I mentioned yesterday that I’m going to try and improve my Irish.
(Ok. Scríobh mé inné gur theastaigh uaim mo chuid Gaeilbe a fheabhsú!)
But today, largely in English, I want to mention some of our proverbs.
Recently, we have heard people say: Ní neart go cur le chéile – There is no strength without unity. One of our most beautiful and apposite proverbs.
But I also like Ni théann cuileog san mbéal a bhíos dúnta. I am sure there are many who say I should pay heed to it. A fly will not go into a mouth that’s closed. In other words, shut up. Don’t put your foot in it etc.
Is fear Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste. Broken Irish is better than clever English. And that’s followed up with Ní tír gan teanga. It’s not a c ountry without a language, something I firmly believe.
What about Ar mhuin na muice. It is supposed to mean doing well or flying high or some such. But who wants to be on a pig’s back?
I was taught that Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na scolb meant that the day of the wind wasn’t the day for weighing down the thatch with ‘scolb.’ Some say it just means the windy day is not a day for thatching. Either way, it means A Stitch in time saves nine or Be prepared.
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile means, literally, a beetle knows another beetle. But its meaning is that a scoundrel knows another scoundrel.
There is one, the translation of which, annoys me.
And that’s Go néirí an bóthar leat.
Every translation I see says it means: May the road rise with you.
Who wants to wish someone an uphill journey all the way?
No. Go néirí leat means may you succeed.
And I hope I do with my renewed Irish studies.
B’fhéidir go ndéanfainn triail as blog nua an tseachtain seo chugainn
Paddy's World 