Irish Place Names L
LAOIS (County) EARLY NAME: Laeighis MODERN IRISH NAME: Laois MEANING: from the tribal name of the § Moores, followers of the legendary Ulster chieftain, Lughaid Laeighseach (Lewy Leshagh). He was granted the land by the King of Leinster as a reward for driving out invaders from Munster. Originally a liberty, it was shired as Queen's County (named after Queen Mary) in 1556. In 1920 it reverted to its Irish name; it is often found on maps under the form of Liex. See the entry for Offaly.
LARNE, County Antrim NAME ON MAP: Inver an Laharna FIRST RECORD: Laharna MODERN IRISH NAME: Latharna TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: the earliest name, which appears in The Book of Rights, refers to the district in Ulster gived by Hugony the Great to Lathair, one of his twenty five sons. The town was thus the inbhear `river mouth' in Laharna.
LEA, County Laois NAME ON MAP: Liath SOURCE: OS TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "grey (land)".
LEIGHLINBRIDGE, County Carlow NAME ON MAP: Leithghlinn SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Leithghlinn an Droichid TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: from leath `half', glean `glen' and droichead `bridge'.
LEINSTER EARLY NAME: Laighen SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1282 MODERN IRISH NAME: Cúige Laighean MEANING: the tribal name of the Celtic people who settled here, possibly in the 3rd century BC, under the legendary Labraid Longsech. Their name may be compared to MODERN IRISH laighean `spear', thus meaning "spear people". The ?ster probably came from the genitive NORSE 's and IRISH tír `land'. Now a province, it was one of the five ancient sub?kingdoms of Ireland. By 1300 it had been divided into counties, although the name would still have been used.
LEIXLIP, County Kildare NAME ON MAP: Laxhlaup FIRST RECORD: Laxhlaup MODERN IRISH NAME: Léim an Bhradáin TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: NORSE leax `salmon' hlaup `leap'. It was probably a direct translation of an earlier Irish name.
LIMERICK, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Luimních SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1302 FIRST RECORD: Luimnigh DATE: 571 MODERN IRISH NAME: Luimneach TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also walled town MEANING: "bare place". (MODERN IRISH lom (genitive luim) means `naked, shorn'.)
LISCARROLL, County Cork NAME ON MAP: Lios Cearúill SOURCE: OS TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: "Cearúl's lios `ring?fort'".
LISMORE, County Waterford NAME ON MAP: Liass Mor SOURCE: Annals FIRST RECORD: Maghsciath MODERN IRISH NAME: Lios Mór TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: Maghsciath "the plain of the shield" was apparently renamed Lios Mór `great ring?fort' by St Carthach when he founded the monestary here.
LISRONAGH, County Tipperary NAME ON MAP: Lios Ruanagh SOURCE: OS TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "ruddy, reddish fort".
LONDONDERRY, DERRY, County Londonderry/Derry NAME ON MAP: Doire Coluimcille SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1281 FIRST RECORD: Daire Calgaich DATE: c.700 MODERN IRISH NAME: Doire TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: `oakwood'. The earliest name, commemorating a certain Calgaich (the name means `fierce warrior') was used until about AD 1000, when the name was changed to commemorate Colum Cille (St Columba) who erected his monastery here in 546. London was added by a charter granted to a company of London merchants by James I (1603?1625).
LONGFORD (County) See the entry for O'Farrell.
LOUGHKEY, County Roscommon NAME ON MAP: Loch Cé SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1290 MODERN IRISH NAME: Loch Cé TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: unknown. Possibly from a personal name.
LOUGHREA, County Galway NAME ON MAP: Loch Riabhach SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile Locha Riach TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: `grey lake'.
LOUTH, County Louth NAME ON MAP: Lugmhaigh SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1328 MODERN IRISH NAME: Lú TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: from magh `plain' plus an unknown prefix.
LUSK, County Dublin NAME ON MAP: Lusca SOURCE: OS TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: lusca `cave'. Legend has it that Bishop Cuindid, founder of the 5th century monastery, was buried in the cave.