the new book it will be learned that, as a contribution to the collection and elucidation of the fast-fading remains of Gaelic traditional belief, custom, and folk-fancy, and as a memorial of a conscientious and hard-working scholar, a true Gael and lover of the Gael, this volume is sure to be acceptable to all who cherish the Gaelic race and its traditions. The contents will embrace clan-traditions, legendary history, fairy and folk tales, fables and games. Four of the pieces will be accompanied by the original Gaelic versions. The subscription price is 3s. 6d. net (4s. post free).
No man has done more, perhaps, than Mr. Nutt to advance the literature of the Gael in the world’s estimation. The publication, of Celtic lore has been, in his case, no commercial speculation but a pure labour of love. His beautiful volumes claim by right a place in the library of every lover of Celtic literature.
Attention is directed to Father O’Growney’s paper in this number on the Gaelic of “An Unexplored Region” in West Cork. This paper should serve as an example of what might easily be done by many readers in various districts. Work done in this direction is of the highest value, and it is to be hoped that such articles will be numerous in future issues, and that the material for them will be sought in every Irish-speaking district.
AN UNEXPLORED REGION.
The vocabulary of many Gaelic-speaking districts is still practically unexplored. It stands to reason that a native of a district is not the best person to study the peculiarities of the local Gaelic vocabulary, but rather a stranger, who will at once note every word, phrase, and intonation new to him. I was enabled, during the month of August last, to spend a few days in the parish of Ballyvourney, in West Cork, and was much struck by the richness of the vocabulary and idiom of the local Gaelic. Ballyvourney is practically an Irish-speaking parish—the children at school, with two or three exceptions, speak Irish out of school hours. Following the good example of many of the Cork National Teachers, Mr. Scannell, of Ballyvourney National School, studied for and obtained a certificate, and a few months afterwards presented for examination in Irish 31 children, of whom 27 passed. This was a splendid beginning, and both teachers and children look forward to even better results.
From Father Lyons, P.P., Kilmichael, I obtained the great majority of the words annexed. For convenience of reference I divide them into three classes: (1) words altogether new to me; (2) words similar to or derived from words already known to me; (3) doubtful or peculiar words or phrases. I have not observed alphabetical order.
I.—New Words.
1. umárd or iomárd (um-aurdh′), an accident, a misfortune = tubaiste. [Curiously, the words=accident appear to be very many: ciotarainn, in Waterford; tiompuiste, or -sne, in W. Connacht; tuisme, in Donegal; tionóisg, usual word in Cork; also, bárr-ṫuisle, míoṫopaḋ, &c.]
2. méam: gan m. ann, without a stir, motion, life, in him. In Aran, when the sea is perfectly calm, they say níl mae′-ou ar an ḃfairrge i.e., méaṁ, with last ṁ aspirated.
3. ar ġeaḃair or ḋeaḃair, mad, in a frenzy.
4. pas: ḃí sé pas (pos) deireannaċ, he was a bit late. Possibly from Latin passus, a step?
5. bata lang (both′-ă loung) is mór an b. d’imṫiġ air, another word for an accident.
6. tonaċaḋ: do ḃiḋeaḋas ag a tonaċaḋ, they were preparing the corpse (for being waked). Fr. Lyons heard this in Inchigeela.
7. ní ḟeacaiġeas riaṁ ṫú gan foċar aga ort, I never saw you that you were not in some trouble, confusion.
8. níor ċuir sé garraḃuac (gor-ă-voo′-ŭk), air, trouble, annoyance.
9. níl sé fé yee′-a (ḋiaġ ?) an tiġe, under the roof of the house, in the house.
10. ḋá lee (luiġe?) an doruis, the two jambs of the door [cf. leaṫ-lee (leaṫ-luiġe), one shaft of a car, just like leaṫċos, leaṫ-ṡúil, etc.]
11. ar dínn an lae, in the very middle, height or heat of the day; cf. dinn, a hill.
12. liaċarnaċ, sighing.
13. ríobún, a drink of meal and milk (called cuḃrán in Mayo.)
14. ḃí sé aer aige (? d’éire), he was forced to do it; cf. dḟiaċaiḃ.
I may also add, although I think they have been printed before:—
15. seis (i.e:. saġas or saġas), sort, kind; cf. the proverb, saġas maiṫ biḋ saġas maiṫ fir.
16. soiniuġaḋ: ḃí sé gá ṡ-orm, he was pressing or forcing it on me = taṫḃann.
II.—Known Words in New Forms or Meanings,
1. bleaṫaċ, a large supply of anything. (In Connaught, bleiṫeaċ, a portion of corn sent to a mill; bleiṫeaċán, a glutton.)
2. gráinseaċán, roasted wheat.
3 sgoṫ lín, a handful of flax; tréislán, a bundle of twelve sgoths.
4. on′-ă-hă (= anfa?). Even in its ordinary sense of “storm” anfa is pronounced anḟa: for aspiration of f cf. future of verbs, and such words as mianfaċ (meen′-hoo-ăCH), yawning. ḃí anḟa air, he was out of breath atter a long run, or, ḃí an t-anfa air, he was pursued; also fuair sé an t-anfa, he got a great start.
5. pinniuir an tiġe, gable end. The old binn-ċoḃair of the round towers—so Fr. Lyons thinks.
6. ní ḟeacaiġeas oiḋre riaṁ air aċt é, I never saw any one so like him (lit., an heir to him).
