtuaimburial moundTuam, Tuamgraney, Toomevara
tulla, tully, tullowtulachhillock, mound, heapTullamore, Tullyallen, Tullyhogue, Tullow
turlough, turlaghturlachturloughTurlough, Turloughmore, Turlaghmore
orlar, urlar, urlaururlárfloor, flat landStranorlar, Urlar
vea, veibheithe birchBallyveagh, Glenveagh