Example Phrases

Sentences marked with * are translations I've added as they weren't in the original "The Irish language on Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim"

Na dánaigh!

The wicked ones

Go rabh maith agad

thank you

Beannacht Dia (Dé) leat

Goodbye

A Dhé ‘s Muire

(interjection)

As gach olc

from all evil

Lán sac de chlochan

a bag-full of stones

Tá ag (go) rádh

is saying

Deacht mar a bhá ise tionntachadh a' bhannach

Just as she was turning the soda bread/scone/bannock*

cha dtug me i ndear

I did not notice

tá me deanadh dearmad de

I forget it

ag teacht deas dó

coming close on him

cha ba deas leis

he did not like

ar deas lámh Dé

on the right hand of God

Bhá e déidheamhail air dram

he was fond of a dram

An báta ma dheireadh

the last boat

Ag sileadh nan deor

Shedding tears*

Diabhal bit go bhfeil ann

there is nothing

Dimean greim

devil a bit

Mana n-éirigh thu as sin dingidh me san phit thu

I will push you into the pit

díoltaidh ead thar an gceann e

they will deny that they did it

Cha rabh e buidheach na diomach

He was neither pleased nor displeased*

Is dóigh leam/is dócha leam

I think

tá féidhm agam air

I can use it/I need it

ghní sin féidhm domh

I can use that

ghní (deanaidh) sin féidhm

that will do

na cuir feairt air

do not heed him

tá e nas fhéarr a bhith luath na bhith mall

It is better to be early than to be late*

chan fhaca sinn e tuilidh

we did not see it any more

tá tuille ‘s choir salann air

There’s too much salt on it*

tá an toigh ag dol a thuiteam

The house is falling apart*

mar a bhá o thús

As it was from the beginning*

bhfeil an t-uisce ann?

Is it raining?

cosmhail leis an uisce

Looking like rain

an urad 's a ghlacadh tu

how much would you take

sin urad 's tá fhios agam-sa

That’s as much as I know*

is esan an urad duine 's thainigh na bhaile

That’s the amount of people who came home

an bré go bheil

only it is…

an bré gon dtainigh e

had he not come

an bré go bhfeil e ar shiubhal dh’innseadh eidean duit

he would tell you, only he is away

Well, an bré gon rabh e fuar, rachainn

well if it was not cold, I would go

Chan fheil árach air

it cannot be helped

C’ar son nach do rinn thu coisric

Why did you not sign yourself?

Rinn me áthrachadh do notion

I changed my mind

Dh’féidhmeadh ead a bhith áthraiste

They need to be changed*