An Introduction to the Irish Language Samas Neachtain

An Introduction to the Irish Language Séamas Ó Neachtain www. scoilgaeilge. org

The Celtic Languages Indo European Island Celts Ps and Qs Indo European Family Tree (Wikipedia) Welsh Cornish penn pedwar peswar pump pymp pwy piw Breton penn pevar pemp piv Primitive Irish *kʷennos *kʷetwar *kʷenkʷe *kʷeis Modern Irish Scots Gaelic ceann ceathair ceithir cúig còig cé (older cia) cò/cia Manx kione kiare queig quoi English "head" "four" "five" "who"

Development of the language Old Irish, Middle Irish, Modern Irish. Gaeilge / Gaeilic / Gaeilinn Manuscripts: https: //www. isos. dias. ie/ An Gorta Mór, emigration, decline of the language. The Gaelic Revival, The Gaelic League, The Philo Celtic Society Spelling simplification, modern typeface Current progress. . . The Gerry Tobin Irish Language School

The alphabet (old font)

Pangur Bán 9 th century, Old Irish, gloss in a Latin manuscript. A monk's poem about his cat. Written on Reichenau Island in Germany.

Messe [ocus] Pangur bán, cechtar nathar fria saindán; bíth a menma sam fri seilgg, mu menma céin im saincheirdd Each of us pursues his trade, I and Pangur my comrade, His whole fancy on the hunt, And mine for learning ardent. Caraim se fós, ferr cach clú, oc mu lebrán léir ingnu; ní foirmtech frimm Pangur bán, caraid cesin a maccdán. More than fame I love to be Among my books and study, Pangur does not grudge me it, Content with his own merit. Ó ru biam scél cén scis innar tegdias ar n oéndis, táithiunn dichríchide clius ní fris 'tarddam ar n áthius. When a heavenly time! we are In our small room together Each of us has his own sport And asks no greater comfort. Gnáth huaraib ar greassaib gal glenaid luch ina lín sam; os me, du fuit im lín chéin dliged ndoraid cu n dronchéill. While he sets his round sharp eye On the wall of my study I turn mine, though lost its edge, On the great wall of knowledge.

Fúachaid sem fri freaga fál a rosc a nglése comlán; fúachimm chéin fri fégi fis mu rosc réil, cesu imdis. Now a mouse drops in his net After some mighty onset While into my bag I cram Some difficult darksome problem. Fáelid sem cu n déne dul, hi nglen luch ina gérchrub; hi tucu cheist n doraid n dil, os mé chene am fáelid. When a mouse comes to the kill Pangur exults, a marvel! I have when some secret's won My hour of exultation. Cia beimini amin nach ré ní derban cách a chéle; mait le cechtar nár a dán subaigthiud a óenurán. Though we work for days and years Neither the other hinders; Each is competent and hence Enjoys his skill in silence. Hé fesin as choimsid dáu in muid du n gní cach óenláu; do thabairt doraid du glé for mumud céin am messe. Master of the death of mice, He keeps in daily practice, I too, making dark things clear, Am of my trade a master.

In modern Irish Mise agus Pangur bán, ceachtar againn lena shan dhán: bíonn a mheanma san le seilg, mo mheanma féin i mo shain cheird. Greamaíonn sé i bhfraigh fáil a rosc geal comhlán; greamaím féin i bhféighe an fheasa mo rosc réil, cé go bhfuil sé an lag. Caraimse fos, fearr gach clú ag mo leabhrán, ag tuiscint go dícheallach; níl sé formadach liom, Pangur bán: carann sé féin a mhac dhán. Tá áthas air a dhul go tapa nuair a ghleanann luch ina chrúb ghéar; nuair a thugaim ceist dhoraidh dhil tá áthas ormsa féin. Nuair a bhímid, scéal gan scís, inár teach, sinn araon go haonarach, tá cluiche éigríochta againn, rud a dtugaimid ár mbeartaíocht dó. Cé go mbeimis go deimhin ar uaireantaibh ní bhodhraímid a chéile: is maith le ceachtar a dhán; subhaigh gach aon fúthu. De ghnáth, ar uairantaibh, tar éis greasaibh galacha gleanann luch ina líon san; agus mé, titeann i mo líon féin dlí doraidh is deacair a thuiscint. Is é féin máistir dó na hoibre a dheineann sé gach aon lá; a thabhairt doraidh do shoiléireacht is í m obair féin.

Basics of pronunciation & grammar (It's not English!!!) Lessons on Youtube Long and short vowels – fadas Broad and slender consonants No soft Cs H is not like English unless at start of a word!!! Dipthongs / letter combinations Initial mutations – eclipsis and lenition Cases and tenses – inflection Éire, in Éirinn, na hÉireann

Ainmneacha Tadhg, Niall, Eoghan, Domhnall, Brian, Conchubhar/Connor, Diarmaid, Donncha, Cathal, Siobhán, Séadna, etc. Many names were given an English "translation" due to the phonetic similarity, despite having different origins: Áine > Anne, Aoife > Eva, Tadhg > Timothy, Eoghan > Eugene, Owen Especially the Norman or Christian names were gaelicised like Seán = Jean, Séamas = James, Searlas = Charles, Gearailt = Gérard, Annraoi = Henry, Mícheál = Michael, Sinéad = Jeannette, Liam = Guilliaume/William, Peadar = Peter, Pól = Paul, Eoin = John, etc. Ó, Mac, Uí, Ní + last name (sloinne) Gaelic Names

Words and Phrases Céad míle fáilte – a hundred thousand welcomes Póg mo thóin – kiss my bottom Samhain – November, Nov. 1 st Oíche Shamhna – the eve of Samhain, Halloween Nollaig – December, Christmas Nollaig shona duit/daoibh – Happy Christmas (s. /pl. ) Breithlá, Lá breithe – birthday. . sona duit/daoibh Bealtaine – May, May 1 st Go raibh maith agat/agaibh – thank you (s. /pl. ) An phíb uilleann – the elbow pipe(s) An bodhrán – the winnowing drum (or a deaf person!)

Sinn Féin – we ourselves Éirinn go brách – Ireland for ever (Éire = Ireland) Saoirse – freedom An Gorta Mór – the great hunger (famine) Ba mhaith liom deoch – I would like a drink Sláinte! Health! (cheers) Tá tart orm – I am thirsty (there is thirst on mé) Dia duit / daoibh – hello (God to you) Slán! Goodbye! An bhfuil cead agam dul amach? May I go out? Le do thoil, le bhur dtoil – please (singular and plural) Céilí – Irish dancing session, social evening or visit

Amadán – fool Agus – and Tá sé – he (it) is Sean – old; óg young Taoiseach – chief, prime minister Dáil – council, congress Dáil Éireann, the Irish congress Óglaigh na hÉireann – the Irish volunteers Gárda, gardaí – policeman, police Lúnasa – August (1 st) Imbolc February 1 st, now Lá 'le Bríde Lá 'le Pádraig (sona duit) – (happy) St. Patrick's Day

Amhrán na bh. Fiann Seo díbh a chairde duan óglaigh, Caithréimeach bríomhar ceolmhar, Ár dtinte cnámh go buacach táid, 'S an spéir go mín réaltógach Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo 'S go tiúnmhar glé roimh thíocht don ló Faoi chiúnas chaomh na hoíche ar seol: Seo libh canaigí Amhrán na bh. Fiann. Curfá: Sinne Fianna Fáil Atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn, Buíon dár slua Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn. Faoi mhóid bheith saor, Seantír ár sinsir feasta Ní fhágfar faoin tíorán ná faoin tráil Anocht a théim sa bhearna baoil, Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil Le gunnascréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar Seo libh canaigí Amhrán na bh. Fiann.