Several Christian names in English have direct equivilants in Irish. ie. Patrick, Mary, John and James. Is there a list of "translations" for all or most Christian names or are there rules for translating to Irish?

I'm not aware of any list. Usually a name existed in Irish first and somebody picked an equivalent English version. Mary, John and James are all originally Hebrew, Patrick is originally Latin.
If you are interested, there is a standard book on Irish names by Father Patrick Wolfe which gives Irish versions of English names and vice versa, as well as Information on where the Irish Nmae came from. Send me an e-mail at and I will send you ISBN etc.
Beir bua
Aonghus

There are books available to help you.
Here are some that I found on the shelves of Bookstop in Dunlaoghaire.
They very graciously allowed me to copy the isbn's for you.
Favourite Irish Names for Children
by laurence Flanagan.
ISBN 0-7171-2021-X

Irish Names for Children
ISBN 0-7171-0697-7
(gill and macmillan)

Celtic Names for Children
Loreto Todd.
ISBN 0-86278-556-1

(gill and macmillan)

and last but not least my favourite one.
Irish Names
Donnchadh Ó Corráin
Fidelma Maquire

ISBN 0-946640-66-1

le meas
Kay.

Hello,
I need some help on the pronunciation of my sons name. His name is spelled Ailan. how would/should this be said in Gaelic and English.

Thanks very much for your help
Courtney

I have read about the king of Breifne, how do I pronounce this?

Hi, I would be very grateful if somebody could give me the translation of "Danny Boy" into Irish, for an art project.

I have been searching for this translation on the net for a long, long time with no success, so if somebody knows this translation, a response would be much appreciated,

Thanks.

Breifne- is pronounced Bref-nee. At least where I come from.

Rgds

Micky

can anyone help me find my lineage?
Callaghan on my mothers side(irish)
Flanner on my dads(welsh)