In Kilnagross N.S. we did a study of placenames in Leitrim. It is very exciting trying to find out how towns, villages and town lands got their names. We discovered that place names, in general get their names from some physical feature or some famous person who lived there. The early settlers in this country often chose to live on a river -bank. They usually picked a spot where the water was shallow enough to be crossed on foot. Many of our towns and villages got their names from these river settlements. We must remember that the way a word is spelled has changed over the years.
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Gaeilge
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English
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| Baile | Town |
| Ath | Ford |
| Carraig | Rock |
| Droim | Ridge |
| Doire | Wood |
| Lios | Fort |
| Coill | Wood |
| Achadh | Field |
| Eanach | Marsh |
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The towns and villages of County Leitrim
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Place Name
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Gaelige
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Description
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Liathdroim |
Grey Ridge | Liathdroim is a county of rolling hills |
| Carrick on Shannon | Cara Droma Ruisc | The weir of the ridge of the marsh |
| Mohill | Maothail | A wet spongy place |
| Drumshanbo | Druim Sean Bhoth | Ridge of the old huts or tents. |
| Manorhamilton | Cluainin Ui Ruairc | O'Rourke's meadowland |
| Dromahaire | Druim Dha Ethiar | Ridge of the two demons |
| Carrigallen | Carraig Alainn | Beautiful rock or rocky hill |
| Kinlough | Ceann Locha | Head or hill of the lake (Melvin) |
| Keshcarrigan | Ceis Carraigin | The causeway of the rock or rocky hill |
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Kiltyclogher
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Coillte Clochair | Woods of the stony ground |
| Cloone | Cluain | Good pasture, a green arable spot |
| Jamestown | Cill Srianain | St. Srianan's Church |
| Drumsna | Druim Snamha | Ridge of the swimming ford |
| Dromod | Druim Fhada | Long ridge or hill |
| Leitrim | Liath Druim | Grey ridge |
| Newtowngore | Magh Angaidhe | Plain of the angaidhe |
| Fenagh | Fiodhna | A woody place |
| Ballinamore | Beal an Atha Mhoir | Mouth of the great ford |
| Drumkeeran | Druim Caorthainn | Ridge of the mountain ash or rowan tree |
| Ballinaglera | Baile na gCleireach | Town of the clerics |
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The Parishes of County Leitrim
The earliest parish maps for County Leitrim are the Down Survey maps compiled in 1657. The purpose of the maps was to identify land, which fell back into Irish hands after the Cromwellian victory in the Confederacy wars. They are an important source for place names.
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Parish Name
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Gaelige
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Description
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Kinlough |
Ceann Locha | Head of the hill or the lake |
| Cloonclare | Cluain Clair | Meadowland of the plain |
| Drumreilly | Droim Oir Bhealaigh | Ridge of the eastern road or pass. |
| Ballinagleara | Baile na gCleireach | Town of the clerics |
| Glenade | Gleann Eada | Valley of jealousy |
| Ballaghmeehan | Bealach Ui Mhithighein | O'Meehan's pass |
| Killasnet | Cill Osnata | St Osnat's Church or cell |
| Drumlease | Drum Lias | Ridge of the huts or tents |
| Killargue | Cill Fhearga | Ferg's Church |
| Innismagrath | Inis Mac Ratha. | Island of Magrath |
| Killanummery | Cill an Iomaire | Church of the ridge |
| Ballinaglera | Baile na gCleireach | Town of the clerics |
| Oughteragh | Uachtar Achaidh | Top of the field |
| Kiltubrid | Cill Tiobraid | Church of the well |
| Murhaun | Murthan | A little mound, a fortified place |
| Carrigallen | Carraig Alainn. | Beautiful rock or rocky hill |
| Aughavas | Achadh Easa | Field of the cascade |
| Cloone | Cluain | Good pasture, a green arable spot |
| Gortletteragh | Gort Leitreach. | Field of the wet hillside |
| Mohill | Maothail | A wet spongy place |
| Annaduff | Eanach Dubh | Black marsh |
| Kiltoghert | Cill Tochairt | Church of St. Tochairt |
| Bornacoola | Bothar na Cula | Road of the corner or angle |
| Fenagh | Fiodhna | A woody place |
| Drumreilly | Druim Oir Bheallaigh | The ridge of the Eastern road or pass |
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Kilnagroos National School wish to thank
Mr. Michael Whelan of Aughnavas
for his generosity in permitting us to use this material
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