Maigh or Má translates into the English word “plain” and is found in over 400 townland names around Ireland. It is also found in every county except in Dublin.

In English, it was generally written as moy, ma, may, magh or mo. Maigh is generally found as the prefix element of a placename, in only one-fifth of cases is it found as the middle or suffix element.

In terms of county totals, Clare leads the way with 34, followed by Derry with 27 and Meath with 24.

Maigh is found in the name of the Irish county Mayo (Maigheo na Saxan – the plain of the yew of the Saxons. Recalling a seventh century settlement of English monks).

Remembering the old West Clare railway, one thinks of the village of Moyasta (Má Sheasta - upright plain) and across the Shannon estuary in Co Kerry there is a village that changed its name to Moyvane (An Mhaigh Mheáin – the middle plain). The village was formally known as Newtownsandes.

In Westmeath there is the intriguing Moyvoughly (Má Bhachla – plain of the crosier).

It is found in the names of a number of Ireland’s rivers. The Maigue in Co Limerick and the Maine in Co Kerry both translate to “river of the plain”.

Then there is the Moyola River in Co Derry (Magh nÉola – Éola’s plain river).

Moville, Co Donegal, and Movilla, Co Down, (Má Bhile – plain of the sacred tree) record landscapes of importance to ancient people, while in Armagh there is Moyarget (Má Airgid – silver plain).

There are many examples of town names describing the size or height of the plain. Moymore, Co Clare (Má Mhór – the big plain), Moyne in counties Mayo and Tyrone (Maighín – little plain) and Moyard, Co Galway (Maigh Árd – high plain).

A natural feature on the plain may also be recorded. Like in Moylough, Co Galway (Maigh Lough – plain of the lake), Moydrum, Co Westmeath (Maigh Droma – plain of the ridge), Mayogall, Co Derry (Má Ghuala – plain of the shoulder), and Moyvally in counties Kildare and Laois (Maigh Bhealaigh – plain of the pass).

Sometimes a human settlement feature can influence the formation of a placename. Examples are Moydow, Co Longford (Má Dumha – plain of the mound), Moygashel, Co Tyrone, and Moycashel, Co Westmeath (Má gCaisil – plain of the castle).

The best-known use of Maigh as the middle or suffix element of a placename is the Co Tyrone town of Omagh (Ómaigh – the sacred plain), while Donaghmoyne, Co Monaghan, translates as Domhnach Maighean – church of the little plain.

Next time

We shall take a look at Lios (fort), as in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, (Lios an Scéithe – fort of the shield) and Lisdowney, Co Kilkenny (Lios Dúnadhaigh – fort of Dúnadhach).