Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge/Imleabhar 5/Uimhir 2/Popular proverbs, Co. Kerry

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Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge, Imleabhar V, Uimh. 2
Popular proverbs, Co. Kerry
[ 21 ]

POPULAR PROVERBS, CO. KERRY



Collected and Translated by Mr. William Long, Ballyferriter, Dingle.


[ 21 ]
1. An rud is anaṁ is iongantaċ.

[ 23 ]1. What happens seldom is wonderful.

[ 21 ]
2. An té naċ truaġ leis do ċás, ná deun do ġearán leis.

[ 23 ]2. He who does not pity your complaint, do not complain to him.

[ 21 ]
3. An ḃó is aoirde géim ’sí is caoile iarball.

[ 23 ]3. The cow which has the loudest bellowing, has the slenderest tail.

[ 21 ]
4. An rud do sgríoḃann an Púca Léiġeann sé féin é.

[ 24 ]4. What the Púca writes, himself reads.

[ 21 ]
5. An rud a ṫéiḋeann i ḃ-faid téiḋeann sé i ḃ-fuaire.

[ 24 ]5. What goes longer, grows colder (or is neglected).

[ 21 ]
6. Briseann an dúṫċas trí ṡúiliḃ an ċait.

[ 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.]

[ 24 ]7. Foresight (or punctuality) prevails over accident.

[ 21 ]
8. Biḋeann aḋarca móra air na buaiḃ ṫar lear.

[ 24 ]8. Foreign cows have big horns.

[ 21 ]
9. Beaṫa ḋuine a ṫoil.

[ 24 ]9. A person's will is his food.

[ 21 ]
10. Bean ṁic a’s máṫair ċéile mar ḃéiḋeaḋ cat a’s luċ le ċéile.

[ 24 ]10. A daughter-in-law and a mother-in-law, as a cat and mouse are towards each other.

[ 21 ]
11. Bíoḋ sé mar tá sé a’s Tráiġlí mar a ḃ-fuil sé.

[ 24 ]11. Let it be as it is, and Tralee where it is.

[ 21 ]
12. Biḋeann an ḟírinne searḃ.

[ 24 ]12. Truth is sour.

[ 21 ]
13. Biḋeann an raṫ air an g-ceisneaṁ.

[ 24 ]13. Grumbling is lucky.

[ 21 ]
14. “Ċonnac ċeana tu,” mar duḃairt an cat leis an ḃainne ṫeiṫ.

[ 24 ]14. “I saw you before,” as the cat said to the hot milk.

[ 21 ]
15. Dliġe na h-iasaċda an t-iarraċ do ḃriseaḋ.

[ 24 ]15. The law of lending is to break what is borrowed.

[ 21 ]
16. Dá mbéiḋeaḋ baisteaċ go Saṁain ann ní ḃeiḋeaḋ ann aċt ciṫ.

[ 24 ]16. If there was rain to November, it would be a shower.

[ 21 ]
17. Deireaḋ an t-saoisgéil an t-airgead.

[ 24 ]17. Money is the end of the (Gospel) preaching.

[ 21 ]
18. D’íosfaḋ cat sleaṁain féin fadóg.

[ 24 ]18. Even a sleek (smooth) cat would eat a taper (smooth water runs deep).

[ 21 ]
19. Deunann caoi slaidire (sladaire).

[ 24 ]19. Opportunity leads to mischief, or, a thief is made by opportunity.

[ 21 ]
20. Faġann an capall bás faid a’s ḃiḋeann an feur ag fás.

[ 24 ]20. While the grass grows, the horse starves.

[ 21 ]
21. Gaḋ dalta mar oiltear ⁊ an eala air an uisge.

[ 24 ]21. Each foster-son as reared and the swan on the water (cat after kind).

[ 21 ]
22. Gaċ file ⁊ fáiḋ ag tráċt air a ealuiḋe (ealaḋa) féin.

[ 24 ]22. Each poet and prophet discoursing his own art.

[ 21 ]
23. Is cuisge deoċ ’na sgeul.

[ 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.

[ 22 ]

37. Lomann broid cineál.
Lomann lom coinġioll.

[ 24 ]37. Poverty can’t be up to its word, or, poverty is dispiriting.

1st form, lit., captivity (affliction) makes kindness bare.
2nd bareness makes an intention bare, or straightened circumstances bares an intention.

[ 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,
Tosaċ áiṫe cloċa,
Tosaċ flaṫa fáilte,
Tosaċ sláinte codlaḋ.

II.

Deireaḋ luinge í ḃáṫaḋ,
Deireaḋ áiṫe í losgaḋ,
Deireaḋ flaṫa cáineaḋ,
Deireaḋ sláinte osnaḋ.

[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.

A board is the beginning of a ship,

Stones are the beginning of a kiln,
Welcome is the beginning of a prince,
Sleep is the beginning of health.

II.


The end of a ship is drowning,
The end of a kiln is burning,
The end of a prince is disparagement,
The end of health is sighing.

[ 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.

[ 22 ]68.

Céalacan fada ⁊ easba na m-bróg,
Déinid siad seanduine do’n té ḃiḋeann óg.

[ 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.

[ 22 ]71. Má táimse buiḋe tá croiḋe geal agam.

[ 23 ][Fuaras féin an seanráḋ so ar ṁoḋ eile i ndán do sgríoḃas síos in áit atá i ngar do na Ceallaiḃ Beaga i gContae Ḋúin-na-nGall .i. Cé gur buiḋe mé tá croiḋe agam is gile ’ná an ċailc.—S.L.]

[ 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.

[ 23 ]

73. Mar (muna) mbiḋir i dtiġ an ḃiḋ,
Bí ins an tiġ le n-a taoiḃ.

[ 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.

[ 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.

[ 23 ]

89. Tárlann na daoine ar a ċéile,
Aċt ní ṫárlann na cnuic ’ná na sléiḃte.

[ 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.

[ 23 ]

102. An té ḃiḋeann suas óltar deoċ air,
An té ḃiḋeann síos luiġtear cos air.

[ 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
ċéill,
Duine gan stór ar cóisir ní bactaṫar é,
Duine gan stór ní’l gnó aige a’
caiṫeaṁ ná glaoḋaċ,
A’s duine gan stór biḋeann sé ’n-a
spórt aige (ag) aindeisí’ an t-saoġail.

(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
not thought much of in society.
He who is without store, is not called
to a wedding party.
He who is without store, has no right
to be spending or calling.
He who is without store, is the sport
of the world's misfortunes.

[ 23 ]

105. Ní truime ar loċ an laċa,
Ní truime ar eaċ a ṡrian,
Ní truime ar caora a h-olann,
Ní truime ar colann ciall.

[ 38 ]

105. The duck is no weight on a lake.
The bridle is no weight on a horse.
The wool is no weight to a sheep.
Sense is no weight to a body.

[ 23 ]

106. An duine saiḋḃir ag déanaṁ grinn,
Deirid uile gur binn a ġlór,
Aċt is seirḃe ’ná an searḃán goirt,
An duine boċt ag déanaṁ ceoil.

[ 38 ]

106. (When) the rich man makes mirth,
Every person says that his voice is
most harmonious,
But sourer than a salty dandelion
Is the voice of the poor man when
making music.

[ 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.

[ 23 ]

Notes are invited on aḋarta, No. 30; and sgaṁaiġ, No. 46.)