Many place names in Ireland in the English language are either
anglicisations of those in the Irish language, or completely
different, such as the name for the capital of the Republic of
Ireland, which in English is Dublin, but in Irish is Baile Átha
Cliath. The former means black hole/pool (anglicised from dubh
and linn) and the latter means town of the hurdle ford. After
the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922, some names were
changed including Kingstown in County Dublin, which became Dún
Laoghaire, and Queenstown in County Cork reverted to Cóbh.
King's County and Queen's County were renamed County Laois and
County Offaly in 1921. The name of Ireland itself comes from the
Irish name, Éire, affixed to the Germanic root, '-land'.
According to mythology, Éire was an ancient Celtic princess. The
four provinces are known as: Connacht - Connacht(a)/Cúige
Chonnacht - meaning "Conn's land" Some common Irish place names:
Munster - An Mhumhain/Cúige Mumhan - meaning "Land of Mumha's
men" Leinster - Laighin/Cúi