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Tag Archives: constellation

Speaking of Pigeons (Colúir) Posted by on Dec 14, 2013

(le Róislín) I’ll leave journalists Sean Dunne (IrishCentral) and Liz Alderman (New York Times) to “squabble” over the accuracy of the recent reference in the New York Times to “pigeon-eating” in Ireland.  But it does seem to me like a good opportunity to explore the related Irish vocabulary (naisc do na hailt thíos).  So we’ll…

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Dogs, Days, Dog Days (Madraí et al., Laethe et al., Laethe Madrúla, et al.) Posted by on Aug 16, 2012

(le Róislín) Technically speaking, they’re probably just about over, but a lot of people use the term “Dog Days” rather loosely, for mid- to late-summer, so let’s discuss the phrase while “an samhradh” is still “in it.”   The starting date for the “Laethe Madrúla” (aka “Laethanta an Mhadra”) varies, sometimes an tríú lá d’Iúil (July…

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Stella, Étoile, Estrella, Stea … Réalta! Posted by on Jun 20, 2011

(le Róislín) Sandwiched between Lá na Brataí (an American holiday celebrated on June 14th) and Lá na Saoirse (4 Iúil) might be a good time to talk about “réaltaí agus riabha” (stars and stripes).  So we’ll take a sos (break) from the díochlaontaí for a while, and address, first, the “réalta” component.  The “riabha” will…

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