Ireland has two official languages – Gaelic and English. English
is the spoken language almost everywhere, though the traditional Gaelic
tongue is still spoken in some Gaeltacht areas.
These Gaeltacht areas are mainly located in the west and northwest
of the country but are relatively few and far between. Visitors should
not worry about possible communication problems however as the entire
population of these areas are bilingual and have no problems with
conversing in English.
Many years ago, Gaelic was the language predominantly spoken throughout
Ireland but over the years of English occupation and due to the importance
of English in the world of trade, the language gradually died out
in most areas and is now spoken only in some parts.
The Gaelic language however, is an important part of the Irish culture
and heritage so if you do get the chance to visit some of these Gaeltacht
regions, it is well worth your while. You may pick up a "cúpla
focail" (few words) of Irish yourself.
For your interest, we have provided some of the more common Irish
phrases below, their meaning and how they are pronounced.
Dia dhuit – hello
Pronounced – "dia gwit"
Dia is muire dhuit – hello to you too (in response to Dia
Dhuit)
Pronounced – "dia iss muire gwit"
Conas a tá tú? – how are you?
Pronounced – "conas ah taw too"
Go maith – good
Pronounced – "goh mai"
Go raibh maith agat – thank you
Pronounced – "goh rev mai agut"
Sláinte – cheers / your health
Pronounced – "slawncha"
Cé mhéad? – how much
Pronounced – "kay vade"
Lá breá sea é – it’s a nice day
Pronounced – "law bra sha ay"
Oíche mhaith – good night
Pronounced – "ee ha wah"
Maidín mhaith – good morning
Pronounced – "madgeen wah"
Tráthnóna mhaith – good afternoon
Pronounced – "traw nona wah"
Cad is ainm duit? – what is your name?
Pronounced – "cod iss anim dit"
"Your Name" is ainm dom - … is my name
Pronounced – "… iss anim dumb"
Cara b’as tú? – where are you from?
Pronounced – "cara boss too"
Is as "America" mé – I’m from America
Pronounced – "iss oss America may"
And if you want to know the meaning of the phrase "Póg
mo thón", please feel free to contact us at info@onlinegolftravel.com.
But remember, it’s better used among friends!
