Ráth Eoghain

Rathowen derives from Ráth Eoghain, meaning "Eoghan's ringfort," where ráth denotes a circular earthen enclosure typical of early medieval Irish fortified settlements. Eoghan is a personal name, likely genitive form, possibly derived from Latin Eugenius ("well-born") or Proto-Celtic *Iwogenos ("yew-born"). Early settlement in the Rathowen locality centered on ringforts dating from the 5th to 10...