Long and strange place names are almost a specialty in Ireland and the more unpronounceable the better!
These ten townlands in Ireland have the country's longest place names on record. With a single word of 20 to 25 letters, the Anglicized versions of these Irish place titles are almost impossible to pronounce.
Glassillaunvealnacurra, Co. Galway
Irish: Glas Oileán Bhéal na Cora.
This Galway townland way out west translates as “little green island of the mouth of the weir.”
Illaungraffanavrankagh, The Burren, Co. Clare
Irish: To be officially confirmed.
Although the National Place Names Branch has yet to officially confirm the Irish language version of this place name, it's safe to say that the beginning "Illaun" stems from the Irish word "oileán" meaning "island."
Muckanaghederdauhaulia, Co. Galway
Irish: Muiceanach idir Dhá Sháile
This translates into “ridge shaped like a pig's back between two expanses of briny water” or, more simply, “pig-shaped hill between two seas.”
Ballywinterrourkewood, Co. Limerick
Irish: Coill Bhaile Mhuintir Ruairc
Although the English version may lead you to believe it is a place of eternal snow, the Irish of Ballywinterrourkewood translates as "the wood of the town of the Rourker clan/family."
Corragunnagalliaghdoo Island, Co. Mayo
Irish: Carraigín na gCailleach Dubh
An aquatic bird haven, this townland translates as "The small rock of the cormorants" (a sea-bird).
Carrowkeelanahaglass, Co. Galway
Irish: Ceathrú Chaol an Atha Ghlais
The third Galway town on the list translates roughly into “a narrow green marshland by a stream.”
Cartroncarrowntogher, Co. Roscommon
Irish: To be officially confirmed.
Not to be outdone by their Galway neighbors, the Rossies come in with their own tongue-twisting contribution.
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Knockavanniamountain, Co. Waterford
Irish: Sliabh Chnoc an Bhainne
Translates roughly as “hill of milk” or “Milk Hill Mountain.”
Newtownmoneenluggagh, Co. Kildare
Irish: An Móinín Logach
The only Leinster contribution (the west must like their long-winded place names a lot more), this townland in the county of the Lilywhites translates as "the pitted small bogland."
Scartnadrinymountain, Co. Waterford
Irish: Barr na Scairte
Translates directly into “Top of Dispersal”
Those are some tongue twisters!
* Originally published in October 2014, updated in 2023.
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