Recording Place Names on OpenStreetMap

People are using maps more frequently than ever before, but despite (or maybe partly because of that), minor place names like those of roads, cross roads and fields become less and less important and are forgotten and lost.
Minor place names hold information about the lay and character of the land (High Field, Carrigeen), former residents or tragic deaths (Cait Ryder's Well, Nelly's Bend, Nancy's Cross), built heritage (Castle Field, Kiln Field, Street Field) and, in the case of field names, the crops once grown in them (Rye Grass Field, The Lawn, Orchard). This heritage contained in place names can easily get lost when land is sold, roads improved or Eircodes and sat navs are being used. Before it is too late, we should make an effort to record them permanently and make them accessible to anyone with an interest.

Your local place names etc will be used to show how they can be recorded on OpenStreetMap (openstreetmap.org). Data from OpenStreetMap is used on websites such as Facebook and daft.ie and even by county councils. There are also sat navs based on OpenStreetMap which will show you field names while you're travelling. In addition to the names, the etymology (the story behind the name) can be recorded alongside the name.