Touring Ireland

Touring Ireland

By Linda Henderson

ECI 511 - Fall 2013

Dia dhuit agus Fáilte!

Hello and Welcome to this tour of Ireland!

Both Irish and English are spoken in Ireland, so you will find it helpful to know some Irish words and phrases as you tour the country.

One common expression you will hear is “céad míle fáilte”.  Look up online what it means!

Gaeltachtaí (Irish speaking regions)

There are some places in Ireland designated as an “Irish speaking region”, known as a gaeltacht. 

The Aran Islands are one such region.   

Try to find other regions in Ireland that are gaeltachtaí. 

There are some places in Ireland designated as an “Irish speaking region”, known as a gaeltacht.  The Aran Islands are one such region. 

What are some other gaeltachts in Ireland?

When you travel throughout Ireland, one of the first things you will notice is that all signs are written in both English and in the Irish. 

Ainmhithe in Éirinn (Animals in Ireland)

Some say there are just as many animals as there are people in Ireland. 

 In the Irish, the word for “cow” is bó  and  “sheep” is  bileog.

See if you can find the Irish words for some other animals.

Tithe in Éirinn (Houses in Ireland)

Houses in Ireland tend to be smaller and extremely well kept. 

In the Irish, the word for “house” is  teach.

bhailte na hÉireann (Irish towns)

The towns in Ireland are some of the oldest and most quaint in the world. 

In the Irish, “town” is baile. 

What are some other towns or cities in Ireland that you know of?

An saol in Éirinn (Life in Ireland)

The towns are full of character, wonderful shops, restaurants, and of course, the famous pubs.  Be sure to order one of the many wonderful Irish beers.  Slainte!

In the Irish, the word for “pub” is  teach tábhairne,  “restaurant” is  bialann,  “beer” is beoir, and Sláinte is Irish for “Cheers!”

Caisleáin in Éirinn (Castles in Ireland)

What many travel to Ireland for, though, is the scenery and the history.  Travel down any road and you are certain to stumble upon multiple castles.

In the Irish, the word for “castle” is  caisleán. 

Eaglaisí in Éirinn (Churches in Ireland)

You will also find many, many churches, most of which are the ruins of ones from hundreds of years ago.

Another word for “church” in the Irish is séipéal.

Éire (Ireland)

The scenery in Ireland is beyond the imagination!  All the lakes, fields, valleys, and the many shades of green.  Ireland is bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Celtic Sea, and on the east by the Irish Sea.  So the water and boating plays a big part in Ireland’s culture.

In the Irish, the word for “water” is uisce,  “ocean” is  aigéan,  “lake” is loch, and “boat” is bád. 

Slán! (Goodbye!)

I hope you enjoy touring Ireland! 

Éirinn go Brách! ... Ireland Forever”. 

REFERENCES:

All pictures by Linda Henderson.

abair.ie – An Sintéiseoir Gaeilge. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.abair.tcd.ie/.

Irish Sayings - Gaelic Sayings in the Irish Language. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.irish-sayings.com/.

Nemo Apps LLC.  (2013).  Nemo Irish Gaelic  (Version 3.2.5)  [Mobile application software].  Retrieved from http://itunes.apple.com.