Dé Sathairn, Meán Fómhair 22, 2012

Teach yourself Rathlin Irish?



Teach yourself Rathlin Irish? How?

 The first thing to remember that it would be extremely difficult thing to do, despite the fact that the dialect is quite well recorded, it is extinct, therefore you could not learn from a native speaker naturally.

Ideally, It would require a gifted linguist to learn the dialect fluently himself or herself and then teach it to others.

But, there is a (slightly) easier way.

One could simply learn either Scottish Gaelic or Irish and specialise in the dialect of Islay in Scotland and or Tory Island in Ireland.

Once fluent in one of these, or even both, you would simply adapt your dialect to the Rathlin one, you would sound quite authentic.

The Gaelic of Arran would have been an ideal one to learn but that opportunity has passed unfortunately. If one was lucky enough to meet a native speaker from Kintyre, again this would be ideal.

The Irish of Ros Goill / Fanad would be closer to Rathlin Gaelic than the Irish of Tory, but the language is not strong in either district.

Gaelic is still the community language in Tory. There are plenty of native speakers in Islay, but the language is in terminal decline with virtually no younger people speaking the language.

Good luck! 

And with that, I will sign off. I will not be posting onto this blog for the foresable future. I have achieved what I set out to and this blog has been visited 10,000 times!

Thank you all for popping in. It has been a pleasure. I hope that the blog has created interest in Gaelic, the dialect of Rathlin and of course the island itself.

For those of you who have never been to Rathlin .... what is wrong with you?

Dé Sathairn, Meán Fómhair 15, 2012

Roinnt Samplaí de Ghaeilge Reachraidh, An Ceann a' Tíos

Seo a leanas cáil samplan de Ghaelg Reachraidh, An Ceann a' Tíos. Is é Bob Mac Cormaic an cainteoir. Bhá é ag labhairt le Prionsias Ó Conluain ó RTÉ.



- Gaelg Reachraidh (Clic le cloisteáil)
- Gaeilge Chaighdeánta

Ag amharc thíos ar Cheann a' Tíos, Reachraidh.

26. as m’athair is mo mháthair
as m’athair is mo mháthair


27. Chan fheil aon sean-scéaltán a'm 

Níl aon sean-scéalta agam


28. Timpeall thart ar na hoileán

Timpeall thart ar an oileán


29. 'bhfeil é ar cheart anois?

An bhfuil sé ag obair anois?


30. abair sin aríst

abair sin arís


31. bhá sí

bhí sí


32. ar fud na hoileán

ar fud na hoileán

Dé Sathairn, Lúnasa 25, 2012

Bunfrasaí Ghaeilge Reachlann


Gaelc / Gaelg
/gɛːlk/
Gaeilge

Fáilte
/fɑːltʃə/
Fáilte

Maidin Mhath duit
/mɑdʒin mɑ dɑtʃ/
Maidin mhaith

Dia duit ar maidin
/dʒiɑ dʎtʃ əɾ mɑdʒin/
Dia duit ar maidin

Lá math
/lɑə mɑ/
Lá maith

Coinfheascar math duit
/kɔnʲəskəɾ mɑ (dʎtʃ)
Tráthnóna maith duit

Goidé mar atá tú / thú
/gə dʒeː məɾ ə tɑː tʎ (ʎ)/
Cad é mar atá tú (Conas tá tú)

Goidé mar atá thú dol ar t'aghaidh?
/gə dʒeː məɾ ə tɑː ʎ dol əɾ teˑi/
Cad é mar atá ag éirí leat?

Tá mé go math
/tɑː mɛ gə mɑ/
Tá mé go maith

Tá sinne go math
/tɑː ʃinʲə gə mɑ/
Tá muid go maith

Tá mé meanach

/tɑː mɛ mɛːənɑx (mɛːənəx)/
Tá mé go measartha


Tá mi go dona
/tɑː mi gə dɔnə/
Tá mé go dona

Caidé an t-ainm a t(h)á ort?

/gə dʒeː ən tɑɾʲm a hɔɾt/
Cad é an t-ainm a tá ort?


Oíche mhath (leat)
/ɪːçə vɑ/
oíche mhaith

Go rabh mile math a’d

/gə ro miːlə mɑ ɑt/
Go raibh míle maith agat

Go rabh math a’d fhé’
/gə ɾəˈmɑ agət he:/
Go ndéanaí mhaith duit


Mar sin leat
/məɾ ʃin lʲɑt/
Gurb amhlaidh duit

Beannacht leat
/bjɑnɑxt lʲɑt/
Slán leat

(ón leabhar 'Dhá Scéal Reachlann agus Eile, 2008)

http://www.coisceim.ie/dhasceal.html

Dé Máirt, Lúnasa 21, 2012

Samplan de Ghaelg Reachraidh - le fuaimeanan



Samplaí de Ghaeilge Reachlann ó chomhrá idir Bella John Ruadh Mhic Mhuireachtaigh le Liam Mac Carráin, Béal Feirste.

Tá an Ghaeilge Reachlann le feiceáil ar dtús agus an Ghaeilge chaighdeánach ina diaidh.

Seo Gaeilge ón 'Taobh Uachtarach' de Reachlainn, rinneadh an taifeadán (físeán a bhí ann) go mall san seachtóidí.

Gaeilge Reachlann 'mhall' atá i gceist, cé gur taifeadadh go leor ábhar ó leath-chainteoir dúchais ina dhiaidh seo. 

Fuair an cainteoir bás sna hochtóidí, bhí cónaí uirthi i mBéal Feirste den chuid is mó dá saol.

Tá sé suntasach áfach, go gceartaíonn sí féin in amanna, as a bheith ag baint úsáid as fhoghraíocht 'Chonallach'.
Tuigtear dom gur fhreastail sí ar ranganna Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste, ag foghlaim cuid Gaeilge as na Rosaibh, canúint a bhí thar a bheith faiseanta i measc Ghaeilgeoirí Chois Cuain ag an am sin.


Is féidir go gceapfadh daoine inniu go bhfuil sé sin aisteach. Ach cuimhnigh gur chuir Conradh na Gaeilge cainteoir dúchais as na Rosaibh chun Gaeilge a mhúineadh dóibh - fiú nuair a bhí neart cainteoirí dúchais fós ann. 

Is fíor chomh maith go raibh sé de nós ag cainteoirí dúchais i nGlinntí Aontroma Gaeilge Thír Chonaill a mheascadh lena gcuid Gaeilge féin ina dhiaidh dóibh sin a fhoghlaim i ranganna de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge.

Tá cur síos iomlán ar na nótaí seo, seachas trascríobh foghraíochta le fáil ....  


Dunbar, Ciarán, "Guthanna Reachrainn, guthanna Uladh", An tUltach 82:2 (2/2005) 14-16

agus sa Bhéarla (agus leasaithe rud beag)  ...

Dunbar, Ciarán, "Some Phrases of Rathlin Irish", The Glynns 35 (2007) 65 - 74.

(Nóta - níl aon fhuaim-rian ar fáil d'uimhir 1. nó 25)

1. [tá] brón orm anois
[tá] brón orm anois

An bhfuil a fhios agat cad é tá mé ag rá?

An rabh a fhios agatsa?

4. Bhá bachaill[3] eileag[4] anseo
Bhí buachaill eile anseo

5. Bhá ceann ruadh[5], ceann ruadh … dearg ar m’athair
Bhí ceann rua, ceann rua …. dearg ar m’athair

Bhí mé ar mire

7. Bhá sean-saighdiúir ansin
      Bhí sean-saighdiúir ansin

8. ‘Bhfeil[7] mé deas?[8][9]
      An bhfuil mé críochnaithe?

      An bhfuil fhios agat air Danny Diffin?

      An raibh go leor Gaeilge agam?

      ‘chan fheil’ sin an fhocal a bhí ag na daoine in Reachlainn

      Níl fhios agam rud ar bith fán ait sin

      Níl a fhios agam fán ainm atá ar loch

      Níl cuimhin …Níl mórán Gaeilge, Gaeilge, Gaeilge agam     anois.

    Ní cuimhin liom … nl cuimhin liom

      Cloigeann

     Níl a fhios agam anois

     Cnoc an Tairbh

      Rugadh mé ansin ins an teach, bhí … an t-ainm a bhí air     Lartach Aoibhinn

      I mo chónaí ansin

     Sin an ait a bhí mise

     Rachadh mé ansiúd is anseo

     Teacht arís

     Tá a fhios aigesean cá huair a gheobhaidh mé bás

na páistí

na mic

na rudaí

cosa

míosa

25. ‘bhfeil blas na Béarla air
An bhfuil blas na mBéarla air



[1] This ‘g’ is always aspirated in Rathlin. i.e agham (pron. a’m) aghad (pron. a’d)
[2] See footnote 1.
[3] This word appears to be a confusion of the Scottish Gaelic word word ‘bachlach’and the Standard Irish ‘buachaill’. Holmer records Bachlach as the Rathlin form (HOLMER, N.M., The Irish language in Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim, (Royal Irish Academy [Hodges Figgis], Dublin 1942) whilst Wagner records ‘bachaill’. (WAGNER, H., Ó BAOILL C., Linguistic Atlas and Survey of Irish Dialects IV, (Royal Irish Academy Dublin 1969) p16)
[4] This form was also recorded by Holmer ibid p190.
[5] ‘dh’ at the end of a word normally pronounced like a ‘g’ in Late Rathlin Irish.
[6] ‘bhá’ is always the word used in Rathlin where standard Irish has ‘bhí’. ‘bhá’ also occurred in Irish of the Glens along side ‘bhí’. ‘bhá’ is considered Scottish Gaelic.
[7] Where standard Irish has ‘bhfuil’, East Ulster (including Rathlin), Scottish Gaelic and Manx have ‘Bhfeil’.
[8] Literal meaning is ‘am I nice?’
[9] A distinguishing feature of East Ulster Irish (including Rathlin), North Donegal Dialects Scottish Gaelic and Manx is the pronunciation of ‘ea’ as ‘e’ (i.e. d´es) whereas in most of Ireland it is pronounced as an ‘a’ sound (i.e. d´as)
[10] ‘timpeall air’ (about that) is a Rathlin Idiom which can also be found in Islay Gaelic – see footnote 26.
[11] This pronunciation of the word ‘ainm’ as ‘arm/airm’ was also to be found in Farney Irish. Ó SEARCAIGH, S., Foghraidheacht Ghaedhilg an Tuaiscirt (Brún agus Ó Nualláin, Baile Átha Claith 1925) pp.182-183
[12] Rathlin place-name.
[13] See Place-Names of Northern Ireland, Co Antrim II, (The Institute of Irish Studies, QUB) p299.
[14] This is an example of metathesis, the standard Irish word being Latrach normally meaning a piece of rough scrubby ground. See footnote 5.
[15] pronounced as ‘rachag’ in late Rathlin Irish.
[16] the plural constructed in Rathlin Irish by simply adding ‘an’ or ‘ean’. For example, taigh (house) taigheán (houses)

Déardaoin, Lúnasa 16, 2012

Carrick-a-Rede - there is no mystery


The etymology of Carrick-a-Rede / Carrickarade,  the small island world famous for its rope bridge, situated off the north coast of Antrim is often a subject of discussion, given its profile as a tourist destination.
Carraig Dhroichid (Rock of [the] Bridge), Co. Aontroma

It is often stated, like many other place-names that "nobody know's what it means," again, not true.

It is often claimed that it is derived from the Irish Carraig a' Róid / Ráid,  meaning 'rock of the road'. 

This is somewhat fanciful and it almost certainely incorrect although the anglicised form 'Carrick-a-Rede' is most likely grounded in this belief. 

This is the record on logainm.ie, quoting the 'Place-Names of Northern Ireland volume 7'. 


Carraig an Ráid
gin. Charraig an Ráid
ainm neamhdheimhnithe(Gaeilge)
Carrickarede Island(Béarla)
the rock of the casting?
Pléitear an fhianaise stairiúil in Place-Names of Northern Ireland iml. 7, 85


One must consider however, despite this entry, that the matter is at least academically settled with Professor Greg Toner's article on the subject which concludes that Carrick-a-Rede / Carrickarade is derived from the Irish ...

Carraig Dhroichid, meaning ‘The Rock of (the) Bridge’[1] 

This explanation is of course, completely obvious. 

It is also scientifically grounded in the linguistics of East Ulster Irish.  

Update :

Toner points out in the article that the lack of the an article suggests that Carraig Droichid could be an abbreviated from.

For example (there is no evidence for this form though it makes good sense), the original form could have been something like this  ...

Carraig Dhroichid na mBradán 'Rock of the Salmon's Bridge'


[1] Toner (Gregory): The original Irish name of Carrickarade/Carrick-a-Rede, Co. Antrim.
In Ainm 9 (2008), pp. 65–71.


Dé Máirt, Iúil 10, 2012

Notes on the place-names of the Giant's Causeway


The Giant's Causeway is in the news at the moment due to concerns regarding the inclusion of creationist belief in the new visitors centre.

The Giant's causeway has a great place-name heritage, rooted in the Irish language, and recognised by UNESCO, it is hoped that that hertitage and the Gaelic mythology connected with the causeway is also given prominence.

The Irish for Giant's Causeway is Clochán an Aifir and it is a roughly a translation of same. 

Clochán na bhFómharach is the form found in Irish literature,  it means the causeway of the Fomorians, Formorians being a race in Irish mythology. 

It seems that Clochán an Aifir is ultimately a development of this name. 


"Clochán an Aifir, a development from Clochán an Fhamhair (alias Clochán an Fhomhóra) 'causway of the fomorian'." (MacKay)

It should be noted that the Scottish Gaelic word for giant is fuamhaire.

It was known as Clochán an Aifir in Rathlin Irish.

It was also known in Irish as Tóchar na dTréanfhear 'causeway of the strongmen / warriors'. (MacKay, A Dictionary of Ulster Place-names)

The comtempory version of the 'legend' of the Giant's causeway is as follows ....

The story tells that the Giant’s Causeway was built by Finn McCool as a walk way to fight the Scottish giant Benandonner.

"Finn fell asleep before going across to Scotland and he woke up to find the Scottish giant appearing on the horizon. Finn realised Benandonner was much bigger than himself and ran to his wife Oonagh wondering what he should do. Oonagh disguised Finn as a baby and made him curl up in an enormous cradle. Benandonner saw the huge ‘child’ in the cradle and began to wonder what size his father would be. Benandonner returned to Scotland and destroyed the Causeway as he returned home."


The legend of Fionn Mac Cumhaill agus the Scottish Giant 'Bennadonnar' is well known today but is it attested in traditional Irish language literature or folklore?

I have not come across it. Could it possibly be quite a recent legend?

I have contacted a number of learned Scottish Gaels who have never heard of Benadonnar.

To a topoymist, 'Benadonnar' looks like a place-name rather than any personal name. 

It should be pointed out that the 1:10,000 map reveals a Benadinar (which appears to be a rock), Benadinar Port and Benadinar Cave in the townland of Feigh Mountain. 

Are these place-names the basis of the legend of Benadonnar or is the giant the basis of these place-names? 

I feel that it is likely that the Benadinar rock has given its name to the giant. 

The first element of Benadinar is clearly beann 'a peak', but the second part is still unclear to me. Could the second element be 'danar' (dan-fhear) - a dane, a cruel savage person? This meaning could fit with well with the legend, but firmer evidence is needed. 

Benadinar is undoubtedly from Irish, I would suggest the spelling Beann an Danair 'meaning uncertain')


The minor names of the Causeway Coast

Portnaboe - from the Irish Port na Bó 'Port of the Cow'

Great Stookan - Stookan represents the Irish Stuacán  'a pinnacle'. Great may or may not be a translation of the Irish mór 'great / large'.

Weir's Snout - an English language form. It seems to be so named due to a resemblance of the rock formation to a snout. 

Port Ganny - seems to be transparently form the Irish Port Gainimh 'Sandy Port' 

Grand Causeway - an English form.

Aird Snout - A mix of Irish and English. The Giant's Causeway is in the townland of Aird. Aird means 'heights' in Irish. The townland was formerly divided into Ard Íochtarach and Ard Uachtarach.

Port Noffer - 'Port na bhFear', orginally 'Port na bhFear-Mór'  according to Laverty, it would seem more likely to me to simply be from the Irish Port an Aifir 'Port of the Giant' 

Port Reostan  Close to the part of the causeway known as the amphitheatre. Second element difficult to interpret, insufficient information at this point. A local pronunciation and historical forms could shine some light on it. Could it be a surname or even a personal name? 

Lacada Point- The the Irish, Leac Fhada 'The long slab / flat rock'

Port na Spaniagh - transparently from the Irish Port na Spáinneach 'Port of the Spaniards', liked to the wreck of the Spanish Armada ship, the Girona, at this point. It is very interesting that it is barely anglicised from the Irish, the various Irish elements continuing to be separate words in the anglicised form, this is highly usual, not not atypical on the North Antrim coast. 

Port na Callian / Portnacallion - Obviously from Irish but this is one of the more difficult names in this area to correctly interpret. It is popularly translated as 'Port of the Girl' but cleary that is not grammaticaly feasible in Irish. It could be however that all of the anglicised forms of place-names beginning with 'Port' in this area have been simplified and used -na- in the genetive, ie. the feminine form. 

Callion / callian does resemlbe however the East Ulster Irish form caileán (girl), standard Irish Cailín. 

On the balance of probablity I feel that Port a' Chaileáin (?) 'Port of the girl' is the basis of Port na Callian, but I would prefer to see more evidence before giving a definitive answer. 

Port na Tober - At first glance a transparent form but there is a distinct problem, the Irish word tobar is a feminine noun, therefore the article remains 'an' in the genitive. 

Again, it could be that all of the anglicised forms of place-names beginning with 'Port' in this area have been simplified and used -na- in the genetive. Tobar is feminine in Scottish Gaelic but the genitive in lthat case would be  Port na Toibreach. Could Port na dTobar, with 'tober' declined in an alternative genitive plural be the original form? 

On balance,  I must postulate that Port na Tober is from the Irish Port an Tobair 'The port of the well' but I would prefer to see some historical forms before taking a firm stance. 

Port na Plaiskin / Plaiskin Head I have noted that Plaiskin has been interpreted as 'high, unsheltered land', this could will be the case with pláiscín being the basis of Plaiskin. 

Again we have a grammar problemit could be that all of the anglicised forms of place-names beginning with 'Port' in this area have been simplified and used -na- in the genitive.  

Possibly Port an Phláiscín (?) 'Port of the high unsheltered land', this form would suit the toponmy of the area. 

But again, I would have see some historical forms if available. 

Is it possible that we are dealing with the word 'pléascán', explosion? Is there any explosive quality to the waves at this point?

Hamilton's Seat - an English form, made up of a surname and Seat. 

"At Benbane Head, Hamilton’s Seat (named after Rev. W. Hamilton, the first observer to describe accurately the origin of the basalts in 1786) " 

From Causeway Coast and Glens website (http://www.giantscausewayireland.com/Discovery.T1025.aspx)

Dé Sathairn, Meitheamh 16, 2012

Scéal Reachraidh : Gígeam agus Geoigeam agus Bol Bocht a Lógam


Scéal Béaloidis as Oileán Reachlann, ba é Domhnall Mac Mhuircheartaigh an cainteoir. 

[Note : The mp3 host, 'Yudu' seems to be having problems today (17th July, 2012) - try again later if it doesn't work]

Is féidir éisteacht leis anseo / You can listen to it here.

Bhá trí daoine ann reamha seo, an ainm a bhá ortha: Gígeam
agus Geoigeam agus Bol Bocht a Lógam.

Arsa Gígeam le Geoigeam,

"Eirg na mhuileann." (Arsa Geoigeam, "Eírigh thu fhéin.").

Arsa Bol Bocht go Lógam, "Théid  sinn uile go léir."

Thug ead an tíoradh na bháile. Arsa Gígeam le Geoigeam, "Eírigh, agus déan bannach."

Eirigh thu fhéin." Arsa Bol Bocht go Leoigeam, “Théid sinn uile go léir."

Dh'írigh an trí, agus rinn ead an bannach. Air a bhá e réidh ar son a thionntachadh, arsa Gígeam, "Eírigh, agus tionntaigh an bannach."

Arsa Geoigeam, " Eirigh thu fhéin." Arsa Bol Bocht a Leogam, "Théid  sinn uile go léir."

Dh'írigh an trí, agus thionntaigh ead e.

Thainigh an madadh ruadh isteach, agus thug e scrog as an bhannach. Thar shiubhál leis an mhadadh ruadh agus an bannach na dhéidh. 'Mach le Gígeam agus Geoigeam agus Bol Bocht a Leoigeam as déidh an bhannach.

Thainigh an bannach go dtí triúr bhuaint na mónadh. "Cáit an dtainigh thu as, a bhánnaigh bhocht?"

“Thainigh me o Gígeam agus Geoigeam agus Bol Bocht a Leoigeam, agus bídh me bhuabh-se ma dh’fhaodas me.”

Thilg ead síos na falta mónadh, (agus) as déidh an bhannach. Thainigh an bannach go ceathrar ag réidheadh (?) na gcoille(adh).

"Cáit an dtainigh thu, a bhannaigh bhocht?"

"Dh'fhág me an choillidh ud thall. Thainigh me as Gígeam agus Geoigeam agus Bol Bocht a Leoigeam, agus an triúr bhuaint na mónadh, agus bídh me bhuabh-se ma dh’fhaodas me.”

Glic : An Madadh Ruadh
Thilg ead síos na tuaghan, agus as déidh an bhannach. Thainigh
an bannach go dtí abhainn, agus cha b'urra leis an bhannach dol trasna an abhainn. Thachair e air an mhadadh ruadh.

"Cáit an dtainigh thu, a bhannaigh bhocht?"

"Thainigh me o Gígeam agus Geoigeam agus Bol Bocht a Leoigeam, agus an triúr bhuaint na monadh, agus an ceathrar ag réidheadh (?) na coille(adh), agus bídh me bhuait-se ma dh'fhaodas me."

"Goidé mar a tá thu dol thar an abhainn?"

Chuaidh e isteach an abhainn, agus dúirt e leis an bhannach teacht air a iorball.

"Bhfeil thu fliuch anois? "

" Tá, tá, tá."

"Tig air mo rumpa. Bhfeil thu fliuch anois?"

"Tá, tá, tá."

"Tig air mo dhruim. Bhfeil thu fliuch anois ?"

" Tá, tá."

"Tig air mo cheann. Bhfeil thu fliuch anois?"

"Tá, tá."

"Tig air barr mo shróin. Bhfeil thu fliuch anois ?"

"Ta, ta."

"Tig air mo liobar ard. Bhfeil thu fliuch anois ? "

Whagh! Agus s(h)luig an madadh an bannach.

Nótaí : 


* Is féidir leagan caighdeánta den scéal seo a léamh in Williams, N.J.A, Cniogaide cnagaide : rainn traidisiúnta do pháistí (Baile Átha Cliath : An Clóchomhar, 1988), l. 180-183

* Fuair Williams é in Holmer (Nils M.): The Irish language in Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim.Dublin: R.I.A., 1942. vi + 247 pp. (= Todd lecture series, vol. 18)


* Seo nótaí Chiaráin Uí Dhuibhín ar Dhomhnall Mac Mhuireachtaigh...

"Daniel (or Dónal) McCURDY (Domhnall John Ruaidh), Claggan and Gortconny
Brother of Maggie McCurdy above.
Born c1882.
1901-19: An Chloigeann 4.    (S)
1911-29: An Chloigeann 1 (G) (S)
His parents and siblings as for Maggie McCurdy above.
Unmarried.
Tagairtí:
   HR page 4, cainteoir 15b - Ballycastle (1937)
   CÓB - beo i 1961
   LASID I p. xiv. Aged between 50 and 60 in 1952. Farmer. Could converse 
      freely in Irish.
   IBE viii, 23
   CBÉ ms 657 lgh 375–388 (Gortconny, formerly Kinramer)
   Pioctúir: Rugged 74"

Féach : http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/~oduibhin/cainnteoir/aontruim.txt