Dún meaning fort or fortress is a significant element of Irish placenames and is recorded in every county.

It is the most evenly distributed of Irish placename elements. In terms of county aggregates, Cork leads the way with 76, followed by Antrim on 45 and Donegal on 38.

There are significant numbers along the coast of Co Cork and along the shore lands south of Bray, Co Wicklow.

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Dún is highly important in early Irish writings of the late first millennium and usually used to denote the dwellings of kings and chieftains.

Dún forms a part of the names of two counties: Co Down (An Dún – fort); and Co Donegal, (Dún na nGall – fort of the foreigners), which was first recorded in 1474, likely naming the English settlers as foreigners.

Some important towns are named: Dundalk, Co Louth (Dún Dealgan – Dealga’s fort); Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin (Dún Laoghaire – Laoghaire’s fort); Downpatrick, Co Down (Dún Pádraig – Patrick’s fort); Dungarvan, Co Waterford (Dún Garbháin – Garbhán’s fort); and Dungannon, Co Tyrone (Dún Geanainn – Geanann’s fort).

Early Irish Dúnta seem to have provided a large number of focal points for the foundation of later towns and villages and many are called after personages of importance.

A number of Dún placenames have frequent occurrences throughout this land; Dundrum (Dún Droma – fort of the ridge) is a widely recurring placename and is found in counties Dublin, Down, Laois and Tipperary; Dún an Rí (fort of the king) is found in various English forms through counties Cavan, Monaghan and Tyrone, while Dunmore (Dún Mór – big fort) is also widely dispersed.

Then there are some familiar names of places: Dunnamanagh, Co Tyrone (Dún na Manach – fort of the monks), marking an early ecclesiastical site; Dunboyne, Co Meath (Dún na Bóinne – fortress of the (river) Boyne); and Duncannon, Co Wexford (Dún Canann – Canainn’s fort).

Elsewhere we find Dungiven, Co Derry (Dún Geimhin – Geimhean’s fort); Dunlavin, Co Wicklow (Dún Luáin – Luán’s fort); and Dunleer, Co Louth (Dún Léire – Léire’s fort).

We may also encounter vivid descriptions: Dunsallagh, Co Clare (Dún Salach – dirty fort); Dunquin, Co Kerry (Dún Chaoin, – smooth fort); Dunfore, Co Sligo (Dún Fuar – cold fort); and Dunmoyle, Co Tyrone (Dún Maol – bald fort).

A feature near the fort may be recorded: Dunbell, Co Kilkenny (Dún Bile – fort of the sacred tree); Dunderry, Co Meath (Dún Doire – fort of the oak-wood), Dunloy, Co Antrim(Dún Lathaí – fort of the mire); and Dunhill, Co Waterford (Dún Aill – fort of the cliff).

Our heritage

Placenames are an essential part of our heritage.

They are echoes of times past, the ghosts of the road, the dark green paths worn across the fields by long dead feet. These placenames are part of who we are.