Most Irish addresses are
Anglicized versions of Irish Language place names or, to be more accurate, they
are a bastardized English version of Gaelic place names rather than literal
translations. 'Baile' in Irish means a town, land or place. Therefore 'Baile
Cashin' or 'Place of Cashin' becomes 'Ballycashin'. 'Cill' is the Irish for 'Church'
and this is rendered as 'Kill'. Therefore, 'Cill Cainnaigh' or 'Church of Cainnaigh' becomes 'Kilkenny'.
'Butlerstown' was 'Baile
an Bhuitleirigh' or 'Town of the Butlers'.
Butlers were
Norman lords, rather than man-servants. Their castle is still here but in ruin.
In County Wexford,
there is a place called 'Ballywilliam', obviously named after some William,
like yourself, or the Dutch King, William of Orange. In Gaelic your place name
would be 'Baile Mac Liam' or 'Place of William's Son'. This would then be
translated to 'Ballymacwilliam'. Is this the new name for your pitch?
.JPG)
