Confusing phrase in Kerry Irish

Séamus O'Neill · **Posted:** Thu 07 Nov 2024 6:15 pm

djwebb2021 wrote:

Séamus O'Neill wrote:

Táim díreach i ndiaidh frása eile 'o dh'fheiscint ná roibh oir eólas agam:

Quote:

ó'n uair gur tusa a bhíonn aig siubhal na dtíortha, is ort a théigheann scéal nua

An féidir an líne 'o dh'aistriú mar so: 'from the moment that you [it was you that] walked the land[s], it your responsibility [you must] tell a new story'?

From the time when you (habitually) walk through the countries/lands, a new story happens to you????

If that's not right - and I think Labhrás and Errigal would be better commenters - then please let me know.

I think the Irish habitual produced the Hiberno-Irish "do be", which makes it easier to understand. From the moment you do be wandering the globe, a new story does be happening to you!

Here's a little more context, if it's helpful:

Quote:

Oidhche amháin do bhuail fear siubhail isteach go tigh an fheirmeora so. Do bheannuigh an feirmeoir dó agus do bheannuigheadar araon dá chéile. “Seadh, a stróinséir,” arsa an feirmeoir, “ó’n uair gur tusa a bhíonn aig siubhal na dtíortha, is ort a théigheann scéal nua.” “An riabhach a bhfuil agam dó mhuise, a mhic ó,” ar seisean, “ní dubhart aon scéal riamh ná ní fheadar conus.”

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1677

Maybe you're right, but I've got the feeling that "ó'n uair" really means "nuair" ("since") here. Can we see what other forum members say? ie. Since you are the one who habitually wanders the lands, then it is you who will have a story to tell???? The ón uair is quite important here. Does the originally text really have ó?

Séamus O'Neill · **Posted:** Thu 07 Nov 2024 6:32 pm

djwebb2021 wrote:

Maybe you're right, but I've got the feeling that "ó'n uair" really means "nuair" ("since") here. Can we see what other forum members say? ie. Since you are the one who habitually wanders the lands, then it is you who will have a story to tell???? The ón uair is quite important here. Does the originally text really have ó?

I don't have the book with me right now, but I have the text typed out on a word document. I also typed out the phonetic transcription which was in the book:

Quote:

o:n uir´ gər tusə v´i:ən ig´ ʃu:l nə d´i:rhə is ort ə he:ən sg´iəl nu:

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1677

And what is "An riabhach a bhfuil agam dó mhuise"?

If you see riach in FGB, this can be a euphemism for diabhal, so "an riach" = "an diabhal" or "don diabhal".

Don diabhal a bhfuil agam - I don't have any (I have always thought don diabhal means "fuck all" - I have fuck all to tell = none).

dó mhuise = is dóigh, mhuise?

That is my interpretation of that, but dialectal works are often published with no explanation, as if these things are obvious, but they are the opposite of obvious...

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1677

Riach in this meaning has nothing to do with riabhach.

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1677

"since" is nuair go or nuair is go.

Séamus O'Neill · **Posted:** Thu 07 Nov 2024 8:46 pm

Dinneen has to entries for riabhach:

Quote:

riabhach, -aibhche, a., grey, brindled, roan, swarthy, grizzled; laetheanta na riaibhche, the
days of the brindled cow, i.e. the closing days of March (or the three opening days of April).
See mí.

and

Quote:

riabhach, -aigh, m., pasture lousewort, or dwarf red rattle.

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1677

Check this out: https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fgb/riach

Séamus O'Neill · **Posted:** Wed 08 Jan 2025 12:00 am

I can't believe I missed this! de Baldraithe has

Quote:

Forasmuch as ... ón uair go ...

So, 'forasmuch as you have walked/walk the lands, you must tell a new story'?

Caoilte · **Joined:** Sat 31 Jul 2021 8:03 pm **Posts:** 167

Séamus O'Neill wrote:

:facepalm: I can't believe I missed this! de Baldraithe has

Quote:

Forasmuch as ... ón uair go ...

So, 'forasmuch as you have walked/walk the lands, you must tell a new story'?

'ón uair go' = 'forasmuch as'. That makes sense to me. And it is essentially the same as 'since', which is what Djwebb suggested.

'Is ort a théigheann scéal nua': First, I'm not sure why it's 'Is ort', rather than 'Is ortsa'.

Anyway, this can be reduced to Téigheann scéal nua ort', literally 'A new story goes on you'. I'm not sure how this would end up meaning 'You must tell a new story' since that would be 'Tá ortsa scéal nua a insint' (which uses the substantive verb rather than the copula'). Nonetheless, that's what it seems to mean, judging by the context.

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Confusing phrase in Kerry Irish

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