BROWSE
countycity
Luimneach
genitive: Luimnigh
validated name (What is this?)
(Irish)
Limerick
(English)

Hierarchy

county

Explanatory note

  • Gaeilge

    Ní léir brí an ainm. Tá áiteacha éagsúla den ainm ar fud na tíre (agus iad béarlaithe mar Limnagh, Luimnagh, Lumnagh agus Limerick). Dar le P.W. Joyce, "Luimneach ... signifies a bare or barren spot of land" (The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places II) agus lean údair áirithe ó shin é, ach féach A Dictionary of the Irish Language (www.dil.ie) s.n. luimnech: 'cloaked, mantled', 'shielded' (lumman). Sa dinnseanchas (The Metrical Dindsenchas III 274) féachtar leis an ainm a mhíniú ar shlite éagsúla, á cheangal go háirithe leis na focail luimnigthe, 'cloaked' agus luimnechda, 'shielded'. Deirtear (m.sh. Onomasticon Goedelicum 508 agus Mac Spealáin, Aos Trí Muighe 20) gur d'inbhear na Sionainne a thagair an t-ainm ar dtús

  • English

    Meaning unclear. There are various places of the name throughout the country (anglicised as Limnagh, Luimnagh, Lumnagh and Limerick). P.W. Joyce suggested that "Luimneach ... signifies a bare or barren spot of land" (The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places II), and some later authorities have since followed this explanation; see, however, A Dictionary of the Irish Language (www.dil.ie) s.n. luimnech: 'cloaked, mantled', 'shielded' (lumman). The dinnseanchas (The Metrical Dindsenchas III 274) attempted to explain the name in several ways, associating it in particular with the words luimnigthe ('cloaked') and luimnechda ('shielded'). The name is said elsewhere (m.sh. Onomasticon Goedelicum 508 agus Mac Spealáin, Aos Trí Muighe 20) to have originally referred to the Shannon estuary.

Centrepoint

52.6579, -8.61247latitude, longitude
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Properties

POThere is or was once a post office here

Archival records

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Historical references

1707c
Luimineach
"Limrick .i. Luimineach no áit no talamh lóm gan féar no fothuin"
Liosta Lhwyd Leathanach: 272
1712–30
lomaineach
"Limericum ... the Town of Limerick. lomaineach; from lomain .i. a Shield"
Foclóir Bhailís
1725c
Luimneach
"(co.) Luimnidh ... (rí-phort) Luimneach"
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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