back to menu

Derry coming from the Irish 'Doire' which means an oak wood, is a common part of placenames throughout Ireland. Derreen is also common.

Near Glendalough we have placenames such as Derrybawn - Doire Bán which means white oak grove.

We also have Derralossary - Doire Lasrach  - which means Lassar's oak grove.

Doire Choluim Chille - Colmcille's oakwood is the origin of the name of Derry. Colmcille founded a monastery there in the 6th century. There probably was a sacred   pagan oak grove about and Colmcille occupied it.

Around Ireland we have placenames such as: Lough Derravarragh in Co. Westmeath   -Lough Dairbhreach  - which means lake with an oak plantation. (Legend tells us that the Children of Lir spent 300 years here)

Derrybeg in Co. Donegal - Doirí Beaga - Little oak groves.

Derrynane (Home of Daniel O' Connell) in Co. Kerry - Doire Fhionáin  - Fionnán's oak grove.

Dairbhe = Place abounding in oaks.
Valentia Island in Kerry

Doire = Oakwood

Ath Dara = Ford of the Oak
Adare in Limerick

Cill Dara = Church of the Oak
Kildare

Derralossary = the Oak wood of Saint Lazarian

 Tree.jpg (46215 bytes)
church.jpg (18486 bytes) Cill = Church
     = Churchyard
     = Monastic Settlement
     = Graveyard

Cill Chonaill = Church of Conall
Kilconnel Co. Galway

Seanchill = Old Church
Shankill Co. Dublin

Cill Chainnigh = Cainneach's Church
Kilkenny

Carraig Fhearghais = Rock of Fergus

Carrick Fergus, Co. Antrim

Carraig an Chomhraic = Rock of The Conflict

Carrigahorig, Co. Tipperary

lcarraig.jpg (10576 bytes)

               

Arial view of Raths
Ráth = Fort

Ráth Droma     = Ringfort of the Ridge    = Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow

Ráth an Iúir     = Fort of the yew tree    = Rathnure, Co. Wexford

Ráithín     = Little fort     = Raheen, Co. Cork

Ráth Fearnáin     = Fearnan's ring fort     =Rathfarnham

Ráth Naoi     = Naoi's ring fort     = Rathnew, Co.Wicklow
Áth.jpg (51073 bytes) Baile Átha Cliath = Town of the ford of the hurdle
Dublin

Áth na mBó = Ford of the cows
Annamoe, Co. Wicklow
Áth (Ath, Agh)

Áth is very often found with Baile where a community or town grew from people trading with one another

Áth = Ford which enabled people to meet, settle or trade.

Baile Átha Luain = Town of the ford of Luan = Athlone, Co. Westmeath

Baile Átha Buí = Town of the Yellow Ford = Athboy, Co. Meath

 

Gleann.jpg (9206 bytes)

Gleann=A glen or valley

Gleann dá Locha= Glendalough
Gleann Mór = Big Valley = Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny or Glanmore, Co.Kerry

Gleann Cholmcille = St. Colmcille's Valley = Glencolumbkille, Co. Donegal

Gleann Maolúra = Maolúra's Valley = Glenmalure, Co. Wicklow
hazeltree.jpg (22687 bytes) Coll = Hazel
Ceist agam ort
Work out how these places may have gotten their names:

Kilcolman     =     Cill  Cholmáin      =     St. Colman's Church

Kilcormac     =     ______      __________     =      -------------

Kilmacanogue    =    ______         _______    =     ------------

Athy    =    Baile        ______     _________    =   -------------

Athenry    =    _______        _________       an _______    =    ---------

Ashford    =    _______     na ________    =    -------------

Glenduff    =    _______      __________    =      ------------

Glenard    =    __________    __________     =   -------------

Glenbeg    =    __________    ___________     =    -----------

Carrickmore    =     __________     ________=     -----------

Rathmore    =    An _________    ________      =     -------------

gofind.gif (12415 bytes) Long Term Challenge:

See how many places you can find in your locality or as you travel from one locality to another having either Dair, Áth, Cill, Carraig, Ráth or Glen as part of their name.

  Send us your findings.

 
back to menu