Hi again. I'm in the process of renaming the island in my novel (had it named Conamara Island-- I know, very original). Anyway, that was just the preliminary name so I had something to call it and I'm now looking to give it a better name. Below are a few of the names I've come up with so far. Since Irish is only a spoken language for the islanders, I'll be using a phonetically spelled name, but have also put the Irish name derived from. I'd be very appreciative for any input as far as spellings, pronunciation, etc. that anyone can give. The first two would be most appropriate to the island; I'd go with the first one without question except I'm not sure about the aesthetics of how it sounds.

Inishglimock – Inis Gliomach (Lobster Island)

Inishkeery- Inis Caoirigh (Sheep Island)

Inishgweefer – Inis Gaofar (Windy Island)

Inish____- Inis Sceirdiúla (Windswept Island)

Inishialard- Inis Aill Ard (Tall Cliff Island)

Thanks again!

I'd rather say: Inis na nGliomach (inishnaglomagh ?)
Inis na gCaorach (inishnageeragh?)
Inis na Gaoithe (inishnageehey?)

sceirdiùil doesn't sound natural in a place name.

Inis na hAille Airde (inishnahallardey ?)

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Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

I agree. It sounds more natural in Irish to say "Island of the Lobsters," "Island of the Sheep," "Island of the Winds," "Island of the Tall Cliffs," etc., even if the Anglicized translation is "Lobster Island," "Sheep Island," "Windy Island," "Tall Cliff Island," etc.

Redwolf

But would that kept as a place name? I'm not so sure. I think Inish Caorach is OK tbh.

Oileán na gCaorach (Mutton Island) in Galway

(It's where they have the city sewerage treatment plant now)


http://www.water.galwaycity.ie/gcc/WSIP ... sland.aspx

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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Fair enough then

I've been doing more tooling around on the internet and I'm now really leaning toward Sheep Island (or Island of the Sheep). I've already had a good way to tie the name into the Island's background. Anyway, I also found there is a Inishkeeragh Island off the coast of Donegal. So with that in mind, I'm wondering if I could use the plural form of sheep just so it would differ? What do you think?

Yikes. Probably safe to say it wasn't there in the 1880s, though?

Is there a difference between Inis or Oileán (or maybe it's the same as English having Island and Isle?)

Two others ...

http://logainm.ie/5692.aspx

http://logainm.ie/1167192.aspx

It's interesting how the English name differs.


This is just my personal opinion (so don't let it put you off) but I don't like place names being translated to English as Inishkeery etc. That loses the meaning of the Irish words. I prefer Mutton Island or Sheepisland or something similiar.

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
___________________________________________________________

Oh, I can understand that completely. I'm only using it phonetically spelled because the Islanders are speakers only and wouldn't have known how to spell it in Irish when the name was given.