Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge/Imleabhar 5/Uimhir 2/Popular proverbs, Co. Kerry
POPULAR PROVERBS, CO. KERRY
Collected and Translated by Mr. William Long, Ballyferriter, Dingle.
[ 23 ]1. What happens seldom is wonderful. | |||||||||
[ 23 ]2. He who does not pity your complaint, do not complain to him. | |||||||||
[ 23 ]3. The cow which has the loudest bellowing, has the slenderest tail. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]4. What the Púca writes, himself reads. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]5. What goes longer, grows colder (or is neglected). | |||||||||
[ 24 ]6. Heredity breaks out in the cat's eyes. | |||||||||
[ 21 ]
7. Buaḋann an tiomnaoiḃ air an ċinneaṁaint [i gConnaċtaiḃ mar so .i., Ṡáruiġ an ḟoiġid an ċinneaṁaint. S. L.]
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[ 24 ]7. Foresight (or punctuality) prevails over accident. | ||||||||
[ 24 ]8. Foreign cows have big horns. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]9. A person's will is his food. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]10. A daughter-in-law and a mother-in-law, as a cat and mouse are towards each other. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]11. Let it be as it is, and Tralee where it is. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]12. Truth is sour. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]13. Grumbling is lucky. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]14. “I saw you before,” as the cat said to the hot milk. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]15. The law of lending is to break what is borrowed. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]16. If there was rain to November, it would be a shower. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]17. Money is the end of the (Gospel) preaching. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]18. Even a sleek (smooth) cat would eat a taper (smooth water runs deep). | |||||||||
[ 24 ]19. Opportunity leads to mischief, or, a thief is made by opportunity. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]20. While the grass grows, the horse starves. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]21. Each foster-son as reared and the swan on the water (cat after kind). | |||||||||
[ 24 ]22. Each poet and prophet discoursing his own art. | |||||||||
[ 24 ]23. Drink before news (take your drink before answering). | |||||||||
[ 22 ]24. Is feárr an troid ’ná an t-uaigneas. |
[ 24 ]24. Fighting is preferable to solitude. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]25. Imṫiġeann riṫ focail air ṡagart na próisde (parráisde). |
[ 24 ]25. The parish priest is subject to a slip of the tongue. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]26. Is minic cú ṁall sona. |
[ 24 ]26. A slow hound is often lucky. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]27. Is deacair an girrḟiaḋ do ċur as an dtor naċ beiḋ sé. |
[ 24 ]27. It is hard to start the hare of a hareless bush. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]28. Is anaṁ iasg aige (ag) liarnaiḋ(iḃ) díoṁaoine. |
[ 24 ]28. Idle strollers seldom have fish. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]29. Is feárr sioc ’ná síor-ḃáisdeaċ. |
[ 24 ]29. Frost is preferable to constant rain. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]30. Is maiṫ an t-anncoire an t-aḋarta. |
[ 24 ]30. The hob is a good anchor. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]31. Is feárr an t-eun tá ’san láiṁ ’ná an t-eun tá air an g-craoiḃ. |
[ 24 ]31. The bird in the hand is better than the one on the branch. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]32. Is milis d’á ól é, searḃ d’á ḋíol é. |
[ 24 ]32. Sweetly we drink, sourly we pay. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]33. Is báiḋeaṁail iad luċt aon ċine no céirde. |
[ 24 ]33. Namesakes have a fellow-feeling. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]34. Is feárr an cú ḃiḋeann ’san t-siuḃal ’ná an cú ḃiḋeann i lúib. |
[ 24 ]34. The hound on the run is better off than that in the corner. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]35. Is geal leis an ḃfiaċ duḃ a ġarcaċ (ġearrcaċ). |
[ 24 ]35. The raven thinks his nestling fair. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]36. Is giorra caḃair Dé ’ná an doras. |
[ 24 ]36. God’s help is nearer than the door. | ||||||||
[ 24 ]37. Poverty can’t be up to its word, or, poverty is dispiriting.
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[ 22 ]38. Ní sia gob an ġanndail ’ná gob an ġéiḋ. |
[ 24 ]38. The gander’s bill or beak is not longer than the goose’s (what is sauce, &c.) | ||||||||
[ 22 ]39. Ní ṫéiḋeann roġa ó’n réiḋteaċ. |
[ 24 ]39. Peace is the best of all virtues, or, peace is the best choice of all. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]40. ’Nuair ṫéiḋeann an gaḃar ’un teampaill ní stadann go h-altóir. |
[ 24 ]40. When the goat gets into church, he’ll not stop till he goes to the altar (ambition tempts the wise). | ||||||||
[ 22 ]41. Ní ḃiḋeann an raṫ aċt mar a m-biḋeann an smaċt. |
[ 24 ]4. Luck is only where discipline or order is. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]42. Ní creidtear an ḟírinne ó’n duine breugaċ. |
[ 24 ]42. A liar is not believed. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]43. Ní luġa frig (i.e., friġid, a fleshworm) ’ná máṫair an uilc. |
[ 24 ]43. From small causes big evils follow. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]44. Ní feárr biaḋ ná ciall. |
[ 24 ]44. Food is not better than sense (live not to eat, but eat to live). | ||||||||
[ 22 ]45. Ní liaċta ísleán sona ann ’ná árdán dona ann, mar duḃairt an fear le píopán an ġanndail. |
[ 24 ]45. There is no convex without a concave. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]46. Ní baoġal ḋuit an madra sgaṁaiġ ort. |
[ 24 ]46. A barking dog never bites. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]47. ’Nuair is mó an anaċain ’seaḋ is giorra an ċaḃair. |
[ 24 ]47. The greater the need, the nearer the help. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]48. Ní’l maiṫ i seanċus ’nuair tá an anaċain deunta. |
[ 24 ]48. There is no use in talking when the harm is done. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]49. Ní ualaċ do ḋuine a ḃrat. |
[ 24 ]49. A person’s garment is no load to him. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]50. Ní ḃiḋeann saoi gan loċt. |
[ 24 ]50. There is no sage without a fault. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]51. Ní ḃeaṫuiġeann na briaṫra na bráiṫre. |
[ 24 ]51. Eloquence does not support the friars. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]52. Ní ḃiḋeann treun buan. |
[ 24 ]52. Fits of violence are not lasting. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]53. Ní ḃriseann focal maiṫ fiacail. |
[ 24 ]53. A tooth is not broken by a good word. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]54. Seaċain an droċ-ḋuine a’s ní baoġal duit an duine macánta. |
[ 24 ]54. Shun the bad man and you need not fear the good man. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]55. Tuigeann fear léiġinn leaṫ-ḟocal. |
[ 24 ]55. A man of learning understands a half-word (a word to the wise is enough). | ||||||||
[ 22 ]56. Múineann gáḃaḋ seift (siḃte). |
[ 24 ]56. Necessity is the mother of invention (lit., N. teaches I.) | ||||||||
[ 22 ]57. Ní gnáṫaċ fear náireaċ éadálaċ. |
[ 24 ]57. A bashful person is not usually a gainer. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]58. An té go (= ’gá) m-biḋeann an raṫ air féin biḋeann sé air a ċuid gabáiste. |
[ 24 ]58. He who is lucky himself, has his cabbage lucky; or, a thrifty person has thriving goods. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]59. An té go (i.e., ’ga) d-téiḋeann teist na moċóirġe (moiċéirġe) amaċ air ní cás do codlaḋ go eadarṫraṫ. |
[ 24 ]59. He who gets the name of an early riser, can sleep out till breakfast time. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]60. Sia ṫéiḋeann an t-éiṫeaċ ’ná an ḟírinne’ |
[ 24 ]60. Falsehood goes further than truth. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]61. Aiṫneann an donus a ḋuine féin. |
[ 24 ]61. Misfortune knows its own person. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]62. An té go (= ’g-a) mbiḋeann an ḃróg a luiġe air is do is cirte í sgaoileaḋ. |
[ 24 ]62. He whom the shoe is pinching, has the most right to rip it. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]63. A anam féin ar ġualainn gaċ aon duine, beireaḋ leis no fágḃaḋ. |
[ 24 ]64. Every person having his own soul on his shoulder, let him take it or leave it. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]64. Bád gan stiuir no cú gan earball. |
[ 24 ]64. A boat without rudder, or a hound without a tail (unmanageable). | ||||||||
[ 22 ]65. Biḋeann blas milils ar ṗorsaċ (ṗairseaċ, ṗraiseaċ) ’na coṁursan. |
[ 24 ]65. The neighbour’s porridge tastes sweet. | ||||||||
[ 22 ]
I. 66. Tosaċ luinge clár, II. Deireaḋ luinge í ḃáṫaḋ, [Do ḃí an seanḟocal so do réir mar tá sé i gCúige Ċonnaċt curṫa i gcló ċeana ag an gCanonaċ Uileog de Búrc, ⁊ é beagnaċ ar an nós céadna. Do ċuireas féin ’san Irisleaḃar, U. 48, an dara cuid de, mar tá sé i gContae Árdṁaċa—S.L.] |
[ 25 ]
I. 66. Stones are the beginning of a kiln, II. The end of a ship is drowning,
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[ 22 ]67. Coṁangar (coṁgar) ċum an ḃiḋ ⁊ móirtimċioll ċum na h-oibre. |
[ 25 ]67. The short way for the food. and round-about for the work. | ||||||||
[ 25 ]68. Long fasting and want of the shoes make the young old. | |||||||||
[ 22 ]69. Faġtar gaċ laoċ in aisge. |
[ 25 ]69. Each hero is got gratis (that is, in the long run). | ||||||||
[ 22 ]70. Má’s maiṫ molfar. |
[ 25 ]70. If good, it will be praised. | ||||||||
[ 25 ]71. If I am yellow, I have a bright heart. | |||||||||
[ 23 ]72. Má tá bean-an-tiġe tinn níor ċaill sí a goile. |
[ 25 ]72. If the housewife is sick, she did not lose her appetite. | ||||||||
[ 25 ]73. If you are not in the eating-house, be in the next to it. | |||||||||
[ 23 ]74. Mian amadáin díoṁaointeas. |
[ 25 ]74. Idleness is the desire of a fool. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]75. Ní ḟaġann sagart balḃ beaṫa. |
[ 25 ]75. A stammering or dumb priest gets no living (parish). | ||||||||
[ 23 ]76. Ní ḃiḋeann ó’n ḃfear sona aċt é ḃreiṫ. |
[ 25 ]76. A lucky man has only to be born. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]77. ’Nuair ḃiḋeann an cat amuiġ biḋeann an luċ ag rinnce. |
[ 25 ]77. When the cat is out the mouse dances. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]78. ’Nuair is cruaiḋ do’n ċailliġ caiṫfiḋ sí riṫ. |
[ 25 ]78. Necessity forces a hag to run. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]79. ’Nuair is dóiġ le duine é ḃeiṫ go deas ’seaḋ ḃiḋeann sé ’na ċleas margaiḋ. |
[ 25 ]79. When a person thinks himself nice (or well-off), it is then he is a market plaything.
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[ 23 ]80. Ní coingḃiġtear tiġ gan teanga. |
[ 37 ]80. A house (business) can’t be kept without talk (lit., tongue.) | ||||||||
[ 23 ]81. ’Nuair a raġair ’un Róiṁ bí ad’ Róṁánaċ leo. |
[ 37 ]81. When you go to Rome, act the Roman. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]82. Ní ċeileann meisge rún. |
[ 37 ]82. Drunkenness hides not a secret (when wine, etc). | ||||||||
[ 23 ]83. Ní ḟéadann an gobaċán an dá ṫráiġ do ṫaḃairt leis. [I gConnaċtaiḃ ar an moḋ’ so .i. Ní ṫig leis an ngobadán dá ṫráiġ do ḟreasdal.—S.L.] |
[ 37 ]83. The (cuckoo-waiter) tit-lark can't attend two strands (at the same time). | ||||||||
[ 23 ]84. Ní i gcoṁnuiḋe ḃiḋeann Doṁnall buiḋe ḋ’á ṗósaḋ. |
[ 37 ]84. It is not always yellow Dan is marrying. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]85. Ní’l léiġeas ar an ċaṫuġaḋ aċt é ṁarḃuġaḋ le foiġne. |
[ 37 ]85. Grief has no care, but to kill it with patience. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]86. Is feárr riṫ maiṫ ’ná droiċ-ṡeasaṁ. |
[ 37 ]86. A hasty retreat is better than a bad stand (like James II. at the Battle of the Boyne). | ||||||||
[ 23 ]87. Is furus féasóg an leoṁain a staṫaḋ ’nuair ḃiḋeann sé ’n-a ċodlaḋ. |
[ 37 ]87. The lion’s beard is easily pulled, when he is asleep. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]88. Is feárr cóir ’ná dul ċum dliġe. |
[ 37 ]88. Justice or equity is preferable to litigation. | ||||||||
[ 37 ]89. The people meet, but the hills or mountains don’t. | |||||||||
[ 23 ]90. Tart deireaḋ an óil, ⁊ brón deireaḋ an ġráḋa. |
[ 37 ]90. Thirst is the end of drink, and sorrow of love. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]91. Teaċtaire an ḟiaiċ (ḟéiċ) ó’n Airc. |
[ 37 ]91. The raven-messenger from the Ark—said of a slow messenger. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]92. Taḃair do’n ġárlaċ, ⁊ tiocfaiḋ sé amáraċ. |
[ 37 ]92. Give to a youngster, and he’ll come (call) to-morrow. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]93. Sgata ban no sgata géanna. |
[ 38 ]93. A crowd of women or a flock of geese (examples of noise). | ||||||||
[ 23 ]94. Is maiṫ an tiománaiḋe an té ḃiḋeann ar an ċloiḋe. |
[ 38 ]94. He who is on the fence is a good driver or guide (perhaps better an t-iománaiḋe, hurler). | ||||||||
[ 23 ]95. Is feárr míne ’ná borbraċt. |
[ 38 ]95. Gentleness is better than violence or rashness [borb-raċt, a violent fit]. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]96. Aiṫneann na h-aingil a ċéile. |
[ 38 ]96. The angels know each other | ||||||||
[ 23 ]97. Is dóiġ le fear na buile gurb é féin fear na céille. |
[ 38 ]97. The madman thinks himself the wise man. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]98. Seaċain tiġ an táiḃirne no is báirniġ is beaṫa ḋuit. |
[ 38 ]98. Avoid the tavern, or limpets are your food. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]99. Ní déiġionaċ í an ṁaiṫ aonuair. |
[ 38 ]99. Correction is never too late. It is never too late to mend. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]100. Is olc an goile naċ téiṫeann a cuid. |
[ 38 ]100. It is a bad stomach that does not warm or heat its own. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]101. Biḋeann an óige ar buile. |
[ 38 ]101. Youth or youthfulness is mad. | ||||||||
[ 38 ]102. He who is well-off is thought much of; he who is down is trodden or kept down [not literal]. | |||||||||
[ 23 ]103. Do ḟear gan náire is fusa a ġnó ḋéanam. |
[ 38 ]103. For a shameless person, it is easier to do his business. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]
104. Duine gan stór a ġlór ní meastar a (Bactaṫar = bactar or bacṫar, pres. pass. of bac, heed, mind. Ná bac é = ná bac leis, don’t mind him). |
[ 38 ]
104. He who is without store, his noise is
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[ 23 ]
105. Ní truime ar loċ an laċa,
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[ 38 ]
105. The duck is no weight on a lake.
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[ 23 ]
106. An duine saiḋḃir ag déanaṁ grinn,
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[ 38 ]
106. (When) the rich man makes mirth,
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[ 23 ]107. Ní ḃiḋeann na slisneaċa aċt mar a leagtar an crann. |
[ 38 ]107. The rubbish or crumbs are only where the tree is felled. | ||||||||
[ 23 ]108. Ar an obair ṫagann an ḟoġlaim. |
[ 38 ]108. Practice makes perfect (lit., from the work comes the learning). | ||||||||
[ 23 ]109. ’Nuair is gainne an biaḋ ’seaḋ is cirte é roinnt. |
[ 38 ]109. When food is scarcer, it is then that it is juster to divide it.
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