Irish Place Names N-Q
NAAS, County Kildare NAME ON MAP: Nás SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: An Nás TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: `meeting place'. Founded, according to legend, by Lewy of the long hand and used by the kings of Leinster until the 10th century. The mound of the fort is still visible.
NAVAN, County Meath NAME ON MAP: An Umamá SOURCE: Annals of Lough Key MODERN IRISH NAME: An Uaimh TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: `the cave'. There was a school of thought in the last century that the name might be a corruption of Queen Odhbha, cast?aside wife of Heremon, in the very earliest Irish legends.
NEAGH, LOUGH, Ulster NAME ON MAP: Loch nEchach SOURCE: Book of Leinster MODERN IRISH NAME: Loch nEathach TYPE: Lough MEANING: "loch `lake' of Eochaid". In legend he was a king of Munster in the first century AD who drowned in the lough.
NENAGH, County Tipperary NAME ON MAP: Aenach Urmhumhan SOURCE: Joyce FIRST RECORD: Aenach Thete MODERN IRISH NAME: An tAonach TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "the assembly place of Ormond".
NEW ROSS, County Wexford NAME ON MAP: Ros Mic Treoin SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Rhos Mhic Thriúin TYPE: Walled town MEANING: "ros `wood' of the sons of Treon". It was a new foundation in the 12th century, possibly by Dermot MacMurrough, possibly Anglo?Norman.
NEWCASTLE, County Wicklow NAME ON MAP: An Caisleán Nua SOURCE: OS TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: `new castle'. It was built around 1200.
NEWCASTLE WEST, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: An Caisleán Nua SOURCE: OS TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: `new castle'. It was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century and appears as Newcastle in a 1302 record.
NEWRY, County Down NAME ON MAP: An Iobhar Chinn Tragha DATE: c.1280 FIRST RECORD: Iobhar Chind Trachta DATE: 1089 MODERN IRISH NAME: An tIúr TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: "iubhar `yew tree' at the ceann `head' of the tragha `strand'".
NEWTOWN, County Down NAME ON MAP: Neuton DATE: 1302?6 MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile Nua na hArda TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: Neuton `new town' appears in an early record; the Irish form Caislen in Baile Nua appears in the Annals of Ulster as at 1295. Newtownards or Baile Nua na hArda `new town on the promontory' was founded by Sir Hugh Montgomery in 17th century.
NEWTOWNABBEY, County Antrim NAME ON MAP: Druim la Croix MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile na Mainistreach TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: "ridge of the cross". In English the village became known as White Abbey and part of this name was incorporated in the 20th century administrative name Newtonabbey. The modern Irish name means "town of the monastery".
NOBBER, County Meath NAME ON MAP: An Obair SOURCE: OS TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: `the work'. Traditionally referring to the Anglo Norman fortress here.
OFFALY (County) EARLY NAME: Offali SOURCE: Song of Dermot and the Earl, c.1210 MODERN IRISH NAME: Uíbh Fhailí MEANING: "(the territory of) the followers of Ros Failge". Ros Failge (`Ros of the rings'), was one of the thirty sons of Catháir Már (Cahirmore) legendary king of Ireland in the 2nd century. Originally a liberty, it became King's County in 1556, named after King Philip II of Spain, husband of Queen Mary; it reverted to its Irish name in 1920. See the entry for Laois.
PALLAS GREAN, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Pailís Greine SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Pailís Ghréine TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "pallisade of Grian". In legend she was the sun goddess, who was killed by Connell on the nearby hill, Cnoc Greine, after she had turned five of his sons into badgers in revenge for their attack on her father's mansion.
PORTRUSH, County Antrim NAME ON MAP: Post Ruis SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Port Rois TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "port `landing place' of the ros `headland'". (Ramore Head).
PORTUMNA, County Galway NAME ON MAP: Port Omna SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Port Omna TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "port `landing place' of the omna `oak'".
QUIN, County Clare NAME ON MAP: Cuince SOURCE: Four Masters MODERN IRISH NAME: Cuinche TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: probably from the Irish name for the evergreen shrub `arbutus'.