Ballygunner is a large Irish

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

 Townland

Townland

A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...

 in County Waterford

County Waterford

*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...

. Its boundaries coincide with that of St. Mary's and St. Joseph & St. Benildus parishes. It contains inside it several smaller areas, some that may be classified as Townlands in their own right. These are: Ballygunner Mhór, Ballygunner Castle, Knockboy

Knockboy, County Waterford

Knockboy , commonly referred to as Ballygunner , is a suburb & formally a village on the outskirts of Waterford City, Ireland. Originally an independent village, it has become sumerged with Waterford City, due to Urban Sprawl, & now forms part of the city's suburbs. It is forms part of the dual...

, the Dunmore Road Area, Granstown, Callaghan & Ballinamuncha.

History

The area has been commonly referred to as Ballygunner since late Viking

Viking

The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...

 times. The name, Baile Mhic Gonair, translates roughly as "Home of The Son of Gönar". Local foclóir suggests that Gönar, a local Viking, sent his son to the area to the east of the Waterford City Walls.It is believed that Gönar then built a castle at the current site of Ballygunner Castle

Ballygunner Castle

Ballygunner Castle is a medieval/17th century castle. Believed to be the site of an original Viking stronghold. Current structure is a combination of a medieval & 17th century building....

& it is from there that the area gets its name.