Place Names in Ireland - Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

In the Republic of Ireland, both Irish and English names have equal status and are displayed on roadsigns. However, in the Gaeltacht, the English/anglicized names have no official status and do not appear on roadsigns.

During and after the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922, some English names were reverted to their Irish or anglicized forms:

• Bagenalstown became Muine Bheag (1932)
• Charleville became Ráth Luirc (1920s)
• Edgeworthstown became Mostrim (1935)
• Newbridge became Droichead Nua (1930s)
• Newtownbarry became Bunclody (1950)
• Kingwilliamstown became Ballydesmond (1951)
• Kingstown became Dún Laoghaire (1921)
• King's County became County Offaly (1922)
  • Philipstown became Daingean (1921)
• Queenstown became Cobh (1922)
• Queen's County became County Laois (1922)
  • Maryborough became Port Laoise (1929)

Pursuant to the Official Languages Act, 2003 and the advice of the Coimisiún Logainmneacha (Place-Names Commission), the Placenames (Centres of Population and Districts) Order 2005 was issued, listing the equivalent in the Irish language of place-names specified in the Order with its English form. The Irish words then had the same meaning and same force and effect as the place-name. This order lists a little fewer than 2,000 place-names, many of which were changed from the Irish form used since independence, e.g. Bray went from Brí Chualann to Bré and Naas changed from Nás na Rí to An Nás.