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.
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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.
Read MoreSome of these names sound strange, sometimes just to non-Irish ears, sometimes to everyone. Others have an unusual story.
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