Brogue for dummies: Ireland's colorful language, and how to understand it

I was raised in Ireland and left before my 19th birthday, but I never heard the word "Begorrah" there , not did I anyone ever say "The Top of the Morning" in my presence before I arrived in New York. The only mention I ever found of this expression was in John Locke's poem, "The Exile's Return, the first verse of which includes these words: "And with all this pent up love of my herat I bid you the top o' the morning". Lacke was a Killkenny-born patriot who joined the Fenians as a teenager, served a term in jail for patriotic writings, emigrated to the U.S. and NEVER returned. He may have got "the top o'the morning" from the language of baseball: "The top of the inning".

So what's "begorrah" mean? There's no definition for it on my screen! My guess it's similar to "begad." Or is it "bedad"? Such a rich vernacular . . . Though I need to ask if a Yank like meself uses these expressions when visiting, would it mark me as a poser or a rube or an arse? And do the Irish use "dog's bollocks" for something good or pleasing (the English do, according to Eddie Izzard)? Is this accurate?

in my days of living in northern ireland during the trouble my favourite one that i heard many a time-- " go on ya Pig you" meaning "would you and your armored car pass by" and my favourite " he couldnae pull the skin of a rice pudding" meaning " he is a very week fellow" my personal favourite that i tried using in Chicago is " He's as good as a man short" meaning-- well you should all get that one

Been there, done that, didn't kno wht they were saying- didn't care, but nice guide for next visit

P.S. PREFER THE IRISH ENGLISH OVER THE "QUEENS ENGLISH" ANYDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ENOYED IT....HAVE NOW ADDED SOME NEW WORDS 2 MY VOCABULARY HAHAHA THX'S. WISH WE GOT FR. TED IN THE STATES..LOL

It might have been an English production but it was certainly an Irish location (County Clare, Inisheer, etc., and a cast of Irish actors--good ones too--Dermot Morgan, Frank Kelly, Ardal O'Hanlon, Pauline McLynn, among others.

Hate to say this but Father Ted was and ENGLISH production.

Thanks Conn, brightened up a dour day.

a nice shoe with foot in the mouth mouthings. nice imagery. can't speak the queen's english eh.