Cathal or Cahal is a common given name in Ireland, spelled the same in both the Irish and English languages. The name is derived from two Celtic elements: the first, ''cath'', means "battle"; the second element, ''val'', means "rule". There is no feminine form of ''Cathal''. The Gaelic name has several

Anglicised Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influen ...

forms, such as ''Cathel'', '' Cahal'', '' Cahill'' and ''Kathel''. It has also been Anglicised as ''

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was ...

'', although this name is of an entirely different origin as it is derived from a Germanic element, ''karl'', meaning "free man". As is evident from the list below, the name was in medieval times most popular in Ireland's two western provinces,

Munster Munster ( gle, an Mhumhain or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" ( ga, rí ruirech). Following th ...

and Connacht.

People with the name

Pre-19th century

*St. Cathal of Taranto (d. 685), archbishop * Cathal mac Áedo (d. 627), king of Munster *

Cathal Cú-cen-máthair Cathal Cú-cen-máthair mac Cathaíl (died 665), often known as Cú-cen-máthair, was an Irish King of Munster from around 661 until his death. He was a son of Cathal mac Áedo Flaind Chathrach (died c. 628) and belonged to the Glendamnach sept ...

(d. 665), king of Munster *

Cathal mac Muiredaig Cathal mac Muiredaig Muillethan (died 735) was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Muiredach Muillethan mac Fergusso (died 702), a previous king and brother of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan ...

(d. 735), king of Connacht *

Cathal mac Finguine Cathal mac Finguine (died 742) was an Irish King of Munster or Cashel, and effectively High King of Ireland as well. He belonged to the Eóganacht Glendamnach sept of the dominant Eóganachta kin-group whose members dominated Munster from the 7 ...

(d. 742), king of Munster * Cathal mac Murchadh (d. 816), king of Uí Maine * Cathal mac Conchobair (d. 925), king of Connacht * Cathal mac Tadg (d. 973), king of Connacht * Cathal mac Donnubáin (fl. 1014), king of Uí Chairpre Áebda * Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair (d. 1224), king of Connacht * Cathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua Conchobair (d. 1288), king of Connacht * Cathal mac Domhnall Ua Conchobair (d. 1324), king of Connacht *

Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa (February 1439 – March 1498) was an Irish historian. He was the principal compiler of the ''Annals of Ulster'', along with the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín. He was also chief of the McManus clan from 1488 to 1498. Refere ...

(d. 1498), main compiler of the ''Annals of Ulster'' *

Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna (c. 1680 – 1756) was an Irish poet. Biography Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna (?1680-1756) is one of the four most prominent south Ulster and north Leinster poets in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. He has ...

(d. 1756), poet

Later

Cathal Barrett Cathal Barrett (born 21 July 1993) is an Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary Championship club Holycross–Ballycahill and at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a right corner-back. Playing ca ...

(born 21 July 1993) is an Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary *

Cathal Berry Cathal Berry is an Irish Independent politician (Ireland), Independent politician and retired soldier who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare South (Dáil constituency), Kildare South constituency since the 2020 Irish general election, ...

, is an Irish Independent politician, former Irish Army officer and medical doctor who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare South *

Cathal Black Cathal Black is an Irish film director, writer, and producer. Background Black was born in Dublin, Ireland and grew up in Phibsborough. His father worked at the Guinness Brewery. Black's mother died when he was around 9 or 10 years old. His fat ...

, is an Irish film director, writer, and producer * Cathal Breslin (b. 1978), concert pianist from Northern Ireland *

Cathal Brugha Cathal Brugha (; born Charles William St John Burgess; 18 July 1874 – 7 July 1922) was an Irish republican politician who served as Minister for Defence from 1919 to 1922, Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann in January 1919, the first presid ...

(d. 1922), revolutionary * Cahal Carvill (born 22 April 1987) is a Northern Irish hurler *

Cathal Coughlan (musician) Cathal Coughlan (16 December 1960 – 18 May 2022) was an Irish singer and songwriter from Cork, best known as the frontman of the band Microdisney, formed with Sean O'Hagan in 1980. Their second album ''The Clock Comes Down the Stairs'' reac ...

(born 16 December 1960), singer and musician with the bands

Microdisney Microdisney were an Irish rock band formed in Cork in 1980. They were founded and led by songwriters Cathal Coughlan (keyboards, vocals) and Sean O'Hagan (guitar). Originally typeset as Micro Disney, the band had become Microdisney by the t ...

and the Fatima Mansions * Cathal Casey (born 4 September 1967) is an Irish retired hurler * Cathal Corey, Gaelic football manager and former player * Cathal Crowe, (born 1 October 1982) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician * Cahal Daly (1917–2009), Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland from 1990 to 1996 *

Cathal Daniels Cathal Daniels (born 13 September 1996) is an Irish eventing rider. A two-time championship medalist, he won a team silver medal at the 2018 World Equestrian Games The 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games were held in Mill Spring, North Carolina, ...

(born 13 September 1996) is an Irish eventing rider. * Cathal J. Dodd (b. 1956), singer and voice actor *

Cathal Dunbar Cathal Dunbar (born 1996) is an Irish hurler who plays for Wexford Senior Championship club Naomh Éanna and at inter-county level with the Wexford senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a right corner-forward. Playing career Gorey Co ...

(born 1996) is an Irish hurler who plays for Wexford Senior Championship * Cathal Dunne (b. 1951), singer, represented Ireland in Eurovision Song Contest 1979 * Cathal Gannon (1 August 1910 – 23 May 1999), was an Irish harpsichord maker, a fortepiano restorer and an amateur horologist *

Cathal Óg Greene Cathal Óg Greene (born 1987) is a Gaelic footballer for London. He plays his club football and hurling with St Kiernan’s. He is originally from Laois and in 2003 was part of the Laois panel that won the All-Ireland Minor Football Champio ...

(born 1987) is a Gaelic footballer for London. * Cathal Hayden is a Northern Irish fiddle and banjo player of note. *

Cathal Magee Cathal Magee (born 1954) was the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland from 2010 to 2012. He is also a non-executive director of insurance company Vhi Healthcare. Magee was born in County Cavan. Education He ho ...

(born 1954) was the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland from 2010 to 2012. * Cathal Mannion (born 22 October 1994) is an Irish hurler who plays for Galway Senior Championship *

Cathal Mac Coille Cathal Mac Coille (born 1952) is a retired Irish broadcaster, researcher and journalist. He was a co-presenter of '' Morning Ireland'' on RTÉ Radio 1 for most of the period from 1986 until his retirement in 2017. He currently writes opinion ...

(born 1952) is a retired Irish broadcaster, researcher and journalist * Cathal MacSwiney Brugha (born 13 January 1949) is an Irish decision scientist, the Emeritus Professor of Decision Analytics at University College Dublin's College of Business. *

Cathal McCabe Cathal McCabe (born 1963 in County Down, Northern Ireland), grew up in Warrenpoint. Educated at St Colman's College, Newry, and at the universities of York and Oxford, he lived in Poland for fifteen years where he lectured at the University of Łó ...

(born 1963 in County Down, Northern Ireland) *

Cathal McCarron Cathal McCarron (born 9 November 1987) is an All Ireland Winning Gaelic footballer for Tyrone. He plays his club football with Dromore St Dympna's, and has won 3 club championships with them. He has also played for Round Towers while in Londo ...

, is an All Ireland Winning Gaelic footballer for Tyrone. * Cathal McConnell (born 1944) is a musician and singer *

Cathal McInerney Cathal McInerney is an Irish sportsperson. He was born in 1991. He plays hurling with his local club Cratloe and was a member of the Clare senior inter-county team from 2011 until 2020. He made his Championship debut for Clare against Tipper ...

, is an Irish sportsperson. * Cathal Naughton (born 3 July 1987) is an Irish retired hurler who played for Cork Senior Championship * Cathal Kelly, is a Canadian writer * Cathal O'Connell, is an Irish hurler who plays as a forward for the Clare senior team. * Cathal Ó Murchadha, born Charles Murphy (16 February 1880 – 28 April 1958) was an Irish politician and republican * Cathal Ó Searcaigh (b. 1956), poet * Cathal Ó Sándair, born Charles Saunders was one of the most prolific Irish language authors of the 20th century * Cathal O'Shannon (23 August 1928 – 22 October 2011) was an Irish journalist and television presenter * Cathal Parlon plays his Senior Club Hurling with Coolderry in Offaly. *

Cathal Pendred Cathal Pendred is an Irish actor and former mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was the Cage Warriors Welterweight World Champion. Background Pendred was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Irish immigr ...

(b. 1987), retired mixed martial artist* *

Cathal Ryan Cathal Ryan is a Gaelic footballer from County Laois, Ireland. He usually plays at full back for Laois and in 2003 was part of the Laois team that won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship title for the first time since 1997. The followi ...

is a Gaelic footballer from County Laois. * Cathal Smyth (b. 1959), singer and songwriter, better known as Chas Smash of the British band

Madness Madness or The Madness may refer to: Emotion and mental health * Anger, an intense emotional response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat * Insanity, a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns * ...

Places

Cathal Brugha Street Cathal Brugha Street ( ) is a street on the northside of Dublin, Ireland. Location The street runs eastwards from near the Parnell Square end of Upper O'Connell Street, crossing Marlborough Street and changing name to Seán Macdermott Stre ...

, is a street on the northside of Dublin, Ireland. * Cathal Brugha Barracks, is an Irish Army barracks in Rathmines, Dublin

References

{{given name Irish-language masculine given names English-language masculine given names Scottish Gaelic masculine given names

People with the name

Pre-19th century

Later

Places

See also

References