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Tráth na gCeist
Quiz: Can you finish these well-known Irish phrases?
A Dáil spat brought Ireland’s national language into the spotlight this week.
IRELAND’S NATIONAL LANGUAGE was in the national spotlight this week during a row between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.
During a heated exchange on housing in the Dáil on Wednesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald:
“Tá an Teachta Dála ag insint bréaga arís.”
This translates to: “The TD is telling lies again”. It is not allowed under Dáil rules to state that another member is guilty of “being deceitful”. However, the remark was not picked up by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, who does not speak Irish.
But many Irish cora cainte (turns of phrases), seanfhocail (proverbs or ‘old words’) and just general phrásanna are known to people whether they are fluent in Irish or not. How many do you know? Ar aghaidh linn.
I dtús báire: "An bhfuil cead agam dul go dtí an -"
leithreas
ghealach
cluiche
bosca bruscair
Revolutionary Irish hero Padraig Pearse said, “Tír gan teanga, tír gan -"
fiacla
ainm
anam
bia
"Níl aon tinteán mar do - féin."
thinteáin
tinteán
tinteáin
thinteán
This phrase has the same general meaning as "Don't count your chickens before they hatch" (but is about cows). "An - ite i mbolg na bó"
lao
uibh
sicín
uáin
"Dia dhuit." "Dia is - dhuit."
an Diabhal
Pádraig
Muire
Íosaf
"Anois teacht an - beidh an lá ag dul go síneadh."
earraigh
geimhridh
samhridh
fhómhair
"Is fearr Gaeilge briste ná Béarla -"
briste
grána
blasta
cliste
"Tóg go - é"
crua
bog
eadroim
práinneach
All is not as it seems. "Ní mar a shíltear a -"
bhítear
bhí
bítear
lúitar
“Ciúnas bóthar cailín -”
uisce
fuisce
bána
bainne
You scored out of !
An tAsal Amaideach
Ní haw!
You scored out of !
An Ragaire Réchúiseach
Is cuma leatsa!
You scored out of !
An siorc sásúil
Ar do sháimhín só
You scored out of !
An cat cliste
Briseann an t-eolas trí shúile an chait
You scored out of !
An Saineolaí
Laoch na nGael
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