Slán go Fóill
Slán go fóill (slawn guh foil) in the Connacht dialect, or (slawn guh fahl) in Munster Irish, is one of my favorite ways to say goodbye. It implies a temporary absence, like goodbye for now.
After a long decision I’ve decided not to be an active participant in the Speak Irish classes this year. After eleven years, I’m taking a break. Don’t worry though, Eileen Kilroy and Katie Gagne are going to be leading the classes at PJ McIntyre’s on Tuesday evenings, which start September 15th. They are both long time members of the Speak Irish family and have great things planned.
I realized I confused many people when word got out that I would not be a part of the class this year. First, I’m not sick, I’m not dying (at least not that I know). I would like to thank those of you that were concerned for me, but the truth is I’m involved in other projects and it was simply a time management thing.
Note New Date: September 15th!
Being a part of Speak Irish classes has been a fantastic experience. What was at first a distraction from my career has actually benifited me in many ways. The people I’ve met over the years have definetly broadened my horizons.
I was able to interact with people of all different walks of life as we all pursued a common goal. The class is about learning Irish and being able to use it, but it’s also something more.
Everyone that attends has a different reason for being there and everyone also brings something unique to the group. Experiences are commonly shared and through our differences we find our commonalty.
As some of you know, I’ve spent fifty-three years in the automotive service industry, first as a general technician, then a diagnostic specialist, and shop manager. A few years ago I stepped into the role of service manager. It’s a position that still allows me to use my experience to assist younger techs and our master tech when he’s involved in a difficult diagnostic job.
Yorktown Automotive Family of Businesses
I’ve been with Yorktown Automotive in Parma Hts. for twenty-six years now, I know most of our clients by name. Five years ago we acquired Sirl’s Automotive and three years ago, York Road Autobody, creating the Yorktown Family of Business’. I’m proud to be a part of this organization and love to show it off.
Ladies Car Care Clinic
We have a woman who works for us, Lisa. Her job title (i’m not joking, it’s on her businees cards), is the Director of Awesomness and Community Relations. A few months ago Lisa asked if she could organize a Ladies car care clinic if I could help her.
I said I would be happy to; we both thought we might have a dozen participants. When her social media notification went out, she had to shut it down after four hours; she had eighty women sign up and attend our first one.
Those that followed have been equally successful. We have a basic group where we discuss the different warning lights in the vehicles today and the various components on today’s cars.
If you want to skip the basic group, you can sign up for an advanced class. Here I get to let my automotive geek run free. I get to share insights on the technological side of vehicles, from their early beginnings, to the present and what the future holds.
The questions are knowledgeable and I’m amazed at the interest of how things work or why the manufacturers do some of the things they do. I never thought all those years ago, that I would still be looking forward to heading to work everyday at my age. I often joke that sometimes I wish I was twenty years younger, just to be able to see the changes in technology that are coming.
The reality though is I don’t have the same energy that I used to have. That’s why I made the decision to step away from the class. I will still be teaching and talking about the Irish language in this column.
Slan
On that note, I’d like to talk about different ways we can say goodbye in Irish. Don’t forget you can use your Irish in daily conversations and interactions, it’s a great way to retain what you learn: Slán (slawn) health but used to say goodbye.
There are many variations based on this simple form. When saying goodbye to someone staying behind, you could say Slán agat (slawn ah-gut); to more than one Slán agaibh (slawn ah-giv); if you’re staying and the other person is leaving, you could say Slán leat (slawn lyat); if everyone is leaving you behind, Slán libh (slawn liv).
Another favorite is Slán abhaile (slawn uh-wahl-yah), safe home, a great way to say goodbye. If you get confused, don’t worry, slán works in all situations.
In English, we use a variety of ways to part; we have those same options in Irish. Tóg go bog é (toeg guh bog ay) is Take it easy; Feicfidh mé thú (feck-ee may who), I’ll see you, or Feicfidh mé thú níos déanai (feck-ee may who neesh day-nee), I’ll see you later; Good night is Oíche mhaith (ee-ha wah).
Another way to say goodbye to someone you’ll see tomorrow could be Slán, feicfidh mé amárach tú (slawn, feck-ee may amah-rach too), or you might say, Slán, beidh mé ag caint leat amárach (slawn bay may ag cahnch lyat amah-rach), Goodbye I’ll be talking to you tomorrow.
Slán go Fóill
