Return to Free Library | Return to first page

IRISH LOCAL NAMES EXPLAINED

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y

VOCABULARY OF IRISH ROOT WORDS A B C D E F G I L M N O P R S T U

IRISH LOCAL NAMES EXPLAINED

Abbeyfeale in Limerick; Mainistir-na-Feile, the monastery or abbey of the river Feale.

Abbeygormican in Galway; the abbey of the O'Cormacans.

Abbeylara or Lara in Longford, Leath-rath, F. M. [Lah-rah], half rath or fort.

Abbeyleix ; the abbey of the old principality of Leix, so called from a monastery founded there in 1183 by Conor 0'Moore. In the reign of Felimy the Lawgiver (A. D. 111 to 119), this territory was given by the king of Leinster to Lughaidh Laeighseach [Lewy Leeshagh], Conall Carnach's grandson, for helping to expel the Munstermen who had seized on Ossory. Lewy's descendants, the O'Moores, took from him the tribe name, Laeighis [Leesh], and their territory was called by the same name, now modernized to Leix.

Abbeyshrule in Longford; from a monastery founded there by one of the O'Farrells. It was anciently called Sruthair [Sruher], F. M., i. e. the stream, of which Shrule is a corruption.

Abbeystrowry in Cork; the same name as the last. The sruthair or stream from which it was called, gave name also to Bealnashrura (the beal or ford-mouth of the stream) a village situated at an ancient ford.

Achonry in Sligo, Achadh-Chonaire [Aha-Conary], F. M., Conary's field.

Adare in Limerick; Ath-dara [Ah-dara], F. M., the ford of the oak tree. A large oak must have anciently overshadowed the old ford on the Maigue.

Addergoole, Addragool, Adrigole, Adrigoole; Eadar-dha-ghabhal [Adragoul], i. e. (a place) between two (river) forks.

Aderrig; Ath-dearg, red ford. See Aghaderg.

Affane on the Blackwater below Cappoquin; Ath-mheadhon, [Ah-vane], F. M., middle ford.

Agha in several counties; Achadh [Aha], a field.

Aghaboe in Queen's County, where St. Canice of Kilkenny had his principal church. Adamnan in his Life of St. Columkille, written in the seventh century, has the following passage, which settles the meaning:-"St. Canice being in the monastery which is called in Latin Campulus bovis (i. e. the field of the cow), but in Irish Ached-bou"

Aghaboy; Achadh-buidhe [Aha-boy], yellow field.

Aghacross near Kildorrery in Cork; the ford of the cross; probably from a cross erected in connexion with St. Molaga's adjacent establishment, to mark a ford on the Funcheon. See Templemolaga.

Aghada near Cork; Ath-fhada [Ahada], long ford.

Aghaderg; Ath-dearg, red ford. See Aderrig.

Aghadoe near Killarney; Achad-da-eo [Aha-daw-o], F. M., the field of the two yew trees.

Aghadowey in Derry; Achadh-Dubhthaigh [Ahaduffy], O'C. Cal., Duffy's field.

Aghadown and Aghadoon; the field of the dun or fort.

Aghadreen, Aghadreenagh, Aghadreenan, Aghadrinagh; the field of the dreens or sloe bushes (draeighean).

Aghafad, Aghafadda; long field.

Aghagallon; the field of the gallan or standing stone.

Aghagower in Mayo; the correct name would be Agha-fower, for the ancient form, as found in the old Lives of St. Patrick, is Achadh-fobhair, the field of the spring, from a celebrated well, now called St. Patrick's well. The present form is written in Hy F., Achadh-gabhair, which means the field of the goat.

Aghamore; Achadh-mor, great field.

Aghanloo; Athan-Lugha, Lugh's or Lewy's little ford.

Aghavea in Fermanagh; Achadh-beithe [Ahabehy], F. M , the field of the birch trees.

Aghaveagh in Donegal and Tyrone; same as last.

Aghavilla, Aghaville, Aghavilly; Achadh-bhile, the field of the bile or old tree.

Aghaviller in Kilkenny; Achadh-biorair [Ahabirrer], F. M., the field of the watercresses (r changed to l).

Aghindarragh in Tyrone ; the field of the oak. Aghintamy near Monaghan ; Achadh- an-tsamhaidh, the field of the sorrel.

Aghmacart in Queen's County; the field of Art's son.

Aghnamullen in Monaghan; the field of the mills.

Aghnaskea, Aghnaskeagh, Aghnaskew; Achadh-na-sceach, the field of the white-thorn bushes.

Aghowle in Wicklow; Achadh-abhla, the field of the apple trees.

Aglish; Eaglais [aglish], a church.

Aglishcloghane in Tipperary; the church of the cloghaun or row of stepping stones.

Aglishcormick in Limerick; St. Cormac's church.

Aglishdrinagh in Cork; Eaglais-draeighneach, the church of the dreens or sloe bushes.

Agolagh in Antrim; Ath-gobhlach, forked ford.

Ahane, Ahaun; Athan, little ford.

Ahaphuca; the ford of the pooka or spright.

Ahascragh in Galway; Ath-eascrach, F. M,, the ford of the esker or sand-hill.

Aille; Aill, a cliff.

Alleen; Aillin, a little cliff.

Alt; Alt, a height, the side of a glen.

Altan; little cliff or glen side.

Altaturk; the glen side of the boar (torc).

Altavilla; the glen side of the bile or old tree.

Altinure; Alt-an-iubhair [yure], the glen side of the yew tree.

Altnaveagh and Altnaveigh; Alt-na-bhfiach, the cliff or glen side of the fiachs or ravens.

Anna; same as Annagh, which see.

Annabella near Mallow; Eanach-bile, the marsh of the bile or old tree.

Annaclone; the marsh of the meadow (cluain).

Annacotty near Limerick; Ath-na-coite, the ford of the cot or little boat.

Annacramph in Armagh and Monaghan; Eanach-creamha, the marsh of the wild garlick.

Annaduff; Eanach-dubh, F. M., black marsh.

Annagh; Eanach, a marsh.

Annaghaskin in Dublin, near Bray; Eanach-easgann, the marsh of the eels.

Annaghbeg, Annaghmore; little marsh, great marsh.

Annahagh, Annahaia in Monaghan and Armagh; Ath-na-haithe, the ford of the kiln (aith).

Annahavil; Eanach-abhaill, the marsh of the orchard (abhall).

Annahilt in Down; Eanach-eilte, the marsh of the doe (eilit).

Annakisha; the ford of the kish or wickerwork causeway.

Annalong in Down; Ath-na-long, the ford of the ships (long): the ford was near the place where vessels used to be moored or anchored.

Annamoe in Wicklow; Ath-na-mbo, the ford of the cows (bo).

Anny; same as Annagh, which see.

Arboe in Tyrone; Ard-bo, the cow's height.

Ard; high; a height.

Ardagh; Ard-achadh [Ard-aha], high field.

Ardaghy; same as Ardagh.

Ardan, Ardane, Ardaun; little ard or height.

Ardara in Donegal; Ard-a'-raith, the height of the rath, from a hill near the village, on which stands a conspicuous fort.

Ardataggle, Ardateggle; Ard-a'-tseagail, the height of the rye (seagal).

Ardbane, Ardbaun; white height.

Ardbeg; little height.

Ardbraccan in Meath; St. Brecan's height. St. Brecan erected a church here in the sixth century, some time previous to his removal to the great island of Aran, where he had his chief establishment.

Ardcarn; the height of the carn or monumental heap.

Ardcath; the height of the battle (cath).

Ardee in Louth. Old English form Atherdee, which represents the Irish Ath-Fhirdia [Ahirdee], as it is written in Irish authorities, the ford of Ferdia, a chieftain who was slain there in battle by Cuchullin in the first century.

Ardeen in Cork and Kerry; little height.

Ardeevin; Ard-aeibhinn, beautiful height.

Arderin; the height of Erin or Ireland.

Ardfert in Kerry; Ard-ferta, E. M., the height of the grave. Sometimes called Ardfert-Brendan, from St. Brendan the navigator, who founded a monastery there in the sixth century.

Ardfinnan in Tipperary; the height of St. Finan, who founded a monastery there in the seventh century.

Ardgeeha; Ard-gaeithe, height of the wind.

Ardglass; Ard-glas, green height.

Ardgoul; Ard-gabhal, high fork.

Ardkeen; Ardcaein, beautiful height.

Ardkill; high church or wood (cill or coill).

Ardlougher; Ard-luachra, rushy height.

Ardmayle; Ard-Maille, E. M., Malley's height.

Ardmeen; smooth height.

Ardmore in various counties; great height.

Ardmulchan in Meath; Ard-Maelchon, E. M., Maelchon's height.

Ardnacrusha, Ardnacrushy; the height of the cross.

Ardnageeha, Ardnageehy; the height of the wind (gaeth).

Ardnanean; the height of the birds (en).

Ardnapreaghaun; the height of the prehauns or crows.

Ardnarea near Ballina; Ard-na-riaghadh [reea], Hy F., the hill of the executions. Four persons were executed here in the seventh century, for the murder of Kellach, bishop of Kilmore-Moy.

Ardnurcher in Westmeath; a corruption of Athnurcher, from Ath-an-urchair, F. M., the ford of the cast or throw. According to a very ancient legend, a battle was fought here in the first century, between the Connaught and Ulster forces. Keth Mac Magach, a Connaught chief, threw a hard round ball at Conor mac Nessa, king of Ulster, and struck him on the head, from the effects of which the king died seven years afterwards.

Ardpatrick; St. Patrick's height.

Ardrahan; Ard-rathain, the height of the ferns.

Ardskeagh; the height of the skeaghs or bushes.

Ardstraw in Tyrone; Ard-sratha [Ard-srawha], F. M., the height of (or near) the river holm.

Ardvally in Donegal and Sligo. See page 1.

Ardvarna, Ardvarness, Ardvarney, Ardvarnish; Ard-bhearna and Ard-bhearnas, high gap.

Arless in Queen's County; Ard-lios, high fort.

Armagh; written in all Irish authorities Ard-Macha, which, in the Book of Armagh, is translated Altitudo Machae, Macha's height. From Queen Macha of the golden hair, who founded the palace of Emania, 300 years B.C.

Armoy in Antrim; Airthir-Maighe [Arhir-moy], F. M., eastern plain.

Artimacormack in Antrim; Ard-tighe-Mic-Cormaic, the height of Mac Cormack's house.

Artrea in Derry; Ard-Trea (Mart. Taml.), Trea's height. The virgin St. Trea flourished in the fifth century.

Askeaton; took its name from the cataract on the Deel near the town, which the F. M. call Eas-Gephtine [Ass-Geftine], Gephtine's cataract.

Assan, Assaun; small ass or waterfall.

Assaroe at Ballyshannon. The Book of Leinster states that Aedh-Ruadh [Ay-roo], queen Macha's father (see Armagh), was drowned in this cataract, which was thence called from him Eas-Aedha-Ruaidh [Assayroo], Aedh-Ruadh's waterfall.

Assey on the Boyne in Meath. The F. M. record that in A. D. 524 "the battle of Ath Sithe [Ah-Shee] was gained by Muircheartach (king of Ireland) against the Leinstermen, where Sithe [Shee] the son of Dian was slain, from whom Ath-Sithe (Sithis ford) is called."

Athenry; Ath-na-riogh [ree], F. M., the ford of the kings.

Athgoe in Dublin; the ford of the gow or smith.

Athlacca in Limerick; from a ford on the Morning Star river, called Ath-leacach, stony ford.

Athleague in Roscommon; Ath-liag, F. M., the ford of the stones.

Athlone; from the ancient ford over the Shannon, called in Irish authorities Ath-Luain, the ford of Luan, a man's name.

Athneasy in Limerick; called in the F. M., Ath-na-nDeise [Athnaneasy], the ford of (the tribe of) the Desii, who inhabited the old territory of Deisbeag, round Knockany.

Athnid in Tipperary; the ford of the nead or bird's nest.

Athnowen, a parish near Ballincollig in Cork; from a ford on the river Bride, called Ath-'n-uamhainn [Ath-nooan], the ford of the cave (uaimh), from the great limestone cave at " The Ovens," near the ford.

Athy. One of the battles between Lewy and the Munstermen (see Abbeyleix), was fought at a ford on the Barrow, where a Munster chief, Ae, was slain; and from him. the place was called Ath-I (Wars of GG), the ford of Ae.

Attavally; Ait-a'-bhaile, the site of the bally or town. Atti or Atty in the beginning of a name, is the anglicised form of ait-tighe [aut-tee], the place or site of a house (ait and teach).

Attidermot; the site of Dermot's house.

Attiduff; the site of the black house.

Attykit; the site of Ceat's or Keth's house.

Aughall in Tipperary and Aughil in Derry; Eochaill, the yew wood (eo and coill). See Youghal and Oghill.

Aughinish; Each-inis, F. M., the island of horses.

Aughnacloy; Aehadh-na-cloiche [Ahanacloha], the field of the stone.

Aughnahoy; Achadh-na-haithe, the field of the kiln (aith).

Aughnanure near Oughterard in Galway; Achadh-na--niubhar [Ahananure], the field of the yew trees. One of the old yews still remains.

Aughnish; same as Aughinish.

Aughrim; the name is written in Irish documents, Each-dhruim [Agh-rim: dh silent], which Colgan translates Equi-mons, the hill, druim, or ridge, of the horse (each).

Aughris, Aughrus; Each-ros, F. M., the peninsula of the horses.

Avalbane, Avalreagh; white orchard, grey orchard (abhall).

Avonmore, Avonbeg; great river, little river (abhainn).

Aubeg; Abh-bheag, little river.

Ayle; same as Aille, which see.