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Tag Archives: mythology

Five More Irish Names for Girls: Daifne, Dafnae (Daphne), Pt. 2 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 Apr 30, 2016

(le Róislín) We interrupted this “mionsraith” on “ainmneacha” to acknowledge the passing of Prince, which then led to a discussion of the word “siamsaíocht” in its various forms, since Prince was a “sár-réalta shiamsaíochta.”  So now let’s return to some names.  This particular set deals with “ainmneacha ban” whose theme is “bláthanna.”  First we dealt…

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How To Say ‘Tweet’ and ‘Twitter’ in Irish Posted by on Sep 30, 2013

(le Róislín) Remember when “tweets” and “twittering” mostly referred to birds, especially the “spideog” or the “smólach imirce“?  Or perhaps the sound of “caint eachtardhomhandach” (the speech of extra-terrestrials) as in H. G. Wells’ insect-like Selenites?  You might recall that they made “a slight elusive twittering,” as observed by Messrs. Bedford and Cavor (The First…

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An Chéad Lá den Earrach (The First Day of Spring) – Not! Posted by 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…

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