One of the most difficult things to do is to come up with the right name for the characters in my books. It’s really important for me to get to know the character and giving him or her the right name is part of that process.
Some of my overseas readers (and I’m so glad you’ve all got in touch!) have asked about the Irish names of some of the characters. So I thought I’d give you a run through on them. If I’ve missed any out, please let me know.
Clodagh (Jane’s daughter in Dreaming of A Stranger)
This name is now popular outside Ireland too and it pronounced Klo-dah. In ancient times, rivers in Ireland were given names of local deities and children were then named after them. This name comes from the river Clody in Tipperary.
Hugh (Jane’s lover in Dreaming of A Stranger)
This name is equally popular aborad. The Irish spelling is Aodh, which means fiery. It’s also my godson’s name!
Conor Gallagher (Caroline’s Sister)
This is a popular name outside of Ireland too with this spelling, though its original Irish spelling is Conchobhar and it means ‘lover of hounds’. It was the name of one of Ulster’s High Kings.
Orla (David’s second wife in Far From Over)
It’s pronounced as you spell it, although often it’s also spelled Orlagh or Orlaith. It’s one of my favourite Irish names and it means ‘Golden Lady’.
Keelin (Gemma’s daughter in Far From Over)
I’ve used the Anglicised spelling of an Irish name because otherwise lots of people would have trouble with this. It’s original Irish spelling is Caoilfhionn though now you sometimes see it as Caoilinn. For any of you Irish students out there the original spelling gives the meaning away because it comes from Caoil (which means slender) and fionn (fair) – although in my story Keelin is dark but she’s very, very slender.
Ronan (Gemma’s son in Far From Over)
Obviously the fame of Boyzone’s Ronan Keating has made this name more recognised outside Ireland, certainly in the UK at any rate. So I probably don’t need to tell you how to pronounce it (Row-nan for those of you who haven’t heard it before). Interestingly, though, it means ‘little seal’ and was a very popular saint’s name!
Aisling O’Halloran (My Favourite Goodbye)
This is another one of my favourite Irish names. It’s original spelling is Aislinn but it’s pronounced Ash-ling and often spelled that way both in Ireland and overseas. It means ‘dream’ or ‘vision’.
Nessa Driscoll (He’s Got To Go)
Nessa is the eldest of the Driscoll sisters – in Irish mythology she was the mother of Conor (see Conor Gallagher). Unlike my Nessa, she was a powerful and ambitious woman and managed to get her son on the Irish throne.
Bree Driscoll (He’s Got To Go)
Bree is the youngest Driscoll sister. We’re not quite sure whether Bree is simply an abbreviated version of Brigid (Ireland’s favourite female saint whose feast day is 1 February!) The name means ‘exalted one’.
Finn (Cate’s fiancéin He’s Got To Go)
I explain a little about the origin of this name in the book and you can click on the link to read more. The legend of Fionn MacCuhaill is one of our greatest folk stories. It means ‘fair’ and the name of one of the great Irish folk heroes – Fionn MacCuhaill (pronounced Mac Cool). He was a much loved warrior and brave, wise, good-looking.
Nieve (Niamh) Bad Behaviour
In legend Niamh was the daughter of the sea-god Manannan and was a beautiful princess who rode a white horse. She was known as Niamh of the Golden Hair and she fell in love with Oisin, Fionn’s son. She took him to live with her in Tir na nOg, the land of the young. I’ve used an Anglecised version of the spelling of the name here because although Niamh would have used the Irish version at home she’s the sort of girl who would have changed it when she went to the States.
Darragh (Romy’s half-brother in Someone Special)
Darragh (often also spelled Daire) is an Irish name which means ‘fruitful’. Daire of Cooley was a pivotal character in the Irish legend of the Cattle Raid of Cooley (The Tain Bo Cualinge) which you can read in Irish Legends in the ‘About’ section.
Dermot (Romy’s dad in Someone Special)
This is a common name in Ireland and you’ll also see the Irish version, Diarmuid, a lot too. You can learn more about Diarmuid in the Irish Legends section
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