Ballygunner (Baile Mhic Gonair in Irish), is a large Irish Townland in County Waterford. Its boundaries coincide with that of St. Mary's and St. Joseph & St. Benildus parishes. It contains inside it several smaller areas, some that may be classified as Townlands in their own right. These are: Ballygunner Mhór, Ballygunner Castle, Knockboy, the Dunmore Road Area, Granstown, Callaghan & Ballinamuncha.
The area has been commonly referred to as Ballygunner since late Viking times. The name, Baile Mhic Gonair, translates roughly as "Home of The Son of Gönar". Local foclóir suggests that Gönar, a local Viking, sent his son to the area to the east of the Waterford City Walls.It is believed that Gönar then built a castle at the current site of Ballygunner Castle & it is from there that the area gets its name.