Cathal is a common

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

in Ireland. The name is derived from two

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language *Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Foot ...

elements: the first, ''cath'', means "battle"; the second element, ''val'', means "rule". There is no feminine form of ''Cathal''. The Gaelic name has several

anglicised Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...

forms, such as ''Cathel'', ''

Cahal Cahal may refer to: * Cahal Avenue, East Nashville, Tennessee *Cahal Pech Cahal Pech is a Maya site located near the town of San Ignacio in the Cayo District of Belize. The site was a palatial, hilltop home for an elite Maya family, and though ...

'', '' Cahill'' and ''Kathel''. It has also been anglicised as ''

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''* ...

'', although this name is of an entirely different origin as it is derived from a Germanic element, ''karl'', meaning "free man". As is evident from the list below, the name was in medieval times most popular in Ireland's two western provinces,

Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...

and

Connacht Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...

People with the name

Pre-19th century

*St. Cathal of Taranto (died 685), archbishop *

Cathal mac Áedo Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach (died 627) was a King of Cashel in Munster from the Glendamnach sept of the Eoganachta. He was the son of Áed Fland Cathrach and grandson of Coirpre Cromm mac Crimthainn (died 577) a previous king of Cashel. He ...

(died 627), king of Munster *

Cathal Cú-cen-máthair Cathal Cú-cen-máthair mac Cathaíl (died 665), often known as Cú-cen-máthair, was an Irish King of Munster from around 661 until his death. He was a son of Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach (died c. 628) and belonged to the Glendamnach sept ...

(died 665), king of Munster *

Cathal mac Muiredaig Cathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan (died 735) was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasty, dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King of Ireland, High Ki ...

(died 735), king of Connacht *

Cathal mac Finguine Cathal mac Finguine (died 742) was an Irish King of Munster or Cashel, and effectively High King of Ireland as well. He belonged to the Eóganacht Glendamnach sept of the dominant Eóganachta kin-group whose members dominated Munster from the 7t ...

(died 742), king of Munster *

Cathal mac Murchadh Cathal mac Murchadh was 29th King of Uí Maine, died 816. Cathal mac Murchadh was killed at ''"The battle of Rath Fhearadh by the chieftains of Ui Briuin, Diarmaid, son of Tomaltach, and Maelcothaigh, son of Fogartach in Dealbhna Nuadhat, betwe ...

(died 816), king of Uí Maine *

Cathal mac Conchobair Cathal mac Conchobair (died 925) was King of Connacht. Family background Cathal was the third son of Conchobar mac Taidg Mór (died 882) to rule Connacht, following his older brother Áed mac Conchobair (died 888) and youngest brother Tadg m ...

(died 925), king of Connacht *

Cathal mac Tadg Cathal mac Tadg was King of Connacht, 973. Cathal only briefly succeeded his brother. Murchadh Glunillar ua Flaithbheartach, King of Aileach, invaded Connacht and gave battle to Cathal at Ceis Corran. Cathal was killed as were some of his prime v ...

(died 973), king of Connacht *

Cathal mac Donnubáin Cathal mac Donnubáin is the second known son of Donnubán mac Cathail, king of Uí Fidgenti and an ancestor of the medieval and modern O'Donovan family. He may have succeeded his brother Uainide mac Donnubáin as King of Uí Chairpre Áebda ...

(), king of Uí Chairpre Áebda *

Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair (Anglicised as Cathal O'Connor/O'Conor and Cathal the Red-handed O'Conor) (1153–1224), was a king of Connacht. He was the youngest son of the High King of Ireland Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair and brother to the ...

(died 1224), king of Connacht *

Cathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua Conchobair Cathal McConnor Roe O'Connor (Irish: ''Cathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua Conchobair'') was king of Connacht Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the nint ...

(died 1288), king of Connacht *

Cathal mac Domhnall Ua Conchobair Cathal is a common given name in Ireland. The name is derived from two Celtic elements: the first, ''cath'', means "battle"; the second element, ''val'', means "rule". There is no feminine form of ''Cathal''. The Gaelic name has several anglicis ...

(died 1324), king of Connacht *

Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa (February 1439 – March 1498) was an Irish historian. He was the principal compiler of the ''Annals of Ulster'', along with the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín. He was also chief of the McManus clan from 1488 to 1498. Refere ...

(died 1498), main compiler of the ''Annals of Ulster'' *

Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna (c. 1680 – 1756; Anglicised as ''Yellow-haired Charles McElgunn'') was an Irish poet. Biography Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna is one of the four most prominent south Ulster and north Leinster poets in the sevent ...

(died 1756), poet

Later

Cathal Barrett Cathal Barrett (born 21 July 1993) is an Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary Championship club Holycross–Ballycahill and at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a right corner-back. Playing ca ...

(born 1993), Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary *

Cathal Berry Cathal Berry (born 1977/1978) is an Irish former independent politician and retired soldier who was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare South constituency from 2020 to 2024. Military service Originally from Ballyduff, County Waterford, Berry ...

, Irish Independent politician, former Irish Army officer and medical doctor who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare South *

Cathal Black Cathal Black is an Irish film director, writer, and producer. Background Black was born in Dublin, Ireland and grew up in Phibsborough. His father worked at the Guinness Brewery. Black's mother died when he was around 9 or 10 years old. His fat ...

, Irish film director, writer, and producer *

Cathal Breslin Cathal Breslin is a concert pianist originally from Derry, Northern Ireland, now living in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States. He has performed extensively in solo recitals, as a concerto soloist with orchestra and a chamber musician in major ...

(born 1978), concert pianist from Northern Ireland *

Cathal Brugha Cathal Brugha (; born Charles William St John Burgess; 18 July 1874 – 7 July 1922) was an Irish republican politician who served as Minister for Defence from 1919 to 1922, Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann in January 1919, the first presid ...

(died 1922), revolutionary * Cahal Carvill (born 1987), Northern Irish hurler *

Cathal Coughlan (musician) Cathal Coughlan (16 December 1960 – 18 May 2022) was an Irish singer and songwriter from County Cork, Cork, best known as the frontman of the band Microdisney, formed with Sean O'Hagan in 1980. Their second album ''The Clock Comes Down the St ...

(born 1960), singer and musician with the bands Microdisney and the Fatima Mansions * Cathal Casey (born 1967), Irish retired hurler * Cathal Corey, Gaelic football manager and former player *

Cathal Crowe Cathal Crowe (born 1 October 1982) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Clare constituency since the 2020 general election. Political career Crowe was first elected to Clare County Council in 2004 at 2 ...

, (born 1982), Irish Fianna Fáil politician *

Cahal Daly Cahal Brendan Daly KGCHS (born Charles Brendan Daly, 1 October 1917 – 31 December 2009) was a Roman Catholic cardinal, theologian and writer from County Antrim. Daly served as the Catholic Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh from ...

(1917–2009), Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland from 1990 to 1996 * Cathal Daniels (born 1996), Irish eventing rider. * Cathal J. Dodd (born 1956), singer and voice actor * Cathal Dunbar (born 1996), Irish hurler who plays for Wexford Senior Championship * Cathal Dunne (born 1951), singer, represented Ireland in Eurovision Song Contest 1979 *

Cathal Gannon Cathal Gannon (1 August 1910 – 23 May 1999), was an Irish harpsichord maker, a fortepiano restorer and an amateur horologist. Beginnings and education Gannon was born in Dublin, Ireland, into a craftsmen family of carpenters, many of wh ...

(1910–1999), Irish harpsichord maker, a fortepiano restorer and an amateur horologist * Cathal Óg Greene (born 1987), Gaelic footballer for London *

Cathal Hayden Cathal Sean Hayden is a Northern Irish musician, acclaimed for his skilled style of Irish fiddle and tenor (four-stringed) banjo. He was born on 13 July 1963, in the village of the Rock, County Tyrone (outside Pomeroy), an area immersed in ...

, Northern Irish fiddle and banjo player of note. * Cathal Magee (born 1954), Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland (2010–2012) * Cathal Mannion (born 1994), Irish hurler who plays for Galway Senior Championship *

Cathal Mac Coille Cathal Mac Coille (born 1952) is a retired Irish broadcaster, researcher and journalist. He was a co-presenter of '' Morning Ireland'' on RTÉ Radio 1 for most of the period from 1986 until his retirement in 2017. He currently writes opinion ...

(born 1952), retired Irish broadcaster, researcher and journalist * Cathal MacSwiney Brugha (born 1949), Irish decision scientist, the Emeritus Professor of Decision Analytics at University College Dublin's College of Business * Cathal McCabe (born 1963) * Cathal McCarron, All Ireland Winning Gaelic footballer for Tyrone. * Cathal McCarthy (born 2006), Irish footballer for UCD and

Hull City Hull City Association Football Club is a professional association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. They compete in the , the second level of the English football league system. They play their home ...

Cathal McConnell Cathal McConnell (born 1944) is an Irish musician and singer best known as the mainstay of traditional band The Boys of the Lough, of which he is a founder member. His main instruments are the Irish flute and the tin whistle. Following a lifetim ...

(born 1944), musician and singer * Cathal McInerney, Irish sportsperson *

Cathal Naughton Cathal Naughton (born 3 July 1987) is an Irish retired hurling, hurler who played for Cork Senior Hurling Championship, Cork Senior Championship club Newtownshandrum GAA, newtownshandrum. He played for the Cork senior hurling team for 8 years, d ...

(born 1987), Irish retired hurler who played for Cork Senior Championship * Cathal Kelly, Canadian writer * Cathal O'Connell, Irish hurler who plays as a forward for the Clare senior team. *

Cathal Ó Murchadha Cathal Ó Murchadha (; born Charles Murphy; 16 February 1880 – 28 April 1958) was an Irish politician and republican. Early life He was born in 7 Albert Place East, Dublin, and was the third of 7 boys, he was the only one that married. His p ...

, born Charles Murphy (1880–1958), Irish politician and republican *

Cathal Ó Searcaigh Cathal Ó Searcaigh (born 12 July 1956), is a modern Irish language poet. His work has been widely translated, anthologised and studied. "His confident internationalism", according to Theo Dorgan, has channelled "new modes, new possibilities, ...

(born 1956), poet * Cathal Ó Sándair, born Charles Saunders was one of the most prolific Irish language authors of the 20th century *

Cathal O'Shannon Cathal O'Shannon (9 June 1890 – 4 October 1969) was an Irish politician, trade unionist and journalist. Early years Charles Francis Shannon was born in Randalstown, County Antrim, he was the third child of Charles and Alice Shannon. As a chi ...

(1928–2011) , Irish journalist and television presenter * Cathal Parlon (born 1986), Irish hurler *

Cathal Pendred Cathal Pendred is an Irish people, Irish actor and former mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was the Cage Warriors Welterweight World Champion. Background Pendred was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Ir ...

(born 1987), retired mixed martial artist* * Cathal Ryan, Gaelic footballer from County Laois. * Cathal Smyth (born 1959), singer and songwriter, better known as

Chas Smash Cathal Joseph "Carl" Smyth (born 14 January 1959), also known as Chas Smash, is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was the secondary vocalist, trumpet player and dancer for the English band Madness from their inception ...

of the British band Madness

Places

* Cathal Brugha Street, street on the northside of Dublin, Ireland. * Cathal Brugha Barracks, Irish Army barracks in Rathmines, Dublin

References

{{given name Irish-language masculine given names English-language masculine given names Masculine given names Scottish Gaelic masculine given names

People with the name

Pre-19th century

Later

Places

See also

References