Its name derives from the ford ('Áth')
crossing the river Clarin just east of the settlement. Because three kingdoms
met at that point, it was called 'ÁthnaRíogh', or 'the Ford of the Kings'. On
some medieval maps of English origin the town is called Kingstown. The kingdoms
were Hy-Many to the north-east, east and south-east; Aidhne to
the south and south-west; MaighSeola to the west and north-west. Up
to around 1000 it was included in UíBriúin Seóla. In the mid-11th
century it was part of the tríchacét of ClannTaidg.
