Explanation
"The land of Eoghan"
Refers to Eoghan, a 5th-century prince and son of the legendary High King Niall of the Nine Hostages. Eoghan was the ancestor of the Cenél nEógain clan, who ruled this medieval Gaelic kingdom.
"The fort"
Referring to a massive, ancient hilltop ringfort located in the county town of Downpatrick.
"Macha's height".
Macha was a sovereignty goddess in Irish mythology and is said to have been buried on a wooded hill around which the town of Armagh grew.
The name literally translates to "lone ridge" or "single hill".
"Oak Grove" or "Oak Wood"
The name comes from an ancient forest of oak trees that once grew on a hill surrounded by the River Foyle.
"Fort of the Foreigners"
The name refers to a Viking fortress built in the area during the 9th century, as "foreigners" (Gall) was the Irish term for Vikings.
Place of the shrubbery (or "little hills")
The name comes from muine (shrubbery/thicket) and describes the natural landscape of small, bushy drumlin hills that cover the area.
"The hollow"
The name refers to the low-lying, scooped-out landscape around Cavan town, which is surrounded by drumlin hills.
"Men of the Manach"
The name refers to an ancient Celtic tribe, the Monach, who settled around the lakes of Lough Erne.
Named after the ancient Irish god Lugh
"The middle"
The name comes from its history as the central, fifth kingdom of ancient Ireland, where the High Kings ruled from the Hill of Tara.
"Town of the hurdled ford"
The name refers to an ancient river-crossing point made of woven wooden hurdles over the River Liffey.
"Church of the toothless one"
The name refers to a church built by Saint Mantan, a disciple of Saint Patrick who lost his front teeth after being struck by a rock.
"Garman's lake"
According to local legend, a man named Garman Garbh stole a queen's crown, causing a local enchantress to make the River Slaney burst its banks and drown him in the resulting floodwaters.
"Place of cattle"
The name comes from an ancient Irish word for "four-footed animals." It was named because the green lands where the rivers met were famous for huge herds of cows.
"Church of the oak tree"
The name comes from an ancient church built by Saint Brigid under the shade of a massive, sacred oak tree.
"Church of Canice"
The name honors Saint Canice, a famous 6th-century monk who built a great monastery on the hill where the cathedral stands today.
"People of Lugaid Laigne"
The county is named after an ancient tribe called the Uí Laioghis, whose leader, Lugaid, was given this land as a reward for driving scary invaders out of Munster.
"Descendants of Failge"
The name refers to an ancient royal family and tribe who ruled the land, named after Failge Berraide, a powerful king who fought grand battles over 1,500 years ago.
"The west middle"
This county was created when the old, giant kingdom of Meath (The Middle) was split into two pieces, with this half becoming the western kingdom.
"The fortress" or "ship camp"
The name refers to a strong, fortified castle built by an ancient Irish chieftain clan on the banks of the River Camlin to protect their territory.
"Grey ridge"
The name describes a grey-coloured hillside near the River Shannon where an ancient, strong castle was built by a powerful chieftain family.
"Shelly place"
The name comes from the massive amount of seashells found along the riverbanks and coast, where the ancient people loved to gather and eat shellfish.
"Plain of the yew trees"
The name comes from an ancient monastery built on a flat, grassy plain surrounded by sacred yew trees, which were prized for their strength.
"Comán's forest"
The name honours Saint Coman, a famous holy man who built a monastery deep inside a quiet forest here over 1,300 years ago.
"Stony river" (named after the River Corrib)
The name comes from Gailleam, a mythical princess who drowned in the rocky river, which the ancient people then named after her.
The plain (or "the board / plank bridge")
OR
Land of de Clare
The name comes from an ancient wooden plank bridge used to cross the River Fergus at Clarecastle, which was a vital river-crossing point for travellers. It could also be named after the powerful Norman de Clare family who ruled the land. Before that, the area was known as Thomond, which means "North Munster."
"Well of the Ara"
The name comes from an ancient freshwater well located near the River Ara, where travellers would stop to drink and rest.
"Bare spot" or "marshy area"
The name originally described the rough, muddy tidal banks along the River Shannon where the Vikings eventually sailed in and built a fortress.
"People of Ciar"
The name comes from an ancient tribe, the Ciarraige, who were the descendants of Ciar, a legendary prince who ruled this beautiful land of mountains and lakes.
"Marsh" or "swampy place"
The name comes from the muddy marshes around the River Lee, where Saint Finbarr built a famous monastery over 1,400 years ago.
"Lárag's port" or "the thigh-shaped harbour"
The name comes from an ancient Viking harbour on the River Suir, named after a Norse sea chieftain or the thigh-like curve of the shoreline.
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map of the 13 colonies plus a few bonus questions