Irish Place Names A
ABBEYFEALE, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Mainistir na Féile SOURCE: OS TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: from the river name Feile, traditionally derived from the legendary Fial, wife of Lewy. She was spotted by him bathing naked in the river and not realising that the voyeur was her husband expired from shock and shame. The abbey was founded by Brian O'Brien in 1188. The 1306 Latin version of the name was Ecclesia de Feel.
ABBEYLEIX, County Laois NAME ON MAP: Mainistir Laeighis SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Mainistir Laoise TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: see the entry for Laois. The monastery was founded in 1183 by Conor O' Moore.
ABINGTON, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Wetheneya DATE: 1205 MODERN IRISH NAME: Mainistir Uathine TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: from mainistir `monastery' and Uaithne the original name of the territory. Wetheneya is a corruption. The anglicized version of the name, Abbey Owney, changed over the centuries to Abington.
ACHILL ISLAND, County Mayo NAME ON MAP: Accuill DATE: 1235 MODERN IRISH NAME: Acaill MEANING: uncertain.
ACHONRY, County Sligo NAME ON MAP: Achadh Conaire SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1262 MODERN IRISH NAME: Achadh Conaire TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: achadh `field' of Conaire.
ADARE, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Adare DATE: 1299 FIRST RECORD: cath Atho Dara DATE: 458 MODERN IRISH NAME: Oth Dara TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: from ath `ford' and dara, the genitive of dair `oak'.
AGHABOE, County Laois NAME ON MAP: Achadbou FIRST RECORD: campulus bovis DATE: c.700 MODERN IRISH NAME: Achadh Bhó TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: from achadh `field' and bo `cow'.
AGHADOE, County Kerry NAME ON MAP: Achadh da Eó SOURCE: Four Masters MODERN IRISH NAME: Achadh Dá Eó TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: derived from achadh `field', da `two' and eó `yew tree'.
AGHAGOWER, County Mayo NAME ON MAP: Achadh Gabhair DATE: 1302 FIRST RECORD: Ached Fobuir DATE: c.700 MODERN IRISH NAME: Achadh Ghobhair TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: the earliest form probably derived from achadh `field' and tobar `spring' (St. Patrick's well). The corruption to achadh?gabhair `the field of the goat', however, goes back to the date of this map.
ANTRIM, County Antrim NAME ON MAP: Oentrebh SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Aontroim TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: obscure. `One tribe' or `one house' was suggested in the 19th century, but `lone elder tree' has been favoured recently.
ARAN ISLAND, County Donegal NAME ON MAP: Orainn Mor SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Orainn Mhór TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: possibly from ára `kidney, loin' hence `arch?shaped' and mór `big, great'.
ARAN ISLAND, County Galway NAME ON MAP: Orainn SOURCE: OS TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: see Aran Island, Donegal. (Which is actually smaller.)
ARDAGH, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Ardachadh DATE: 1200 MODERN IRISH NAME: Ardach TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: from árd `height' and achadh `field'.
ARDCARN, County Roscommon NAME ON MAP: Ord Carna SOURCE: OS TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: "ard `height' of the carn `cairn'".
ARDEE, County Louth NAME ON MAP: Ath Fhirdia SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile Otha Fhirdia TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: legend has it that the Connacht warrior Fear Diadh (Ferdia) was killed at the ath `ford' here in the first century by his old childhood friend and Ulster champion Cú Chullain during Queen Medb's (Maeve's) attack on Ulster.
ARDFERT, County Kerry NAME ON MAP: Ard Ferta SOURCE: Four Masters MODERN IRISH NAME: Ord Fhearta TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: from árd `height' and fert, plural ferta, `grave'. The monastery was founded by St Brendan the Navigator.
ARDFINNAN, County Tipperary NAME ON MAP: Ard Fionain SOURCE: Calendar of the O'Clerys MODERN IRISH NAME: Ord Fhíonáin TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "árd `height' of St Fhiónán Lobhar". (St Finan the Leper died between 675 and 695.)
ARDGLASS, County Down NAME ON MAP: Ard Glas SOURCE: Four Masters MODERN IRISH NAME: Ord Ghlais TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: from glas `green' and árd `height'.
ARDKEEN, County Down NAME ON MAP: Ard Caein SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Ord Caoin TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: `beautiful height'.
ARDMORE, County Waterford NAME ON MAP: Ard Mor MODERN IRISH NAME: An Oird Mhór TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: "mor `great' árd `height'".
ARDPATRICK, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Ord Pádraig SOURCE: OS TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: "St Patrick's árd `height'".
ARDRAHAN, County Galway NAME ON MAP: Ard Rathain SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Ard Raithin TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: from árd `height' and raithne `fern'.
ARDSCULL, County Kildare NAME ON MAP: Ard Scol SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Ord Scol TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "ard `height' scol `of the schools'". There is no record of a school as such, but the alternative early name Ard na macraidhe "height of the boys" lends credibility to this translation.
ARKLOW, County Wicklow NAME ON MAP: Arclo / An Tinbhear Mór DATE: 1279 MODERN IRISH NAME: An tInbhear Mór TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "NORSE ló `meadow' of Arnkel". The Irish name means "the big estuary".
ARMAGH, County Armagh NAME ON MAP: Ard Macha DATE: 1253 FIRST RECORD: Altitudo Mach. (in Latin) DATE: 807 MODERN IRISH NAME: Ord Mhacha TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "Macha's ard `height'". There are three possible Machas in legend, the most likely being Macha of the Golden Hair, who reputedly founded the palace of Emania near Navan in about 300 BC. See the entry for Assaroe.
ARMOY, County Antrim NAME ON MAP: Airthear Maighe SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Oithear Maí TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: "oithear `east' of the magh `plain'".
ASKEATON, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Ess Geibtine DATE: 1199 MODERN IRISH NAME: Eas Géitine TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: "eas `waterfall' of Géitine". (He was presumably an early chieftain.)
ASSAROE (BALLYSHANNON), County Donegal NAME ON MAP: Eas Aedha Ruaidh SOURCE: OS TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: "Aedh Ruadh's eas `waterfall'". The legendary father of Macha (see the entry for Armagh), Aedh Ruadh was drowned here and buried nearby.
ATHBOY, County Meath NAME ON MAP: Ath buidhe Tlachtga SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile Otha Buí TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "the buidhe `yellow' ath `ford'". The full name included the hill name Tlachtga, now "the hill of Ward".
ATHENRY, County Galway NAME ON MAP: Ath na Riogh SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1266 MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile Otha an Rí TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also walled town MEANING: "ath `ford' rí `of the kings'".
ATHLEAGUE, County Roscommon NAME ON MAP: Ath Liag SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1271 MODERN IRISH NAME: Oth Liag TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "ford of the stones". In the Four Masters it appears as Ath Liag Maenagain commemorating a forgotten St Mainagan.
ATHLONE, County Westmeath NAME ON MAP: Ath Luain SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1268 FIRST RECORD: Athmore MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile Otha Luain TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: originally "the mor `great' ath `ford'"; later "Luan's ford". Luan was a common name.
ATHY, County Kildare NAME ON MAP: Ath I SOURCE: Literature MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile Othao TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "Ae's ath `ford'". Ae was a legendary Munster chief killed here in battle with Lughaidh Laeighseach (Lewy Leesagh), possibly in the 2nd century.
AUGHRIM, County Galway NAME ON MAP: Each Dhruim SOURCE: Irish Authorities MODERN IRISH NAME: Eachro TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "eachra `horse' droim `ridge'".