Tag Archives: Ireland
Maidir le Dreoilíní Posted by róislín on Dec 26, 2011
(le Róislín) Wren Day has become increasingly well-known outside of Ireland, ever since the Clancy Brothers recorded “The Wran (i.e. Wren) Song” in 1955. Groups as diverse as Steeleye Span and the Chieftains have added to the musical legacy of the wren festivities. Well, festive for everyone except an dreoilín. Ar an dea-uair, the wrens…
Ag Caint faoi Bhia (hunger, hungry, etc.) Posted by róislín on Aug 28, 2010
Agus mé ag éisteacht leis an raidió le déanaí, chuala mé clár faoi neamhshlándáil bia. Bhí an clár i mBéarla ach shocraigh mé ag an am go scríobhfainn blag faoi théarmaí Gaeilge a bhaineanns le bia. Níl mé ag caint anseo faoi chineálacha áirithe bia mar thrátaí grianthromaithe nó vaiféil, ach go ginearálta, faoi bhia…
Logainmneacha Ceilteacha agus Náisiúntachtaí a Trí: Celtic Place Names and Nationalities – Wales and the Welsh Posted by róislín on May 3, 2009
We’ve recently discussed the place names Albain (Scotland) and Éire (Ireland). Now we’ll turn to ”An Bhreatain Bheag” (Wales). Since “Breatain” is a feminine noun, the adjective that modifies it, “beag” (little) becomes “bheag.” And since this country name includes the definite article “an” (the), it also causes “Breatain” to change to “Bhreatain,” pronounced with…
The Many Meanings of “Oireachtas” Posted by róislín on Apr 18, 2009
(le Róislín) For the week of April 5 to 12, 2009, many Philadelphians probably saw more samples of the Irish language in the media than ever before in the city’s history. Why? This year, Philadelphia hosted the first Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne (World Irish Dance Championship) to be held outside Ireland or the U.K. Over 6000…
An Chéad Lá den Earrach (The First Day of Spring) – Not! Posted by róislín on Mar 21, 2009
(le Róislín) Shortly after St. Patrick’s Day, we welcome in an tEarrach (the Spring). Or do we? We may be accustomed to thinking of March 20th or 21st as the beginning of Spring, but there is actually a lot of controversy in English as to whether Spring starts on the first of the month or…