Translations? The Place-names Work of the Ordnance Survey

in 19th-century Ireland

Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Roinn na Gaeilge, NUI Galway

• Bald: Rookfield; OS: Slievenabrehan (Sliabh na bPréachán)• Bald: Clarkfield; OS: Cloonnagleragh (Cluain na gCléireach) • Bald: Iceford; OS: Iceford or Bellanira (Béal an Oighre). • Bald: Newtownbrowne; OS: Kiltamagh (Coillte Mach) – here

the OS form prevailed. • Bald & OS: Hagfield (locally Hackfield) (Trian na Caillí) • Bald & OS: Midfield (Trian Láir) • Bald & OS: Stonefield (Ceathrú na gCloch) • Bald & OS: Greenwood (Coillidh Léith) • Bald & OS: Musicfield (Gort an Cheoil)• Bald & OS: Trouthill (!) (An Cnoc Breac)• Bald & OS: Midgefield (Tamhnaigh na Míoltóg)

• Bald: Oomeen Paddereevruddaan; OS: Peter Salmon’s Cove – an instance where Bald has an Irish form and the OS an English; the latter is the one used today.

• OS: Fairymount (Mullach na Sí), Co. Roscommon. • OS: Sugarhill (Cnoc an Chaca: Knockahacka (1740);

Knockahaka al. Sugarhill (1794)), Co. Limerick.

Latin forms:• 13. Insula Vaccae Albae (alias Insula Vitulae Albae) – Inis Bó

Finne (Inishbofin – ‘island of the white cow’); Mons Lapidum – Sliabh Liag (Slieve League – ‘mountain of flagstones’); Vadum Duarum Avium – Snám Dá Éan (Swim-Two-Birds – ‘river-crossing of two birds’).

• • Semi-Latin forms:• 14. Campus Mide, ‘the plain of Meath’, Maigh Mí; Mons Miss,

‘the mountain of Mes’, Sliabh Mis (Slemish); Vadum Clieth, ‘the ford of wattles’, Áth Cliath.

Norse and ‘norsified’ forms:

• 15. Howth – Binn Éadair, Wicklow – Cill Mhantáin, Wexford – Loch Garman, Waterford – Port Láirge, Strangford – Loch Cuan, etc.

• ‘Norsified’ versions: Dyflin – Duibhlinn (Dublin); Hlymrekr – Luimneach (Limerick).

• Laxhlaup, ‘the salmon-leap’, Saltus Salmonis (al. Salmonum);

gaelicised, Léim an Bhradáin; anglicised, Leixlip.

Translations? The Place-names Work of the Ordnance Survey

in 19th-century Ireland

Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Roinn na Gaeilge, NUI Galway