Speak Irish: Samhain

Speak Irish: Samhain
By Bob Carney

As I was researching my Cleveland Comhrá column the last few weeks, I found myself reading stories and tales written in English, but most likely were originally spoken in Irish. The seanchaí, (shan-kee) was a traditional storyteller and historian. Often he traveled, telling his tales from village to village. He was an important source of entertainment and news. “

Today we may not get to experience a visit from a seanchaí, but we do have some of their stories in print. In many books, these stories have a few words in Irish, even though translated into English.

In my own experiences, encountering words from an unfamiliar language when I’m reading, I tend to approximate what I think the word might sound like in case I run across it again later in the text. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I’m probably pronouncing it incorrectly in my head.

Using our pronunciation guide from last month and a little vocabulary relating to some of the stranger tales told this time of year, maybe we can avoid the mistakes I make and encounter Irish words more amicably. I hope everyone who enjoys Irish mythology will find this helpful.

Irish Mythology

Teanglann .ie, the free online dictionary, is very helpful for pronunciation, type in the word, and you can hear the pronunciation in all three regional dialects.

Asarlaí (ass-ur-lee) a wizard or sorcerer

Bibseach (bib-sha) to kill or put someone to death twice

Cailleach (kayell-ach) a witch or hag

Cailderu (call-de-roo) cauldron

Cendail (ken-del) the heads of decapitated enemies

Ciorrbhadh (ker-woo) destruction by witchcraft

Cómhla bhreac (kola wrahka) a magic door to fairy dwellings

Creatlach (krat-luhk) skeleton

Cro (krah) witchcraft

Cró (krow) death, a flock

Dalbhdha (dalv-da)  sorcery

Dearg-dililat (jer-ug dil-ih-laht) a drinker of blood

Dearg Due or Dearg Dur (jer-ug doo or jer-ug der) the name of the female vampire in Waterford*

Digla (dig-la) evil

Dricc (drik) angry or a dragon

Éadtrú (ayd-troo) one who is not doomed

Fuil dhragain (fuhl grahg-ahn) dragon’s blood

Geanncanach (gyann-ka-noch) one of the lower and more vicious types of fairies

Ifne (if-na) worms that come out of the bones of corpses

Púca (poo-ka) a hobgoblin

Saighead (sy-id) an arrow head used as an amulet

Scuab chaillí (skoo-ab hall-ee) a witch’s broom)

Torathar (tahr-a-har) ogre or monster

Tuaithe (too-uh-eh) witchcraft or sorcery

*In Dacre Stoker and J.D.Barker’s novel Dracul, which is predominantly set in and around Dublin in the mid 1800s, one of the characters is based on the Waterford legend. There are many stories of vampires in Ireland and the Waterford vampire is as intriguing as Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula. Read more in Bob’s Cleveland Comhra Children of the Night Column on page 6 & 7.

*Bob Carney is a student of Irish history and language and teaches the Speak Irish Cleveland class held every Tuesday @Pj McIntyre’s. He is also active in the Irish Wolfhounds and Irish dogs organizations in and around Cleveland. Wife Mary, hound Morrighan and terrier Doolin keep the house jumping. He can be contacted at [email protected]