Typical Irish expressions or as the Irish would say…seanfhoical!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am going to talk about some typical Irish expressions, with the help of the Irish composer, Austin Durack. I think this may be something interesting to know and I hope you all enjoy it!

Here are a few examples:

Weather

Ireland is known for its irregular weather and because of that there are plenty of sayings:

-Hardy! (It’s cold) It’s lashin’/It’s raining cats and dogs (it’s raining heavily)

-It’s bucketing down! (It’s raining hard or a lot)

-The sun is splittin’ the stones! (it’s very hot)

Sayings

-Mura gcuirfidh tú san earrach ní bhainfidh tú san fhómhar (If you don’t sow in the spring, you’ll never reap in the autumn).

-A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush ( Be happy with what you have and don’t be greedy)

-You can´t kill a bad thing (Bad things are always around you)

- “Can you sing?”; “No, I’m a crow” (I´m a horrible singer)

-Éirinn go Brách! (Ireland forever)

-Mol an óige, agus tiocfaidh se (Praise the youth and they will blossom)

-Cuir síoda ar ghabhar i gcónaí é (Put silk on a goat and it will still be a goat)

Toasts

-Nollaig shona duit! (Merry Christmas)

-Beannachtam na Feile Padraig! (Happy St. Patrick Day)

-Sláinte! (Cheers)

-La breithe sona duit! (Happy birthday)

-Athbhlain faoi mhaise duit! (Happy New Years)

-Go dtabharfadh gach phiotal ar an tseamróg dea-dhúil chughat, dea-sláinte, da buíochas agus sonas. I gcomhair inniu agus gach lá eile. (For each petal on the shamrock, this brings to wish you good health, good luck and happiness for today and everyday)

Curses

As we all know, the Irish are very superstitious and they have many sayings such as:

 -Go n-ithe an cat thú, is go n-ithe an diabhal an cat (May the cat eat the devil and the devil eat the cat)

-Go mbeire an diabhal leis thú! (May the devil take you with him)

-Nach mbuailfeadh naimdhe na h-Éirann le aon chara riamh (May the enemies of Ireland never meet a friend)

CURIOSITY:

There are other sayings used by Americans (in movies, books, plays, etc) to portray Irish people which they don’t like. Maybe they were used a long time ago, but the Irish certainly don’t speak like that anymore. They are normally used with an artificial Irish accent and make them look silly.

Here are some examples:

-Top ‘o the mornin’  to ya! (Good morning to you)

-Be Gorrah (By God)

-May the road rise under you! (Have a good trip, or as the Irish would say: Go neírí leat)

I hope you’ve all learned a little bit more about Ireland. To conclude, I will like to leave you a link so you can all listen to my friend Austin´s music. Bain sult as!
http://www.austin-durack.com/

Sources: an Irishman