The Pale (
An Pháil in
Irish) or the
English Pale ( or ), was the part of
Ireland that was directly under the control of the English government in the late
Middle Ages. It had been reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast stretching from
Dalkey, south of
Dublin, to the garrison town of
Dundalk. The inland boundary went to
Naas and
Leixlip around the
Earldom of Kildare, towards
Trim and north towards
Kells. In this district, many townlands have English or French names.