(le Róislín)

Bhuel, they say that “áille” is in the eye of the “dearcadóir” (or “féachadóir“).  And perhaps even more to the point, “Ní hí an bhreáthacht a bhruitheann na prátaí.”

And I’m sure that all “úinéirí madraí” think that their own “madra” is “go hálainn.”  But still, we can probably acknowledge that some dogs have more classic proportions and some others, well, the good thing is that dogs don’t have such a sense of “féineacht” as we humans do.

This year’s winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest is named Quasi Modo, a pit bull/Dutch shepherd  mix.  Quasi Modo’s key feature is being “spíonghearr” (short-spined), the result of “anchuma ó bhroinn.”   Some say Quasi Modo  looks like a “hiéana” or a “diabhal Tasmánach.”  And I agree, the comparison is apt.  Quasi Modo is “fadchosach” and “dronnach,” i.e. tá cuma cruite ar a d(h)roim.

Dála an scéil, cén fáth a ndúirt mé “a d(h)roim” (his/her back)?  Deir cuid de na hailt a léigh mé  “his back,” srl.  ag tagairt don mhadra seo (mar mhadra fireann) agus deir ailt eile rudaí mar “her back.”  Deir alt amháin (ar a laghad), “its back” (.i. gan inscne ar bith).   An bhfuil a fhios ag duine ar bith agaibh cé acu abairt atá fíor: Is madra fireann é Quasi Modo NÓ Is madra baineann í Quasi Modo?

Cá bhfuair an t-úinéir an madra seo?  Ó dhídean ainmhithe, agus moladh ar leith uaim ag dul d’oibrithe na dídine sin.  Is ó dhídean mo dhá mhadra féin. 

Anyway, it does make me a bit sad that this dog’s malformed spine gains it the label “gránna,” but, well, like I said, dogs probably don’t fully understand that they’re competing for “gránnacht.”  Quasi Modo (I keep wanting to just say “Quasi,” but I’m not sure if the owner has adopted a shortened moniker, so I’ll stick with “an t-iomlán léir“) looks quite happy and content.  So comhghairdeas libh, a Quasi Modo is d’úinéir (neamhainmnithe sna hailt a léigh mise).   Téann $1500 leis an mbua, agus ní haon dóithín é sin.

I think that all the dogs in the show (in fact, all dogs, period) are “gleoite,” and so I would say “grá” not “gránna,” and “maisiúil” not “míofar“!

Madra sa chomórtas “World’s Ugliest Dog” i gCalifornia i 2013. De réir cosúlachta, is ‘Gliobach Síneach’ í an madra seo. (By Don McCullough from Santa Rosa, CA, USA (Ugly?) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

Often, the Ugliest Dog winners are “Gliobaigh Shíneacha,” a breed that seems to strike most of us as “anásta,” “sconribeach,” and “mímhaiseach”  (not to mention “gránna” and “míofar“).   Ach bail ó Dhia orthu, nach cairde dílse na ndaoine iad na madraí go léir? At least this year there was some variety to the reign of the Chinese Cresteds in winning this contest.  And it’s a good reminder that wonderful pets can be found at a “dídean ainmhithe,” as was Quasi Modo.

Before we finish, how about a little Q & A, as much to practice Irish as to learn more about Quasi.  (Oh, I give up, I just want to use the “leasainm“).   Freagraí thíos.  Agus naisc do phictiúirí de Quasi ina ndiaidh.

1) Cá as Quasi Modo agus an t-úinéir?  Is as _______________, Florida, iad.  (Sin ceann duit, a Sheancháin D.)

2) Cá mbíonn an comórtas bliantúil?  Bíonn an comórtas i ____________, California.

3) Cad iad na cláracha teilifíse a raibh “An Madra Is Gránna Ar Domhan” orthu mar aoi?  Bhí na buaiteoirí ar chláracha mar ___________________________________.  (NB: Is cláracha teilifíse Meiriceánacha i mBéarla iad).

SGF  — Róislín   

Freagraí:

1) Is as Loxahatchee, Florida, iad.

2) Bíonn an comórtas i bPetaluma, California.   Hmmm, “Pet”aluma!  Comhtharlú?

3) Bhí na buaiteoirí ar chláracha teilifíse mar Good Morning America, Fox News, Entertainment Tonight, the Today Show, the Jimmy Kimmel Show, agus “Worst in Show” (clár faisnéise ar Animal Planet)

Naisc:

Tá pictiúir de Quasi Modo ag na suímh seo:

http://www.sonoma-marinfair.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/WUD_One-2015.png

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/aba182dad88542778f9f38cf2fd6d7cc/homely-hounds-compete-be-crowned-worlds-ugliest-dog

http://perezhilton.com/2015-06-27-quasi-modo-worlds-ugliest-dog-winner-2015-photo#.VZWPBPlVhBd

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/27/living/worlds-ugliest-dog-2015-feat/index.html

Tá tuilleadh eolais faoin gcomórtas “Ugliest Dog” ag suíomh na heagraíochta:  http://www.sonoma-marinfair.org/worlds-ugliest-dog/