Hey all,

I'm reading "Díbirt Dé" by Pádraig Standún, and I've just encountered the following phrase during a conversation between two of the characters (seen below in context; phrase in question in bold):

"Beidh máthair Sharon níos fearr nó beidh sí san uaigh i gceann cúpla seachtain," a dúirt Adam ar nós is cuma liom.

I've never encountered that particular phrase before...am I correct in assuming it means "in an uncaring/unfeeling manner"?

Good book, by the way! My first Irish book on the Kindle, and I'm nearly 3/4 of the way through it!

Redwolf

That's right. Like he didn't care.
It must be a Conamarism.

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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I like it...easy to remember!

I think it took me by surprise because I would have expected "ar nós is cuma leis"...but given my penchant for mixing up prepositional pronouns, I'm just as happy to only have to worry about "liom" in this case!

Redwolf

I think either ''liom"or "leis" would be acceptable. Just as in English we say:His attitude was 'I couldn't care less' or His attitude was 'he couldn't care less'. I don't think the phrase is restricted to Connemara and can be found in all the dialects.
Incidentally, Joe Steve Ó Neachtain has a couple of novels on E-Book also. Tá siad ar fheabhas ar fad.
Séamus

Are they Kindle format, Séamus? I don't like to read on the computer, so I tend to avoid PDF books, but I love getting Irish books for the Kindle because I don't have to pay the outrageous shipping fees!

I recently bought Standún's "I gCongar I gCéin" for Kindle as well...planning on starting that one when I finish "Díbirt Dé."

Redwolf

Kennys in Galway say they deliver worldwide for free: http://www.kennys.ie/

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Wow...that's good to know! Often it costs more to get a book to the States than it costs to buy the book!

Redwolf

I have often heard the phrase in question before but without the 'is'. (Logically you'd expect it to be there, but it's usually just implied)

Tá sé ar nós cuma liom It's like he couldn't care less.

By the way, what's with the American tendency to say 'I could care less', where in Ireland we say 'I couldn't care less'?

Actually it's said both ways here

It is...but "I could care less" is incorrect, and generally mocked when it crops up.

Redwolf