Biography

I have been working at the University of Limerick since 2015, and was appointed Lecturer in Irish in September 2016. I teach courses on Irish literature and language from 1600 to the present, including: modern Irish grammar, onomastics, early-modern prose literature in Irish, dialectology, Gaeltacht literature, the Schools' Folklore Collection 1937-8, & Celtic Civilisation. My current research is focused on historical language shift and bilingualism in Ireland. I am also investigating the origins and development of 1350 townland names in Co. Westmeath, a study provisionally titled 'Language in the landscape'. I am coordinator of the Westmeath Field Names Recording Project.

From 2013 to 2015 I was employed in Fiontar, the Irish-language unit of Dublin City University. I worked as a Research Editor on a number of Irish-language and folklore digitisation projects, and as Project Coordinator of Logainm.ie, The Placenames Database of Ireland.

BA (International) in Irish and Geography, NUI Galway (2007). Awarded a National Lottery research bursary by the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht (2007-2011) to undertake doctoral research on the townland names of Co. Westmeath (PhD in Modern Irish, NUI Galway, 2012).


Research Interests

Research interests include: Irish placenames, surnames, and personal names; folklore; and the historical dialectology and sociolinguistic heritage of the Irish language in central Ireland.

Ainmeolaíocht na Gaeilge, canúineolaíocht, béaloideas, stair na Gaeilge i lár na tíre.

Professional Activities

Consultancy

  • 2017 Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge Dublin City University - Half-day consultancy on the Meitheal Logainm.ie project. This website provides a crowdsourcing tool for pooling, storing and sharing data about minor placenames.

    My consultancy consisted of a review of the website (from a an expert user's perspective, and drawing on my prior experience of working on such projects, and my expertise in placenames). I gave a 30 min presentation to key project staff followed by 1 hour discussion.

    This was followed by a 1 hour and 15 mins presentation and discussion on the study of microtoponyms (minor placenames) in Ireland open to all staff in Fiontar/Scoil na Gaeilge.



Association

  • 2015 member, Meath Archaeological and Historical Society
  • 2014 Committee member, Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
  • 2013 member, Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement
  • 2010 member, Ulster Place-Names Society
  • Council member, The Old Athlone Society/Cumann Ársa Bhaile Átha Luain
  • member, Centre for Early Modern Studies, University of Limerick

Education

  • 2012 NUI Galway - PhD
  • 2007 NUI Galway - BA

Language

  • English
  • Gaeilge

Other

  • Erasmus + Teaching exchange. Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań. May 12-13 2017. 8 hours of teaching.


Peer Reviewed Journals

2021

Names: a journal of onomastics: 'A linguistic database of Irish-language surnames'

Ó Raghallaigh, B., M. Mechura, A. Ó Fionnagáin, S. Osborne (2021) Names: a journal of onomastics: 'A linguistic database of Irish-language surnames'. USA Journal Name :10-19

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2019

Varia: Béitín agus Béiteáil

Finnegan, A., Mag Eacháin, Conchúr (2019) Varia: Béitín agus Béiteáil. National University of Ireland, Dublin Eigse-A Journal Of Irish Studies :160-184

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2018

Review Article: Logainmneacha na hÉireann IV: Townland Names of Co. Wexford: Ainmneacha na mBailte Fearainn, Co. Loch Garman (Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich and Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)

Ó Fionnagáin, Aengus (2018) Review Article: Logainmneacha na hÉireann IV: Townland Names of Co. Wexford: Ainmneacha na mBailte Fearainn, Co. Loch Garman (Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich and Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill). Queen's University Belfast Ainm: a journal of name studies :86-93

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2016

An logainm Whinning, Co. na hIarmhí, agus inneoin mar eilimint i logainmneacha

Finnegan, A. (2016) An logainm Whinning, Co. na hIarmhí, agus inneoin mar eilimint i logainmneacha. Dublin Eigse-A Journal Of Irish Studies :187-199

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2012

The topography of Bruidhean Da Choga or Bryanmore Hill, Co. Westmeath

Finnegan, A (2012) The topography of Bruidhean Da Choga or Bryanmore Hill, Co. Westmeath. Belfast Ainm: a journal of name studies :65-89

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Books

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Book Chapters

2022

The Irish language in Westmeath: c.1600-1900

Ó Fionnagáin, A. (2022) The Irish language in Westmeath: c.1600-1900. Dublin : Geography Publications Westmeath history and society: interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county :309-341

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2022

Buaile in Irish townland names

Ó Fionnagáin, A. (2022) Buaile in Irish townland names. Glasgow : Clò Gàidhlig Oilthigh Ghlaschu Onomastications A Festschrift for Simon Taylor

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2021

Irish and English place-names in Ireland

Ó Fionnagáin, A. (2021) Irish and English place-names in Ireland. Wales : Welsh Place-Name Society An Anthology in Honour of Gwynedd Pierce

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2015

The island names of Lough Ree

Aengus Finnegan (2015) The island names of Lough Ree. Dublin : Four Courts Press Lough Ree: historic lakeland settlement :22-46

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Edited Books

2022

Léann na Sionainne

(2022) Léann na Sionainne. Dublin : Cló Léann na Gaeilge

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Other Journals

2013

What kind of Irish was spoken in Westmeath?

Finnegan, A (2013) What kind of Irish was spoken in Westmeath?. Meath Ríocht na Midhe: records of the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society :294-311

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Conference Publications

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Conference Contributions

2022

Rathcroghan Conference 2022 - Archaeology Above & Below

Aengus Ó Fionnagáin & Peter Cunningham (2022) Rathcroghan Conference 2022 - Archaeology Above & Below.

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2022

Westmeath Heritage Week

Aengus Ó Fionnagáin (2022) Westmeath Heritage Week.

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2022

Place names Workshop: Place names in bilingual areas

Aengus Ó Fionnagáin (2022) Place names Workshop: Place names in bilingual areas.

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2022

Old Athlone Society Lecture Series 2022

Aengus Ó Fionnagáin (2022) Old Athlone Society Lecture Series 2022.

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2021

The Westmeath Field Names Project 2020-1

Aengus Ó Fionnagáin (2021) The Westmeath Field Names Project 2020-1.

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2021

SNSBI autumn conference

Aengus Ó Fionnagáin (2021) SNSBI autumn conference .

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2021

Eighteenth-Century Ireland Society / An Cumann Éire San Ochtú Céad Déag Annual Conference

Ó Fionnagáin, A. (2021) Eighteenth-Century Ireland Society / An Cumann Éire San Ochtú Céad Déag Annual Conference.

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2021

Terryglass / Kilbarron Historical Society

Ó Fionnagáin, A. (2021) Terryglass / Kilbarron Historical Society.

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2021

Westmeath Field Names Project 2021

Aengus Ó Fionnagáin (2021) Westmeath Field Names Project 2021.

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2020

Léann na Gaeilge seminar series

Ó Fionnagáin, A. (2020) Léann na Gaeilge seminar series.

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2019

Heritage Week- Westmeath

Ó Fionnagáin, A. (2019) Heritage Week- Westmeath.

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2019

South East Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, Portumna

Ó Fionnagáin, A. (2019) South East Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, Portumna.

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2019

Centre for Early Modern Studies, Limerick: 2nd Winter School in Archival Research Skills & Book History

Ó Fionnagáin, A. (2019) Centre for Early Modern Studies, Limerick: 2nd Winter School in Archival Research Skills & Book History.

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2018

Westmeath Heritage Week

Finnegan, A. (2018) Westmeath Heritage Week.

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2018

Moate Historical Society Lecture Series

Finnegan, A. (2018) Moate Historical Society Lecture Series.

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2018

Ceardlann Mionlogainmneacha

Finnegan, A. (2018) Ceardlann Mionlogainmneacha.

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2018

Westmeath Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society Spring Lecture Series

Finnegan, A. (2018) Westmeath Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society Spring Lecture Series.

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2018

Seimineáir Léann na Gaeilge

Finnegan, A. (2018) Seimineáir Léann na Gaeilge.

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2018

Léann na Sionainne

Ó Riain, Gordon; Finnegan, A. (2018) Léann na Sionainne.

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2018

Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland: Arran 2018

Finnegan, A. (2018) Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland: Arran 2018.

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2017

Tionól na Gaeilge

Finnegan, A. (2017) Tionól na Gaeilge.

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2017

Seimineáir Léann na Gaeilge

Finnegan, A. (2017) Seimineáir Léann na Gaeilge.

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2017

The Old Athlone Society Annual Lecture Series

Finnegan, A. (2017) The Old Athlone Society Annual Lecture Series.

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2017

Seisiún Oiliúna ar Mhionlogainmneacha na hÉireann & Meitheal Logainm.ie

Finnegan. A. (2017) Seisiún Oiliúna ar Mhionlogainmneacha na hÉireann & Meitheal Logainm.ie.

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2016

Scottish Place-Name Society Day Conference

Finnegan, A. (2016) Scottish Place-Name Society Day Conference.

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2016

Welsh Place-Name Society 2016 Conference

Finnegan, A. (2016) Welsh Place-Name Society 2016 Conference.

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2016

Seimineáir Léann na Gaeilge

Finnegan, A. (2016) Seimineáir Léann na Gaeilge.

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2016

Lismullin Heritage Series

Finnegan, A. (2016) Lismullin Heritage Series.

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2015

Annual conference of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland

Finnegan, A. (2015) Annual conference of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland.

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2015

Church and Settlement in Ireland: landscape, life and legacy. A joint conference of The Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement and the American Conference of Irish Medieval Studies.

Finnegan, A., Ó Raghallaigh, B. agus Měchura, M. (2015) Church and Settlement in Ireland: landscape, life and legacy. A joint conference of The Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement and the American Conference of Irish Medieval Studies..

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2015

International Congress of Celtic Studies

Finnegan, A. (2015) International Congress of Celtic Studies.

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2014

Lismullin Heritage Series

Finnegan, A. (2014) Lismullin Heritage Series.

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2014

Annual conference of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland

Finnegan, A. (2014) Annual conference of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland.

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2014

Teangeolaíocht na Gaeilge XVI

Finnegan, A. (2014) Teangeolaíocht na Gaeilge XVI.

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2014

Annual conference of the North American Association of Celtic Language Teachers (NAACLT)

Finnegan, A. (2014) Annual conference of the North American Association of Celtic Language Teachers (NAACLT).

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2013

Annual conference of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland

Finnegan, A. (2013) Annual conference of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland.

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2012

Annual Conference of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland

Finnegan, A. (2012) Annual Conference of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland.

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2012

Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement Annual Conference May 2012: Settlement in and around Lough Ree

Finnegan. A. (2012) Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement Annual Conference May 2012: Settlement in and around Lough Ree.

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2011

XIV International Congress of Celtic Studies, Maynooth

Finnegan, A. (2011) XIV International Congress of Celtic Studies, Maynooth.

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2011

Comhdháil ar Litríocht agus Cultúr na Gaeilge, 2011. Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh

Finnegan, F. (2011) Comhdháil ar Litríocht agus Cultúr na Gaeilge, 2011. Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh.

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2009

The Earliest Strata - Place-names of Ireland and Scotland: The Second International Conference on the Early medieval Toponymy of Ireland and Scotland

Finnegan, A. (2009) The Earliest Strata - Place-names of Ireland and Scotland: The Second International Conference on the Early medieval Toponymy of Ireland and Scotland.

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2009

Annual Conference of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland

Finnegan, A. (2009) Annual Conference of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland.

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Published Reports

2020

) Westmeath field names project: project update 2019-20

Ó Fionnagáin, A. (2020) ) Westmeath field names project: project update 2019-20. Mulingar : Westmeath Co. Co. :1-12

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2019

Westmeath Field Names Recording Project

Finnegan, A. (2019) Westmeath Field Names Recording Project. Ireland : Westmeath Co. Co. :1-12

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Editorials

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Book Reviews

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Other Publications

2018

Meitheal Logainm.ie

Finnegan, A. (2018) Meitheal Logainm.ie. Dublin : Dublin City University

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2016

Cill in the Placenames Database of Ireland

Finnegan, A. (2016) Cill in the Placenames Database of Ireland. Scotland : Scottish Place-Name Society Scottish place-names news: newsletter of the Scottish Place-Name Sociey/Comann Ainmean-àite na h-Alba :3-5

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2015

Bibliography for 2014

Crook, A., E. Rye, A. Finnegan & D.N. Parsons (2015) Bibliography for 2014. United Kingdom : Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland Nomina: journal of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland :143-

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2014

Bibliography for 2013

Crook, A., E. Rye, A. Finnegan & D.N. Parsons (2014) Bibliography for 2013. United Kingdom : Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland Nomina: journal of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland :189-211

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2013

Island names of Lough Ree and their chronology

Finnegan, A. (2013) Island names of Lough Ree and their chronology. Dublin : Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement Áitreabh: Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement newsletter :11-12

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