Cathal is a common

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

in Ireland. The name is derived from two

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language *Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Foot ...

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 or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...

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 language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''* ...

'', 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 ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...

and

Connacht Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...

People with the name

Pre-19th century

*St. Cathal of Taranto (died 685), archbishop * Cathal mac Áedo (died 627), king of Munster * Cathal Cú-cen-máthair (died 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 The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasty, dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King of Ireland, High Ki ...

(died 735), king of Connacht * Cathal mac Finguine (died 742), king of Munster * Cathal mac Murchadh (died 816), king of Uí Maine * Cathal mac Conchobair (died 925), king of Connacht * Cathal mac Tadg (died 973), king of Connacht * Cathal mac Donnubáin (), king of Uí Chairpre Áebda * Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair (died 1224), king of Connacht * Cathal mac Conchobair Ruadh Ua Conchobair (died 1288), king of Connacht * Cathal mac Domhnall Ua Conchobair (died 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 ...

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

Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna (c. 1680 – 1756; Anglicised as ''Yellow-haired Charles McElgunn'') was an Irish poet. Biography Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna is one of the four most prominent south Ulster and north Leinster poets in the sevent ...

(died 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 1993), Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary *

Cathal Berry Cathal Berry (born 1977/1978) is an Irish former independent politician and retired soldier who was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare South constituency from 2020 to 2024. Military service Originally from Ballyduff, County Waterford, Berry ...

, 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 ...

, Irish film director, writer, and producer * Cathal Breslin (born 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 ...

(died 1922), revolutionary * Cahal Carvill (born 1987), Northern Irish hurler * Cathal Coughlan (musician) (born 1960), singer and musician with the bands Microdisney and the Fatima Mansions * Cathal Casey (born 1967), Irish retired hurler * Cathal Corey, Gaelic football manager and former player * Cathal Crowe, (born 1982), Irish Fianna Fáil politician * Cahal Daly (1917–2009), Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland from 1990 to 1996 * Cathal Daniels (born 1996), Irish eventing rider. * Cathal J. Dodd (born 1956), singer and voice actor * Cathal Dunbar (born 1996), Irish hurler who plays for Wexford Senior Championship * Cathal Dunne (born 1951), singer, represented Ireland in Eurovision Song Contest 1979 * Cathal Gannon (1910–1999), Irish harpsichord maker, a fortepiano restorer and an amateur horologist * Cathal Óg Greene (born 1987), Gaelic footballer for London * Cathal Hayden, Northern Irish fiddle and banjo player of note. * Cathal Magee (born 1954), Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland (2010–2012) * Cathal Mannion (born 1994), Irish hurler who plays for Galway Senior Championship * Cathal Mac Coille (born 1952), retired Irish broadcaster, researcher and journalist * Cathal MacSwiney Brugha (born 1949), Irish decision scientist, the Emeritus Professor of Decision Analytics at University College Dublin's College of Business * Cathal McCabe (born 1963) * Cathal McCarron, All Ireland Winning Gaelic footballer for Tyrone. * Cathal McCarthy (born 2006), Irish footballer for UCD and Hull City * Cathal McConnell (born 1944), musician and singer * Cathal McInerney, Irish sportsperson * Cathal Naughton (born 1987), Irish retired hurler who played for Cork Senior Championship * Cathal Kelly, Canadian writer * Cathal O'Connell, Irish hurler who plays as a forward for the Clare senior team. * Cathal Ó Murchadha, born Charles Murphy (1880–1958), Irish politician and republican * Cathal Ó Searcaigh (born 1956), poet * Cathal Ó Sándair, born Charles Saunders was one of the most prolific Irish language authors of the 20th century * Cathal O'Shannon (1928–2011) , Irish journalist and television presenter * Cathal Parlon (born 1986), Irish hurler * Cathal Pendred (born 1987), retired mixed martial artist* * Cathal Ryan, Gaelic footballer from County Laois. * Cathal Smyth (born 1959), singer and songwriter, better known as Chas Smash of the British band Madness

Places

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

References

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

People with the name

Pre-19th century

Later

Places

See also

References