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Archiver > CoTipperary > 2004-04 > 1083003239


From: "Seán O'Brien, LIPF." <>
Subject: RE: Kil/Kill
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 19:14:00 +0100


>From: "George Pearson" <>
>To:
>Subject: Kil/Kill
>Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 15:40:47 -0600
>
>May I also ask a related question. I see several town names that start
>with Kil or Kill..... what does that refer to please? Is it a prefix, and
>if so what is the meaning?
>
>Thanks,
>George

Haven't noticed if others replied to this, so here goes:

KILL is one of the commonest prefixes and is from the Gaelic - CILL -
meaning church. CILLIN means - little church. Kilmore/Cill Mor = Big
Church church.

There's a village of same name 10 miles from me. There used be a sign at
village edge which read - 'KILL AHEAD, DRIVE SLOWLY'. It was stolen so
often, the wording had to be changed. There's also a KILL in County Kildare.

After that BALLY/BALLI/BALLIN prerfixes are derived from - BAILE = Village,
Town, or merely just a few houses.

CLON = Cluain = Meadow e.g. Clonmore - the large meadow. Clonbeg - the
small meadow, etc.

DUN = from the same in Gaelic, means - FORT (i.e. a Ring Fort usually, but
sometimes something more substantial).

These names are, of course, from the very distant past.

Sean.
(Just out of hospital following a walking accident. Two fractures in left
keg, so can't walk on it for 6 or 8 weeks!).

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