Historical Irish Corpus
1600 - 1926
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South Aran Irish.
Title
South Aran Irish.
Author(s)
Murphy, John J.,
Compiler/Editor
Mac Néill, Eoin
Composition Date
1895
Publisher
Connradh na Gaedhilge
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Set Dates
1600
1926
SOUTH ARAN IRISH. An Alphabetical List of Words and Phrases collected in Aranmore in June, 1895, chiefly in the village of Craig na Cúra, by Riocaird Ó'Murchadha. Authorities:— Dreoilín, a local “character,” Killeany village, author of Amhrán Cheallaigh. Miss Folan, N. Teacher, Craiga keereen, a native of Inis Meadhoin. Máirtín, a travelling flute-player and sgeulaidhe from Connemara. Micheál, Mike Scofield, Craig na Cúra. O'C., Mr. David Callaghan, N. Teacher, fearann A'Choirve. Páidín, Patsy Kinealy(Ó Cinn-fhaeladh?), Craig na Cúra. Peigí, Margaret, wife of John Durrane(Ó Dioráin?) called Seaghán na Craige, of Craig na Cúra. Seaghán, the said John Durrane. Tam, the messenger who carries the post to the light- house. A. 1. Aithghiorra, pr. aiciorra, a short cut. g unaspi- rated. [Proverb: má's cam díreach an bealach, 'sé an bóthar mór an t-aithghiorra. Noun from aithghearr, short, ath intensive, and gearr] 2. Ann, in it, etc., pr. ohn. [In this dialect, vowels are lengthened before ll, nn, m, except in the middle of a word with a vowel following.] 3. Air: agus poll air a taoibh, and a hole in her (the boat's) side. Poll pr. powL, pouL. [The usual idiom with poll: Tá poll ar an tigh, there's a hole in the house, “walls have ears.” 4. Aitioll, cessation(of rain, for example). 5. Ainne, pl. ainneachaidhe, little morsel of fire. See smeachaid. [This is aithinne, a live ember. B. 1. Bolgán béic, fuzzball(dry, not growin), O'C. 2. Bog a' cliabhán, rock the cradle. 3. Buairín, fetter for sheep, asses and goats, See buarach, crudh-mhasg. 4. Buarach, milking fetter to link a cow's hind feet together. Seaghán na Craige had one of horsehair caught together with a wooden toggle. See buai- rín, crúdh-mhasg. 5. Balla, wall of a building, whether of dry masonary or not. See sgúnsa, cloidhe, bannaigh. 6. Beanna: ceithre beanna tighe, four corners of a house. Páidín. See bannaigh [See the story, Och gan mé thiar, in Dr. Hyde's Leabhar Sgeulaidheachta.] 7. Bollán beannuighthe, a hollowed stone in fence right above Mary Durrane's house, Cowrook, credited (as holy well) with healing powers. Páidín. [The word is etymologically ballán, and is well known to Irish archaeologists, being their technical name for such stones. The vowel a often changes when the syllable -án follow, as in sgadán, bradán, allán (a ledge of rock), &c., pr. sgodán, &c,] 8. Bualtrach, cowdung. [It is used as fuel.] B. capaill, horsedung. 9. Bruacha-nóna, for tráthnóna [pr. here trannóna], heard from a Kilkenny man by Páidín, who con- siders it a very good word.
10. Brúigh isteach é, shove it ( the door) in. 11. Bail ó Dhia ort! Response, go mb'amhla' dhuit! may it be likewise to you. 12. Ballach, rockfish, connor. 13. Bioróg, a pointed float to mark the position of a net. 14. burra ayn gay, he grew as quickly as a gosling. Máirtín, in story of Carolan's courtship. [ Borradh éin ghé, the swelling of a goose's bird.] C. 1. Cáirde: tabhair dam c., give me time. 2.Caora: a lamb of the third year. See uan and uasgán. 3. Coilléir, a horse's collar. [From English] 4. Cúntar: air chúntar dá bhfághainn (waun). Sup- pose I got it, O'C. [Ar chuntabhairt, on chance.] 5. Crúdh-mhasg, rope by which a horse's head is fettered to the forefeet. Bee buairín, buarach . [For crúdh- nasg, or cróbh-nasg, a hoof-fastening.] 6.Cloidhe, (klei) an ordinary stone-fence, dry-built and one stone thick. See sgúnsa, bannaigh, balla. 7. Cnagaire, the sixteenth part of a townland. 8. Cnaigín, a noggin. In Clare, cnagaire is a noggin or naggin, the 16th part of a poule = 2 quarts. O'C. 9. Carcair, a slope up from you. Páidín. See fána. [As well as I could gather, c. means a steep bank of earth, a terrace, as distinct from aill, a face of rock. 10.Cnódán, a gurnet (fish). [Or cnúdán. No doubht onamatopaeic. The fish often utters a kind of grunt when caught, whence, no doubt, the English name. It is called “nowd” in many places (= cnúd, Knoud?)] 11. Corróg, hip (of a man). See gorún. 12. Committee: giving out c. = distributing public relief. 13. Codalach: nach codalach atá siad! Are they not "contrairy" or cantankerous. If a boat is moored where the sea is tossing her about, then the place or sea is codalach. [The old word for “contrary, opposite,” was codarsnach.] 14. Caislín, caislín cloch, the wagtail, which appears in Aranmore about St. Patricks Day. See Seven Sleepers. 15. Cuasnóg mheach, a bees nest. [Corcóg is the word for beehive. I heard both meach and smeach, but not beach, = a bee, in Inis Meadhoin.] 16. Creannach, dilisk (seaweed). 17. Crúm, see Domhnach 18. Canamhaint: & níl c. air, and he has no localisms or obscure words(but speaks Irish just like our own). [The ordinary word for dialect.] 19. Cárla, a card for carding wool. [Also Cárda.] 20. Croch, the fixed book over a fire. See Lúb. 21. Ciseán, handbasket, ordinary basket with handles and lid. 22. Ciseóg, basket for straining potatoes. 23. Cliabh, basket for back of man or horse. 24. Cliabhán, a cradle. 25. Ceud-fheuchaint: mo grádh ag an cheud fh. thú, my love at first sight! Máirtín. 26. Cinneann an fhoidhid ar chinneamhaint, patience overcomes fate, O'C. Tá mé cinnte ort, you are too many for me, I am not able for you. Chinn sé orm, it was too much for me. Tam. 27. Chuma, see leath-chuma. 28. Ciall: a chóimh-chiall féin, his own sense (as man, though changed by magic int a wolf). Story of Prince Agav. Tam. 29. Céim: (1) a style with steps; (2) a style without teps, two upright stones being placed close together so that a man can just squeeze his legs through. The céim is made by building up, the beárna by throwing down. (to be continued).
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