According to Geoffrey Keating’s The History of Ireland (Foras Feasa ar Éirinn), Ireland has had fourteen names. Geoffrey Keating was an Old English Catholic priest from South County Tipperary. He completed his book on the history of the kingdom of Ireland around 1634. It tells the story of Ireland from the creation of the world to the coming of the Normans.
Inis na bhfiodhbhadh, which translates as island of the woods.
Críoch na bhfuineadhach, which could translate as the ends of the world.
Inis Ealga, which translates as noble island.
Ériu or Éire, this was the name of a queen of the Tuatha Dé Danann, she was the daughter of Dealbhaoth.
Fódhla, this was the name of another queen of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Banbha, this was the name of another queen of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Inis Fáil, Ireland was named Inis Fáil after the stone of destiny called Lia Fáil which is located at the Hill of Tara in Meath.
Muicinis named by the Milesians, invaders from the Iberian peninsula. The Milesians were on their boats planning to attack Ireland, but the Tuatha Dé Danann created a magic mist that covered the island. This fog resembled a pig so they named it Muicinis or pig island.
Scotia also named by the Milesians. There are two possible derivations for this name. Either it is named for Scota, the mother of the Milesians and daughter of the Pharaoh Nectonibus. Or secondly that they were themselves a Scottish race descended from Scythia.
Hibernia, also from the Milesians, though there are differing opinions as to its genesis. Firstly that it come from the river Iberus in Spain. Secondly that it is from from Éibhear, son of Míleadh. Or thirdly that it comes from the Greek word ‘hiberoc’ and ‘nyaon’ which translates as ‘western island’.
Luernia, this is a variant of the name Hibernia that various people including Ptolemy used.
Irlanda, from the Milesians because the first Milesian that was buried under the soil of Ireland was Ir. In the Book of Armagh it gives the name of Ireland as Ireo which translates as ‘grave of Ir’.
Irin, this name was used by Diodorus Siculus, a first century Greek historian.
Ogygia, this was the name of Ireland according to Plutarch. Plutarch was a first century Greek historian. Ogygia in Greek means ‘most ancient island’. He described it thus “an isle Ogygian lies far out at sea, distant five days’ sail from Britain, going westwards”.
A collection of Patrick G. Ryan's aerial photographs has been published by Currach Books titled Clare's Wild Atlantic Way
The text and featured image have been sourced from Connemara-native Mark Joyce's excellent Mythical Irish Wonders, also published by Currach Books.
