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Category Archives: Irish words in use 1930s

Decline of the Irish language Muintervara 19th century

08 Saturday Oct 2011

Posted by durrushistory in Irish words in use 1930s, Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

bantry swanton, english language west cork, mizen dr garret fitzgerald, muintervara irish language


Irish

Muintervara started the 19th century as an Irish speaking area and finished English speaking.   There has been a lot of interest in the post on the Irish words used in English in Durrus in the 1930s and I though it might be opportune to look at the use of Irish and its decline in the area in the 19th century.

Being a coastal area and with a significant English speaking population since at least the early 18th century the decline in Irish speaking was more rapid than inland areas such as Caheragh or Kealkil.

Dr. Garrett Fitzgerald has done a study on the decline of Irish in the 19th century based on the 1911 Census[1].  He surmises that Irish was widely spoken in the area extending from South Kerry into West Cork bordering on the Liberties of Cork.  He excluded, however, the area of the Bandon valley and the two peninsulas (Muintervara and Mizen) bordering on Dunmanus Bay where the use of English was predominant by 1860.  This is set out on the table below from his researches.  The decline of Irish was more pronounced by the religious mix of the area involving settlement in the late 17th and 18th century in the eastern part of the peninsula by people of English and Huguenot origin and the influence of the various English speaking schools.  It might be noted that Scart and the Bantry rural area had a high percentage of people speaking Irish as did Dunbeacon and the western end of the peninsula.

Analysis of 1911 Census by Dr. Garrett Fitzgerald, of those born before 1851 and alive in 1911 who could speak Irish

Durrus/Kilcrohane DED

Population2779 60+413 60+%14.9 60+413 Irish Speaking 182 Irish Speaking 44 %
Durrus East 433 65 26 40
Durrus West 686 102 36 35
Glanlough 509 76 33 43
Seefin 555 83 32 39
Sheepshead 596 89 55 62
Neighbouring DEDs
Dunbeacon 588 86 60 70
Scart              549 48 56 100
Bantry Rural              1114 127 116 91

Note: DED is district electoral division.

Eliza Cole 84 widow married 1792 read Irish 1851 Census.  Frank O’Mahony (retired solicitor Banrry author of a history of Kilcrohane) refers to a complex court case heard in Cork in 1823 from Kilcrohane when all the witnesses gave evidence in Irish.   Fr. Matthew administered the pledge in Irish in Durrus in July; 1842.  The American missionary, Asenath Nicholson was in Bantry in 1845 and wrote ‘I left an Irish Testament where the man of the family could read Irish well, and to where no Bible had even been.  The peasants in this part of the country are not so afraid of the scriptures if they speak Irish, because they attach a kind of sanctity to this language.  The Rev Freke was preaching in Irish in Rooska and Glenlough in 1850.  Warburton the local Resident Magistrate questioned whether Irish interpreters could be paid in 1871.  Many of the people over 30 both Catholic and Protestant in the 1901 Census spoke both Irish. It is probable that the 1901 Census at least underestimated the extent of Irish in the older population.  Father Kearney preached in Irish when he was both a curate and parish priest of Durrus.  Gerry Jack Owen Daly (b.1915) recalls a number of Irish speakers in Kilcrohane in the 1920s.[2]

There were a number of business premises in Bantry in 1903 which had their names over the door in Irish, the mottos in the workhouse were in Irish and all the Poor law members could speak Irish[3]In October 1905 Mr O’Hourihan from the Gaelic League addressed a Public meeting in Durrus attended by Father O’Leary and presided over by J.D.O’Sullivan and acknowledged that Irish was seldom used in the district.  Around the same time Canon Shinkwin was talking to the older people in Borlin in Irish and asking them to speak Irish to the small children at night with a view towards arresting the decline of the language.  An article in the Southern Star in 1907 by ‘Ciaran Og’ bemoaned the lack of Irish on the Mizen Peninsula, Dunbeacon and Durrus.  It was not taught in the schools although the Durrus teachers were sympathetic this was in contrast to Bantry where there were classes in the Convent run by Conchubhair O Muineachain and Irish speakers around the town.  The area he felt was badly in need of a travelling Irish teacher.  Articles in Irish by Peadar O h-Anrachain appear in the Southern Star from 1907.  Going by the 1900 Census Irish was being passed onto children up to the 1890s[4]

In the neighboring parish of Ballydehob, Mr. Swanon, an irish scholar lived.  He wrote in 1846

‘that though the people here seem desirous to give it up, it will be a long time before they can express themselves with some comfort in English’.  He tried without success to get his 5 daughters to speak Irish or to have the servants use it in the house.

CENSUS 1901

Sheepshead DED Glenlough DED DED Seafin DED Durrus West  and East DED
Year Born1799 1
1800-1819 7 6 4 2
1820-1829 22 5 14 15
1830-1839 36 23 16 25
1840-1849 59 24 25 45
1850-1859 22 27 18 28
1860-1869 2 6 10 13
1870-1879 2 5 6 13
1880-1889 6 4 8
1890- 2 2 2
Percentage of speakers of Irish and English 21% 18% 15% 12%

In 1846, Thomas Swanton, Irish scholar from nearby Ballydehob remarked of the status of Irish in the locality ‘Though the people here seem desirous to give it up, it will be a long time before they can express themselves with such comfort in English’

[1] Royal Irish Academy, December 2003.

[2] Among those were Mrs Mahony and Dan Mahony Cahergall, Jim Cronin Eskeraha, Mrs Donovan Rhea who was also a teacher. His own father Dan Daly b 1850 had many songs in Irish.  Tadhg O Donnabhain, Kilcrohane,  b1919 has been an Irish scholar all his life, his mother nee Holland from the Coomhola area was a native speaker.  In 1938, school folklore project, Mary O’Donovan, Rearour, stated that Ellen Coakley aged 83 had Irish which she used to greet old friends or strangers.

[3] Southern Star 31 Jan 1903.

[4] Clashadoo Annie Canty 23, Timothy Dullon 26, Annie Dillon 24, John McCarthy 17.  Coomkeen Daniel Burke 25, Mary Burke 26.  Village Mary Levis 20.  Gerhameen Denis Sullivan 22, Michael Wholihan 20.  Ballycomane Michael Hurley 22, Richard Sweetnam 26, James Cleary 25.  Clonee Denis Dineen 18.  Coolculaghta William Coughlan 28 (his brother aged 22 had only English).  Murreagh Michael McCarthy 10, Nora Sweeney 20, William Sweeney 22.

Some of the older older Church of Ireland farmers in the 1900 Census had both English and Irish, Clashadoo Paul Shannon 70, Crottees Mary Deane 50, Jane Dukelow 72, John Camier 82.  James Dukelow 65 Drumtaniheen.  Ballycomane Richard Vickery 64.  Dromreagh John Jagoe (born outside Dunmnway) 75.

 

Harry Ward runs a website re the connection between the Casper, Wyoming area and KIlcrohane.  In it he says his father born 1890 remembers the old men outside the store in Kilcrohane talking Irish suggesting they acquired it 1830s/40s.

Irish Words in use 1930s Cork English and list of Irish phrases 19th century possibly Skibbereen/Bantry

07 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by durrushistory in Irish words in use 1930s, Personal Memoirs

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Agriculture and Forestry, business, Cattle, Horticulture, ireland gaelic hiberno-english, irish co clare, irish language relic durrus dun beacon, Meitheal, Poitín, Salach, Turfgrass, west cork bantry history


https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dLSWVUsYRVa2ViKqOHyj5sl6Plz-tzLLVgpQgU3gvQM/edit

Irish in ordinary speech 1930s

Adhastar, a halter

Ascail, armful, hay, straw

Aiteann Gaelach, Tufts of furze

Amadán, a fool

Ainniseoir, a miserable person

Asal, a donkey

Bacán, treadle of spade

Barrfhód, top sod (turf/peat)

Barrghaois, phosphorescence

Bainbhín, little banbh (piglet)

Bainne Buí, beasting (first milk of cow)

Bainnc cioch Anna, splurge,

Balcais, tattered clothes

Barra liobar, numbness in finger, parathesia

Bastún, blockhead, eejit

Beach Ghabhair, a wasp, horse fly

Beart, bundle on back

Birineach, short pointed rush

Blathach, buttermilk

Bladaire, a flatterer, blower

Bogan, egg without shell

Boithrin, laneway

Braon, drop (whiskey)

Bothán, hut, hovel

Bro, a quern

Brosna, firewood, kippins

Brus, small pieces (as of turf)

Buachalán, ragworth, noxious weed

Buarach, spancel (milking)

Budan, stump of animal’s horn

Buaileann Sciath, boaster

Buailtean, striking staff or flail

Cabóg, a rustic labourer

Cabhlach, ruin of an old house

Cadarail, gossip

Caibin, an old hat

Caillichin, ash plant (cattle herding)

Caoch, blind

Carraigin, edible seaweed, moss

Caoran, small piece of dried turf

Ceis, a young sow

Ceartaigh, as when milking

Codladh griffin, Pins & needles

cabhóg, old hat

Cip-idir-ril, commotion

Cisean, basket

Cleamhnas, made match

Cleas-na-peiste, a type of knot which kills worms in cattle

Cliotar, clatter

Cnaimhseail, grumbling

caipeis

Coincin, upturned nose

Cabaire Cailleach, an old hag

Caisearbhan, dandelion

Caol-fhod, narrow sod in furrow

Ceannrach, a halter or bridle

Ceartaigh, as when milking

Ceol, music

cip I’do ril, racket (disorder)

Ciaróg, beetle or cockroach

Ciotog, left handed person

Ciseach, path or bridge in wet ground, bog

Clais, furrow

Cliamhain isteach, Son-in-law in bride’s house

Corra mhiol, midge

Corra thronach, restless

Cleibhi, mantle over fireplace

Craobhabhar, Sty (eye)

Crobhnasc, Rope tied from cow’s foreleg to horn

Cruibin, Pig’s hoof

Cuingeal, Coupling rope ploughing

Culog, Riding behind another (horse)

Cupóg, dock plant

Cliotar, clatter

cnocan, hillock or knoll

Cniopaire, A miser

Codladh griffin, Pins & needles

Coinncin, Upturned nose

Cois ceim na trocaire, Three return steps when meeting a funeral

cri  neatness

Corra-giob, posterior

Corrabhuais, smirk, concern, uneasiness

Corrathonach, restless

Crain, sow

Creathan, small potato

Creatar, drop of drink

cunsog, nest of honeybees

Croitin Cuas, narrow inlet of sea

Cuigion, chur

Cuirliun, curlew

Cunsog, nest of honey bees

Deoch an dorais, One for the road

Diabhal, devil

Doirnín, Handle of scythe

Dorn, fist

Dramhail, refuse, trash

Dreadaire, good for nothing

Driodar, dregs (liquid)

Duileasc, edible sea weed

Dreoilín, Wren

Duchas, heritage, likeness ancestor

Eascu luachra, a lizard

Eist do bheal, shut up

Faire go deo, what a pity

Failte, welcome

Fear a’ti man o’the house

Feasóg, beard

Feochadan, thistle

Fite fuaite, mixed up, entwined

Fionnan, coarse grass on hill

Flaithiúil, generous

Fluirse, plenty

Fothain, shelter

Fuachtan, chilblain

Fustaire, a fussy person

Follain, healthy

Fraochan, hurtleberrry

Fuadar, rush hurry

Gabhail, hay in two arms

Gabhairin reo, jack snipe

Galloge, gállóg’ would apply to the fork handle of a catapult as having its mouthful of sling shot.

Gaillseach, earwig

Gam, a foolish person

Garbhog, bees nest in a ditch

Garsún, a young boy

Gearrach, a nestling

Gealas, braces, suspenders

Gibiris, prattle

Giobal, rag

Gioballach, untidy

Glaise, stream

Glib, hair hanging over eye

Gligin, hairbrained

Gob, big mouth

Go leor, ample

Gollan, large standing stone

Gliogar, an addled egg

Grafán, grubber

Gramhar, loving

Grideal, griddle

Griosach, red coals in ashes in turf in morning

Grabhas, ceartaigh, milking

Hum no Ham, word or movement

Iomaire, ridge of potatoes

Ladhar, handful (oats for horse)

Lairin, a little mare or pony

Leadhb, a useless person

Leadranach, untidy

Leath Sceal, excuse

Liudraman, useless lazy person

Luban, loop, tangle

Hulla builin, outcry, noise of hunt

Laincis, spancel

Lamh laidir, violence

Leadranach, lingering, slow

Liobar, untidy, hanging lip

Lubaire, a rogue

Luidín, little finger

Meadhbhán, dilisk,edible seaweed

Mar dhea, as he says

Maith go leor, tipsy

Mointean, reclaimed bogland

Meiscre, cracked skin on hand

Meascan Mearai, bewilderment

Meitheal, a group of helpers

Mi-adh, misfortune

Mi na Meala, honeymoon

Murdail, horror of horrors

M’hanamsa, oh! My soul

Mothal, bushy hair

Munlach, animal urine, dirty puddle

Muing, a fen, morass

Oinseach, foolish woman

Ologon, wailing (bain si)

Pilibin Miog, lapwing, plover

Pleidhche, simpleton, fool

Poc-leim, jump with joy

Poitín, poteen, illict whiskey

Portach, bog

Praiseach bui, stirabout

Piseog, superstious practice

Plucamas, the mumps

Pocan gabhar, male goat

Portach, bog

Puca padhail, a toadstoll

Raidse, plenty

Ri Ra, bedlam

Rogaire, a lovable rogue

Ruthail, rooting (pig)

Ruaille Buaille, commotion

Siogan,

Sceabha, askew

Sciollán, cut potato seed

Scolb, thatching spar

Scoraiocht, nightly visiting

Sean Saor, Cheap Jack, dealer

Slisne, thin wedge, (under nail), tiny chip of wood

Spagai, clumsy legs

Raidhse, plenty

Ri-ra, fuss, commotion

Rogaire, rogue

Salach, Mud sludge at bottom of stream/river

Scailp, sod, a scraw

Sceabha, askew

Sceach, a thorn bush

Sceartan, tick, bug

Scolb, thatching spar

Scoraiocht, nightly visiting

Scrogall, throat

Si-gaoithe, whirlwind

Sibín, illict pub

Sleán, turf-cutting tool

Slachtmhar, tidy

Slibire, a tall ungainly man

Sláinte, health

Slog, a gulp of liquid

Smidiriní, fragments

Slisne, thin wede of wood

Spailpín, migratory labourer

Spairt, poor quality turf

Sponnc, energy

Stail, stallion

Stracail, struggling

Staimpi, potato cake

Straille, untidy girl

Sugán, rope of straw of hay

Suiste, flail for threshing

Taith-fheithleann, honeysuckle

Taoibhin, patch on the side of a shoe

Taoscán, a small quantity

Teaspach, exhuberance

Tathaire, impertinent boy

Tobar na carriage, well cut into a large rock on way to school.

Tochas, itch

Traithnín, strong blade of grass

Trom Lui, nightmare

Tri cois ceimeanna na trocaire, about turn and take three steps with oncoming funeral

Tuistiun, a four penny piece

Taoscan, a small quantity of liquid

Tri co is ceimeanna na trocaire, about turn and take three steps with oncoming funeral

Tóin, bottom

Tomhaisin, a small quantity

Tri-na-cheile, confused

Tuairgin, a pounder

Uisce beatha, whiskey

Uisce faoi talamh, intrigue

Utamail, fumbling, groping

These phrases were collected from the ordinary speech of Durrus people in the 1930s by Joe O’Driscoll NT, Dunbeacon.

Additional words

Buachallán, ragworth

Muise muise, exclamation wisha wisha mhuishe

Durrus/Cork c 1965

Scoraí (Scorai): Hawthorn Haw

A book published recently (June 2013) by Críona Ní Gháirbhith on the Irish of Co. Clare contains around 2,500 words and phrases.  The publisher is COISCÉIM  www.coisceim.ie

Phrases 19th century in old Irish with English translation. These were photographed by permission of Mr. Deacon, Skibbereen, Co. Cork, 1965. They may go back to mid 19th century for Skibbereen/Bantry area. he was born Co. Kerry 1895, living in Skibbereen 1911 with family father born Co. Wexford mother nee O’Herlihy and uncle James O’Herlihy, Pubican

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16th Regiment of Foot assisted female emigration australia ballyclough bantry bay caithness legion cavan regiment of militia cheshire fencibles coppinger's court inbhear na mbearc Irish words in use 1930s lord lansdowne's regiment mallow melbourne ned kelly new brunswick O'Dalys Bardic Family. o'regan Personal Memoirs rosscarbery schull sir redmond barry sir walter coppinger st. johns sydney Townlands treaty of limerick Uncategorized university of Melbourne victoria
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