Geimhreadh
Cold sunlight glinting
on the rocky Fields of cloud
The high shrill note
of Winter’s Happy piperRises and lifts my dreamer
far above The crowdHave come again to the
narrow day And riperThan ever it was w
hen Summer’s apron flapped
Upon a drying line.
From Patrick Kavanagh’s “In Winter”
I seem to have a Jekyll and Hyde thing going when it comes to winter. Working or driving in the winter months, I’ve more of a Mr. Hyde approach to it. Ah, but the weekends, out in the woods with the hounds, that’s a different story.
A fresh snow makes everything look clean and fresh. The cold air into my lungs, makes me feel young again. Hot coffee is appreciated more than any other time of year.
The Wolfhounds love this time of year, because of the weather. A good snowstorm and they stand with their heads pointed into the wind. Mary and I, dressed like Eskimos, along with little Doolin, oblige them with early morning walks in the park.
Not everyone shares my point of view. The following is an excerpt of a poem uttered by Fionn Mac Cumhaill’s ungovernable servant, Mac Lesc (Lazy Lad) when ordered to go out and fetch some water.
Fuit co bráth!
Is mó in doinenn ar cách
Is ob cache etrice án|
Ocus (agus) is loch lon cach áth.
It’s everlasting cold
This foul weather is worse than any other,
Each furrow has swiftly given way to a scream,
And every ford overflows like a lake.
This months vocabulary won’t keep you warm, but it will help you talk about an aimsir (ahn am-sheer) the weather.
An Aimsir
Tá sé (taw shay) it is
Níl sé (neel shay) it isn’t
An bhfuil sé? (ahn will shay) Is it?
Nach bhfuil se? (knock will shay) Isn’t it
Beidh sé (bayd shay) It will be
Lá (law) an lá (ahn law) day the day
Inniu (inn-yoo) today
Anocht (ah-nohkt) tonight
Aimsir (am-sheer) an aimsir (ahn am-sheer) weather the weather
Samhradh (sow-ra) summer
Fómhair (foe-ur) autumn
Geimhreadh (geer-rah) winter
Earrach (air-ohch) spring
Anois (ah-nesh) now
Oíche (ee-ha) night
Maidin (mo-jin) an mhaidin (ahn wo-jin) morning the morning
Grian (gree-un) sun
Gealach (gull-ahch) moon
Fuar (foo-er) cold
Té (teh or cheh) hot
Fliuch (fluyhk) wet
Gaofar (gwee-fer) windy
Tirim (Teer-um or cheer-um) dry
Grianmhar (gree-un wer) sunny
Ceomhar (cyo-wer) foggy/misty
Seaca (shah-ka) frosty
Sneachta (shnok-ta) snow
Fliuch-sneachta (fluyhk shnok-ta) sleet
Scamall (skom-ull) cloud
Scamallach (skom-uh loch) cloudy
Meirbh (mer-iv) humid/muggy
Báisteach (baw shtuk) rain
Stoirm (stor-im) storm
Tá sé ag cur báistí. (taw shay egg kur baw-shtee) It’s raining.
Tá sé ag cur sneachta. (taw shay egg kur shnok-ta) It’s snowing.
Tá sé ag stealladh báistí. (taw shay egg shtell-uh baw shtee) It’s pouring rain.
Tá sé ag cur báistí arís. (ah-reesh) again anois (ah-nesh) now
An leanfaidh an aimsir mar seo? (un lyanhee ahn am-shher mahr shuh) Is the weather going to stay like this?
Nach bréa an lá é? (nohk braw ahn law ay) Isn’t it a fine day?
Stop an sneachta. (stup ahn shnok-ta) It’s stopped snowing.
Beidh báisteach ann. (bayd bahsh-tahk ahn) It’s going to rain.
An mbéidh sé fuar anocht? (uhn may shay foo-ur ah-nohkt) Will it be cold tonight?
Cén aimsir a bheidh í ndán dúinn? (ken am-sheer ah vayd ee nahn doo-inn) What is the weather forecast?
Tá sé gealta fuar anocht. (taw shay foo-ur ah-nohkt) It’s promised to be cold tonight.
Tá sé go hálainn anois , buiochas le Dia. (taw shay guh hawl-inn ah nesh boo-ah-kuss leh dee-uh)
It’s beautiful now, thanks be to God.
In different parts of the country, different phrasing is used to ask the same question,
“How is the weather?”
Conas atá an aimsir? (kun-uss ah-taw ahn am-sheer)
Cád é mar atá an aimsir? (kahj ay mat ah-taw ahn am-sheer)
Cén chaoi a bhfuil an aimsir? (keh hee will ahn am-sheer)
Lastly, an excuse if you don’t wish to venture out into the elements.
Dúirt mé liom féin gurbh fhearr dom fanacht sa bhaile. (doo-ert may lum fayne gur-uv ahr dom fah-nohkt sa wahl-ya) I said in my own mind, I considered, that it would be better for me to stay home.
Slán go Foill!
