Mo Cheantar Féin - Logainmneacha

ailt05/03/2010

Ach tá logainmneacha na tíre seo níos tábhachtaí fós do lucht na Gaeilge, idir chainteoirí dúchais, chainteoirí líofa ón Ghalltacht agus lucht foghlamtha na teanga. Is nasc láidir beo iad leis an am atá thart, nuair a bhí an teanga i réim ar fud na tíre. Cuireann siad i gcuimhne dúinn gur cuid tábhachtach dár stair í an Ghaeilge.

Bíonn cuid mhór de na hainmneacha seo galánta fosta – bíonn ceol agus filíocht iontu. Cá bhfaighfeá leithéidí Loch na mBreac Beadaí nó Cluanta na Caillí nó Lios na Searrach taobh amuigh den tír seo?

Ní amháin sin, ach is minic a bhíonn stair na háite san ainm. Mar shampla, tá a fhios againn go raibh súdaire ina chónaí i Lios an tSúdaire fadó, agus bronnadh Baile an Choinnleora ar an Eaglais le coinnleoir a choinneáil ar lasadh san Ardeaglais i mBaile Átha Cliath. I gcásanna eile, tá baint ag an ainm leis an mhiotaseolaíocht: Loch Bricreann, mar shampla (ó Bhricriú, cleasaí sna seanscéalta faoi Chú Chulainn, nó Lios na gCearrbhach, a bhaineann le scéal faoi dhream cearrbhach a bhí ina gcónaí i ndún san áit sin).

Agus mar bharr ar an iomlán, is féidir le foghlaimeoirí agus le cainteoirí líofa araon úsáid a bhaint as logainmneacha lena gcuid Gaeilge a fheabhsú agus a shaibhriú. Tá a lán focal bunúsach sna logainmneacha atá thart timpeall orainn: béal, cos, éadan, droim, cnoc, gleann, abhainn, rua, nua, dearg, glas, dubh. Agus tá focail níos casta ann fosta: súdaire, mar shampla, nó coinnleoir nó cearrbhach.

Gheobhaidh tú cuid de na hainmneacha seo anseo (in ord aibítre), maraon le roinnt eolais faoin chiall atá leo agus faoi na scéalta a bhaineann leo. Thig leat amharc orthu fosta tríd ár léarscáil. Bain sult as!

Suíomhanna idirlín eile le heolas comhchosúil:

http://www.logainm.ie/
http://www.ulsterplacenames.org/
http://www.ulsterplacenames.org/street-names_project.htm
http://www.geographyinaction.co.uk/Townlands/Pnamesresearch.html

Níl an BBC freagrach as inneachar suíomhanna idirlín seachtracha

LOGAINMNEACHA BBC GAEILGE

Agha- Ciallaíonn an focal achadh “páirc.” / The word achadh means “a field”.
e.g. Aghadowey, DERRY

e.g. Aghafatten, ANTRIM

e.g. Aghagallon, ANTRIM

e.g. Aghalee, ANTRIM

e.g. Ahoghill, ANTRIM

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Anna- Ciallaíonn eanach “riasc”, nó “áit fhliuch.” / Eanach means a marsh or wet place. Just occasionally, names beginning with Anna- may have a different origin (see Annalong).


e.g. Annahilt, DOWN

e.g. Annalong, DOWN _________

Antrim, ANTRIM Aontreibh a bhí ann fadó, ainm a chiallaíonn “aon teach.” Tá an focal treibh gaolta leis an fhocal Breatnaise “tref”, atá coitianta go leor i logainmneacha. / The name was originally Aontreibh, which means “one house.” The name is related to the Welsh tref, which is common in place names.
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Ard-
Ciallaíonn an focal “ard” cnoc nó áit ard, ar ndóigh. / The word ard means height or high place.

e.g. Arboe, TYRONE Ní deacair an t-ainm seo a thuiscint. Ciallaíonn sé “áit ard a bhfuil ba ann.” / This name means “the height of the cows.”

e.g. Ardglass, DOWN Ciallaíonn an t-ainm seo “áit ard atá glas.” / "Ard" means a height, a hill. Glas means green.


e.g. Ardress, ARMAGH Ciallaíonn an t-ainm seo “áit fhliuch atá ar chnoc.” / This name means a marsh which is on a height.


e.g. Ardstraw, TYRONE Ciallaíonn an t-ainm seo “áit ard a bhfuil gleann abhann in aice léi.” / This means a high place which has a river valley near it.


e.g. Armagh, ARMAGH Ciallaíonn ard “áit ard” ar ndóigh, agus bandia a bhí i Macha. Bhí baint láidir aici le capaill. / Ard means “a high place” and Macha was an ancient Celtic goddess who was strongly connected with horses.

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Armoy, ANTRIM
Ciallaíonn an t-ainm seo “an taobh thoir den mhachaire.” Oirthear Má a bheadh ann i nGaeilge an lae inniu ach léiríonn an Maí an dóigh a ndeirtí é sa cheantar. / This name means “the east side of the plain.” According to standard modern Irish grammar it should be “Oirthear Má” but the “Maí” reflects the local pronunciation.

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Augher, TYRONE
Níl baint ar bith ag an fhocal seo leis an rud a osclaíonn doras. Ciallaíonn an focal seo “imeall” nó “ciumhais.” Imeall ríocht Chlochair a bhí ann fadó ó shin. / The Irish word “eochair”, meaning key, also means edge or boundary and this is the meaning here. It was the boundary of the ancient kingdom of Clogher.

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Aughnacloy, TYRONE
Ciallaíonn Achadh na Cloiche “Páirc a bhfuil cloch ann.” / “Achadh” means field and “na cloiche” means of the stone.

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Bally, Balli -
Ní baile mór a bhíonn i gceist leis an fhocal seo ach baile fearainn, aonad talún a dtiocfadh le teaghlach a bheith beo air. / This doesn”t mean a town, as the word usually means in modern Irish, but “townland”, a unit of land which was originally enough to support a single household.


e.g. Ballinderry, ANTRIM Ciallaíonn sé seo “an baile fearainn a bhfuil coill darach ann.” Áiteanna naofa a bhí iontu ag na seanCheiltigh. / This means “the townland of the oak grove.” Oak groves were sacred to the ancient Celts.

e.g. Ballycarry, ANTRIM Sa chás seo ciallaíonn an focal cora “cabhsa” nó “áth.” Bhí áit ann fadó in aice leis an bhaile seo a dtiocfadh le daoine an riasc a thasnú chuig Oileán Mhic Aodha. / In this case the word cora means a causeway or a ford, so this means “the townland of the causeway.” There was a place near Ballycarry long ago where people could cross the marsh to Islandmagee.


e.g. Ballycassidy, FERMANAGH Filí agus dochtúirí le muintir Uidhir, taoisigh Fhear Manach, a bhí i muintir Chaiside. / The town(land) of the Cassidys. The Cassidys were poets and doctors in the service of the Maguire family in Fermanagh.


e.g. Ballycastle, ANTRIM Is cinnte gur tugadh Baile an Chaisleáin ar an áit seo sa 16ú haois ach bhí claonadh ag na cainteoirí Gaeilge deiridh sna Glinntí Baile an Chaistil a thabhairt ar an bhaile. / As you might think, this name means “the town(land) of the castle.” It was certainly known as Baile an Chaisleáin in the 16th century but there was a tendency for the last native speakers of Irish in the Glens of Antrim to call it Baile an Chaistil.


e.g. Ballyclare, ANTRIM Ciallaíonn bealach “bóthar”, ar ndóigh, agus is ionann clár agus “machaire.” / In this case the “bally” does not stand for townland, but for the word bealach which means road. "Clár" is another word for a plain.


e.g. Ballygawley, TYRONE Filí na Niallach a bhí i Muintir Dhálaigh. / Baile Uí Dhálaigh means “the townland of the O’Daly family.” The O’Daly family were the hereditary poets of the O’Neills.


e.g. Ballygalley, ANTRIM Is ainm pearsanta é Geithleach. / The townland of Geithleach. Geithleach is a personal name.


e.g. Ballygowan, DOWN Is furasta an t-ainm seo a thuiscint. Ciallaíonn sé “baile fearainn le duine darb ainm Mac Gabhann.” Ciallaíonn gabha duine a bhíonn ag obair le miotal. / This means “MacGowan”s townland.” The surname MacGowan means “son of the smith.”


e.g. Ballymena, ANTRIM Creideann a lán daoine gur tugadh an Baile Meánach ar an áit cionn is go bhfuil sé i lár Chontae Aontroma ach is dócha go mbaineann an chiall le luí na tíre sa cheantar áitiúil. Ní raibh tábhacht ar bith leis na contaetha go dtí an 18ú haois. / Ballymena means “the middle town(land).” Many people believe that it got this name because it is in the middle of county Antrim but it is probably to do with the lie of the land locally. The counties were relatively unimportant units until the 18th century.


e.g. Ballymoney, ANTRIM “Baile fearainn an chaoráin”an chiall atá leis an ainm seo. / This name means “the townland of the moor.”


e.g. Ballynamallard, FERMANAGH Ciallaíonn béal “béal abhann” sa chás seo. Tugtar Áth na Mallacht(aí) ar an áit mar gheall ar mhallacht a chuir Naomh Colm Cille ar na coiligh sa cheantar. / This is another case where Bally doesn”t mean “townland.” Here it is béal, meaning river mouth. Áth na mallacht means “ford of the curses” because of a curse that Saint Colm Cille put on the cockerels in the area.

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Banbridge, DOWN
Bhí an leagan Gaeilge seo in úsáid ag cainteoirí dúchais i Muineachán agus áiteanna eile. / This English name means the Bridge over the River Bann. The Irish version Droichead na Banna was used by native Irish speakers in Monaghan and other places.

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Bangor, DOWN
Is é fréamh an ainm seo ná beann, focal a chiallaíonn “creag” nó “aill.” Bhí Beannchar clúiteach go dtí aimsir na Lochlannach cionn is go raibh mainistir agus leabharlann ag Naomh Comgall ansin. / The root of this name is beann, which means “crag” or “cliff.” Bangor was famous until the time of the Vikings because Saint Comgall founded a monastery and library there.

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Bel-
Ciallaíonn sé seo “béal”, ar ndóigh – béal abhann nó béal átha atá i gceist. / This means mouth, either in the sense of a river mouth or of the mouth of (approach to) a ford.


e.g. Belcoo, FERMANAGH Níl baint ar bith ag an ainm seo le cú nó madadh. Is leagan truaillithe é den fhocal “cúng.” / Béal means mouth. The second part does not mean “dog”, as you might expect. It is really a corruption of cúng, which means narrow.


e.g. Belfast, ANTRIM /DOWN Is minic a aistrítear seo mar “béal abhainn Fearsaide” ach “béal na habhann san áit a bhfuil áth gainmheach ann” an chiall cheart. Fuair an abhainn a hainm ón áth. Bhí an t-áth in úsáid ar feadh na Meánaoiseanna ach is léir go raibh an trasnú contúirteach go leor – bhí séipéal beag ann a mbíodh daoine ag rá a bpaidreacha roimh thrasnú dóibh. Tá Teampall Naomh Seoirse ar an suíomh sin anois. / This is often translated as “the mouth of the river Farset” but it really means “the mouth of the river where there is a sandy ford.” The river got its name from the ford. The ford was in use throughout the Middle Ages but the crossing was obviously dangerous enough – there was a little chapel where people said their prayers before crossing. St George’s Church is now on that site.


e.g. Bellaghy, DERRY Is ainm pearsanta é Eachadh. Bhí sé iontach coitianta in Éirinn fadó. Tagann sé ón fhocal each, a chiallaíonn “capall.” / This means “the townland of Eachadh or Eochadh.” This was a very common personal name in Ireland long ago. It comes from the word each which means horse.


e.g. Belleek, FERMANAGH Ciallaíonn béal “béal átha” agus ciallaíonn leac “cloch chlárach.” / Béal means “ford mouth” and leac means “a flat stone.”

_________

Bessbrook
Sa leagan Gaeilge níl tagairt ann do Bess, bean chéile an duine a bhunaigh an sráidbhaile. // In Irish there is no mention of Bess, the wife of the founder of the village. An Sruthán just means “The brook.”

_________

Broughshane, ANTRIM
Ciallaíonn an focal bruach “imeall” sa NuaGhaeilge, ar ndóigh, ach sa chás seo is leagan truaillithe den fhocal “brú” nó “brugh” é. Sin an focal atá sa logainm “Brú na Bóinne”, mar shampla. Ciallaíonn sé teach nó áit chónaithe. Seán Mac Briain Ó Néill an Seán atá i gceist sa dara cuid den ainm. / The word bruach means “edge” in Modern Irish, of course, but in this case it”s a corrupted version of the word brú or brugh, which is the word found in Brú na Bóinne, for example. It means a house or dwelling place. The second part means “of Seán” and refers to Seán Mac Briain Ó Néill.

_________

Buckna, ANTRIM
Sa chás seo, is ionann snámh agus “áth” nó áit ar féidir snámh trasna na habhann go furasta. Ciallaíonn boc fia fireann. / In this case, the word “snámh” (which means swim in modern Irish) means “ford” or place where it is easy to swim across a river. The word “boc” means stag.

_________

Bushmills, ANTRIM
Tá baint ag cuid mhór de na hainmneacha ar aibhneacha in Éirinn le bólacht. Is dócha go mbaineann an t-ainm Buais le “bó” fosta. / Many of the names of rivers in Ireland are related to cattle. The name Buais is probably related to bó, which means “cow.”

_________

Cabragh, DOWN & TYRONE
Ciallaíonn an focal cabrach “drochthalamh.” / The word “cabrach” means “poor land.”

_________

Camlough, ARMAGH
Ainm atá sothuigthe .i. loch atá cam. / This is very easy for an Irish speaker to understand. Cam means “crooked.” Loch means “lake.”

_________

Carlingford, LOUTH
Is ainm Lochlannach é seo. Ciallaíonn an focal “kerling” cailleach. Is dócha go bhfuair sé an t-ainm seo mar gheall ar charraig a bhí cosúil le seanbhean. / This is a Viking name. The word “kerling” means a hag. It probably got this name because of a rock which was shaped like an old woman.

_________

Carn-
Ciallaíonn sé seo carn cloch. / This element means a heap or cairn of stones.


e.g. Carnlough, ANTRIM Bhaintí feidhm as cairn sna seanlaethanta mar leaca tuama. Ciallaíonn an t-ainm seo “áit a bhfuil cairn ann.” Níl baint ar bith ag an ainm leis an fhocal “loch.” / Cairns or piles of stones were once used like tombstones in Ireland. This name means “the place of cairns.” The name has no connection with the word loch or lough.


e.g. Carnmoney, ANTRIM Bhaintí feidhm as cairn fadó mar leaca tuama. Níl baint ar bith ag an fhocal monadh le móin ná le hairgead – is seanfhocal é a chiallaíonn “cnoc.” / Cairns or piles of stones were once used like tombstones in Ireland. The word monadh is an obsolete word for a hill.


e.g. Carnteel, TYRONE Bhaintí feidhm as cairn fadó mar leaca tuama. Is ainm é Sial nó Siadhal. Tá an áit seo clúiteach as Seachrán Charn tSiail, amhrán béaloidis atá thar a bheith fada agus a bhfuil neart eolais ann faoi stair shóisialta na hÉireann. / Cairns were used long ago as tombstones. Sial or Siadhal is a personal name. This place is famous in the Irish language for Seachrán Charn tSiail, a folk song which has a huge number of verses and which contains a lot of material of interest to the social historian.
_________

Carrick
Cloch mhór. Ní fhaightear an focal seo taobh amuigh de na teangacha Ceilteacha. Creideann scoláirí áirithe go bhfuil baint aige leis an Bhascais “harri.” / A rock, a big stone. This word is not found outside the Celtic languages. Some scholars believe that it may be related to the Basque “harri”, which also means a rock.


e.g. Carrickfergus, ANTRIM De réir na seanscéalta, Fearghus mac Earca an Fearghus atá i gceist anseo, an duine a bhunaigh ríocht Dhál Riada agus a thug an Ghaeilge go hAlbain den chéad uair. Bádh é san fharraige in aice leis an chaisleán. / According to the old stories, Carrick got its name from Fergus Mac Erc, the man who founded the Kingdom of Dál Riada and who brought the Gaelic language to Scotland for the first time. He was drowned in the sea near the castle.


e.g. Carrickmore, TYRONE Carraig nó cloch atá mór. / This name is easy for an Irish speaker to understand. It means “big rock.”

_________

Carrow-, carry-
Ciallaíonn ceathrú “an ceathrú cuid d’aonad talaimh darbh ainm baile biataigh.” / Ceathrú (a quarter) means the fourth part of a unit of land called the baile biataigh.


e.g. Carrowdore, DOWN Ciallaíonn ceathrú an ceathrú cuid de limistéar darbh ainm “baile biataigh.” Ciallaíonn dobhar “uisce.” Tá baint ag an fhocal seo leis an logainm Sasanach, Dover, atá de bhunús Ceilteach. / The word "ceathrú" means “a quarter” in Irish. In this case, it is the fourth part of a territorial unit called a baile biataigh.” "Dobhar" means water and is related to the English placename, Dover, which is of Celtic origin.


e.g. Carryduff, DOWN Ciallaíonn ceathrú an ceathrú cuid d’aonad talaimh darbh ainm baile biataigh. Ní fios cérbh é Aodh Dubh. / This means “Black-Haired Hugh”s quarter.” We do not know the identity of Black Hugh.
_________

Castledawson, DERRY
Ainmníodh Castledawson i mBéarla do theaghlach darb ainm Dawson. As Gaeilge tugtar An Seanmhullach air. / Castledawson was named in English after a family called Dawson. The Irish name is which means “The Old Hilltop.”


e.g. Castlewellan, DOWN Is ainm Normannach é Uidhilín (Hugelin sa bhunNormannais). / This means “the castle of Uidhilín.” Uidhilín is the Irish version of a Norman name, Hugelin.

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Clogher, TYRONE
Tá miotas ann gur Cloch Óir an seanleagan den ainm seo agus go raibh íol nó dealbh ann a bhí clúdaithe le hór buí sna seanlaethanta. Ar ndóigh, is focal coitianta é clochar i logainmneacha in Éirinn agus Clochar mac nDaimhíne an seanainm a bhí ar an áit, ón rí de chuid Uí Chreimhthinn a bhí lonnaithe ann. / There is a myth that the original version of this name is Cloch Óir, which means “golden stone.” It is said that there was an idol or statue there which was covered with gold in ancient times. Of course, clochar is a common word in placenames in Ireland and Clochar Mac nDaimhíne (Clogher of the Sons of Daimin) is the old name of the place, from a king of the Uí Chremthainn who was based there.

_________

Clon-, Clonta
Ciallaíonn cluain “páirc fhéarach.” / The element cluain means a meadow.


e.g. Clonoe, TYRONE Féarach a bhfuil crann iúir ann. / Meadow of the yew tree.

_________

Coalisland, TYRONE
Bhí gual á thochailt sa cheantar seo san 18ú haois déag. / The Irish name is an exact equivalent of the English name. Coal was dug in this area in the 18th century.

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Coleraine, DERRY
Ciallaíonn sé seo “cúil raithnigh” i nGaeilge an lae inniu. De réir an scéil, bhunaigh Naomh Pádraig séipéal anseo. / This means “nook of ferns.” According to the story, Saint Patrick founded a chapel here.

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Comber, DOWN
Sa litriú caighdeánach, cumar atá ann. Sa chás seo, ciallaíonn sé “an áit a dtagann dhá shruthán nó abhainn le chéile.” / In the standard spelling of Irish, this word is now spelt cumar. In this case, it means “the place where two streams or rivers meet.”

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Cookstown, TYRONE
Ciallaíonn sé seo tulach (corr) a tógadh ar an teorainn (críoch) idir ríochtaí. / This means a mound ("corr") which marks the boundary ("críoch") between two kingdoms.

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Cork, CORK
Ciallaíonn an focal corcach “riasc.” / The word “corcach” means “a marsh.”

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Cross-
Ciallaíonn cros an rud céanna le “cross” an Bhéarla (fuair an Béarla an focal cross ón Ghaeilge sna Meánaoiseanna). In amanna ciallaíonn sé cros déanta de chloch nó amanna eile ciallaíonn sé crosbhóthar. / The Irish word “cros” means the same as the English word cross. (English borrowed the word from Irish in the Middle Ages). It sometimes means a stone cross but sometimes it is a crossroads.


e.g. Crossgar, DOWN Is dócha gur cros cloiche atá i gceist anseo, agus ní crosbhóthar. / This means “the short cross” and it almost certainly refers to a stone cross, not a crossroads.


e.g. Crossmaglen, ARMAGH Is dócha gur “crosbhóthar” atá i gceist sa chéad chuid. Is ainm é Mac Lionnáin. / The first part means “crossroads” rather than cross. Mac Lionnáin is a name.


e.g. Crossnacreevy, DOWN Is furasta an t-ainm seo a thuiscint ach ní fios an an cros nó crosbhóthar atá i gceist sa chéad chuid de. Is dócha go gciallaíonn “craobh” bile nó crann naofa sa chás seo. / This literally means “the cross of the branch” or “the crossroads of the branch.” The branch probably means a sacred tree in this case.

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Cullybackey , ANTRIM
Ciallaíonn cúil “cúinne” agus ciallaíonn bac “lúb in abhainn.” / Cúil means “corner” and bac means “a bend in a river.”

_________

Cultra, DOWN
Is furasta an t-ainm seo a thuiscint i nGaeilge an lae inniu. / This name is easy for a modern Irish speaker to understand. It means “the townland of the back of the strand”.

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Cushendall, ANTRIM
Bun Abhainn Dalla an leagan is coitianta i nGaeilge, cé gur léir go raibh an dá leagan ann. Tugtar na Trí Buna ar Bhun Abhainn Dalla, Bhun Abhainn Doinne agus ar Bhun na hAbhann. / Bun Abhainn Dalla (the bottom of the river Dall) is the most common form of the name, though Cois Abhainn Dalla (the foot of the river Dall) was also used. In Irish Cushendall, Cushendun and Waterfoot were called “na Trí Buna”, the three bottoms.

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Cushendun, ANTRIM
Bun Abhainn Doinne an leagan is coitianta i nGaeilge, cé gur léir go raibh an dá leagan ann. Tugtar na Trí Buna ar Bhun Abhainn Dalla, Bhun Abhainn Doinne agus ar Bhun na hAbhann. / Bun Abhainn Doinne (the bottom of the river Donn) is the most common form of the name, though Cois Abhainn Doinne (the foot of the river Donn) was also used. In Irish Cushendall, Cushendun and Waterfoot were called “na Trí Buna”, the three bottoms.

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Derry-
Ciallaíonn doire “coill de chrainn darach.” Áiteanna naofa a bhí iontu in aimsir na bpágánach. / Doire means a grove of oak trees. They were holy places in pagan times.


e.g. Derry, DERRY Doire Calgach an seanainm a bhí ar an áit ach ina dhiaidh sin baisteadh Doire Cholm Cille uirthi. Tugann roinnt daoine Londonderry ar an áit i mBéarla. / Doire Calgach was the old name of the place but after that it was called Doire Cholm Cille, the Oak Wood of Saint Colm Cille. Some people call it Londonderry in English.


e.g. Derrynoose, ARMAGH Doire an Núis, nó Doire na Leamhnachta. Ciallaíonn leamhnacht an chéad bhainne a thugann bó i ndiaidh di gamhain a bhreith. Is dócha go raibh seanscéal ann leis an ainm seo a mhíniú ach ní fios anois cad é a bhí ann. / This means the oak grove of the “nús”, which means the first milk which a cow gives after calving. There was probably some story which explains this name but unfortunately it is now lost.

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Dervock, ANTRIM
Tugann lucht na Suirbhéireachta Ordanáis Dearbhóg ar an áit seo, ach deir Patrick McKay sa Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names gur Dairbheog atá ann. Is léir go bhfuil baint aige le dair agus doire, mar ciallaíonn sé “doire beag.” / The Ordinance Survey gives Dearbhóg as the Irish version of this name but Patrick McKay in The Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names gives it as Dairbheog. The name is obviously linked to the word dair (oak tree) and doire (oak grove) and it means “a little oak wood.”
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Desertmartin, DERRY
Ciallaíonn díseart “áit iargúlta” (tagann sé ón Laidin desertum, fásach) a dtiocfadh leis na manaigh éalú ón saol inti. Naomh Martán Tours atá i gceist sa dara cuid den logainm seo. / Díseart means an isolated place (it comes from the Latin desertum, an unpopulated place) where the monks could escape from the world. It was dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours.
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Doagh, ANTRIM
Ciallaíonn dumhach na cnoic gainimh ar an trá i nGaeilge an lae inniu ach is í an bhunchiall a bhí leis ná “tulach” nó “cnocán.” / These days the word dumhach means a sand dune but its original meaning was just a hillock or mound and that is the meaning of Doagh.
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Donagh-
Teach pobail a tógadh go luath i ré na Críostaíochta, go háirithe ceann a bhunaigh Naomh Pádraig. Tagann sé ón fhocal Laidine “dominica” a chiallaíonn “leis an Tiarna.” / A church founded in Early Christian times, especially one founded by Saint Patrick. It comes from the Latin Dominica which means “belonging to the Lord.”


e.g. Donaghadee, DOWN Ciallaíonn Domhnach “teach pobail a tógadh go luath”, go háirithe ceann a bhunaigh Naomh Pádraig. Is ainm pearsanta é Daoi, is dócha, ach síleann daoine áirithe go gciallaíonn sé “amadán.” / Domhnach means an early church, especially one which was founded by Saint Patrick. Daoi is probably a personal name, though some people think that it means “fool.”


e.g. Donaghmore, TYRONE Tá a lán focal i nGaeilge a chiallaíonn “teach pobail” – domhnach, lann, eaglais, teampall, cill. Tá ciall ar leith leis an fhocal Domhnach. Ciallaíonn sé teach pobail a tógadh go luath, go háirithe ceann a bhunaigh Naomh Pádraig. Tagann sé ón fhocal Laidine “dominica” a chiallaíonn “leis an Tiarna.” / There are a lot of words in Irish for a church – domhnach, lann, eaglais, teampall, cill. Domhnach has a very specific meaning – it is a very early church, especially one founded by Saint Patrick. It comes from the Latin Dominica which means “belonging to the Lord.” Mór means big.

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Dun-, Down-
Dúnfort, caisleán. / A fort or stronghold.


e.g. Downpatrick, DOWN Ní chuirtear séimhiú ar an ainm seo de ghnáth, cé nach bhfuil sé sin ag cloí le gramadach na NuaGhaeilge ar chor ar bith. Ní chuireann Éire Thuaidh (Léarscáil na Suirbhéireachta Ordanáis) ná A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names séimhiú air. / This means “fortress of Patrick.” There is some doubt and confusion over whether it should be Dún Pádraig or Dún Phádraig. The experts have it as Dún Pádraig, even though this is not strictly correct according to modern Irish grammar.


e.g. Dundonald, DOWN Furasta a thuiscint. Is ainm pearsanta Dónall, ar ndóigh. Ciallaíonn sé “rialóir an domhain.” / Dundonald means “the fortress of Dónall. Dónall is a common first name. It means “world ruler.”


e.g. Dundrum, DOWN Ciallaíonn an t-ainm seo an dúnfort nó caisleán atá ar dhroim nó ar chnoc fada. / This name means the fortress or castle which is on a ridge or long hill.


e.g. Dungannon
TYRONE
Dún Geanainn
TÍR EOGHAIN
Is ainm pearsanta Geanann. Mac leis an draoi, Cathbhadh a bhí ann. Ba é Cathbhadh a d”ainmnigh Cú Chulainn agus Deirdre sna seanscéalta.
This means “the fortress of Geanann.” Geanann was a son of the druid, Cathbhadh, who gave their names to the ancient Irish hero Cú Chulainn and the tragic figure of Irish legend Deirdre.


e.g. Dungiven, DERRY Ní fios go díreach cad is brí leis an fhocal geimhin – síltear go bhfuil baint aige le seithí nó craicne. / The first part of this name means fortress but the second element is unclear. It may be connected to skins or hides.


e.g. Dunloy, ANTRIM Ciallaíonn lathach “láib”, “puiteach” nó “clábar.” / This means “the fort of the mud.”


e.g. Dunseverick, ANTRIM Luaitear Dún Sobhairce i dTáin Bó Cuailnge. De réir na miotas, fionnó le Míl, sinsear na nGael, a bhí i Sobhairce. / The name means “fortress of Sobhairce.” Dunseverick is mentioned in the Cattle Raid of Cooley. According to ancient myths, Sobhairce was a grandson of Míl (Milesius of Spain), ancestor of the Irish.

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Drum-
Cnoc fada, droim. / A long hill, a ridge.


e.g. Drumaness, DOWN Is furasta an t-ainm seo a thuiscint. Ciallaíonn droim “cnoc fada” agus ciallaíonn eas “an áit a dtiteann sruthán le haill.” / This is easy for an Irish speaker to understand. Droim means a ridge, while the second part means “of the waterfall.”


e.g. Dromara, DOWN Droim na mBearach atá ann. Is minic a scríobhtar Droim mBearach i nGaeilge. Litrítear mar Droim Bearach é ar an léarscáil Éire Thuaidh. / This means the Ridge of the Heifers. Some people write it in Irish as Droim mBearach. It is spelt Droim Bearach on the map Éire Thuaidh.


e.g. Dromore, DOWN Ainm simplí sothuigthe – droim (cnoc fada) mór. / This name is easy for Irish speakers to understand – it means a big ridge.


e.g. Drumboe, DOWN Ainm sothuigthe, ar ndóigh. Bhí mainistir anseo sna seanlaethanta agus tá bun an chloigthí le feiceáil go fóill i reilig an teampaill Phreisbitéirigh. / This is easy for Irish speakers to understand. It means Ridge of the Cows. There was a monastery here in ancient times and the base of the round tower is still visible in the churchyard of the Presbyterian Church.

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Dublin, DUBLIN
Bhí áth ann ar an Life agus is dócha gur cuireadh cliatha ann leis an áth a dhéanamh níos sábháilte. Is ainm Gaeilge é Dubhlinn fosta ach níor bhain Gaeilgeoirí úsáid as an leagan sin riamh. / There was a ford on the Liffey and wattles were probably put down to make the ford safer. Dubhlinn (Dublin) is an Irish name as well – it means Black Pool – but this form has never been used by Irish speakers.