Slieve Gullion Language Project
Update published on: November 17, 2018
Facilitated by Séamus Murphy, language enthusiast and Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, Manager Gael Linn. This project has had two very successful special sessions examining the unique vocabulary and a way of talking around Slieve Gullion and south Armagh. The first session was in Tí Chulainn as part of the Michael J. Murphy Winter School 2018 and the second in Crossmaglen library as part of their Festival of Learning 2019.
Did you ever get a sceilp, a dunch, a dúdóg or a gonc?
Did you ever cap a cow, langle a goat, brer a ditch, build an adag or coup a yoke (in the shuck)?
Were you ever called an amadán, gulpin, bawkie, shibby, snathy, jaurie, gom, caldarach or a wee skitter?
• Were you ever in the Clawnyeh, Borrawolly, Flurry’s bog,
Gleann Dubh, Lisavaney, Ballyclanowen or the Móin Ríbe?
Where’s the New Line, the Fingerpost, the Big Bridge, the Broad Road?
• How did your Granny pronounce Dromintee, Faughil, Mulholland, Gallagher, O’Hare, Lenihan, Collins, Kenny or Keenan, floor, board, door?
• Did you ever let a golder out of you – or a broim?
• When you were a wee girseach or gasún, did you play in the back street? Did you get covered in clabair? Did you cár when your mammy washed your face?
Do you know any strange local sayings? Can you explain where they came from?
“Boot on your goat, there’s a buck at the border”
“Up on your bike for Skull Hill”
“Die dog or ***** the licence”
What about great family nicknames? Who was Paddy the Racker, Mickey Fidge, Francie Frink, Benny the Go, Biddy the Blow, Paddy the Pearl? Michael J. Murphy was often known as Mickey Buck around here.
Where did Irish linger longest, why do we still pronounce English as Shakespeare did? Can you add to the list above? Who do you know that could?
Help expand the list above by posting to the Michael J. Murphy facebook page, or email it to any or all of these: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected].