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Tag Archives: Munster

Five More Irish Names for Girls: Lil / Lile, Pt. 3 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 6, 2016

(le Róislín) Continuing with our series of flower-themed names for girls (naisc thíos), let’s look now at the names “Lil” and “Lile (Líle),”  which may be equated with Lily or Lelia, or which may be pet forms of the names “Elizabeth” and/or “Cecilia.”  That latter derivation is from the late Irish names authority, Patrick Woulfe…

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How to say ‘How are you?” in Irish — not quite 100 ways but maybe 50-ish.  And which are the top 5(-ish)? Posted by on Jan 4, 2015

(le Róislín) Some of you may have seen the recent article “Did you know there are 100 ways to say ‘How are you?’ as Gaeilge?” in The Daily Edge, based on a dialect map posted on Twitter (naisc thíos).  As comments to the Daily Edge article pointed out, about half of the examples are from Scotland…

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Ar Dhroim (Ar Muin) na Muice: Not Quite The Same as “High on the Hog” Posted by on May 5, 2012

(le Róislín) You might remember a passing reference in the last blog to “dromanna muc” (backs of pigs) in the discussion of caint mheafarach (fhíortha) in general.  The only real reason I pluralized it was to emphasize the point that lots of people use lots of figurative speech in lots of situations.  So over the…

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Seachtain Fhéile Pádraig a Trí: Pub-crawling Posted by on Mar 17, 2010

(le Róislín) Aon ábhar ní b’fhearr ná beáir, given the “seachtain” that’s in it? Here are two phrases for pub-crawling in Irish.  Both are really based on the idea of “rambling,” rather than “crawling’ as such, which would be “lámhacán ([LAWV-uh-kawn] moving on one’s hands and knees) or “snámhaíocht” ([SNAWV-ee-ukht] loosely, “land-swimming”). 1) Beidh muid…

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A Práta by Any Other Name: Téarmaí Bia agus Cócaireachta (Food and Cooking Terms) Posted by on Jun 23, 2009

(le Róislín) What better place to begin a discussion of Irish cuisine than with the potato?  Still one of the príomhbhianna (staple foods) of Ireland, potatoes may be served in two or even three different ways in one béile (meal).  Typical styles of preparation would include: prátaí bruite or beirithe (boiled), prátaí friochta (fried), and…

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