Irish Place Names C
CAHERCONLISH, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Cathair Chinn Lis SOURCE: OS FIRST RECORD: Catherkenl' SOURCE: Annals of Innisfallen TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "caher `stone fort' of ceann lis `the headland of the enclosure'".
CAHIR, County Tipperary NAME ON MAP: Cathair (duna iascaigh) SOURCE: Four Masters MODERN IRISH NAME: An Chathair TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "caher `stone fort' at Duniascaigh". It appears that a stone fort was erected on the site of an earlier "fort where fish are plentiful".
CALLAN, County Kilkenny NAME ON MAP: Callain SOURCE: OS TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: possibly from callán `uproar'.
CARBURY, County Kildare NAME ON MAP: Cairpre SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1296 MODERN IRISH NAME: Cairbre TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: possibly "a rocky place".
CARLINGFORD, County Louth NAME ON MAP: Cairlinn / Snamh Ech SOURCE: Annals FIRST RECORD: Snamh Aighnech MODERN IRISH NAME: Cairlinn TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: from NORSE kerlings `hags' (the hills are now known as The Three Nuns)"; NORSE fjórthr `sea inlet' was added later. The earlier GAELIC name meant "snamh `swimming' (place) for `horses'". (each means `horse'.)
CARLOW, County Carlow NAME ON MAP: Cetherloch SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Ceatharlach TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: probably derived from ceathair) `four' and loch `lough'. Tradition locates them on the River Barrow, but no trace of them exists.
CARNDONAGH, County Donegal NAME ON MAP: Carn Domhnach SOURCE: OS TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: "carn `cairn' of the domhnach `church'". (Domhnach derived from Latin dominica `the Lord's day'.)
CARRICK-ON-SUIR, County Tipperary NAME ON MAP: Carraig na Siuire SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Carraig na Siúire TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "the carraig `rock' on the River Suir"; presumably from a rock in the river.
CARRICKFERGUS, County Antrim NAME ON MAP: Cragfergos DATE: 1305 FIRST RECORD: Cracfergus DATE: 1183 MODERN IRISH NAME: Carraig Fheargas TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "Fergus's carraig `rock'". Tradition has it that Fergus MacErc, who with his two brothers led the colonization of Argyle in Scotland by the Scoti `the Irish' in about AD 503 and became the first Irish King of Scotland, was drowned here. Both Argyle and Scotland itself took their names from this colonization; see the entry for MacDonnell.
CARRIGTOHILL, County Cork NAME ON MAP: Carraig Tuathail SOURCE: OS TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "Toohal's rock".
CASHEL, County Tipperary NAME ON MAP: Caisil SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1302 FIRST RECORD: Sidhruim MODERN IRISH NAME: Caiseal TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "caiseal `stone fort'". The Rock of Cashel was the main seat of the Kings of Munster; traditionally it was built by King Corc in the 5th century who changed its earlier name Sidhruim `fairy ridge' to Caiseal.
CASTLEBAR, County Mayo NAME ON MAP: Caislen in Barraich SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Caisleán an Bharraigh TYPE: Manor (later stone castle) MEANING: "caisleán `castle' of the Barrys. (See the entry for the family name Barry.)
CASTLECOMER, County Kilkenny NAME ON MAP: Caisleán a' Chomair SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Caisleán an Chomair TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: "caisleán `castle' at the comar `confluence of two rivers'". It was a 12th century Anglo?Norman castle.
CASTLECONNELL, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Caislén ui Chonaing DATE: 1175 MODERN IRISH NAME: Caisleán Ui Chonaill TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: "caisleán `castle' of § Conaill".
CASTLEDERMOT, County Kildare NAME ON MAP: Disert Diarmada SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Díseart Diarmada TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "disert `retreat, hermitage' of Diarmait (Dermot)". A grandson of a King of Ulster, he founded a monastery here in the 9th century. The castle was built by Walter de Riddlesford in the 12th century.
CASTLEISLAND, County Kerry NAME ON MAP: Oileán Ciarraí SOURCE: OS TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "the oileán `island' of Kerry". The castle was built in the 13th century. Ciarrai derived from the legendary Ciar (Keer) son of Fergus, ex?king of Ulster, and Queen Medb (Maeve) of Connacht.
CASTLEKIRKE, County Galway NAME ON MAP: Caislen na circe SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Caisleán na Circe TYPE: Stone Castle MEANING: "caisleán `castle' of the cearc `hen'". The castle was built by the sons of Rory O'Conor, the last high?king of Ireland, in the 12th century, but local tradition credits a cock grouse and a hen grouse with building it in one night. The same tradition, however, does give them the unusual advantage of having previously been a prince and princess.
CASTLEKNOCK, County Dublin NAME ON MAP: Chastel knoc SOURCE: Song of Dermot and the Earl, c.1210 FIRST RECORD: Cnucha MODERN IRISH NAME: Caisleán Cnucha TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "caisleán `castle' at the cnoc `burial mound'". The legend that a princess called Cnucha is buried in the mound is without foundation. See the entry for Bannow.
CASTLETOWN GEOGHEGAN, County Westmeath NAME ON MAP: Baile Caisleán MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile Chaisleán na Geochagán TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "baile `town' of the caisleán `castle'". There was a Anglo?Norman castle here, but the MacEochagáins (Geoghegans), also built a later castle.
CASTLETOWNROCHE, County Cork NAME ON MAP: Baile Caisleain an Roitsigh SOURCE: Book of Fermoy MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile Chaisleáin an Róistigh TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "baile `town' of the caisleán `castle' of the de Roches". See the family name entry for Roche.
CAVAN, County Cavan NAME ON MAP: Cabhán SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: An Cabhán TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: `hollow'. (Elsewhere it is sometimes used in the reverse sense of `small hill'.)
CLANE, County Kildare NAME ON MAP: Claonadh SOURCE: OS TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "claon `inclined, false' ath `ford'".
CLARE, County Clare NAME ON MAP: Clair SOURCE: Four Masters as at 1278 MODERN IRISH NAME: An Clar TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: probably chláir `plain, level place'.
CLARE ISLAND, County Mayo NAME ON MAP: Cliara SOURCE: OS TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: possibly from chláir `level place'.
CLAREGALWAY, County Galway NAME ON MAP: (Baile an) Chlair SOURCE: Four Masters MODERN IRISH NAME: Baile Chláir TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "baile `town' on the River Chláir". See the previous entry.
CLOGHER, County Tyrone NAME ON MAP: Clochar SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1264 MODERN IRISH NAME: An Clochár TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: `stony place'.
CLONARD, County Meath NAME ON MAP: Cluain Eraird SOURCE: Irish Authorities MODERN IRISH NAME: Cluain Ard TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: "Ioraid's cluain `meadow'". He was possibly the builder of the moat here.
CLONDALKIN, County Dublin NAME ON MAP: Cluain Dolcáin SOURCE: OS TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "Dolcán's cluain `meadow'".
CLONES, County Monaghan NAME ON MAP: Cluan Eois SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1257 MODERN IRISH NAME: Cluain Eois TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: "Eos's cluain `meadow'".
CLONFEAKLE, County Tyrone NAME ON MAP: Cluain Fiaclr SOURCE: OS TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: "Fiacnr's cluain `meadow'".
CLONFERT, County Galway NAME ON MAP: Cluan Ferta SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1318 MODERN IRISH NAME: Cluain Fearta TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "cluain `meadow' of the fert `grave'". The monastery was founded by St Brendan the Navigator (who may just possibly have sailed to America) in AD 553.
CLONMACNOISE, County Offaly NAME ON MAP: Cluan mac Nois SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1297 MODERN IRISH NAME: Cluain Mhic Nóis TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "cluain `meadow' of the mac `son' of Nois". (The name meant `noble'.)
CLONMEL, County Tipperary NAME ON MAP: Cluain Meala SOURCE: Four Masters MODERN IRISH NAME: Cluain Meala TYPE: Continental religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "cluain `meadow' meala `of honey'".
CLONMORE, County Carlow NAME ON MAP: Cluain Mór MODERN IRISH NAME: Cluain Mhór TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "mór `great' cluain `meadow'".
CLOONE, County Leitrim NAME ON MAP: Cluain SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: An Chluain TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: `meadow'.
CLOYNE, County Cork NAME ON MAP: Cluain Uamha SOURCE: Book of Leinster MODERN IRISH NAME: Cluain TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: "cluain `meadow' of the uaimh `cave'". The monastery was founded by St Colman MacLenin in the 7th century.
COLERAINE, County Londonderry/Derry NAME ON MAP: Cúil Rathain MODERN IRISH NAME: Cúil Raithin TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also stone castle MEANING: "cúil `recess, nook' of ferns" (raithneach `fern'). Tradition has it that St Patrick was offered land by a local chieftain, Nadslua, to build a church here and that, when he first saw it, local boys were burning the ferns growing there.
COMBER, County Down NAME ON MAP: Chomar SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Chomair TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: `confluence of two waters'.
CONG, County Mayo NAME ON MAP: Cunga DATE: 1302 FIRST RECORD: Cunga DATE: 1224 MODERN IRISH NAME: Conga TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also manor or village MEANING: cuing `yoke', hence `narrow strip of land, isthmus'.
CONNACHT SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1307 MODERN IRISH NAME: Cúige Chonnacht MEANING: "province of the Connachta tribe". Now a province, it was one of the five ancient sub?kingdoms of Ireland. In 1300 the sub?kingdoms no longer existed as such and Connacht had become a county covering modern Counties Galway, Mayo and Sligo.
CONNEMARA EARLY NAME: Conmaicne mara SOURCE: Joyce MODERN IRISH NAME: Conamara MEANING: "coastal area belonging to the Conmaicne" (It is now in West Galway.) Conmaicne meant "descendants of Conmac", who traditionally was one of the three sons of Fergus, ex?King of Ulster and Queen Medb (Maeve) of Connacht. Compare the entry for Kerry. A possible alternative is Cuain na Mara `harbours of the sea'.
CONNOR, County Antrim NAME ON MAP: Condere SOURCE: Annals MODERN IRISH NAME: Coinnire TYPE: Celtic religious foundation MEANING: derived from cu `fierce dog' and dair `oak', perhaps "the oak wood where wild dogs lived".
CORCOMROE, County Clare NAME ON MAP: Corcomruad SOURCE: Book of Leinster MODERN IRISH NAME: Corca Mrua TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: "the race of Modhruadh (Moroo)". He was the third son of the King Fergus and Queen Medb (Maeve). Originally an area covering much of the north of modern County Clare, the name was also given to an abbey. See the entry for Connemara.
CORK, County Cork NAME ON MAP: Corcaigh SOURCE: Annals of Ulster as at 1302 FIRST RECORD: Corcach Mor Mumhan MODERN IRISH NAME: Corcaigh TYPE: Celtic religious foundation, also walled town MEANING: `marsh'. The site of monastery founded here by St Finbar in the 6th century was originally known as Corach mor mumhan "the great marsh of Munster".
COROFIN, County Galway NAME ON MAP: Coradh Finne SOURCE: Four Masters MODERN IRISH NAME: Cora Finne TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "Finna's cora `weir'".
COURTMACSHERRY, County Cork NAME ON MAP: Cúirt Mic Seffraigh SOURCE: Four Masters MODERN IRISH NAME: Cúirt Mhic Shéafraidh TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: "cúirt `court' of the mac `son' of Geoffrey". He was of the Hodnet Anglo?Norman family, which assumed the Irish name MacSharry. See the entry for MacSherry.
COURTOWN, County Wexford NAME ON MAP: Baile na Cúirte SOURCE: OS TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: as the English name.
CROOM, County Limerick NAME ON MAP: Crometh DATE: 1300 FIRST RECORD: Cromadh DATE: 1132 MODERN IRISH NAME: Cromadh TYPE: Manor or village MEANING: `sloping place'
CROSSMOLINA, County Mayo NAME ON MAP: Crosmolyne DATE: 1302 FIRST RECORD: ON MODERN IRISH NAME: Crois Mhaolíona TYPE: Continental religious foundation MEANING: "Maoilfhiona's crois `cross'".