Hi there, I wish to get my mother's last words to me as an Irish languague Tattoo, to honour her heritage.

the words were "No tears baby " Grateful for any help and thanks in advance.

Hi cate, welcome to the forum, sorry to hear about your mother.

There are numerous ways to express this sentiment in Irish. But it wont really translate directly, as all languages have their nuances. All options are in the standardised language.

Ná bac leis na deora Don't bother with the tears (literally)

Ná sil deoir Don't drip a tear/ let out a little drop of tear, sounds more poetic in Irish.

Ná tál deoir Don't let a tear flow/spring

Ná lig deoir Don't leak a tear

Ná lig ort féin deoir a scaoileadh/ shileadh Don't allow yourself to release/shed a tear

Ná scaoil deoir Don't let a tear loose

These are but a few, I like the ones with tál or sil personally.

Baby, is a bit more complicated. Its a term of endearment. Terms of endearment can be tricky in Irish.

The direct translation would be a "a linbh" or "a leanbh" depending on dialect, my baby/ child (vocative case). I think "a leanbh" is used in the standard. It can be used as a term of endearment, though usually with younger children. I think it works here, wait for a second opinion though.

There's also other options that may be safer, such as:

a mhuirnín my darling
a chroí my heart
a stór*/ a stóirín my treasure

"There's a debate whether stór should be slenderised in the vocative, some say it should, others say it shouldn't. Any ideas lads?

Wait for some more input from other forum members

Cian

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Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

There's a very good discussion here:
http://corkirish.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/should-vocatives-decline/

I think in Connacht Irish it's a rule that you don't decline inanimate vocatives, but I'll wait for
the experts' comments.

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The dialect I use is Cork Irish.
Ar sgáth a chéile a mhairid na daoine, lag agus láidir, uasal is íseal

Thank you so much for taking time for a detailed reply. I love thought of using some suggestions if baby isn't a go. She just always called me that!! C xx

Actually Eoghan Rua Ua Suilleabháin wrote a poem called:

Seóthó, a thoil, ná goil go fóill Hush, darling, don't cry just yet.

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The dialect I use is Cork Irish.
Ar sgáth a chéile a mhairid na daoine, lag agus láidir, uasal is íseal