BROWSE
genitive:
validated name (What is this?)
(Irish)
Louth
(English)

Explanatory note

  • Gaeilge

    Ba é Lugmad (nó Lugbad go hannamh) gnáthlitriú na Sean-Ghaeilge. Comhfhocal dlúth atá sa logainm < Lug (dia Ceilteach réamh-Chríostaí sa chás seo meastar) + aicmitheoir doiléir. Mheas Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig (‘NOUN + NOUN compounds in Irish placenames’, 162–3) an dara mír den logainm a mhíniú mar seo: ‘There is an o-stem which could possibly suit the context here. This is moth (later mod) which was used by the native grammarians to denote the masculine gender but which originally referred to the male member … The name Lugmad probably referred originally to a mound or standing stone at which Lugh was commemorated’.

    Bhí an carn consan meánach -ghmh-/-ghbh- (de réir litriú na Nua-Ghaeilge) ag dul ar ceal faoin 13ú haois sa logainm, rud atá soiléir ón litriú comhaimseartha Béarlaithe, leithéid Luueth (bliain 1235) agus Loueth (O’Rahilly 1930: 176). Cruthaíonn rím na filíochta a cumadh i gceantar Oiriall san 18ú agus sa 19ú haois go raibh á rá faoin tráth úd, ainneoin an éagsúlacht litrithe a chleachtaítí. Féach an tsolaoid seo i meadracht aiceanta le hArt Mac Cumhaidh cuir i gcás, ‘Dís ó Lú agus triúr ón Éirne’, nó an tsolaoid seo as ceapadóireacht den déanamh rainn agus amhrán le Risteard Taath a cailleadh i mbliain 1736 de réir dealraimh:

    Aithris dod’ mháighistir go glic,
    A leabhráin bhric, go raibh tú i Lúgh’,
    Go dtugais damh-sa sgéal Ádhamh.
    Cia an lá do bhlas an t-ubhall.

    (Ó Tuathail 1923: 60)
  • English

    Lugmad (or occasionally Lugbad) was the normal spelling in Old Irish. It is a closed compound consisting of Lug (understood to be a pre-Christian Celtic God) + an unclear generic. Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig ('Noun + Noun conpounds in Irish placenames', 162-3) explains the second element of this placename as follow: 'There is an o- stem which could possibly suit the context here. This is moth (later mod) which was used by the native grammarians to denote the masculine gender but which originally referred to the male member ... The name Lugmad probably referred originally to a mound or standing stone at which Lugh was commemorated'.

    It is clear that the internal consonant cluster -ghmh-/-ghbh- (in Modern Irish orthography) dissapeared in this placename during the course of the 13th century, as reflected in contemporary English forms of the name such as Luueth (bliain 1235) agus Loueth (O’Rahilly 1930: 176). The rhyme pattern of poetry composed in the area in the 18th and 19th century further demonstrates that it was then pronounced as despite the various spelling variations found at that time. Note the following example found in the syllabic poetry of Art Mac Cumhaidh, 'Dís ó Lú agus triúr ón Éirne, or the following example of such composition by Risteard Taath who died in 1736:

    Aithris dod’ mháighistir go glic,
    A leabhráin bhric, go raibh tú i Lúgh’,
    Go dtugais damh-sa sgéal Ádhamh.
    Cia an lá do bhlas an t-ubhall.

    (Ó Tuathail 1923: 60)

Centrepoint

53.9282, -6.40929latitude, longitude
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Historical references

g.d.
um Lughmhagh
Aith.D Leathanach: 85, Véarsa: 27
1725c
(contae) Lugh ... (rí-phort) Droichead Átha
Eólas ar an Domhan

Please note: Some of the documentation from the archives of the Placenames Branch is available here. It indicates the range of research contributions undertaken by the Branch on this placename over the years. It may not constitute a complete record, and evidence may not be sequenced on the basis of validity. It is on this basis that this material is made available to the public.

Archival and research material provided on this site may be used, subject to acknowledgement. Issues regarding republication or other permissions or copyright should be addressed to logainm@dcu.ie.

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