Locales of the Isle of Dawn
by Giampaolo AgostaI've tried to provide explanations for the Dunael names of IoD locales, sometimes also adding origin stories and tie-ins with other historical events.
Dungannon
The Dunaelic name for this town, "Dun Geanainn", stands for Genann's Fort.
Originally, it was a redoubt founded by Fir Bolg chieftain Genann mac Umoir in 2000 BC, following the Fomorian invasion of the Fir Bolg lands.
Dunadale
Dun na Dail, or Fort of the Assembly, built around 1600 BC by the first High King, Fiacha of the Fir Bolg, to hold the assembly of the five people (Dunael, Fir Bolg, Gall-Dunael, Fir Gallein, and Centaurs).
Westrourke
The Grand Duchy's name has a long history, as the territory derives from the fragmentation of the ancient Gall-Dunael Dál Ruairc polity.
"Rourke" is the Thyatian transcription of the Dunaelized Antalian name Hruthrek, a Jarl of Helskajord who was the ancestor of the Ua Ruairc.
Fengallen
Dunaelic Fén na Gaillein, or Bog of the Pheasants. This marsh is the homeland of the Fir Gallein, or Gyerans.
Laragh Tower
This Thyatian tower is named for the preexisting Comhaire ruins ("An Láithreach") of a Fir Bolg castle destroyed during the Alphatian conquest.
Kilpatrick's Keep
A Thyatian foundation, the keep is named for the nearby forest Coill na Padraig, or Wood of the Patrician, so called by the local Dunael folk for a Thyatian estate established early after the Treaty of Edairo.
Port Donagadhee
Another Thyatian foundation, this port town takes its name from "Domhnach Daoi", the House of the Dominicus, a common Dunael name for the estates of Imperial functionaries ("dominici"). These functionaries replaced the Dunael noble houses that had sided with Alphatia.
Ballydonegan Hills
Baile Donnagáin, the City of Little Donn, is a reference to one of the Winter King's Hidden Cities, which is supposedly located in these hills.
Ballygawley Ridge
The name of this region comes from the ruins of an ancient Dunael town, Baile Uí Dhálaigh.
The town was founded by the descendants of one of the members of the first assembly of the Kingdom of Comhaire, called Dálach in Dunaelic. The town was destroyed during the Alphatian conquest, and the Uí Dhálaigh clan dispersed or enslaved.
Neach Flats
Mag Neach, or the Flats of Eachaidh, is the home of the Uí Eachaidh centaur clan.
Dohanue's Cove
This port is named for Donnchadha Briugu, a pirate and smuggler during the last years of the Alphatian control of the western Isle of Dawn who was instrumental in disrupting the Alphatian supply lines, and received the area and a large amount of money from King Lucinius. Donnchadha set up a bruiden (hostel), and spent the rest of his life (and money) holding banquets that saw the participation of many prominent figures of his time. His downfall came when an Alphatian sorcerer cursed him with a geas that required him to sleep with any unaccompanied woman who spent the night at his hostel. Understandably, this lessened considerably his popularity, and proved downright fatal when one of Donnchadha's enemies directed a party of shieldmaidens from Ostland to his estate.
Dunberry
This locale takes its name from an old Dunael fort, Dun ar Barra, "the Fort on the Hill".
Hills of Dooagh
These hills are known in Dunaelic as Dumha Acha, the Mounds of Acha. Olum Acha was one of the leaders of the Filwarf smiths, and the founder of House Blyskyr.
Carryduff Hills
This area was settled by Bugbear mercenaries hired by the Gabrionus III during his exile on the Isle of Dawn, and employed by Gabrionus IV in the second Bog Wars in 904 AC.
The Bugbears' chieftain, known as "Aodh the Black" among the Dunael, gave his name to this area,
Ceathrú Aodha Dhuibh or the quarter of Aodh the Black.
Killyleagh Curragh and O'Leahy Scarps
These areas take their name from Uí Laochdha, from Thyatian "laicus", a V-VI century AC term for what is currently the Populares political faction. These areas were assigned to Populares politicians by Emperor Lucius III in return for their support in the Senate.
Killyleagh comes from Coill Ua Laochdha, or woods of the Populares.