What Does “Ballina” Mean in Irish Placenames?

Towns and cities with Ballina

Ballinamore · Béal an Átha Móir · County Leitrim
'mouth of the big ford'
Ballynahinch · Baile na hInse · County Down
'settlement of the island/water-meadow'; Joyce gives the common townland name as 'the town of the island'
Ballina · Béal an Átha · County Mayo
Mouth of the ford; Joyce notes that bel-an-atha is commonly turned into Ballina
Ballinasloe · Béal Átha na Sluaighe · County Galway
Mouth of the ford of the crowds; Joyce has the ford-mouth of the hosts and thinks the gatherings may survive in the great horse fairs; the annals also record an older name, Dun-Leodha

Quick answers

What does Ballina mean in Irish place names?

Mouth of the ford — or town of the: it is the Irish béal an átha / baile na. It is written Ballina, Ballyna in English spellings of Irish names.

How is Ballina spelled in Irish?

béal an átha / baile na. English spellings of the same word include Ballina, Ballyna, because the names were written down by ear.

Which towns have Ballina in their name?

Ballinamore (Béal an Átha Móir), Ballynahinch (Baile na hInse), Ballina (Béal an Átha), Ballinasloe (Béal Átha na Sluaighe).