An Irish Country Girl

by Patrick Taylor

  tinker: Itinerant tinsmith who mended pots and pans.

  tinker’s damn or cuss, don’t give a: Could not care less.

  Tir na nOg: Irish. Pronounced “teer na noag.” The mythical Land of the Young where no one dies, sickens, or ages.

  toffee apples, unable to do something for: To be completely useless in the pursuit of something.

  toty: Small.

  toty, wee: Very small.

  tousling: Roughing up. Can be verbal, physical, or both.

  townland: A village and its surrounding farms.

  travelling people: Gypsies.

  tried, to get: Become agitated about.

  trilby: A soft, narrow-brimmed, fedora-like hat. The name is derived from George du Maurier’s 1894 novel, Trilby.

  Tuan Mac Cairill: Irish. Pronounced “tooann MacCarol.” A Partholonian, an early race inhabiting Ireland. He underwent a series of transformations, ending as a salmon, which was eaten by a woman who gave rebirth to Tuan as a child.

  Tuatha dé Danann: Irish. Pronounced “tooatha day danann.” One of the early mythical races to inhabit Ireland. They displaced the Fir Bolg, but were themselves defeated by the Milesians. The Tuatha were driven underground to live in the sidthe and became the People of the Mounds.

  uillinn: Irish. Pronounced “uhlin.” Elbow. See pipes.

  uncle: Not necessarily a relative. A title of respect used by children for a male family friend. (See auntie.)

  United Irishmen: An allied group of Catholics and Reformed

  Protestants who tried to free Ireland from English and Anglican rule. Their rising in 1798, aided by a French regiment, was crushed by British troops led by General Lord Cornwallis (fresh from his recent defeat at Yorktown).

  walk out with: Go steady.

  wean: Pronounced “wane.” Child.

  wee: Small, but in Ulster can be and is used to modify almost anything without reference to size. A barmaid and old friend once greeted me by saying, “Come on in, Pat. Have a wee seat and I’ll get you a wee menu, and would you like a wee drink while you’re waiting?”

  Wellington boots, wellies: Knee-high rubber boots patterned on the riding boots worn by the Duke of Wellington.

  Wenclesslass: Usual Ulster corruption of Wenceslas (the Good King).

  wheedle: Cajole.

  wheeker: Very good.

  wheen: A number of.

  wheen, brave: A large number of.

  wheest: Be quiet.

  wheest, hold your: Keep quiet or shut up.

  wheezle: Wheeze in chest.

  whin: Gorse.

  whippet: Small, fast racing dog like a mini-greyhound.

  whisky/whiskey: Scotch is “whisky.” Irish is “whiskey.” Both derived from the Irish uisce beatha, water of life. The earliest licensed distillery (1608 by James I) is in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

  wisewoman: Witch. Shaman.

  won’t butter any parsnips: Will make absolutely no difference.

  worse for wear: Drunk.

  worser: As bad as it is possible to get; much more so than worse.

  yes and no: Although both words exist in Irish (pronounced “sha” and “knee ha”), they are rarely used. Instead, sentences are constructed as follows: “Do you understand?” “I do” or “I do not.” “Would you take a jar?” “I will”—or much less commonly—“I will not.” This construct usually appears when English is spoken.

  yoke: Thingamabob. Whatchamacallit.

  y-o-o-o-oh: Cry of approval by Ulster children used instead of the upper-class “hooray.”

  your head’s a marley: Your head is as small and as dense as a child’s marble.

  your head’s cut: You are being very stupid.

  your man: An Irish version of “What’s his name?” or a confirmation that everyone knows who is being described.

  youse: Plural of “you” in Ulster and other regions.

  Names

  Ailell (m): Pronounced “ayill.” A legendary king of Connacht.

  Art (m): Bear.

  Barry (m): Short form of Finbar. (See below.)

  Brid (f): Pronounced “breed.” Old Irish goddess.

  Caitlin (f): Kathleen.

  Casey (m): Brave.

  Cathal (m): Strong in battle.

  Clodagh (f): From the name of a river in Tipperary.

  Connor (m): Lover of hounds.

  Cúchulain: Pronounced “Kuh-koo-lin or “Koo Hullin.” A famous Irish hero from Ulster.

  Dermot (m): Free man or god of arms.

  Donn (m): Pronouced “dun.” A legendary brown bull.

  Dympna (f): Irish saint who could cure epilepsy.

  Emer (f): Wife of Cúchulain.

  Fidelma (f): Champion.

  Finbar (m): Fair top.

  Fingal (m): Fair stranger.

  Finnbheannach (m): Pronounced “Finn vannock.” A legendary bull.

  Fionn MacCumhail: Finn MacCool. Legendary Irish giant who was chief of the Fianna. Building the Giant’s Causeway near Bushmills, County Antrim, was one of his many heroic deeds.

  Mac an tSagairt: Irish surname. Pronounced “mock on taggart.” Anglicised to MacTaggart. Son of the priest.

  Macha (f): Of the plain.

  Maeve (f): Pronounced “Mave.” She who intoxicates.

  Malachy (m): Pronounced “Malacky.” Michael.

  Myrna (f): High spirited or beloved.

  O’Echtigerna: Irish surname. Pronounced “O’Ekteegurna.” Anglicised to Aherne. Literally, “grandson of the lord of the horses.”

  Patrick (m), Patricia (f): Noble.

  Paudeen (m): Pronounced “Pawdeen.” Diminutive of Patrick.

  Roisín (f): Pronounced “Rowsheen.” Little rose. Rosebud.

  Seamus (m): Pronounced “Shame-us.” James.

  Sinead (f): Pronounced “Shinade.” Jane.

  Tiernan (m): Lordly.

  Street Names in Clonakilty*

  Wolfe Tone: Theobald Wolfe Tone, a leader of the United Irishmen revolt in 1798.

  Emmet: Robert Emmet, leader of the revolt of 1803.

  Clarke: Thomas Clarke, a leader of the Easter Rising in 1916.

  Pearse: Pádraig Pearse, a leader of the Easter Rising in 1916.

  *All of these men died for their cause.