Irish Place Names E-G
ELPHIN, County Roscommon NAME ON MAP: Oilfinn SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1269 FIRST RECORD: Aill finn DATE: 7th century MODERN IRISH NAME: Ail Finn TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: possibly "rock of the clear spring". (Aill `cliff' is thought to refer to a large stone, which was apparently there in the 19th century.)
EMLY, County Tipperary NAME ON MAP: Imleach Iubhair MODERN IRISH NAME: Imleach TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "land on the edge of a lake, swampy land". The original name, mentioned in The Book of Lismore, was qualified by iubhair `of the yew tree'.
ENNIS, County Clare NAME ON MAP: Inis Cluanaramfhoda SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Inis TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: `river land'. Originally it was always associated with nearby Clonroad which can be translated as "meadow of the long rowing".
ENNISCORTHY, County Wexford NAME ON MAP: Inis Córthaidh SOURCE: OS TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "island, river land of a standing stone".
ERNE, LOUGH, County Fermanagh NAME ON MAP: Loc Eirne SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1342 MODERN IRISH NAME: Loch Éirne TYPE: Lough MEANING: legend has it that the Ernai, one of the ancient Fir Bolg tribes, lived here before the lake flooded the plain.
FAHAN, County Donegal NAME ON MAP: Fathain SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Fathain TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: possibly a "small or sheltered plot".
FENAGH, County Leitrim NAME ON MAP: Fiodhnach SOURCE: Four Masters MODERN IRISH NAME: Fíonacha TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: "woody place".
FERMANAGH (County) EARLY NAME: Fhear Manach SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1281 MODERN IRISH NAME: Fear Manach MEANING: in legend "the men of Monach". A Leinster tribe, claiming descent from Monach fifth in descent from Cahirmore, it retreated north and west from Leinster after being held responsible for the killing of the king's son.
FERMOY, County Cork NAME ON MAP: Feara muighe Feine SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Mainistir Fhear Maí TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: originally "fear `men' (of the) magh `plain' of the Fians". (In legend they were a militia, led at one stage by Finn mac Coole formed to protect the king.)
FERNS, County Wexford NAME ON MAP: Fearna SOURCE: OS FIRST RECORD: Fearna TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: "place of alder trees".
FETHARD, County Tipperary NAME ON MAP: Fiodh Ard SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Fiodh €rd TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: from fiodh `wood' and árd `high'. It was once surrounded by forests.
FETHARD, County Wexford NAME ON MAP: Fiodh Ard SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Fiodh €rd TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "high wood".
FORE, County Westmeath NAME ON MAP: Fobar MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile Fhobhair TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: now "town of the fobhar `spring'". An early spelling, Fobar Feichín, (in Lives of Saints) commemorates the 7th century St Fechin.
GALWAY, County Galway NAME ON MAP: Gaillimh SOURCE: OS TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also walled town MEANING: possibly "stony" from gall `stone', referring either to the rocky location or to the river; "the place of Gailleamh" has, also been suggested.
GARTAN, County Donegal NAME ON MAP: Gartan SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Gartán TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: `the little tilled field or garden'; gart was an earlier form of gort `field'; án is a diminutive suffix. It was the birthplace of Colum Cille (St Columba).
GEASHILL, County Offaly NAME ON MAP: Gíésill DATE: 12th century MODERN IRISH NAME: Géisill TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: `place of swans'; from géis `swan'.
GLANWORTH, County Cork NAME ON MAP: Gleannamhnach SOURCE: Book of Rights MODERN IRISH NAME: Gleannúir TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: originally from gleann `glen' and abhnach `abounding with rivers, watery', the later name came from glean and iubhair `of the yew tree'.
GLENCOLUMBKILLE, County Donegal NAME ON MAP: Gleann Cholm Cille SOURCE: OS TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: "St Columba's gleann `glen, valley'".
GLENDALOUGH, County Wicklow NAME ON MAP: Glindelach DATE: 1214 FIRST RECORD: Glinde da locha DATE: 617 MODERN IRISH NAME: Gleann Dá Loch TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "gleann `valley' of dá `two' loch `lakes'".
GLIN, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Gleann Corbraighe SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: An Gleann TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: originally "Corbrach's gleann `glen, valley'".
GOREY, County Wexford NAME ON MAP: Guaire SOURCE: OS TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: probably guaire `sandbank', but guaireach `wooded' would suit its location better.
GOWRAN, County Kilkenny NAME ON MAP: Gabhran SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Gabhrán TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: from gabhran `goats' or `horses'.
GRAIGUENAMANAGH, County Kilkenny NAME ON MAP: Gráig na Manach SOURCE: OS TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "gráig `village' of the manach `monks'".
GRANARD, County Longford NAME ON MAP: Gránárd DATE: 1100 FIRST RECORD: Gránairud MODERN IRISH NAME: Gránard TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: unknown.
GREAT SKELLIG ISLAND, County Kerry NAME ON MAP: Sceilig Mhichil SOURCE: OS TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: from skellig `sea rock'. There was a religious retreat on the island dedicated to Archangel Michael. Nearby Baile an Sceilg on the mainland means "baile `town' of the skellig".
GREENCASTLE, County Donegal NAME ON MAP: Caislen Innsi hEogain SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1330 MODERN IRISH NAME: An Caisleán Nu TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: originally "caisleán `castle' insi `of the island' of Eoghan". (Owen, died 465, was ancestor of the O'Neills.) An Caisleán Nu means `new castle'
GREENCASTLE, County Down NAME ON MAP: Caisleán na hOreanrí SOURCE: OS TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: caisleán `castle' and a personal name.
GREYABBEY, County Down NAME ON MAP: An Mhainistir Liath SOURCE: OS TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: "grey monastery". It was founded at the end of the 12th century.