Place names in Irish
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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 advice 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 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.
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. Some towns in Omagh District Council and Cookstown District Council also display bilingual names on some welcome signs (eg. "OMAGH" An Ómaigh). Many road signs in Magherafelt District Council are displayed bilingually, including all road signs in Bellaghy.
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).
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[edit] Etymology
Common words found in Irish place names include:
- Ard- ard - 'high'
- Ath- áth - 'ford'
- Bally- baile - 'town' or in several instances, béal átha - 'mouth of the ford'
- Bel- béal - 'mouth'
- Carry/Carrick- carraig - 'rock'
- Clon- Cluain - a meadow
- Derry- doire - 'grove'
- Dona- domhnach - 'church'
- Dun- dún - 'fort'
- Glas- glas - 'green'
- Glen- Gleann - a valley
- Inish- inis - island or strand
- Kill- cill - church
- Knock- cnoc - 'hill'
- Rath- rath - 'fort'
- Slieve- sliabh' - 'mountain'
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 na Sionainne, that is 'Town of the Shannon'. In fact the Irish name is Béal Átha Seanaigh which means 'Mouth of Seanach's Fort'.
[edit] Names of provinces
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.
[edit] Names of counties
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 not named after towns include 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 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
- County Leitrim - Liatroim / Co. Liatroma - meaning "Grey Ridge"
- County Limerick - Luimneach / Co. Luimnigh - meaning "Bare Land"
- County Londonderry - Doire / Co. Dhoire - meaning "Oak Wood"
- 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", because it was the middle province
- County Monaghan - Muineachán / Co. Mhuineacháin - meaning "Place of Thickets"
- County Offaly - Uibh Fhailí / Co. Uibh Fhailí - derived from "Ua Fáilghe" meaning "Descendants of Fáilghe"
- 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"
- County 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"
[edit] Names of cities
- Belfast - Béal Feirste
- Cork - Corcaigh
- Derry - Doire or Doire Cholm Cille
- Dublin - Baile Átha Cliath
- Galway - Gaillimh
- Kilkenny - Cill Chainnigh
- Limerick - Luimneach
- Lisburn - Lios na gCearrbhach
- Newry - Iúr Cinn Trá or an tIúr
- Waterford - Port Láirge
[edit] Names of towns
- Abbeyleix - Mainistir Laoise
- Antrim - Aontroim
- Ardee - Baile Átha Fhirdhia
- Ardmore - AirdMór
- Arklow - An tInbhear Mór
- Armagh - Ard Mhacha
- Ashbourne - Cill Dhéagláin
- Athlone - Baile Átha Luain
- Athenry - Baile Átha an Rí
- Aughrim (several) - Eachroim or Eachdhroim
- Balbriggan - Baile Brigín
- Ballina - Béal an Átha or Béal Átha an Fheadha
- Ballinrobe - Baile an Róba
- Ballinasloe - Béal Átha na Sluaighe
- Ballycastle - Baile an Chaisil
- Ballymena - An Baile Meánach
- Ballyshannon - Béal Átha Seanaidh
- Baltimore - Dún na Séad
- Bangor - Beannchar
- Belmullet - Béal an Mhuirthid
- Blackrock - Carraig Dhubh
- Borris - Buiríos Uí Léigh
- Borris-in-Ossory - Buiríos Osraí
- Boyle - Mainistir na Buaille
- Bray - Brí Chualann
- Caherciveen - Cathair Saidhbhín
- Cahir - Cathair Dún Iascaigh
- Cappoquin - Ceapach Chaoin
- Carlow - Ceatharlach
- Carrickfergus - Carraig Fhearghasa
- Carrick-on-Shannon - Cora Droma Rúisc
- Carrigaline - Carraig Uí Leighin
- Cashel - Caiseal (Mumhan)
- Castlebar - Caisleán an Bharraigh
- Castleconnell - Caisleán Uí gConaing
- Castlederg - Caisleán na Deirge
- Castleisland - Oileán Chiarraí
- Castlerea - an Caisleán Riabhach
- Castletownbere - Baile Chaisleáin Bhéara
- Cavan - an Cábhán
- Celbridge - Cill Droichid
- Claremorris - Clár Chlainne Mhuiris
- Clifden - An Clochán
- Clones - Cluain Eois
- Clonmel - Cluain Meala
- Cloughjordan - Cloch Shiurdáin
- Coalisland - Oileán an Ghuail
- 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 Ceithleann
- Eyrecourt - Dún an Uchta
- 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
- Kells - Ceanannas (Mór)
- Kilcock - Cill Choca
- Kildare - Cill Dara
- Kilmainham - Cill Mhaighneann
- Killala - Cill Ala
- Killaloe - Cill Dalua
- Killarney - Cill Áirne
- Killiney - Cill Iníon Léinín
- Killybegs - Na Cealla Beaga
- Kinsale - Ceann tSáile
- Knock - Cnoc Mhuire
- Leixlip - Léim an Bhradáin
- Letterkenny - Leitir Ceanainn
- Lifford - Leifear
- Lisdoonvarna - Lios Dúin Bhearna
- Loughrea - Baile Locha Riach
- Louisburgh - Cluain Cearbáin
- Lucan - Leamhcán
- Lurgan - An Lorgain
- Malahide - Mullach Íde
- Mallow - Maigh Eala (preferred and historical) or Mala
- Maynooth - Maigh Nuad
- Midleton - Mainistir na Corann
- 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
- Newcastle (many throughout Ireland) - an Caisleán Nua
- Newbridge - An Droichead Nua
- Newport, County Mayo - Baile Uí Fhiacháin
- Newport, County Tipperary - Tulach Sheasta
- New Ross - Ros Mhic Triúin
- Newtownabbey - Baile na Mainistreach
- Newtownards - Baile Nua na hArda
- Omagh - An Ómaigh
- Portadown - Port an Dúnáin
- Roscrea - Roscré
- Roscommon - Ros Comáin
- Rosslare - Ros Láir
- Shannonbridge - Rachra
- Shankill - Sean Chill
- Skerries - Na Sceirí
- Sligo - Sligeach
- Spiddal - An Spidéal
- Strabane - an tSraith Bhán
- Strokestown - Mainistir na mBuillí
- Swords - Sórd
- Tallaght - Tamhlacht or Tamhlacht na Lobhar
- Thurles - Dúrlas Éile
- Tipperary - Tiobrad Árann
- Tralee - Trá Lí
- Tramore - an Trá Mhór
- Tuam - Tuaim (dhá Ghualainn)
- Tullow - an Tulach
- Tullamore - an Tulach Mhór
- Westport - Cathair na Mart
- Wexford - Loch Garman
- Wicklow - Cill Mhantáin
- Youghal - Eochaill
[edit] Names of streets
- Shankill Road - Bóthar na Seanchille
- Falls Road - Bóthar na bhFál
- O'Connell Street - Sráid Uí Chonaill
- Grand Parade (Cork) - Sráid an Chapaill Bhuí (Street of the Yellow /Pale Horse)
- Patrick Street - Sráid Phádraig
[edit] Names of countries, states, provinces and foreign cities (incomplete)
- Afghanistan - An Afganastáin
- Kabul - Cabúl
- Albania - An Albáin
- Algeria - An Ailgéir
- Argentina - An Airgintín
- Armenia - An Airméin
- Australia - An Astráil
- Austria - An Ostair
- Vienna - Vín
- Bangladesh - An Bhangladéis
- Belarus - Bealarúisis
- Minsk - Minsc
- Belgium - An Bheilg
- Bolivia - An Bholaiv
- La Paz - An Pás
- Bosnia - An Bhoisnia
- Bosnia-Herzegovina - An Bhoisnia Heirseagaivéin
- Brazil - An Bhrasaíl
- Brittany- An Bhriotáin
- Bulgaria- An Bhulgáir
- Cambodia - An Chambóid
- Cameroon - Camarún
- Canada - Ceanada
- Newfoundland - Talamh an Éisc
- Nova Scotia - Alba Nua
- Quebec - Quebec
- Montreal - Montréal
- Channel Islands - Oileáin Mhuir nIocht
- Chile - An tSile
- China - An tSín
- Beijing - Béising / Péicing
- Colombia - An Cholóim
- Cornwall - Corn na Breataine
- Côte d'Ivoire - An Cósta Eabhair
- Abidjan - Abaisean
- Croatia - An Chróit
- Cuba - Cúba
- Cyprus - An Chipir
- Czech Republic - Poblacht na Seice
- Denmark - An Danmhairg
- Copenhagen - Cóbanhávan
- Ecuador - Eacuadór
- East Timor - An Tíomór Thoir
- El Salvador - An tSalvadóir
- Egypt - An Éigipt
- Cairo - Caireo
- England - Sasana
- Bristol - Briostó
- Glastonbury - Glaistimbir / Glaistimbir na nGael / Gloineistir
- Liverpool - Learpholl
- London - Londain
- Manchester - Manchain
- Newcastle - An Caisleán Nua
- York - Eabhrac
- Estonia - An Eastóin
- Ethiopia - An Aetóip
- Addis Ababa - Adas Ababa
- Faroe Islands - Oileáin Fharó
- Finland - An Fhionlainn
- Helsinki - Heilsincí
- France - An Fhrainc
- Paris - Páras
- Gambia - An Ghaimbia
- Georgia - An tSeoirsia
- Germany - An Ghearmáin
- Berlin - Beirlín
- Ghana - Gána
- Gibraltar - Giobráltar
- Greece - An Ghréig
- Athens - An Aithin
- Greenland - An Ghraonlainn
- Guatemala - Guatamala
- Guinea - An Ghuine
- Haiti - Háití
- Honduras - Hondúras
- Hungary - An Ungáir
- Budapest - Búdaipeist
- Iceland - An Íoslainn
- Reykjavík - Réicivíc
- India - An Ind
- Indonesia - An Indinéis
- Jakarta - Iacárta
- Isle of Man - Oileán Mhanann
- Israel - Iosrael
- Jerusalem - Iarúsailéim
- Iran - An Iaráin
- Iraq - An Iaráic
- Baghdad - Bagdad
- Italy - An Iodáil
- Jamaica - Iamáice
- Japan - An tSeapáin
- Tokyo - Tóiceo
- Jordan - an Iordáin
- Kenya - An Chéinia
- Korea - An Chóiré
- Kuwait - Cuáit
- Latvia - An Laitvia
- Lebanon - An Liobáin
- Liechtenstein - Lichtinstéin
- Vaduz - Vadús
- Libya - An Libia
- Lithuania - An Liotuáin
- Luxembourg - Lucsamburg
- Malawi - An Mhaláiv
- Malaysia - Malaeisia
- Mali - Mailí
- Malta - Málta
- Valletta - Vaileite
- Mexico - Meicsiceo
- Mexico City - Cathair Mheicsiceo
- Moldova - An Mholdóiv
- Monaco - Monacó
- Mongolia - An Mhongóil
- Ulaanbaatar - Ulánbátar
- Morocco - Maracó
- Mozambique - Mósaimbíc
- Myanmar - Maenmar
- Namibia - An Namaib
- Nepal - Neipeal
- Netherlands - An Ísiltír
- Amsterdam - Amstardam
- New Zealand - An Nua-Shéalainn
- Nicaragua - Nicearagua
- Nigeria - An Nigéir
- North Korea - An Chóiré Thuaidh
- Northern Ireland - Tuaisceart Éireann
- Norway - An Iorua
- Oslo - Osló
- Pakistan - An Phacastáin
- Palestine - An Phalaistín
- Paraguay - Paragua
- Peru - Peiriú
- Lima - Líoma
- Philippines - Na hOileáin Fhilipíneacha
- Poland - An Pholainn
- Warsaw - Vársá
- Portugal - An Phortaingéil
- Lisbon - Liospóin
- Republic of Ireland - Poblacht na hÉireann
- Romania - An Rómáin
- Bucharest - Búcairist
- Russia - An Rúis
- Moscow - Moscó
- St. Petersburg - Cathair Pheadair
- Rwanda - Ruanda
- Saudi Arabia - An Araib Shádach
- Scotland - Alba
- Senegal - An tSeineagáil
- Serbia - An tSeirbia
- Singapore - Singeapór
- Slovakia - An tSlóvaic
- Slovenia - An tSlóivéin
- Somalia - An tSomáil
- South Africa - An Afraic Theas
- South Korea - An Chóiré Theas
- Spain - An Spáinn
- Madrid - Maidrid
- Sri Lanka - Srí Lanka
- Sudan - An tSúdáin
- Sweden - An tSualainn
- Stockholm - Stócólm
- Switzerland - An Eilvéis
- Geneva - An Ghinéiv
- Syria - An tSiria
- Damascus - Damaisc
- Taiwan - An Téaváin
- Tanzania - An Tansáin
- Thailand - An Téalainn
- Bangkok - Bancác
- Tunisia - An Túinéis
- Turkey - An Tuirc
- Istanbul - Iostanbúl
- Uganda - Uganda
- Ukraine - An Úcráin
- Kiev - Cív
- 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.)
- Alaska - Alasca
- California - California
- Sacramento - An tSacramento
- Hawaii - Habháí
- Massachusetts - Massachusetts
- Boston - Bostún
- New Mexico - Nua-Mheicsiceo
- New York - Nua-Eabhrac
- New York City - Nua-Eabhrac
- North Carolina - Carolina Thuaidh
- North Dakota - Dakota Thuaidh
- Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia - Filideilfia
- Rhode Island - Oileán Rhode
- South Carolina - Carolina Theas
- South Dakota - Dakota Theas
- West Virginia - Virginia Thiar
- Uruguay - Uragua
- Vatican City - Cathair na Vatacáine
- Venezuela - Veiniséala
- Vietnam - Vítneam
- Wales - An Bhreatain Bheag (lit. Little Britain)
- Yemen - An Éimin
- Zambia - An tSaimbia
- Zimbabwe - An tSiombáib
[edit] Names of continents
- Africa - An Afraic
- Asia - An Áise
- Australasia - An Mór-Roinn na hAstráil
- Europe - An Eoraip
- European Union - An tAontas Eorpach
- North America - Meiriceá Thuaidh
- South America - Meiriceá Theas
- United Nations - Na Náisiúin Aontaithe