Tag Archives: céad
Saying ‘The First of the Month’ in Irish and Other Special Names for ‘First Days’ Posted by róislín on Dec 31, 2019
(le Róislín) From New Year’s Day (1 Eanáir) to World AIDS Day (1 Mí na Nollag), there are significant events on the first day of each month of the year. Some, like Lá Domhanda SEIF, are of profound importance in recognizing the issues of 21st-century life. Others, like *Lá Náisiúnta Brioscaí Baile (1 Deireadh Fómhair), are…
Nature Words: Should They Be in a Children’s Dictionary or Not? Let’s Consider the Irish Word “dearcán” (acorn) Posted by róislín on Aug 31, 2019
(le Róislín) Can you imagine a dictionary without the word for “acorn”? And, in particular, can you imagine an Irish dictionary without the word “dearcán” (acorn)? And now that Dublin’s Phoenix Park has the larger-than-life “Dearcán na nDaoine” near “Áras an Uachtaráin” (the President’s residence) it’s even harder to imagine removing the word “dearcán” from…
Orduimhreacha i nGaeilge: Ordinal Numbers in Irish Posted by róislín on Jul 12, 2018
(le Róislín) One, two, three vs. first, second, third. A haon, a dó, a trí vs. an chéad, an dara / an dóú, an tríú. Ever notice how in both English and Irish, the word for “first” is totally different from the word for “one” (one/first, aon or haon but céad or chéad)? Learners of English…
Samhain (1 Mí na Samhna): The First Day of Winter Posted by róislín on Oct 29, 2010
(le Róislín) Not only was Samhain the first day of the traditional Celtic year – it was also the first day of winter, fitting neatly with the rest of the laethanta trascheathrún (cross-quarter days) san fhéilire Ceilteach. The others are Imbolc (1 Feabhra/February, now usually called Lá Fhéile Bríde), Bealtaine (1 May), and Lughnasa (aka…