What Does “Mona” Mean in Irish Placenames?

Towns and cities with Mona

Monaghan · Muineachán · County Monaghan
'place of little thickets' or little hills
Ballymoney · Baile Monaidh · County Antrim
'townland of the moor'; early Anglo-Irish records call it Ballyboney, but Joyce held Ballymoney to be the correct form
Monasterevin · Mainistir Eimhín · County Kildare
Evin's monastery, after St Evin, who ran a monastery here at a place called Rosglas; Joyce agrees and gives Ros-glas as green wood

Quick answers

What does Mona mean in Irish place names?

Bog — or thicket: it is the Irish móin / muine. It is written Mona, Money, Monea in English spellings of Irish names.

How is Mona spelled in Irish?

móin / muine. English spellings of the same word include Mona, Money, Monea, because the names were written down by ear.

Which towns have Mona in their name?

Monaghan (Muineachán), Ballymoney (Baile Monaidh), Monasterevin (Mainistir Eimhín).