The origin and meaning of place names in Ireland can be tricky to decipher, but they are a vivid reminder of our varied past, with names of Gaelic, Anglo-Norman, English, Scottish and even Viking origin.
Because many were translated phonetically into English, it can take a little detective work to get to their meaning, but doing so can reveal a lot about the place that bears the name.
While they may seem indecipherable most Irish place names are relatively easy to understand once you know how they are formed.
Most follow a sort of pattern and knowing a few suffices and prefixes means that just looking at a the name of a place can tell you a surprising amount about its history, geography and the people who live there.
Some of these names sound strange, sometimes just to non-Irish ears, sometimes to everyone. Others have an unusual story.
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Known as the city of the tribes, Galway is the undisputed festival capital of Ireland and no matter what time of year you visit the chances are there will be something on.
It’s also well situated for touring both Connemara and North Clare and the Burren region, has good night life and excellent restaurants. Great traditional music too.
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The fact that all these places are completely free to visit does not in any way make them inferior – some of the most popular visitor attractions in Ireland are on this list.
If you are traveling to Ireland on a tight budget, this is definitely a page you need to print out and take with you.
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Used as a token of love and friendship this traditional Galway ring can be worn in several different ways to signify the status of the wearer – married/attached or free and looking?!
There are many stories about its origin, some fanciful though even the most likely contender is a tale of adventure and romance.
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The county of Cork is famous for its huge number of artisan food producers, and restaurant menus in the city heavily feature their excellent produce.
For hard core foodies, no visit would be complete without tasting the local delicacy of tripe and drisheen – if you dare!
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