2006-12-22 05:47:10 · 11 answers · asked by ELIZABETH K 1 in Travel ➔ Ireland ➔ Other - Ireland
Bally is an extremely common prefix to town names in Ireland, and is derived from the Gaelic phrase 'Baile na', meaning 'place of'. It is not quite right to translate it 'town of', as there were few, if any, towns in Ireland at the time these names were formed. For example, Ballyjamesduff [Place of James Duff] (county Cavan), Ballymoney (county Londonderry). The Irish name for the site of present-day Dublin was 'Baile Átha Cliath', which, if anglicised, would be spelt something like 'Ballycleeagh'. Note that 'Dublin' is actually a Viking word
2006-12-22 05:49:55 · answer #1 · answered by dave a 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
There are some western nows with the word bally in front like Ballybunion Bally is Baile in Irish. Its means town of or settlement of Ballybunion mean town or settlement of he Bunyun family.
2006-12-23 10:57:59 · answer #2 · answered by An American in Ireland 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bally comes from the Irish word Báile meaning homeplace or town.
2006-12-22 05:53:48 · answer #3 · answered by uknative 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not all towns in northern Ireland stat with bally
2006-12-22 05:54:43 · answer #4 · answered by lisa_mcelreavey 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the south too. It's the English attempt at Baile meaning castle or stronghold.
2006-12-22 05:50:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe its Irish for a market. So 'Ballykissangel' means that the town of Kissangel had a market at one time.
2006-12-22 05:49:56 · answer #6 · answered by selchiequeen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Up Ballybofey!! in Donegal!! (",)
not everywhere starts with ..."bally".... it means a homeplace or town !! x(",)x
2006-12-22 08:28:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the are
why is portsmouth not called portstoe
Sheffield not call shefwood
2006-12-22 05:51:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it comes from 'baile' (pronounced ball-ya) meaning town
2006-12-24 05:02:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you are asking about places in Northern Ireland
then ask the question in the right category
this category is for the Irish Free State
NI is in the UK
2006-12-22 21:00:50 · answer #10 · answered by wwJad 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋