speak irish with confidence

66

NUMBERS

0 náid/neamhaí

1 aon

2 dó

3 trí

4 ceathar

5 cúig

6 sé

7 seacht

8 ocht

9 naoi

10 deich

11 a haon déag

12 a dó dhéag

13 a trí déag

20 fi che

30 tríocha

40 daichead/ceathracha

50 caoga

60 seasca

70 seachtó

80 ochtó

90 nócha

100 céad

1,000 míle

million milliún

COUNTING PEOPLE

one person duine amháin

two people beirt

three people triúr

four people ceathrar

fi ve people cúigear

six people seisear

seven people seachtar

eight people ochtar

nine people naonúr

ten people deichniúr

MONTHS OF THE YEAR

January Eanáir

February Feabhra

March Márta

April Aibreán

May Bealtaine

June Meitheamh

July Iúil

August Lúnasa

September Meán Fómhair

October Deireadh Fómhair

November Samhain

December Nollaig

SEASONS

spring earrach

summer samhradh

autumn fómhar

winter geimhreadh

Speak Irish with confi denceMáire Mhic Ruairí & Dónall Mac Ruairí

103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 1 of 36 - Pages(66, i)103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 1 of 36 - Pages(66, i) 22/03/2010 08:4922/03/2010 08:49

The publisher has used its best endeavours to ensure that the URLs for external websites referred to in this book are correct and active at the time of going to press. However, the publisher and the author have no responsibility for the websites and can make no guarantee that a site will remain live or that the content will remain relevant, decent or appropriate.

For UK order enquiries: please contact Bookpoint Ltd, 130 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4SB. Telephone: +44 (0) 1235 827720. Fax: +44 (0) 1235 400454. Lines are open 09.00–17.00, Monday to Saturday, with a 24-hour message answering service. Details about our titles and how to order are available at www.teachyourself.co.uk

For USA order enquiries: please contact McGraw-Hill Customer Services, PO Box 545, Blacklick, OH 43004-0545, USA. Telephone: 1-800-722-4726. Fax: 1-614-755-5645.

For Canada order enquiries: please contact McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd, 300 Water St, Whitby, Ontario L1N 9B6, Canada. Telephone: 905 430 5000. Fax: 905 430 5020.

Long renowned as the authoritative source for self-guided learning – with more than 50 million copies sold worldwide – the Teach Yourself series includes over 500 titles in the fi elds of languages, crafts, hobbies, business, computing and education.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: a catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: on fi le.

First published in UK 2007 as Teach Yourself Irish conversation by Hodder Education, 338 Euston Road, London, NW1 3BH.

First published in US 2007 as Teach Yourself Irish conversation by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

This edition published 2010.

The Teach Yourself name is a registered trademark of Hodder Headline.

Copyright © 2007, 2010 Máire Mhic Ruairí and Dónall Mac Ruairí

In UK: All rights reserved. Apart from any permitted use under UK copyright law, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information, storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or under licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. Further details of such licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited, of Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London, EC1N 8TS.

In US: All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Typeset by Servis Filmsetting Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire, England.

Printed in Great Britain for Hodder Education, a division of Hodder Headline, an Hachette Livre UK Company, 338 Euston Road, London, NW1 3BH.

Hachette’s policy is to use papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products and made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The logging and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.

Impression number 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Year 2013 2012 2011 2010

65Essential vocabulary

TELLING THE TIME

what time is it? cén t-am é?

it’s one o’clock tá sé a haon a chlog

it’s fi ve minutes past one tá sé cúig tar éis/i ndiaidh a haon

it’s ten minutes past one tá sé deich tar éis/i ndiaidh a haon

it’s quarter past one tá sé ceathrú tar éis/i ndiaidh a haon

it’s twenty minutes past one tá sé fi che tar éis/i ndiaidh a haon

it’s twenty-fi ve minutes past one tá sé cúig noiméad is fi che/fi che cúig tar éis/i ndiaidh a haon

it’s half past one tá sé leath tar éis/i ndiaidh a haon

it’s twenty-fi ve minutes to two tá sé cúig nóiméad is fi che/fi che cúig go dtí/chun a dó

it’s twenty minutes to two tá sé fi che go dtí/chun a dó

it’s quarter to two tá sé ceathrú go dtí/chun a dó

it’s ten minutes to two tá sé deich go dtí/chun a dó

it’s fi ve minutes to two tá sé cúig go dtí/chun a dó

DAYS OF THE WEEK

Monday Dé Luain

Tuesday Dé Máirt

Wednesday Dé Céadaoin

Thursday Déardaoin

Friday Dé hAoine

Saturday Dé Sathairn

Sunday Dé Domhnaigh

Monday night oíche Luain

Tuesday night oíche Mháirt

Wednesday night oíche Chéadaoin

Thursday night oíche Dhéardaoin

Friday night oíche Aoine

Saturday night oíche Shathairn

Sunday night oíche Dhomhnaigh

DIRECTIONS

to the right ar dheis

to the left ar clé

straight on díreach ar aghaidh

opposite os comhair

in front of os coinne

next door to béal dorais le

between idir

103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 2 of 36 - Pages(ii, 65)103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 2 of 36 - Pages(ii, 65) 22/03/2010 08:4922/03/2010 08:49

64

Essential vocabulary

GREETINGS AND OTHER PHRASES

Do you like …? An maith leat …?

good morning maidin mhaith

goodbye slán

goodnight oíche mhaith

hello dia duit

I like is maith liom

I’m Colm. Is mise Colm.

no problem fadhb ar bith

of course cinnte

OK tá go maith

we like is maith linn

What is your name? Cad is ainm duit?

why not cad chuige

you’re welcome níl a bhuíochas ort

FOOD AND DRINK

beef mairteoil

beer leann/beoir

bread arán

butter im

cheese cáis

chicken cearc/sicín

chips sceallóga

egg ubh

fi sh iasc

fruit torthaí

ham muiceoil/liamhás

juice sú

lamb uaineoil

meat feol

milk bainne

potatoes prátaí

red wine fíon dearg

sausage ispín

vegetables glasraí

water uisce

white wine fíon geal/fíon bán

COLOURS

black dubh

blue gorm

green glas/uaine

orange fl annbhuí/oráiste

purple corcra

red dearg

white bán

yellow buí

iiiContents

Contents

Track listing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Only got a minute? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Only got fi ve minutes? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Only got ten minutes? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Conversation 1: Meeting and greeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Part 1: Greeting people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Part 2: Introducing yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Conversation 2: This is my sister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Part 1: Talking about your family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Part 2: Introducing members of your family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Conversation 3: Socializing with friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Part 1: Having a drink with a friend. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Part 2: Saying goodbye. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Conversation 4: Eating out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Part 1: Booking a table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Part 2: Ordering a meal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Conversation 5: Leisure time activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Part 1: Pastimes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Part 2: Likes and dislikes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Conversation 6: Knowing the way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Part 1: Asking the way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Part 2: More information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Conversation 7: Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Part 1: The pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Part 2: The clothes shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Conversation 8: Time and money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Part 1: What’s the time? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Part 2: Enquiring about local music sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Conversation 9: Small talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Part 1: Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Part 2: Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Conversation 10: Everyday living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Part 1: How did you spend your weekend? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Part 2: Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 3 of 36 - Pages(64, iii)103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 3 of 36 - Pages(64, iii) 22/03/2010 08:4922/03/2010 08:49

iv

Conversation 3/1: Meeting and greeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Conversation 3/2: This is my sister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Conversation 3/3: Socializing with friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Conversation 3/4: Eating out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Conversation 3/5: Leisure time activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Conversation 3/6: Knowing the way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Conversation 3/7: Making a purchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Conversation 3/8: Time and money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Conversation 3/9: Weather forecast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Conversation 3/10: Everyday living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Cultural information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Grammar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Listening skills: Survival phrases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Irish–English glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52English–Irish glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Essential vocabulary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

63English–Irish glossary

with you (plural) 3 libh

work 9 obair

working 9 ag obair

would like: I ~ 3 ba mhaith liom; would you like? (pl.) 3/3 ar mhaith libh?; I would like (emphatic form) 3 ba mhaith liomsa; I would not like 3 níor mhaith liom; would you like? 3 ar mhaith leat?

wrong: is there anything else ~ with you? 6 an bhfuil rud ar bith eile ort?; what is wrong with you? 7 cad é atá ort?

yesterday 9 inné

yet 3/3 go fóill

you 1 tú

you are right 3/2 tá an ceart agat

you are welcome (greeting) 3/2 ‘S é do bheatha

you would like (emphatic form) 3/3 ba mhaith leatsa

you’re welcome 3/7 níl a bhuíochas ort

youngest 3/2 is óige

your 2 do

your (pl.) holiday 3/6 bhur saoire

yourself 1 tú féin

103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 4 of 36 - Pages(iv, 63)103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 4 of 36 - Pages(iv, 63) 22/03/2010 08:4922/03/2010 08:49

62

there 4 ann

there will not be 8 ní bheidh

they 5 iad

thing 5 rud

thirty 7 tríocha

this is 2 seo

this year 3/10 i mbliana

thousand 6 míle

three 7 trí

Thursday 3/9 Déardaoin

ticket 8 ticéad

time 3/2 am

time: what ~? 4 cén uair?

tired 3 tuirseach

to 5 go dtí

to be done 3/3 a bheith déanta

to eat 3/3 le hithe

to take (future tense form of verb) 3/6 bainfi dh

to take (the verb) 3/6 bain

today 8 inniu

tomorrow night 4 oíche amárach

tonight 5 anocht

too 7 ró-

town 6 baile; in this ~ 6 ar an bhaile seo

traditional music session 8 seisiún ceoil

Tuesday 3/9 Dé Máirt

tummy ache 7 tinneas goile

Turkey 3/10 An Tuirc

twelve euros dhá Euro déag

twenty 8 fi che

two 8 dhá

two people 4 beirt

unfortunately 8 ar an drochuair

university 3/1 ollscoil

vegetable soup 4 anraith glasraí

very 7 an-

very good 3/1 an-mhaith

walk 3 siúl

walking 3 ag siúl

was: it ~ 9 bhí sé

was not: I ~ 9 ní raibh mé

water 9 uisce

we are 3/6 táimid

we can 3/9 is féidir linn

we should leave 3/2 is fearr dúinn imeacht

we will 3/2 beimid

we will buy 3/5 ceannóimid

we will go 3/9 rachaimid

we will stay 3/10 fanaimid

Wednesday 3/9 Dé Céadaoin

weekend 10 deireadh seachtaine

welcome: you’re ~ 4 go ndéana a mhaith duit

well 1/7 go breá; bhuel

well done 3/3 déanta go maith

went: I ~ 10 chuaigh mé

were you? 9 an raibh tú?

were you there before 3/10 an raibh tú riamh ann

wet 3/9 fl iuch

what? 3 cad é?

what did you do? 10 cad a rinne tú?

what would you (plural)/you (singular) like? 3 cad é ba mhaith libh/leat?

what would you like? (emphatic form) 3 cad é ba mhaith leatsa?

what? 1 cad é?

where are you from? 1 cé as tú?

where is? 6 cá bhfuil?

white wine 3/4 fíon geal

will: I ~ have that 4 beidh sin agam; I will take it 7 beidh sé agam 7; will there be a bus going? 8 an mbeidh bus ag dul?

will you (pl.) stay? 3/10 an bhfanfaidh sibh?

wind 9 gaoth

wine 5 fíon

with 3 le

with you 2 leat

vTrack listing

Track listing

CD1

Track 1: IntroductionTrack 2–6: Conversation 1, part 1Tracks 7–10: Conversation 1, part 2Tracks 11–14: Conversation 2, part 1Tracks 15–18: Conversation 2, part 2Tracks 19–22: Conversation 3, part 1Tracks 23–26: Conversation 3, part 2Tracks 27–30: Conversation 4, part 1Tracks 31–34: Conversation 4, part 2Tracks 35–38: Conversation 5, part 1Tracks 39–42: Conversation 5, part 2

CD2

Tracks 1–4: Conversation 6, part 1Tracks 5–8: Conversation 6, part 2Tracks 9–12: Conversation 7, part 1Tracks 13–16: Conversation 7, part 2Tracks 17–20: Conversation 8, part 1Tracks 21–24: Conversation 8, part 2Tracks 25–28: Conversation 9, part 1Tracks 29–32: Conversation 9, part 2Tracks 33–36: Conversation 10, part 1Tracks 37–40: Conversation 10, part 2

CD3

Track 1: IntroductionTracks 2–4: Conversation 1 – Meeting and greetingTracks 5–7: Conversation 2 – This is my sisterTracks 8–10: Conversation 3 – Staying with friendsTracks 11–13: Conversation 4 – Eating outTracks 14–16: Conversation 5 – Leisure time activitiesTracks 17–19: Conversation 6 – Knowing the way

103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 5 of 36 - Pages(62, v)103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 5 of 36 - Pages(62, v) 22/03/2010 08:4922/03/2010 08:49

Tracks 20–22: Conversation 7 – Making a purchaseTracks 23–25: Conversation 8 – Time and moneyTracks 26–28: Conversation 9 – Weather forecastTracks 29–31: Conversation 10 – Everyday livingTracks 32: Conclusion

Recorded at Alchemy Studios, London

Cast: Dónall Mac Ruairí, Sinéad Ní Churnáin, Michelle Nic Grianna, Tommy Seoige, Sarah Sherborne

Credits

Front cover: © Siede Preis/Photodisc/Getty Images

Back cover: © Jakub Semeniuk/iStockphoto.com, © Royalty-Free/Corbis, © agencyby/iStockphoto.com, © Andy Cook/iStockphoto.com, © Christopher Ewing/iStockphoto.com, © zebicho – Fotolia.com, © Geoffrey Holman/iStockphoto.com, © Photodisc/Getty Images, © James C. Pruitt/iStockphoto.com, © Mohamed Saber – Fotolia.com

vi 61English–Irish glossary

pills 7 piollaí

pint 3 pionta

pint of beer 3 pionta leanna

pity 9 trua; that is a great pity 9 is mór an trua sin

please 3 le do thoil

polite greeting/acknowledgement to a man 3/2 a dhuine uasail

polite greeting/acknowledgement to a woman 3/4 a bhean uasal

post offi ce 6 oifi g an phoist

prefer: you ~ 5 is fearr leat

present 3/9 bronntanas

public house 6 teach leanna

quarter 8 ceathrú

rain 9 fearthainn

raining 9 ag cur fearthainne

read 5 léamh

reading 5 ag léamh

ready 3/4 réidh

ready to order 3/4 réidh le hordú

red 3/4 dearg

reserve, to 4 a chur in áirithe

reserved 4 in áirithe

restaurant 6 bialann

return ticket 8 ticéad fi llet

returning 3/8 pilleadh

road 6 bóthar

salmon 4 bradán

Saturday 10 Dé Sathairn

Scotland 10 Albain

sea 9 farraige

second course: for the ~ 4 don dara cúrsa

self, own 1 féin

seven o’clock 4 a seacht a chlog

share, portion 3 cuid

she ate 3/7 d’ith sí

shopping 10 ag siopadóireacht

single ticket 8 ticéad singil

sir 6 duine uasal; oh sir 6 a dhuine uasail

sister 2 deirfi úr

small: too ~ 7 róbheag

some, approximately 5 éigin

something else 5 rud éigin eile

sore 7 nimhneach; very sore 7 an-nimhneach

spent: I ~ 9 chaith mé

splitting 9 ag scoilteadh

starting 8 ag tosnú

steak 3/3 stéig

stomach ache 7 tinneas goile

street 6 sráid

student 3/1 mac léinn

sugar 3 siúcra

sun 9 grian; the sun will be splitting the stones 9 beidh an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch

sunny, it will be very ~ 9 an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch

swim 5 snámh

swimming 5 ag snámh

table 4 tábla

take a rest 3/5 scíth a ligean

take these pills 7 glac na piollaí seo

tea 3 tae; with your tea 3 le do chuid tae

teen (number) 8 déag

ten days 3/10 deich lá

ten past 3/8 deich tar éis

terrible 9 uafásach

thank you 1 go raibh maith agat

thanks very much 6 go raibh míle maith agat

that’s 4 tá sin

the 2 an; the (plural) 5 na

the last one 3/8 an ceann deireanach

the stones 3/5 na gcloch

the sun would be 3/10 bhíodh an ghrian

the weather will break 3/9 brisfi dh an aimsir

them 5 iad

103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 6 of 36 - Pages(vi, 61)103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 6 of 36 - Pages(vi, 61) 22/03/2010 08:4922/03/2010 08:49

60

I 1 mé

I don’t think so 3/7 ní dóigh liom

I hope you can 3/7 tá súil agam gur féidir leat

I stayed 3/10 d’fhan mé

I will go 3/5 rachaidh me

I will not go 3/9 ní rachaidh mise

I won’t be 9 ní bheidh mé

I’m great (literally, I’m on the pigs back) 3/1 tá mé ar dhroim na muice

ice 3/3 oighear

in 2 i

in the 9 sa (n)

in the area 3/6 sa cheantar

indigestion 3/7 tinneas bhéal an ghoile

inexpensive 3/6 saor

Irish (language) 3/1 gaeilge

is there? 6 an bhfuil?

it 6 sé

job 3/1 post

large 9 mór

last night 3/7 aréir

last year 10 anuraidh

late 3/2 mall

leave 3/2 imeacht

lie down 7 luigh síos

lift (ride in car) 3 síob

like: I ~ 5 is maith liom; I don’t like 5 ní maith liom

London 10 Londain

looking forward to it 3/10 dúil go mór leis

madam 7 bean uasal

may it do you (pl.) good, you’re welcome 3/6 go ndéana a mhaith daoibh

may you (pl.) enjoy it 3/6 bainaigí sult as

me 1 mé

meal 3/6 béile

medium 3/3 measartha

meet with you: to ~ 2 bualadh leat

met: I ~ 10 bhuail mé le

milk 3 bainne

morning 1 maidin

mother 2 máthair

my 2 mo

my friend 3/6 mo chara

myself 2 mé féin

name 1 ainm; what is your name? 1 cén t-ainm atá ortsa?

new 10 nua

nice 7 deas; it is nice 2 is deas

night 3 oíche

nine 8 naoi

no 6 níl

not: is ~ 6 níl

now 3 anois

OK 3 ceart go leor

on 2 ar

on a ticket 3/8 ar thiceád

on her 2 uirthi

on holiday 3/6 ar saoire

on me 7 orm

on the 9 ar an

on the right hand side 3/6 ar thaobh na láimhe deise

on them 7 orthu

on you 7 ort

one 6 ceann

one thousand thanks 6 go raibh míle maith agat

out 3/7 amuigh

out of, from 1 as

oysters 3/4 oisrí

past, after 8 tar éis

pastimes 5 caithimh aimsire

people: there will be two ~ 4 beidh beirt ann

perfume 3/7 cumhra

person 2 duine

1Introduction

Introduction

Speak Irish with confi dence is a three-CD audio course designed to get you speaking in Irish whether you are a complete beginner or have learned some Irish before and want to improve your confi dence in speaking the language.

We have designed the course to give you the basic grammar and vocabulary to be able to speak Irish effectively and correctly in a number of everyday situations.

CDs 1 and 2 are designed to get you talking! Each conversation is preceded by a full explanation of the vocabulary, grammar and phrases you will need. The conversations are then broken down into easily manageable chunks and you will get ample opportunity to practise your Irish by listening to and taking part in these conversations.

CD 3 will help to develop your listening skills. Language learners often panic because they cannot understand everything that is being said but this CD will help you train yourself to hone in and pick-out the important information.

You will fi nd Speak Irish with confi dence effective and enjoyable whether you plan to visit an Irish speaking area or you just want to be able to speak Irish with confi dence.

Ádh mór ort! Good luck!

Máire Mhic Ruairí & Dónall Mac Ruairí

103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 7 of 36 - Pages(60, 1)103373 TY SPEAKING IRISH.indd Spread 7 of 36 - Pages(60, 1) 22/03/2010 08:4922/03/2010 08:49

Profi

cie

nt U

ser

TY L

evel

6CE

FR L

EVEL

C2

Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from diff erent spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fl uently and precisely, diff erentiating fi ner shades of meaning even in more complex situations.

TY L

evel

5CE

FR L

EVEL

C1

Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fl uently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language fl exibly and eff ectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

Inde

pend

ent U

ser

TY L

evel

4CE

FR L

EVEL

B2

(A L

evel

)

Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her fi eld of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fl uency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

TY L

evel

3CE

FR L

EVEL

B1

(Hig

her G

CSE)

Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefl y give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Basi

c U

ser

TY L

evel

2CE

FR L

EVEL

A2:

(F

ound

atio

n G

CSE)

Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

TY L

evel

1CE

FR L

EVEL

A1

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

© Council of Europe. www.coe.int/lang.

Extract reproduced with the permission of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg

“Global scale” of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR)

59English–Irish glossary

enjoyment 10 sult

euro 7 Euro

ever 10 riamh

every 3/10 gach

excellent 3/10 ar fheabhas

excellent 8 ar dóigh

excuse 6 leithscéal

excuse me 6 gabh mo leithscéal

excuse me (to more than one) 3/4 gabhaigí mo leithscéal

expensive 3/6 daor

family 2 teaghlach

father 2 athair

fee 8 táille

fi ne 4 go breá

fi rst 4 céad

fi rst course: for the ~ 4 don chéad chúrsa

fi ve 8 cúig

fi ve people 2 cúigear

food poisoning 3/7 nimhiú bia

for the 4 don

for the week 3/9 don tseachtain

forty 3/8 daichead

four people 2 ceathrar

France 3/10 F(hrainc (an)

free 8 saor in aisce

from 8 ó

from Belfast: I am ~ 1 is as Béal Feirste mé

Galway 1 Gaillimh

glass of wine 5 gloine fíona

go 6 gabh; did you go? 10 an ndeachaigh tú?; I didn’t go 10 ní dheachaigh mé; to go 3 dhul

going 5 ag dul

good, well 1 go maith

good morning 1 maidin mhaith

goodbye 1 slán

goodbye and bless you 3/6 slán agus beannacht

goodbye for now 1 slán go fóill

goodnight 3 oíche mhaith

great 9 mór

great joy/delight 3/10 an-sult

greeting more than one 3/3 dia daoibh

half 8 leath

half an hour 8 leathair

half past 3/4 leathuair i ndiaidh

half past 8 leathuair tar éis

have: I ~ (at me) 4 agam; you have (at you) 1 agat

he 6 sé

headache 7 tinneas cinn: I have a headache 7 tá tinneas cinn orm

heard: I ~ 9 chuala mé

Hello 2 Dia duit; Hello (in reply to one person) 2 Dia is Muire duit; Hello (to more than one person) 2 Dia daoibh

help/to help 7 cuidiú; can I help you (plural)? 5 an féidir liom cuidiú libh?; you can help 5 is féidir leat cuidiú

here 8 anseo

here you are 7 seo duit

high 9 mór

high wind 3/9 gaoth mhór

history 3/1 stair

holidays 10 saoire

home, homewards 3 abhaile

hope 9 súil; I hope 9 tá súil agam

hour 8 uair

how? 1/6 cad é mar?; conas?

how are you? 1/6 cad é mar atá tú?; conas atá tú?

how long did you stay? 3/10 cá fhad ar fhan tú?

how many? 2 cá mhéad?; how many people will be there? 4 cá mhéad duine a bheidh ann?

how much? 2 cá mhéad?

how much is that? 7 cá mhéad atá orthu?

hundred 4 céad


58

a little 3/5 giota beag

about 7/8 faoi; thart faoi

about this one 7 faoin cheann seo

across 6 trasna

across the road 6 trasna an bóthair

after, past 8 tar éis

afternoon 8 tráthnóna

again 6 arís

all 3/7 iomlán

all day 3/9 i rith an lae

alright 7 maith go leor

also 4/5 fosta; freisin

am: I ~ 1 ta mé, is mise; I am not 7 níl mé/mise

and 1 agus

another 3 eile

anything else? 7 rud ar bith eile?

at 6 ag

bank 6 banc; no bank 6 banc ar bith; there is no bank in town 6 níl banc ar bith ar an bhaile

be, exist 1 tá

be: to ~ 5 bheith

beach 9 trá

beautiful 9 álainn

because 7 mar

beer 5 leann

before 10 riamh

Belfast 1 Béal Feirste

beside 6 taobh le; beside the restaurant taobh leis an bhialann 6

book 3/5 leabhar

book, reserve 4 cur in áirithe

bottle 3/4 buidéal

bought: I ~ 10 cheannaigh mé

bottom 6 bun; the bottom of the street 6 bun na sráide

brother 2 deartháir

bus 8 bus

bus stop 3/6 stad bus

but 5 ach

buy 7 ceannaigh; to buy 7 a cheannach; did you buy? 10 ar cheannaigh tú?

can: you ~ 5 is féidir; you can because 7 is féidir mar

certain, certainly 8 cinnte

chicken 4 sicín

chips 3/3 sceallóga

cinema 5 pictiúrlann

clock 4 clog

coat 7 cóta

coff ee 3/3 caife

cold 9 fuar

Cork 3/8 Corcaigh

cup of tea 3 cupán tae

day 9 lá

dessert 4 milseog

don’t you like? 3/5 nach maith leat?

done 3/3 déanta

door 8 doras

drank: I ~ 10 d’ól mé

drink 3 deoch

Dublin 7 Baile Átha Cliath; to Dublin 8 go Baile Átha Cliath

enjoy: did you ~ it? 10 ar bhain tú sult as?; I really enjoyed it 10 bhain mé an-sult as

English–Irish glossary

NB: Numbers indicate the conversation in which the vocabulary item fi rst appears.

3Only got a minute?

Only got a minute?According to the Irish Constitution, Irish is the national and

fi rst offi cial language of the Republic of Ireland and it is also

an offi cial language of the European Union. It is also an

offi cially recognized minority language in Northern Ireland.

The language is usually referred to as Gaeilge in Irish and as

Irish in English. At least one in three people on the island of

Ireland can understand Irish to some extent. There are three

main dialects in modern Irish, which roughly coincide with the

provinces of Munster, Connacht and Ulster.

There is currently something of a renaissance

taking place in the Irish language. Recent years have seen

a signifi cant increase in printed media in Irish – books,

newspapers, magazines – and in non-print media. Irish is

now easily accessible through various radio stations, the

television channel TG4 and on the internet. It is becoming

increasingly easy to learn how to speak Irish!


4

5 Only got fi ve minutes?

Why learn Irish?

If you want to understand Irish history and culture then you need to understand its language. The Irish language is of huge signifi cance in Irish national identity and it is the key to the most important distinguishing characteristics of Irish culture.

There is currently something of a renaissance taking place in the Irish language. Recent years have seen a signifi cant increase in printed media in Irish – books, newspapers, magazines – and in non-print media. Irish is now easily accessible through various radio stations, the television channel TG4 and on the internet.

The Irish language today

According to the Irish Constitution, Irish is the national and fi rst offi cial language of the Republic of Ireland and it is also an offi cial language of the European Union. It is also an offi cially recognized minority language in Northern Ireland. The language is usually referred to as Gaeilge in Irish and as Irish in English.

Estimates of native speakers of Irish range from 40,000 up to 80,000 people. While Irish is the main spoken language of only 3% of the population, 41.9% of the total population (aged three years and over) regard themselves as competent Irish speakers. Of these 32.5% claim to speak Irish on a daily basis. Monolingualism of Irish is now restricted to a handful of elderly within more isolated regions as well as among those speakers of Irish under school age.

57Irish–English glossary

sin 4 that

síob 3 lift; ride (in car)

siopadóireacht 10 shopping

siúcra 3 sugar

siúl 3 walk

slán 1 goodbye

slán agus beannacht 3/6 goodbye and bless you

slán go fóill 1 goodbye for now

snámh 5 swim

sráid 6 street

stad bus 3/6 bus stop

stair 3/1 history

stéig 3/3 steak

súil 9 hope

súil: tá súil agam gur féidir leat 3/7 I hope you can

sult 10 enjoyment Ar bhain tú sult as? 10 Did you enjoy it?

tá 1 be, exist

ta mé 1 I am

tá sin 4 that’s

tá súil agam 9 I hope

tábla 4 table

tae 3 tea

táille 8 fee

táimid 3/6 we are

taobh le 6 beside

taobh leis an bhialann 6 beside the restaurant

tar éis 8 after, past

teach leanna 6 pub

teaghlach 2 family

thart faoi 8 about

ticéad 8 ticket

ticéad fi llet 8 return ticket

ticéad singil 8 single ticket

tinneas bhéal an ghoile 3/7 indigestion

tinneas cinn 7 headache

tinneas goile 7 stomach ache

tosnú 8 staring

trá 9 beach

trasna 6 across

trasna an bóthair 6 across the road

tráthnóna 8 afternoon

trí 7 three

tríocha 7 thirty

trua 9 pity

tú 1 you

tú féin 1 yourself

tuar na haimsire 3/9 the weather forecast

Tuirc (an) 3/10 Turkey

tuirseach 3 tired

uafásach 9 terrible

uair 8 hour

uirthi 2 on her

uisce 9 water


56

mall 3/2 late

mar 7 because

máthair 2 mother

mé 1 me

mé féin 2 myself

measartha 3/3 medium

míle 6 one thousand

milseog 4 dessert

mise 1 I, me

mo 2 my

mo chara 3/6 my friend

mór 9 great, large, high

na 5 the (plural)

na gcloch 3/5 the stones

nach maith leat? 3/5 don’t you like?

naoi 8 nine

ní bheidh 8 there will not be; ní bheidh mé 9 I won’t be

ní dheachaigh mé 10 I didn’t go

ní dóigh liom 3/7 i don’t think so

ní maith liom 5 I do not like

ní rachaidh mise 3/9 i will not go

ní raibh mé 9 I was not

níl 6 is not, no

níl a bhuíochas ort 3/7 you’re welcome

níl banc ar bith ar an bhaile 6 there is no bank in town

níl mé 7 I am not

nimhiú bia 3/7 food poisoning

nimhneach 7 sore

níor mhaith liom 3 I would not like

nua 10 new

ó 8 from

obair 9 work

oíche amárach 3 tomorrow night

oíche mhaith 3 goodnight

oifi g an phoist 6 post offi ce

oighear 3/3 ice

oisrí 3/4 oysters

ollscoil 3/1 university

orm 7 on me

ort 7 on you

orthu 7 on them

pictiúrlann 5 cinema

pilleadh 3/8 returning

piollaí 7 pills

pionta 3 pint

pionta leanna 5 a pint of beer

post 3/1 job

rachaidh me 3/5 I will go

rachaidh mé 3/9 i will go

rachaimid 3/9 we will go

réidh 3/4 ready

réidh le hordú 3/4 ready to order

riamh 10 ever, before

riamh 3/10 (an raibh tú riamh ann) 3/10 were you there before

ró- 7 too

róbheag 7 too small

rud 5 thing

rud ar bith eile? 7 anything else?

rud éigin eile 5 something else

sa (n) 9 in the

sa cheantar 3/6 in the area

saoire 10 holidays

saor 3/6 inexpensive

saor in aisce 8 free

sceallóga 3/3 chips

scíth a ligean 3/5 take a rest

scoilteadh 9 splitting

sé 6 it, he

see ar 7 air

seisiún ceoil 8 traditional music session

seo 2 this is

seo duit 7 here you are

sicín 4 chicken

5Only got a minute?Only got fi ve minutes?

10.4% of people in Northern Ireland have ‘some knowledge of Irish’. Combined, this means that at least one in three people on the island of Ireland can understand Irish to some extent.

History of the Irish language

Old Irish fi rst appeared in its written form as glosses and marginalia in Latin manuscripts written in the great monasteries of Ireland. By the 10th century Old Irish had evolved into Middle Irish, which was spoken throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. From the 12th century onwards Middle Irish began to evolve into modern Irish in Ireland, into Scottish Gaelic in Scotland, and into the Manx language on the Isle of Man. Modern Irish emerged from the literary language known as Early Modern Irish in Ireland and as Classical Gaelic in Scotland.

The 17th century saw great political and religious upheaval in Ireland and the resulting breakdown of the native Gaelic system and culture. Despite this upheaval the Irish language remained the main spoken language of the vast majority of the population of Ireland until the 19th century. During the nineteenth century, the Great Famine (1845–52) wiped out a disproportionately high number of Irish language speakers, who were the poorest and most vulnerable in society. It is estimated that one million people died during the famine and that another million emigrated as a result, the majority of these were Irish speakers and this contributed greatly to the rapid decline of the language.

The major movement to revive and preserve the Irish language was initiated in 1893 with the founding of The Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge) which coincided with the national cultural revival of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

The Gaeltacht

The parts of Ireland where Irish is still spoken as a native language are collectively known as the Gaeltacht. It is in these areas that the


6

Irish language continues to be the usual language of communication of the general population. The Gaeltacht regions are on the west coast of County Donegal, in County Galway, in particular Connemara, the Aran Islands, Carraroe and Spiddal, and the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. There are smaller Gaeltacht areas in County Mayo, County Waterford, County Meath and County Cork.

Almost all of these Gaeltacht areas have Irish language summer colleges which are attended by thousands of learners, teenagers in particular, every year. These students live with local Irish-speaking families and attend language classes and other cultural events. One of the most important aspects of these courses is that Irish must be spoken at all times. These summer colleges have undoubtedly inspired and assisted many Irish people, whose fi rst language is English, to attain fl uency in Irish and to realize the importance and relevance of the language in a predominantly English-speaking country.

Dialects

There are three main dialects in modern Irish, which roughly coincide with the provinces of Munster, Connacht and Ulster. The Munster dialect is spoken primarily in the Gaeltacht areas of County Kerry, Ring in County Waterford and Muskerry and Cape Clear Island in County Cork.

A strong Connacht dialect can be heard in Connemara and the Aran Islands. The dialect spoken in northern Mayo in Erris and Achill is fundamentally a Connacht dialect but has some similarities to Ulster Irish. The Connemara dialect is also spoken in the Gaeltacht area of Rá th Cairn in County Meath. This is because the Gaeltacht here was established in the 1930s by a group of mostly Connemara Irish speakers who moved there as a result of a land reform campaign.

The Ulster dialect is spoken in County Donegal, in Teelin and Glencolmcille in south Donegal, in Fintown and its surrounding area in central Donegal and in the Rosses, Gweedore, Clochaneely


fóill (go) 3/3 yet

fosta 4 also

freisin 5 also/as well

fuar 9 cold

g(hrian) 3/5 sun

gabh 6 go

gabh mo leithscéal 6 excuse me (to more than one)

gach 3/10 every

gaeilge 3/1 Irish (language)

Gaillimh 1 Galway

gaoth 9 wind

gaoth mhór 3/9 high wind

giota beag 3/5 a little

glac na piollaí seo 7 take these pills

gloine fíona 5 a glass of wine

go Baile Átha Cliath 8 to Dublin

go breá 1/4 well/fi ne

go dtí 5 to

go fóill 3/10 yet

go maith 1 good, well

go ndéana a mhaith daoibh 3/6 may it do you (pl.) good, you’re welcome

go ndéana a mhaith duit 4 you are welcome

go raibh maith agat 1 thank you

go raibh míle maith agat 6 one thousand thanks, thank you very much

grian 9 sun

i 2 in

iad 5 they, them; cad iad 5 what are

i mbliana 3/10 this year

i rith an lae 3/9 all day

(i)‘S é do bheatha 3/2 you are welcome (greeting)

imeacht 3/2 leave

in áirithe reserved; tábla a chur in áirithe 4 to reserve a table

inné 9 yesterday

inniu 8 today

iomlán 3/7 all

is as Béal Feirste mé 1 I’m from Belfast

is deas 2 it is nice

is fearr dúinn imeacht 3/2 we should leave

is fearr leat 5 you prefer

is féidir 5 you can

is féidir linn 3/9 we can

is féidir mar 7 you can because

is maith liom 5 I like

is mise 1 I am

is mór an trua sin 9 that is a great pity

is óige 3/2 youngest

lá 9 day

le 3 with, to

le do chuid tae 3 with your tea

le do thoil 3 please

le hithe 3/3 to eat

leabhar 3/5 book

léamh 5 read

leann 5 beer

leat 2, leatsa 3 you; cad é ba mhaith leat? 3 what would you like? cad é ba mhaith leatsa? 3 what would you like?

leath 8 half

leath tar éis 8 half past

leathuair i ndiaidh 3/4 half past

leithscéal 6 excuse

leathuair 8 half an hour

libh 3 with you (plural)

liom: ba mhaith liom 3 I would like; ba mhaith liomsa 3 I would like (emphatic)

Londain 10 London

luí síos 3/5 lie down

luigh síos 7 lie down

mac léinn 3/1 student

maidin 1 morning

maith 1 good

maith go leor 7 alright


54

ceathrú 8 quarter

cén t-ainm atá ortsa? 1 what is your name?

cén uair? 4 what time?

chaith mé 9 I spent

cheannaigh mé 10 I bought

chuaigh mé 10 I went

chuala mé 9 I heard

cinnte 8 certain, certainly

clog 4 clock

conas atá tú? 6 how are you?

Corcaigh 3/8 Cork

cóta 7 coat

cuid 3 share, portion; do chuid tae 3 your tea

cuidiú 7 to help/help

cúig 8 fi ve

cúigear 2 fi ve people

cumhra 3/7 perfume

cupán tae 3 a cup of tea

cur in áirithe 4 to reserve, to book

d’fhan mé 3/10 I stayed

d’ith sí 3/7 she ate

daichead 3/8 forty

daor 3/6 expensive

Dé Céadaoin 3/9 Wednesday

Dé Máirt 3/9 Tuesday

Dé Sathairn 10 on Saturday

déag 8 number (+ ten)

déanta 3/3 done

déanta go maith 3/3 well done

Déardaoin 3/9 Thursday

dearg 3/4 red

deartháir 2 brother

deas 8 nice

deich lá 3/10 ten days

deich tar éis 3/8 ten past

deireadh seachtaine 10 weekend

deirfi úr 2 sister

deoch 3 drink

dhá 8 two

dhá uair 8 twice

dhul 3 to go

Dia daoibh 2 Hello (used when greeting more than one)

Dia duit 2 Hello – literally ‘God be with you’

Dia is Muire duit 2 God and Mary be with you (common reply to latter)

do 2 your

d’ól mé 10 I drank

don 4 for the

don chéad chúrsa 4 for the fi rst course

don dara cúrsa 4 for the second course

don tseachtain 3/9 for the week

doras 8 door

drochuair 8 crisis; ar an drochuair 8 unfortunately

dúil go mór leis 3/10 looking forward to it

duine 2 person

duine uasal 6 sir

dul 3 to go; ag dul, going

éigin 5 some, approximately

eile 3 another

Euro 7 euro

F(hrainc (an) 3/10 France

fanaimid 3/10 we will stay

faoi 7 about

farraige 9 sea

fearr: is fearr leat 5 you prefer

fearthainn 9 rain; ag cur fearthainne 9 raining

féidir (used only with copula in certain phrases); An féidir liom cuidiú libh? 5 Can I help you?; Is féidir 5 (reply) yes; Is féidir leat you can; ní féidir leat you cannot

féin 1 self, own

fi che 8 twenty

fíon 5 wine

fíon geal 3/4 white wine

fl iuch 3/9 wet

7Only got a minute?Only got fi ve minutes?

and Downings in northwest Donegal. Ulster Irish is also spoken by many people in Northern Ireland who have acquired Irish as a second language but who use it as their main spoken language. This is due, in the most part, to attendance at the Irish language summer colleges in Donegal and the use of Ulster Irish in Irish-medium education in Northern Ireland.

Irish-medium education

The growth of Irish-medium education in recent years, particularly in Northern Ireland, has made a very signifi cant and positive impact on the number of Irish speakers and so has helped ensure the continuity of the language.

This movement has led to an unprecedented growth in the Irish language in the north through a whole range of community initiatives, in primary, secondary and tertiary education, legislation, media and other areas.

Irish language in the media

As in Irish-medium education there has been signifi cant growth in the use of Irish in the media in all of its forms in recent years. This was an essential development, not only for those speakers of Irish who already exist, but also for those who are learning the language.

Irish language speakers now have their own television station TG4 (1996) which has almost 800,000 people tuning in each day. TG4 has a wide range of programmes which cater for all ages and tastes.

The national radio station Raidió na Gaeltachta (RnaG) is part of the RTÉ franchise and broadcasts throughout the island of Ireland. It can also be accessed online at www.rte.ie/rnag/


8

10 Only got ten minutes?Why learn Irish?

If you want to understand Irish history and culture then you need to understand its language. The Irish language is of huge signifi cance in Irish national identity and it is the key to the most important distinguishing characteristics of Irish culture.

There is currently something of a renaissance taking place in the Irish language. Recent years have seen a signifi cant increase in printed media in Irish – books, newspapers, magazines – and in non-print media. Irish is now easily accessible through various radio stations, the television channel TG4 and on the internet.

Irish is the only language north of the Alps to have an extensive surviving ancient and medieval literature. It is, therefore, studied at many major universities throughout Europe and some in North America and Australia. Ireland also has the world’s largest collection of folklore and proverbs, the vast majority of which is in the Irish language.

The Irish language today

Irish is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. According to the Irish Constitution, Irish is the national and fi rst offi cial language of the Republic of Ireland and it is also an offi cial language of the European Union. Irish is also an offi cially recognized minority language in Northern Ireland. The language is usually referred to as Gaeilge in Irish and as Irish in English.

Irish is the main spoken language of 3% of the Republic’s population. Areas in which Irish remains the main spoken language are referred to as Gaeltacht areas. According to the 2006 Census the number of inhabitants of the offi cially designated Gaeltacht regions of Ireland is


ar fheabhas 3/10 excellent

ar mhaith leat? 3 would you like?

ar mhaith libh 3/3 would you like (pl.)

ar saoire 3/6 on holiday

ar thaobh na láimhe deise 3/6 on the right hand side

ar thiceád 3/8 on a ticket

aréir 3/7 last night

arís 6 again

as 1 out of, from

atá 1 are

athair 2 father

ba mhaith leatsa 3/3 you would like (emphatic form)

ba mhaith liom 3 I would like

baile 6 town

Baile Átha Cliath 7 Dublin

bain 3/6 verb ‘to take’

bainaigí sult as 3/6 may you (pl.) enjoy it

bainfi dh 3/6 future tense form of verb ‘to take’

bainne 3 milk

banc 6 bank

banc ar bith 6 no bank

Béal Feirste 1 Belfast

bean uasal 7 madam

beidh future tense verb ‘to be’; Cá mhéad duine a bheidh ann? 4 How many people will be there?

beidh beirt ann 4 there will be two people

beidh sé agam 7 I’ll take it

beidh sin agam 4 I will have it

béile 3/6 meal

beimid 3/2 we will

beirt 4 two people

bhain mé an-sult as 10 I really enjoyed it; Ar bhain tú sult as? 10 Did you enjoy it?

bheith 5 to be

bhí sé 9 it was

bhíodh an ghrian 3/10 the sun would be

bhuail mé le 10 I met

bhuel 7 well

bhur saoire 3/6 your (pl.) holiday

bialann 6 restaurant

bóthar 6 road

bradán 4 salmon

breá 1 fi ne

brisfi dh an aimsir 3/9 the weather will break

bronntanas 3/9 present

bualadh leat 2 to meet with you

buidéal 3/4 bottle

bun 6 bottom

bun na sráide 6 the bottom of the street

bus 8 bus

cá bhfuil? 6 where?

cá fhad ar fhan tú? 3/10 how long did you stay?

cá mhéad? 2 how much? how many?

cá mhéad atá orthu? 7 how much is that?

cá mhéad duine a bheidh ann? 4 how many people will there be?

cad é? 1 what?

cad é atá ort? 7 what is wrong with you?

cad é ba mhaith libh/leat? 3 what would you (plural)/you (singular) like?

cad é faoin cheann seo? 7 what about this one?

cad é mar? 1 how?

cad a rinne tú? 10 what did you do?

caife 3/3 coff ee

caithimh aimsire 5 pastimes

cé as tú? 1 where are you from?

céad 4 hundred, fi rst

ceann 6 one

ceann deireanach 3/8 the last one

ceannóimid 3/5 we will buy

ceart agat 3/2 you are right

ceart go leor 3 OK

ceathrar 2 four people


52

a 2; A Eimear Oh Eimear

a bhean uasal 3/4 polite greeting/acknowledgement to a woman

a bheith déanta 3/3 to be done

a cheannach 7 to buy

a chur in áirithe 4 to reserve

a dhuine uasail 6 oh sir, polite greeting/acknowledgement to a man

a seacht a chlog 4 seven o’clock

abhaile 3 home, homewards

ach 5 but

ag 6 at

ag bun na sráide 6 at the bottom of the street

ag cur fearthainne 9 raining

ag dul 5 going

ag léamh 5 reading

ag obair 9 working

ag scoilteadh 9 splitting

ag siopadóireacht 10 shopping

ag siúl 3 walking

ag snámh 5 swimming

ag tosnú 8 starting

agam 4 at me

agat 1 at you

agus 1 and

ainm 1 name

áirithe 4 book, reserve

álainn 9 beautiful

Albain 10 Scotland

am 3/2 time

amárach 4 tomorrow

amuigh 3/7 out

an 2 the

an- 7 very

an bhfanfaidh sibh? 3/10 will you(pl) stay?

an bhfuil? 6 is there?

an bhfuil rud ar bith eile ort? is there anything else wrong with you?

an féidir liom cuidiú libh? 5 can I help you (plural)?

an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch 9 it will be very sunny

an mbeidh bus ag dul? 8 will there be a bus going?

an-mhaith 3/1 very good

an ndeachaigh tú? 10 did you go?

an-nimhneach 7 very sore

an raibh tú? 9 were you?

ann 4 there

anocht 5 tonight

anois 3 now

anraith glasraí 4 vegetable soup

anseo 8 here

an-sult 3/10 great joy/delight

anuraidh 10 last year

ar 2 on, at

ar an 9 on the

ar an bhaile seo 6 in this town

ar an drochuair 8 unfortunately

ar bhain tú sult as? 10 did you enjoy it?

ar bith: banc ar bith 6 no bank

ar cheannaigh tú? 10 did you buy?

ar dhroim na muice 3/1 I’m great (literally, I’m on the pig’s back)

ar dóigh 8 excellent

Irish–English glossary

NB: Numbers indicate the conversation in which the vocabulary item fi rst appears.

9Only got ten minutes?

91,862. Estimates of native speakers of Irish range from 40,000 up to 80,000 people. Irish is a compulsory subject in schools, however, and so many people are reasonably fl uent second-language speakers. While Irish is the main spoken language of only 3% of the population, 41.9% of the total population (aged three years and over) regard themselves as competent Irish speakers. Of these 32.5% claim to speak Irish on a daily basis. Monolingualism of Irish is now restricted to a handful of elderly within more isolated Gaeltacht regions as well as among those speakers of Irish under school age.

The 2001 Census in Northern Ireland showed that 10.4% of people ‘had some knowledge of Irish’. Combined, this means that at least one in three people on the island of Ireland can understand Irish to some extent.

History of the Irish language

The earliest identifi ed form of Irish is known as Primitive Irish. This is primarily known through fragments inscribed in the ogham alphabet, which have been found throughout Ireland and the west coast of Great Britain. These fragments are mainly personal names inscribed on stone. Primitive Irish moved into Old Irish during the 5th century. This is the earliest form of Irish for which there are extensive written sources. Old Irish fi rst appeared in its written form as glosses and marginalia in Latin manuscripts written in the great monasteries of Ireland such as Clonard, Durrow, Clonmacnoise and Glendalough. By the 10th century Old Irish had evolved into Middle Irish, which was spoken throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Middle Irish displays a slight infl uence from Norse, which is undoubtedly due to Viking attacks and subsequent settlement in these areas. From the 12th century onwards Middle Irish began to evolve into modern Irish in Ireland, into Scottish Gaelic in Scotland, and into the Manx language on the Isle of Man. Modern Irish emerged from the literary language known as Early Modern Irish in Ireland and as Classical Gaelic in Scotland. Early Modern Irish, also known as Classical Irish, linguistically represents a transition between Middle and Modern Irish.


10

The seventeenth century saw great political and religious upheaval in Ireland and the resulting breakdown of the native Gaelic system and culture. Native Gaelic society suffered heavily as a result of the transfer of power from the Gaelic chieftains to newcomers under various British Government plantation schemes. Despite this upheaval and loss of power the Irish language remained the main spoken language of the vast majority of the population of Ireland until the nineteenth century. During the nineteenth century the Great Famine (1845–52) wiped out a disproportionately high number of Irish language speakers, who were the poorest and most vulnerable in society. It is estimated that one million people died during the famine and that another million emigrated as a result, the majority of these were Irish speakers and this contributed greatly to the rapid decline of the language. The use of Irish was also prohibited in the primary education system until 1871 which further contributed to its decline.

Initial efforts to preserve and protect the Irish language were made by Irish Protestants such as William Neilson and Robert McAdam in Belfast at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The major movement, however, was initiated in 1893 with the founding of The Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge) which coincided with the national cultural revival of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. This growing interest in the Irish language coincided with other landmark events in Irish cultural history such as the founding of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in 1884.

The Gaeltacht

The parts of Ireland where Irish is still spoken as a native language are collectively known as the Gaeltacht. It is in these areas that the Irish language continues to be the usual language of communication of the general population. The Gaeltacht regions are on the west coast of County Donegal, in County Galway, in particular Connemara, the Aran Islands, Carraroe and Spiddal, and the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. There are smaller Gaeltacht areas in County Mayo, County Waterford, County Meath and County Cork.

51Listening skills: Survival phrases

Listening skills: Survival phrases

I don’t understand. Ní thuigim.Slowly, please. Níos moille, le do thoil.Say that again, please. Abair sin arís, le do thoil.Do you speak Irish? An bhfuil Gaeilge agat?I am learning Irish. Tá mé ag foghlaim na Gaeilge.I don’t know. Níl a fhios agam.Can we …? An féidir linn …?Can we change money here? An féidir linn airgead a athrú anseo?Where is …? Cá bhfuil …?Where are the toilets? Cá bhfuil na leithris?Where is the hotel? Cá bhfuil an t-óstán?excuse me gabh mo leithscéalsorry tá mé buarthaHow much is all that? Cá mhéad atá ar sin uilig?please le do thoilThank you very much. Go raibh míle maith agat.OK tá go maithIt doesn’t matter. Is cuma.I’m lost, can you help me? Tá mé caillte, an féidir leat cuidiú liom?


50

me you him her us you (pl.) they

ag (at) agam agat aige aici againn agaibh acu

ar (on) orm ort air uirthi orainn oraibh orthu

as (out of) asam asat as aisti asainn asaibh astu

chuig (to) chugam chugat chuige chuici chugainn chugaibh chucu

do (to) dom duit dó di dúinn daoibh dóibh

faoi(under/about)

fúm fút faoi fúithi fúinn fúibh fúthu

le (with) liom leat leis léi linn libh leo

roimh (before) romham romhat roimhe roimpi romhainn romhaibh rompu

4 WORD ORDER

In English the word order is most commonly as follows:

Subject Verb OtherSusan went home

In Irish, however, the order is different – the verb normally comes at the beginning of a simple sentence:

Verb Subject OtherChuaigh Seán abhaileWent Seán homewards

5 SAYING ‘YES’ AND ‘NO’ IN IRISH

There is no one word for ‘yes’ and ‘no’ in Irish. Answering ‘yes’ to a question simply depends on what verb is used when asking the question. The verb is repeated in the answer without the pronoun.

Yes NoAn bhfuil tú go maith? Are you well? Tá NílAr ól tú deoch? Did you have a drink? D’ól Níor ólAn mbeidh Síle ann? Will Síle be there? Beidh Ní bheidh


Almost all of these Gaeltacht areas have Irish language summer colleges which are attended by thousands of learners, teenagers in particular, every year. These students live with local Irish-speaking families and attend language classes and other cultural events. One of the most important aspects of these courses is that Irish must be spoken at all times. These summer colleges have undoubtedly inspired and assisted many Irish people, whose fi rst language is English, to attain fl uency in Irish and to realize the importance and relevance of the language in a predominantly English-speaking country.

Dialects

There are three main dialects in modern Irish, which roughly coincide with the provinces of Munster, Connacht and Ulster. The Munster dialect is spoken primarily in the Gaeltacht areas of County Kerry, Ring in County Waterford and Muskerry and Cape Clear Island in County Cork. One of the most notable features of Munster Irish is that the stress generally falls on the second syllable of a word when the fi rst syllable contains a short vowel and the second a long:

Eg. GasÚ R (boy/child), in contrast to GASú r in Connacht and Ulster.

A strong Connacht dialect can be heard in Connemara and the Aran Islands. The dialect spoken in northern Mayo in Erris and Achill is fundamentally a Connacht dialect but has some similarities to Ulster Irish. The Connemara dialect is also spoken in the Gaeltacht area of Rá th Cairn in County Meath. This is because this Gaeltacht was established in the 1930s by a group of mostly Connemara Irish speakers who moved there as a result of a land reform campaign. A notable feature of both Connemara and Ulster Irish is the tendency to use the we pronoun muid instead of the standard compound form which is used in Munster, eg. bhris muid is used for we broke instead of bhriseamar.

The Ulster dialect is spoken in County Donegal, in Teelin and Glencolmcille in south Donegal, in Fintown and its surrounding area in central Donegal and in the Rosses, Gweedore, Clochaneely and Downings in northwest Donegal. Ulster Irish is also spoken by


12

many people in Northern Ireland who have acquired Irish as a second language but who use it as their main spoken language. This is due, in the most part, to attendance at the Irish language summer colleges in Donegal and the use of Ulster Irish in Irish-medium education in Northern Ireland.

Irish-medium education

The growth of Irish-medium education in recent years, particularly in Northern Ireland, has made a very signifi cant and positive impact on the number of Irish speakers and so has helped ensure the continuity of the language.

This second ‘revival’ began in the 1960s when six families established a Gaeltacht area in Belfast and opened the fi rst Irish-medium school in Northern Ireland, Bunscoil Phobal Feirste, in 1971. This movement has gone from strength to strength. According to the latest fi gure from Comhairle na Gaelscolaí ochta, the representative body for Irish-medium education in Northern Ireland, there are currently 81 schools providing Irish-medium education to over 4,000 children at pre-school, primary and post-primary level throughout Northern Ireland. Most of these children are taught in and speak the Donegal or Ulster dialect.

This movement has led to an unprecedented growth in the Irish language in the north through a whole range of community initiatives, in primary, secondary and tertiary education, legislation, media and other areas.

Irish language in the media

As in Irish-medium education there has been signifi cant growth in the use of Irish in the media in all of its forms in recent years. This was an essential development, not only for those speakers of Irish who already exist, but for those who are learning the language.

49Grammar

Grammar

1 MUTATIONS

Mutatable letter Eclipsis mutation Aspirate mutationb mb bhc gc chd nd dhf bhf fhg ng ghm mhp bp phs sht dt th

2 MY, YOUR, THEIR, ETC.

my mo + aspirateyour (singular) do + aspiratehis a + aspirateher aour ár + eclipsesyour (plural) bhur + eclipsistheir a + eclipsis

3 PREPOSITIONAL PRONOUNS

A prepositional pronoun occurs in Irish when a pronoun, e.g. me, you, is the object of a simple preposition. Here are two examples:

ar (on) + tú (you) = ort (on you)ag (at) + mé (me) = agam (at me)


48

Cultural information

DIALECTS

There are three major dialects in modern Irish, which roughly coincide with the provinces of Munster, Connacht and Ulster. There is an offi cial standard An Caighdeán Oifi giúil, which was composed using elements of the three main dialects. This is what is taught in most schools in Ireland. In recent times, with the growth in the Irish language media, it has become much easier for speakers of different dialects to understand one another.

TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC AND THE ‘SESSION’

Ireland is famous worldwide for its rich musical heritage. Traditional Irish music is most frequently encountered in the ‘session’. This is a gathering of usually amateur musicians where tunes are played together by all the musicians who know the tune. Such events normally occur at scheduled times and often take place in pubs.

SPORT IN IRELAND

The most popular sport in Ireland is Gaelic football. This game is uniquely Irish and is played at underage, minor and senior levels. It was formally organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in the late nineteenth century. The main national competitions are the Senior All-Ireland Football Championship and the National Football League. Hurling is a sport of ancient Celtic origin and is also unique to Ireland. This game is played with camáin (sticks) and sliotar (ball). It is arguably the world’s fastest fi eld team sport in terms of game play. There is a similar game for women called camogie.


Irish language speakers now have their own television station TG4 (1996) which has almost 800,000 people tuning in each day. TG4 has a wide range of programmes which cater for all ages and tastes.

BBC2 Northern Ireland also produces a limited number of Irish language programmes.

Irish public broadcaster RTÉ broadcasts some Irish language and bilingual television programmes. One of the more signifi cant is RTÉ Nuacht (news). RTÉ News Now is also particularly useful as it is a 24-hour live news service available on the RTÉ website which features national and international news. It uses a mix of Irish language, English language and Irish sign language and offers TV news bulletins and political programmes.

The national radio station Raidió na Gaeltachta (RnaG) is part of the RTÉ franchise and broadcasts throughout the island of Ireland. It can also be accessed online at www.rte.ie/


14

Conversation 1: Meeting and greeting

PART 1: GREETING PEOPLELI CD1, TR2

Cian Maidin mhaith. Mairéad Maidin mhaith.Cian Cad é mar atá tú?Mairéad Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat. Agus tú féin?Cian Tá mé go breá, go raibh maith agat.Mairéad Slán.Cian Slán go fóill.

PART 2: INTRODUCING YOURSELFLI CD1, TR7

Tiarnán Maidin mhaith.Eimear Maidin mhaith.Tiarnán Is mise Tiarnán – cén t-ainm atá ortsa?Eimear Eimear.Tiarnán Cá as tú?Eimear Is as Béal Feirste mé. Cá as tú féin?Tiarnán Is as Gaillimh mé.

InsightYou have probably noticed that two different ways of saying I am have been used in this conversation.Tá mé in Part 1 and Is mise in Part 2. This is because Irish has two verbs to be:(i) The substantive verb which has the stem bí and is used in phrases which describe a state of being such as tá mé go maith.(ii) The copula is. One major use of the copula is to call a noun another noun such as Is mise Tiarnán.

47Conversation 3/10: Everyday living

Mairéad Did you go on holidays this year Tiarnán?Tiarnán Yes. I went to Turkey.Mairéad How long did you stay?Tiarnán I stayed for ten days.Mairéad Did you enjoy it?Tiarnán I really enjoyed it. The food and the weather were

excellent. It was very sunny every day.Mairéad Lovely!Tiarnán Did you go anywhere yet?Mairéad Not yet but Cian and I will go to France at the

weekend.Tiarnán How long will you stay?Mairéad We’ll stay fi ve days.Tiarnán Were you there before?Mairéad No but I am really looking forward to it.Tiarnán I was there last year. You will really enjoy it.Mairéad I hope so!


46

Conversation 3/10: Everyday living

LI CD3, TR29

Mairéad A Thiarnáin, an ndeachaigh tú ar saoire i mbliana?Tiarnán Chuaigh. Chuaigh mé chuig an Tuirc.Mairéad Cá fhad ar fhan tú ann?Tiarnán D’fhan mé deich lá ann.Mairéad Ar bhain tú sult as?Tiarnán Bhain mé an-sult as. Bhí an bia agus an aimsir ar fheabhas.

Bhíodh an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch gach lá.Mairéad Go deas!Tiarnán An ndeachaigh tú féin áit ar bith go fóill?Mairéad Ní dheachaigh go fóill ach rachaidh mé féin agus Cian

go dtí an Fhrainc ag an deireadh seachtaine.Tiarnán Cá fhad an bhfanfaidh sibh ann?Mairéad Fanfaimid cúig lá ann.Tiarnán An raibh tú riamh ann?Mairéad Ní raibh ach tá mé ag dúil go mór leis.Tiarnán Bhí mé féin ann anuraidh. Bainfi dh tú sult mór as.Mairéad Tá súil agam go mbainfi dh!

15Conversation 1: Meeting and greeting

Cian Good morning.Mairéad Good morning.Cian How are you?Mairéad I am well thank you. And yourself?Cian I am well, thank you.Mairéad Goodbye.Cian Goodbye for now.

Tiarnán Good morning.Eimear Good morning.Tiarnán I’m Tiarnán – what’s your name?Eimear Eimear.Tiarnán Where are you from?Eimear I’m from Belfast. Where are you from yourself?Tiarnán I’m from Galway.


16

Conversation 2: This is my sister

PART 1: TALKING ABOUT YOUR FAMILYLI CD1, TR11

Tiarnán A Eimear, cá mhéad duine atá i do theaghlach?Eimear Tá cúigear i mo theaghlach. Cá mhéad atá i do

theaghlach féin?Tiarnán Tá ceathrar i mo theaghlach – mo mháthair, m’athair,

mo dheirfi úr agus mé féin.Eimear Cén t-ainm atá ar do dheirfi úr?Tiarnán Bríd an t-ainm atá uirthi.

PART 2: INTRODUCING MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILYLI CD1, TR15

Mairéad Dia duit. Cian Dia is Muire duit.Mairéad A Chiain, seo m’athair Séamus agus seo mo mháthair

Sorcha.Cian Dia daoibh.Mairéad Seo mo dheartháir Pádraig.Cian Dia duit a Phádraig.Mairéad Agus seo mo dheirfi úr Síle.Cian Is deas bualadh leat a Shíle.

InsightTo address someone directly in Irish, the particle a is placed before the name and h is placed after the fi rst consonants b, c, f, g, m, p, d, t and most forms of s. Some masculine proper names, such as Cian, make the fi nal consonant slender by placing an i before it.

45Conversation 3/9: Weather forecast

Eimear Will there be a bus going to Dublin tomorrow?Assistant Yes, of course. There will be one at twenty to nine in

the morning. There will be another one at a quarter to one and the last one will be at a quarter past six in the evening.

Eimear How much is a ticket to Cork?Assistant A single is 5 euros and a return ticket is

9 euros.Eimear How much is a return ticket to Dublin?Assistant A return ticket is 40 euros.Eimear Thank you for your help.Assistant You’re welcome.

Broadcaster Here is the weather forecast for this week. It will be a fi ne day tomorrow and on Tuesday. It will be cold on Wednesday and it will rain throughout the day. There will be a high wind on Thursday morning but it will be very sunny in the afternoon. Friday morning will be beautiful but the weather will break on Friday afternoon and it will be cold and wet at the weekend.

Mairéad Well, we will go walking tomorrow and on Tuesday then when the weather is nice.

Cian Certainly and I will go swimming tomorrow as well.Mairéad We can go shopping on Wednesday because I

would like to buy a few presents.Cian You can go. I won’t because I don’t like

shopping.Mairéad OK.


44

Eimear An mbeidh bus ag dul go Báile Átha Cliath amárach?Assistant Beidh cinnte. Beidh ceann ann ar fi che go dtí a naoi

ar maidin. Beidh ceann eile ar ceathrú go dtí a haon agus beidh an ceann deireanach ar ceathrú tar éis a sé tráthnóna.

Eimear Cá mhéad atá ar thicéad go Corcaigh?Assistant Tá cúig Euro ar thicéad singil agus tá naoi Euro ar

thicéad fi llte.Eimear Cá mhéad atá ar thicéad fi llte go Baile Átha Cliath?Assistant Tá daichead Euro ar thiceád fi llte.Eimear Go raibh maith agat as do chuidiú.Assistant Níl a bhuíochas ort.

Conversation 3/9: Weather forecast

LI CD3, TR26

Broadcaster Seo tuar na haimsire don tseachtain seo. Beidh lá breá ann amárach agus Dé Máirt. Beidh sé fuar Dé Céadaoin agus beidh sé ag cur fearthainne i rith an lae. Déardaoin beidh gaoth mhór ann ar maidin ach beidh an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch tráthnóna. Beidh maidin álainn ann Dé hAoine ach brisfi dh an aimsir tráthnóna Dé hAoine agus beidh sé fuar agus fl iuch ag an deireadh seachtaine.

Mairéad Bhuel, rachaimid ag siúl amárach agus Dé Máirt mar sin nuair a bheidh an aimsir go deas.Cian Cinnte agus rachaidh mé ag snámh amárach fosta.Mairéad Is féidir linn dul ag siopadóireacht Dé Céadaoin mar ba mhaith liom cúpla bronntanas a cheannach.Cian Is féidir leat dul. Ní rachaidh mise mar ní maith liom

bheith ag siopadóireacht.Mairéad Ceart go leor.

17Conversation 2: This is my sister

Tiarnán Eimear, how many people are in your family?Eimear There are fi ve people in my family. How many are in

your family?Tiarnán There are four people in my family – my mother, my

father, my sister and myself.Eimear What is your sister’s name?Tiarnán She is called Bríd.

Mairéad Hello (to one person).Cian Hello (reply). Mairéad Cian, this is my father Séamus and this is my mother

Sorcha.Cian Hello (to more than one person).Mairéad This is my brother Pádraig.Cian Hello Pádraig.Mairéad And this is my sister Síle.Cian It’s nice to meet you Síle.


18

Conversation 3: Socializing with friends

PART 1: HAVING A DRINK WITH A FRIENDLI CD1, TR19

Waiter Dia daoibh.Cian & Mairéad Dia is Muire duit.Waiter Anois, cad é a ba mhaith libh?Cian Ba mhaith liomsa pionta leanna le do thoil.Waiter Agus tú féin, cad é a ba mhaith leatsa?Mairéad Ba mhaith liom cupán tae le do thoil.Waiter Ar mhaith leat bainne agus siúcra le do chuid tae?Mairéad Ba mhaith liom bainne le do thoil.Waiter Ceart go leor.

PART 2: SAYING GOODBYELI CD1, TR23

Cian Ar mhaith leat deoch eile a Mhairéad?Mairéad Níor mhaith, go raibh maith agat. Tá mé tuirseach. Ba

mhaith liom dhul abhaile.Cian Ceart go leor. Ar mhaith leat síob?Mairéad Níor mhaith. Ba mhaith liom siúl.Cian Ceart go leor. Oíche mhaith.Mairéad Oíche mhaith.

InsightHere we have another very common use of the copula in the conditional tense and is becomes ba. The conditional question form Ar, the conditional affi rmative ba and conditional negative níor all aspirate whatever follows.

43Conversation 3/8: Time and money

Pharmacist Hello sir, can I help you?Tiarnán I hope you can.Pharmacist What is wrong with you?Tiarnán There is nothing wrong with me but myself and my

friend were out for dinner last night and now my friend has a stomach ache.

Pharmacist What did she eat?Tiarnán She ate oysters and salmon but I also had that and

I am OK.Pharmacist Well, I don’t think that she has food poisoning then.Tiarnán I don’t think so.Pharmacist Well, maybe she has indigestion.Tiarnán Maybe.Pharmacist Give her these pills.Tiarnán Certainly. I would like to buy her something nice as

well.Pharmacist Well, I have a nice perfume here.Tiarnán I’ll take that too. How much is all of that?Pharmacist Thirty euro please.Tiarnán Here sir. Thank you very much.Pharmacist You are welcome.

Eimear What time will there be a bus going to Cork today?Assistant There will be one at ten past three.Eimear Will there be a bus going to Galway at three o’clock?Assistant: Not today, but there will be one at a quarter past

four.Eimear Will that bus return today?Assistant Yes. It will return at half past nine tonight.


42

Conversation 3/7: Making a purchase

LI CD3, TR20

Pharmacist Dia duit a dhuine uasail, an féidir liom cuidiú leat?Tiarnán Tá súil agam gur féidir.Pharmacist Cad é atá ort?Tiarnán Níl rud ar bith orm ach bhí mé féin agus mo chara

amuigh don dinnéar aréir agus tá tinneas goile ar mo chara anois.

Pharmacist Cad é a d’ith sí?Tiarnán D’ith sí oisrí agus bradán ach bhí sin agam freisin

agus tá mé féin ceart go leor.Pharmacist Bhuel, ní dóigh liom go bhfuil nimhiú bia uirthi mar sin.Tiarnán Ní dóigh liom é.Pharmacist Bhuel, b’fhéidir go bhfuil tinneas bhéal an ghoile uirthi.Tiarnán B’fhéidir.Pharmacist Tabhair na piollaí seo di.Tiarnán Cinnte. Ba mhaith liom rud éigin deas a cheannach di

freisin.Pharmacist Bhuel, tá cumhra deas agam anseo.Tiarnán Beidh sin agam freisin. Cá mhéad atá ar an iomlán?Pharmacist Tríocha Euro le do thoil.Tiarnán Seo duit a dhuine uasail. Go raibh míle maith agat.Pharmacist Níl a bhuíochas ort.

Conversation 3/8: Time and money

LI CD3, TR23

Eimear Cén uair a bheidh bus ag dul go Corcaigh inniu?Assistant Beidh ceann ann ar deich tar éis a trí.Eimear An mbeidh bus ag dul go Gaillimh ar a trí a chlog?Assistant: Ní bheidh inniu, ach beidh ceann ann ar ceathrú tar éis

a ceathair.Eimear An mbeidh an bus sin ag pilleadh inniu?Assistant Beidh. Beidh sé ag pilleadh ar leathuair tar éis a naoi anocht.

19Conversation 3: Socializing with friends

Waiter Hello.Cian & Mairéad Hello.Waiter Now, what would you like?Cian I would like a pint of beer please.Waiter And yourself, what would you like?Mairéad I would like a cup of tea please.Waiter Would you like milk and sugar with your tea?Mairéad I would like milk please.Waiter OK.

Cian Would you like another drink Mairéad?Mairéad I wouldn’t, thank you. I am tired. I would like to

go home.Cian OK. Would you like a lift?Mairéad I wouldn’t. I would like to walk.Cian OK. Goodnight.Mairéad Goodnight.


20

Conversation 4: Eating out

PART 1: BOOKING A TABLELI CD1, TR27

Waiter Dia duit.Mairéad Dia is Muire duit. Ba mhaith liom tábla a chur in áirithe

don oíche amárach.Waiter Cén uair?Mairéad A seacht a chlog le do thoil.Waiter Ceart go leor. Cá mhéad duine a bheidh ann?Mairéad Beidh beirt ann.Waiter Tá sin go breá.Mairéad Go raibh maith agat.Waiter Go ndéana a mhaith duit.

PART 2: ORDERING A MEALLI CD1, TR31

Waiter Anois, cad é a ba mhaith libh?Mairéad Ba mhaith liom anraith glasraí don chéad chúrsa.Séamus Beidh sin agam fosta.Waiter Agus don dara cúrsa?Mairéad Beidh an sicín agam le do thoil.Waiter Agus tú féin?Séamus Beidh an bradán agamsa le do thoil.Waiter Ar mhaith libh milseog?Mairéad Níor mhaith, go raibh maith agat.

InsightThere is a particular set of numerals which is used when counting people in Irish. Note the use of beirt (two people) in this conversation. You have also met ceathrar (four people) and cúigear (fi ve people) in Conversation 2. The different sets of numerals in Irish are listed at the back of this booklet.

41Conversation 3/6: Knowing the way

Cian OK. You can lie down and relax and I’ll go swimming.

Mairéad I would like to do that.Cian Do you not like reading?Mairéad I do.Cian Have you got a good book?Mairéad No.Cian Well, we will buy you a good book and you can read it

on the beach.Mairéad Excellent!

Tiarnán Hello sir.Dónall Hello.Tiarnán I am Tiarnán and this is my friend Eimear and we are

on holidays in this area.Dónall I’m Dónall and it’s nice to meet you (pl.).Tiarnán Is there a pub in this town Dónall?Dónall Yes, of course. It’s at the bottom of this street.Eimear Excuse me but where is the bus stop?Dónall It’s across the road on the right.Tiarnán And is there a good restaurant in this town?Dónall No, but you can get a nice meal in the pub.Tiarnán Is it expensive?Dónall No, it’s quite cheap.Eimear OK, thank you.Dónall You (pl.) are welcome. Goodbye and enjoy your

holiday.Eimear We will of course! Goodbye.Tiarnán Goodbye and bless you.


40

Cian Ceart go leor. Is féidir leat luí síos agus do scíth a ligean agus agus rachaidh mise ag snámh.

Mairéad Ba mhaith liom sin a dhéanamh.Cian Nach maith leat bheith ag léamh?Mairéad Is maith.Cian An bhfuil leabhar maith agat?Mairéad Níl.Cian Bhuel, ceannóimid leabhar maith duit agus is féidir leat

é a léamh ar an trá.Mairéad Ar dóigh!

Conversation 3/6: Knowing the way

LI CD3, TR17

Tiarnán Dia duit a dhuine uasail.Dónall Dia is Muire daoibh.Tiarnán Is mise Tiarnán agus seo mo chara Eimear agus táimid

ar saoire sa cheantar seo.Dónall Is mise Dónall agus is deas bualadh libh.Tiarnán A Dhónaill, an bhfuil teach leanna ar an bhaile seo?Dónall Tá, cinnte. Tá sé ag bun na sráide seo.Eimear Gabh mo leithscéal ach cá bhfuil an stad bus?Dónall Tá sé trasna an bhóthair ar thaobh na láimhe deise.Tiarnán Agus an bhfuil bialann maith ar an bhaile seo?Dónall Níl, ach is féidir béile deas a fháil sa teach leanna.Tiarnán An bhfuil sé daor?Dónall Níl, tá sé measartha saor.Eimear Ceart go leor, go raibh míle maith agat.Dónall Go ndéana a mhaith daoibh. Slán go fóill agus bainigí

sult as bhur saoire.Eimear Bainfi dh cinnte! Slán.Tiarnán Slán agus beannacht.

21Conversation 4: Eating out

Waiter Hello.Mairéad Hello. I would like to reserve a table for tomorrow

night.Waiter What time?Mairéad Seven o’clock please.Waiter OK. How many people will there be?Mairéad There will be two people.Waiter That’s fi ne.Mairéad Thank you.Waiter You are welcome.

Waiter Now, what would you like?Mairéad I would like vegetable soup for the fi rst course.Séamus I will have that also.Waiter And for the second course?Mairéad I will have the chicken please.Waiter And yourself?Séamus I will have the salmon please.Waiter Would you like dessert?Mairéad We wouldn’t, thank you.


22

Conversation 5: Leisure time activities

PART 1: PASTIMESLI CD1, TR35

Cian A Mhairéad, ar mhaith leat dul ag snámh anois?Mairéad Níor mhaith. Ní maith liom bheith ag snámh.Cian Cad iad na caithimh aimsire is fearr leat?Mairéad Is maith liom bheith ag léamh agus ag dul go dtí an

phictiúrlann. Cad iad na caithimh aimsire is fearr leatsa?Cian Is maith liom bheith ag snámh agus ag dul go dtí an

phictiúrlann fosta.Mairéad Ar mhaith leat dhul go dtí an phictiúrlann anocht?Cian Ba mhaith!

PART 2: LIKES AND DISLIKESLI CD1, TR39

Waiter An féidir liom cuidiú libh?Mairéad Is féidir. Ba mhaith liom gloine fíona le do thoil.Waiter Ar mhaith leatsa gloine fíona freisin?Cian Níor mhaith. Ní maith liom fíon.Waiter Ar mhaith leat rud éigin eile?Cian Pionta leanna le do thoil.

InsightHere we have the copula is in the present and conditional tense. Notice that the present tense forms, unlike the conditional tense, do not aspirate the word that follows:An maith?Is maith / Ní maith.

39Conversation 3/5: Leisure time activities

Waiter Hello Madam, can I help you?Mairéad Yes. I booked a table for tonight.Waiter What time?Mairéad For half past eight.Waiter That’s fi ne. How many people are there?Mairéad Two.Waiter And what is your name?Mairéad Ní Dhónaill.Waiter OK, the table is here...Waiter Excuse me, are you (pl.) ready to order?Mairéad Yes. I would like vegetable soup for the fi rst course.Friend I would like oysters.Waiter And for the second course?Mairéad I will have the chicken please.Waiter And you?Friend I will have the steak well done please.Waiter Would you (pl.) like dessert?Mairéad No but we would like a bottle of wine.Waiter What sort, red or white?Mairéad Red wine please.Waiter That’s fi ne.

Cian Would you like to go to the beach today Mairéad?Mairéad I’m not sure. It’s a little cold.Cian It’s not cold! It is very sunny!Mairéad Well I am cold.Cian Well you can put on a coat.Mairéad Alright. I will go to the beach but I will not swim. I

don’t like swimming.


38

Conversation 3/4: Eating out

LI CD3, TR11

Waiter Dia duit a bhean uasal, an féidir liom cuidiú leat?Mairéad Is féidir. Chuir mé tábla in áirithe don oíche anocht.Waiter Cén uair?Mairéad Ar leathuair i ndiaidh a hocht.Waiter Tá sin go breá. Cá mhéad duine atá ann?Mairéad Beirt.Waiter Agus cad é an t-ainm atá ort?Mairéad Ní Dhónaill.Waiter Maith go leor, tá an tábla anseo...Waiter Gabhaigí mo leithscéal, an bhfuil sibh réidh le hordú?Mairéad Tá. Ba mhaith liom anraith glasraí don chéad chúrsa.Friend Ba mhaith liomsa oisrí.Waiter Agus don dara cúrsa?Mairéad Beidh an sicín agam le do thoil.Waiter Agus tú féin?Friend Beidh an stéig agamsa le do thoil agus é déanta go maith.Waiter Ar mhaith libh milseog?Mairéad Níor mhaith ach ba mhaith linn buideál fíona.Waiter Cén chinéal, dearg nó geal?Mairéad Fíon dearg le do thoil.Waiter Tá sin go breá.

Conversation 3/5: Leisure time activities

LI CD3, TR14

Cian A Mhairéad, ar mhaith leat dul chuig an trá inniu?Mairéad Níl mé cinnte. Tá sé giota beag fuar.Cian Níl sé fuar! Tá an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch!Mairéad Bhuel, tá mise fuar.Cian Bhuel, is féidir leat cóta a chur ort.Mairéad Maith go leor. Rachaidh mé chuig an trá ach ní bheidh

mé ag snámh. Ní maith liom bheith ag snámh.23Conversation 5: Leisure time activities

Cian Mairéad, would you like to go swimming now?Mairéad I wouldn’t. I don’t like swimming.Cian What pastimes do you prefer?Mairéad I like reading and going to the cinema. What pastimes

do you prefer?Cian I like swimming and going to the cinema as

well.Mairéad Would you like to go to the cinema tonight?Cian I would!

Waiter Can I help you?Mairéad You can. I would like a glass of wine please.Waiter Would you also like a glass of wine?Cian I wouldn’t. I don’t like wine.Waiter Would you like something else?Cian A pint of beer please.


24

Conversation 6: Knowing the way

PART 1: ASKING THE WAYLI CD2, TR1

Tiarnán Gabh mo leithscéal, cá bhfuil oifi g an phoist?Cian Tá sé ag bun na sráide seo.Tiarnán Agus cá bhfuil an banc?Cian Níl banc ar bith ar an bhaile seo.Tiarnán Agus bialann?Cian Tá bialann ann trasna an bhóthair.Tiarnán Ceart go leor, go raibh míle maith agat.Cian Go ndéana a mhaith duit. Slán.Tiarnán Slán go fóill.

InsightNote the words ar bith, meaning any or no in the phrase banc ar bith meaning no bank or literally bank no/any. These little words are a very useful add-on and can be used with a number of other words. Look out for them again, especially in Conversations 7 and 10!

PART 2: MORE INFORMATIONLI CD2, TR5

Tiarnán A dhuine uasail, conas atá tú?Cian Go maith, go raibh maith agat.Tiarnán Is mise Tiarnán.Cian Is mise Cian agus is deas bualadh leat arís.Tiarnán A Chiain, an bhfuil teach leanna ar an bhaile seo?Cian Tá. Tá ceann maith ann taobh leis an bhialann.Tiarnán Go raibh maith agat.Cian Go ndéana a mhaith duit.

37Conversation 3/3: Socializing with friends

Mairéad It is nice to meet you sir.Síle This is my mother Máire.Mairéad Hello woman of the house.Síle This is my brother Colm.Mairéad Hello Colm.Síle This is the youngest in the family, my sister Nóra.Mairéad Hello Nóra.Síle Would you like a cup of tea?Mairéad I wouldn’t thanks. There is no time. We will be late for

the cinema.Síle You are right. We should leave.

Waiter Hello and welcome in. Now, what would you (pl.) like?

Man I would like a beer please.Waiter OK, and you, what would you like?Woman I would like a glass of water and a cup of coff ee please.Waiter Would you like ice in the water?Woman No, thank you.Waiter Would you like milk and sugar with your coff ee?Woman I don’t want milk but I would like sugar.Waiter Would you (pl.) like anything to eat?Woman I would but I’m not sure yet...Man Well, I would like steak and chips.Woman I’ll have that also.Waiter How would you (pl.) like the steak?Woman Well done please.Man Medium please.Waiter That’s fi ne.


36

Mairéad Is deas bualadh leat a dhuine uasail.Síle Seo mo mhathair Máire.Mairéad Dia duit a bhean an tí.Síle Seo mo dheartháir Colm.Mairéad Dia duit a Choilm.Síle Seo an duine is óige sa teaghlach, mo dheirfi úr Nóra.Mairéad Dia duit a Nóra.Síle Ar mhaith leat cupán tae?Mairéad Níor mhaith go raibh maith agat. Níl am ann. Beimid

mall don phictiúrlann.Síle Tá an ceart agat. Is fearr dúinn imeacht.

Conversation 3/3: Socializing with friends

LI CD3, TR8

Waiter Dia daoibh agus fáilte isteach. Anois, cad é a ba mhaith libh?

Man Ba mhaith liom pionta leanna le do thoil.Waiter Ceart go leor, agus tú féin, cad é a ba mhaith leatsa?Woman Ba mhaith liomsa gloine uisce agus cupán caife le do thoil.Waiter Ar mhaith leat oighear san uisce?Woman Níor mhaith, go raibh maith agat.Waiter Ar mhaith leat bainne agus siúcra le do chuid caife?Woman Níor mhaith liom bainne ach ba mhaith liom siúcra.Waiter Ar mhaith libh rud ar bith le hithe?Woman Ba mhaith ach níl mé cinnte go fóill...Man Bhuel, ba mhaith liomsa sceallóga agus stéig.Woman Beidh sin agamsa freisin.Waiter Cad é mar a ba mhaith libh an stéig a bheith déanta?Woman Déanta go maith le do thoil.Man Go measartha le do thoil.Waiter Tá sin go breá.

25Conversation 6: Knowing the way

Tiarnán Excuse me, where is the post offi ce?Cian It is at the bottom of this street.Tiarnán And where is the bank?Cian There is no bank in this town.Tiarnán And a restaurant?Cian There is a restaurant across the road.Tiarnán OK, thanks very much.Cian You’re welcome. Goodbye.Tiarnán Goodbye for now.

Tiarnán Sir, how are you?Cian Well, thank you.Tiarnán I’m Tiarnán.Cian I’m Cian and it’s nice to meet you again.Tiarnán Cian, is there a pub in this town?Cian Yes. There is a good one beside the restaurant.Tiarnán Thank you.Cian You’re welcome.


26

Conversation 7: Transactions

PART 1: THE PHARMACYLI CD2, TR9

Pharmacist Maidin mhaith a dhuine uasail, an féidir liom cuidiú leat?Tiarnán Is féidir mar níl mé go maith.Pharmacist Cad é atá ort?Tiarnán Tá tinneas cinn orm agus tá sé an-nimhneach.Pharmacist An bhfuil rud ar bith eile ort?Tiarnán Tá tinneas goile orm freisin.Pharmacist Bhuel, glac na piollaí seo agus luigh síos.Tiarnán Maith go leor. Cá mhéad atá orthu?Pharmacist Trí Euro le do thoil.Tiarnán Seo duit a bhean uasal.Pharmacist Go raibh maith agat.

InsightTwo very useful little prefi xes are used in this conversation an- meaning very and ró- meaning too. Both of these little words aspirate the word which follows when possible. In Part 1 the word nimhneach is not aspirated following an- because you cannot change the initial consonant n. In Part 2, however, we will see that beag meaning small becomes róbheag too small. If we wanted to say very small it would be an-bheag.

PART 2: THE CLOTHES SHOPLI CD2, TR13

Assistant Dia duit a bhean uasal, an féidir liom cuidiú leat?Eimear Is féidir. Ba mhaith liom cóta a cheannach.Assistant Anois, cad é faoin cheann seo?Eimear Tá sé deas ach tá sé róbheag.Assistant Bhuel, cad é faoin cheann seo?Eimear Tá an ceann sin go breá. Is maith liom é ach cá mhéad

atá air?Assistant Tríocha Euro.Eimear Beidh sé agam!

35Conversation 3/2: This is my sister

Brian Good morning. Bríd Good morning, how are you?Brian I am well, thank you, and how are

you?Bríd I am great, thanks. I am Bríd, who are

you?Brian I am Brian.Bríd Where are you from Brian?Brian I am from Belfast. Where do you live?Bríd Well I am from Galway but I live here in

Dublin.Brian Well it is nice to meet you. I’m working here.Bríd Very good. What is your job?Brian I am a teacher. What is your job?Bríd I don’t have a job yet. I’m a student and I am at

university here.Brian Which course?Bríd Irish and history.Brian Do you like it?Bríd I love it.Brian Great! I also studied Irish at university!

Síle You are welcome Mairéad. How are you?Mairéad Good thank you Síle and you?Síle I am great. Would you like to meet my

family?Mairéad I would certainly. How many people are in your family?Síle There are fi ve in my family – my mother, my father, my

sister and brother and myself. This is my father Seán.


34

Conversation 3/1: Meeting and greeting

LI CD3, TR2

Brian Maidin mhaith. Bríd Maidin mhaith, conas atá tú?Brian Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat, agus cad é mar

atá tú féin?Bríd Tá mé ar dhroim na muice, go raibh maith agat. Is mise

Bríd. Cé thusa?Brian Is mise Brian.Bríd Cá as tú, a Bhriain?Brian Is as Béal Feirste mé. Cá bhfuil tú féin i do chónaí?Bríd Bhuel is as Gaillimh mé ach tá mé i mo chónaí anseo i

mBaile Átha Cliath.Brian Bhuel is deas bualadh leat. Tá mé féin ag obair anseo.Bríd An-mhaith. Cad é an post atá agat?Brian Is múinteoir mé. Cad é an post atá agat féin?Bríd Níl post agam go fóill. Is mac léinn mé agus tá mé ar an

Ollscoil anseo.Brian Cén chúrsa?Bríd Gaeilge agus Stair.Brian An maith leat é?Bríd Is breá liom é.Brian Ar dóigh! Rinne mise Gaeilge ar an Ollscoil fosta!

Conversation 3/2: This is my sister

LI CD3, TR5

Síle ‘Sé do bheatha a Mhairéad. Cad é mar atá tú?Mairéad Go maith, go raibh maith agat a Shíle agus tú féin?Síle Tá mé ar dhroim na muice. Ar mhaith leat bualadh le mo

theaghlach?Mairéad Ba mhaith cinnte. Cá mhéad duine atá i do chlann?Síle Tá cúigéar i mo chlann – mo mháthair, m’athair, mo dheirfi úr

agus mo dheartháir agus mé féin. Seo m’athair Seán.27Conversation 7: Transactions

Pharmacist Good morning sir, can I help you?Tiarnán You can because I am not well.Pharmacist What is wrong with you?Tiarnán I have a headache and it is very sore.Pharmacist Is there anything else wrong with you?Tiarnán I have a stomach ache also.Pharmacist Well, take these pills and lie down.Tiarnán All right. How much is that?Pharmacist Three euros please.Tiarnán Here you are madam.Pharmacist Thank you.

Assistant Hello madam, can I help you?Eimear You can. I would like to buy a coat.Assistant Now, what about this one?Eimear It is nice but it’s too small.Assistant Well, what about this one?Eimear That one is fi ne. I like it but how much is

it?Assistant Thirty euros.Eimear I’ll take it!


28

Conversation 8: Time and money

PART 1: WHAT’S THE TIME?LI CD2, TR17

Eimear Gabh mo léithscéal, cén uair a bheidh bus ag dul go Béal Feirste tráthnóna inniu?

Assistant Beidh ceann ag dul ar leathuair tar éis a trí.Eimear Cén uair a bheidh sé i mBéal Feirste?Assistant Beidh sé ann thart faoi ceathrú tar éis a cúig.Eimear An mbeidh bus ag dul ó Bhéal Feirste go Baile Átha

Cliath maidin amárach?Assistant Beidh cinnte. Beidh ceann ann ar ceathrú go dtí a naoi

agus ceann eile ar fi che tar éis a naoi.Eimear Cá mhéad atá ar thicéad ó Bhéal Feirste go Baile Átha Cliath?Assistant Tá dhá Euro déag ar thicéad singil agus tá fi che Euro ar

thicéad fi llte.Eimear Go raibh maith agat.Assistant Go ndéana a mhaith duit.

PART 2: ENQUIRING ABOUT LOCAL MUSIC SESSIONSLI CD2, TR21

Bartender Dia duit a dhuine uasail.Tiarnán Dia is Muire duit. An mbeidh seisiún ceoil anseo

anocht?Bartender Ní bheidh, ar an drochuair, ach beidh ceann anseo san

oíche amárach.Tiarnán Cén uair a bheidh sé ag tosnú?Bartender Ar leathuair tar éis a naoi.Tiarnán Ar dóigh! An mbeidh táille ar an doras?Bartender Ní bheidh, beidh sé saor in aisce.Tiarnán Go raibh míle maith agat.

InsightThe 24-hour clock is rarely used in Irish. Technical terms are r.n. = roimh nóin (before noon) and i.n. = iarnóin (afternoon). For am and pm one says ar maidin (in the morning) and tráthnóna (in the evening) or san oíche (at night).

33Conversation 10: Everyday living

Tiarnán Eimear, what did you do at the weekend?Eimear I was shopping on Saturday.Tiarnán Did you buy anything nice?Eimear I bought a new coat. What did you do?Tiarnán I met Cian in the pub on Saturday and I drank a

pint.Eimear Did you enjoy it?Tiarnán I really enjoyed it.

Mairéad Cian, did you ever go on holidays?Cian Yes. I went to Scotland last year.Mairéad Did you enjoy it?Cian Yes. Did you go on holidays last year?Mairéad No but I went to London at the

weekend.Cian Did you enjoy it?Mairéad I really enjoyed it. The shopping was great!


32

Conversation 10: Everyday living

PART 1: HOW DID YOU SPEND YOUR WEEKEND?LI CD2, TR33

Tiarnán A Eimear, cad é a rinne tú ag an deireadh seachtaine?Eimear Bhí mé ag siopadóireacht Dé Sathairn.Tiarnán Ar cheannaigh tú rud ar bith deas?Eimear Cheannaigh mé cóta nua. Cad é a rinne tú féin?Tiarnán Bhuail mé le Cian sa teach leanna Dé Sathairn agus d’ól

mé pionta.Eimear Ar bhain tú sult as?Tiarnán Bhain mé an-sult as.

PART 2: HOLIDAYSLI CD2, TR37

Mairéad A Chiain, an ndeachaigh tú ar saoire riamh?Cian Chuaigh. Chuaigh mé go hAlbain anuraidh.Mairéad Ar bhain tú sult as?Cian Bhain. An ndeachaigh tú féin ar saoire anuraidh?Mairéad Ní dheachaigh ach chuaigh mé go Londain ag an

deireadh seachtaine.Cian Ar bhain tú sult as?Mairéad Bhain mé an-sult as. Bhí an siopadóireacht ar dóigh!

InsightOne of the most commonly used verbs in any language is the verb to go and this is an irregular verb in Irish. It does not follow the rules which regular verbs like ceannaigh, bain and ól in Part 1 do.An ndeachaigh tú? (Did you go?)Chuaigh (yes) / Ní dheachaigh (no)There are eleven irregular verbs in Irish.

29Conversation 8: Time and money

Eimear Excuse me, what time will there be a bus going to Belfast this afternoon?

Assistant There will be one going at half past three.Eimear What time will it be in Belfast?Assistant It will be there at about a quarter past fi ve.Eimear Will there be a bus going from Belfast to Dublin

tomorrow morning?Assistant There will certainly. There will be one going at a

quarter to nine and another one at twenty past nine.Eimear How much is a ticket from Belfast to Dublin?Assistant A single is 12 euros and a return ticket is

20 euros.Eimear Thank you.Assistant You’re welcome.

Bartender Hello sir.Tiarnán Hello. Will there be a traditional music session here

tonight?Bartender No, unfortunately, but there will be one here tomorrow

night.Tiarnán What time will it be starting?Bartender At half past nine.Tiarnán Excellent! Will there be an admission fee?Bartender No, it will be free.Tiarnán Thank you very much.


30

Conversation 9: Small talk

PART 1: WEATHERLI CD2, TR25

Tiarnán Tá maidin bhreá ann, a Eimear. Eimear Tá cinnte ach beidh sé fuar tráthnóna.Tiarnán Beidh cinnte agus beidh sé ag cur fearthainne.Eimear Tá sin uafásach agus beidh gaoth mhór ann fosta.Tiarnán Is mór an trua sin.Eimear Chuala mé go mbeidh lá álainn ann amárach.Tiarnán Tá súil agam go mbeidh.Eimear Beidh an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch!

PART 2: YESTERDAYLI CD2, TR29

Mairéad Bhí lá álainn ann inné.Cian Bhí sé ar dóigh. Chaith mé an lá ar an trá.Mairéad An raibh tú ag snámh san fharraige?Cian Bhí ach bhí an t-uisce fuar! An raibh tú féin ar an trá

inné?Mairéad Ní raibh. Bhí mise ag obair!

InsightHere we have the past, present and future tense forms of the substantive verb to be. Now is a good time to look at the question and the affi rmative and negative forms in each of these tenses:PastAn raibh? Bhí / Ní raibhPresentAn bhfuil? Tá / nílFutureAn mbeidh? Beidh / ní bheidh.

31Conversation 9: Small talk

Tiarnán It is a fi ne morning, Eimear. Eimear It is certainly but it will be cold tonight.Tiarnán It will of course and it will be raining.Eimear That is terrible and there will be a high wind also.Tiarnán That is a great pity.Eimear I heard that it will be a beautiful day tomorrow.Tiarnán I hope that it will be.Eimear It will be very sunny!

Mairéad It was a beautiful day yesterday.Cian It was excellent. I spent the day on the beach.Mairéad Were you swimming in the sea?Cian I was but the water was cold! Were you on the beach

yesterday?Mairéad I was not. I was working!


speak irish with confidence

Documents

land reform

baile tha

gabh mo leithscal

latin manuscripts

dnall mac

fearr dinn

television

television