Top ten words invented in Ireland - useful for St. Patrick’s Day

Thar cionn! Excellent!

I'm in complete agreement w/ Madeliene.However, the nuns in the Bronx in the early 50s did not agree w/ her. I was frequently told "You're in America now and you'll speak like an American." No more zed for zee, no more praties, no more cardigans for sweaters and nobody knew what a fortnight was. (Well, they did, but no one would own up to it.)

Seanmore having a brogue is not demeaning in any way!

Having read and reread the article above and the comments below, I'm reminded of two words from the Irish language that were used by the U.S. military in the 60s and 70s. During the 50s and eraly 60s, The Navy and Marine Corps were armed with McDonald airplanes called the Banshees, and in the 60s and 70s the Army used an anti-tank missle called the Shillelagh. (We all know that for almost 3 years in the ealy 60s the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. armed forces was John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and the Secretary of Defence was Robert McNamara. During Jack Kennedy's administration, I served in the Marine Corps -and was beaming with pride whenever I was asked to mention their names at the head of my chain-of-command).

The word "brogue" is a belittling, demeaning, ridiculing term used to describe the Irish accent, but I doubtt that it has any connection withe the Irish word "beróg" (shoe). The English word "brogue" is believed to have come from the Irish wword "barróg" (grip, hug). One account has it that the Norse who settled in Dublin and began to speak Irish were said to have a "barróg" (a grip) on the language. "barróg can also be used in an affectionate, poetic way: "Le póg agus barróg. (With a kiss and a hug). Also, the Egglish word "puss" is got from "pus", the Irish for mouth.

The Highland Scots who originally came from Ireland call their Irish dialect Gaelic, pronounced (Gallic).

Usche Beatha!

Banshee! Descriptive!Gives me da chills!

feliciamaisey: Welsh is a Celtic language, but it is not a Gaelic language. As to list above, I am suspicious of etymology #5. There is no such word as "calac" for "bald" in Irish. The word is CALBH. But even so, why would a word for someone who is bald come to mean inexperienced or young? Makes no sense.

And if you want the real term its Gaeigle not Gaelic

Apart from whiskey!!!

Oh jaysus thought thid wud be funny - giving useful words like fe&k, and Storyy bud! - havent heard any of these words in my lifetime!!

It's OK to say "the Irish language (also called Irish Gaelic)" so as not to confuse people who are not familiar the proper term.

Again, the language is called Irish, not Gaelic.

ciaran--I laughed as I read your post; that is a pet peve of my own and I seldom can keep my mouth shut when people say Gaelic. Also is there not Welsh in there as part of the Gaelic languages?