Your bike in front of a village sign

[Alex321]

Out of interest, are the English town names a translation of the Irish names, Completely different, or a vague English Pronunciation guide?

If they are similar to Wales, then it will be a mixture of the first two.

 

[tyred]

Out of interest, are the English town names a translation of the Irish names, Completely different, or a vague English Pronunciation guide?

They're usually, but not always, an anglicised pronunciation of the Irish name. A lot of this is because the maps and records drawn up by the English who couldn't speak the language, and wrote down what they thought they heard.

Irish place names are incredibly detailed to people who do understand the language. Gort a' Choirce is literally "the field of the oats" for example (more specifically, it is refers to a field of the size someone with two oxen could plough in a day as there are many more Irish words for fields of different types), and in English, it is Gortahork, which is roughly how you pronounce Gort a' Choirce.

Dún Dealgan - Dundalk
An Dubh Linn - Dublin
Cill Chainnigh - Kilkenny
Dhún na nGall - Donegal

I've observed things like this on my cycle tours in the west of Scotland too.

Campbeltown was originally known as Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain or (Kinlochkilkerran in English) and means "Loch by the church of Ciarán." It was renamed later after Campbell, Lord of Argyll.

I am far from a language expert, but do like to look at the origins of place names.

Some are translations, some have little or no connection at all to the Irish name as the name has got changed over time. Westport does not equal Cathair na Mart, in pronounciation or meaning.

 

[YMFB]

 

[Windle]

Wind Mill, county Durham.

This sign is in the counties unique colours and design, though I can't remember when they came into use. Morley, nearby is the same.

There's no windmill in Wind Mill by the way.

 

[FrothNinja]

There's no windmill in Wind Mill by the way

Maybe it was named in your honour by someone who heard your name in a noisy place....

 

[Jenkins]

Hessett

 

[FrothNinja]

A double!
Balderstone and the borough of Ribble Valley

 

[Jenkins]

Rattlesden

 

[FrothNinja]

 

[Jenkins]

An odd one this - Pulham St. Mary which is also a commemoration

The sign also has different designs on either side with no explanation as to why
North side

South side

Edit - it appears to be a reference to RNAS Pulham where both airships have links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulham_St_Mary#RNAS_Pulham_and_the_"Pulham_Pigs"

 

[Andy in Germany]

I'm not sure about this one myself...

I'm guessing this is connected to May the first, which in local Catholic regions is when the maypole is decorated and put up, and during the night it's also a traditional time for pranks and other jollity. Gates often move from one house to the next, and it's quite common for signs to be turned upside down as seen here.
Being Germany, this is done within certain boundaries; the signs aren't damaged or defaced in any way, just removed, inverted and then carefully screwed back in place.
The other signs in the area were all the normal way up. I'm guessing this one was forgotten as it's on a fairly minor road.

 

[tyred]

Stornoway

 

[tyred]

Ullapool

 

[FrothNinja]

So that's what an Ulla looks like...
....quite a bijou pool....