IRELAND'S Placenames - mostly come from Gaeilge, Ireland's Native language.
And most have 2 placenames written on road sign-posts - the Irish version and the English translated version.
The English translations have usually been written to sound phonetically similar to the Irish Language original placename - rather than an actual translation of what the Irish language placename means.
This has resulted in many funny, rude or strange placenames in English.
Athalacca: A small village in County Limerick. The unusual name comes from the Irish An tÁth Leacach (meaning the flagged ford) but to be honest we have no idea what that means either.
Ballybrazil: If you are expecting a little microcosm of the vast South American country complete with Brazilian supermodels wandering the beach playing volleyball, then you might be a little bit underwhelmed by this Wexford town. Baile Uí Bhreasail means 'the townland of the son of Brazil' and we can see that Ó Breasáil (Brazil) was an important and wealthy man.
Bastardstown: This inoffensive costal area in Co. Wexford is the proud bearer of Ireland’s sweariest place name.
Beak: Also in Co Wexford, might creative with the old place names in Wexford aren’t they?
Blue Ball: A hamlet in County Offaly, lying southwest of Tullamore. Must be cold there.
An Phailis in Irish, means The Palace, Pallas Lough is a small fishing lake is located to the east of the village - Loch na Pailíse (Palae Lake)
Blue Ball CoOffalyBorris-in-ossory: Borris gets around in Co. Laois.
Clonboo: In Galway. Apparently some immature people have defaced one of the signs to make ‘Clonboobies’, which you have to admit has a ring to it.
Coalspit: Eh, gross. And right next to the miserable sounding Dampstown – both in, you guessed it, Co. Wexford.
Dripsey Castle doesn't look too shabbyDripsey: Co. Cork. The word comes from the Irish Druipseach, meaning muddy river – a distant cousin of Blues legend Muddy Waters.
Fannystown: It’s in Wexford. Wexford, seriously, we need to talk.
Gneeveguilla: Wait till you hear this terrifying fact. In the 19th century Gneeveguilla in Co. Kerry was the scene of a horrifying event known as the ‘Moving Bog’. Families were awakened by a strange earthquake-like sound to find the bog swallowing up their homes, people and cattle. Someone needs to make a movie about this.
Horetown: Careful of the spelling here. And of course Horetown is in Wexford.
Horse and Jockey: Situated in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, no one knows why this village is called Horse and Jockey, but best guess is it was named after a pub.
Hospital: A town in east County Limerick. Not to be confused with a big building with doctors and sick people in it.
Inch: Ireland loves irony and so fittingly Inch in Co Kerry is home to five lovely kilometres of unspoilt beach.
Jacketstown: Right next to DontForgetYourCoatstown.
Killbritain: Sure to raise a few eyebrows but honestly it couldn’t be more innocent and holy. It comes from Cill Briotáin, meaning Britton's church.
Leap: Pronounced ‘Lep’ not Leap, but still, verbs make funny placenames.
Mallow: Co Cork. Don’t you just wish there was a Marsh beside it?
Maudlintown: Where all the people walk around being wildly self-pitying and bursting into tears all day.
Muckanaghederdauhaulia: Co. Galway. It means "ridge, shaped like a pig's back, between two expanses of briny water”, which I think you’ll find yourself using frequently in a sentence from now on.
Muff: We seem to love a rude placename, and here Co Donegal certainly provides.
Muff CoDonegalNaad: Ok, we’re just being childish now. It's a county in Cork, and slang for testicles. Hee, hee.
Newtwopothouse: I just have one question, where is Oldtwopothouse?
Nobber: County Meath. Apparently there’s a garage there with a big sign saying ‘Nobber Motors’. Unfortunate.
Nobber Co MeathPiltown: Wouldn’t it be great if the entire town was a giant warehouse where there’s a never-ending 24 hour rave going on? C'mon Kilkenny – make it happen.
Pullingtown: I shouldn't have to say by now, just presume if it's weird or X-rated it's in Wexford.
Schull: Pronounced skull. A beautiful place to visit in West Cork with a badass name.
Skeheenarinky: Possibly the best name on the list. Have fun making your foreign friends say it.
Stepaside: Stepaside is found in Dublin. There is also a Step somewhere in Ireland but don't ask me where, it's impossible to Google.
Termonfeckin: Meaning "Féchín's refuge", who knows what he was on the run from. Anyway, it's a small village in County Louth and only mildly rude so Wexford shouldn't be worried.
Tubercurry: The second biggest town in Co. Sligo and also what you ask for to go with your portion of chips.
Two Mile Borris: Not that Borris again.
Do yiouknow of many other funny, strange or rude placenames - we have missed here. Let us know here
Originally Published on: Sep 4, 2015 by: Katy Harrington
