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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

Racavan; Rath-cabhain, the fort of the hollow.

Rahan in King's County; Raithin, a ferny place.

Rahaniska, Rahanisky; the rath of the water.

Rahard; Rath-ard, high fort.

Raharney in Westmeath; Rath-Athairne, Aharny's fort.

Raheen; little rath or fort.

Raheenduff; black little fort Raheenroe; Raithin-ruadh, red little fort.

Rahelty; Rath-eilte, the fort of the doe (eilit).

Raheny near Dublin; Rath-~Enna, F. M., Enna's fort.

Rahugh in Westmeath; the fort of St. Aedh or Hugh, the son of Brec, who built a church in the old rath in the sixth century.

Raigh; same as Rath, a fort.

Rakeeragh; the fort of the sheep (caera).

Ramoan in Antrim; Rath-Modhain, Modan's fort.

Ranaghan, Rannagh; a ferny place (raithne, a fern).

Raphoe in Donegal; Rath-bhoth [Ra-voh], F. M., the fort of the boths, tents, or huts.

Rasharkin in Antrim; Ros-Earcain, Erkan's promontory.

Rashee in Antrim; Rath-sithe [Ra-shee], F. M., the fort of the fairies.

Ratass in Kerry; Rath-teas, southern fort.

Rath; a circular fort.

Rathangan in Kildare; Rath-Iomghain [Rath-Imgan], Imgan's fort.

Rathanny; Rath-eanaighe, the fort of the marsh.

Rathaspick; the fort of the bishop (easpug}.

Rathbane, Rathbaun; white rath.

Rathbeg; little fort.

Rathborney in Clare; Rath-boirne, the fort of Burren, from its situation in the old district of Burren.

Rathcormack; Cormac's fort.

Rathdowney in Queen's County; Rath-tamhnaigh [Rath-towney], F. M., the fort of the green field (tamhnach).

Rathdrum; the fort of the long hill.

Rathduff; black fort.

Rathfeigh in Meath; the fort of the exercise green. See Faha.

Rathfryland in Down; see page 4.

Rathglass; green fort.

Rathkeale; Rath-Gaela, Gaela's fort.

Rathkenny; Rath-Cheannaigh [Kanny], Ceannach's fort.

Rathkieran in Kilkenny; Kieran's fort; from St. Kieran of Ossory. See Seirkieran.

Rathmore; great fort.

Rathmoyle; bald or dilapidated fort.

Rathmullan; Rath-Maelain, F. M., Maelan's rath.

Rathnew in Wicklow; Rath-Naoi, F. M., Naoi's fort.

Rathreagh; Rath-riabhach, grey fort.

Rathroe; red fort.

Rathronan; Ronan's fort.

Rathsallagh; Rath-salach, dirty fort.

Rathvilly in Carlow; Rath-bile, F. M., the fort of the old tree.

Rattoo; Rath-tuaidh [too], northern fort.

Raw; Rath, a fort.

Rea; Reidh, a coarse mountain flat.

Reask, Reisk; Riasg [Reesk], a marsh. Reen; Rinn, a point of land.

Relagh; Reidhleach [Relagh], same meaning as Rea.

Relickmurry; Reilig, a church: the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Riesk; a marsh; same as Reask.

Rin, Rine, Rinn; Rinn, a point of land.

Ring; another form of Rin.

Ringabella near the mouth of Cork harbour; the point of the old tree (bile).

Ringagonagh near Dungarvan; Rinn-0'gCuana [Ogoona], the point or peninsula of the O'Cooneys.

Ringbane, Ringbaun ; white point.

Ringcurran near Kinsale; the point of the corran or reaping hook; from its shape.

Ringrone near Kinsale; written in the Annals of Innisfallen, Rinn-roin, the point of the seal.

Ringvilla, Ringville; Rinn-bhile [villa], the point of the bile or ancient tree.

Rinneen; little point of land.

Rinville in Galway; Rinn-Mhil [vil], the point of Mil, a Firbolg chieftain.

Risk; same as Reask.

Roeillaun; Ruadh-oilean [Roo-illaun], red island.

Rooaun, Rooghan, Rooghaun; reddish land (from ruadh, red).

Roosk; Rusg, a marsh. See Reask.

Roosca, Rooskagh, Roosky; Rusgach, marshy, a marshy place.

Roscommon; Ros-Comain, F. M., Coman's wood, from St. Coman, who founded a monastery there in the eighth century.

Roscrea; written in the Book of Leinster, Ros-cre, Cre's wood.

Roshin; little ros or promontory.

Roskeen; Ros-caein, beautiful wood.

Ross; in the south generally means a wood; in the north, a peninsula.

Rossbegh or Rossbehy west of Killarney ; the peninsula of birches (beith).

Rossbeg; small wood or promontory.

Ross Carbery in Cork; the latter part from the barony of Carbery in which it is situated: it was anciently called Ros-ailithir [allihir], F. M., the wood of the pilgrims.

Ross Castle at Killarney; from the little ros or peninsula on which it stands.

Rosses in Donegal; i. e. peninsulas.

Rossinver in Leitrim; Ros-inbhir, the peninsula of the river mouth; from a point of land running into the south part of Lough Melvin.

Rossmore; great wood or peninsula.

Rossorry near Enniskillen; corrupted from Ros-airthir [arher], F. M., the eastern peninsula.

Roughan, Ruan; same as Rooaun.

Rousky; same as Roosca and Rooskey.

Route. The northern part of Antrim was anciently called Dalriada (F. M.), i. e. Riada's portion or tribe, from Carbery Riada, son of Conary II. (see Corkaguiny); and the latter part (Riada) of this old name, is still preserved in the corrupted form of Route.

Rush in Dublin; Ros-eo [Rush-o], F. M., the peninsula of the yew trees.

Rusheen; small wood; a growth of underwood.

Russagh; Ros-each, F. M., the wood of the horses.

Rusky; the same as Roosca and Roosky.

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