Gaeilge

Organising committee


Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig Chief Placenames Officer, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Dr. Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill Senior Placenames Officer, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Dr. Úna Bhreathnach Editorial Manager, Fiontar DCU
Fionnuala Cloke Editorial Manager, Fiontar DCU (March 2011 – Janurary 2012)
Dr. Brian Ó Raghallaigh Technical Manager, Fiontar DCU
Mairéad Nic Lochlainn Research Editor, Fiontar DCU
Edel Ní Mhuirthile Research Projects Administrator, Fiontar DCU

About Fiontar


FIONTAR staff conduct innovative research in a wide range of disciplines linking the Irish language with contemporary issues, business and management, information technology, society and language, and digital resources for Irish. The school and its lecturers have extensive experience in researching and collaborating with national and international organizations. Students conduct postgraduate research at MA or PhD level in any of the staff’s research interest areas.

Specific projects include work on terminology (www.focal.ie, iate.europa.eu (Irish-language terms)), placenames ( www.logainm.ie) and biographies (www.ainm.ie), as well as the individual research of lecturers. High-level digital resources are being created and developed for researchers and for the global Irish-speaking community. These resources are developed with national and international institutions and are funded by the Irish government and the EU.

For information on Fiontar, please see http://www.dcu.ie/fiontar
For information on Dublin City University, please see http://www.dcu.ie/info/about.shtml

About the Placenames Branch


The primary function of the Placenames Branch in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is to undertake research in order to establish the correct Irish language forms of the placenames of Ireland and to publish them for official use. The results of research undertaken by the Branch are published in list form when suitable lists are ready. Lists of placenames for the following counties have been published to date: Co. Limerick, Co. Waterford, Co. Louth, Co. Kilkenny, Co. Offaly, Co. Monaghan and Co. Tipperary. Three research books have also been published by the Branch, a book dealing with the placenames of Co. Limerick and two books about Co. Tipperary (Logainmneacha na hÉireann I-III). Research is usually undertaken on a county basis. Research of placenames in counties Dublin, Cork and Galway has been completed. The staff of the Branch is currently researching the following counties, Co. Cavan, Co. Longford, Co. Kerry, Co. Leitrim, Co. Wexford and Co. Sligo. The genitive forms of placenames are also being determined.

Even though the Branch’s research is focused primarily on administrative names – names of counties, baronies, civil parishes, townlands and electoral divisions - Irish language forms have been established for other types of names also, such as towns and other centres of population, streetnames, rivers and various physical features. Names within the various Gaeltacht (or Irish-speaking) areas have also been researched, both administrative placenames and other types of names whose English forms are found on Ordnance Survey Ireland maps. In addition, the Branch deals with a large amount of correspondence in relation to placenames. The Head of the Branch is Secretary of the Placenames Commission.

About logainm.ie


FIONTAR has created the Placenames Database of Ireland in collaboration with The Placenames Branch (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht). This is a comprehensive management system for data, archival records and placenames research conducted by the State. The public Website is primarily aimed at journalists and translators, students and teachers, historians and researchers in genealogy. It is a public resource for Irish people at home and abroad, and for all those who appreciate the rich heritage of Irish placenames.

Work commenced on Phase I of the project in April 2007 and the Placenames Database of Ireland was launched at the beginning of October 2008. During Phase II (2009-2010), the following resources were added to the site: sound files of placenames; mapping tools; educational resources for primary and third level students; and supplementary aids for the public including explanatory notes on certain features of the placenames. Phase III (2011-2012) is currently in progress and the following outputs are planned:


logainm.ie won the European Language Label in 2010 and was category winner at the 2011 Irish eGovernment Awards.