Irish Town Name Generator
Real towns and villages from all 32 counties
Tap a name to copy itPress Space for a new batch500 names in this generator
Generate authentic Irish town names, from Bally- villages and Kil- churchtowns to Gaeltacht fishing harbors and Georgian market towns. Every name is a real place in Ireland or Northern Ireland, useful for novels, family history, and Celtic-flavored world-building.
About irish town names
Nearly every Irish town name is an English spelling of an Irish (Gaelic) phrase, so once you know a few roots the map starts to read like a sentence. Bally- (baile) means town or homestead, and Ireland has thousands: Ballina, Ballycastle, Ballyshannon. Kil- (cill) is a church, giving Kilkenny (church of Cainnech), Killarney (church of the sloes), and Kildare (church of the oak). Dun- (dún) is a fort (Dundalk, Donegal, Dún Laoghaire), Carrick- (carraig) a rock (Carrickfergus, Carrick-on-Shannon), Inis- or Ennis- (inis) an island or river meadow (Enniskillen, Inistioge), Cloon- or Clon- (cluain) a meadow (Clonmel, Clonakilty), and Rath- (ráth) a ringfort (Rathdrum, Rathkeale).
Suffixes matter too. -more (mór) means big, -beg (beag) small, -glass (glas) green, -roe (rua) red, and -na- is simply 'of the'. So Ballymore is 'big town', Kilbeggan 'little church', and Ballynahinch 'town of the island'. A handful of towns carry Norse or Norman origins instead: Wexford, Waterford, and Arklow are Viking, while Newbridge, Newcastle West, and Mitchelstown are English or Anglo-Norman.
Every name here is a real town or village in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, from Cork harbors to Donegal Gaeltacht villages. They suit literary fiction, family-history writing, cozy mysteries, and any fantasy setting that wants a genuinely Gaelic ring rather than a generic Celtic one.
Tips for choosing a name
- Choose by region: West Cork and Kerry names (Skibbereen, Sneem, Cahersiveen) feel wild Atlantic; Midlands names (Tullamore, Mullingar, Athlone) feel market-town solid; Donegal names (Gweedore, Dunfanaghy, Ardara) feel remote and Gaeltacht.
- To invent a plausible Irish town, combine a real prefix and root: Bally + surname or feature (Ballynagrath), Kil + saint (Kilbrendan), Rath + colour (Rathglass), or Carrick + descriptor (Carrickbeg).
- Keep the anglicized spelling consistent: Irish towns on English-language maps use Ballina not Béal an Átha, though including the Irish form once can add texture.
- Avoid stacking Celtic-fantasy clichés (Shamrock, Emerald, Leprechaun); real Irish town names are place descriptions, not themes.
- For a fictional coastal village, borrow the shape of Portmagee, Kilmore Quay, or Dunmore East: Port-, Kil-, or Dun- plus a short second element.
Frequently asked questions
What does Bally mean in Irish town names?
Bally comes from the Irish 'baile', meaning a town, townland, or homestead. It is the most common element in Irish place names, which is why so many towns from Ballina to Ballymena share it.
Are these real towns in Ireland?
Yes. Every entry is a real town or village in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, spelled the way it appears on road signs and maps.
Why do Irish town names look so different from how they sound?
Most are English phonetic spellings of Irish-language phrases made in the 1800s. Dún Laoghaire (dun-LEER-ah), Youghal (yawl), and Cobh (cove) keep older or Irish spellings that don't follow English pronunciation rules.
Can I use these town names in a novel or game?
Yes. Real place names are free to use, and Irish towns appear in countless published works. For a purely fictional town, mixing real prefixes like Bally-, Kil-, and Rath- with an invented ending is the standard approach.
All 500 irish town names
Browse the full list
- Ballycastle
- Ballymena
- Ballymoney
- Ballina
- Ballinasloe
- Ballinrobe
- Ballybofey
- Ballybunion
- Ballyhaunis
- Ballyshannon
- Ballyvaughan
- Ballydehob
- Ballycotton
- Ballymote
- Ballyjamesduff
- Ballinamore
- Ballinspittle
- Bantry
- Birr
- Bray
- Buncrana
- Bundoran
- Carlow
- Carrick-on-Shannon
- Carrick-on-Suir
- Carrickmacross
- Carrickfergus
- Cashel
- Castlebar
- Castleblayney
- Cavan
- Celbridge
- Clonmel
- Clonakilty
- Clifden
- Cobh
- Cong
- Cootehill
- Dalkey
- Dingle
- Doolin
- Donegal
- Downpatrick
- Drogheda
- Dundalk
- Dungarvan
- Dungloe
- Dunfanaghy
- Dunmore East
- Dún Laoghaire
- Ennis
- Enniscorthy
- Enniskillen
- Ennistymon
- Fermoy
- Glengarriff
- Gorey
- Gort
- Graiguenamanagh
- Greystones
- Howth
- Inistioge
- Kells
- Kenmare
- Kilbeggan
- Kilcock
- Kilcullen
- Kildare
- Kilkee
- Kilkenny
- Killaloe
- Killarney
- Killorglin
- Killybegs
- Kilmallock
- Kilrush
- Kinsale
- Kinvara
- Knock
- Lahinch
- Leenane
- Letterkenny
- Lisdoonvarna
- Lismore
- Listowel
- Longford
- Loughrea
- Louisburgh
- Macroom
- Malahide
- Mallow
- Maynooth
- Midleton
- Milltown Malbay
- Mitchelstown
- Moate
- Monaghan
- Mountmellick
- Mullingar
- Naas
- Navan
- Nenagh
- New Ross
- Newbridge
- Newcastle West
- Newport
- Oughterard
- Portlaoise
- Portmagee
- Portrush
- Portstewart
- Portumna
- Rathdrum
- Rathkeale
- Rathmullan
- Roscommon
- Roscrea
- Roundstone
- Schull
- Skerries
- Skibbereen
- Sligo
- Sneem
- Spiddal
- Strandhill
- Strokestown
- Swinford
- Tarbert
- Templemore
- Thomastown
- Thurles
- Tipperary
- Tralee
- Tramore
- Trim
- Tuam
- Tullamore
- Tullow
- Waterville
- Westport
- Wexford
- Wicklow
- Youghal
- Athboy
- Athenry
- Athlone
- Athy
- Adare
- Abbeyleix
- Abbeyfeale
- Ardara
- Ardmore
- Arklow
- Aughrim
- Avoca
- Bagenalstown
- Ballincollig
- Bandon
- Belmullet
- Blarney
- Blessington
- Boyle
- Buttevant
- Cahir
- Cahersiveen
- Cappoquin
- Carlingford
- Carndonagh
- Carraroe
- Castlecomer
- Castleisland
- Castletownbere
- Castletownshend
- Claremorris
- Cushendall
- Drumshanbo
- Dunlavin
- Dunmanway
- Edenderry
- Glenties
- Gweedore
- Headford
- Kilfenora
- Kilmore Quay
- Kiltimagh
- Knightstown
- Lisburn
- Manorhamilton
- Mohill
- Moville
- Mullaghmore
- Newmarket-on-Fergus
- Portarlington
- Rosscarbery
- Rosslare
- Slane
- Timoleague
- Tobercurry
- Warrenpoint
- Achill Sound
- Aghada
- Ahascragh
- Allihies
- Annascaul
- Annagry
- Ardee
- Ardfert
- Ardglass
- Ardfinnan
- Ardrahan
- Arvagh
- Ashbourne
- Ashford
- Askeaton
- Athleague
- Aughnacloy
- Bailieborough
- Balbriggan
- Balla
- Ballaghaderreen
- Ballinagh
- Ballinakill
- Ballinascarthy
- Ballindine
- Ballineen
- Ballinlough
- Ballintober
- Ballintra
- Ballinure
- Ballisodare
- Ballitore
- Ballivor
- Ballyboden
- Ballybrittas
- Ballycanew
- Ballyclare
- Ballyconneely
- Ballyconnell
- Ballycroy
- Ballyduff
- Ballyfarnon
- Ballyferriter
- Ballygar
- Ballygawley
- Ballyglass
- Ballygowan
- Ballyhack
- Ballyhale
- Ballyheigue
- Ballykelly
- Ballylanders
- Ballyliffin
- Ballylongford
- Ballylynan
- Ballymacarbry
- Ballymahon
- Ballymakeera
- Ballymore Eustace
- Ballynacargy
- Ballynahinch
- Ballyporeen
- Ballyragget
- Ballyroan
- Ballyvourney
- Ballywalter
- Balrothery
- Baltimore
- Baltinglass
- Banagher
- Banbridge
- Bangor
- Bansha
- Banteer
- Barna
- Belcarra
- Belturbet
- Belgooly
- Bellaghy
- Belleek
- Benburb
- Bennettsbridge
- Beragh
- Bettystown
- Blackrock
- Blackwater
- Blacklion
- Blennerville
- Boherbue
- Borris
- Borris-in-Ossory
- Borrisokane
- Borrisoleigh
- Broadford
- Bruff
- Bruree
- Bunclody
- Bunratty
- Burtonport
- Bushmills
- Callan
- Caltra
- Camolin
- Camp
- Cappamore
- Cappawhite
- Carbury
- Carna
- Carnew
- Carnlough
- Carrigaholt
- Carrigaline
- Carrigallen
- Carrigans
- Carrigart
- Carrigtwohill
- Carrowmore
- Castlebaldwin
- Castlebellingham
- Castlebridge
- Castleconnell
- Castledawson
- Castlederg
- Castledermot
- Castlefinn
- Castlegregory
- Castlemaine
- Castlemartyr
- Castlepollard
- Castlerea
- Castlerock
- Castletown
- Castletownroche
- Castlewellan
- Charlestown
- Charleville
- Churchtown
- Clane
- Clara
- Clarecastle
- Claregalway
- Clarinbridge
- Clashmore
- Cliffoney
- Clogh
- Clogheen
- Clogher
- Clohamon
- Clonard
- Clonaslee
- Clonbur
- Clondalkin
- Clonegal
- Clones
- Clonroche
- Cloonfad
- Cloughjordan
- Cloyne
- Coalisland
- Coleraine
- Collon
- Collooney
- Comber
- Conna
- Coolaney
- Coolgreany
- Cookstown
- Cooraclare
- Corofin
- Courtmacsherry
- Courtown
- Craughwell
- Creeslough
- Croom
- Crookhaven
- Crookstown
- Crossmaglen
- Crossmolina
- Crumlin
- Culdaff
- Cullybackey
- Curracloe
- Cushendun
- Daingean
- Delvin
- Derrylin
- Dervock
- Doagh
- Donabate
- Donaghadee
- Donaghmore
- Doneraile
- Doonbeg
- Draperstown
- Drimoleague
- Dripsey
- Dromahair
- Dromcollogher
- Dromore
- Drumcliff
- Drumcondra
- Drumkeeran
- Drumlish
- Drumquin
- Duleek
- Dunboyne
- Duncannon
- Duncormick
- Dundrum
- Dungannon
- Dungiven
- Dunkineely
- Dunleer
- Dunmore
- Dunquin
- Dunshaughlin
- Durrow
- Dysart
- Easky
- Edgeworthstown
- Eglinton
- Elphin
- Emyvale
- Enfield
- Enniskerry
- Eyeries
- Eyrecourt
- Feakle
- Fenit
- Ferbane
- Ferns
- Fethard
- Fethard-on-Sea
- Fintona
- Fivemiletown
- Foxford
- Foynes
- Freshford
- Frenchpark
- Garristown
- Geashill
- Gilford
- Glandore
- Glanmire
- Glaslough
- Glassan
- Glenamaddy
- Glenarm
- Glenavy
- Glenbeigh
- Glencolmcille
- Glenealy
- Glin
- Glinsk
- Golden
- Goleen
- Goresbridge
- Gortahork
- Gorteen
- Gowran
- Graigue
- Granard
- Grange
- Greencastle
- Greenore
- Gurteen
- Hacketstown
- Halfway
- Hillsborough
- Hollywood
- Holycross
- Holywood
- Hospital
- Inchigeelagh
- Inniscarra
- Inverin
- Irvinestown
- Johnstown
- Julianstown
- Kanturk
- Keadue
- Keady
- Keel
- Kesh
- Kilbrittain
- Kilcar
- Kilcolgan
- Kilconnell
- Kilcoole
- Kilcormac
- Kilcrohane
- Kildorrery
- Kildysart
- Kilfinane
- Kilgarvan
- Kilkeel
- Kilkelly
- Kilkieran
- Kilronan
- Kilsheelan
- Kiltealy
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