Irish Place-names

The vast majority of placenames in Ireland are anglicisations of Irish language names; that is, adaptations of the Irish names to English phonology and spelling. However, some names come directly from the English language, and a handful come from Old Norse and Scots. The study of placenames in Ireland unveils features of the country's history and geography and the development of the Irish language. The name of Ireland itself comes from the Irish name '' Éire'', added to the Germanic word ''land''. In mythology, Éire was an Irish goddess of the land and of sovereignty (see Ériu).

In some cases, the official English or anglicised name is wholly different from the official Irish language name. An example is Dublin. Its name is derived from the Irish ''dubh linn'' (meaning "black pool"), but its official Irish name is ''Baile Átha Cliath'' (meaning "town of the hurdled ford").

Etymology

Names of Irish Gaelic origin

For most of the " Gaelic period", there were very few towns or large settlements in Ireland. Hence, most places were named after noteworthy features of the landscape, such as hills, rocks, valleys, lakes, islands, and harbours. As time went on, more places were named after man-made features, such as churches, castles, and bridges. Some of the most common elements found in Irish placenames are shown in the table below. The differences in spelling are often due to differences in pronunciation.

Names of Norse origin

During the 800s and 900s, Vikings from Scandinavia raided monasteries along Ireland's coasts and waterways. The Vikings spoke the Old Norse language and are also called Norsemen. They set up small coastal camps called longphorts — these were used as bases for their raiding parties and as shelters during the winter. Eventually, some longphorts grew into Norse settlements and trading ports. The biggest of these were Dublin (which became a Norse-Gaelic kingdom), Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick. Over time, the Norsemen embraced Gaelic language and culture, becoming known as the Norse-Gaels (''Gall-Ghaeil'' in Modern Irish, ''Gall-Gaidhel'' in Old Irish).

Placenames derived from Old Norse:

Names of English origin

After the Norman invasion of Ireland, which began in 1169, Anglo-Norman and English language placenames emerged in the areas under Anglo-Norman control. Most of these are within the bounds of " The Pale" — the area that stayed under direct English control for the longest, and where English language and culture held sway. It stretched along the east coast from Dundalk in the north to Dalkey in the south.

Between 1556 and 1641, during its " conquest of Ireland", the English colonised parts of the country with settlers from Great Britain. This is known as the "Plantations of Ireland". After the 1601 Battle of Kinsale defeat in which the Gaelic aristocracy fled to continental Europe the northern province of Ulster was the most heavily colonised. Those who settled as part of the "Plantation of Ulster" were required to be English speaking made up mostly of Lowland Scots and some northern English. The result is that northeast Ulster also has a great number of English-derived placenames.

Such placenames often refer to buildings and other manmade features. They often include forms such as '' -town'', '' -ton'', ''-ville'', '' -borough'', ''-bury'', '' bridge'', '' mill'', ''castle'', '' abbey'', '' church'', etc. However, forms such as '' hill'', ''mount'', ''mont'', '' wood'', ''bay'', ''brook'' etc. are not uncommon.

Some placenames that seem to come from English are in fact anglicized Irish names modified by folk etymology. Examples include Longford (), Upperland (from ''Áth an Phoirt Leathain'' meaning "ford of the broad (river) bank")Toner, Gregory: ''Place-Names of Northern Ireland''. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, and Forkhill (from ''Foirceal'' meaning "trough").

Names of Scots origin

The Lowland Scots who settled during the Plantation of Ulster also contributed to place-names in the north of Ireland, particularly in the Ulster Scots areas. The Scots influence can be seen in places such as ''Burnside'' (stream), ''Calheme'' from 'Cauldhame' (coldhome), ''Corby Knowe'' (raven knoll) ''Glarryford'' from 'glaurie' (muddy), ''Gowks Hill'' ( cuckoo) and ''Loanends'' (where the lanes end) in County Antrim, ''Crawtree'' ( crow), ''Whaup Island'' ( curlew) and ''Whinny Hill'' from 'whin' (gorse) in County Down and the frequent elements ''burn'' (stream), ''brae'' (incline), ''dyke'' (a stone or turf wall), ''gate'' (a way or path), ''knowe'' (knoll), ''moss'' (moorland), ''sheuch'' or ''sheugh'' (a trench or ditch) and ''vennel'' (narrow alley). Other Scots elements may be obscured due to their being rendered in Standard English orthography.

Names of other origins

Some places in Ireland bear names from beyond Gaelic, Norse or English.

One reason for this is because foreign names can be perceived as more fashionable than native ones. Particularly in middle-class areas, names of Italian origin have been used because of this perception and many roads (e.g. ''Vico Road'' and ''Sorrento Road'' in Dalkey) and housing estates have obtained their names in this way. More rarely, this has led to the naming of whole suburbs (e.g. Montenotte and Tivoli in Cork). Portobello, Dublin was named in celebration of the British victory at the 1739 Battle of Porto Bello.

Another source of place names is from Anglo-Norman. Considering the number of surnames of Norman origin in Ireland, these are surprisingly rare. Nevertheless, some examples do exist, such as the town of Buttevant (from the motto of the Barry family - ''Boutez en Avant'') and the village of Brittas (from the Norman-French ''Bretesche'', "boarding, planking"). Others exist in portmanteau with words of Irish or English origin, such as Castletownroche, which combines the English ''Castletown'' and the French ''Roche'', meaning rock. Most widespread is the term ''Pallas'' (from Norman ''paleis'', "boundary fence") which appears in over 20 place names, including the towns Pallasgreen and Pallaskenry. Reeves Castle and the townland of Reeves near Celbridge take their name from Anglo-Norman ''rive'', meaning "riverbank."

A further source of place names of other origin is places names after religious sites outside Ireland. Examples are Lourdes Road in Dublin and Pic du Jer Park in Cork.

The baronies of North Salt and South Salt are derived from ''Saltus Salmonis'', a Latin calque of the town name of Leixlip (from Norse ''Lax Hlaup'', " salmon leap").

Republic of Ireland

In the Republic of Ireland, both Irish and English names have equal status and are displayed on road signs, though the Irish is in smaller, italicised font, while the English is in all upper case. However, in the Gaeltacht, the English/anglicized names have no official status and do not appear on road signs.

During and after the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922, some English names were returned to their Irish form. In most cases, the Irish Gaelic name became the only official one (for example ''Kingstown'' became ''Dún Laoghaire'' in both languages). In other cases, the English name was changed for another (for example ''King's County'' became ''County Offaly'', which comes from the Irish ''Uíbh Fhailí''). Although most of the changes were accepted by the wider public, some did not catch on and were eventually undone. The Local Government Act 1946 allowed locals to petition for a name change.

The following places were officially renamed:
*Bagenalstown → Muine Bheag (1932)
* Charleville → Ráth Luirc (1920s) → Charleville (1989)
* County Donegal → County Tirconaill (1922) → County Donegal (1927)
* Edgeworthstown → Mostrim (1935) → Edgeworthstown (1974)
* Kells → Ceannanus Mór (1929) → Kells (1993)
*King's County → County Offaly (1922)
*Kingstown → Dún Laoghaire (1922)
*Kingwilliamstown → Ballydesmond (1951)
*Maryborough → Portlaoise (1929)
* Navan → An Uaimh (1922)An Uaimh - its Origin
Navan Historical Society. → Navan (1971)
*Newbridge → Droichead Nua (1930s)
*Newtownbarry → Bunclody (1950)
*Newtownsandes → Moyvane (1939)
*Parsonstown → Birr (1890s)
*Philipstown → Daingean (1922)
*Queen's County → County Laois (1922)
*Queenstown → Cobh (1922)

Pursuant to the ''Official Languages Act, 2003'' and the advice of the ''Coimisiún Logainmneacha'' (Place-Names Commission), the ''Placenames (Centres of Population and Districts) Order 2005'' was issued, listing the equivalent in the Irish language of place-names specified in the Order with its English form. The Irish words then had the same meaning and same force and effect as the place-name. This order lists a little fewer than 2,000 place-names, many of which were changed from the Irish form used since independence, e.g. Bray went from ''Brí Chualann'' to ''Bré'' and Naas changed from ''Nás na Rí'' to ''An Nás''.

Beyond the Gaeltacht, only English placenames were officially recognised (pre-2004). But further placenames orders have been passed to enable both the English and Irish placenames to be used. An example of present inconsistency is the village of Straffan, designated variously as , and . In the 1830s John O'Donovan listed it as "Srufáin". The nearby village of Kilteel was "Cill tSíle" for centuries, meaning "The church of Saint Síle", but since 2000 it has been shown as "Cill Chéile", which does not carry the same meaning.

Irish vehicle registration plates are bilingual: the county of registration is shown in Irish above the plate number as a kind of surtitle, and is encoded from English within the plate number. For example, a Dublin plate is subtitled ''Baile Átha Cliath'' and the plate number includes D.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, the new recognition of the status of the Irish language does not extend to bilingual roadsigns — it is down to individual district councils to decide to place them. Some towns in Fermanagh, Strabane and Derry, Omagh, Armagh, Moyle, Magherafelt, Newry and Mourne and Cookstown council areas display bilingual names on some welcome signs (e.g. "OMAGH" ''An Ómaigh'').

Irish-language street signs may be erected at the request of locals, provided there is enough support.

Names of provinces

There are four provinces in Ireland, three of which derive their English name from a mixture of their ancient Irish provincial name with the Old Norse term for land/territory/place; ''staðr''.

* Connacht, sometimes anglicised as Connaught, is derived from the ''Connachta'' dynasty, which means "the descendants of Conn". In modern Irish it is called ''Connachta'' or ''Cúige Chonnacht''.
*Munster, derived from ga, Mumhan + Old Norse ''staðr'', meaning "land of Mumha". In modern Irish it is called ''an Mhumhain'' or ''Cúige Mumhan''.
* Leinster, derived from ga, Laighin + Old Norse ''staðr'', meaning "land of the Laighin". In modern Irish it is called ''Laighin'' or ''Cúige Laighean''.
* Ulster, derived from ga, Ulaidh + Old Norse ''staðr'', meaning "land of the Ulaidh". In modern Irish it is called ''Ulaidh'' or ''Cúige Uladh''.

In Irish the provinces are known as ''cúigí'', the singular of which is ''cúige''. The word ''cúige'' originally meant "a fifth", as in one-fifth part of Ireland. This is because Meath, as seat of the High King of Ireland, was once a province in its own right, incorporating modern counties Meath, Westmeath and parts of surrounding counties. Meath was later absorbed into Leinster.

Names of counties

In Irish, the counties are known as ''contaetha'', the singular of which is ''contae''. Irish versions of county names only have official status in the Republic of Ireland.

Most of the counties were named after a town in that county (commonly referred to as a county town); usually an administrative centre. Some of these towns, such as Louth, have declined into small villages or have lost their county town status to other towns.

Counties named after their present or former county towns: Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow. The county of Londonderry is named after the city of the same name, though its county town was Coleraine until 1972 when counties were abolished as administrative units in Northern Ireland and replaced with unitary councils.

Some counties derive their names from ancient Irish túatha, kingdoms or people:
*Fermanagh, which is derived from ''Fear Manach'' meaning "men of Manach".
* Kerry, which is derived from ''Ciarraí'', which is itself derived from ''Ciarraighe'', meaning "people of Ciar".
* Laois, which is derived from '' Loígis'', the name of a túath.
*Meath, which is derived from '' Mide'', the name of a former province.
* Offaly, which is derived from '' Uí Failghe'', the name of a túath.
* Tyrone, which is derived from ''Tír Eógain'' meaning "Eógan's land".
* Westmeath, which was formerly part of Meath until 1542, is likewise derived from ''Mide''.

Some counties derive their names from geographic descriptions

In 1994, County Dublin was abolished as an administrative unit and replaced with three new administrative counties:
*Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, which is named after the town of '' Dún Laoghaire'' (meaning " Laoghaire's stronghold"); and the former barony of Rathdown (''Ráth an Dúin'' in Irish, meaning "ringfort of the stronghold").
*Fingal, which is derived from the Irish ''Fine Gall'', meaning "foreign tribe", referring to the Norse who invaded and settled the area.
*South Dublin, which is named after Dublin.

Names of streets and roads

Many streets and roads in Ireland derive their name from that of the townland, settlement or parish it goes through or heads towards, many of which are of Irish origin. Other streets and roads derive their names from local buildings, manufacturies or people etc.

In Irish, a ''street'' is '' sráid'', a ''road'' is ''bóthar'' (meaning "cow path"), a ''lane'' is ''lána'', and an ''avenue'' is ''ascaill''. A linear village is called a ''sráidbhaile'' (" nestreet settlement")—this has been anglicised as Stradbally, which is the name of a number of villages on the island. Whilst Irish forms only have official status in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland district councils are allowed to erect bilingual roadsigns.

Origins of some streets and roads in Belfast, Northern Ireland
* Antrim Road, takes its name from the settlement it leads to, Antrim town.
* Ballymurphy Road, derives its name from the townland of Ballymurphy, which itself is derived from the ga, Baile O Muircháin, meaning "homestead of O'Murphy".
* Crumlin Road takes its name from the settlement the road leads to, Crumlin.
* Donegall Square and Donegall Pass, both named after Lord Donegall, who opened six wide avenues also known as passes.
* Falls Road was originally called the Pound, however, it derives its present name from an older Irish name ''Tuath-na-bhfal'', meaning "district of the falls" or "hedges".
* Hercules Street is named after Sir Hercules Langford.
* Mountpottinger and Pottinger's Lane both derive from the famous Pottinger family.
* Mustard Street is named after a mustard works.
* Old Forge and New Forge both derive their names from forges for smelting iron.
* Shankill Road derives its name from ga, Seanchill meaning "old church", which is also the name of the local parish.

Origins of some streets and roads in Dublin, Republic of Ireland
* O'Connell Street, formerly known as Sackville Street, it was renamed after Daniel O'Connell. Its Irish name is ''Sráid Uí Chonaill''.
* Grafton Street, developed by the Dawson family, it is named after the Earls of Grafton who owned land in the area. Its Irish name is ''Sráid Grafton''.
* Pearse Street, originally called Moss Lane, then Great Brunswick Street, it was renamed after Pádraig Pearse. Its Irish name is ''Sráid an Phiarsaigh''
* St. James's Street takes its name from a Holy Well in the vicinity, dedicated to St James.

See also

References

External links

Placenames Database of Ireland
Placenames Branch, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

PlacenamesNI.org
Northern Ireland Place-name Project


Geography in Action, website for the Northern Ireland Geography Curriculum
* ''The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places'
Vol.1 (1912 ed.)Vol.2 (1922 ed.)Vol.3 (1922 ed.)
by P.W. Joyce, on the Internet Archive:

{{DEFAULTSORT:Place Names In Ireland

Ireland
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