(le Róislín)

Ar dtús, súil siar ar an mblag deireanach (an briathar “faigh”) agus na foirmeacha coibhneasta.  If you don’t remember the translations for these, please check back in the most recent blog.

Aimsir láithreach: Faigheann sí móideim nua.  An bhfaigheann sí móideim nua?  Seo í an bhean a fhaigheann móideim nua.  Seo í an bhean a bhfaigheann a hiníon móideim nua.

Aimsir chaite: Fuair sí móideim nua.  An bhfuair sí móideim nua?  Seo í an bhean a fuair móideim nua.  Seo í an bhean a bhfuair a hiníon móideim nua.

Aimsir fháistineach: Gheobhaidh sí móideim nua.  An bhfaighidh sí móideim nua?  Seo í an bhean a gheobhaidh móideim nua.  Seo í an bhean a bhfaighidh a hiníon móideim nua.

And now the verb “to go” in the present, past, and future tenses, in simple sentences and in relative clauses.  The command form is “téigh” and the verbal noun is “dul.” Not that we’ll be using those here since we’re still “groundhog-daying along” with the relative clauses, not commands or present progressives.  Someday, though, we’ll all wake up and this irregular verb series will be críochnaithe (finished)!

What with its future tense root of “rach-“ and the past tense as “chuaigh,” the verb “to go” is another one of the “extra-irregular” verbs in Irish.  The present tense, though, as you might notice, works almost like a regular verb, since it’s based on the root “té-.“  Perhaps just to lure you in?

Since I heard such a rollicking version of the Percy French song “Come Back, Paddy Reilly, to Ballyjamesduff” at a recent Irish event, I’ll continue to immortalize him in the next batch of sentences.  Hmmm, I see extra mileage coming out of this also, for the verb “to come,” ach sin blag eile.

The Irish for Ballyjamesduff is “Baile Shéamais Dhuibh,” with the name “Séamas Dubh” having changed to an tuiseal ginideach, since it’s the town “of” black-haired James.  For newcomers, remember “Shéamais” is pronounced “HAY-mish” (first “s” silent, second “s” as in English “fish”).

Aimsir Láithreach: Téann Paddy Reilly go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh.  An dtéann Paddy Reilly go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh?

And the relative forms:

Seo Paddy Reilly, an fear a théann go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh.  This is P.R., the man who goes to Ballyjamesduff.

Seo Róisín Nic Giollaráin, an bhean a dtéann a stócach go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh.  This is Rosie Kilrain, the woman whose boyfriend goes to Ballyjamesduff.

(In case you didn’t guess, she’s his “stóirín” or “sweetheart,” as described in the 12-stanza song).

There’s a bit of a new twist in the last line.  I’m assuming Paddy Reilly is young enough that we could call him a “stócach” (young unmarried man, boyfriend), at least when his relationship to Rosie is emphasized.  I guess it all depends on whether all of this verb conjugating takes place before or after Rosie and Paddy’s conjugal vows took place, assuming they eventually did.  Using “fear” (man, husband) in the same sentence as the woman’s name would imply that they were married before the hypothetical time period of all of these abairtí (sentences).  Since Rosie is referred to by her maiden name in the song text in English, I’ll consider Paddy to be her “stócach.”  But in general references, I’ll simply say “fear.”

Aimsir Chaite: Chuaigh Paddy Reilly go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh.  An ndeachaigh Paddy Reilly go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh?

And the relative forms:

Seo Paddy Reilly, an fear a chuaigh go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh.  This is P.R., the man who went to Ballyjamesduff.

Seo Róisín Nic Giollaráin, an bhean a ndeachaigh a stócach go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh.  This is Rosie Kilrain, the woman whose boyfriend went to Ballyjamesduff.

I promised verbal irregularity and you got it!  “Téigh” becomes “chuaigh” [KHOO-ee] in the past tense (basic form) and “ndeachaigh” [NYOKH-ee, silent d] in the past tense question form and the indirect relative form.  Mh’anam! 

Aimsir Fháistineach: Rachaidh Paddy Reilly go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh.  An rachaidh Paddy Reilly go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh?

And the relative forms:

Seo Paddy Reilly, an fear a rachaidh go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh.  This is P.R., the man who will go to Ballyjamesduff.

Seo Róisín Nic Giollaráin, an bhean a rachaidh a stócach go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh.  This is Rosie Kilrain, the woman whose boyfriend will go to Ballyjamesduff.

Forewarned is fore-armed.  You heard that the root of the verb would change to “rach-“ and so it did.  Cad é eile a thig liom a rá!

And, of course, all of this is assuming that Paddy has followed the request and that he eventually does go “ar ais go Baile Shéamais Dhuibh.”

And for more about Paddy Reilly and the festival that honored him last year, you might like to check out http://www.comebackpaddyreilly.com/.  All we need next is “Pádraig Ó Raghailligh: An Ceolra” (Paddy Reilly, the Musical)!

Five down, six to go (in our irregular verb countdown)!  Maybe we’ll be done by Lá Fhéile Pádraig, and then we can talk about other topics!  Slán go fóill — Róislín