Have you ever wondered why places in Ireland have such interesting names like Kilkenny or Dún Laoghaire? Those names come from old Irish words and tell stories about churches, forts, and even Vikings!

In this lesson, you will:

• Explore Ireland's cities and their Irish name meanings on an interactive map.
• Learn how places get named after churches ('Kil') and forts ('Dun').
• Discover Viking towns and their special origins.
• Do a fun matching game with Irish and English place names.
• Discuss what place names tell us about Ireland's past.

Did you know that place names tell stories from long ago? They often come from words in old languages like Irish Gaelic. People named places after what they saw there – like a church, a fort, or even a type of tree.

For example:

• A place with a church might be called something like "Kil" which means "church" in Irish.
• A place with a fort or ringfort (like a small hill fort) is often "Lis" or "Rath" meaning fort.

These names help us see what Ireland was like hundreds of years ago. 

Uncover the secrets behind Irish place names right on an interactive map. In this activity, you'll explore the names of Ireland's cities, each revealing their fascinating origins in the Irish language.

Get ready to click, discover, and learn how these names connect to words you might know.

Did you know many places in Ireland have names that start with 'Kil'? 'Kil' comes from the Irish word for church, 'cill'.

Long ago, people built churches in special spots, and the name 'Kil-something' remembers that church. These names tell us where important religious places were. Now, click on the map to explore some 'Kil' places and uncover their Irish meanings and stories!

Many places in Ireland have names that start with 'Dun'? 'Dun' comes from the Irish word 'dún', which means 'fort' or 'stronghold'.

Long ago, people built strong forts on hills or high places for protection. The name 'Dun-something' remembers that fort. These names tell us where people lived safely hundreds of years ago. Now, click on the map to explore some 'Dun' places and uncover their Irish meanings and stories!