Hi Gumbi,

I would avoid using English to understand the logic of Irish - it doesn't always help. I agree it's unusual, and as a learner of Irish it sounded illogical to me too, but it's a form I learned from an older speaker from Rann na Feirste years ago when I stayed in his house as a student. I've also come across it over and over again in the works of the Mac Grianna brothers. I'll try and search out some examples. I remember hearing is maith liom used in other ways too - to mean 'I'm glad' and such things.

I don't use it like that myself, and I rarely hear it now, but the man I learned it from was a wonderful source of subtleties in the language. He made merciless but friendly fun of my school Irish, and taught me more in those four short weeks than anyone or thing since. If he spoke like that, and the Mac Grianna brothers are prone to using it, then I think it's difficult to dismiss it as illogical. For me, at the time and since, the key to understanding its logic, was not to limit is maith liom to meaning 'I like' in English even if it's very often the case.

Anyway, I never suggested this was a widespread use of the phrase - I've only ever heard it in Donegal. I'm swamped with work and personal stuff at the moment but when I get a moment I promise to find a few examples.

Slán,

Domhnall

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Ultach mé agus Gaeilg Uladh a labhraim go measardha maith!

I take your point, 'tis a fair one.