- Mace;
Más [Mauce], the thigh, a long low hill.
- Mackan,
Mackanagh, Macknagh, Mackney; a place producing parsnips (meacan,
a parsnip).
- Macosquin
in Derry;
corrupted from Magh-Cosgrain
[Macosgran], F.M., Cosgran’s
plain.
- Maghera;
Machaire, a plain.
Maghera in Down and Maghera in Derry
, are both contracted frcm Machairs-ratha
[Maghera-raha], the plain of the fort.
- Magherabeg;
little plain.
- Magheraboy;
yellow plain.
- Magheracloone;
the plain of the cloon or meadow.
- Magheraculmoney;
the plain of the back (cul) of
the shrubbery.
- Magheradrool
in Down; Machaire-eadarghabhal
[Maghera-addrool], the plain between the (river) forks (eadar,
between; and gabhal).
See Addergoole.
- Magherahamlet
in Down; the plain of the Tamlaght
or plague monument. See Tallaght.
- Magheramenagh;
middle plain (meadhonach).
- Magheramore;
great plain.
- Magherareagh;
grey plain (riabhach).
- Maghery;
a form of Maghera, a plain.
- Magunihy,
barony of, in Kerry; Magh-gCoincinne
[Magunkinny], F.M., the plain of the O’Conkins.
- Mahee
island in Strangford Lough; the island of
St.
Mochaei [Mohee], bishop, a disciple of St. Patrick, and the founder of Nendrum.
- Maigue,
a river in Limerick;
called Maigh in the annals, i.e.,
the river of the plain.
- Mallow
in Cork;
called in the Annals Magh-Ealla
[Moyallo], the plain of the river Allo, which was anciently the name of
that part of the Blackwater flowing by the town. See Duhallow.
- Manulla
in Mayo; Magh-Fhionnalbha
[Mah-Innalva], Hy.F., Finalva’s
plain.
- Massareene
in Antrim; Más-a’-rioghna [Massareena],
the queen’s hill.
- Maul;
Meall, a lump, a hillock.
- Maum;
Madhm [Maum], a high mountain
pass.
- Maumturk;
the pass of the boars (torc).
- Maw;
Magh, a plain.
- Maynooth;
Magh-Nuadhat
[Ma-nooat], F.M., Nuadhat’s plain;
from Nuadhat, king of
Leinster
, foster-father to Owen
More king of Munster.
See Bear.
- Mayo;
Magh eó [Ma-ó], the plain of the yews.
Full name Magheó–na-Saxan,
F.M., Mayo of the Saxons, from a number of English monks settled there in
the seventh century, by St. Colman, an Irish monk, after he had retired
from the see of Lindisfarne.
- Meelick;
Miliuc [Meeluck], F.M., low marshy
ground.
- Meen;
a mountain meadow.
- Meenadreen;
the mountain meadow of blackthorns.
- Meenkeeragh;
mountain meadow of the sheep.
- Milleen;
a little hillock. See Maul.
- Moan;
Moin [mone], a bog.
See Mon.
- Moanduff;
black bog.
- Moanmore;
great bog.
- Moanroe;
red bog.
- Moanvane,
Moanvaun; Móin-bhán,
white bog.
- Moat;
Móta, a high mound.
- Moate
in Westmeath; from the great mound at the village; full name Moategranoge,
the moat of Graině-óg
or young Grace, who, according to tradition, was a Munster princess.
- Mocollop;
the plain (magh) of the collops
or cattle.
- Modeshill;
Magh-deisiol
[Ma-deshil], southern plain.
- Mogeely;
Magh-Ilě,
F.M., the plain of Ilě or
Ely.
- Moher;
see Cliffs of Moher.
- Mohill;
Maethail [Mwayhill], soft or
spongy land; from maeth, soft.
- Moig,
Moigh; forms of Magh, a plain.
- Moira;
Magh-rath,
F.M., the plain of the forts.
- Mon;
a bog. See Moan.
- Monabraher,
Monambraher, Monamraher; Moin-na-mbratar,
F.M., the bog of the friars.
- Monagay
in Limerick
; the bog of the goose
(gedh); from wild geese.
- Monaghan;
Muineachain, F.M., a place full of little hills or brakes (rnuine).
- Monamintra
in Waterford
; Moin-na-mbaintreabhaigh
[Monamointree], the bog of the widows.
- Monard;
high bog.
- Monastemanenagh
in Limerick
; Mainistsr-an-aenaigh
[Monasteraneany], F.M., the monastery of the fair.
Anciently called Aenach-beag,
little fair.
- Monasterboice
in Louth; the monastery of St. Boethius or Buite, who founded it in the
sixth century.
- Monasterevin;
the monastery of St. Evin, the founder a contemporary of St. Patrick.
- Monasteroris
in King’s County; Mainister-Fheorais,
[ōrish: F
aspirated and omitted], the monastery of Mac Feorais
or Bermingham, who founded it in A.D. 1325.
- Monear;
a meadow.
- Moneen;
a little bog (moin).
- Money;
Muine [munny], a shrubbery.
- Moneydorragh;
Muine-dorcha,
dark or gloomy shrubbery.
- Moneyduff;
Muine-dubh,
black shrubbery.
- Moneygall;
the shrubbery of the Galls or
foreigners.
- Moneygorm;
Muine-gorm,
blue shrubbery.
- Moneymore;
great shrubbery.
- Monivea
in Galway
; Muine-an-mheadha
[Money-an-va], F.M., the shrubbery of the mead, a kind of drink.
-
Monroe
; Moin-ruadh,
red bog.
- Montiagh,
Montiaghs; Mointeach, a boggy
place.
- Morgallion.
A branch of the Gailenga (see
Gallen), settled in Leinster
, and a portion of them gave name to
the territory of Mor-Gailenga
or the great Gailenga,
now the barony of Morgallion in Meath.
- Mothel,
Mothell; same as Mohill.
- Mountmellick.
The old anglicised name is Montiaghmeelick,
the bogs or boggy land of the meelick or marsh. See Montiagh and Meelick.
- Mourne
mountains in Down. The ancient
name was Beanna Boirche [Banna-Borka], F.M., the peaks of the shepherd
Boirche, who herded on these mountains the cattle of Ross, king
of Ulster
in the third century.
About the middle of the twelfth century, a tribe of the Mac Mahons from
Cremorne (see Cremorne), settled in the south of the present
county
of Down,
and gave their tribe name of Mughdhorna [Mourna] to the barony
of Mourne, and to the Mourne mountains.
- Movilla
in Down; Magh-bhile
[Ma-villa], O’C.Cal., the plain of the ancient
tree.
- Moville
in Donegal; the same as last.
- Moy;
Magh [mah], a plain.
- Moyacomb
in Wicklow; Magh-da-chon [Moy-a-con],
F.M., the plain of the two hounds.
- Moyaliff
in Tipperary;
Magh-Ailbhe [Moyalva], F.M.,
Ailbhe’s or Alva’s plain.
- Moyard;
high plain.
- Moyarget;
Magh-airgid, the plain of silver.
- Moyarta
in Clare; Magh-fherta (fh
silent), the plain of the grave.
- Moycullen
in Galway;
the plain of holly.
- Moydow
in Longford; Magh-dumha
[Moy-dooa], F.M., the plain of the burial mound.
- Moygawnagh
in Mayo; written in the Book of Lecan, Magh-gamhnach,
the plain of the milch cows.
- Moyglass;
green plain.
- Moygoish.
The descendants of Colla Uais
(see Cremorne), were called Ui mic
Uauis [Ee-mic-Oosh]; a portion of whom were settled in Westmeath, and
gave their name to the barony of Moygoish.
- Moyle;
Mael, a bald or bare hill.
- Moylough;
the plain of the lake.
- Moymore;
great plain.
- Moynalty
in Meath; Magh-nealta
[Moynalta], the plain of the flocks (ealta).
- Moyne;
Maighin [Moin], a little plain.
- Moynoe
in Clare; same as Mayo: the n
is a grammatical accident.
- Moynure;
the plain of the yew (iubhar).
- Moyrus;
the plain of the ros or peninsula.
- Moys;
i.e. plains; from magh.
- Muckamore
in Antrim; Magh-comair
[Ma-cummer], F.M,, the plain of the cummer
or confluence (of the Six mile Water with Lough Neagh).
- Muckanagh,
Muckenagh; Muiceannach, a resort
of pigs; a place where pigs used to feed or sleep (from rnuc).
- Muckelty,
Mucker, Muckera, Muckery; the same as Muckanagh.
- Mucklagh;
Muclach, same as Muckanagh.
- Muckinish;
pig island.
- Muckloon,
Mucklone, Mucklin; Muc-chluain,
pig meadow.
- Muckno
in Monaghan; Mucshnamh [Mucknauv],
F.M., the swimming place (snamh)
of the pigs; the place where pigs used to swim across the little lake.
- Muckross;
the peninsula of the pigs.
- Muff;
a corruption of Magh, a plain.
- Muing;
a sedgy place.
- Mullacrew
in Louth; Mullach-craeibhe
[Mullacreeva], the summit of the spreading tree.
- Mullagh;
Mullach, a summit.
- Mullaghareirk
mountains near Ahbeyfeale in Limerick;
Mullach-a’-radhairc [rīrk),
the summit of the prospect.
- Mullaghbane;
white summit.
- Mullaghboy;
yellow summit.
- Mullaghbrack;
speckled summit.
- Mullaghdoo,
Mullaghduff; black summit.
- Mullaghglass;
green summit.
- Mullaghmeen;
Mullach-mín, smooth summit.
- Mullaghmore;
great summit.
- Mullaghroe;
Mullach-ruadh,
red summit.
- Mullan,
Mullaun; a little mullach or
summit.
- Mullans;
little summits.
- Mullen,
Mullin; Muilleann [mullen], a
mill.
- Mullinahone
in Tipperary
; Muileann-na-huamhain,
[Muillinahooan], the mill of the cave (uamha);
from a cave near the village through which the little river runs.
- Mullinavat
in Kilkenny; Muilenn-a’-bhata,
the mill of the stick.
- Molly;
the same as Mullagh.
- Multyfarnham
in Westmeath; Muilte-Farannain
[Multy-Farannan] Farannan’s mills (muilenn,
plural muilte).
-
Munster.
Old Irish name Mumhan [Mooan],
which, with ster added (see
Leinster ),
forms Mughan-ster
[Moonster] or Munster.
- Murragh,
Murreagh; Murbhach [Murvagh],
a flat marshy piece of land by the sea.
- Murrow
of Wicklow; same as Murragh.
- Muskerry.
The people descended from Carbery Muse, son of Conary II. (see
Corkaguiny), were called Muscraidhe [Muskery: O’Dugan]; of these there
were several tribes, one of which gave name to the two baronies of Muskerry
in Cork
.
- Myshall
in Carlow; Muigh-íseal [Mweeshal],
low plain.
-
- N
- Naas
in Kildare, the most ancient residence of the kings of
Leinster;
Nás [Nawce], a fair or meeting
place.
- Nantinan
in Limerick;
Neantanán, a place of nettles
(neanta).
- Nappan
in Antrim; Cnapán, a little hill.
- Naul
in the north of Dublin;
’n-aill
[naul], the cliff. The article
incorporated: see Nenagh.
- Ned;
Nead [Nad],
a bird’s nest.
- Nenagh
in Tipperary.
Irish name Aenach [Enagh], a fair; the N
is a contraction for the Irish definite article ‘‘an,” which has become
incorporated with the word:-‘n-Aenach [Nenagh], the fair. The full
name is Aenach-Urmhumhan [Enagh-urooan]
the fair of Ormond or east Munster;
and this name is still used by those speaking Irish.
- Newrath;
‘n-Iubhrach [Nuragh], the yew
land; by the incorporation of the article.
- New
Ross. lrish
name Ros-mic-Treoin [Rosmictrone],
the wood (ros) of the son of
Treun.
- Newry.
Ancient name Iubhar-cinn-tragha
[Yure-Kintraw], the yew tree at the head of the strand. In after
ages this was shortened to Iubhar,
which, with the article prefixed (see Nenagh), and y
added, became changed to the present form Newry.
- Nicker
in Limerick; Cuinicér [Knickere],
a rabbit warren (from coinín).
- Nobber;
Obair [obber] work, with the
article incorporated (see Nenagh):- Nobber, ‘‘the work,” a name applied,
according to tradition, to the English castle erected there.
- Nohoval
in Cork
and Kerry; shortened from
Nuachongbhail [Nuhongval], new
congbhail or habitation. See
Conwal.
- Nure;
the same formation and meaning as Newry.
- Nurney
in Kildare and Carlow; Urnaidhe
[urny], F.M., a prayer house or oratory, with the article incorporated.
See Nenagh and Urney.
-
- O
- Offaly,
baronies of, in Kildare. The descendants
of Ros-failghe [faly] or Ros of the rings, the eldest son
of Cahirmore (king of Ireland
from A.D. 120
to 123) were called Hy Failghe (O’Dugan), i.e. the descendants of
Failghe (see Iverk); and a portion of their ancient inheritance still retains
this name, in the modernized form Offaly.
- Offerlane
in Queen’s County; a tribe name; Ui Foirchealláin [HY Forhellane]
F.M., the descendants [ui] of Foircheallán.
- Oghill;
Eóchaill [Oghill], yew wood (eó and coill).
- Oneilland.
Niallán, the fourth in descent from Colla Da Chrioch [cree]
brother of Colla Meann (see Cremorne), was the progenitor of the tribe called
Hy Niallain (i.e. Niallan’e race), F.M., and their ancient patrimony
forms the two baronies of Oneilland in Armagh
, which retain the name.
- Oola
in Limerick
and Waterford;
Ubhla [Oola], a place of apples, an orchard (from ubhall
or abhall].
-
Oran;
Uaran [uran] a cold spring.
- Oranmore
in Galway;
great cold spring.
- Oughterard;
upper height (uachdar, upper).
- Oulart
in Wexford; abhall-ghort [oulort], an orchard, compounded of abhall
and gort.
- Ounageeragh
river flowing into the Funcheon; Abh-nagcaerach, the river of the
sheep.
- Ovens,
The, near Ballincollig in Cork;
called in Irish Uamhanna [Oovana] i.e. the caves, from the great
limestone caves near the village; and the people by a slight change of pronunciation
have converted these oovans, or caves
into ovens. See Athnowen.
- Owbeg
river; Abh-beag, little river.
- Owenass
river at Mountmellick; the river of the cataract
(eas).
- Owenboy;
yellow river (abhainn).
- Owenclogy;
stony river (abhainn and cloch).
- Owenduff;
black river.
- Owenmore;
Abhainn-mór, great river.
- Owenreagh;
grey river (riabhach).
- Oxmantown
or Ostmantown in
Dublin; so called because the Danes or
Ostmen had a fortified settlement there.
- Ox
mountains: called in Irish Sliabh-ghamh [Slieve-gauv], F.M., the
mountain of the storms, which in the spoken language was mistaken for Sliabh-dhamh,
the mountain of the oxen, and translated accordingly.
-
-
- P
- Park;
Irish Pairc, a field.
- Parkmore;
great field.
-
Phoenix
Park
in
Dublin
, took its
name from a beautiful spring well near the Viceregal Lodge, called Fionn-uisg’
[feenisk], clear or limpid water.
- Poll;
a hole, pit, or pool.
- Pollacappul;
Poll-a-chapaill, the hole of the horse.
- Pollagh;
a place full of holes or pits.
- Pollanass
at Glendalough; the pool of the waterfall.
- Pollans;
holes, pools, or pits.
- Pollaphuca;
the pooka’s or demon’s hole.
- Pollrone
in Kilkenny; Poll-Ruadhain [Ruan], Ruadhan’s hole.
- Pollsallagh,
Pollsillagh; the hole of the sallows.
- Portlaw
in Waterford; Port-lagha, the bank or landing place of the hill.
- Portmarnock;
St. Mernoc’s bank or landing place.
- Portnashangan;
the port, bank, or landing place of time seangans
or pismires.
- Portraine;
see Lambay island.
- Portrush
in Antrim; Port-ruis, the landing place of the peninsula.
- Portumna
in Galway
;
Port-omna, F.M., the landing place of the oak.
- Pottle
in Cavan; a measure of land.
- Preban,
Prebaun, Pribbaun; Preabán, a patch.
- Pubble;
Pobul, people, a congregation.
- Pubblebrien
in Limerick
; O’Brien’s people; for it was the patrimony
of the O’Briens.
- Pullagh;
a place full of holes.
- Pullans,
Pullens; little holes or pits.
-
- Q
- Quilcagh
mountain at the source of the
Shannon
in Cavan; Cailceach, chalky; from its white face.
- Quilly;
Coillidh [cuilly], woodland.