Irish Place Names B
BALLA, County Mayo NAME ON MAP: Balla SOURCE: OS TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: balla `wall', traditionally that built around the `Blessed Well' St Mochua, founder of the monastery here in the 7th century.
BALLINROBE, County Mayo NAME ON MAP: Rodba DATE: 1302 FIRST RECORD: Ballemroba DATE: 1485 MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile an Róba TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: derived from baile `town' and rodba, which possibly meant `pointed, sharp or agressive'.
BALLINTOBER, County Mayo NAME ON MAP: Baile Tobain Brighde SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1311 FIRST RECORD: Baile an Topair SOURCE: C12 MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile an Tobair TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "baile `town' of the tobar `well'" (which was dedicated to St Patrick). The 1311 reference includes the word `bridge'. The abbey was built by Cathal, King of Connacht, in 1216.
BALLINTOBER, County Roscommon NAME ON MAP: Baile an Tobair SOURCE: OS TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "baile `town' of the tobar `well'", which was dedicated to St Brigid.
BALLYBEG, County Cork NAME ON MAP: Baile Beg SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: An Baile Beag TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: "beag `small' baile `town'".
BALLYMORE, County Westmeath NAME ON MAP: Baile Mor MODERN IRISH NAME: An Baile Mór TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: derived from baile `town' or béale `ford' and mór `big'.
BALLYMORE EUSTACE, County Kildare NAME ON MAP: Baile Mor SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: An Baile Mór TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "mór `great, big' baile `town'". Eustace comes from the FitzEustaces who held the manor here from 1373?c.1524.
BALLYMOTE, County Sligo NAME ON MAP: Baile an Motaigh SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1340 MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile an Mhóta TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: derived from baile `town' and mhotá `mound', probably referring to the nearby `motte and bailey' castle at Rathdroney.
BANGOR, County Down NAME ON MAP: Bennchoir DATE: 1125 FIRST RECORD: Beannchar DATE: 516 MODERN IRISH NAME: Beannchar TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: possibly from WELSH bangor `strong plaited rod in a fence'. The name came from the monastery's mother foundation in North Wales and could have referred to a wattled fence around the original hermit's cell.
BANNOW, County Wexford NAME ON MAP: La Banue SOURCE: Song of Dermot and the Earl, c.1210 MODERN IRISH NAME: Cuan an Bhainbh TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: `harbour of sucking pig'. The form shown on the map appears in the so?called Song of Dermot and the Earl, an early 13th century chanson de geste, written in Norman French, telling the story of the Anglo?Norman invasion.
BELFAST, County Antrim NAME ON MAP: Le Ford DATE: 1300 FIRST RECORD: Beil Feirsdi DATE: 1476 MODERN IRISH NAME: Béal Feirste TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "béal `ford' at the fearsad `sandbank at the mouth of a river'". It was at the confluence of the Rivers Feirsad and Lagan. The 1300 reference shows the Anglo?Norman form, although it also was recorded in Latin.
BIRR, County Offaly NAME ON MAP: Biorra SOURCE: OS TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: `watery place'. It was later known as Parsonstown.
BLARNEY, County Cork NAME ON MAP: Bhlarna SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: An Bhlarna TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: possibly `exposed place' or `small field'.
BODONEY near PLUMBRIDGE, County Tyrone NAME ON MAP: Both Domhnaigh FIRST RECORD: Both Domhnaigh DATE: c.700 MODERN IRISH NAME: Both Domhnach TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: "both `tent, hut' (of the) domhnach `church'".
BOYLE, County Roscommon NAME ON MAP: Buill SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1284 MODERN IRISH NAME: Mainistir na Búille TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: "monastery of the River Boyle". From bo `cow', perhaps meaning `cow pasture'. Adamnan called it bos `cow' in Latin.
BOYNE (River) NAME ON MAP: Boand SOURCE: 7th century FIRST RECORD: Buvinda SOURCE: Ptolemy, 2nd century MODERN IRISH NAME: An Bhóinn TYPE: River MEANING: traditionally from Boand, the goddess of the river, her name in turn deriving from bo bhán `white cow'.
BRAY, County Wicklow NAME ON MAP: Bree FIRST RECORD: Church records MODERN IRISH NAME: Bré TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: `hill, rising ground'.
BREFFNY EARLY NAME: Breifne SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1316 MEANING: uncertain. An ancient territory covering modern Cavan and west Leitrim under very tenuous Anglo?Norman control in 1300.
BRUREE, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Brunry DATE: 1302 FIRST RECORD: Brugh Righ MODERN IRISH NAME: Brú Rí TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: "brugh `abode' of the ri `king'": principal seat of the legendary King Oilioll Olum of Munster in the 2nd century, and later of the O'Donovans.
BUNRATTY, County Clare NAME ON MAP: Bun Raite SOURCE: OS TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: "bun `bottom or end' of the River Ratty". The Ratty ran through the territory of the O'Carneys and was later called the Owen Ogarney.
BURRISHOOLE, County Mayo NAME ON MAP: Burgis Wrmayl DATE: 1492 FIRST RECORD: Burges Cinn Tráchta (possibly) DATE: 1247 MODERN IRISH NAME: Buiríos Umhaill TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: derived from Old English burg `borough', signifying a town which was founded in the ancient territory of Umhall by the Anglo?Normans.
BUTTEVANT, County Cork NAME ON MAP: Cill na Mullach SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1251 MODERN IRISH NAME: Cill na Mallach TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "cill `church' of the mullach `hillocks'". Buttevant probably came from NORMAN FRENCH botavant `defensive outwork', rather than the Barrymore family motto boutez?an?avant `push forward', which has been suggested.