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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

What famous Irish sayings really mean

Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 01:19 PM

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"The best in the thirty-two" was a common phrase in my part of Ireland in the 1950s. It was used to describe anything of exceptional excelence. In those days children learned from their early shhool days that there were 32 counties in Ireland - which almost on one ever called "the island".

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richard cahill | Mar 08, 2012, 02:21 PM EST

I'm delighted to see Niall expose the true meaning of these real Irish sayings, particularly that offensive literal translation "may the road rise to to meet you" what idiot thought that that meant something. Perhaps it might be a good time to have Gaelgeoirí resurrect more sean focla for Seachtain Phádraig.

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Jerry Kelly | Mar 08, 2012, 11:54 AM EST

Go raibh maith agat, a Néill. Chuala mé go dtagann "Top of the Morning" ó "Uachtar na maidine duit". An fíor é sin? Thank you, Niall. I heard that "Top of the Morning" comes from "Cream of the morning to you". Is that true?

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Yerffac | Mar 08, 2012, 11:46 AM EST

Gaelphoncan--thank you for that. Now I will look up the meaning of the word "truff."

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Gaelphoncán | Mar 08, 2012, 10:11 AM EST

Yerffac, 'truff' is an Ulster Scots word but comes originally from the French verb 'truffer'. I've an idea that the Ulster use of 'brave' might be related to the Irish 'breá' as in 'breá ábalta', 'breá te' etc. Red Branch, I think I might translate 'I'm outa here' as 'Seo liom amach as seo'. You can say 'tá mé amuigh' but you can't say 'tá mé amach' (you can say 'tá mé ag dul amach', however.).

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Yerffac | Mar 07, 2012, 02:39 PM EST

Kickstar--Brave doesn't mean brave in the usual sense. Hard to explain, but it means something like quite or fairly ("quite a good old day"or "a fairly good day") "He's brave and fat" quiite fat.

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Yerffac | Mar 07, 2012, 02:35 PM EST

For years I've been trying to figure out what a word means, how it is spelled of if it is a total localism--we used it in the northeast of Ireland. I don't even know how it is spelled and I've never seen it written. We used to call robbing an orchard (great passtime in the old days) "Truffing" an orchard. That's how it sounded. Anyone got any gen on this?

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Yerffac | Mar 07, 2012, 02:31 PM EST

Hey Spoon517--thought you were going to say your bum is worn away from all those kisses!

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Yerffac | Mar 07, 2012, 02:30 PM EST

Yeah, right, all that stuff. Nothing new here. One Irish figure of is the use of the word "after" in certain phrases. For instance I might say: "I'm after spilling my tea." This doesn't mean that I'm planning to spill my tea. It means I have spilled my tea. To break it down: I am here after having spilled my tea.

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Ballyphehane1 | Mar 07, 2012, 02:02 PM EST

Don't forget that the thing with the Irish Hello is that you always have to add a saint. So, if you start with Dia Dhuit, you can say Dia is Muire Dhuit. But if you start with Dia is Muire duit agas Padraig, you'll have to add someone else in when you reply - Dia is Muire duit agus Padraig agus Brigit for example. That always used to crack me up as a kid - wondering where it would all end - a game to see how many names you could come up with. And my favourite Irish saying is Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile - means it takes one to know one - literally means it takes one fat pig to know a fat pig. Fat pigs are what we call those beetles that roll up when you touch them - I think they call them rolly pollys in the US.

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hybernia | Mar 07, 2012, 01:59 PM EST

@BELFAST May there be a generation of children On the children of your children. Here's to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold beer-and another one! Always remember that hindsight is the best insight to foresight. May all your ups and downs be under the sheets.

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RedBranch | Feb 25, 2011, 05:58 PM EST

And the eternal favourite. Ta me amach = I'm outa here! popular with emigrants. Check out these links and tell me which is more accurate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdjLBXlieI0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abd4DH7sME8&feature=related

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padraiginrua | Feb 25, 2011, 04:47 PM EST

Dia d(h)uit is hello. Dia is Maire duit the reply

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padraiginrua | Feb 25, 2011, 02:54 PM EST

Dia duit is hello. Dia is Maire Dhuit is the answer to i

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muirisobric | Feb 25, 2011, 01:38 PM EST

Ana mhaith: Is fearr an sláinte ná na táinnte. Health is better than wealth. Is fearr rith mhaith ná droch sheasamh. a good run is better than a bad stand. I never tasted corned beef and cabbage till I surfaced on these blessed shores. Ham & cabbage yes.

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