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Five More Irish Names for Girls: Nóinín, Pt. 4 of ‘Names with a Flower Theme (Bláth / Bláithín / Bláthnaid, Daifne / Dafnae, Lil / Lile, Nóinín, Róisín / Róis / Róise, and, sort of, Mairéad / Maighréad)’  Posted by on May 11, 2016

(le Róislín) Daisy?  Nóra? Onóra? Honor? Nóirín vs. Nóinín?  So what exactly is going on here with this name? Well, here’s the short answer.  “Nóinín” is generally considered to be a variation of the name Nóra (Onóra), even though “Nóra” also has another diminutive form, “Nóirín” (Noreen).  The name “Onóra” means “honor (honour),” close to…

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Cén Ghaeilge atá ar … wattle? (Stór focal in am do Lá an Altaithe) Posted by on Nov 6, 2015

(le Róislín) When we describe parts of a turkey’s body, it’s easy enough to reference cosa (feet / legs), sciatháin (wings), cleití (feathers), tail (eireaball OR ruball), ceann (head), and gob (beak).  These would be widely found on other animals, and to some extent, people (cosa and ceann, with sciatháin doubling for arms and gob…

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Sacar / Peil (Soccer / Football) : A “Matching” Game of Terminology in Irish Posted by on Jul 9, 2014

(le Róislín) This blog will present 10 soccer (football) terms in English and Irish.  Can you match them up?  Note also that there is one extra Irish term, just for the challenge (“dúshlán” [doo-hlawn] note the silent “s”). Some of the Irish terms can also be used outside of soccer/football discussions, as can some of…

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An Sloinne ‘Ó Cinnéide’ (The Surname ‘Kennedy’) Posted by on Nov 15, 2013

(le Róislín) In the past, at this time of year, it’s been hard to come up for air between writing about Oíche Shamhna and then Lá Altaithe, with An Nollaig looming large just around the corner.  But this year, marking the sad 50th anniversary of “feallmharú Kennedy,” we’ll take a breather from the holiday themes…

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Ag Caint faoi Thuí agus faoi Thuíodóireacht (Speaking of Thatching) Posted by on Apr 14, 2013

(le Róislín) Before moving away from tuíodóireacht to other topics, I thought it would be interesting to look at the tools used by a tuíodóir, and also to look briefly at the use of díonta tuí outside of Ireland and Britain. You might have just noticed the phrase “díonta tuí” (thatched roofs).  And you might…

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That’s The Way The Easter Bunny Goes – Cluas i ndiaidh Cluaise (using the Irish verb “to eat”)! Posted by on Apr 9, 2010

(le Róislín) Some of you might still have your chocolate Easter bunnies, or part of them left.  To celebrate the gradual eating of such chocolate bunnies, which usually starts with the cluas (ear), let’s continue our relative clause series with the irregular verb “ith” (eat).  As you’ll see, some forms of “ith” look regular, such…

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